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Biomedical subjects

B Hovelius

Publications and source records attributed to B Hovelius.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Bacterial vaginosis: microbiological and clinical findings.

A prospective study was performed involving 101 women who consecutively attended a primary health care unit for complaints of genital malodour and/or abnormal vaginal discharge. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 34 women on the basis of four diagnostic criteria: vaginal pH greater than 4.7, homogeneous vaginal discharge, a positive amine test and clue cells. The sensitivity of these criteria was greater than 90% except for homogeneous discharge (82%). Their specificity was greater than 90% except for vaginal pH greater than 4.7 (46%); a specificity of 87% could have been achieved by using the criterion for vaginal pH greater than or equal to 5.0. There was a strong association between diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and the concomitant occurrence of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus spp. and Bacteroides spp. There was no difference between women with or without bacterial vaginosis as regards contraception methods (except for use of an intrauterine device), age at first intercourse, or earlier episodes of vaginal discharge. Sexual transmission of the predominant bacteria was not supported by data collected from the male consorts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Causes of frequency and dysuria in women.

Bacteria in excess of 10(4) colony-forming units per ml (CFU/ml), were isolated from voided urine specimens from 127 (79%) of 160 women, 15-45 years of age, consulting in general practice due to frequency and dysuria. Escherichia coli was the species most frequently isolated, followed by Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 8 (5%) patients, in 6 of whom greater than 10(4) CFU/ml urine were isolated. A 2-fold titre increase in micro-immunofluorescence antibodies to C. trachomatis was demonstrated in 8 cases, the organism itself being isolated in 1 case only. No viruses were isolated in any of 18 women with negative urine cultures. Proteinuria and/or haematuria was found more frequently in patients with S. saprophyticus than in patients with gram-negative rods. Tests for nitrite indicated bacteriuria in only 58% of the patients with greater than 10(4) CFU/ml urine, which can be partly explained by the fact that S. saprophyticus only occasionally reduces nitrate. Cocci were noted in urine sediment in 75% of patients in whom S. saprophyticus was isolated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Chlamydial infections in children: a seroepidemiological study.

A seroepidemiological study was conducted in 329 Swedish children aged 3-12 years, some of whom had upper respiratory tract infections, in order to determine the prevalence of serum IgG and IgM antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in this age group. Serum antibodies were detected by microimmunofluorescence assay. IgG antibodies were found in 28 (8.5%) of the children; titers were greater than or equal to 1:16 in 15 children (4.6%). Their prevalence in boys (9.4%) and girls (7.6%) was not significantly different. IgM antibodies were found in only six children. Their peak prevalence occurred in boys at the age of 8, and in girls at the age of 12. The serological findings are discussed in the light of current knowledge about chlamydial infections in children and the specificity of chlamydial antibody tests.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Antibody-coating and haemagglutination by Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Cocci coated with IgG, IgA and IgM occurred in 21, 20 and 9 of 28 urine specimens, respectively, containing Staphylococcus saprophyticus. There was no correlation between the occurrence of antibody-coated cocci and symptoms from the upper or lower urinary tract. Nor was antibody-coating correlated to the occurrence of proteinuria or haematuria. Antibody-coated cocci occurred more often, however, in patients with symptoms for 7 days or more than in patients with symptoms for a shorter duration. Direct haemagglutination of sheep erythrocytes was demonstrated in 30 of 61 washed urine sediments containing S. saprophyticus. There was a significant correlation between non-haemagglutinating specimens and the occurrence of antibody-coated bacteria in these specimens.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1985

Effects of pneumococcal vaccination on tonsillo-pharyngitis and upper respiratory tract flora.

The effect of a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine on upper respiratory tract infections and carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci was studied in a double-blind prospective study of 405 children 0.5-5 years of age. In the children under 2 years of age at vaccination, the cases of acute tonsillitis were more frequent among the vaccinees than among the controls (p less than 0.01). In contrast, among the children over 2 years of age at vaccination, fewer episodes of acute tonsillitis were reported among the vaccinees than among the controls (p less than 0.01). In the older age group, the total rate of upper respiratory tract infections was also significantly reduced. Similarly, an increase in asymptomatic carriage of group A streptococci was registered in children vaccinated at 2-5 years of age (p less than 0.01). Inversely, the carriership of group C streptococci diminished among the vaccinated children (p less than 0.05). Some possible mechanisms underlying these unexpected findings, including non-specific mitogenic features and cross-protection due to antigenic similarities, were explored.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Nalidixic acid and pivmecillinam for treatment of acute lower urinary tract infections.

Women, 15-45 years of age, with symptoms of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) were randomly treated with nalidixic acid (1 g X 3) or pivmecillinam (200-400 mg X 3) for three or seven days, respectively. Therapeutic failure, relapse, or reinfection occurred among 18% of 82 women, even though the isolated strains of gram-negative rods in these patients were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotics used. Therapeutic failure, i.e. no effect or at best only a minor effect on the symptoms, was registered in 10 of 13 cases of UTI caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus and treated with nalidixic acid, which was consistent with the high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) (128-512 micrograms/ml) of this antibiotic. S. saprophyticus was isolated in 9 of 12 patients during treatment with nalidixic acid. On the other hand, pivmecillinam therapy was clinically effective in 16 of 18 patients with UTI caused by S. saprophyticus, even though the MIC of mecillinam to these strains was considerably higher (8-64 micrograms/ml) than that vis-à-vis gram-negative rods. Thus the clinical effect of pivmecillinam was significantly better than that of nalidixic acid in cases of UTI caused by S. saprophyticus. The organism was not isolated from 14 patients receiving pivmecillinam therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Beneficial effect of pneumococcal vaccination on otitis media in children over two years old.

The effect of immunization with a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) was studied in a double-blind trial in which 405 children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were matched in vaccine/control pairs according to age and history of otitis media. The fact that all the children attended day-care centres ensured that both vaccinees and controls were similarly exposed to upper respiratory tract pathogens. The total incidence of acute otitis media was reduced during a 2-year follow-up period by 24% (P less than 0.05) among those vaccinated between the ages of 2 and 5. For recurrent episodes a decrease by 40% was noted. Protective efficacy was demonstrable during the first post-vaccinational year, but not when more than 1 year had lapsed after the vaccination. These findings suggest that, while the vaccine had not effect on children under 2 years old, it may be a useful aid in preventing recurrent attacks of otitis media in children between 2 and 5 years of age.

Bacterial Vaccines↗
PubMed1984

Urinary tract infections in men caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Clinical data of 49 male patients, whose urine contained Staphylococcus saprophyticus (greater than 10(5) bacteria/ml), were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 70 yr (range 7-83). Of the patients, 25 had catheter à demeure. Among the remaining patients, 22 had symptoms of acute urinary tract infection, 8 of whom had symptoms suggesting engagement also of the upper urinary tract. One 17-yr-old man had acute epididymitis. One patient was symptomless. No obstructive uropathy could be revealed in 13 (54%) of the 24 patients without catheter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effect of pneumococcal vaccination on upper respiratory tract infections in children. Design of a follow-up study.

Children, aged 6 months to 5 years, were pair-matched with respect to age and history of otitis media acuta. The 405 children received either a subcutaneous injection of Pneumovax (a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine) or of saline, in a double-blind fashion. The follow-up period for each child was 1 1/2 years. In children younger than 2 years at vaccination no difference was recorded between vaccinees and controls concerning the number of consultations due to otitis media acuta or to other upper respiratory tract infections. In children older than 2 years at vaccination a reduction in the overall frequency of visits due to upper respiratory tract infections was observed after vaccination. The incidence of otitis media acuta was reduced during the first postvaccinal year while visits due to tonsillitis and pharyngitis were reduced during the whole follow-up period in vaccinees as compared to controls.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Respiratory tract infections at a community care centre--with emphasis on group A streptococci.

Antibiotics were prescribed for 60% of 1538 patients who consulted a community care centre due to respiratory tract infections. Potential respiratory tract pathogens (betahaemolytic streptococci group A, C, G, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococci) were isolated from almost half (46%) of the patients. The prescribing of antibiotics was correlated to the isolation of potentially pathogenic bacteria, except for patients with pharyngitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. Betahaemolytic streptococci group A were isolated from 14% of the patients. Recurrence of group A streptococcal infection occurred within 3 months in 24% of patients harbouring such bacteria at the first visit. Poststreptococcal subclinical acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) was diagnosed in 9 (4%) of 220 patients with group A streptococci. The patients with AGN had been treated with antibiotics significantly later than patients without signs of AGN.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Preliminary identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci in throat swab cultures with a commercial blood agar slide (streptocult).

A commercial blood agar slide (Streptocult, Orion Diagnostica) was used for preliminary identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci of groups A, C, and G in throat swab specimens. The sensitivity of the test was 93.6% and the specificity was 94.7%, as judged from 580 specimens. A model is suggested for routine processing of throat swab specimens, involving inoculation and reading of the slide in general practice and transport of positive or inconclusive slides to a bacteriology laboratory for isolation and serological grouping of beta-hemolytic streptococci. The model combines preliminary detection of beta-hemolytic streptococci within 24 h with the reliability of serological groupings, and should reduce the volume of specimens sent to the laboratory considerably.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1980

Experimental acute pyelonephritis in grivet monkeys, provoked by Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Urinary tract infection by Staphylococcus saprophyticus was provoked in two female grivet monkeys. A non-hemagglutinating strain of S. saprophyticus was injected into the renal pelvis of one of the animals (monkey I), while in the other (monkey II), a hemagglutinating strain of the same species was inoculated into the bladder by suprapubic puncture. In monkey I, massive hematuria and proteinuria were demonstrated during the post-inoculation (p.i.) week, after which the monkey was killed. In monkey II, which was killed after 2 weeks, hematuria and proteinuria were present during the first 5 p.i. days. In both monkeys, S. saprophyticus was isolated in numbers < 10(5) bacteria/ml bladder urine on each p.i. day. Autopsy of monkey I revealed acute pyelonephritis and inflammatory changes in the ureter on the same side on which S. saprophyticus had been inoculated. In monkey II, both kidneys were enlarged and there were signs of acute pyelonephritis. The histopathological examination revealed microabscesses, interstitial infiltration and numerous leukocytes in the tubules. Both the ureters of monkey II were congested and microscopically an acute inflammatory reaction was found. Inflammatory signs were also present in the bladder. Scanning electron microscopy revealed cocci adhering to the epithelial lining of the urinary tract.

Acute Disease↗