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PubMed1982

Traveller's diarrhoea with a vengeance in children of UK immigrants visiting their parental homeland.

Six healthy children, born in the UK, travelled to their parental homeland and developed a severe form of traveller's diarrhoea. This was characterised by rapid loss of weight and chronic diarrhoea. On return to this country, investigation in 5 of them showed an abnormal, small intestinal mucosa. There was a high incidence of pathogens and potential pathogens found in stools and duodenal juice. Immunodeficiency was found in 2 of them. Small intestinal mucosal damage related to gut infection in previously well children appears to be of cardinal importance in the interaction between chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition. This observation may point the way to future research into the primary role of gut infection in the initiation of the cycle of malnutrition and chronic diarrhoea in developing communities.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1977

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and culture bacteria from the lower respiratory.

Forty-five specimens were obtained by sequential translaryngeal aspiration and fiberoptic bronchoscopy from 31 clinically unifected patients with lung cancer in order to evaluate the reliability of routine fiberoptic bronchoscopy for culture of the lower respiratory tract. Bacteria were recovered brom 98 percent (44) of the specimens obtained via fiberoptic bronchoscopy and from 58 percent (26) of the specimens obtained by the preceding translaryngeal aspiration. The microorganisms grown from cultures of specimens obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy consisted of mixtures of both nonpathogenic and potenitally pathogenic bacteria. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were present in 87 percent (39) of the specimens from fiberoptic bronchoscopy and 31 percent (14) of specimens from translayngeal aspiration. The results of cultures from the two procedures agreed completely in only a single instance. Culture of washings or secretions obtained by routine fiberoptic bronchoscopy is not recommended because it provides inaccurate and clinically confusing information about the presence or types of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract prior to instrumentation.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Ocular larva migrans caused by Toxocara cati in Mongolian gerbils and a comparison of ophthalmologic findings with those produced by T. canis.

To elucidate the pathogenic potential of Toxocara cari, we observed the ophthalmologic changes of the fundi in Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, after oral inoculation of 17 embryonated eggs/g body weight. Ophthalmic conditions in 8 T. cati-infected gerbils were monitored using an ophthalmoscope from day 0 to day 156 and were compared with those of 57 T. canis-infected gerbils. The results showed that T. cati larvae migrated into the eye of the gerbil and then elicited ophthalmic changes, including retinal (25%) and vitreous (50%) hemorrhaging, vasculitis (37.5%), and exudative lesions (25%). Lesions were less prevalent, however, in T. cati-infected than in T. canis-infected gerbils. Unlike in T. canis-infected gerbils, the hemorrhagic lesions did not reappear in T. cati-infected gerbils after they were absorbed. These findings suggested that T. cati larvae are a potentially hazardous pathogen for ocular toxocariasis and that Mongolian gerbils infected with T. cati may be a useful model for the study of human ocular toxocariasis caused by T. cati. This is the first study to report that T. cati larvae can induce ophthalmic lesions in the retina of gerbils.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Louse-borne bacterial pathogens in lice (Phthiraptera) of rodents and cattle from Egypt.

We collected 1,023 lice, representing 5 species, from rats and domestic cattle throughout 13 governorates in Egypt and tested these lice for Anaplasma marginale, Bartonella spp., Brucella spp., Borrelia recurrentis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia spp. by PCR amplification and sequencing. Five different louse-borne bacterial agents were detected in lice from rodents or cattle, including "Bartonella rattimassiliensis", "B. phoceensis", and Bartonella sp. near Bartonella tribocorum, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia typhi. More lice from governorates bordering the Mediterranean and Red Seas contained pathogens. Our data indicate that lice of urban and domestic animals harbor pathogenic or potentially pathogenic bacterial agents throughout Egypt.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antimicrobial resistance of bacterial organisms isolated from rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if antimicrobial resistance occurs in various bacterial species isolated from rats. METHOD: Two hundred and fifteen rats were trapped from areas in and around Nairobi, Kenya. They were sacrificed and their intestinal, liver and spleen specimens obtained. Various bacterial species were isolated from these specimens. The species were analysed for antimicrobial susceptibility to 12 commonly used antimicrobials using the disc diffusion technique. RESULTS: The bacterial species isolated included pathogenic and potentially pathogenic ones such as Escherichia coli 137, Salmonella typhimurium 1, Klebsiella pneumoniae 2, Enterobacter cloacae 4, Enterobacter sakazakii 2, Citrobacter freundii 3, Morganella morganii (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 and Burkhoddria cepacia 6. Depending on the species, the resistance to the various antimicrobials were: 0-100% for cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, cefuroxime, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, co-amoxyclav, sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, trimethoprim and cephradine, 0-66.6% for gentamicin and 0-25% for apramycin. CONCLUSION: The results showed that, rats from the study area harboured bacterial species with antimicrobial resistance. These micro-organisms may form an important reservoir for antibiotic resistance which could pose a public health hazard. Control of rat populations, better management of sewer systems and waste dumping sites are recommended in order to reduce occurrence of these drug resistance reservoirs.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Contamination of a multiple-use suction catheter in a closed-circuit system compared to contamination of a disposable, single-use suction catheter.

UNLABELLED: Multiple-use (M-U) closed-system endotracheal suction catheters are effective in preventing arterial oxygen desaturation in patients on positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and may lessen the frequency of bradycardia and hypotension in unstable patients who are prone to these complications of suctioning. However, because M-U catheters remain attached to the ventilator circuit and are reintroduced repeatedly into the patient's airway over 24 hours or longer, they could become heavily contaminated with pathogens. We hypothesized a risk of autocontamination to the patient by re-inoculation of the respiratory tract with organisms that flourished on the M-U catheter while it was isolated from the patient's immune defenses or antibiotic therapy. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis in 30 mechanically ventilated adult patients with positive sputum cultures. We measured and compared the amount of bacteria present on an M-U catheter at the end of a 24-hour use period, the amount of bacteria present in the patient's sputum at that time, and the amount of bacteria present on a single-use (S-U) catheter at that time, after it had made one pass into the patient's airway. Organisms recovered and colony counts were also compared to results of a sputum culture obtained before the study began. RESULTS: Fourteen different pathogens or potential pathogens were recovered, in numbers of 2 x 10(1) to 2 x 10(7)colony-forming units. The greatest number of colonies was most often recovered from the sputum specimen, and statistical analysis showed no differences in rate or magnitude of contamination between M-U and S-U catheters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[The role of common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in the epidemiology of bacterial, potentially human pathogenic, disease agents].

Since a long time a public garden in Basel is known as a site for overnight accommodation and assembly of starlings. The birds cause an immense faecal contamination of the park and the neighbouring district. A nursery and a primary school are directly affected. To evaluate the health risk coming from the starlings droppings for the population, particularly for the children and to assess the role of starlings in the transmission of diseases to humans and in the epidemiology of human diseases the presence of human bacterial pathogens in the faeces of starlings was determined. Some of the isolated strains were further typed and compared to strains of human origin. C. jejuni, L. monocytogenes and C. psittaci were most often found. The typing of some C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes isolates showed a great variety of geno-, sero- respectively phage types that did not belong to the strains most often found in isolates of human origin. Starlings can harbour human pathogens and therefore a potential risk of infection comes from their droppings. It seems however rather improbable, that these birds present a constant direct source of infection for human beings.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Ureaplasma urealyticum and pertussis-like syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Ureaplasma urealyticum is associated with respiratory pathology in the neonates and preterm neonates. However, this association has been poorly studied in infants and during early infancy. To address this issue, a clinic evaluation of patients with whooping cough and isolation of U. urealyticum in their nasopharyngeal aspirates has been done. METHODS: Over a period of 11 years, 1063 nasopharyngeal aspirates from 905 infants were studied. Clinical samples were cultured for Bordetella spp., other bacteria, viruses and mycoplasma. Data of patients with positive cultures for U. urealyticum were obtained from clinical records. RESULT: U. urealyticum was isolated from 26 patients with a median age of 5 months (range: 23 days-22 months). The gestational age of 9 patients (34.6%) was less than 37 weeks. All the patients were hospitalised because of pertussis-like syndrome, which was associated with respiratory distress due to bronchospasm in 18 patients (69.2%). Twelve patients (46.1%) had fever and 15 (57.7%) showed lymphocytosis. The chest roentgenogram was abnormal in 18 patients (69.2%): pulmonary hyperaeration, with or without atelectasis. Clinical evolution was good in all patients. In 16 patients (61.5%) U. urealyticum was isolated together with other microorganisms: in 9 samples with bacteria (H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, B. pertussis, M. catarrhalis), in 5 with viruses (respiratory syncytial virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus) and in 2 samples with respiratory syncytial virus and S. pneumoniae and B. pertussis respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Likely U. urealyticum cannot be considered clearly as the etiologic agent of whooping cough, mainly because in the 61.5% of patients U. urealyticum has been isolated together with other microorganisms considered pathogens or potentially pathogens. Future studies would be necessary in order to establish the pathogenic role of U. urealyticum after the neonatal period.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pancreatic pseudocyst, Torulopsis glabrata primary infection. Report of a case].

BACKGROUND: T. glabrata is a saprophyte fungus that has been considered in the past years to be a pathologic agent in the pancreatic pseudocyst. Only three cases have been reported in the world literature. OBJECTIVE: To present a new case of a patient with pancreatic pseudocyst whose primary cause of infection and sepsis was Torulopsis glabrata and to analyze the possible factors that produced the infection. In the same manner, a review of the cases on literature to date was conducted. CASE REPORT: We present the clinical evolution of a post surgical patient with conventional cholecystectomy with biliary duct exploration and biliary duct derivation secondary to choledocholithiasis. This patient developed acute pancreatitis days after an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was carried out. The patient received wide-range antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Later, the patient's case was complicated with pancreatic pseudocyst that was act diagnosed and managed initially with antifungus therapy due to an asymptomatic stage and a late report for T. glabrata. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatobiliary duct instrumentation, in the same manner, prolonged therapy with wide-spectrum antibiotics and with TPN an with the means that had associated as risk factors for T. glabrata infection. Therefore, this fungus could have changed its biologic behavior from commensal to pathogenic. A potentially pathogenic agent in patients receiving this type of therapy and who have pancreatic pseudocyst must be considered to recognize these in the initial stages and begin therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

[Physiology of microflora in the digestive tract].

The microflora of the digestive tract is a complex microbial ecosystem, well balanced, which in an aboral direction undergoes specific changes as to the ratio of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms the functions of which supplement each other--the aerobes ensure for the whole ecosystem the scavenger effect. The microbial profile of the digestive tract is typical by the absence of anaerobic microorganisms in the stomach and conversely their absolute predominance in the distal colon. The basic physiological functions of the microflora of the digestive tract can be characterized as follows: 1. microbial barrier against pathogens and potential pathogens, 2. formation of products of the microflora and their influence on the blood supply of the intestinal mucosa and peristaltics, 3. stimulation of the immune system in the gut, 4. reduction of bacterial translocation, 5. production of vitamins. To this problem in the world literature, contrary to ours, deserved attention has been paid for many years. Knowledge of the problem opens the door to expedient manipulation with the microbial flora of the digestive tract by the use of diet or prebiotics, probiotics as well as antibiotic treatment. The author presents a summary of basic findings which developed on the subject of physiological microflora of the digestive tract successively up to their present shape.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2002

New safety assurance for biological skin covers.

The described system of safety assurance of cryopreserved allogeneic and xenogeneic dermoepidermal transplants comprises serological examination of deceased tissue donors, long-term storage of sera of all donors, microbiological control of prepared allogeneic and xenogeneic dermoepidermal grafts, labelling of released tissue grafts and monitoring of temperatures inside the mechanical freezer (-80 degrees C). From a total number of 76 donors from whom tissues were collected for transplantation during 1999-2001, tissues were discarded in two instances. One because of a positive HBsAg test, the others second one because of presence of anti-HTLV antibodies. In xenogeneic dermoepidermal grafts, out of a total number of 1,203 grafts prepared during the same period, 84 (6.9%) were discarded because of the presence of pathogeneic or potentially pathogeneic microbes. The system of labelling released grafts makes unequivocal identification of the pathway from recipient to donor possible, while at the same time respecting the anonymous character of the donor's data. In xenogeneic grafts it ensures the identification of the appropriate batch. Storage of cryopreserved biological skin covers at a temperature of -80 degrees C in low temperature cabinets with emergency back-up cooling with liquid nitrogen and a supplementary source of electric power, proved very useful. The system responds to the gradual implementation of the principles of Quality Management System ISO 9000 and Good Manufacturing Practice into the activities of tissue banks. Further tightening of the demands for the safety of allo- and xeno-transplantation is foreseen in conjunction with the occurrence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and porcine retroviruses.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Bacterial contamination of paper currency.

One-dollar bills were collected from the general community in western Ohio to survey for bacterial contamination. Pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms were isolated from 94% of the bills. These results suggest a high rate of bacterial contamination of one-dollar bills.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1992

Hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) in public catering services: a modified method, combined to bacteriologic assay.

During 1990 and 1991 the Veterinary and Public Health Services of USL 35 of Ravenna carried out a research programme aimed at the control of food-borne diseases in the sector of public catering services, in collaboration with the Public Health Laboratory (Presidio Multizonale di Prevenzione). The objectives were: obtaining sure information about health hazards in public catering services; checking structural characteristics and equipment of workrooms in restaurants, hotels and refectories; verifying food preparation and preservation methods; promoting health education to increase employees' awareness of hygiene-related problems. The first objective, evaluation of the level of the control of the workrooms exerted on the food contamination hazard by pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms, was carried out by allotting specific scores to several characteristics of laboratories or workers' habits, as suggested by the "Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point" (HACCP) method for butcher's shops and fish markets. Five hundred ninety-eight public catering service units have been inspected in restaurants, hotels, school-refectories, factories, hospitals and social houses; 2,097 bacteriological examinations by agar-contact plates and swabs were carried out; 118 preserved-food temperatures were measured, especially in deep-frozen and cooked food; 70 food specimens were tested to search for Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus and measure Total Aerobic Mesophilic Weight. The presence of Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli was also tested.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1992

[Bacteriological examination of paper money].

Bacteriological survey of one hundred twenty currency notes was done. Aerobic spore-forming bacilli (91%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (63.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (4.2%), Enterococcus (24.1%), alpha-hem. streptococcus (4.1%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1.7%), Corynebacterium (7.5%), Lactobacilli (10.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (31.7%), Enterobacter (19.2%), E. coli (17.5%), Proteus (1.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.8%), Shigella flexneri (0.8%) were isolated from paper money samples. Currency notes in general were bacteriologically contaminated especially with enteric pathogens and potentially pathogens, it was thought that some measures have to be taken to reduce these ill effects.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2001

Biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides by two strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus in whey-based media.

Exopolysaccharides /EPS/ produced by lactic acid bacteria /LAB/ play a role in the rheology and texture of fermented milks (Cerning 1990) and could also provide a new source of safe additives for use in various food products. The physical properties of EPS, such as rheology and behaviour, depend on several factors, including sugar composition, type of sugar linkages, the presence of organic or inorganic substituents, the degree of polymerization and the length of the side chains. On the other hand certain physiological properties of lactic bacteria are of particular importance in the mechanism of their probiotic functioning: metabolism leading to accumulation of organic acids and other fermentation products in the media; resistance to those metabolites; competitive assimilation of the major nutrients of the media. The significant antimicrobial effect of probiotics towards pathogens and potentially pathogenic microorganisms is outlined in this context. This study was conducted on LAB strains with experimentally established preventive effect in control of chemical carcinogenesis induced by dimethylhydrazine, heavy metals and nitrites. The present study reports the biosynthesis of EPS by strains with proved anticancer effect Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB3 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus LBs on whey-based media. A study on the action of different nitrogen sources (yeast extract and peptone) on the productivity of EPS and the rheological properties of medium was done. When whey-based medium was used the highest production of EPS was determined at 1% peptone--145 mg/g(-1). The carbohydrate substrate influenced the EPS composition. Not only the concentration but also the structure of the EPS is important for its thickening effect. The functional properties of the EPS produced could be modified by influencing the growth conditions. The influence of the different content of glucose on the fermentation process and the viscosity of the whey was performed.

Culture Media↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevention of late abortion and high risk premature labor--measures suited for routine practice].

Ascending infection is likely to be the main cause of late abortion and early delivery. In a retrospective evaluation performed at our hospital, evidence of infection was encountered in 76% of 195 pregnancies with premature infants having birth weights less than 2000 g. It may be assumed that the processes responsible for this development take place at the lower pole. It was against this background that we developed a programme designed to contribute to an effective prevention of late abortion and early delivery. The essential requirement is that measurements of vaginal pH enter into routine use during prenatal care. This simple procedure allows for the identification of many (not all) vaginal disorders that might occur in patients at risk. In the presence of other serious anamnestic or diagnostic evidence of imminent late abortion or early delivery, specific bacteriologic examinations including a check-up for chlamydia, vaginal ultrasonography of the cervix and testing for CRP should be carried out. Lower pole lavage, a procedure recently developed by the authors, facilitates the identification of pathogens in the upper part of the infected area, as compared to conventional vaginal and cervical smear. Following are the most important therapeutic measures: An early total blockage of the os uteri is desirable in patients with a clinical history of late abortion or premature infants with little chance of surviving. Acidifying local treatment with Lactobacillus acidophilus is recommended in the presence of abnormally high vaginal pH values (over 4.2). If pathogenic or potentially pathogenic micro-organisms are identified in the upper part of the infected area, local antibiotic therapy should be resorted to, if useful; otherwise systemic antibiotics should be given. If the patient shows definite symptoms of imminent late abortion or early delivery (e.g. critical cervical findings and/or premature labour and/or positive CRP values), systemic wide-spectrum antibiotics should be administered, even if no pathogens have been encountered. The first assessments of the effectiveness of this programme have shown that since its institution in 1989 and 1990, the incidence of underweight infants (birth weight below 1500 g) was significantly reduced at this hospital (by 30%) as compared to the years 1987 and 1988. On the other hand, the incidence of larger underweight infants having a birth weight of 1500 g and more was shown to rise slightly by 9%, while the total number of underweight infants remained unchanged (8.7%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Abortion, Septic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bacteriological studies of the secretions obtained from the endotracheal tube removed from patients recently revascularized].

In cultures of secretions from 101 distal ends of endotracheal tubes removed from patients recently operated on due to several vascular affections, 41.6% of them were positive to different germs: pathogenic (7.9%), potentially pathogenic (12.9%), habitual in the oropharynx (3.9%), opportunistic (4.9%), contaminating (0.9%). Out of the 18.8% of patients recently operated on for acute inflammatory pneumopathy, 68.4% of them had positive cultures of the secretions in the distal ends of the removed endotracheal tubes. Hemocultures were carried out in 34.7% of the patients and 17.1% of them were found positive, although the germs found in the endotracheal tubes and the hemocultures were different. In the immediate postoperative period 48.5% of the gastric pH test were carried out and it was found that 37.6% of them were lower than 4, and 10.9% were higher than 4.1. Among the diseased, 28.6% had acute inflammatory pneumopathy and positive cultures of the secretions in the endotracheal tubes removed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

On the methods of disinfecting bronchofibroscopes.

An apparatus is proposed for the wet disinfection of bronchofibroscopes which enables to wash with disinfectant solution the external surfaces of the tube and instrument channel while keeping dry the control mechanism. Several disinfecting regimens have been tested using chlorohexidine (Gibitan), benzalkonium chloride (Roccal), diocide and ethanol solutions. On experimental contamination of bronchofibroscopes with a P. aeruginosa culture effective disinfection was achieved using 0.5% aqueous and ethanol solution of chlorohexidine and 1% benzalkonium chloride solution (5-min, exposure in the circulation mode of the apparatus), 0.1% solution of diocide only produced a bactericidal effect after a 30-min, exposure. Adequate disinfection was not feasible when the endoscope was soaked in disinfectant. Similar results were obtained when bronchofibroscopes were disinfected in a clinical setup where they became contaminated with the most common pathogenic and potentially pathogenic microflora from the airways of patients suffering from purulent pulmonary diseases.

Benzalkonium Compounds↗