Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 1995
Rapid simple and nested polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
We have developed a rapid and easy extraction procedure for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols. Using this simplified step, we evaluated the sensitivity and the specificity of a simple PCR using the primers of Wakefield et al, and of a nested PCR, using new internal primers selected by us, in a total of 89 bronochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 43 immunosuppressed patients. In 13 patients, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was diagnosed by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) staining performed on BAL cells cytospun on microscope slides. ⋯ In follow-up BAL fluids of patients with proven PCP, persistence of P. carinii was detected for a longer period by nested PCR than by simple PCR. Simple PCR is a very rapid and sensitive assay for the diagnosis of PCP in BAL fluid and gives clear-cut results in the case of doubtful IFA staining results. Nested PCR seems to improve the sensitivity of the detection of P. carinii in BAL fluid, but the clinical relevance of a positive result remains to be investigated..
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The quantitative aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of bronchial aspirates, obtained using protective brush catheters, from 10 children with ventilator-associated pneumonia, is presented. Aerobic or faculative organisms only were isolated in 1 child, anaerobic bacteria only in 3, and aerobic mixed with anaerobic bacteria in 6. There were 10 aerobic or faculative and 17 anaerobic isolates. ⋯ A total of 10 beta-lactamase-producing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 8 patients. All patients except 1 responded to antimicrobial therapy directed against the recovered isolates. These data highlight the polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic flora isolated from pulmonary specimens of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 1994
ReviewDoes vitamin C alleviate the symptoms of the common cold?--a review of current evidence.
Since 1971, 21 placebo-controlled studies have been made to establish whether vitamin C at a dosage of > or = 1 g/day affects the common cold. These studies have not found any consistent evidence that vitamin C supplementation reduces the incidence of the common cold in the general population. ⋯ However, there have been large variations in the benefits observed, and clinical significance cannot be clearly inferred from the results. Still, the consistency of the results indicates that the role of vitamin C in the treatment of the common cold should be reconsidered.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 1994
Case ReportsLeft vocal cord palsy: an unusual presentation of a mycotic aneurysm of the aorta caused by Salmonella cholerasuis.
A 67-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of fever, productive cough and a concomitant hoarseness. A para-aortic lesion was found on chest X-ray, and bronchoscopy revealed a left vocal cord palsy. ⋯ Operation disclosed an infected aneurysm with rupture, and tissue culture yielded Salmonella cholerasuis. The findings of a mycotic aneurysm and hoarseness due to compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is a rare and serious combination caused by salmonella, previously unreported in the medical literature.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 1994
Case ReportsMicroscopic examination of sperm as the diagnostic clue in a case of Schistosoma haematobium infection.
Early diagnosis and treatment of Schistosoma haematobium infections is imperative to prevent chronic manifestations of the disease. Microscopical examination of urine and faeces, and rectal biopsy are widely used standard methods for the rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis. We report a case in whom numerous Schistosoma haematobium eggs were demonstrated in sperm, even though repeated examination of urine and rectal biopsies had been futile. It is concluded that the case presented demonstrates the importance of using sperm as an alternative sample material when schistosoma eggs are not found in conventional sample materials from male patients suspected of being infected with Schistosoma haematobium.