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Biomedical subjects

C Perronne

Publications and source records attributed to C Perronne.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Evaluation of teicoplanin for treatment of endocarditis caused by gram-positive cocci in 20 patients.

Teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic similar to vancomycin, was evaluated for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis in an open multicenter study from May 1985 to August 1987. A total of 20 patients with positive blood culture endocarditis received teicoplanin once daily as a mean intravenous injection of 7.3 mg/kg of body weight (range, 4.8 to 10.6 mg/kg); in 17 patients, teicoplanin was combined with another antibiotic, usually an aminoglycoside. The mean duration of therapy was 28 days (range, 7 to 66 days). The diagnosis of endocarditis was confirmed by echocardiography or anatomical findings in 15 patients and established on the basis of clinical manifestations plus positive blood cultures in 5 patients. The tricuspid valve was involved in 11 of the 20 patients. Isolates from blood were 12 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Staphylococcus hominis, 1 Micrococcus sedentarius, 1 Enterococcus faecalis, 3 Streptococcus bovis, and 2 nongroupable Streptococcus sp. At the end of therapy, bacterial eradication was achieved in 17 of 20 patients (85%), and a favorable clinical outcome had occurred in 14 of 17 evaluable patients (82%). Of these 14 patients, one relapsed 4 months after the end of treatment. Thus, teicoplanin was effective in 13 of 17 patients (76%). Mean peak levels of teicoplanin in serum were lower, 23.1 +/- 2.9 micrograms/ml, in patients who failed than in those who were cured (45.8 +/- 8.4 micrograms/ml). Side effects occurred in 7 of 20 patients (35%), and required premature discontinuation of teicoplanin in 3 patients. These side effects were fever in three patients, rash in three patients, hearing loss in two patients, and increased serum transaminase levels in two patients. This study demonstrates the efficacy of teicoplanin in the treatment of endocarditis and the need for achieving peak levels in serum close to 40 micrograms/ml. Teicoplanin should now be further evaluated in endocarditis caused by gram-positive cocci means of controlled comparative study with standard therapy.

Adolescent↗

Role of IgG and complement component C5 in the initial course of experimental cryptococcosis.

Although cellular immunity has a crucial role during cryptococcosis, several in vitro studies have pointed out the importance of IgG anti-Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies and complement components during phagocytosis of the yeast by polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes. We investigated the role of complement and specific antibodies in host defences against experimental cryptococcosis, using a monoclonal IgG1 antibody (E1) specific for cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide, and mice congenitally sufficient or deficient in the fifth component of complement (C5). During in vitro experiments, E1 and the normal mouse serum from C5-sufficient and -deficient mice were unable to inhibit the growth of C.neoformans. However, E1 was an efficient opsonin for the ingestion of C. neoformans by mouse peritoneal macrophages, acting in synergy with normal mouse serum. In vivo, E1 was protective in heavily infected C5-deficient mice (DBA/2) dying from an early acute pneumonia, but not in C5-sufficient mice (BALB/c) and in DBA/2 mice infected with a smaller inoculum dying from a late progressive meningo-encephalitis. Although protection against pneumonia is attributed to a local recruitment of phagocytes in C5-sufficient mice, this was not observed in C5-deficient mice protected with E1. In this case, IgG anti-C. neoformans antibodies seem to be an alternative for an efficient opsonization of the yeasts. Altogether, these data suggest that two main mechanisms may protect infected mice from an early fatal pneumonia: the efficient opsonization of the yeast by complement and the recruitment of phagocytes in infected tissues.

Animals↗

Effects of zidovudine in 365 consecutive patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex.

Zidovudine (AZT) is of some benefit for selected patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) or AIDS treated for up to 24 weeks. The activity and toxicity of oral AZT, 200 mg 4-hourly when possible, was evaluated in 365 consecutive patients with ARC (80) or AIDS (285) followed up for a mean of 31 weeks (range 2-52). A transient increase in body weight, Karnofsky index, and CD4 cell count was observed during the first months of therapy. However, by 6 months, these values had returned to their pretreatment levels and several opportunistic infections, malignancies, and deaths occurred. These disappointing results were partly related to the haematological toxicity of the drug, which led to interruption of treatment in many patients. Thus the benefits of AZT are limited to a few months for ARC and AIDS patients. At least for the most severely affected patients, reduced dosage of AZT may increase the therapeutic index.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

[Retrospective bacteriological study of mycobacterial infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

The main species of mycobacteria isolated in 62 of the 316 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients admitted to the Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, between January, 1983 and October, 1986 were studied retrospectively according to their site of isolation and their pathogenic role. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in 19 cases (from pulmonary specimens in 17 cases); this species was present in 59 percent of our African patients as against 20 percent of our European patients. M. avium intracellulare was isolated in 33 cases (17 from blood, 12 from the lung and 11 from the gastrointestinal tract) and was found in 55 p. 100 of our European patients. Other species that were isolated less frequently were M. xenopi (5 cases), M. kansasii (3 cases), M. aurum, M. chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. gordonae, M. simiae and M. terrae (1 case each). Post mortem specimens obtained from 110 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients were cultivated during the same period. In 20 patients, at least one specimen was positive for a mycobacterium: M. tuberculosis in 2 cases, M. avium intracellulare in 18 cases. Twenty-nine of the 33 patients in whom M. avium intracellulare was isolated were considered a posteriori as being infected by this organism. The therapeutic approach varies according to the species involved. No treatment seems to be truly effective against M. avium intracellulare. Pending the results of cultures, no direct bacteriological examination can provide information on the mycobacterial species concerned; however, a conventional antituberculosis treatment may be instituted, particularly in patients from Africa or Haiti.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Adrenal lesions in AIDS: anatomopathological study].

Systematic autopsy studies of 100 patients with AIDS confirmed a high incidence of adrenal lesions. Eighty eight cases were analysed, 79 men and 9 women; 57 had opportunist infection alone, 6 had Kaposi sarcomas and 30 had an association of both pathologies. The adrenal glands were normal in 19 cases and abnormal in 64 cases. One case has non-specific spongiocytic depletion and 4 were uninterpretable because of necrosis. The main adrenocortical changes were inflammatory (N = 37) or necrotic (N = 22). The commonest sites were in the adrenal medulla in the cortex or at the cortico-medullary junction. There was a high incidence of cytomegalic inclusion bodies (44 cases). In 7 cases specific lesions were observed; cryptococcus (1), toxoplasmosis (1), tuberculosis (2), Kaposi (3). Adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed before death in only 3 cases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Failure of new beta-lactam antibiotics in the treatment of severe Enterobacter cloacae infections].

In 12 patients infected with an Enterobacter cloacae (E. cl.) initially susceptible to the 3rd generation cephalosporins, we observed the emergence in vivo of variants resistant to most of the new beta-lactam antibiotics (carboxy-penicillins, ureido-penicillins, 3rd generation cephalosporins and aztreonam). These variants remained susceptible to mecillinam and imipenem. The variant emerged under treatment with cefotaxime in 3 cases, with moxalactam in 3 cases, with aztreonam, carbenicillin, and ticarcillin in 1 case each and without treatment in 1 case. An aminoglycoside was combined with the beta-lactam antibiotic in 6 cases. Therapeutic failure was attributed to emergence of the resistant variant in 6 out of 12 cases (with an aminoglycoside in 3 cases, with the beta-lactam antibiotic alone in 3 cases). These case reports underline the importance of bacteriological monitoring of patients infected with E. cl. treated with a beta-lactam antibiotic. The susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics of the E. cl. strains isolated during treatment should be systematically retested.

Adult↗

An outbreak of acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in members of a trekking trip in Martinique, French West Indies.

BACKGROUND: Thirteen clustered cases of American histoplasmosis, a deep mycosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum and acquired through inhalation of airborne spores was reported. Twenty-five persons traveled in Martinique, French West Indies. Thirteen underwent trekking and passed through a mountain tunnel full of bats (tunnel group). The 12 others performed canyoning and did not go through the tunnel (control group). Fifteen days after exposure, 1 patient of the tunnel group developed fever, chills, and cough. METHODS: The index case was diagnosed in the hospital, but 12 cases where initially diagnosed as prolonged influenza. All individuals were contacted and submitted to a phone questionnaire. They were asked about eventual occurrence of influenzalike symptoms, about activities practiced, and the notion of contact with bats. All were invited to have clinical examinations, chest x-ray films, and blood samplings. Serologic testing for histoplasmosis was performed by immunodiffusion. Clinical evidence of infection with H. capsulatum was obtained in all the remaining patients of the tunnel group and in none in the control group. Symptoms occurred with an acute onset in 11 to 23 days: fever and chills, severe asthenia, headaches, digestive tract involvement, and then cough, dyspnea, hepatic involvement. Pulmonary micro- or macronodules and mediastinal adenopathies were seen on radiograph and/or computed tomography scan. RESULTS: H. capsulatum serologic tests were positive in all 13 cases with presence of specific M and or H precipitins, 5 to 13 weeks after exposure, and were negative in control group. All patients were treated with itraconazole 200 mg per day during at least 2 months. Treatment was well tolerated; patients progressively recovered. Clinical and serologic follow-up was obtained for some patients at 1 and 4 years. The present study reports the first large outbreak of histoplasmosis acquired in Martinique. CONCLUSION: Histoplasmosis still occurs and is potentially serious. In patients returning from endemic areas, presenting prolonged influenzalike symptoms, clinicians should look for previous possible exposure to Histoplasma.

Acute Disease↗