Pulmonary Lophomonas blattarum infection in patients with kidney allograft transplantation

The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical manifestation and management of pulmonary Lophomonas blattarum infection in four allograft transplantation recipients retrospectively. Four patients with pulmonary L. blattarum infection were diagnosed by using Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) examination. Their clinical manifestation and management are summarized. Four cases of pulmonary L. blattarum were found during the period from the second month to the third month after transplantation. Concurring infection by other pathogens was found in three of them. Common initial symptoms included fever (>38 degrees C) without cough and breathlessness. Lower lobe shadowing could be found on chest X-ray. Body temperature decreased to the normal range in three patients and to 37.5 degrees C in the other one, after intravenous injection of metronidazole and tapering immunosuppressant. Radiological examination confirmed improved health condition of the patients afterwards. Two patients received repeated FOB and only dead L. blattarum was found. Pulmonary L. blattarum infection in allograft transplant recipients carry relatively obscure initial symptoms. Possible L. blattarum infection needs to be screened in post-transplantation pulmonary infection patients with similar symptoms, especially in those who respond poorly to anti-infection treatment. Microscopic examination of BAL fluid can help to identify pulmonary L. blattarum infection and metronidazole is an ideal treatment choice.     

皮瓣展平法在耳廓再造时扩张皮瓣感染中的应用

目的探索耳廓再造时扩张皮瓣感染的处理方法。方法分析中国协和医科大学整形外科医院外耳冉造中心2003年1月～2005年12月耳廓再造时耳后扩张皮瓣发生感染，经皮瓣展平法处理，感染控制后进行耳再造的12例（12耳）患者的治疗情况。结果12例（12耳）患者手术顺利，术后恢复好，再造耳效果与无感染者无明显差异。结论皮瓣展平法是耳廓再造时扩张皮瓣感染较理想的处理方法。     

颅内肿瘤切除术后颅内感染危险因素分析

目的 探讨颅内肿瘤切除术后颅内感染的危险因素和预防措施。方法 回顾性分析442例颅内肿瘤切除术患者的临床资料。结果 442例颅内肿瘤切除术患者发生颅内感染33例，感染率为7．47％。非脑膜瘤手术颅内感染率为10．04％，高于脑膜瘤术后颅内感染率3．83％（P〈0．05）；手术时间≥4h者颅内感染率为9．87％，高于手术时间〈4h者颅内感染率4．78％（P〈0．05）；有脑脊液漏者颅内感染率为15．00％，高于无脑脊液漏者颅内感染率6．28％（P〈0．05）；引流管留置≥24h者颅内感染率为11．58％，高于未留置或留置〈24h者颅内感染率5．03％（P〈0．05）。结论 手术时间≥4h、引流管留置时间≥24h、存在脑脊液漏是颅内肿瘤切除术后发生颅内感染的危险因素。     

Impact of ceftazidime restriction on gram-negative bacterial resistance in an intensive care unit

The present study included three periods: (1) a 12-month prerestriction and control period in 2001; (2) a 12-month restriction period with reduced ceftazidime prescribing in favor of piperacillin-tazobactam (2002); (3) and a 24 month postrestriction period (2003–2004). Note that, for results, P represents the difference between 2002 and 2001; P′, the difference between 2003 and 2001; and P″, the difference between 2004 and 2001. No changes in hygiene practices were observed during these three periods. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of reducing ceftazidime use in an intensive care unit (ICU) upon Gram-negative bacterial resistance, particularly as regards Pseudomonas aeruginosa. During the three periods of the study, patients were similar concerning age, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPSII), the site of nosocomial infection, and the requirements for mechanical ventilation (75% in 2001, 76% in 2002, 74% in 2003, and 85% in 2004). The most commonly isolated pathogens were P. aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Enterobacteriaceae. The use of ceftazidime decreased significantly from 12.6% in 2001 to 9% in 2002, to 3% in 2003 (P′ = 0.0009), and 2.6% in 2004 (P″ = 0.0001) in favor of piperacillin-tazobactam (0% 2001 to 3.7% in 2003; P′ = 0.002; and 5% in 2004; P″ = 0.0001). Simultaneously, we observed a significant decrease in isolates of P. aeruginosa resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam (P = 0.03; P′ = 0.004; P″ = 0.009), and those resistant to imipenem in 2003 (P′ = 0.008). We also noted a significant decrease in A. baumannii isolates resistant to ceftazidime (P′ = 0.01; P″ = 0.0004) and those resistant to imipenem in both 2002 and 2004 (P = 0.03; P″ = 0.04), and a considerable decrease in isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing expanded spectrum betalactamase (ESBL) in 2003 and 2004 (P′ = 0.04; P″ = 6.10⁻⁵). In contrast, we noted an increase in penicillinase-producing isolates of K. pneumoniae, from 6% in 2001 to 16% in 2002 (p = 0.01), 20% in 2003 (P′ = 0.001), and 32% in 2004 (P″ = 10⁻⁶). We concluded that restriction of ceftazidime use was demonstrated to be efficient in reducing antimicrobial resistance, especially to K. pneumoniae ESBL.     

早产患者血清粒细胞集落刺激因子的检测及其意义

目的探讨粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-CSF)与自发性早产的关系及其对预测早产的可能意义。方法采用ELISA-双抗体夹心法分别对28-34周、34-37周不同孕龄组早产妇女及正常妊娠妇女的血清G-CSF进行检测。结果孕28-34周早产妇女血清G-CSF水平较正常对照组妇女升高(P<0.05)。结论高水平的血清G-CSF与妊娠<34周发生的早产有关,检测妊娠妇女血清G-CSF水平对预测妊娠34周之前发生的早产有重要意义。     

Risk factors for oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV-infected adults of Brazil

BACKGROUND: Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) may be an indicator of the progression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-induced immuno-depression, and the evaluation of risk factors leading to OHL is important in the management of these HIV-infected patients. However, there are few studies that analyze risk factors leading to OHL in the Brazilian population. The aim of this case-control study is to present data about prevalence rates and risk factors leading to OHL in a sample of HIV-infected adults in Brazil. METHODS: This case-control study included 111 HIV-infected patients treated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. In the initial examinations with dentists, variables were collected from all patients. Diagnosis of OHL was performed in accordance with the International Classification System and cytological features. The Fisher and the chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. The proportional prevalence and odds ratio were estimated. RESULTS: Outcome presented a positive, statistically significant association among the presence of OHL and viral load of 3000 copies/mul or greater (P = 0.0001; odds ratio (OR) = 5.8), presence of oral candidiasis (P = 0.0000; OR = 11.1), previous use of fluconazole (P = 0.0000; OR = 24.6), and use of systemic acyclovir (P = 0.032; OR = 4.3). Antiretroviral medication presented a negative, statistically significant association with the presence of OHL (P = 0.002; OR = 8.4). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of OHL was 28.8%. Viral load, oral candidiasis, previous use of fluconazole, and systemic acyclovir were determined to be risk factors for OHL. Antiretroviral medication proved to be protective against the development of OHL.     

Therapeutic effect of antimicrobial drugs against experimental infections due toYersinia pestis in mice

Although there are effective antibacterial agents against plague, newer antibacterial agents have been developed which show more potent activity against other bacterial organisms, but have not been tested againstYersinia pestis. A strain ofYersinia pestis was selected (no. 22; National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan) that caused a systemic infection in mice.Y. pestis no. 22 was intraperitoneally inoculated into DDY-strain mice, and 13 oral or 6 injectable antibacterial drugs given to the infected mice at varying doses 1 and 24 hours after infection. Levofloxacin, sparfloxacin and ofloxacin were the most effective oral agents against the infection, and prulifloxacin and pazufloxacin were also effective but to a lesser extent. Also, gentamicin and arbekacin were the most potent injectable antibacterial agents againstY. pestis. These results suggest that there are several new drugs, both oral and injectable, which exert excellent in vivo antibacterial activity against a mouse infection model and may be useful for the clinical treatment of plague.     

衣原体、支原体引起的难治性支气管—肺部感染分析

目的 探讨难治性支气管—肺部感染(难治组)衣原体、支原体两种病原体的表达。方法 应用ELISA法检测了29例难治性支气管—肺部感染两种非典型病原体急性感染指标，衣原体抗体IgM、支原体抗体IgM及冷凝集实验，并常规细菌学检查，与同期住院的普通性下呼吸道感染(普通组)40例，门诊及住院的急性上呼吸道感染(上感组)30例进行比较。结果 难治组衣原体急性感染率68．9％，显著高于普通组、上感组，上感组最低；支原体急性感染率难治组34、5％，显著高于普通组、上感组；衣原体混合支原体、衣原体混合其他致病菌感染均显著高于普通组和上感组。结论 难治性下呼吸道感染中衣原体、支原体感染率较高，且易与多种病原体混合感染，衣原体的慢性感染可能是难治感染的重要原因。