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Biomedical subjects

E C Reisinger

Publications and source records attributed to E C Reisinger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Schistosomiasis and travel medicine.

The rise in off-track tourism and the spread of schistosomiasis in previously non-endemic areas results in an increasing number of imported schistosomiasis cases. - Detection of eggs in stool or urine and specific serology supports the diagnosis, however eosinophilia in early infection is low. In travel groups with a single index case all members of the group with similar risk behaviour should be examined since more than 50% of group members with similar risk behaviour are likely to be infected. Asymptomatic, atypical and late presentation of the disease might delay diagnosis. Praziquantel is not effective against immature worms, therefore treatment of returning travellers with single dose praziquantel is effective when started not earlier than 2 months after infection. A combination of praziquantel plus artemether is thought to be effective also in early stages of infection. Vaccination trials in endemic areas are in progress but a single vaccine for travellers covering all schistosoma species will not be available in the near future. Advising the traveller to avoid risk behaviour like wading, bathing and swimming in endemic fresh waters and about the risk of acquiring schistosomiasis through surface or spray water during boat tours will help to reduce imported schistosomiasis.

Humans↗

Osteomyelitis of the hip joint associated with systemic cat-scratch disease in an adult.

Reported here is the case of a 29-year-old male with cervical lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss, followed by acute painful osteomyelitis of the left hip joint due to cat-scratch disease. The diagnosis was established by detection of IgG antibodies to Bartonella henselae in serum and histologic examination of a lymph node including a positive polymerase chain reaction test. Treatment consisted of clarithromycin and cefotiam for 2 weeks. Four weeks after discharge, all of the patient's symptoms had completely resolved. Magnetic resonance imaging of the left hip joint showed marked regression of bone inflammation 4 months later and normalization after 8 months. Cat-scratch disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteomyelitis in an adult, especially when lymphadenitis is present.

Adult↗

In vitro activity of newer broad spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics against enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenters: a report from Austrian intensive care units. Austrian Carbapenem Susceptibility Surveillance Group.

We compared the in vitro activity of broad spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics against 573 gram-negative isolates (enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenters) collected between November 1996 and May 1997 from 9 laboratories serving intensive care units throughout Austria. MIC's (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) were obtained with the E-test for meropenem, imipenem, ceftazidime, cefepime, cefpirome and piperacillin/tazobactam. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated organism (22%), followed by E. coli (19%), Klebsiella spp. (16%), and Enterobacter spp. (14%). Acinetobacter spp., Proteus spp., Serratia spp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Citrobacter spp., Morganella morganii, Burkholderia cepacia and Salmonella enteritidis were isolated less frequently. Overall meropenem, imipenem and ceftazidime were the most active compounds in vitro, inhibiting 90%, 89%, and 87% of the isolates, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inhibited by piperacillin/tazobactam in 89%, by cefepime in 87% and by ceftazidime in 85%. Imipenem, meropenem and cefpirome were less active (79%, 75% and 69% respectively). All E. coli strains were inhibited by meropenem, 99% were inhibited by imipenem, cefepime and cefpirome. Ceftazidime was active against 95% and piperacillin/tazobactam against 92% of E. coli. All Klebsiella spp. were inhibited by meropenem, cefepime and cefpirome. Imipenem inhibited 99% and ceftazidime 98% of the Klebsiella isolates. Piperacillin/tazobactam was active against 95% of Klebsiella spp. In vitro carbapenems are still the most active of all antibiotics tested. The relatively high resistance of Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. to carbapenems reflects the wide use of carbapenems during the last years. However, most bacterial isolates are still sensitive to the tested broad spectrum beta-lactams.

Acinetobacter↗

Mechanisms and management of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Only 10%-20% of all cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) are caused by infection with Clostridium difficile. Other infectious organisms causing AAD include Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Candida species, and Salmonella species. Most of the clinically mild AAD cases are due to functional disturbances of intestinal carbohydrate or bile acid metabolism, to allergic and toxic effects of antibiotics on intestinal mucosa, or to pharmacological effects on motility. Saccharomyces boulardii and Enterococcus SF68 can reduce the risk of developing AAD. Patients receiving antibiotic treatment should avoid food containing high amounts of poorly absorbable carbohydrates. Mild cases of AAD that may or may not be caused by C. difficile can be resolved by discontinuation of antibiotic therapy and by dietary carbohydrate reduction. Only severe AAD caused by C. difficile requires specific antibiotic treatment.

Animals↗

Gamma knife radiosurgery and albendazole for cerebral alveolar hydatid disease.

Standard treatment of cerebral alveolar hydatid disease consists of open brain surgery and systemic albendazole. We describe a patient with inoperable cerebral alveolar hydatid cysts on whom gamma knife radiosurgery was used instead of open brain surgery. Because of the size of the multicystic lesion, the gamma knife procedure was done in two sessions. Repeated courses of albendazole were given concurrently. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up studies showed marked shrinkage of the irradiated cystic structures and initially increased perifocal edema. At a follow-up visit 3 years after gamma knife radiosurgery, the polycystic lesion, the perifocal edema, and the neurological symptoms had all markedly decreased. The patient is now stable and has minimal neurological symptoms, and the quality of her life has improved. Gamma knife radiosurgery may be an alternative for patients with cerebral alveolar hydatid disease for whom surgery is not possible.

Adult↗

In vitro activity of trimethoprim against Borrelia burgdorferi.

A new culture medium has been developed to evaluate the activity of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole against Borrelia burgdorferi in vitro. In this specially modified Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium, in which antagonizing substances were reduced to a minimum, trimethoprim was more active against Borrelia burgdorferi than against a sensitive strain of Escherichia coli, but sulfamethoxazole was not active against Borrelia burgdorferi.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Haemoglobin O Padova and falsely low haemoglobin A1c in a patient with type I diabetes.

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a 20 year old female with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was consistently within the normal range although her daily blood glucose values were > 11.1 mmol/l. HbA1c measured by immunoagglutination and fructosamine was elevated and correlated with the patient's blood glucose values. The HPLC chromatogram showed an additional peak at HbA0. Electrophoresis of haemoglobin on citrate agar gel revealed an abnormal haemoglobin anodal of HbS. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing demonstrated an additional haemoglobin migrating close to HbA2. Amino acid analysis and DNA sequencing revealed an alpha 30 (B11) Glu-->Lys replacement, that is, haemoglobin O Padova. Investigations of two family members without diabetes revealed the same rare haemoglobin variant. This case showed that this silent haemoglobin mutation caused an additional peak and falsely low HbA1c values when measured by HPLC, the gold standard for this evaluation.

Adult↗

Increased prevalence of IgA-Chlamydia antibodies in NIDDM patients.

Chlamydia trachomatis oculogenital infection is a common disease in western societies. Despite the fact that diabetes is accompanied by increased risk for infections, no data on chlamydial infections in the non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patient exist. In our study Chlamydia antibodies were determined using an immunoperoxidase reaction in NIDDM patients (n = 79) and in a local nondiabetic control population (n = 125) which was randomly invited to a medical control visit without any preselection criteria. In total, 46% of diabetics and 55% of controls were IgG-Chlamydia antibody positive (ns). Using IgA-Chlamydia antibodies to define 'seroactive' chlamydial infection, 22% of NIDDM patients and 14% of controls were positive. Thus seroactive chlamydial infection of all patients with proven contact to Chlamydia (IgG-Chlamydia antibody positive) was 47% in diabetics versus 25% in controls, respectively (P < 0.05). Forming subgroups, significance was reached in females (52% vs. 32%, P < 0.05) only, but a similar trend was observed in males (36% vs. 21%, ns). Seroactivity was neither correlated with HbA1c nor with nephelometrically determined total serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA). Additionally we observed significantly elevated total IgM and IgA-levels in NIDDM patients whereas IgG-levels were comparable in both groups. In conclusion, seroactive chlamydial infections in subjects with proven contact to Chlamydia are more frequent in NIDDM patients than in nondiabetic controls. Additionally, higher IgM and IgA serum levels might indicate a higher susceptibility to active surface infections in NIDDM.

Adult↗

Long-term follow-up in cerebral Whipple's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcome in patients with cerebral Whipple's disease. PATIENTS: We reviewed the literature and contacted authors who had reported on cerebral Whipple's disease within the last 10 years. Fifteen patients were evaluated, including one patient treated at our hospital and the one presented in this paper. The mean observation period was 41 +/- 37 months (minimum 1 month, maximum 120 months). RESULTS: Four patients had improved and were able to pursue an independent lifestyle, three patients had improved but are still dependent on help with simple activities of daily life, one patient was unchanged, and seven patients had died. Patients with initial penicillin alone had a worse prognosis than patients with initial penicillin plus streptomycin. CONCLUSION: Third generation cephalosporins have been shown to be beneficial in cerebral Whipple's disease, therefore initial antibiotic treatment of Whipple's disease should consist of ceftriaxone (instead of penicillin) combined with streptomycin. Since five of 12 patients (40%) treated with co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim plus sulphamethoxazole) did not respond, we conclude that the combination of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole does not prevent or cure central nervous system (CNS) involvement in all patients with Whipple's disease. If CNS relapse occurs during treatment with trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole, oral third generation cephalosporins might be a useful alternative.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗