Biomedical subjects

C Campello

Publications and source records attributed to C Campello.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Low rates of antimicrobial resistance in respiratory pathogens from a pediatric population in north-eastern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes are the main agents of bacterial upper respiratory tract infections in infants and children. In the past decades, the proportion of patients infected with drug-resistant organisms has increased; surveying at a regional level is important for understanding the size of the problem and elaborating therapeutic guidelines based on local epidemiology. METHODS: Since 1997, all isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes have been surveyed for antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: In our zone, we found 3.5% penicillin-resistant and 18% macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, 15.8% ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae and 24.8% erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) in our area does not represent a real concern; conversely, macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae is relatively frequent. Resistance to ampicillin in Haemophilus influenzae in our area seems relatively low, due to beta-lactamase production. Even for Streptococcus pyogenes, macrolide resistance rates in our region are relatively low if compared with other countries and other italian regions. In conclusion, in our area penicillins are still the first choice drugs, at least in noncomplicated or not recurrent infections.

Catchment Area, Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An outbreak of hepatitis C virus in a haemodialysis unit: molecular evidence of patient-to-patient transmission.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major problem in haemodialysis units despite the risk decrease provided by anti-HCV screening of blood. The exact mode of transmission of HCV in the dialysis units remains unclear. To identify the route of the virus and the mechanisms of transmission an investigation into the outbreak of HCV infection in a haemodialysis unit on a molecular level was held: 12 newly infected patients and 14 already infected were investigated by sequencing the 5' untranslated region of the viral genome. The results showed that 3 strains infected new cases and these strains matched those sequenced in already infected patients. Transmission occurred between patients treated on the same shift and also between different rooms. Console and blood or blood product contamination was excluded. Our study gave molecular evidence of patient-to-patient transmission of HCV in a haemodialysis unit. Our data underline the importance of the strict enforcement of standard precautions to prevent HCV transmission and failure of the isolation of anti-HCV positive patients as preventive measure.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Vertical transmission of HGV and outcome of the infected babies].

To assess the risk of HGV mother-to-infant transmission and the clinical outcome of infected babies, we investigated 103 mother-infant couples and followed-up the infected children for 4-72 months. Twenty (19.4%) mothers were HGV-RNA positive and transmission occurred in ten (50%) babies; only one child acquired HGV and HCV infection. Maternal factors, such as history of intravenous drug use, HCV-RNA positivity, HIV coinfection, type of delivery and type of feeding were not related to HGV transmission. One HGV infected baby showed a mild hepatitis when he was also infected by Cytomegalovirus. Two babies cleared HGV within the first year of life. The HGV transmission rate is elevated but HGV infection seems to be benign, at least in a short-term follow-up.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[HHV-6, new perspectives].

HHV-6 is the etiological agent of Exanthema subitum, and its role in human infection is well known. Recently, molecular diagnostics tools showed for HHV-6 new pathogenetic features and new clinical implication. The present paper highlights recent knowledge on HHV-6 infection and presents a number of results concerning HHV-6 infection in children who had undergone BMT and concerning the roles of endothelial cells as viral reservoir.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Current problems in the microbiological control of food].

The paper deals with a number of aspects of current interest and significance on the subject of the microbiological testing of food with particular reference to the role of research institutes. The main objectives of microbiological testing of food are essentially two: (i) to establish the absence of a human health hazard due to microbial contamination of food (food safety); and (ii) to define the quality standard of food (food quality). As far as the first of these objectives is concerned, the outcome of the assay necessarily emerges not only from identification of pathogens but also from definition of their pathogenicity and virulence characteristics and of critical factors for their transmission. Alongside the classic pathogens, evidence has recently been found indicating that four additional bacteria, namely Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae non 0-1 and Listeria monocytogenes, also play an important role in food-borne disease. The most characteristic biological, ecological and epidemiologic aspects related to human food-borne disease are described for these bacteria. As regards the second objective, i.e. food quality, stress is laid on the role played by microbial indicators and their predictivity for pathogenic micro-organisms, which does not always exist. This depends on three basic differential factors: (i) biological characteristics giving rise to different diffusion, dilution and extinction phenomena, or, on the other hand, multiplication of such pathogens in the environment and in food; (ii) resistance to the natural inactivation mechanisms, whether of a general or specific nature, of each alimentary substrate; and (iii) the ecological and epidemiological pattern. By way of examples, two experiences indicating the lack of predictivity of the faecal indicators for enterovirus and Vibrio cholerae non 0-1 are reported. Nevertheless, standard microbiological testing for mesophilic flora and indicators are fundamental instruments in the analysis of food quality at all stages of production (supply of raw materials, good manufacturing practices, characteristics of the product during shelf life), and this type of testing, when performed by industrial-scale food producers, may guarantee a high standard of food quality and its progressive improvement.

Campylobacter↗

PubMedDate not supplied

["In vitro" activity of gentamicin, sisomicin and tobramycin against "pseudomonas aeruginosa" strains from hospital sources (author's transl)].

The in vitro activity of two amynoglicosidic antibiotics, tobramycin and sisomicin, against 215 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens during the years 1972-1975, was evaluated in comparison with that of gentamicin. Tobramycin showed a greater activity than sisomicin and gentamicin. At the concentration of 5 mu/ml tobramycin resulted inhibitory on 94% of strains and sisomicin and gentamicin on 78.6% and 49.8% of strains respectively. The susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to gentamicin decreased from 1972 to 1975, with an increasing of resistant strains of 23%. In an evaluation of possible cross-resistance of 14 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa highly resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 25 gamma/ml) to gentamicin, 13 showed a high degree of resistance also to sisomicin; on the other hand 7 strains highly resistant to gentamicin was sensitive to tobramycin at concentration less than or equal to 10 gamma/ml.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied