Neuraminidase produces dose-dependent decrease of slime production and adherence of slime-forming, coagulase-negative staphylococci.

BACKGROUND: Slime is one of the important structures of certain bacterial strains involved in nonspecific adherence. This study was conducted to determine the role of neuraminidase on slime formation and adherence of slime-forming coagulase-negative staphylococci to inert surface. METHODS: Quantitative biofilm and qualitative bacterial adherence assays were performed with increasing concentrations of neuraminidase extracted from Clostridium perfringens-treated bacteria in polystyrene plates and polypropylene tubes. RESULTS: Slime production of slime-forming, coagulase-negative staphylococci was significantly decreased dose dependently at > or =100 mU/mL (p <0.001). Bacterial adherence to smooth surface was impeded at > or =100 mU/mL of neuraminidase treatment and adherence results were comparable with slime production assay results. CONCLUSIONS: Sialic acid may be a constituent molecule of slime and involved in bacterial adherence to inert surface. These results represent new insight into the mechanism of slime production and adherence of slime-forming, coagulase-negative staphylococci to inert surface.

C-reactive protein may be a marker of bacterial translocation in experimental intestinal obstruction.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a marker of intestinal ischaemia. This study evaluated whether CRP levels can be used to detect ischaemia-induced (strangulated) intestinal obstruction and subsequent bacterial translocation. METHODS: Forty-eight rats, divided into four groups underwent the following procedures: anaesthesia alone (native controls), laparotomy (sham-operated controls), or surgical induction of simple or strangulated intestinal obstruction (simple and strangulated obstruction groups, respectively). Blood samples were collected for culture and serum CRP analysis. In addition, liver and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) specimens were collected for culture, to determine the presence of bacterial translocation; and ileal segments, for histopathological investigation. RESULTS: CRP levels and rates of bacterial translocation, expressed as colony forming units (cfu) per gram wet tissue, were higher in both intestinal obstruction groups than in the native and sham-operated control groups (P < 0.001 for both). The increases in CRP levels paralleled increases in the number of cfu in the MLN and liver cultures (P < 0.01). Compared to controls, animals in the obstruction groups also had a higher incidence of positive blood cultures (P < 0.005) and greater histopathologic evidence of inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria (P < 0.01). However, no significant difference between the simple and strangulated obstruction groups was observed. CONCLUSION: CRP levels increase with the severity of bacterial translocation in acute intestinal obstruction but do not permit discrimination between simple and strangulated intestinal obstruction.

[Should cystic echinococcosis be investigated in patients having high eosinophil counts?]. / Eozinofil sayisi yüksek olanlarda kistik ekinokokkozis arastirilmali mi?

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is one of the important health problems in Turkey and in the world. In this study, whether or not the presence of CE in patients with a high eosinophil count should be determined was investigated. A total of 946 specimens from patients with a high eosinophil count (>or=350/mm3) were evaluated. The age of patients ranged from 1-94 years. Of the patients, 392 (41.4%) were male and 554 (58.6%), female. The specific antibody response in the specimens was determined by ELISA and IHA. Specific antibody response was detected in five sera of 946 (0.53%) patients with ELISA and IHA. The patients, with an antibody response, were evaluated further with liver ultrasonography and chest X-ray. One patient, in which an antibody response was detected, had a history of renal cell carcinoma surgery. In one patient (0.11%), CE was detected in the liver and the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. No CE was found in the other three patients. In conclusion, eosinophilia is not a sufficient indicator for CE alone and this parasite should be sought in patients with clinical and radiological signs.

[The comparative evaluation of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA) and Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) in the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis]. / Kistik Ekinokokkozis Tanisinda ELISA (Enzym Lynked Immunosorbent Assay), Indirekt Hemaglütinaston Testi (IHA) ve Indirekt Fluoresan Antikor Testi (IFAT)'nin Karsilastirmali Olarak Degerlendirilmesi.

The most frequently used methods for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis are ELISA, IHA and IFAT methods in routine laboratories. The aim of this study was to detect the optimum serological method which can be used routinely with the highest sensitivity and specificity. Forty CE cases with 40 controls, making a total of 80 patients, were included in the study. In 80 sera specimens, specific antibody response to metacestodes was investigated using ELISA, IHA and IFAT methods. The antibody response in CE cases was found to be 35 (87.5%), with ELISA, 33 (82.5%) with IFAT and 36 (90.0%) with IHA. The sensitivity-specificity of ELISA, IFAT, and IHA were 87.5%-100%, 82.5%-100% and 90.0%-97.5%, respectively. A cross reaction of a 1/160 titer was detected with the IHA method in one patient with taeniasis in the control group. In conclusion, using more than one serologic method seems to increase the sensitivity and specifity of the serologic diagnosis of CE.