Faecal antigen tests in the confirmation of the effect of Helicobacter eradication therapy.

BACKGROUND: The frequent occurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection requires significant health care resources after eradication therapy. Therefore the non-invasive testing methods are required to alleviate the increased work-load of health care personnel and to allow an easy control of eradication therapy. Conventionally, the effect of eradication therapy has been confirmed with 13C-urea breath test 4-6 weeks after a completed eradication. AIM: To assess the applicability of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen tests as alternatives to the breath test in the control of the effect of eradication therapy. METHODS: Fifty patients were diagnosed Helicobacter-positive by endoscopy and histology as well as by rapid urease test from mucosal specimen. Four weeks after an eradication therapy the patients were subjected to 13C-urea breath test as well as to faecal Helicobacter pylori antigen tests with mono- and polyclonal primary antibodies. RESULTS: The monoclonal and polyclonal stool tests had 94% and 88% sensitivity, and 100% and 97% specificity, respectively, in the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection as compared to the 13C-urea breath test. The non-invasive test results were completely parallel in patients with various grades of mucosal atrophy or intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Monoclonal faecal Helicobacter pylori antigen test is slightly superior to the polyclonal test regarding the sensitivity in the detection of stool Helicobacter antigens. Due to their sufficient sensitivity and specificity, and to their practicability and cost-effectiveness, they can be recommended for non-invasive testing of Helicobacter pylori infection as alternatives to the 13C-urea breath test.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections due to viridans streptococci in haematological and non-haematological patients: species distribution and antimicrobial resistance.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of viridans streptococci (VS) isolates causing nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Finnish hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with nosocomial BSIs due to VS were identified through a hospital-wide prospective laboratory-based surveillance in two university and two regional hospitals during September 1998-August 2001. Isolates of VS were sent to the reference laboratory for species confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: A total of 2038 nosocomial BSIs were identified; 108 (5%) of the BSIs were caused by VS. Of the VS BSIs, 66% were in patients with a haematological malignancy, 14% in patients with a solid tumour and 18% in patients who had undergone surgery preceding the infection. The most common species group identified was Streptococcus mitis (82%). High-level penicillin resistance (> or = 4 mg/L) and cefotaxime resistance (> or = 4mg/L) were present in 5% and 4% of isolates, respectively; both were detected only in haematological patients. However, in non-haematological patients, resistance to erythromycin (17%), and reduced susceptibility to levofloxacin (14%) and penicillin (19%) were common. CONCLUSIONS: The resistance problems in VS are not limited to haematological patients. These findings may have significant clinical implications in the choice of both empirical antibiotic and antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens.

Clinical features of district hospital paediatric patients with pharyngeal group A streptococci.

The clinical presentation of district hospital paediatric patients with pharyngeal group A streptococci (GAS) was compared with that of children who were proven negative for GAS. The most significant clinical feature of children 3 y of age or under was cervical lymphadenopathy. In all age groups abdominal pain was as common as sore throat and could be intense enough to mask throat symptoms.

Invasive group B streptococcal infections in Finland: a population-based study.

We analyzed surveillance data on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in Finland from 1995 to 2000 and reviewed neonatal cases of early-onset GBS infection in selected hospitals in 1999 to 2000. From 1995 to 2000, 853 cases were reported (annual incidence 2.2-3.0/100,000 population). We found 32-38 neonatal cases of early-onset GBS disease per year (annual incidence 0.6-0.7/1,000 live births). In five hospitals, 35% of 26 neonatal cases of early-onset GBS infection had at least one risk factor: prolonged rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, or intrapartum fever. Five of eight mothers screened for GBS were colonized. In one case, disease developed despite intrapartum chemoprophylaxis. Although the incidence of early-onset GBS disease in Finland is relatively low, some geographic variation exists, and current prevention practices are suboptimal. Establishing national guidelines to prevent perinatal GBS is likely to reduce the incidence of the disease.