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C Ruef

Publications and source records attributed to C Ruef.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic joint infections].

Prosthetic replacement surgery for hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow joints has become commonplace due to the great success of these procedures in restoring function to persons disabled by arthritis. One of the most feared complications is prosthetic joint infection, which is associated with significant morbidity and health care costs. The pathogenesis of prosthetic joint infections is influenced by microorganisms growing in biofilms, making these infections difficult to diagnose and eradicate. Low-grade infections are often manifest as early loosening with or without pain. They are therefore difficult to distinguish from aseptic failure. For an accurate diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections, a combination of preoperative and intraoperative tests is usually needed. Underlying rheumatologic disease can lead to periprosthetic inflammatory changes in tissue. Therefore, only the culture of the microorganism is definitive proof of infection. Successful treatment requires long-term antimicrobial therapy, ideally with an agent acting on adhering stationary-phase microorganisms, combined with an adequate surgical procedure. In this article, the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of prosthetic joint infections are reviewed. We focus on difficult diagnostic aspects in the context of underlying rheumatologic disease.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

[Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PcP) in patients with rheumatic diseases: case report and review].

A 74-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PcP) following therapy with methotrexate and prednisone. Although bactrim treatment was initiated and PcP was not detected by a control bronchoalveolar lavage, the patient died. The precise cause of death remains unknown. As this case illustrates, PcP must be considered as a differential diagnosis in immunocompromised patients with rheumatic disease. The typical course, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of PcP in this patient group are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Rapidly destructive Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis.

A 29-year-old man with rapidly destructive Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis after mitral valve reconstruction is presented. Resistance to rifampin and teicoplanin occurred during antibiotic treatment resulting in clinical failure and valve destruction. Subsequently, the patient was successfully treated, by combining valve replacement with antibiotic therapy including quinupristin/dalfopristin, levofloxacin, and vancomycin. In conclusion, S. epidermidis can cause rapid valve destruction with large vegetations, and combination of surgery and antibiotic therapy may be necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Transregional spread of a single clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between groups of drug users in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: An epidemic spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among intravenous drug users (IDUs) has been observed in Zurich. In the present study we investigated the situation in the Grisons, Switzerland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We screened IDUs and their caregivers in medical and socio-therapeutical institutions in the Grisons for MRSA. Nose swabs were used for bacterial culture and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for MRSA genotyping. RESULTS: A total of 191 nose swabs from 111 IDUs and 80 caregivers was analyzed. None of the caregivers was MRSA positive. Six IDUs were asymptomatic MRSA carriers (5.4%). They participated in the official heroin program (MRSA prevalence in this group 16%). The MRSA genotype was identical with the single clone found in IDUs in Zurich, strongly suggesting an epidemic spread. Decolonization was successful in two persons only. Persistence of MRSA in IDUs must therefore be assumed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a single clone of MRSA, found in IDUs in Zurich, has spread to a distant region of Switzerland. A rigorous infection control program in all institutions with IDUs is necessary to prevent a further spread of MRSA.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Epidemiology and clinical impact of glycopeptide resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus with resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics has been considered to be a rare cause of clinically relevant infections. A review of the current literature shows that this is indeed the case for infections caused by S. aureus with high-level resistance to vancomycin (VRSA), as only isolated cases have been reported. VRSA develops following the insertion of the vanA gene, which is transferred from enterococci with vancomycin resistance. On the other hand, infections caused by S. aureus with intermediate resistance to glycopeptides (VISA), or heterogeneously expressed intermediate level glycopeptide resistance (hVISA), are more common. These infections are associated with clinical failure of glycopeptide therapy. While the biochemical and phenotypic features including a thickened cell wall of hVISA and VISA are well known, the genetic basis of these phenotypes remains unknown. Certain genetic regulatory elements such as agr II are associated with reduced susceptibility of S. aureus to glycopeptides. Available data suggest that certain infections might be successfully treated using higher doses of vancomycin. However, as treatment failure is particularly common in infections with a high bacterial load, it may be necessary to resort to other antibiotics such as linezolid, often combined with surgical intervention, in order to successfully treat these infections. Open questions regarding diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment of glycopeptide resistance in S. aureus are addressed in this review. Clinicians should be aware of these aspects, since S. aureus remains one of the most important bacteria in modern medicine.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗