Multiplex PCR for respiratory bacteria in acute care.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical utility of multiplex PCR for detecting bacterial respiratory pathogens in nasopharyngeal samples. Acutely ill adults in the emergency department with respiratory infection symptoms, fever, chest pain or poor general condition were enrolled for this cohort study. Samples were stored at -70 °C until being analysed with multiplex PCR for seven respiratory bacteria. Of the 912 patients enrolled, those with positive bacterial samples (n = 130, 14%) were significantly younger than those with a negative finding (55.5 years vs 62.2 years, p < 0.001), and their mean C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was higher (110 mg/L vs 59 mg/L, p < 0.0001). Patients with a positive respiratory bacterial finding had a higher probability of pneumonia (35% vs 13%, p < 0.001) and a higher likelihood of receiving a prescription for antibiotics than those with a negative finding (79% vs 59%, p < 0.0001). Positive detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae was associated with a 4.5-fold risk of pneumonia in a multivariate model and detection of an atypical respiratory pathogen with a 9-fold risk. Bacterial PCR performed on nasopharyngeal samples appeared to offer a valuable addition to the diagnostics of infections in adults in acute care.

Pneumonic tularaemia: experience of 58 cases from 2000 to 2012 in Northern Finland.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonic tularaemia is less common clinical form of tularaemia compared with the ulceroglandular form, with only a limited number of case reports and case series in Europe. In Finland, Northern Ostrobothnia is an endemic area of tularaemia with occasional seasonal outbreaks. METHODS: In our study, a consecutive series of 58 pneumonic tularaemia cases diagnosed and treated in Oulu University Hospital in 2000-2012 were retrospectively analysed in terms of epidemiology, clinical course, and prognosis. RESULTS: The incidence of pneumonic tularaemia showed peaks in cycles of a few years and most cases were diagnosed in late summer or early autumn. Respiratory symptoms were absent in 47% of patients, and 7% had normal chest X-ray. The chest computed tomography (CT) was performed in 81% of patients, demonstrating variable findings associated with pneumonic tularaemia. Bronchoscopy was performed for 22 (38%) patients and four (18%) of these also proceeded into mediastinoscopy. Moreover, thoracoscopy was performed for one (2%) patient. Two (3%) patients were treated shortly in the intensive care unit (ICU) during their stay in hospital. No mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of pneumonic tularaemia are diagnosed during the seasonal outbreaks. The lack of specific symptoms often complicates the diagnosis and leads to unnecessarily invasive examinations.

[Influenza A(H1N1)v-patients treated in Oulu University hospital]. / Oulun yliopistollisessa sairaalassa hoidetut influenssa a(H1N1)v-potilaat.

BACKGROUND: In Finland, the pandemic A(H1N1)v-influenza was experienced in late 2009. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A(H1N1)v-patients hospitalized in Oulu University Hospital were evaluated. RESULTS: Altogether, 159 A(H1N1)v-patients, including 37 children, were hospitalized. Their median age was 35. Eighteen (11 %) patients required admission to ICU; three of them died. As many as 62% of the patients suffered from radiologically confirmed pneumonia. The incidences of hospitalization, ICU care and death were 40,5, 4,6 and 0,8 per 100000, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low mortality rate, a rather high number of patients required hospitalization. Findings in chest radiography were common and prominent.