International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDecreased protein C, protein S, and antithrombin levels are predictive of poor outcome in Gram-negative sepsis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei.
Acute septicemic melioidosis is associated with systemic release of endotoxin and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6. Excessive release of these cytokines may lead to endothelial injury, depletion of naturally occurring endothelial modulators, microvascular thrombosis, organ failure, and death. ⋯ The inflammatory response to systemic Burkholderia pseudomallei infection leads to depletion of the natural endothelial modulators protein C, protein S, and antithrombin. Both baseline and continued deficiency of these endothelial modulators is predictive of poor outcome in melioidosis.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2005
Review Case ReportsStaphylococcus capitis endocarditis due to a transvenous endocardial pacemaker infection: case report and review of Staphylococcus capitis endocarditis.
Newer microbiologic methods to determine the species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have evolved which have shown that most endocarditis due to CoNS is caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, and far fewer by Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus lugdunensis. ⋯ CoNS as a cause of endocarditis appears to be increasing and the current ability to determine the species of these organisms should elicit the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and biomolecular mechanisms involved in the induction of valvular disease.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2004
Routine lumbar puncture in children with febrile seizures in Ghana: should it continue?
Performing routine lumbar punctures in children with febrile seizures has been controversial. This study aimed to determine the positive yield of lumbar punctures in a setting where routine lumbar puncture is routinely carried out and to determine if any other parameter could help differentiate bacterial meningitis from the various other diagnoses of children who presented with a febrile seizure. ⋯ Performing routine lumbar punctures may still have a role to play in the management of children with febrile seizures.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2004
ReviewBrain natriuretic peptide: a potential marker for mortality in septic shock.
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a diagnostic marker for left ventricular dysfunction. Sepsis and septic shock are increasing in incidence and mortality. Myocardial dysfunction frequently accompanies severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ At present, a relationship between BNP with myocardial dysfunction in septic shock has not been evaluated. However, growing evidence supports the hypothesis that BNP could be an early predictor of mortality in septic shock. If proven, the hypothesis would have important clinical and public health implications.