Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPrevalence of nosocomial infections at intensive care units in Turkey: a multicentre 1-day point prevalence study.
In order to determine the prevalence of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infection at ICUs in Turkey and to identify associated risk factors, predominant infecting organisms and mortality rates, a 1-d point prevalence study was carried out on 19 September 2001. A total of 56 ICUs from 22 university and teaching hospitals participated and a total of 236 completed case report forms were accepted for analyses. A total of 115 patients (48.7%) had 1 or more ICU- related nosocomial infections on the study d. ⋯ According to a 4-week follow-up, 70 (29.7%) patients died, 22 (9.3%) of whom died from ICU related infections. In conclusion this study showed that ICU related infections are common and often associated with resistant microorganisms. The results provide epidemiological information that will help to implement infection control policies in ICUs.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyGender differences in hospitalization rates for respiratory tract infections in Danish youth.
Overall morbidity and mortality rates in childhood are reported to be higher in males than females. As respiratory tract infections constitute the leading cause of childhood hospitalization, we examined the gender difference in rates of hospitalization due to respiratory tract infections in Danish youth (under age 25). ⋯ In young children, boys were hospitalized more often than girls, but the reverse applied in children and adolescents 15-25 y of age. The study generates the hypothesis that gender plays a role in the susceptibility for respiratory infections in early childhood.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyGram-negative bacillary meningitis after cranial surgery or trauma in adults.
In order to assess the clinical features, aetiology, treatment and outcome of post-neurosurgical and post-traumatic Gram-negative bacillary meningitis (GNBM) we performed a retrospective review of all adult patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery who had Gram-negative bacilli cultured from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following a neurosurgical procedure or traumatic head/spinal injury. During the 12 y of the review 33 patients had CSF isolates of Gram-negative bacilli that were thought to be significant. The median patient age was 47 y (range 22-77 y) and 21 (64%) were male. ⋯ Five patients (15%) died, 1 dying after cure of his GNBM. There were no failures in those who received more than 12 d of appropriate treatment: treatment for at least 14 d after the last positive CSF culture guaranteed cure. Initial ceftriaxone and amikacin subsequently changing to susceptibility driven alternatives, often a carbapenem, resulted in cure of 85% of our patients with GNBM.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Case ReportsSuccessful treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis in an allogenic bone-marrow transplant recipient with combined medical and surgical therapy.
Mucormycosis is a rare, but severe, complication in allogenic bone-marrow recipients with a mortality rate of about 80%. Moreover, its incidence appears to have increased within the last decade. We report a case of pulmonary and nasal mucormycosis in a 55-y-old patient, which occurred 1 y after BMT. Treatment combining 4 months of amphotericin B, early surgical resection of infected tissue and discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment allowed the cure of this mould infection.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Case ReportsTreatment of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylcoccus aureus endocarditis with linezolid.
We report a case of infective endocarditis due to vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus that developed after repeated courses of vancomycin. The patient had underlying end stage renal disease and dissecting aortic aneurysm with aortic graft and prosthetic aortic valve replacement. He responded to prolonged combination therapy with linezolid and amikacin without undergoing surgical intervention.