Species prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterococci isolated in a tertiary care hospital of North India

The present prospective study was carried out to determine the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibilities of enterococci isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital of North India. Enterococcus species isolated from blood, urine, pus, sterile fluids and the hospital environment from October 2003 to January 2004 were identified by standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method as per NCCLS guidelines. Out of a total of 105 Enterococcus species recovered during the study period, E. faecium (42.90%) and E. faecalis (40.00%) constituted the predominant isolates. Enterococcus faecium was the commonest blood culture isolate while E. faecalis predominated pus and urine samples. Other species isolated were E. mundtii, E dispar, E. durans, E. avium, E. raffinosus and E. gallinarum. High-level aminoglycoside resistance was detected in 73.3% of isolates. Resistance to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid was not detected. Prevalence of a wide variety of Enterococcus species in clinical samples together with their variable antimicrobial susceptibility patterns emphasizes the need for routinely carrying out detailed speciation and in vitro susceptibility testing of enterococcal isolates in the clinical bacteriology laboratory.     

Primary tissue valve degeneration in glutaraldehyde-preserved porcine bioprostheses: Hancock I versus Carpentier-Edwards at 4- to 7-years' follow-up

In the 32-month period between April, 1978, and December, 1980, 292 patients, divided into two equal groups, received a glutaraldehyde porcine bioprosthesis--either Hancock or Carpentier-Edwards (CE)--as mitral valve substitute. Every patient receiving a mitral porcine xenograft during that time was included in the study. The type of bioprosthesis was always selected by the surgeon and not randomly. Preoperative clinical characteristics, associated surgical procedures, valve implantation sizes, and follow-up data showed no relevant differences between the two groups. There were three instances of primary tissue failure in the Hancock group and six in the CE (linearized rates of 0.49 and 0.97 events percentage of patient/years, respectively). Mean duration of explanted valves and microscopic findings were similar in both groups. Primary tissue failure was more frequent in patients under 40 years of age in both groups, although differences were not statistically significant. A marginally significant trend toward greater incidence of tissue failure in patients of 40 years of age and older was seen in the CE group when compared with the Hancock group. Actuarial survival of the bioprostheses free from primary tissue failure was 6.5 years of 95 +/- 3% (mean +/- standard error) for Hancock and 84 +/- 9% for CE (p = NS). No significant difference in terms of durability has been found between the two most popular glutaraldehyde porcine bioprostheses, although the behavior of the CE in patients older than 40 years should be reassessed in a study with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up period.     

Spatial pattern of receptor expression in the olfactory epithelium.

A PCR-based strategy for amplifying putative receptors involved in murine olfaction was employed to isolate a member (OR3) of the seven-transmembrane-domain receptor superfamily. During development, the first cells that express OR3 appear adjacent to the wall of the telencephalic vesicle at embryonic day 10. The OR3 receptor is uniquely expressed in a subset of olfactory cells that have a characteristic bilateral symmetry in the adult olfactory epithelium. This receptor and its specific pattern of expression may serve a functional role in odor coding or, alternatively, may play a role in the development of the olfactory system.     

Factors influencing treatment patterns of breast cancer patients age 75 and older

PURPOSES: To retrospectively determine the factors influencing treatment decisions in older breast cancer patients at a single center. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 216 patients age > or = 75 seen in post-treatment follow-up between January, 1997 and June, 2000 were identified in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering breast cancer database. Eligible patients were > or = 75 years old at diagnosis, had a diagnosis of stage I, II, or III breast cancer, and received their follow-up care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. A retrospective chart review was performed. Patients were stratified by: (1) prognostic factors (age (75-79 or > or = 80), Charlson comorbidity score, tumor size, nodal status, stage, ER, PR, creatinine, albumin, hemoglobin, and liver function tests), (2) local treatment (lumpectomy, axillary lymph node dissection (AxLND), radiation (XRT), modified radical mastectomy (MRM)) and (3) systemic treatment (tamoxifen, chemotherapy). Combined local treatment was defined as (a) lumpectomy, AxLND, XRT or (b) MRM, AxLND, XRT (if tumor > or = 5 cm or > or = 4+ lymph nodes). RESULTS: 96 patients were eligible for this study: 46 patients (75-79 years); 50 patients (> or = 80 years). The majority of patients (74%) were treated with lumpectomy but those > or = 80 were less likely to receive XRT (94% age 75-80; 45% age >80; P<0.01). Patients > or = 80 were also less likely to receive AxLND (94% age 75-79; 62% age > or = 80; P<0.01). A logistic regression model identified two independent prognostic variables for not receiving combined local treatment: increased age (P<0.01) and increased comorbidity score (P=0.01). Increased age did not correlate with increased comorbidity (P=0.48). 5.2% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (all age <80). 83% of ER positive patients received tamoxifen (89% age 75-79; 79% age >80). CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that both comorbidity and age play a significant role in influencing treatment decisions in the older breast cancer patient but these two variables are not necessarily correlated. Prospective studies are needed to determine the relative impact of these variables.     

Adjuvant treatment recommendations in older women with breast cancer: a survey of oncologists

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrate differing treatment patterns between older and younger patients with breast cancer. To explore the reasons for these disparities we conducted a survey of 28 oncologists specializing in breast cancer. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-eight medical oncologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of California Los Angeles who specialize in the treatment of breast cancer were asked to provide adjuvant treatment recommendations in hypothetical scenarios featuring older patients with high-risk breast cancer. For each of these hypothetical patients, the patient's age was varied over four possible values (70, 75, 80, or 85 years of age) and health and functional status varied across three possible states (perfect health, average health, or major health problems). Survey data were compiled and analyzed to determine the impact of theoretical patient age, baseline health, and functional status on their treatment recommendations. RESULTS: The proportion of oncologists who recommended adjuvant chemotherapy decreased as the patient's age increased or as the patient's functional status and health status decreased. For 96% of physicians (95% CI, 82-100%), patient age influenced chemotherapy recommendations, controlling for health/functional status; the same proportion of respondents were influenced by health/functional status, controlling for patient age. There was increased variability in treatment recommendations as the patient's age increased or functional status and health status decreased. CONCLUSION: Among these medical oncologists who primarily treat breast cancer adjuvant treatment recommendations vary based on patient age, health, and functional status. Future studies are needed to correlate age, health, and functional status with the risks and benefits of adjuvant therapy so that consensus guidelines can be formed. A more comprehensive baseline assessment of the older patient, such as can be derived from a comprehensive geriatric assessment may be useful in this regard.