<Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> intestinal colonization is associated with increased frequency of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. aureus</Emphasis>on skin of hospitalized patients

Background  

Intestinal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus among hospitalized patients has been associated with increased risk of staphylococcal infection and could potentially contribute to transmission. We hypothesized that S. aureus intestinal colonization is associated with increased frequency of S. aureus on patients' skin and nearby environmental surfaces.     

A cluster of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida krusei</Emphasis>infections in a haematological unit

Background  

Candida krusei infections are associated with high mortality. In order to explore ways to prevent these infections, we investigated potential routes for nosocomial spread and possible clonality of C. krusei in a haematological unit which had experienced an unusually high incidence of cases.     

Resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis</Emphasis>to nitric oxide correlates with disease severity in Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

Background  

Nitric oxide (NO^•) plays a pivotal role as a leishmanicidal agent in mouse macrophages. NO^• resistant Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been associated with a severe outcome of these diseases.     

Mutation detection analysis of a region of 16S-like ribosomal RNA gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba dispar</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba moshkovskii</Emphasis>

Background  

The level of intra-species genetic variation in Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii populations in a localized geographic area, like Puducherry, India, remains unknown.     

Effective <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis>gene transfer to intestinal mucosa by VSV-G-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors

Background  

Gene transfer to the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is a therapeutic strategy which could prove particularly advantageous for treatment of various hereditary and acquired intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), GI infections, and cancer.     

Age-adjusted <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> antibody levels in school-aged children are a stable marker of microgeographical variations in exposure to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium</Emphasis>infection

Background  

Amongst school-aged children living in malaria endemic areas, chronic morbidity and exacerbation of morbidity associated with other infections are often not coincident with the presence or levels of Plasmodium parasitaemia, but may result from long-term exposure to the parasite. Studies of hepatosplenomegaly associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection and exposure to Plasmodium infection indicate that differences that occur over 1–2 km in levels of Plasmodium transmission are related to the degree of exacerbation of hepatosplenomegaly and that Plasmodium falciparum schizont antigen (Pfs)-IgG3 levels may be a marker for the differing levels of exposure.     

Effect of treating <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schistosoma haematobium</Emphasis> infection on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum-specific</Emphasis> antibody responses

Background  

The overlapping geographical and socio-economic distribution of malaria and helminth infection has led to several studies investigating the immunological and pathological interactions of these parasites. This study focuses on the effect of treating schistosome infections on natural human immune responses directed against plasmodia merozoite surface proteins MSP-1 (DPKMWR, MSP1₁₉), and MSP-2 (CH150 and Dd2) which are potential vaccine candidates as well as crude malaria (schizont) and schistosome (whole worm homogenate) proteins.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> duodenal ulcer promoting gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">dupA</Emphasis>in China

Background  

The prevalence of H. pylori is as high as 60–70% in Chinese population. Although duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer are both caused by H. pylori, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum and as such are considered mutually exclusive. Duodenal ulcer promoting (dupA) gene was reported to be associated with duodenal ulcer development. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dupA gene of Helicobacter pylori in patients with various gastroduodenal diseases and to explore the association between the gene and other virulence factors.     

Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Multi-Drug Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Proteus mirabilis</Emphasis>: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes

Background:   

Proteus mirabilis (PM) as well as other membersof the Enterobacteriaceae family are a leading cause ofinfectious diseases in both the community and acute caresettings. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterialisolates have increased in the last few years, affectingthe prognosis and survival of hospitalized patients. The aimof our study was to determine the risk factors and clinicaloutcomes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by MDR PMin patients hospitalized in our institution.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ureaplasma parvum</Emphasis> infection alters filamin a dynamics in host cells

Background  

Ureaplasmas are among the most common bacteria isolated from the human urogenital tract. Ureaplasmas can produce asymptomatic infections or disease characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response. Most investigations have focused on elucidating the pathogenic potential of Ureaplasma species, but little attention has been paid to understanding the mechanisms by which these organisms are capable of establishing asymptomatic infection.     

Acquisition of methicillin-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> after living donor liver transplantation: a retrospective cohort study

Background  

The incidence and risk factors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence and to analyze the risk factors for the acquisition of MRSA after LDLT in adults by multivariate analysis.     

Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in experimental methicillin resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> sepsis

Background  

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the leading pathogenic cause of nosocomial infections, especially in bacteraemia and sepsis. The essential therapy for MRSA infection is glycopeptides. Therapeutic failure can be seen with this therapy and the mortality is still high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the additional effect of G-CSF on the traditional antibiotic treatment in an experimental MRSA sepsis.     

Clinical impact of methicillin-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> bacteremia based on propensity scores

Background  

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen not only in nosocomial infections, but also in community-associated infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of methicillin resistance on mortality, length of hospitalization, and hospital costs via propensity score matching in S. aureus bacteremia.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> O157:H7 <Emphasis Type="Italic">tir</Emphasis>polymorphisms with human infection

Background  

Emerging molecular, animal model and epidemiologic evidence suggests that Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) isolates vary in their capacity to cause human infection and disease. The translocated intimin receptor (tir) and intimin (eae) are virulence factors and bacterial receptor-ligand proteins responsible for tight STEC O157 adherence to intestinal epithelial cells. They represent logical genomic targets to investigate the role of sequence variation in STEC O157 pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology. The purposes of this study were (1) to identify tir and eae polymorphisms in diverse STEC O157 isolates derived from clinically ill humans and healthy cattle (the dominant zoonotic reservoir) and (2) to test any observed tir and eae polymorphisms for association with human (vs bovine) isolate source.     

Purulent pericarditis due to co-infection with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus pneumoniae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>in a patient with features of advanced HIV infection

Background  

Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are common pathogens in patients with HIV infection.     

Reduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium Difficile</Emphasis> and vancomycin-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus</Emphasis> contamination of environmental surfaces after an intervention to improve cleaning methods

Background  

Contaminated environmental surfaces may play an important role in transmission of some healthcare-associated pathogens. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of cleaning practices in rooms of patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization or infection and examined whether an intervention would result in improved decontamination of surfaces.     

Aerial Dissemination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium difficile</Emphasis>spores

Background  

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) is a frequently occurring healthcare-associated infection, which is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality amongst elderly patients in healthcare facilities. Environmental contamination is known to play an important contributory role in the spread of CDAD and it is suspected that contamination might be occurring as a result of aerial dissemination of C. difficile spores. However previous studies have failed to isolate C. difficile from air in hospitals. In an attempt to clarify this issue we undertook a short controlled pilot study in an elderly care ward with the aim of culturing C. difficile from the air.     

Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> isolates causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs)

Background  

Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is an important cause of pyogenic skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). The aim of present study is to investigate the molecular characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus isolates isolated from the pus samples from the patients with purulent skin and soft tissue infections in Wenzhou, China.     

A cohort study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> infection dynamics in Western Kenya Highlands

Background  

The Kenyan highlands were malaria-free before the 1910s, but a series of malaria epidemics have occurred in the highlands of western Kenya since the 1980s. Longitudinal studies of the genetic structure, complexity, infection dynamics, and duration of naturally acquired Plasmodium falciparum infections are needed to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of malaria epidemiology in the complex Kenyan highland eco-epidemiological systems where malaria recently expanded, as well as the evaluation of control measures.     

The first case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pasteurella canis</Emphasis> bacteremia: a cirrhotic patient with an open leg wound

Introduction  

Severe human infections caused by the Pasteurella species are typically seen following animal bites. P. canis is a species that rarely affects humans and has never been found in systemic infections.