Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyOccurrence and antimicrobial resistance pattern comparisons among bloodstream infection isolates from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1997-2002).
The empiric treatment of patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) has become more complicated in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance. The SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program has monitored BSI from patients in medical centers worldwide since 1997. During 1997-2002, a total of 81,213 BSI pathogens from North America, Latin America, and Europe were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. ⋯ Activity of commonly used antimicrobial agents remained relatively stable in North America, except in the case of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (20% decline between 1997 and 2002). An epidemiologic investigation of oxacillin-resistant S. aureus in North America identified 10 significant clones (ribotypes) and the common resistance patterns associated with them. Surveillance of BSI pathogens is needed to determine trends of resistance and provide useful information regarding patient risk factors and geographic differences.
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Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyUnusual manifestations of histoplasmosis.
We present 6 cases of infection with Histoplasma capsulatum that have been uncommonly or not previously reported. Our case reports include unusual manifestations of H. capsulatum presenting as meningitis, the immune reconstitution syndrome, relapsing pericarditis, and scleroconjunctivitis.