Biomedical subjects

M E Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to M E Pinto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

The sleeping giant. Antimicrobial resistance.

Resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents in use today is present in Latin America as of this publication. Their underlying mechanisms are in place and an even more serious situation is foreseen in the years to come. Both nosocomial and common community-acquired infections have changed to require more complex ways of management. Although newer antibiotics take the place of the older ones, wiser and more restrictive usage of the currently available antibiotics is needed. This may be obtained through education and with the amplification of national and supranational networks of surveillance, which could anticipate trends in resistance.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

PubMed1993

[Molecular characterization of the transferable resistance to amikacin in Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from hospital infections].

Sixty-three amikacin resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated in three hospitals from Santiago, between 1988 and 1990 were included in this study. The strains were multiresistant and harbored 1-5 plasmids. Fifty six isolates (88.9%) transferred amikacin resistance to E coli C600 receptor strain by conjugation. The transconjugants acquired a 11 kilobase-pair or a larger plasmid. The plasmids also encoded resistance to kanamycin, tobramycin, streptomycin and ampicillin. A DNA probe from the gene AAC (6')-I encoding an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase, AAC (6')-I hybridized in Southern blot with plasmid DNA of the 10 Enterobacteriaceae strains tested, but not with the plasmid DNA of 8 amikacin resistant clinical strains of A baumannii. The results indicate that amikacin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is due mainly to conjugative plasmids encoding an AAC (6')-I.

Amikacin↗

PubMed1993

[Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoea strains].

The susceptibility of 45 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoea was studied measuring minimal inhibitory concentrations of five antimicrobials. Results show that 66.7% of strains are resistant to tetracycline and 11.2% to penicillin. All strains were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. This results should prompt to perform surveillance in different areas of Santiago and to establish new therapeutic norms for the treatment of gonococcal infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1992

[Typhoid fever in school children: by what measures is the modification of the clinical course due to oral vaccination?].

The clinical course of infection by Salmonellae was compared between patients who had been vaccinated against typhoid fever using the Ty21a vaccine and those who had not. Of 2566 bacteriological confirmed cases 84% were infected with S typhi, 14% with S paratyphi B and 2% with S paratyphi A. Among patients with typhoid fever, 34% were treated in hospital, 3.5% had relapses, 5.4% developed complications and 1 patient died (0.05%). Among patients with paratyphoid fever, 18% were treated in hospital, 0.6% had relapses, 1.4% developed complications and there were no deaths. These figures were similar among vaccinated and non-vaccinated cases. A slightly greater proportion of vaccinated cases were treated in hospital (38 vs 30%). Thus, use of oral vaccination against typhoid fever does not alter the clinical course of infection with Salmonellae.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1992

[Identification and sensitivity of acinetobacter sp isolated from clinical specimens and hospital environment].

One hundred thirty two strains of acinetobacter isolated between october 1989 and march 1991 at the San Juan de Dios Hospital, Santiago de Chile were included in this study. One hundred twelve isolates were obtained from patients and 20 from the hospital environment. Among the 112 clinical isolates, 108 (96.4%) were identified according to the new classification proposed by Bouvet and Grimont in 1986 as A. baumannii, and four as acinetobacter genospecies 3. The 20 strains obtained from the hospital environment corresponded to A baumannii. No differences in the activities of the antimicrobial agents were found between clinical and environmental strains of A baumannii. Imipenem was the most active antimicrobial drug against A baumannii followed in descending order by sulbactam ampicillin and ceftazidime. The other antimicrobials tested showed poor activity against these strains as revealed for the MICs 50 and 90 in the resistance range.

Acinetobacter↗

PubMed1989

[Infection in severe neutropenia: analysis of 140 episodes].

We analyzed infections complicating 140 episodes of severe neutropenia in 86 patients. The underlying diagnosis was acute leukemia in 64, lymphoma in 12 and isolated cases of bone marrow aplasia, agranulocytosis, dysmyelopoiesis and solid tumors. No fever developed in 35 (25%) episodes. No cause for the fever was identified in 40% of the remaining episodes. Clinical evidence of an infection was present in 20%, with positive bacteriologic findings in 27%. Respiratory infection (16%), pneumonia (11%) and sepsis (10%) were the most common infectious processes. Infectious agents isolated were gram negative bacilli (72%), gram positive cocci (19%) and fungi (9%). The association of amikacin and carbenicillin or cephalosporins proved to be superior to gentamycin-penicillin (p less than 0.01). 16 patients died for an overall mortality of 11%. Pneumonia and infection by K pneumoniae or C albicans were associated to a poorer prognosis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1989

[Identification of group B beta hemolytic Streptococcus in infections of adults and children].

The frequency of isolation of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus was investigated in samples from the skin, genitourinary tract and respiratory tract in adults and children, in 2 periods, 1977-79 and 1984-86. Hydrolysis of sodium hippurate or bile and sensitivity to bacitracin were used to identify the germ. Serologic group was confirmed by coagglutination. The incidence of isolation increased from 6.1% (n = 18) to 28.7% (n = 119) from the first to the second period, ranking second among all S groups. Isolation from blood and from spinal fluid in newborns was observed only in the second period.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988