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Biomedical subjects

G Stanek

Publications and source records attributed to G Stanek.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[A spate of listeriosis in newborn infants in Vienna (author's transl)].

Twelve years after the last bacteriologically verified case of human listeriosis was reported in Austria, 3 cases of neonatal listeriosis have been observed in Vienna within the space of a few months. In 2 patients the disease was definitely septicaemic, whilst the third suffered from predominantly pneumonic manifestations. As the clinical picture is not uniform, neonatal listeriosis may be difficult to recognize. Therefore, the consulted physician ought always to consider this disease, when he is confronted with obscure infections in newborn infants. The most important and, indeed, only diagnostic investigation to prove suspected listeriosis is bacteriological culture. Serological findings do not offer a conclusive diagnosis in cases of this disease.

Austria↗

[Investigations on the immune response against meningococcal polysaccharide in children (author's transl)].

Children between the 2nd and 5th, respectively between the 7th and 10th year were immunized with meningococcal vaccine A + C in comparison to adults. The vaccines contained 50 micrograms of meningococcal polysaccharide A and C and fulfilled the requirements of the WHO. Antibodies were determined before and 4 weeks after vaccination by means of the bactericidal microassay. All age groups showed a distinct immune response to polysaccharide A and polysaccharide C. The mean titer increase was between 4.5 and 9.3 titer steps, the conversion rate ranged from 71% to 100%. In the youngest age group a positive correlation between age and mean titer increase was found in prevaccinal seronegative children as well as in prevaccinal seropositve ones. In all age classes prevaccinal seronegative children showed a significant higher titer increase than prevaccinal seropositive ones. A negative correlation was found between prevaccinal titers and titer increase in all age groups with polysaccharide A and polysaccharide C.

Adult↗

[A simple method for differentiating methicillin-resistant, penicillinase-positive and -negative staphylococci by agardiffusion test (author's transl)].

Coagulase-positive staphylococci (41 methicillin-resistant strains, 28 penicillinase-positive and 12 penicillinase-negative strains) were tested against most types of penicillines commercially available on the Austrian market using both broth-dilution test (incubated during 48 hours at 35 degrees C) and agardiffusion tests (incubated during 24 hours at 30, 35 and 37 degrees C) employing Mueller-Hinton-broth and -agar, respectively, in order to find out the most convenient way of detecting methicillin-resistant strains. Consecutively, the conclusions drawn from these experiments were verified for tests on Isosensitest-agar (Oxoid). It was demonstrated that methicillin-resistant strains could be detected easily with discs of methicillin and oxacillin at 30 degrees C (Fig. 1). At 35 degrees C this was nearly as easily possible for methicillin but oxacillin discs had to be used at amounts of 1 microgram instead of 5 microgram. Excepting penicillin G-discs with the other penicillines differing numbers of methicillin-resistant strains would have been missed at 37 degrees C (Fig. 1, 2). Only with discs containing 6 microgram penicillin G methicillin-resistant strains were unequivocally identifiable in the agardiffusion test at all 3 incubation-temperatures (Fig. 3), the largest inhibition zone diameter being 12 mm. Penicillinase-positive but methicillin-sensitive strains always produced larger inhibition zones up to 30 mm. From these strains again penicillinase-negative strains were equally well distinguishable by much larger inhibition zones. So, the conclusion was drawn that on Mueller-Hinton agar one disc loaded with 6 microgram of penicillin G allows proper distinction not only of methicillin-resistant and -sensitive but also of penicillinase-positive and -negative strains of staphylococci. On Isosensitest-agar this is true for an incubation-temperature of 35 but not 37 degrees C (Tab. 1).

Culture Media↗

[Comparison of API-10s and Minitek with conventional biochemical tests (author's transl)].

2 biochemical test-kits, API-10S and MINITEK, and conventional biochemical tests were used in parallel for testing 292 strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The same 10 biochemical tests were performed in all three systems. In addition the Voges-Proskauer reaction was tested in the conventional and the Minitek-system. The individual biochemical testreactions and diagnoses were compared. An overall average of tests indicated an agreement of 92.6% (Tab. 2). Urease-activity and citrate-utilisation showed the lowest agreement (70.5 and 74.3% respectively). 93.4% of the diagnose obtained with API- and 96.2% of those with MINITEK were identical to the diagnosis obtained by the conventional method. The Voges-Proskauer reaction was found to be more reliable for correct identification than the citrate-utilisation which - inspite of its very low agreement (Tab. 3) - has not influenced the diagnoses.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

[Improvement of the therapeutic efficacy of fosfomycin by addition of glucose-6-phosphate in the treatment of intraperitoneally infected mice (author's transl)].

The increase of antimicrobial activity of Fosfomycin by glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) has often been demonstrated by in vitro studies. However, this effect was never sufficiently established in vivo. Our study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of the addition of G-6-P to Fosfomycin in white mice (strain G.P. of N.I.H.), which were intraperitoneally infected with a strain of S. typhimurium (10(3) c.f.u/0.5 ml i.p.). One and six hours after the infection, 0.1 ml consisting of increasing doses of G-6-P (0, 5, 25, 50, 250 and 500 micrograms/g) and decreasing doses of Fosfomycin (15.6, 7.8, 3.9, 1.95, 0.98 and 0.49 micrograms/g) were applied i.m., using 10 animals for each combination. Tables 1 and 2 show the results of this therapy with regard to the reduction of the ED50 of Fosfomycin. It can be seen that the addition of 25 micrograms G-6-P/g body-weight significantly reduces the ED50 within the first days (Tab. 1), while doses of 50 and more micrograms G-6-P/g significantly reduce the ED50 during the whole investigation period (Tab. 2). These results justify the proposal to use a combination of Fosfomycin and G-6-P in clinical studies for the treatment of human infections.

Animals↗

[Yersinia enterocolitica--a still infrequently isolated pathogen in Austria (author's transl)].

Yersinia enterocolitica--recognized as a distinct taxonomic entity in 1964--belongs to the family of enterobacteriaceae. It has been isolated with increasing frequency from human and animal sources as well as from food and non-chlorinated water. Yersinia enterocolitica can produce enteritis in man, accompanied or followed in adults by erythema nodosum, arthralgia and/or acute arthritis. Rarely, septicaemia with a high mortality rate has been encountered. A cold-temperature enrichment method was used to examine 1135 faecal specimens; 11 were positive for Yersinia enterocolitica. Symptoms of enteritis were reported by all 8 patients whose faeces contained the bacterium; a brief description is given of the course of illness in each patient. Biochemical and serological properties of the isolates are discussed with special reference to some unusual results obtained with the commerical API-20 E system for identification of enterobacteriaceae when incubated overnight at 35 degrees C.

Adult↗

[Microbiological monitoring of embalmed cadavera during dissection courses (author's transl)].

Microbiological monitoring of normal anatomical specimens was done in order to evaluate results which were obtained in a investigation of decay of embalmed cadavera. The process of decay was characterized by massive colonisation with enterobacteria and aerobic sporeformers. Under normal conditions mainly germs from skin and air are cultivated from surfaces of anatomical specimens, but only in small numbers. The number of germs is increased after periods of intensive preparative work. The results show that the main criterion for the microbiological quality of embalmed cadavera is resistency against external germs during course work. This is to be achieved by consequent preventive measures in the dissection laboratory.

Anatomy↗

[Comparison of disinfectant activity of 3 different embalming fluids on cadavera for anatomical study (author's transl)].

The antimicrobial effect of 3 different embalming fluids (Phenol/Formaline, JORES 1913 TUTSCH 1975) was evaluated from the beginning of the conservation process through storage in a new system (TUTSCH et al. 1971) and the subsequent dissection course. Endogenous bacteria are significantly reduced 24 hours after injection. Later on during the storage period of at least 6 months no germs are detected in swabs from orifices whereas Staphylococcus epidermidis and aerobic sporeforming bacteria were found on the surfaces of the bodies in some cases. The formula of the disinfectant (Phenol/Formaline or Merfen according to NEUMANN 1974) in the storage system appears to be of no significance. During dissection as a rule Staphylococcus epidermidis and a few aerobic sporeformers were found on the surface of specimens, at one time Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultivated too. Swabs from the peritoneal cavity and from contents of the intestine were sterile. Investigations by broth dilution method were carried out in order to evaluate the degree of bacteriostatic activity of the various fluids in use. This method is now routinely used for control of the disinfectants in the storage system.

Anatomy↗

Determination of meningococcal antibodies by microassay.

A modified microassay procedure, using triphenyltetrazolium chloride as a germination indicator, was compared with a macroassay method proposed by the World Health Organization for determining the level of antibodies before and after immunization with Group A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. There was excellent agreement between the results obtained by the two methods. The vaccine used appeared to be safe and immunogenic.

Adult↗

[Investigations on bloodcultures with three culture media containing Na-polyanetholsulfonate (aerobic iso- and hypertonic and anaerobic isotonic (author's transl)].

By using parallel culture techniques 330 blood specimens steming from patients of an intensive care unit were cultured simultanously in 3 media containing 0.05% Na-Poly-anetholsulfonate. Otherwise having an identical composition the media differed in the following respects : the isotonic medium A and the - by additional content of 10% sucrose - hypertonic medium B were used for aerobic culture. The anaerobic and isotonic medium C contained 2% Proteose-peptone, additionally. Without regards to the isolation of strictly anaerobic bacteria a total of 114 positive bloodcultures was obtained (tab. 1). The use of medium A resulted in 81 positive bloodcultures, that of medium B and C in 93 and 50, respectively (tab. 2). With the combined use of media A + B 103 positive bloodcultures would have been detected, with B + C 102, but with A + C 92 only (tab. 2). Of all 3 media the hypertonic medium B promotes bacterial growth most efficiently, but 13 strains grown in A did not grow in B (tab. 3), a fact that leads to the conclusion that isotonic as well as hypertonic aerobic media are employed in parallel advantageously. The effect of the hypertonic medium was expressed most distinctly with the isolation of grampositive bacteria (tab. 4). As during the period of this investigation the intensive care unit was afflicted by an outbreak of Serratia marcescens the predominance of this species among the other isolated microbes (tab. 5) is not surprising. While no difference of detection-time was observed between A and B, microbial growth in medium C seemed to be slower (fig). It was concluded that the use of 3 media, aerobic isotonic and hypertonic as well as anaerobic isotonic should be employed whenever possible.

Anaerobiosis↗

[Increasing incidence of Serratia marcescens bacteraemia in intensive care patients (author's transl)].

The incidence of serratia marcescens in an intensive care unit was investigated in course of several years. After a trial of Cephalosporin-Gentamycin prophylaxis, infection and death due to serratia rose dramatically. The significance of decreased resistance to infection, hygiene regimes as well as mode of administration of antibiotics is related to selection of this rare microorganism causing septicemia.

Adolescent↗

[Bactericidal antibody micro-assay for detection of antibodies against meningococci (author's transl)].

The best way to detect protective antibodies against meningococci in human serum seems to prove its bactericidal activity. For this a bactericidal antibody assay was described by WHO. For this test, however, a high amount of baby rabbit-serum is required. Therefore a modification was introduced by reducing the test volumes, performing the test in microtiterplates and using TTC (triphenyl tetracolium chloride), as a growth indicator that changes from colourless to purple red in the presence of growing meningococci. The end point of serum titration is the last well containing colourless medium.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

[Comparison of efficacy of 14 procedures for the hygienic disinfection of hands (author's transl)].

The efficacy of 14 procedures for the hygienic disinfection of hands mostly with commerical preparations was tested by a new experimental model developed at the Institute of Hygiene of the university Vienna (1,3). The disinfectant power was clearly dependent on the duration of treatment as well as on the kind of alcohol used in the preparation (n-Propanol better than iso-Propanol better than Ethanol). After one minute the efficacy of all preparations containing one of the three alcohols as active agent was well comparable to that of the standard procedure which according to our proposal (5) uses iso-Propanol 60% (ml/ml) for 1 minute. For preparations with n-Propanol as the main active agent (Satinazid and Sterillium) this was true even after treatment for a period as short as 0.5 min. In our opinion disinfecting detergents are out of place for hygienic disinfection of hands. One preparation representing this group (Versuchspräparat A) was far less effective than the standard procedure.

1-Propanol↗

Occurrence of campylobacter pyloridis in patients from Vienna with gastritis and peptic ulcers.

During routine gastroduodenoscopic examination of 120 patients, biopsies of gastric mucosa were taken for the isolation of Campylobacter pyloridis. The organism was isolated from six of seven patients with ulcus ventriculi, 14 of 15 with ulcus duodeni, 15 of 20 with erosions of the gastric mucosa, 31 of 61 with gastritis and five of five with duodenitis. In contrast, the cultures were negative in all of the 12 patients with histologically normal mucosa. C. pyloridis was isolated significantly more frequently from patients with active chronic gastritis than from those with inactive chronic gastritis (100% vs. 50%). These results support the suggestion of Marshall and Warren that this bacterium may play an important role in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Adult↗

Laboratory diagnosis and seroepidemiology of Lyme borreliosis.

Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is performed by direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in body fluids and tissue samples. This can be achieved by cultivation of the organisms, staining techniques, or demonstration of parts of the genome. Although the best aetiologic proof in case of positivity, these methods cannot yet serve as routine techniques: they are too time consuming and expensive. Currently, the usual method for establishing the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is serologic testing (indirect detection). Immunofluorescence, hemagglutination, ELISA tests with whole cell antigen should be considered as screening methods. Assays with selected fractions of B. burgdorferi antigens or tests using selected recombinant antigens should be considered as more specific. Immunoblotting (Western blotting) may be considered as a confirmatory test. However, the interpretation of test results requires an experienced investigator. Laboratory diagnosis of B. burgdorferi infections of the central nervous systems (CNS) is the most highly developed method. Demonstration of intrathecally produced specific antibodies, and, moreover, demonstration of specific oligoclonal bands may very well prove the actual infection of the CNS and/or the nerve roots. Seroepidemiological investigations identify neurological manifestations as the most frequent ones among European cases of Lyme borreliosis. The true incidence and prevalence of Lyme borreliosis, however, cannot be determined with current diagnostic methods and must await the development of methods to identify actual infection.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Lyme borreliosis of central nervous system (CNS) in children: a diagnostic challenge.

Within 24 months in a consecutive series of 84 children with neurological symptoms indicative of Lyme borreliosis of the central nervous system (CNS) 45 seronegative children (group III), 17 seropositive (group II), and 22 children with specific Borrelia burgdorferi results in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-i.e. B. burgdorferi antibodies and/or intrathecally produced B. burgdorferi antibodies and/or positive B. burgdorferi culture in CSF were observed. The results show that intrathecally produced B. burgdorferi antibodies are the most important marker for the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis (with 71.4% positives) and B. burgdorferi cultivation directly from CSF may be successful in the earliest phase of the disease. Since each of the specific CSF parameters may be false negative in some cases, a careful synopsis of laboratory parameters was done. It shows that CSF protein and CSF cell values are higher in group I than in II or III. Neither can seronegativity exclude nor can seropositivity confirm the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis as in only 71% of group I serum B. burgdorferi antibodies were detected. In view of these aspects clinical and laboratory results are discussed.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Penicillin G sodium and ceftriaxone in the treatment of neuroborreliosis in children--a prospective study.

A controlled clinical study was set up to examine whether penicillin G sodium (PG) or ceftriaxone (C) is superior in the treatment of acute neuroborreliosis in childhood. Within a time period of 18 months 77 children with symptoms indicative of Lyme borreliosis of the central nervous system (CNS) were seen. In 23 of these children Borrelia burgdorferi specific cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters confirmed the diagnosis of a neuroborreliosis. These children were treated at random with intravenous (i.v.) PG 400,000-500,000 I.U./kg/day for 14 days (group I) or with i.v. ceftriaxone 75-93 mg/kg/day for 14 days (group II), respectively. Clinical examination and a set of diagnostic laboratory parameters were done at admission, right after therapy, three, six and partly 12 months after therapy. The general condition of all children in both groups improved dramatically during antibiotic therapy, and no relapse occurred within the observation period. Considering the clear and comparable decrease of B. burgdorferi serum titres and the clinical outcome (duration of disease and follow-up for at least six months) in children of both groups no difference between both antibiotic drugs can be demonstrated.

Ceftriaxone↗