[MRSA bloodstream infections according to the German obligation for notification - data and experience of the MDRO Network Rhine-Main, Germany, 2011]. / Meldepflicht MRSA in Blutkulturen - Daten und Erfahrungen des MRE-Netz Rhein-Main, 2011.

BACKGROUND: Since July 1st, 2009 in accord with the statuary order based on the German law for infectious diseases (Infektionsschutzgesetz), MRSA in blood and liquor have to be notified to the public health authorities. The aim of this extension of the notification to report is to improve the surveillance of nosocomial infections and the prevention of nosocomial MRSA infections. In this paper data of the notifications in the year 2011 within the MDRO-Net Rhine-Main, an association of 7 public health authorities in the region, are reported in order to investigate whether the aims of the obligation for notification could be achieved. RESULTS: In 2011, 138 MRSA bloodstream infections, including 1 MRSA in liquor culture, were notified to the 7 health protection authorities, resulting in an incidence rate of 5.6/100,000 inhabitants. In urban regions with more hospitals available, the incidence rate was higher than in rural districts with less medical facilities (6.9 vs. 4.4/100,000 inhabitants). Only 46 (35%) of the patients with MRSA cultured in their blood had been detected via anamnesis as patients on risk for MRSA, and 59 (45%) had been screened for MRSA on admission. The incidence rate in the different hospitals was 0.041 ± 0.031/1,000 patient days (range 0-0.145/1,000 patient days). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, data on notification of MRSA cultures in blood specimen are published from a whole MRE Network in Germany encompassing >2.1 million inhabitants. Incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants alone do not seem adequate to cope with the aims of the obligation for notification. Instead, reference to patient days in the respective clinic enables an external comparison to other medical institutions in the region and is a better base for discussion with these institutions on improvements of surveillance, screening and hygiene.

Severe infections caused by Salmonella Enteritidis PT8/7 linked to a private barbecue.

A cohort study on a barbecue-associated Salmonella outbreak was conducted to describe the burden of disease and to identify the outbreak vehicle. Dose-response relationships were tested with Fisher's exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests (alpha = 0·05). S. Enteritidis isolates were cultured and phage-typed. Information was available for 11 out of 14 individuals attending the barbecue; all were healthy young adults (median age 27 years). The attack rate was 100%. Three cases were hospitalized and two developed acute pancreatitis. The exposure common to all cases was a vegetable pasta salad that had been stored unrefrigerated for 23 h. Consuming higher doses was associated with longer median symptom duration (7 days vs. 4 days, P = 0·11). S. Enteritidis was found in the stools of nine barbecue guests. Phage type 8/7 was identified in the stools of the salad preparer and one barbecue guest. This outbreak shows that S. Enteritidis can cause serious infection in young healthy individuals without well-known risk factors.

[Emergence of clostridium difficile ribotype 027 in Germany: epidemiological and clinical characteristics]. / Clostridium-difficile-Ribotyp 027: Epidemiologie und Klinik des erstmaligen endemischen Auftretens in Deutschland.

INTRODUCTION: In September 2007 an increase of severe Clostridium difficile-associated infections (CDI) was noticed in a hospital in the city of Trier, Germany. It was assumed that a new, possibly hypervirulent strain (PCR ribotype 027) was related to these events. An outbreak investigation was initiated by the local health authorities and the Robert Koch Institute to describe the epidemiology of the possible outbreak and to identify and control the possible sources. METHODS: In addition to retrospective case-finding of severe CDI and ribotype 027 infections by analysis of patient documents and certificates of death, an active surveillance system for severe CDI and ribotype 027 infections was established in the 6 hospitals of the affected region. In all suspected cases, a test for toxin A/B and a stool culture for C. difficile were conducted simultaneously. Bacterial isolates were further characterised by PCR ribotyping. Data on the course of disease, case fatality, and possible risk factors for CDI-related deaths were assessed using a standardised questionnaire. Environmental investigations were done. RESULTS: By 31 January 2008, 27 cases of severe CDI and 21 cases with C. difficile ribotype 027 infections were found in the area under investigation. Active surveillance found 76 of 399 (19 %) patients positive for C. difficile. In 20 patients, PCR ribotyp 027 could be proven. In total, 9 deaths occurred (19 %). An existing immunosupressive therapy (OR 35.8; 95 % CI 2.8 - 464.5) was related to case fatality in the multivariate analysis. Severe cases of CDI were also observed in non-ribotype 027 infections. In the screening of hospital personnel (n = 161), 6 % were found positive for toxin A/B. DISCUSSION: This investigation demonstrated the endemicity of C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 in Germany for the first time. As a consequence from this study, severe CDI became a reportable disease in Germany at the end of 2007. In addition to hygienic measures, the critical use of antibiotics is an important measure to prevent a further increase of CDI.

[Effect of elevated head position in bed in therapy of gastroesophageal reflux]. / Effekt der kopferhöhten Bettlage in der Therapie der gastroösophagealen Refluxkrankheit.

In a randomized multicentric trial the effect of sleeping with the bed-head raised was studied in inpatients with reflux symptoms. All patients underwent an endoscopic and pH-metric examination. As a result from the diagnostic procedures three groups were formed: group 1 - refluxlike dyspepsia (endoscopic and pH-metric examination normal), group 2 - reflux disease without esophagitis (endoscopy normal, pH-metric examination abnormal), group 3 - refluxesophagitis (endoscopy abnormal). All patients were randomly assigned to either sleeping with horizontal bed-head or having the bed-head raised (15 cm). Furthermore, the patients in group 3 were put on treatment with omeprazole (20 mg twice a day) those in group 2 were treated with a procinetic drug (cisapride 30 mg). The patients in group 1 had no drug therapy. However, antacids were allowed in all patients. For a two-week-period reflux symptoms and use of antacids were registered. No difference was seen in the symptom-score or use of antacids. Also sub-group analysis (sex, age, body-mass-index, severity of esophagitis and nocturnal reflux) did not reveal any impact of sleeping with the bed-head raised on reflux symptoms or use of antacids.

Comparative study on lymphocyte subpopulations in cancer patients after immunostimulation with propionibacteria and in renal transplant patients after combined immunosuppression.

In two groups of patients the influence of unspecific immunostimulation (group 1) and combined immunosuppression (group 2) on lymphocyte subpopulations was studied. Patients constituting group 1 suffered from gastric and colorectal carcinoma, respectively, and were preoperatively treated with 10 mg whole cell preparation of immunostimulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 (Köln-Propioni, strain 40). Patients of group 2 were submitted to combined immunosuppressive therapy and treated with antilymphocyte globulin, prednisone, and azathioprine subsequent to renal transplantation. Immunostimulation with P. avidum KP-40 resulted in a significant increase (p less than or equal to 0.01) of the natural killer (NK) cell population, whereas total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts as well as helper and suppressor T lymphocyte subsets did not evidently differ from control values. On the contrary after immunosuppression all subsets of lymphocytes as well as NK cells significantly decreased.

Behaviour of lymphocyte subsets in response to immunotherapy with Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 in cancer patients.

In 15 patients the influence of unspecific immunostimulation/immunomodulation was studied. Patients constituting the therapeutical group suffered from colorectal- and gastric carcinoma, respectively, and were preoperatively treated with 10 mg whole cell preparation of immunomodulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40. This adjuvant immunotherapy resulted in a significant increase (p less than 0.01) of the natural killer (NK)-cell population, however, total leukocyte and lymphocyte count as well as helper- and suppressor T-lymphocyte subsets did not significantly differ form control values.

[Neopterin as a marker of aspecific immunostimulation with Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. A prospective randomized study]. / Neopterin als Marker einer unspezifischen Immunstimulation mittels Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 bei Patienten mit gastrointestinalen Tumoren. Eine prospektiv randomisierte Studie.

This prospective randomized study demonstrated that a preoperative intravenous infusion of 10 mg of the bacterial preparation Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 to patients with gastrointestinal tumors significantly (P less than 0.001) enhanced the secretion of neopterin, measurable as long-lasting (greater than 16 days) elevated urine excretion. Postoperative re-infusion of P. avidum KP-40 caused (statistically significant (p less than 0.001] re-enhancement of neopterin urine levels.