Giornale di batteriologia, virologia ed immunologia最新文献

A retrospective study was made of all blood cultures performed over a 40-month period at the Ivrea-Castellamonte Hospital (Turin, Italy). A total of 4386 vials from 619 patients were examined. There were 619 positive vials (14.1%) from 131 patients (21.2%) corresponding to 145 bacteremia episodes, including 129 monomicrobial (89%) and 16 polymicrobial (11%). Ten patients (1.6%) had more than one episode. There were 73 polluted vials (1.7%). A total of 165 microorganism were isolated: Gram-positive (52.7%) and Gram-negative (46%) bacteria, and mycetes (1.2%), anaerobic flora (9.7%). The predominant families were: Enterobacteriaceae (29.5%), Micrococcaceae (27.3%), Pseudomonadaceae (4.8%), Bacteroidaceae (4.8%) and Streptococcus "Genus" (18.8%). The species frequencies were: Escherichia coli (20%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.8%), Enterococcus (8.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.8%), Proteus mirabilis (4.2%), Brucella spp. (2.4%), Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus bovis e Propionibacterium acnes (1.8%). These findings are compared with those published in the Italian and international literature. Stress is laid on periodical review of the isolations from samples of this kind as a useful aid towards the diagnosis and treatment of hospital infections, and in their monitoring and epidemiological evaluation.

Data on all blood cultures from patients admitted to the Ivrea-Castellamonte Hospital (Turin, Italy) from June 1986 to September 1989 were collected and processed in a retrospective study of the quantity of cultures prepared in the hospital as a whole and per department, the percentage of culture positivity and the incidence of bacteremias. The results were: 1) mean incidence of cultures: 12.37 per 1000 patients, increasing through the period; almost 2/3 of the cultures were requested by the three medical division; 2) positivity 21.2%; 3) incidence of bacteremias: 3 per 1000 patients. These findings are critically compared with others obtained both in Italy and abroad (United States, United Kingdom, South Africa), and it is suggested that the increased request for cultures observed should lead to an increase in the number of bacteremias diagnosed.

After analysing the etiopathogenesis and transmission process of the microorganism, the Authors have examined the latest and documented outbreaks owing to food-borne strains of Listeria monocytogenes in Europe and in North America. The considered studies indicate an increase of listeriosis cases caused by infected food, especially food of animal origin, such as meat and milk-dairy products.

Serum anti-HBc IgA antibodies can be demonstrated in acute hepatitis B patients. At first, they are mainly polymeric (p-IgA), whereas monomeric IgA (m-IgA) become detectable 3 months later. In most cases, anti-HBc IgA cannot be demonstrated after 6-12 months. From a diagnostic point of view, specific p-IgA can be regarded as a marker of active infection but, compared to IgM, their demonstration is more difficult.

The AA. studied the effects of a polyvalent oral vaccine on the cellular immunity, and on IgA level in animal. They also studied its ability to reactivate the response to the Clostridium tetani toxin in human volunteers. The results show a very good ability of the vaccine as specific and aspecific stimulator.

An antagonistic activity of Enterococcus faecium SF 68 towards Plesiomonas shigelloides, Aeromonas sp., enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica has been studied and demonstrated.

Host-parasite interactions were studied by several researchers in these last years, both to better understand some parasite diseases and to identify new targets and strategies for the control of these infections. In this paper some of the most important recognition's mechanisms demonstrated between specific parasite structures and host cell receptors are reported, and particularly those concerning protozoa Leishmania, Plasmodium, Entamoeba, Giardia and Pneumocystis.

The Authors have tested the new Tb-Elisa method to detect specific antibodies, raised against A60 major mycobacterial antigen complex, in patients of groups II, III and IV of CDC classification suffering from acquired immunodeficiency and in HIV-1 negative control subjects. The test results support laboratory diagnosis of acute phase and reactivation of mycobacterial infection.

Enteric infections in childhood are estimated to be a primary cause of illness and death in the third world and Rotaviruses play a very important role in acute nonbacterial diarrheal enterocolitis. The Authors analyse the latest results of the direct investigation of the virus in the feces by ELISA method. The improvements in diagnostic techniques and the new knowledges about Rotaviruses and their pathogenic power acquired during the last decade have made it easier to know the consequences of Rotavirus infections particularly in the poorest countries, with very bad sanitary conditions. Much attention has therefore been paid to the study of dietetics and immunoprophylaxis in order to find the most suitable cure. At present only some vaccines of animal origin are available that many Authors consider to be harmless, and that, might hopefully be employed in the third world countries.

An important role in the interaction between protozoan parasite Leishmania and host is determined by serum factors. The activation of complement can have resistance-promoting effects (due to the lysis of parasite) or disease-promoting effect (due to the opsonization of Leishmania). Also lymphokines can determine resolution or progression of the infection. Particularly, gamma-interferon "in vitro" increases the killing of the parasite and "in vivo" cures cutaneous leishmaniasis.