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Common Organisms (common + organism)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences80%

Terms modified by Common Organisms

  • common organism isolated
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    Selected Abstracts

    Mortality differences among organisms causing septicemia in hemodialysis patients

    HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006
    Mark D. DANESE
    Abstract Septicemia is a serious problem in hemodialysis patients because it can lead to life-threatening complications and a persistently elevated risk of death. Most analyses have not examined whether there are differences in mortality risk among the organisms that cause these episodes of septicemia. This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of first septicemia hospitalizations during the first year of hemodialysis. Time to death (both in-hospital and within 12 weeks post-discharge) was compared among the different septicemia-causing organisms based on discharge diagnoses in Medicare billing data from 1996 to 2001. The effect of various complications on mortality risk was also evaluated. There were 22,130 septicemia hospitalizations identified. The most common organism identified was Staphylococcus aureus (27%), with no other organism having an incidence >10%. The overall unadjusted death rate from admission through 12 weeks of follow-up was 34%. During the first hospitalization, the death rate was 14%, and during the 12-week period after the hospitalization it was 20%. In adjusted analyses, S. aureus was associated with a 20% higher risk of death both during the in-hospital period and the 12-week post-discharge period, when compared with all other specified organisms. Hospitalizations complicated by meningitis, stroke, or endocarditis were also associated with increased risk of mortality, independent of the organism causing septicemia. Septicemia hospitalizations are associated with a high mortality rate,both during the initial hospitalization and after discharge. Meningitis, stroke, and endocarditis represent particularly serious complications. Overall, septicemia hospitalizations (especially for S. aureus) are serious events, and patients would benefit from better treatment and prevention. [source]

    Clinical Features of Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Children

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2007
    Parul B. Patel MD
    Abstract Objectives Conjunctivitis is a common cause of primary care and emergency department (ED) visits. There is a paucity of data in recent literature on the prevalence of pediatric bacterial conjunctivitis, and there are no evidence-based clinical guidelines for empirical treatment. The study objective was to describe clinical features most predictive of bacterial conjunctivitis. Methods This was a prospective study in a children's hospital ED. Conjunctival swabs for bacterial culture were obtained from patients aged 1 month to 18 years presenting with red or pink eye and/or the diagnosis of conjunctivitis. Results A total of 111 patients were enrolled over one year. Patients had a mean (±SD) age of 33.2 (±37.5) months, and 55% were male. Eighty-seven patients (78%) had positive bacterial cultures. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae accounted for 82% (71/87), Streptococcus pneumoniae for 16% (14/87), and Staphylococcus aureus for 2.2% (2/87). Five clinical variables were significantly associated with a positive bacterial culture. Regression analysis revealed that the combination of a history of gluey or sticky eyelids and the physical finding of mucoid or purulent discharge had a posttest probability of 96% (95% confidence interval = 90% to 99%). Subjective scoring by physicians for a positive culture was 50.6%. Conclusions Conjunctivitis in children is predominantly bacterial, with nontypeable H. influenzae being the most common organism. A history of gluey or sticky eyelids and physical findings of mucoid or purulent discharge are highly predictive of bacterial infection. Based on the above data, empirical ophthalmic antibiotic therapy may be appropriate in children presenting with conjunctivitis. [source]

    Deep neck infection: Analysis of 185 cases

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 10 2004
    Tung-Tsun Huang MD
    Abstract Purpose. This study reviews our experience with deep neck infections and tries to identify the predisposing factors of life-threatening complications. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of patients who were diagnosed as having deep neck infections in the Department of Otolaryngology at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1997 to 2002. Their demographics etiology, associated systemic diseases, bacteriology, radiology, treatment, duration of hospitalization, complications, and outcomes were reviewed. The attributing factors to deep neck infections, such as the age and systemic diseases of patients, were also analyzed. Results. One hundred eighty-five charts were recorded; 109 (58.9%) were men, and 76 (41.1%) were women, with a mean age of 49.5 ± 20.5 years. Ninety-seven (52.4%) of the patients were older than 50 years old. There were 63 patients (34.1%) who had associated systemic diseases, with 88.9% (56/63) of those having diabetes mellitus (DM). The parapharyngeal space (38.4%) was the most commonly involved space. Odontogenic infections and upper airway infections were the two most common causes of deep neck infections (53.2% and 30.5% of the known causes). Streptococcus viridans and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common organisms (33.9%, 33.9%) identified through pus cultures. K. pneumoniae was also the most common infective organism (56.1%) in patients with DM. Of the abscess group (142 patients), 103 patients (72.5%) underwent surgical drainages. Thirty patients (16.2%) had major complications during admission, and among them, 18 patients received tracheostomies. Those patients with underlying systemic diseases or complications or who received tracheostomy tended to have a longer hospital stay and were older. There were three deaths (mortality rate, 1.6%). All had an underlying systemic disease and were older than 72 years of age. Conclusions. When dealing with deep neck infections in a high-risk group (older patients with DM or other underlying systemic diseases) in the clinic, more attention should be paid to the prevention of complications and even the possibility of death. Early surgical drainage remains the main method of treating deep neck abscesses. Therapeutic needle aspiration and conservative medical treatment are effective in selective cases such as those with minimal abscess formation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 854,860, 2004 [source]

    Characterization of macrofaunal assemblages associated with sponges and tunicates collected off the southeastern United States

    INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
    Cara L. Fiore
    Abstract. Sponges can serve as hosts to invertebrate assemblages that live and reproduce within them. Sponges also constitute a major part of the benthic epifaunal community on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States; however, little is known about these sponges and the assemblages they harbor. In this study, the associated fauna from a variety of sponges and one species of tunicate collected by submersible from the continental shelf and slope of the southeastern United States at depths in the range 18,875 m were examined. Seventeen sponges, comprising eight species (Ircinia campana, Topsentia sp., Geodia sp., Characella sp., Erylus sp., Apylsina archeri, Cliona sp., and Pheronema carpenteri), and three tunicate colonies (Didemnidae) were fully dissected and all associated organisms were identified and counted. Additionally, the sponges Pheronema annae (951 m) and P. carpenteri (770 m) represent new records for the region. The diversity (H,) and density of associates varied considerably among hosts; the densities of associates ranged 0.4,11,684 per 1 L of host volume. Polychaete worms were the most common organisms found, with one species, Haplosyllis spongicola, being especially abundant in I. campana, Topsentia sp., and Cliona sp. The amphipods Ericthonius punctatus and Leucothoe cf. spinicarpa, as well as decapods such as snapping shrimp (Synalpheus sp.) and crabs (e.g., Pilumnus floridana, Micropanope urinator), were also common. The number of symbiont taxa did not significantly increase as the sponge size increased. However, weak positive trends were found between the diversity of associates and increasing canal diameter. Sponges and tunicates were judged to represent legitimate ecological communities harboring a complete food web as well as gravid and juvenile individuals. [source]

    Have the Organisms that Cause Breast Abscess Changed With Time?,,Implications for Appropriate Antibiotic Usage in Primary and Secondary Care

    THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010
    Natalie Dabbas MBBS
    Abstract:, Many patients with breast abscess are managed in primary care. Knowledge of current trends in the bacteriology is valuable in informing antibiotic choices. This study reviews bacterial cultures of a large series of breast abscesses to determine whether there has been a change in the causative organisms during the era of increasing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Analysis was undertaken of all breast abscesses treated in a single unit over 2003 , 2006, including abscess type, bacterial culture, antibiotic sensitivity and resistance patterns. One hundred and ninety cultures were obtained (32.8% lactational abscess, 67.2% nonlactational). 83% yielded organisms. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism isolated (51.3%). Of these, 8.6% were MRSA. Other common organisms included mixed anaerobes (13.7%), and anaerobic cocci (6.3%). Lactational abscesses were significantly more likely to be caused by S. aureus (p < 0.05). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates were not statistically different between lactational and nonlactational abscess groups. Appropriate antibiotic choices are of great importance in the community management of breast abscess. Ideally, microbial cultures should be obtained to institute targeted therapy but we recommend the continued use of flucloxacillin with or without metronidazole (or amoxicillin-clavulanate as a single preparation) as initial empirical therapy. [source]