Chlamydia pneumoniae, systemic inflammation and the risk of venous thrombosis.

Inflammatory mediators are involved in activation of the coagulation system, and elevated plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 are associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. Using serologic and molecular biologic tests, we investigated in a case-control study on patients with recurrent venous thrombosis the association between Chlamydia (C) pneumoniae and venous thrombosis and we evaluated the relation between C. pneumoniae serology and the cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. The presence of C. pneumoniae antibody titers > or = 1:16 was not associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis (odds ratio 0.8 95% CI, 0.4-1.7). Circulating C. pneumoniae-DNA was detected in only one patient and two control subjects. IgG antibody titers against C. pneumoniae were not correlated with the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8. These results indicate that the inflammatory process shown in patients with venous thrombosis is not related to C. pneumoniae.

Correlation between detection methods of Chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic tissues.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been used to detect Chlamydia (C.) pneumoniae in vascular tissues. Discrepancies between the results of these two methods have frequently been reported. However, the correlation between PCR and IHC has not been analyzed yet. This study assesses the correlation between the detection of C. pneumoniae by PCR and IHC in 45 atherosclerotic and 50 non-atherosclerotic tissue specimens. Also, the presence of Mycoplasma (M.) pneumoniae in these 95 specimens was investigated. Correlation was found between the detection of C. pneumoniae by PCR and IHC in the atherosclerotic tissues. Both tests were positive in 10 specimens and negative in 17 specimens (p = 0.003). There was no significant correlation between PCR and IHC in non-atherosclerotic specimens (p = ns). M. pneumoniae was detected, by PCR, in one atherosclerotic specimen.The results show correlation between PCR and IHC in the detection of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic tissues, emphasize the association between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis, and support the specificity of the association between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.

Decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using oral vancomycin and topical mupirocin.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a short course of oral vancomycin and intranasal mupirocin ointment in the eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization. During an outbreak of MRSA, the colonized subjects received oral vancomycin and topical mupirocin. They were screened for MRSA 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after decolonization. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the side-effects of oral vancomycin. Thirty-five subjects were treated. Clearance was achieved in all cases, in 24 (69%) subjects after one course of therapy. Twenty-eight (80%) subjects experienced some side-effects, including six (17%) who did not tolerate oral vancomycin. Although oral vancomycin, in combination with topical mupirocin, is effective in the elimination of MRSA colonization, there is a need for further studies to confirm our results and to evaluate the safety of oral vancomycin.

Infectious complications and antibiotic use in renal transplant recipients during a 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate infectious complications and antibiotic use in 192 renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Infectious complications and antibiotic use were monitored in all patients receiving renal transplantation at our center from 1992 to 1997. Risk factors for infectious complications were evaluated. Transplants and patient survival were monitored. The follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS: One-hundred and ninety-two patients received renal transplants during the study period. The mean duration of urethral catheterisation after transplantation was 10.5 days (SD = 5). Seventy-one per cent (n = 137) of patients had at least one infectious episode. In all, 284 infectious episodes were monitored. The most frequent infections were: urinary tract infections 61%, respiratory tract infections 8%, intra-abdominal infections 7%, and cytomegalovirus infection 8%. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Seventy-four per cent (n = 142) of patients received 314 antimicrobial courses (284 for therapy, and 30 for prophylaxis). Female gender and duration of urethral catheterisation were risk factors for urinary tract infection. Cytomegalovirus reactivation was associated with acute graft rejection and additional immunosuppressive therapy. Overall mortality was 4%. Infection-related mortality was 2.6%. Mortality was associated with Enterobacteriaceae in three patients, with Pseudomonas aeroginosa in one patient and with Enterococcus faecalis in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infectious complications remains high in renal transplant recipients. Most cases of mortality were associated with infections. Early removal of the urethral catheter to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections is recommended.

Extraction of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA from vascular tissue for use in PCR: an evaluation of four procedures.

The objective of this study was to compare four procedures for Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA extraction from vascular tissue. The NucliSens Kit, the QIAamp tissue DNA MiniKit, buffer-saturated phenol and the Geneclean II Kit were evaluated, based on the yield of recovered DNA, using PCR to detect C. pneumoniae in vascular tissue. The QIAamp tissue procedure had the highest detection level (0.004 inclusion-forming units/sample). All methods, except NucliSens (70 min), had a short handling time (30-40 min). Costs varied from 0.5 to 3.2 Euro.

The risk of Strongyloides stercoralis transmission from patients with disseminated strongyloidiasis to the medical staff.

To assess the risk of Strongyloides stercoralis transmission from two patients with disseminated strongyloidiasis to medical staff who had been in close contact with the patients, blood and stool specimens were obtained from medical staff two to three months after close contact with the patients. Antibodies to S. stercoralis were determined in blood. Stool specimens were tested for parasites with three different procedures.Forty-one medical staff were included. Culture and stool examination were negative in all subjects. Serology was negative in all subjects but one who had a borderline titer without signs or symptoms of strongyloidiasis. No evidence of transmission of S. stercoralis from patients with disseminated strongyloidiasis to medical staff was found.

Evaluation of four enzyme immunoassays for the detection of Giardia lamblia antigen in stool specimens.

Four enzyme immunoassays for the detection of Giardia lamblia antigen in stool specimens were evaluated: the ProSpecT Giardia Microplate Assay (Alexon, USA), the Giardia CELISA (Cellabs, Australia), the DSL-Giardia-ELISA (DSL. Germany), and the Melotest Giardiasis Ag (Melotec, Spain). Microscopic examination and enzyme immunoassays were performed on 168 stool specimens collected from 168 patients suspected to have giardiasis. All assays were easy to perform. The ProSpecT Giardia assay had the highest sensitivity of the assays evaluated (91%), and its interpretation was the easiest. The sensitivity of the three other assays ranged from 63 to 81%. The ProSpecT Giardia assay can be useful to detect Giardia lamblia and may replace microscopic examination in areas of high endemicity.

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Recent studies have suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study explores the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples of control subjects and of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The seroepidemiological association between abdominal aortic aneurysm and Chlamydia pneumoniae was also investigated. Buffy-coat samples and serum specimens were obtained from 88 patients and 88 control subjects. Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples and measurement of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae in serum specimens were performed by polymerase chain reaction and microimmunofluorescence, respectively. Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA was detected in buffy-coat samples of 18 (20%) patients and 8 (9%) control subjects (adjusted odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1-8.5). IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae were detected in 85 (97%) patients and 71 (81%) control subjects (adjusted odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 1.7-31). The results show an association between abdominal aortic aneurysm and either the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in buffy-coat samples or IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae. These findings support the hypothesis that previous infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae might be a risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm.