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J Begovac

Publications and source records attributed to J Begovac.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of clinical characteristics of group A streptococcal bacteremia in children and adults.

This report reviews 55 cases of bacteremia due to group A streptococci (GAS) in patients treated at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, in Zagreb, Croatia, during the period 1974-1994. Clinical findings for 27 children (age, < 18 years) were compared with those for 28 adults. A clear predominance of the respiratory tract as a primary focus of infection in younger patients was observed (P = .00006). Children were more frequently colonized by GAS in their throats than were adults (P = .04). Suppurative osteoarticular metastatic foci were more often found in children (P = .02). Acute underlying conditions were more common in children (P = .04), whereas chronic underlying conditions were more common in adults (P = .00005). The case fatality rate was 23% among children (6 of 27) and 50% among patients aged > 60 years (5 of 10). The course of bacteremia due to GAS was benign in eight children (29.6%) and 12 adults (42.8%). Our experience suggests that there are significant differences in the presentation of bacteremia due to GAS in children and adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Asymptomatic pharyngeal carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci and streptococcal pharyngitis among patients at an urban hospital in Croatia.

In a one-year study at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia the rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci was investigated. Throat carriage was investigated in 1796 patients, none of whom had a sore throat nor signs and/or symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. The carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci was 8.3%, for group A streptococci 6%, group B 1.3%, group C 0.3% and group F 0.1%. The highest rate was observed in the 6 to 14 year age group: 13.8% for all streptococcal groups, 11.7% for group A alone. The proportion of non-A streptococci was higher in older age groups. Tonsillectomised individuals were less frequently carriers. No sex or season-dependent variations were observed. In a four-month study of 629 patients with pharyngitis the throat cultures yielded: group A streptococci in 44.7%, group B in 1.7%, group C in 0.8%, and group G in 0.6% of the patients. Group A streptococci in 44.7%, group B in 1.7%, group C in 0.8%, and group G in 0.6% of the patients. Group A streptococcal rates in carriers compared to rates in patients with pharyngitis suggest that approximately one fourth of the schoolchildren with culture-positive pharyngitis actually are not truly infected, but only carriers currently having a sore throat of non-streptococcal etiology. Antibiotics were administrated to 605 (96.2%) patients with pharyngitis; in 571 (94.4%) of the cases before culture results became available. After culture-negative results were obtained the therapy was discontinued in only 28.5% of the cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Production of pyrogenic exotoxins in group A streptococci isolated from patients in Zagreb, Croatia.

The pyrogenic exotoxin profiles were determined of group A streptococci isolated from patients in Zagreb, Croatia in the period 1989-1990. A total of 12 strains were studied, five from patients with serious infections and seven from patients with uncomplicated infections. Serotypes M1 and M3 were found in seven (58%) patients. Seven strains produced exotoxin A and ten strains exotoxin B. The proportion of exotoxin A and B producing strains in patients with severe infections (3 patients respectively) was similar to that found in patients with uncomplicated infections (4 and 7 patients respectively).

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Lactate and glucose in cerebrospinal fluid heavily contaminated with blood.

To simulate a traumatic lumbar puncture, blood was added to 33 normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. A hypothesis was tested if the CSF glucose and CSF lactate were unchanged after contamination with blood. Lactate and glucose here measured in both normal and blood-stained CSF. The estimated contamination of the normal CSF with red cells ranged from 84000 to 676500 cells per cubic millimeter. CSF lactate was unchanged by the addition of blood (P = 0.8), whereas CSF glucose was significantly higher in the blood-stained CSF (P = 0.0005). Therefore, the determination of lactate levels in the CSF heavily contaminated with blood could be useful in differentiating viral from bacterial meningitis.

Blood↗
PubMed1988

Mononucleosis-like syndrome associated with a multisystem Coxsackie virus type B3 infection in adolescence.

We describe a severe multisystem Coxsackie virus type B3 infection in a previously healthy 14-year-old girl who presented with a mononucleosis-like syndrome (MS). Initial observations included a prominent cervical lymphadenopathy, exudative pharyngitis and leucocytosis with atypical lymphocytosis. At the end of the 2nd week of illness the patient developed meningoencephalomyelitis and haemolytic anaemia. Subclinical myocarditis was also recorded. Prolonged hepatitis recrudescing at the time of recovery coincided with serological evidence of a reactivated Epstein-Barr virus infection. The diagnosis was based on a significant rise in serum antibody titres against Coxsackie virus type B3, using the neutralization test. Intrathecal synthesis of antibodies to Coxsackie virus type B3 was also demonstrated. Generalized Coxsackie virus infections in adolescence are rare and an MS has not, to our knowledge, been associated with Coxsackie virus type B3 infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cytomegalovirus mononucleosis in children compared with the infection in adults and with Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis.

We report clinical and laboratory findings in 11 previously healthy children with cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis and compare them with those of 18 adults with CMV mononucleosis and with those of 22 age-matched children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) mononucleosis. Exudative pharyngitis was more common in children whereas prolonged fever was more common in adults. Prominent lymphadenopathy and exudative pharyngitis, however, were less frequent in children with CMV mononucleosis than in those with EBV mononucleosis. Nevertheless, children with CMV mononucleosis are more likely to resemble those with EBV mononucleosis than adults with CMV mononucleosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS-related body cavity-based lymphoma. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Body cavity-based lymphomas are rare malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but because of their unusual clinical, morphologic and immunophenotypic features, they are recognized as a distinct subgroup of lymphomas connected to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. CASE: A 39-year-old, HIV-positive, homosexual man was admitted to the hospital because of a left-sided pleural effusion that contained malignant lymphoid cells. He responded partially to a low-dose cyclophosphamide/doxorubycin/vincristine/prednisone regimen and died five months after the diagnosis of lymphoma. On cytology, the sediments contained exclusively large, round, neoplastic, lymphoid cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm and large, round nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Many cells had immunoblastic features, and some had plasmocytoid differentiation. Mitotic figures were numerous. On flow cytometry, the homogeneous population of large cells expressed CD45, CD38, HLA-DR and CD7 positivity. Other specific T-, B- and NK-cell markers tested negative. Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and HHV-8 in the malignant effusion. CONCLUSION: Primary effusion from lymphoma with molecular evidence of HHV-8 and EBV coinfection represents a distinct clinical and morphologic entity in AIDS patients. However, immunophenotypic markers of malignant clones can be diverse in different cases.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bacteremia caused by beta-hemolytic group A streptococci].

The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristic of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) bacteremia in patients treated at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Zagreb were analyzed. Of 51 cases of bacteremia due to GABHS seen over the past 15 years, 15 (29%) have been registered since 1987. The mean age of our patients was 25 years (range, 5 months to 87 years); and 29 (57%) were under 18. Ten (19%) patients died, 6 being less than 18 years of age. Forty-seven (92%) cases were community-acquired and 16 (32%) had underlying disease. Primary foci of infection, defined as a sites of inflammation that precedes bacteremia, included pharyngitis in 15 and erysipelas/cellulitis in 16 patients. Six patients had no focus of infection. Shock was recorded in 4 patients, all of whom died. Seven patients had a rash, in 5 the rash was typical of scarlet fever. Of the 6 children who died 4 were previously healthy and they all died within 24 hours following admission, and were sick at least 48 hours before admission to our hospital. Our experience suggests that serious GABHS infections may appear in children, that it requires prompt recognition and treatment and that a worldwide change in the virulence of GABHS may have occurred.

Adolescent↗