Black-pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes in genito-urinary tract and pelvic infections

Abstract Black-pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes are part of the normal vaginal flora and contribute to a range of superficial and deep genital infections. Prevotella melaninogenica is found in moderate numbers (10⁴⁻⁶ cfu/g) in healthy women; the numbers and detection rates increase in anaerobic vaginosis (where it may be a significant contributor to changed microbial metabolic activity that gives the signs and symptoms of this condition) and in other vaginal infective conditions. Pr. melaninogenica is also part of the mixed flora in deep pelvic infections: endometritis, post-partum and post-abortal uterine infections; salpingitis and tubo-ovarian abscesses; PID and pelvic abscesses. Porphyromonas asaccharolytica is probably not a vaginal commensal, but may be isolated from patients with vaginal or pelvic disease. It is more specifically associated with superficial abscesses (e.g. Bartholin's abscess) and ulcers of the genitalia and perineum. P. asaccharolytica was the commonest species isolated from men with genital ulcers of various primary causes and ranging in severity from superficial balanitis/balanoposthitis to synergic gangrene.     

Prenatal and lactational transmission of Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum: experimental infection of the bitch at midpregnancy and at parturition

The degree of prenatal transmission and both the degree and longevity of lactogenic transmission of Toxocara canis, and Ancylostoma caninum to pups were studied in Beagle bitches which were experimentally infected with both parasites at either mid-pregnancy or within 48 h following parturition. Pups born to infected bitches were removed at birth and raised by a surrogate parasite-free mother until 4 weeks of age when pups were necropsied to determine prenatal infections. At the beginning of each week of lactation, a new group of four parasite-free pups was placed with each infected bitch. After nursing an infected bitch for 1 week, each group was transferred to an uninfected bitch for at least 3 additional weeks of nursing after which the pups were necropsied to recover and tabulate parasites acquired lactationally from the infected bitch. When bitches were infected at mid-pregnancy, 95.5% of the ascarids were transmitted prenatally to their own off-spring and 4.5% of the asearids were transmitted lactationally to weekly rotated pups. Ascarids were transmitted via the milk during each of 5 weeks of lactation, with transmission of consistently higher numbers during weeks 1–3 than in weeks 4 and 5. Infection of bitches at parturition denied ascarids the prenatal route of transmission but resulted in greater numbers of ascarids being passed through the milk for each of 4 consecutive weeks of lactation. Transmission of hookworms was solely by the lactational route. With mid-pregnancy infections, a significantly higher number of hookworms (63.1 %) were transmitted during the first of 5 weeks of lactation; progressively fewer were passed in subsequent weeks. With infections at parturition, only 27.8% of hookworms were transmitted through the milk during the first week of nursing but large numbers were transferred in weeks 2 (36.9%) and 3 (26.7%). The quantity of parasites transmitted in the milk was not significantly different among weeks 1, 2 and 3.     

Prenatal and lactational transmission of Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma caninum: experimental infection of the bitch before pregnancy

Breeding of five parasite-free and five experimentally infected (6000 Toxocara canis eggs orally and 2500 Ancylostoma caninum larvae subcutaneously) beagle bitches was done so that pairs of bitches (1 uninfected, 1 infected) whelped simultaneously. Pups born to an infected bitch were removed at birth and nursed by the paired uninfected bitch until 4 weeks of age when pups were necropsied to determine the number of parasites they had acquired prenatally from their infected mother. Pups born to the parasite-free bitch were nursed by the infected bitch until necropsied at 4 weeks of age to determine the number of parasites passed via the lactational route. Of 680 ascarids transmitted to pups by either route, 98.5% were transmitted prenatally and 1.5% lactationally. Transmission of 2746 hookworms to 22 pups occurred solely by the lactational route; prenatal transmission of this parasite did not occur in any of the 25 pups born to infected bitches.     

腹内感染的细菌学研究

本文对外科腹内感染150例进行了需氧与厌氧的细菌学研究。结果表明腹内感染的病原菌都是消化道内的正常菌群,需氧菌以大肠杆菌等革兰氏阴性杆菌为主,而厌氧菌则以吉氏拟杆菌等脆弱群拟杆菌多见。感染多为几种细菌的混合感染,尤其是需氧菌与厌氧菌的混合感染。并对内源性细菌引起感染的致病机理进行了讨论。     

Direct non-insect-vector transmission of Leishmania parasites in mice

Animal to animal non-vector transmission of Leishmania major was investigated in Balb/c mice, a strain known for its susceptibility to this parasite. Both overt or inapparent infection (documented by positive spleen cultures) was possible after prolonged contact with infected animals. Similarly transmission of infection from infected mothers to their offspring was documented.     

Molecular and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> characterization of field isolates of bovine herpesvirus-1

Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is distributed worldwide and is a major pathogen in cattle,being the causal agent of a variety of clinical syndromes.The aim of this study was to isolate and to characteri...     

Molecular and in vitro Characterization of Field Isolates of Bovine Herpesvirus-1

Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is distributed worldwide and is a major pathogen in cattle, being the causal agent of a variety of clinical syndromes. The aim of this study was to isolate and to characterize (molecular and biological characterization) BoHV-1 from 29 immunosuppressed animals. It was possible to obtain 18 isolates, each from a different animal, such as from the respiratory and reproductive tracts. In some cases the cytopathic effect was visible 12 hours post-inoculation, and became characteristic after 36-48 hours. Biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with Iowa and Colorado-1 reference strains, and differences were found in plaque size, virus titer measured by TCID50 and PFU/mL, and one step virus curves. These results showed that some isolates had a highly virulent-like behavior in vitro, compared to the reference strains, with shorter eclipse periods, faster release of virus into the supernatants, and higher burst size and viral titer. There were no differences in glycoprotein expression of BoHV-1 isolates, measured by Western blot on monolayers. Moreover, using restriction endonucleases analysis, most of the viruses were confirmed as BoHV-1.1 and just one of them was confirmed as BoHV-1.2a subtype. These findings suggest that some wild-type BoHV-1 isolates could be useful as seeds to develop new monovalent vaccines.     

Vitamin D deficiency in community-acquired pneumonia: low levels of 1,25(OH)2 D are associated with disease severity

Objectives

We aimed to explore the association between vitamin D levels and the severity, mortality and microbiological etiology of community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods

Vitamin D levels (both, the reservoir form 25-OH and the activated form 1,25-OH2) of 300 randomly selected patients with community-acquired pneumonia due to pre-specified pathogens included in the German competence network (CAPNETZ) study were measured. Prior to statistical analysis, values of 25-OH and 1,25-OH2 were power-transformed to achieve parametric distribution. All further analyses were performed with seasonally and age adjusted values.

Results

There was only a modest (Spearman Coefficient 0.38) positive correlation between 25-OH and 1,25-OH2. For 1,25-OH2 but not 25-OH, the general linear model revealed a significant inverse correlation between serum concentration and CURB score (p = 0.011). Liver and respiratory co-morbidity were associated with significantly lower 25-OH values and renal co-morbidity with significantly lower 1,25-OH2 values. No significant differences of 1,25-OH2 or 25-OH between different pathogens (influenza virus, Legionella spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae) were detected.

Conclusion

For 1,25-OH2, we found a significant and independent (controlled for age, season and pathogen) negative correlation to pneumonia severity. Therefore, supplementation of non-activated vitamin D to protect from pneumonia may be non-sufficient in patients that have a decreased capacity to hydroxylate 25-OH to 1,25-OH2.     

深部真菌感染调查及耐药性分析

目的了解住院患者真菌感染的临床特点及对药物的敏感情况。方法采用回顾性调查．对2002年8月至2005年8月住院病例中的真菌感染病例进行统计分析。结果3年间住院患者真菌感染536例,占检出病原菌的8．37％。引起深部感染的真菌以白色念珠菌为主,占39．37％;毛霉菌与曲霉菌的感染次之,分别达到16．79％和13．62％。呼吸内科、老年内科和ICU病房住院患者较易发生医院真菌感染。真菌感染的部位以呼吸道最高,其次为泌尿道。真菌对酮康唑、咪康唑和益康唑耐药率相对较高,对5一氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B、制霉菌素相对敏感。结论医院深部真菌感染主要多发生于年老体弱、免疫功能低下、病情危重和长期使用抗生素的患者,已成为医院感染的主要因素之一。医院感染真菌的耐药性日趋严重,临床应用抗真菌药物尽量参考药敏试验结果。     

淡紫拟青霉所致皮肤及皮下感染:临床和实验研究

目的 报道国内首见淡紫拟青霉所致皮肤及皮下感染患者1例。方法 取患者皮损标本多次直接镜检,真菌培养,根据真菌培养的菌落特点和镜下形态、扫描电镜及DNA序列测定鉴定致病菌种,并对分离的致病菌进行体外药敏试验。结果 患者为6个月患儿,出生12d时面部出现粟粒大暗红丘疹,脓疱,并缓慢扩大。刮取脓疱直接镜检见无色细长分支菌丝。多次培养见灰紫色羊毛状菌落生长,光镜及电镜下可见无色细长分支、分隔菌丝、直立的分生孢子梗、顶端单轮生帚状支及大量柱状或分散柱状排列椭圆形、近球形小分生孢子。根据其菌落颜色及瓶梗形态等形态学特征鉴定为淡紫拟青霉,其rRNA基因DNA测序分析证实其表型分类。动物实验证实该菌的致病性,组织相中胶质性损害为其主要病理特征。体外药敏试验提示其对特比萘芬、酮康唑较敏感,对伊曲康唑、氟康唑敏感陛较差。结论 该病例被确定为淡紫拟青霉所致的皮肤及皮下感染,为国内首例。     

主要医院感染病原菌与社区感染株耐药性比较

目的比较主要医院感染(HAI)病原菌与社区感染(CAI)株的耐药性,指导合理使用抗菌药物。方法收集永康市第一人民医院2003年1月至2006年6月所有标本中分离的主要HAI菌及其CAI株,分别统计其药物敏感试验。采用美国Dade Behring Microscan Walkaway 40全自动细菌鉴定及药敏测试仪及其配套药敏鉴定板测定MIC值。全国医院感染监测网软件和χ2统计分析。结果主要HAI菌为前4种革兰阳性(G )菌依次是金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、屎肠球菌、溶血葡萄球菌,前5种革兰阴性(G-)菌依次是大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、阴沟肠杆菌。HAI株耐药率普遍高于CAI株,不同的细菌耐药率各具特点。不论HAI株还是CAI株,G 菌对万古霉素的耐药率最低,G-菌对亚胺培南的耐药率均较低,且两者耐药率差异均无显著性。金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌4种HAI株对大多数抗菌药物的耐药率明显高于CAI株,其余5种细菌HAI株仅对少数抗菌药物的耐药率高于CAI株。结论HAI菌株耐药性比CAI菌株强,临床应区分感染性质合理使用抗菌药物,有针对性控制感染,从而减少抗菌药物的滥用和细菌耐药性的产生。     

抑菌生的研究总结报告

本文报告一种由枯草杆菌制成的生态制剂,并命名为抑菌生(Subtilobiogen)。该制剂对创、烧伤感染有治疗作用。经过安全试验、急性毒性试验、Ames试验和微核试验证明,该制剂是一种无害、无毒和有致突变作用的活菌制剂。抑菌生有膏剂、乳剂及粉剂3种剂型。抑菌生在试管和体内对金黄色葡萄球菌、绿脓杆菌和大肠杆菌均具有抑菌作用。临床观察证明,将抑菌生喷洒在创面上,对浅Ⅱ°度、深Ⅱ°度及混合型烧伤感染均具有明显疗效。实验组(181例)与对照组(174例)相比较,在统计学上具有显著性差异。抑菌生的作用机制,经过初步试验证明,与营养争夺和占位性保护有关,因为枯草杆菌的生长速度超过金黄色葡萄球菌、绿脓杆菌和大肠杆菌的生长速度。     

The relative contribution of co-infection to focal infection risk in children

Co-infection is ubiquitous in people in the developing world but little is known regarding the potential for one parasite to act as a risk factor for another. Using generalized linear mixed modelling approaches applied to data from school-aged children from Zanzibar, Tanzania, we determined the strength of association between four focal infections (i.e. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm and self-reported fever, the latter used as a proxy for viral, bacterial or protozoal infections) and the prevalence or intensity of each of the helminth infections. We compared these potential co-infections with additional risk factors, specifically, host sex and age, socioeconomic status and physical environment, and determined what the relative contribution of each risk factor was. We found that the risk of infection with all four focal infections was strongly associated with at least one other infection, and that this was frequently dependent on the intensity of that other infection. In comparison, no other incorporated risk factor was associated with all focal infections. Successful control of infectious diseases requires identification of infection risk factors. This study demonstrates that co-infection is likely to be one of these principal risk factors and should therefore be given greater consideration when designing disease-control strategies. Future work should also incorporate other potential risk factors, including host genetics which were not available in this study and, ideally, assess the risks via experimental manipulation.     

血清降钙素原鉴别病毒性感染、一般性细菌感染和重症细菌性感染的临床应用价值

目的:研究血清中降钙素原在病毒性感染、一般性细菌感染和重症细菌性感染患者中的应用价值。方法:选择2014年6月~2016年12月在我院重症医学科进行诊治的感染患者60例,按照患者感染的严重程度分为病毒性感染患者(A组)15例,一般细菌感染组(B组)22例以及重症细菌性感染组(C组)23例。三组患者均采取纠正水电解质平衡、抗生素抗感染和营养支持等对症治疗,并在入院后第1、3、5、7 d检测患者的血清降钙素原水平,比较三组治疗前后血清降钙素原水平的差异,观察三组血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的例数。结果:B组血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的例数为20例,占90.91%,C组血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的例数为21例,占91.30%,B组和C组之间相比无明显差异(P0.05),但A组血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的例数为3例,占20.00%,明显低于B组和C组血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的例数,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);C组入院后第1、3、5、7 d的血清降钙素原水平均明显高于B组的血清降钙素原水平,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);重症细菌性感染患者中,血清降钙素原≥0.5μg/L的患者存活率明显低于血清降钙素原0.5μg/L的患者(P0.05)。结论:血清中降钙素原水平对于重症感染患者的临床诊断和治疗具有较好的应用价值,对于医生判断重症感染患者的预后情况具有很好的效果,值得临床广泛应用推广。     

微载体系统中采用不同感染方法对麻疹病毒产量的影响

微载体系统培养麻疹的一个关键参数是病毒感染方式,实验采用间接感染、33℃直接感染、4℃直接感染等三种方式以比较病毒产量的影响。实验结果表明间接感染和33℃直接感染方式所得收获液的滴度和收获量基本相同,而4℃直接感染方式在滴度和收获量方面均比前两种感染方式高。     

抗生素在儿童患者中的使用状况

目的:了解我院(南华大学第一附属医院)儿童患者抗生素的使用情况;为相关治疗提供临床参考、方法:随机抽查我院儿科病历252份,填写“抗生素使用情况调查表”,用Excel软件统计分析数据。结果:抗生素使用率高达97％,抗生素联合使用率为15％。使用频率最高的是头孢菌素类达64．68％,其次是青霉素类达17．06％、大环内酯类达10．71％。结论:抗生素在我院儿童住院病人中被广泛使用;但主要是几种经验药,抗生素的科学使用性偏低。     

Detection of mycoplasmas infecting cell cultures by DNA hybridization

Summary Infection of cell cultures by mycoplasmas can be detected and the mycoplasma identified by Southern blot hybridization of theEco RI-digested DNA of the suspected cell cultures with a nick-translated probe consisting of cloned ribosomal RNA genes ofMycoplasma capricolum. The probe does not hybridize with eukaryotic DNA. The hybridization pattern with mycoplasmal DNA is species specific, enabling the identification of the four most prevalent mycoplasma contaminants,Mycoplasma orale, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycoplasma arginini, andAcholeplasma laidlawii. The test is also very sensitive and can detect as little as 1 ng of mycoplasmal DNA, roughly equivalent to the DNA content of 10⁵ mycoplasmas. The study was supported by the U.S. Public Health Service Grant GM25286 awarded to G. G. and by a grant from the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research Development Fund (BARD) awarded to S. R.     

Hendersonula toruloidea infection in man

Hendersonula toruloidea (HT) is a dematiaceous fungus that is an endemic human pathogen in tropical and subtropical countries. Infection with this fungus is often clinically indistinguishable from Trichophyton rubrum or other dermatophytoses. However, because HT will not grow on standard cycloheximide containing fungal media, and because HT is usually resistant to standard anti-fungal therapies, we believe that HT is a more common cause of recalcitrant dermatophytosis in the United States than is currently recognized. HT may be especially prevalent among immigrant patients from endemic countries. We report the first cases of HT to occur in a non-endemic region of the United States. This suggests that HT may become a significant pathogen in the native American host as well. Moreover, we report the first case of a tinea capitis-like infection due to HT.     

Infection of Red Clover Seedlings by Heterodera trifolii Goffart and Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb)

Penetration of 3-day-old ''Kenland'' red clover seedlings by Heterodera trifolii Goffart and Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) was investigated in 50-mm petri dishes on 1% agat or discs of Miracloth® (Chicopee Mills, Inc., New York, N.Y. 10018). Penetration by both nematodes increased arithmetically with increased numbers in the inoculum. H. trifolii larvae slowly penetrated all root tissue but in relatively low numbers, 25-30% of inocula. Swelling of larvae and formation of syncytia within roots was detectable 96 hr after inoculation. Initially, adults of P. penetrans preferentially penetrated the region 3-10 mm behind the root tip, but subsequently they invaded all along roots. P. penetrans penetration efficiency was high, 75-90% of inocula, and penetration was relatively rapid. When introduced simultaneously neither nematode affected the invasiveness of the other. Prior infection by H. trifolii did not affect the invasiveness of P. penetrans.