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Influenzae
Kinds of Influenzae Terms modified by Influenzae Selected AbstractsMycotic Aneurysm of the Descending Thoracic Aorta Caused by Haemophilus InfluenzaeJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2010Ph.D., Yosuke Takahashi M.D. Because of suspected infectious or inflammatory etiology, he was managed with a combination of emergency aortic repair using prosthetic graft with omental flap and antibiotic chemotherapy. Haemophilus influenzae was identified from perioperative specimens and the postoperative course was uneventful.,(J Card Surg 2010;25:218-220) [source] Etiologic spectrum and pattern of antimicrobial drug susceptibility in bacterial meningitis in Sokoto, NigeriaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2000FE EmeleArticle first published online: 2 JAN 200 Etiologic agents of meningitis were prospectively investigated among patients admitted to Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Of 1097 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples submitted to the microbiology laboratory from various wards of the hospital, 289 (26%) were microscopically, culturally and/or serologically proven to be bacterial meningitis. The etiologic spectrum was as follows: Neisseria meningitidis (61%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (18%), Haemophilus influenzae (10%), Staphylococcus aureus (6%), Coliform bacilli (3%), Escherichia coli (0.7%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (0.7%), Listeria monocytogenes (0.4%), Flavobacterium meningosepticum (0.4%) and Pseudomonas putrifasciens (0.4%). Bacterial meningitis was most prevalent (195 or 68%) among children aged 1-9 y, while adults and neonates were least affected. Coliform bacilli caused five of eight neonatal cases. Males were more frequently affected than females (x2=12.50;p < 0.05). Culture and microscopy were comparatively less efficient than the search for bacterial antigens, especially in the diagnosis of Haemophilus meningitis. Antimicrobial susceptibility of N. meningitidis to ampicillin and benzyl penicillin reduced progressively over the years (F = 406.98;p < 0.001). Nineteen (11%) of the isolates (5 Meningococci, 7 Staph. aureus, 1 Haem. influenza and 6 others) showed simultaneous resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and benzyl penicillin. [source] Blood Cultures Do Not Change Management in Hospitalized Patients with Community-acquired PneumoniaACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006Prasanthi Ramanujam MD Objectives: To determine if blood cultures identify organisms that are not appropriately treated with initial empiric antibiotics in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia, and to calculate the costs of blood cultures and cost savings realized by changing to narrower-spectrum antibiotics based on the results. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in an urban academic emergency department (ED). Patients with an ED and final diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia admitted between January 1, 2001, and August 30, 2003, were eligible when the results of at least one set of blood cultures obtained in the ED were available. Exclusion criteria included documented human immunodeficiency virus infection, immunosuppressive illness, chronic renal failure, chronic corticosteroid therapy, documented hospitalization within seven days before ED visit, transfer from another hospital, nursing home residency, and suspected aspiration pneumonia. The cost of blood cultures in all patients was calculated. The cost of the antibiotic regimens administered was compared with narrower-spectrum and less expensive alternatives based on the results. Results: A total of 480 patients were eligible, and 191 were excluded. Thirteen (4.5%) of the 289 enrolled patients had true bacteremia; the organisms isolated were sensitive to the empiric antibiotics initially administered in all 13 cases (100%; 95% confidence interval = 75% to 100%). Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated in 11 and two patients, respectively. The potential savings of changing the antibiotic regimens to narrower-spectrum alternatives was only 170. Conclusions: Appropriate empiric antibiotics were administered in all bacteremic patients. Antibiotic regimens were rarely changed based on blood culture results, and the potential savings from changes were minimal. [source] Prevention of life-threatening infections due to encapsulated bacteria in children with hyposplenia or asplenia: a brief review of current recommendations for practical purposesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Elio Castagnola Abstract: The aim of the present work was to summarise in a single paper all the options for prevention of life-threatening infections due to encapsulated bacteria in patients with hyposplenism or asplenia. Prevention of these infections should be obtained in all patients with 1) patient and family education, 2) prophylaxis by means of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, 3) antibiotic prophylaxis, based primarily on penicillin, 4) delay of elective splenectomy or use methods of tissue salvage in splenic trauma. Vaccination is not effective against all serotypes of S. pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis causing life-threatening infections in hypo/asplenic patients. Moreover, antibacterial prophylaxis could select antibacterial-resistant pathogens and is highly conditioned by patient's compliance. Therefore, empirical antibacterial therapy of fever and/or suspected infection should be recommended to all splenectomised patients independently from time elapsing from splenectomy, vaccinal status and assumption of antibacterial prophylaxis. [source] Structural requirements for initiation of cross-reactivity and CNS autoimmunity with a PLP139,151 mimic peptide derived from murine hepatitis virusEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 10 2006Ludovic Croxford Abstract MS is an autoimmune CNS demyelinating disease in which infection appears to be an important pathogenic factor. Molecular mimicry, the cross-activation of autoreactive T cells by mimic peptides from infectious agents, is a possible explanation for infection-induced autoimmunity. Infection of mice with a non-pathogenic strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) engineered to express an epitope from Haemophilus influenzae (HI) sharing 6/13 amino acids with the dominant proteolipid protein (PLP) epitope, PLP139,151, can induce CNS autoimmune disease. Here we demonstrate that another PLP139,151 mimic sequence derived from murine hepatitis virus (MHV) which shares only 3/13 amino acids with PLP139,151 can also induce CNS autoimmune disease, but only when delivered by genetically engineered TMEV, not by immunization with the MHV peptide. Further, we demonstrate the importance of proline at the secondary MHC class,II contact residue for effective cross-reactivity, as addition of this amino acid to the native MHV sequence increases its ability to cross-activate PLP139,151 -specific autoreactive T cells, while substitution of proline in the HI mimic peptide has the opposite effect. This study describes a structural requirement for potential PLP139,151 mimic peptides, and provides further evidence for infection-induced molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. [source] Structural characterization of a novel branching pattern in the lipopolysaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzaeFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 14 2003Martin Månsson Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 981 has been achieved using NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS on O -deacylated LPS and core oligosaccharide (OS) material as well as by ESI-MSn on permethylated dephosphorylated OS. A heterogeneous glycoform population was identified, resulting from the variable length of the OS branches attached to the glucose residue in the common structural element of H. influenzae LPS, l -,- d -Hepp -(1,2)-[PEtn,6]- l -,- d -Hepp -(1,3)-[,- d -Glcxp-(1,4)]- l -,- d -Hepp -(1,5)-[PPEtn,4]-,-Kdop -(2,6)-Lipid A. Notably, the O-6 position of the ,- d -Glcp residue was either substituted by PCho or the disaccharide branch ,- d -Galp -(1,4)- d -,- d -Hepp, while the O-4 position was substituted by the globotetraose unit, ,- d -GalpNAc-(1,3)-,- d -Galp -(1,4)-,- d -Galp -(1,4)-,- d -Glcp, or sequentially truncated versions thereof. This is the first time a branching sugar residue has been reported in the outer-core region of H. influenzae LPS. Additionally, a PEtn group was identified at O-3 of the distal heptose residue in the inner-core. [source] Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 1003FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 3 2002Martin Månsson Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 1003 has been achieved by the application of high-field NMR techniques, ESI-MS, capillary electrophoresis coupled to ESI-MS, composition and linkage analyses on O-deacylated LPS,and core oligosaccharide material. It was found that,the LPS contains the common structural element of,H. influenzae, l -,- d -Hepp -(1,2)-[PEtn,6]- l -,- d -Hepp -(1,3)-[,- d -Glcp -(1,4)]- l -,- d -Hepp -(1,5)-[PP Etn,4]-,-Kdop -(2,6)-Lipid A, in which the ,- d -Glcp residue is substituted by phosphocholine at O-6 and an acetyl group at O-4. A second acetyl group is located at O-3 of the distal heptose residue (HepIII). HepIII is chain elongated at O-2 by either a ,- d -Glcp residue (major), lactose or sialyllactose (minor, i.e. ,-Neu5Ac-(2,3)-,- d -Galp -(1,4)-,- d -Glcp), where a third minor acetylation site was identified at the glucose residue. Disialylated species were also detected. In addition, a minor substitution of ester-linked glycine at HepIII and Kdo was observed. [source] Genome dynamics in major bacterial pathogensFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2009Ole Herman Ambur Abstract Pathogenic bacteria continuously encounter multiple forms of stress in their hostile environments, which leads to DNA damage. With the new insight into biology offered by genome sequences, the elucidation of the gene content encoding proteins provides clues toward understanding the microbial lifestyle related to habitat and niche. Campylobacter jejuni, Haemophilus influenzae, Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogenic Neisseria, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus are major human pathogens causing detrimental morbidity and mortality at a global scale. An algorithm for the clustering of orthologs was established in order to identify whether orthologs of selected genes were present or absent in the genomes of the pathogenic bacteria under study. Based on the known genes for the various functions and their orthologs in selected pathogenic bacteria, an overview of the presence of the different types of genes was created. In this context, we focus on selected processes enabling genome dynamics in these particular pathogens, namely DNA repair, recombination and horizontal gene transfer. An understanding of the precise molecular functions of the enzymes participating in DNA metabolism and their importance in the maintenance of bacterial genome integrity has also, in recent years, indicated a future role for these enzymes as targets for therapeutic intervention. [source] Incidence and risk factors of bacterial pneumonia requiring hospitalization in HIV-infected patients started on a protease inhibitor-containing regimenHIV MEDICINE, Issue 4 2006V Le Moing Objectives To describe the incidence and risk factors of bacterial pneumonia occurring in patients treated with antiretrovirals. Methods In the ongoing APROCO (Anti-proteases) cohort, 1281 patients at the initiation of a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing antiretroviral regimen were enrolled from 1997,1999. All events requiring hospitalization during follow up are recorded. Of these, bacterial pneumonia was defined as the occurrence of a new pulmonary infiltrate with fever and either evidence of a bacteriological cause (definite cases) or favourable outcome with antimicrobial therapy (presumptive cases). Risk factors of bacterial pneumonia were studied using survival analyses. Results During a median follow up of 43 months, 29 patients had at least one episode of bacterial pneumonia, giving an incidence of 0.8/100 patient years. The 11 definite cases were attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=9), Legionella pneumophila (n=1) and Haemophilus influenzae (n=1). In multivariate analysis, bacterial pneumonia was significantly more frequent in older patients, injecting drug users, patients having a CD4 cell count>500 cells/,L at baseline and patients who initiated PI therapy with nonboosted saquinavir. It was significantly less frequent in nonsmokers. The occurrence of bacterial pneumonia was also associated with lower self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to higher plasma HIV-1 RNA levels during follow-up. Conclusions Bacterial pneumonia occurs rarely in patients treated with a PI-containing regimen and may be associated with virological failure. [source] Mycotic Aneurysm of the Descending Thoracic Aorta Caused by Haemophilus InfluenzaeJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2010Ph.D., Yosuke Takahashi M.D. Because of suspected infectious or inflammatory etiology, he was managed with a combination of emergency aortic repair using prosthetic graft with omental flap and antibiotic chemotherapy. Haemophilus influenzae was identified from perioperative specimens and the postoperative course was uneventful.,(J Card Surg 2010;25:218-220) [source] Enhanced docking with the mining minima optimizer: Acceleration and side-chain flexibilityJOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 16 2002Visvaldas Kairys Abstract The ligand,protein docking algorithm based on the Mining Minima method has been substantially enhanced. First, the basic algorithm is accelerated by: (1) adaptively determining the extent of each energy well to help avoid previously discovered energy minima; (2) biasing the search away from ligand positions at the surface of the receptor to prevent the ligand from staying at the surface when large sampling regions are used; (3) quickly testing multiple different ligand positions and orientations for each ligand conformation; and (4) tuning the source code to increase computational efficiency. These changes markedly shorten the time needed to discover an accurate result, especially when large sampling regions are used. The algorithm now also allows user-selected receptor sidechains to be treated as mobile during the docking procedure. The energies associated with the mobile side chains are computed as if they belonged to the ligand, except that atoms at the boundary between side chains and the rigid backbone are treated specially. This new capability is tested for several well-known ligand/protein systems, and preliminary application to an enzyme whose substrate is unknown,the recently solved hypothetical protein YecO (HI0319) from Haemophilus influenzae,indicates that side-chains relaxations allow candidate substrates of various sizes to be accommodated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 1656,1670, 2002 [source] Rapid detection of Haemophilus influenzae by hel gene polymerase chain reactionLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003M.C. Yadav Abstract Aims: To evaluate the efficiency of hel gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Haemophilus influenzae in various clinical/non-clinical samples. Methods and Results: Seventy-four clinical samples (cerebrospinal fluid, blood, sputum, throat and nasal swabs) and throat swabs of 17 asymptomatic carriers were collected. Primers were used to amplify the hel gene of H. influenzae encoding P4 outer membrane protein directly from the processed samples. The samples were also examined by conventional culture methods and the results were compared with those of PCR. The culture methods showed positive results in 60 (65·9%) of 91 samples in contrast to 62 (68·12%) samples tested positive by PCR. None of the culture-positive samples were PCR-negative while two of the culture-negative samples were PCR-positive. The specificity of the products was confirmed by Southern hybridization and failure of various other organisms to amplify the hel gene product. The sensitivity of the PCR assay was found to be 50 pg of DNA. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the hel gene PCR is a rapid, sensitive and a specific new method for direct identification of H. influenzae. Significance and Impact of the study: Thus, this PCR test can improve the detection rate of H. influenzae in suspected clinical samples as compared with that of conventional culture methods. [source] Phase variable type III restriction-modification systems of host-adapted bacterial pathogensMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Kate L. Fox Summary Phase variation, the high-frequency on/off switching of gene expression, is a common feature of host-adapted bacterial pathogens. Restriction-modification (R-M) systems, which are ubiquitous among bacteria, are classically assigned the role of cellular defence against invasion of foreign DNA. These enzymes are not obvious candidates for phase variable expression, a characteristic usually associated with surface-expressed molecules subject to host immune selection. Despite this, numerous type III R-M systems in bacterial pathogens contain repetitive DNA motifs that suggest the potential for phase variation. Several roles have been proposed for phase variable R-M systems based on DNA restriction function. However, there is now evidence in several important human pathogens, including Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that these systems are ,phasevarions' (phasevariable regulons) controlling expression of multiple genes via a novel epigenetic mechanism. [source] The structural view of bacterial translocation-specific chaperone SecB: implications for functionMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Jiahai Zhou Summary SecB is a molecular chaperone that functions in bacterial post-translational protein translocation pathway. It maintains newly synthesized precursor polypeptide chains in a translocation-competent state and guides them to the translocon via its high-affinity binding to the ligand as well as to the membrane-embedded ATPase SecA. Recent advances in elucidating the structures of SecB have enabled the examination of protein function in the structural context. Structures of SecB from both Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli support the early two-subsite polypeptide-binding model. In addition, the detailed molecular interaction between SecB and SecA was revealed by a structure of SecB in complex with the C-terminal zinc-containing domain of SecA. These observations explain the dual role of SecB plays in the translocation pathway, as a molecular chaperone and a specific targeting factor. A model of SecB,SecA complex suggests that the binding of SecA to SecB changes the conformation of the polypeptide binding sites in the chaperone, enabling transfer of precursor polypeptides from SecB to SecA. Recent studies also show the presence of a second zinc-independent SecB binding site in SecA and the new interaction might contribute to the function of SecB. [source] Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)-binding recombinant polypeptide confers protection against infection by respiratory and urogenital pathogensMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Darryl J. Hill Summary The human-specific pathogens Neisseria meningitidis, N. gonorrhoea, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis share the property of targeting the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) expressed on human epithelia. CEACAMs are signalling receptors implicated in cell adhesion and regulation of several physiological functions. Their targeting by pathogens can lead to tissue invasion. Although the CEACAM-binding ligands of the bacteria are structurally diverse, they target a common site on the receptor. We have generated a recombinant polypeptide that blocks the interactions of the mucosal pathogens with human epithelial cells and antibodies against it inhibit M. catarrhalis interactions with the receptor. As such, it is a potential antimicrobial agent to prevent infection via a strategy unlikely to promote bacterial resistance and a vaccine candidate against M. catarrhalis. In addition, it could serve more widely as a novel research tool and as a potential therapeutic agent in CEACAM-based physiological disorders. [source] Transcriptional regulation of transport and utilization systems for hexuronides, hexuronates and hexonates in gamma purple bacteriaMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Dmitry A. Rodionov The comparative approach is a powerful tool for the analysis of gene regulation in bacterial genomes. It can be applied to the analysis of regulons that have been studied experimentally as well as that of regulons for which no known regulatory sites are available. It is assumed that the set of co-regulated genes and the regulatory signal itself are conserved in related genomes. Here, we use genomic comparisons to study the regulation of transport and utilization systems for sugar acids in gamma purple bacteria Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Yersinia pestis, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Haemophilus influenzae and Vibrio cholerae. The variability of the operon structure and the location of the operator sites for the main transcription factors are demonstrated. The common metabolic map is combined with known and predicted regulatory interactions. It includes all known and predicted members of the GntR, UxuR/ExuR, KdgR, UidR and IdnR regulons. Moreover, most members of these regulons seem to be under catabolite repression mediated by CRP. The candidate UxuR/ExuR signal is proposed, the KdgR consensus is extended, and new operators for all transcription factors are identified in all studied genomes. Two new members of the KdgR regulon, a hypothetical ATP-dependent transport system OgtABCD and YjgK protein with unknown function, are detected. The former is likely to be the transport system for the products of pectin degradation, oligogalacturonides. [source] Carcinoembryonic antigens are targeted by diverse strains of typable and non-typable Haemophilus influenzaeMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Mumtaz Virji Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), a commensal of the human respiratory mucosa, is an important cause of localized and systemic infections. We show that distinct strains belonging to typable (THi) and non-typable (NTHi) H. influenzae target human carcinoembryonic antigens (the membrane associated CEA family of cell adhesion molecules, are now termed CEACAMs). All strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hi-aeg) and more than 70% of THi and NTHi strains tested specifically recognize CEACAMI-Fc soluble constructs. Furthermore, transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with human CEACAM1 cDNA alone was sufficient for promoting Hi interactions with the transfected cells. The majority of the Hi-aeg strains tested interacted with soluble constructs containing only the N-terminal domain. In contrast, several THi and NTHi strains reacted with soluble constructs only when additional extracellular A and B domains of the receptor were present. The use of monoclonal antibodies confirmed that THi and NTHi strains also interact primarily at the N-domain. We used site-directed mutants of CEACAM1 that contained substitutions at surface exposed amino acids and a molecular model of the N-domain to identify the residues involved in interactions with Hi ligands. The studies show that a common region exposed at the CFG face of the molecule is targeted by diverse Hi strains. However, mutation at distinct sites within this area affected the interactions of distinct strains signifying the potential for tissue tropism via this receptor. Analyses of the molecular basis of interaction with human cell lines and purified CEA show that Hi strains, especially those belonging to Hi-aeg, interact with multiple CEACAMs. Because Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) strains are also known to bind at the CFG face of the receptor, we used Nm and Hi strains in co-infection experiments and demonstrate competition between these mucosal pathogens in colonization of target cells via CEACAMs. [source] Ganglioside mimicry and peripheral nerve diseaseMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2007Nobuhiro Yuki MD Abstract Four criteria must be satisfied to conclude that a given microorganism causes Guillain,Barré (GBS) or Fisher (FS) syndrome associated with anti-ganglioside antibodies: (1) an epidemiological association between the infecting microbe and GBS or FS; (2) isolation in the acute progressive phase of illness of that microorganism from GBS or FS patients with associated anti-ganglioside IgG antibodies; (3) identification of a microbial ganglioside mimic; and (4) a GBS or FS with associated anti-ganglioside antibodies model produced by sensitization with the microbe itself or its component, as well as with ganglioside. Campylobacter jejuni is a definitive causative microorganism of acute motor axonal neuropathy and may cause FS and related conditions. Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are possible causative microorganisms of acute motor axonal neuropathy or FS. Acute and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies may be produced by mechanisms other than ganglioside mimicry. Muscle Nerve, 2007 [source] Sputum induction as a diagnostic tool for community-acquired pneumonia in infants and young children from a high HIV prevalence areaPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 1 2003H.J. Zar MD Abstract Sputum induction is a standard diagnostic procedure to identify pathogens in lower respiratory tract secretions in adults with pneumonia, but has rarely been studied or used in infants and young children. Our aim was to determine the usefulness of induced sputum (IS) as a diagnostic method for infants and children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a high HIV prevalence area. Children hospitalized for CAP were prospectively enrolled over a year. IS was obtained by nebulization with hypertonic (5%) saline, physiotherapy, and suctioning. Sputum was submitted for bacterial and mycobacterial culture and P. carinii detection. Gastric lavages (GLs) were done for M. tuberculosis culture; a nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was obtained for bacterial culture and P. carinii detection. IS was obtained in 210 children (median age, 7 (25th to 75th percentile, 3,18) months); 138 (66%) were HIV-infected; 148 (70%) were receiving supplemental oxygen. Bacteria were isolated from 101 (50%) IS and 141 (70%) NPA paired specimens (P,<,0.001). A significantly higher rate of S. aureus, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, and S. pneumoniae was found in NPAs compared to IS; this pattern was particularly evident in HIV-infected children. M. tuberculosis was cultured from sputum in 19 patients (9%); GLs performed in 142 children were positive in only 9 (6%). The difference (95% confidence interval) between yields for M. tuberculosis from culture of IS compared to GL was 4.3% (95% CI, 0,5.6%; P,=,0.08). P. carinii was identified from IS in 12 (5.7%) children; all corresponding NPAs were negative. Seven (3%) children could not tolerate sputum induction. Side effects included increased coughing in 4%, epistaxis in 3%, and wheezing responsive to bronchodilators in 1%. In conclusion, induced sputum is a useful and safe diagnostic procedure in infants and children with CAP from a high HIV prevalence area. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:58,62. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] To the Editor: Effect of anesthetic gases on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureusPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Amel A-Rahman MBBS No abstract is available for this article. [source] Eleven-year study of causes of neonatal bacterial meningitis in Ahvaz, IranPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010Mohammad Hasan Aletayeb Abstract Background:, Bacterial meningitis is a devastating infection with a high mortality rate, especially in neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the causative agents that cause bacterial meningitis in Khuzestan province in the south-western region of Iran. Methods:, A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out from 1997 to 2007 at the neonatal ward of a university teaching hospital (Emam Khomeini hospital) in Ahvaz. All infants younger than 29 days old who suffered from meningitis were included. Laboratory tests included Gram stain, culture, and biochemical tests. Cases were defined as meningitis if the cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive. Results:, Based on cerebrospinal fluid culture, 31 infants were identified as having bacterial meningitis. Eleven (35.5%) of these cases were caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, nine (29%) were caused by Enterobacter spp., three (9.6%) were caused by Escherichia coli, three (9.6%) were caused by Enterococcus spp., two (6.4%) were caused by Acinetobacter, and one case each (3.2%) was caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. The male-to-female ratio was 2 : 1 (67.7% were male). The birthweights of 20 (64.5%) patients were under 2500 g and 11 (35.4%) patients had normal birthweights. Thirteen (42%) were early-onset cases and 18 (58%) were late-onset cases. More than half of the cases (54.8%) acquired the infection from the hospital. Blood cultures were positive for 18 (58%) patients. Thirty-two percent of cases died in spite of treatment. Conclusions:,Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. were the two main causative agents that caused neonatal bacterial meningitis, and nosocomial meningitis was the most common type in our ward. [source] Solution structure of HI1506, a novel two-domain protein from Haemophilus influenzaePROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007Nese Sari Abstract HI1506 is a 128-residue hypothetical protein of unknown function from Haemophilus influenzae. It was originally annotated as a shorter 85-residue protein, but a more detailed sequence analysis conducted in our laboratory revealed that the full-length protein has an additional 43 residues on the C terminus, corresponding with a region initially ascribed to HI1507. As part of a larger effort to understand the functions of hypothetical proteins from Gram-negative bacteria, and H. influenzae in particular, we report here the three-dimensional solution NMR structure for the corrected full-length HI1506 protein. The structure consists of two well-defined domains, an ,/, 50-residue N-domain and a 3-, 32-residue C-domain, separated by an unstructured 30-residue linker. Both domains have positively charged surface patches and weak structural homology with folds that are associated with RNA binding, suggesting a possible functional role in binding distal nucleic acid sites. [source] Sputum bacteriology in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan with an emphasis on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosaRESPIROLOGY, Issue 1 2007Sheng-Hsiang LIN Background and objective: Bacterial infection is one of the major causes of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). This study was undertaken to investigate the microbiology of AECOPD. Methods: Medical records from 494 episodes of AECOPD in patients admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital from January 2000 to June 2004 were reviewed. Severity of COPD was classified according to the 2003 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline. Results: Potential pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from patients in 328 (66.4%) episodes of AECOPD. The predominant bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.8%) and Haemophilus influenzae (7.5%), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (6.9%), Enterobacter species (6.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.1%). The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae was 2.4%. Spirometry results obtained within 1 year of the exacerbation were available in 186 cases. K. pneumoniae was more frequently isolated in stage I COPD (39.1%) than stage II (16.6%), III (13.8%) and IV (9.4%). No glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli were isolated in stage I patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that P. aeruginosa (odds ratio (OR) 3.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21,8.38), intubation (OR 14.81; 95% CI: 5.08,43.12) and age (OR 1.1; 95% CI: 1.03,1.17) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Klebsiella pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa are the most common sputum pathogens in hospitalized patients with AECOPD in Taiwan, with the former being more commonly isolated from mild COPD and the latter associated with poor clinical outcome. These results should be considered when deciding which antibiotics should initially be used to treat patients with AECOPD. [source] Rhinovirus enhances various bacterial adhesions to nasal epithelial cells simultaneouslyTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2009Jong Hwan Wang MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Viral upper respiratory tract infections are often followed by secondary bacterial infections in the form of acute rhinosinusitis. We investigate the effect of rhinovirus infection on the expression of cell adhesion molecules and bacterial adherence to primary human nasal epithelial cells. Methods: Cells were infected with rhinovirus serotype 16 (RV-16), and then Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Hemophilus influenzae were added to the culture. Rhinovirus-induced expression of fibronectin, platelet-activating factor receptor, and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule, was assayed by confocal microscopy, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. Bacterial adhesion to cells was assessed by confocal microscopy and the fluorescence intensity of adherent bacteria was analyzed using Image-Pro Plus 5.1 (Media Cybernetics, Inc., Bethesda, MD). Results: RV-16 infection significantly increased the gene and protein expression of fibronectin, platelet-activating factor receptor, and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule in nasal epithelial cells. Compared with rhinovirus-uninfected control cells, the adhesion of S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae increased significantly to 2.53-fold, 1.51-fold, and 2.74-fold of control levels, respectively, in rhinovirus-infected nasal epithelial cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that increased expression of host cell adhesion molecules may be the mechanism accounting for the increase in susceptibility to bacterial rhinosinusitis associated with rhinovirus-induced upper respiratory infections. Laryngoscope, 2009 [source] Bacteriologic Comparison of Tonsil Core in Recurrent Tonsillitis and Tonsillar Hypertrophy,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2007Jin Hyeok Jeong MD Abstract Objectives: Although many bacteriology studies on tonsillar diseases have been completed, all have been confined to children and were characterized by a paucity of cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the underlying bacterial pathogens in tonsillar disease. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 824 patients who underwent elective tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. We analyzed the differences between the bacterial pathogens in recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy with regard to age, season, and antibiotic sensitivity. Results: Among 824 cases, 966 bacterial strains from the tonsil core were isolated. In recurrent tonsillitis, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen (30.3%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (15.5%) and group A ,-hemolytic Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes, 14.4%). In patients over 14 years of age, quite differently from other age groups, Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated at a significantly higher percentage. In tonsillar hypertrophy, H. influenzae was isolated most commonly (31.4%) regardless of age, followed by S. pyogenes (24.2%), S. aureus (22.9%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.6%). Furthermore, mixed infection was common because of its high resistance to penicillin. In both groups, S. pneumoniae was more common in younger patients, whereas K. pneumoniae was relatively common in adults. We found no differences in the detection rate by season; however, H. influenzae was frequently isolated in the tonsillar hypertrophy group regardless of seasonal variations. We also found no difference in the antibiotic sensitivity between the two groups; however, strains resistant to penicillin were relatively prevalent and showed a high sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporin. Conclusions: We observed some differences in the types of bacteria in the tonsillar core between the recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy groups. Our study indicates that essential bacteria have been changing and, thus, we need to change our choice of antibiotics. [source] Role of Albumin Coating of Tympanostomy Tubes: Long-Term Clinical EvaluationTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2007Teemu J. Kinnari MD Abstract Objective: Our previous work has shown that albumin coating of tympanostomy tubes prevented adhesion of proteins or bacteria on the tube surface in vitro and in a 9-month prospective follow-up study. This study was continued until all tubes were extruded. Study Design: A prospective, clinical trial. Methods: The randomized, double-blind clinical trial had 149 patients. The randomization was revealed after the follow-up period of 9 months. The number of tube sequelae in ears with human serum albumin (HSA)-coated titanium tympanostomy tubes was compared with the contralateral ears with uncoated, otherwise identical titanium tubes. The follow-up continued until all tubes were extruded, followed by evaluation of each tympanostomized patient. Results: No significant difference between the two tube types emerged after the 9-month follow-up. Among the patients younger than 2 years, one of the three typical bacteria causing acute otitis media (AOM), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis, was found in 45% of all bacterial cultures taken during AOM. However, among patients older than 2, one of these bacteria appeared in 17% of all the bacterial cultures and in 8% of cultures taken during the summer. Conclusions: After the first 9 follow-up months, no difference was found in the sequelae related to uncoated and HSA-coated tubes. The typical bacteria causing AOM were found less frequently among patients older than 2 years. A profile of tympanostomy patients in Finland will be given. [source] Microbiology of Recurrent Acute RhinosinusitisTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2004Itzhak Brook MD Abstract Objective We undertook to evaluate the microbiology of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis. Methods Repeated aspirations of maxillary sinus secretions by endoscopy were performed in eight patients over a period of 98 to 185 days. Results Bacteria were recovered for all 25 aspirates. A total of 31 isolates,14 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 11 Haemophilus influenzae, 5 Moraxella catarrhalis, and 1 Staphylococcus aureus,were recovered. The organism persisted in consecutive cultures in 13 instances and were eliminated in 8, and new organisms emerged in 6 instances. An increase in antimicrobial resistance was noted in 5 instances (3 in S. pneumoniae and 2 H. influenzae). Conclusions This study illustrates the microbial dynamics of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, with the changes in microbial findings and increased bacterial resistance that occurs over time. [source] Candidate's Thesis: Direct Evidence of Bacterial Biofilms in Otitis Media,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2001J. Christopher Post MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis Bacteriologic studies of otitis media with effusion (OME) using highly sensitive techniques of molecular biology such as the polymerase chain reaction have demonstrated that traditional culturing methods are inadequate to detect many viable bacteria present in OME. The presence of pathogens attached to the middle-ear mucosa as a bacterial biofilm, rather than as free-floating organisms in a middle-ear effusion, has previously been suggested to explain these observations. The suggestion has been speculative, however, because no visual evidence of such biofilms on middle-ear mucosa has heretofore been collected. The hypotheses motivating the current study were: 1) biofilms of nontypable Hemophilus influenzae will form on the middle-ear mucosa of chinchillas in an experimental model of OME, 2) these biofilms will exhibit changes in density or structure over time, and 3) biofilms are also present on tympanostomy tubes in children with refractory post-tympanostomy otorrhea. The objective of this study was to collect visual evidence of the formation of bacterial biofilms in these situations. Study Design Laboratory study of bacteriology in an animal model and on medical devices removed from pediatric patients. Methods Experimental otitis media was induced in chinchillas by transbullar injection of nontypable H. influenzae. Animals were killed in a time series and the surface of the middle-ear mucosa was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the presence of bacterial biofilms. Adult and fetal chinchilla uninfected controls were similarly examined for comparison. In addition, tympanostomy tubes that had been placed in children's ears to treat OME and removed after onset of refractory otorrhea or other problems were examined by SEM and by confocal scanning laser microscopy for bacterial biofilms, and compared with unused control tubes. Results Bacterial biofilms were visually detected by SEM on the middle-ear mucosa of multiple chinchillas in which H. influenzae otitis media had been induced. Qualitative evaluation indicated that the density and thickness of the biofilm might increase until at least 96 hours after injection. The appearance of the middle-ear mucosa of experimental animals contrasted with that of uninjected control animals. Robust bacterial biofilms were also visually detected on tympanostomy tubes removed from children's ears for clinical reasons, in contrast with unused control tubes. Conclusions Bacterial biofilms form on the middle-ear mucosa of chinchillas in experimentally induced H. influenzae otitis media and can form on tympanostomy tubes placed in children's ears. Such biofilms can be directly observed by microscopy. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the bacterial aggregates called biofilms, resistant to treatment by antibiotics and to detection by standard culture techniques, may play a major etiologic role in OME and in one of its frequent complications, post-tympanostomy otorrhea. [source] Microbiology of Healthy and Diseased AdenoidsTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 6 2000Itzhak Brook MD Abstract Objective To determine the qualitative and quantitative microbiology of core adenoid tissue obtained from four groups of 15 children each, with recurrent otitis media (ROM), recurrent adenotonsillitis (RAT), obstructive adenoid hypertrophy (OAH), and occlusion or speech abnormalities (controls). Methods Core cultures of surgically removed diseased adenoids and of healthy controls were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Results Polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic flora were present in all instances. Ninety-four organisms were isolated from control specimens, and 148 from ROM, 142 from RAT, and 149 from OAH specimens. The predominant aerobes in all groups were ,-hemolytic and ,-hemolytic streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, group A ,-hemolytic streptococci, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The prominent anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium species. The number, concentration and distribution of types of most organisms did not vary among the three groups of diseased adenoids. However, the number of those that are potential pathogens and those that produced ,-lactamase was lower in the control than the diseased adenoids (P < .001). Conclusion The study highlights the importance of the bacterial load in the adenoids in contributing to the etiology of ROM, RAT, and OAH. [source] Symptoms and signs in culture-proven acute maxillary sinusitis in a general practice populationAPMIS, Issue 10 2009JENS GEORG HANSEN The objective of this study was to assess symptoms and signs in patients with maxillary sinusitis and a bacteriological diagnosis obtained by sinus aspiration or lavage. Designed as a prospective cohort study in general practice, the study included 174 patients, aged 18,65 years, suspected of having acute maxillary sinusitis by their general practitioner. The main outcome measures were the independent association of symptoms, signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and confirmed infection with the predominant bacterial pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. The predominant organisms found in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis were S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Body temperature >38 °C and maxillary toothache were significantly associated with the presence of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Positive bacteriological culture results were significantly associated with increasing ESR and CRP values. None of the symptoms and signs, with the exception of body temperature >38 °C and maxillary toothache, were particularly sensitive indicators of the specific aetiology in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis. Elevated ESR and CRP values were significantly associated with positive bacteriological culture results. On the other hand, absence of these symptoms and signs did not exclude the presence of acute maxillary sinusitis. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||