Saturday, December 29, 2012
Non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium species: an emerging respiratory pathogen.
Non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium species: an emerging respiratory pathogen.
Dec 2012
Díez-Aguilar M, Ruiz-Garbajosa P, Fernández-Olmos A, Guisado P, Del Campo R, Quereda C, Cantón R, Meseguer MA.
Source
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, maria_diez_aguilar@hotmail.com.
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to describe the microbiological and clinical features of ten cases of lower respiratory tract infection due to Corynebacterium striatum, Corynebacterium propinquum and Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum. Respiratory samples were recovered from hospitalised patients who were diagnosed of pneumonia and exacerbations of chronic respiratory infections. The samples were Gram-stained and seeded on conventional bacterial growing media. Bacteria were identified by matrix-assisted linear desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by the disk diffusion method. All patients presented an acute respiratory onset, most of them in the context of an underlying disease and/or immunosuppression. In all patients, the microscopical examination of Gram-stained respiratory samples showed numerous polymorphonuclear cells and Gram-positive bacilli, suggestive of the Corynebacterium morphotype. A pure culture growth of Corynebacterium was obtained in the majority (72 %) of samples. The conclusions are that non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium species are an emerging cause of respiratory infection among patients with chronic respiratory disease and/or immunosuppression, and cannot always be considered as mere colonisers. The microorganism's predominance in Gram-stained purulent respiratory samples together with abundant growth in the culture is the key for the microbiological diagnosis.
Labels: antibiotic, colonisers, Corynebacterium propinquum, Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, Corynebacterium striatum, immunosuppression, MALDI-TOF MS, Non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium, respiratory pathogen
# posted by Pat O'Connor @ 8:41 AM
Friday, November 23, 2012
A Case of Steroid-induced Hyperinfective Strongyloidiasis with Bacterial Meningitis.
A Case of Steroid-induced Hyperinfective Strongyloidiasis with Bacterial Meningitis.
Nov 2012
[Article in Korean]
Source
Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, 33 Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, Daegu 705-718, Korea.
Abstract
Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil transmitted intestinal nematode that is endemic in the tropical and subtropical regions. In most individuals who are infected, chronic, usually asymptomatic, gastrointestinal infection persists. But, in immunocompromized hosts or in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, autoinfection of S. stercoralis may result in the dissemination of larvae, leading to fatal hyperinfection and increased rate of complications. We report a case of hyperinfective strongyloidiasis with bacterial meningitis in a patient receiving steroid therapy. Strongyloidiasis was diagnosed by the presence of filariform larvae of S. stercoralis in the bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy specimen. Her clinical symptoms had progressively aggravated and developed bacterial meningitis during treatment. She died despite aggressive antibiotic and antihelminthic therapy.
Labels: antibiotic, antihelminthic therapy, autoinfection, bacterial meningitis, Hyperinfective Strongyloidiasis, immunocompromized host, immunosuppressive therapy
# posted by Pat O'Connor @ 6:15 AM
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Conquering antibiotic-resistant bacteria by knowing the facts
Conquering antibiotic-resistant bacteria by knowing the facts
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention featured awareness of unnecessary antibiotic use on November 13, 2012 on their website as a kick off to their “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.” Inappropriate use continues to be a major problem in the U.S. and continues to be problem contributing to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Medline Plus presented results of a poll on November 13, 2012 indicating 90 percent of Americans know antibiotics treat bacterial infection, but 36 percent incorrectly think these drugs eradicate viral infections like the flu or common cold. An important factor related to this issue involves antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). About 60,000 people die in the U.S. every year from drug-resistant infections. Taking antibiotics when unnecessary leads to the bacteria becoming resistance to the drug. The bacteria then mutate into superbugs meaning that the microorganism can withstand the effects of the antibiotic. The bacteria lives and needs a stronger antibiotic to kill it. Unfortunately, drug development evolves slowly and individuals die because no drug will kill the stronger bacteria.
Medscape Medical News reported good news on the rate of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. decreased 17 percent between 1999 and 2010. However, some states still overprescribe. Seven states in the south prescribing antibiotics more than double the rate of other states in the nation. The seven states in order of most prescriptions of antibiotics filled per 1000 population include Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas. On the flip side, the states ranked starting with the lowest prescriptions filled include Alaska, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and New Hampshire.
According to Science Daily, research shows overuse of antibiotic hastens the development of bacteria resistant to drugs. Antibiotic use began in the 1930s, but bacteria resistance to the antibiotics began in the 1990s. People believed that the drugs worked so well and request their use inappropriate.
What can consumers do to help with the problem of antibiotic overuse? Mayo Clinic gives advice on best actions to take. First, do not demand antibiotics from your healthcare provider. The provider must decide what is best for the patient. Second, do not take antibiotics prescribed for another person. Consuming the wrong medicine can delay appropriate treatment and contribute to bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Third, when antibiotics are prescribed, do not skip doses, do not save any pills for the next time you are sick and take all the pills. Consumers can help with antibiotic use and help solve the problem of bacteria-resistance to antibiotics.
Labels: antibiotic, antibiotic prescriptions, bacteria, resistant, superbugs, viral infections
# posted by Pat O'Connor @ 7:31 AM
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Study to Look into Source of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria Infection
Study to Look into Source of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria Infection
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are on rise and in order to know more about the same, three Dutch medical schools have started a new research. They have been asking a number of travelers to tropical countries to provide them with stool samples as they return from their trips.
The study has been carried out by the Academic (AMC), Maastricht medical and Erasmus centers. The study researchers have enrolled 2,000 travelers. Study researchers affirmed that they have been focusing on those travelers, who would be travelling to Asia and Africa.
Researcher Jarne van Hattem said, "These travelers will be asked, upon vaccination by a number of travel clinics, if they would like to participate and send stools to us for a year".
The Netherlands has been witnessing a number of incidents of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and that too among non-travelling groups. The research will help study researchers know that whether the infection is being passed on by travelers, who go to exotic locations.
The study will help them to come up with measures, which can be adopted to control these infections. Van Hattem said as per his knowledge, this study is one of the largest studies being carried out in Sweden and Australia.
Labels: Africa, antibiotic, Asia, australia, Infections, resistant bacteria, Sweden, vaccination
# posted by Pat O'Connor @ 6:58 AM
