European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Jun 2000
Case ReportsNeisseria meningitidis serogroup W-135 primary monarthritis of the hip in an immunocompetent child.
Reported here is the first known case of primary monoarthritis of the hip due to Neisseria meningitidis W-135. The isolate was obtained from an immunocompetent child suffering from acute hip pain as the only symptom upon presentation at the hospital. Meningococcal infection must be considered in the diagnosis of any child presenting with arthritis, even if afebrile and without rash.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2000
ReviewBacterial resistance and overgrowth due to selective decontamination of the digestive tract.
Infection of the lower airways is a major problem in ventilated patients and contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit. The selective decontamination of the digestive tract and its effect on the reduction of the gram-negative colonisation rate in patients has been studied widely. ⋯ In light of the unresolved questions concerning the efficacy of selective decontamination of the digestive tract, it would seem that the resultant effect of this treatment on the bacterial flora should be an important consideration when assessing the value of such treatment. To date, none of the studies available for examination have been designed to adequately assess the effect of selective decontamination of the digestive tract on the bacterial flora.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · May 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialEpidemiology of bacterial infection during management of open leg fractures.
In a randomised double-blind trial conducted between 1990 and 1994, 616 patients from 43 centres, pefloxacin (group P, 316 patients) and a cefazolin-oxacillin combination (group C, 300 patients) were compared in the prophylaxis of bone infection after grade 1 and 2 open leg fractures. Samples were obtained at emergency, before and during surgery, and from drain aspirates. Antimicrobial susceptibility, slime production and adherence properties of the bacteria were tested. ⋯ The difference is not significant (chi-square test = 0.42; P = 0.51). Infecting strains were isolated from 38 patients (group P, 18; group C, 20). Infecting species, although not predictable, appear to be those escaping the spectrum of the prescribed antimicrobial prophylaxis.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 1999
Procalcitonin concentrations in patients with neutropenic fever.
To assess the usefulness of markers of inflammation in distinguishing bacterial infection from severe systemic nonbacterial inflammation, concentrations of procalcitonin, neopterin, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6 were measured in 28 neutropenic patients at the onset of fever and twice thereafter at 4 h intervals. Infection was found in 11 patients, and 17 patients had fever of undetermined origin. ⋯ Its poor sensitivity was related to an absent or delayed response in patients with gram-positive infections. Considerable overlap between infected and noninfected patients was found in levels of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6.
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Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Apr 1999
Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 infection associated with a music festival.
Seven persons who attended the Glastonbury Music Festival were infected with Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 and an eighth person had serological evidence of infection. Cases were reported from different parts of England. Patients were interviewed by telephone about clinical symptoms, festival attendance, camping details, food history, water exposure, and contact with mud and animals. ⋯ Escherichia coli O157 strains from seven persons and from a cow belonging to a herd that had previously grazed the site all belonged to phage type 2 and possessed genes for Vero cytotoxin 2. Drug resistance and DNA-based tests showed that six patients were infected with strains indistinguishable from each other and from the bovine isolate. The most likely vehicle of infection was mud contaminated with Escherichia coli O157 from infected cattle.