Pregnancy outcomes in women with a hemoglobinopathy trait: a multicenter, retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To determine the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with a hemoglobinopathy trait. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes between pregnant women with a hemoglobinopathy trait (study group; n = 172), and without a hemoglobinopathy trait (control group; n = 360). The medical data were extracted from clinical records of pregnant women attending antenatal care and delivering at the University Hospital Basel or University Hospital Zurich between 2015 and 2018. RESULTS: A total of 172 pregnant women with a hemoglobinopathy trait and 360 controls were recruited. Apart from fetal acidosis, the groups did not differ significantly in any variables of adverse neonatal outcomes. Whereas, among the maternal outcomes the rate of abortion, gestational diabetes mellitus, bacteriuria or urinary tract infection, intrahepatic cholestasis, abnormal placentation and anemia postpartum were significantly increased in women with a hemoglobinopathy trait. CONCLUSION: In our study, a hemoglobinopathy trait increased the risk of adverse maternal outcomes but did not increase adverse neonatal outcomes.

Bacteriuria and vitamin D deficiency: a cross sectional study of 385 nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND: Up to half of elderly people at nursing homes have asymptomatic bacteriuria, and concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) are generally low. Vitamin D is a modulator of the immune system and involved in protection of the epithelium in the urinary tract as well. The objective was to determine a possible association between bacteriuria and vitamin D deficiency among elderly people at nursing homes. METHODS: Cross-sectional study: Voided urine specimens and blood samples for cultivation and analysis of 25OHD were collected from elderly people at nursing homes in Sweden. Exclusion criteria were: urinary catheter, ongoing antibiotic treatment, incontinence or dementia too severe to provide a voided urine specimen or leave a blood sample, unwillingness to participate or terminal illness. Urine cultures and serum 25OHD concentrations were outcome measures and the association of bacteriuria with vitamin D deficiency was determined by logistic regression. RESULTS: Twenty-two nursing homes participated and 385 of 901elderly people provided voided urine specimens and blood samples. The mean age was 87 (SD 6.7), 69% women, 19% received vitamin D supplement, 13% had diabetes mellitus, and 54% were diagnosed with dementia. There was significant growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria in 32% (123/385) of voided urine specimens. Escherichia coli were present in 83% of positive urine cultures. The mean concentration of 25OHD in serum was 35 nmol/L (SD 21). Thirty-seven per cent (143/385) had 25OHD < 25 nmol/L, and 3.1% (12/385) 25OHD < 12.5 nmol/L. No association between bacteriuria and 25OHD < 25 nmol/L, OR 1.4 (0.86-2.3; p = 0.18) adjusted for age, gender, diabetes mellitus and dementia was found. However, if using 25OHD < 12.5 nmol/L as a cut-off for vitamin D deficiency the adjusted odds-ratio was 4.4 (1.1-17; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Bacteriuria and vitamin D deficiency was common. No association between bacteriuria and 25OHD < 25 nmol/L was found. If using 25OHD < 12.5 nmol/L as cut-off for vitamin D deficiency there was an association. However, this has to be interpreted with caution as causality cannot be evaluated as well as only few residents had 25OHD < 12.5 nmol/L.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for transurethral resection of bladder tumor: A retrospective comparison of preoperative single-dose administration of piperacillin and tazobactam/piperacillin.

We aimed to clarify prophylactic antimicrobial effects of single-dose piperacillin (PIPC) for perioperative infections in the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in comparison with those of single-dose tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) through a retrospective analysis. We analyzed data from 192 TURBT patients treated with single-dose (4 g) intravenous PIPC (P group) between April 2015 and April 2017. For comparison, we analyzed data from 50 TURBT patients treated with single-dose (4.5 g) intravenous TAZ/PIPC (T/P group) between June 2013 and April 2014. We compared the perioperative incidences of fever (≥38 °C) and bacteriuria in the two groups. The number of febrile patients was four (2.1%) in the P group and one (2.0%) in the T/P group, without significant difference (p = 0.970). Among these febrile patients, urine and blood samples of two patients in the P group tested positive for bacterial cultures of Citrobacter koseri and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. None of the patients in the T/P group tested positive for urine culture, postoperatively. However, 22 patients (18.2%) in the P group tested positive for urine culture, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (six patients), E. faecalis (three patients), Escherichia coli (three patients), Streptococcus agalactiae (two patients), Staphylococcus aureus (two patients), and C. koseri (one patient) were isolated. There was no significant difference in the incidence of bacteriuria in these two groups (p = 0.055). Based on these results, single-dose PIPC administration for the prevention of perioperative infections in TURBT was as effective as TAZ/PIPC.

Diagnostic methods to determine microbiology of postpartum endometritis in South Asia: laboratory methods protocol used in the Postpartum Sepsis Study: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The South Asian region has the second highest risk of maternal death in the world. To prevent maternal deaths due to sepsis and to decrease the maternal mortality ratio as per the World Health Organization Millenium Development Goals, a better understanding of the etiology of endometritis and related sepsis is required. We describe microbiological laboratory methods used in the maternal Postpartum Sepsis Study, which was conducted in Bangladesh and Pakistan, two populous countries in South Asia. METHODS/DESIGN: Postpartum maternal fever in the community was evaluated by a physician and blood and urine were collected for routine analysis and culture. If endometritis was suspected, an endometrial brush sample was collected in the hospital for aerobic and anaerobic culture and molecular detection of bacterial etiologic agents (previously identified and/or plausible). DISCUSSION: The results emanating from this study will provide microbiologic evidence of the etiology and susceptibility pattern of agents recovered from patients with postpartum fever in South Asia, data critical for the development of evidence-based algorithms for management of postpartum fever in the region.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infections among renal allograft recipients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bacteriuria is common among renal allograft recipients. It can be categorized into asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and urinary tract infection (UTI). However, in medical literature, the classifications of bacteriuria are often not clear or ASB is also classified as a UTI. This contributes to difficulties in interpretation of the incidence and risk factors of these two entities. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, risk factors, management and the impact on renal allograft function of these two entities separately according to the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Risk factors for ASB are not completely comparable to the risk factors of UTIs. Persistent ASB has been associated with development of acute rejection and allograft pyelonephritis. The available data suggest that treatment of ASB is not very effective. Prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole does not prevent UTIs such as allograft pyelonephritis. Blood stream infections and emphysematous allograft pyelonephritis are associated with renal allograft loss. SUMMARY: ASB is the most common manifestation of bacteriuria after renal transplantation. More effective interventions are needed to prevent bacteriuria. Renal allograft recipients with persistent ASB should be closely monitored since they could be at risk for developing not only UTIs, such as allograft pyelonephritis, but also acute rejection.

Increased serum procalcitonin levels in pregnant patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria.

BACKGROUND: Among the pregnancy urinary tract infections, asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is the most common one. Untreated ASB can progress to pyelonephritis in 30-50% of the patients and can also result in prematurity in 27% of the pregnancy so it needs immediate diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we wanted to evaluate procalcitonin levels, compared to other inflammatory in pregnant women with ASB. METHODS: The study was designed between the period of January 2012 and February 2013 at Sakarya University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The study population included 30 pregnant patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria and 39 healthy pregnant controls. RESULTS: Mean age was 28 (SD, 5.5) of the study population; mean maternal weight was 70 (SD, 8) kilogram. There were no statically significant differences between the groups according to the routine biochemical parameters, but gestational age was significantly lower in the ASB group compared to the controls (20.4 vs 28.6, respectively; p < 0.001). Serum procalcitonin levels were negative in all of the controls. In ASB group, 9 (30%) patients had procalcitonin levels greater than >0.05 ng/ml and 21(70%) patients had negative procalcitonin levels (Chi-squrae, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin assay for ASB was calculated as 30% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 65%. The most frequent microorganisms in the urine culture were Escherichia coli (26 patients, 87%), Proteus mirabilis (3 patients, 10%) and Klebsiella (1 patient, 3%) in the ASB group. We experienced four (44%) recurrences among nine positive procalcitonin in ASB patients after completion of treatment of the first ASB diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in ASB group than the control group and serum procalcitonin levels were higher in pregnant women with recurrent ASB. This finding is an important result revealed that high procalcitonin level can predict the further urinary tract infection risk. Finally, serum procalcitonin levels were normal in healthy pregnant women while other inflammatory markers such as WBC, ESR and CRP levels were higher.

Prevalence, clinical profile and follow up of asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients with type 2 diabetes-prospective case control study in Srinagar, India.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is more prevalent in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients than non diabetics, but its significance is not fully known. This study was done to estimate the prevalence, clinical profile, risk factors and follow up of ASB in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients compared with matching healthy controls. METHODS: Prospective, case-control study involving 400 T2D patients without symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI) and 200 age and sex matched healthy controls. Apart from clinical and biochemical parameters, samples for urine examination and culture were taken from all the subjects. ASB was defined as ≥105 colony-forming units/ml of one or two organisms in the absence of symptoms of UTI. RESULTS: The prevalence of ASB was significantly higher in T2D (17.5%) as compared to controls (10%). E. coli was the most common organism. On multivariate analysis, postmenopausal state, prior history of UTI, uncontrolled diabetes and longer duration of disease were associated with increased risk of ASB. Presence of ASB was significantly associated with symptomatic UTI at the 6-month follow up without deterioration of renal parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic bacteriuria was more prevalent in people with diabetes than those without diabetes. The presence of ASB may be considered a risk factor for subsequent symptomatic UTI on follow up but has no adverse effect on kidney function.

Clinical Utilization of Blood and Urine Cultures and Incidences of Bacteremia and Bacteriuria in a Hospital in Thailand.

BACKGROUND To effectively treat sepsis and urinary tract infection (UTI), blood and urine cultures should be used appropriately and relative to incidences of bacteremia and bacteriuria. This study aimed to investigate the use of blood and urine cultures and incidences of bacteremia and bacteriuria in a hospital in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical records of patients admitted from 2016 to 2018 were randomly selected and data in the records were anonymously extracted for investigation. RESULTS From 12 000 records, data on blood and urine cultures were extracted from 9% and 4% of them, respectively. The negative rate of blood culture was 87.48%. Bacteremia was detected in 10.22%. The positive rate of urine culture was 27.38% and the contamination rate was 31.26%. Escherichia coli was the most common cause of community-onset bacteremia and bacteriuria. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter baumannii were the most common cause of hospital-acquired bacteremia while yeasts were the most common cause of hospital-acquired UTI. CONCLUSIONS A high negative rate of blood culture may result not only from its low sensitivity but also from liberal test use to identify sepsis in some conditions. Improper urine collection is the main problem with use of urine culture.

Sensitivity of point-of-care testing C reactive protein and procalcitonin to diagnose urinary tract infections in Dutch nursing homes: PROGRESS study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) ranks among the most common reasons for antibiotic use in nursing homes. However, diagnosing UTI in this setting is challenging because UTI often presents with non-specific symptomatology. Moreover asymptomatic bacteriuria is common in elderly, which complicates attribution of causality to detection of bacteria in urine. These diagnostic challenges contribute to overuse of antibiotics and emergence of antimicrobial resistance in nursing homes. Given the diagnostic challenges, there is a need for point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests to support clinical rules for diagnosing UTI. Procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP) are inflammatory blood markers that have been proven useful to support diagnosis and monitoring of (bacterial) respiratory tract infections and sepsis. While limited studies suggest their usefulness in supporting UTI diagnosis, their utility has not been studied in elderly populations for this purpose. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In a 24-month matched prospective study, 'PROGRESS' will assess and compare the sensitivity of rapid POC measurements of blood CRP and PCT levels to support clinical rules for diagnosing UTI in nursing home residents. The primary outcome measure is sensitivity of the POC tests to identify patients with true UTI based on the predefined definition, as derived from receiver operating curves. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will be conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol is approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Amsterdam UMC location VUmc with reference number 2017.350 and National Central Committee on Research involving Human Subjects with reference number NL62067.029.17. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR6467.

Comparison of three automated urinalysis systems--Bayer Clinitek Atlas, Roche Urisys 2400 and Arkray Aution Max for testing urine chemistry and detection of bacteriuria.

BACKGROUND: Our study is aimed to determine the performance of 3 automated urinalysis systems-Clinitek Atlas, Urisys 2400 and Aution Max. METHODS: One thousand urine specimens were analyzed with the 3 automated systems. The results of the 3 assays were compared for testing urine chemistry and evaluating the capacity of leukocyte esterase and nitrite to detect bacteriuria. RESULTS: The correlation between the 3 instruments represented as within 1 grading difference was better between the Atlas and Aution Max systems for pH, blood, glucose, urobilinogen, ketone and specific gravity. For protein and nitrite, better correlation was observed between the Atlas and Urisys 2400, while the Aution Max and Urisys 2400 conveyed better correlation for bilirubin and white blood cells. The sensitivity and specificity of both the leukocyte esterase and nitrite in screening for significant bacteriuria were 71.7, 58.9, 70.8% and 99.1, 99.1 and 97.2%, for the Clinitek Atlas, Aution Max and Urisys 2400, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The automated urinalysis systems demonstrate acceptable correlations with each other in urine chemistries, especially between the Clinitek Atlas and Aution Max systems on the majority of items. The specificity and negative predictive value of leukocyte esterase and nitrite of the 3 instruments for screening of significant bacteriuria were sufficient to avoid unnecessary urine culture.

Bacteria on Urine Microscopy Is Not Associated with Systemic Infection in Patients with Obstructing Urolithiasis.

INTRODUCTION: Determining whether bacterial presence in urine microscopy represents infection is important as ureteral stent placement is indicated in patients with obstructing urolithiasis and infection. We aim to investigate whether the presence of bacteria on urine microscopy is associated with other markers of infection in patients with obstructing urolithiasis presenting to the emergency room. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 199 patients with obstructing urolithiasis and divided patients into two groups according to the presence of bacteria on urine microscopy. The primary outcome was serum white blood cell count and secondary outcomes were objective fever, subjective fever, tachycardia, pyuria, and final urine culture. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to assess whether the presence of bacteria on microscopy was associated with other markers of infection. RESULTS: The study included 72 patients in the bacteriuria group and 127 without bacteriuria. On univariate analysis, the presence of bacteria was not associated with leukocytosis, objective fever, or subjective fever, but it was associated with gender (p < 0.001), pyuria (p < 0.001), positive nitrites (p = 0.001), positive leukocyte esterase (p < 0.001), and squamous epithelial cells (p = 0.002). In a multilinear regression model including the presence of squamous cells, age, and sex, the presence of bacteriuria was not related to serum white blood cell count (coefficient -0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.1, 0.2; p = 0.17), heart rate (coefficient 0.85; 95% CI -2.5, 4.2; p = 0.62), presence of subjective or objective fever (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 0.8, 3.1; p = 0.18), or the presence of squamous epithelial cells (coefficient -4.4; 95% CI -10, 1.2; p = 0.12). However, the presence of bacteriuria was related to only the degree of pyuria (coefficient 16.4; 95% CI 9.6, 23.3; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria on urine microscopy is not associated with other markers of systemic infection and may largely represent a contaminant. Renal colic may be a risk factor for providing a contaminated urine specimen.

What is the role of catheter antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial prophylaxis at the time of urinary catheter insertion and removal is commonly administered in patients undergoing joint arthroplasty, despite the lack of evidence to support this practice. The rationale is the theoretical risk of prosthetic joint infection arising from bacterial seeding from the urinary tract at the time of catheterization. In an era of antimicrobial stewardship, further assessment is warranted. METHODS: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of catheter-associated (CA) bacteriuria and bacteraemia in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty and to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of any isolated microorganisms. This prospective observational study undertaken over a 6-month period (May to October 2014) included 99 patients undergoing elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Urine specimens were collected at insertion and removal of urinary catheters along with blood cultures upon urinary catheter removal. RESULTS: Overall 98% of the cohort received catheter antimicrobial prophylaxis for urinary catheter insertion and removal; the majority of patients received gentamicin (94%). Bacteriuria on catheter insertion had an incidence of 4.4%. The incidence of CA bacteriuria was 1.3%. All cultured organisms were sensitive to commonly used antibiotics including cephazolin. There were no cases of bacteraemia with urinary catheter removal. Increasing age, American Society of Anesthesiologists status and female gender were associated with the development of bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CA bacteriuria and bacteraemia with antimicrobial prophylaxis is low. This study provokes discussion about the requirement of catheter prophylaxis in this surgical context and the utility of preoperative urine screening.

Pregnancy outcomes among women with hemoglobin E trait.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the maternal and fetal outcomes between pregnant women complicated with hemoglobin E (HbE) trait and normal controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by assessment of the database of maternal-fetal medicine units from January 2003 to December 2013 to identify singleton pregnant women complicated by HbE trait. Pregnancies with medical complications or fetal anomalies were excluded. The normal controls were low-risk pregnancies and were non-carrier status for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy. RESULT: During the study period, 1073 women with HbE trait and 2146 normal controls were included. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable except that the number of prenatal visit was statistically higher in study group (8.55 ± 3.03 versus 7.85 ± 4.33, p = <0.001). Most pregnancy outcomes were not significantly different. However, the rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria was minimally higher in the study group, 3.5% versus 2.3%; p = 0.042 (relative risk 1.19; 95%CI: 0.98-1.43). Note that the rates of gestational diabetes tend to be higher in the group of HbE trait (7.6% versus 6.8%), but did not reach a statistical level. CONCLUSION: The HbE trait does not significantly increase risk of common adverse pregnancy outcomes, except for minimal increase in asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Febrile urinary infection in the institutionalized elderly.

PURPOSE: Bacteriuria is common among institutionalized elderly populations, but the contribution of urinary infection to febrile morbidity is unknown because of difficulties in clinical ascertainment. This study was undertaken to febrile morbidity using both clinical and serologic criteria. METHODS: Episodes of fever in residents of two long-term care institutions were identified prospectively for 2 years. Serum and urine specimens were obtained initially and at 4 weeks. The proportion of episodes attributable to urinary infection was determined by both standard clinical criteria proposed for use in these populations and serum antibody response to uropathogens. RESULTS: For 372 fewer episodes, 211 met clinical criteria for infection: 147 (40%) of the respiratory tract; 26 (7%) of the genitourinary tract; 25 (6%) of the gastrointestinal tract; and 13 (3%) of skin and soft tissue. Of the remaining 161 fever episodes, 2 (1%) were noninfectious and 159 (43%) were of unknown origin. The prevalence of bacteriuria for residents with nongenitourinary sources of fever varied from 32% to 75%. An antibody response meeting serologic criteria for urinary infection occurred in 26 (8.3%) of 314 episodes with paired sera obtained; 10 (43%) of 23 identified clinically as genitourinary infection, 14 (11%) of 132 unknown, 1 (4%) of 25 gastrointestinal, and 1 (0.8%) of 122 respiratory. The positive predictive value of bacteriuria for febrile urinary infection identified by clinical criteria was was 11% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4%, 18%) and identified by serologic criteria was 12% (95% CI 7%, 17%). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary infection contributes to less than 10% of episodes of clinically significant fever in this high-prevalence bacteriuric population. A restrictive clinical definition for genitourinary infection has poor sensitivity and specificity compared with serologic criteria for identification of fever of urinary source, and bacteriuria has a low predictive value for identifying febrile urinary infection.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in elderly humans is associated with increased levels of circulating TNF receptors and elevated numbers of neutrophils.

Low-grade inflammatory activity is strongly associated with age-associated diseases such as atherosclerosis, dementia, type-2 diabetes, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis and predicts mortality risk in elderly populations. The aim of the current study was to investigate if asymptomatic bacteriuria in elderly humans was associated with inflammation. Midstream clean-catch urine culture was collected from consecutive, elderly patients at admission to a department of internal medicine due to functional disability. Forty patients (age 70-91 years) were selected and included in the current study; 20 subjects had positive urine culture and 20 sex- and age-matched subjects had negative urine culture. Inclusion criteria were temperature below 37.8 degrees C, no clinical signs of infection and no current antibiotic treatment. Patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria had significantly increased levels of circulating tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR-I) and a higher number of neutrophils in the blood compared to the group without bacteriuria. Thus, the present study provides some support for the hypothesis that asymptomatic urinary infections are associated with low-grade immune activity in frail, elderly humans.

Recurrent bacteriuria and primary biliary cirrhosis: ABO blood group, P1 blood group, and secretor status.

Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis have an abnormally high incidence of urinary tract infection (35%). Susceptibility to urinary infection and other infectious diseases has been linked with certain blood group antigens and secretor status. We have therefore studied these characteristics in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. We were unable to show any abnormal distribution in blood groups or secretor status in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (compared with a normal population) which might reflect their predisposition to urinary infection. The distribution of blood groups and secretor status in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis with a history of urinary infections was not significantly different from patients without such a history. Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis did not bind in any greater numbers to the uroepithelial cells of primary biliary cirrhosis patients than to the cells of a normal healthy control. We therefore conclude that blood group distribution, abnormal secretor status, and epithelial cell type are not important factors in the predisposition of primary biliary cirrhosis patients to urinary infections.

Relationships between human blood groups, bacterial pathogens, and urinary tract infections.

Blood groups of 137 patients with acute pyelonephritis and chronic upper tract infection, cystitis, and asymptomatic bacteriuria were compared with those of a normal uninfected control population. In addition, the identified uropathogens were categorized according to the patient's blood group. There was a significant association between the diagnosis of chronic upper tract infection and blood group B as compared with controls (p = less than 0.05, chi 2). Analysis of the bacterial isolates showed that more patients with blood group B had infections with Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus sp. than was expected; and fewer patients with blood group A had infections with Pseudomonas than predicted (p = less than 0.05, chi 2). There was an increased number of patients in blood group AB with infections caused by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. These results suggest that an individual's blood group may be a significant factor in the host-response to bacterial invasion and influence the development of infection with certain gram-negative bacilli.

Short vs. long cotrimoxazole courses in eradicating bacteriuria in the elderly.

To test whether longer duration of treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in old age could improve the efficacy of cotrimoxazole therapy, three regimens were given to 75 ambulant bacteriuric residents of a retirement home, aged greater than or equal to 68 years. The groups and regimens were: A:23 subjects (160/800 mg b.i.d. orally x 3 days). B: 24 subjects (160/800 mg i.m. x 10 days); C: 28 subjects (160/800 mg b.i.d. orally x 20 days). One week, one month and five months post-therapy urines were negative in 78.3% vs 52.9% vs 42.9% of group A, in 54.2% vs 56.5% vs 50% of group B and in 57.1% vs 60.7% vs 68% of group C subjects respectively. The data indicate that: 1) the efficacy of any schedule is only moderate irrespective of the presence of antibody-coated bacteria in urine; 2) a 3-day course appears more effective at one week post-therapy; 3) at one and five months greater than or equal to 50% of the subjects were infection-free, the 20 day treatment resulting in fewer failures; 4) subjects with long-term eradication had no mobility problem, low serum creatinine and a normal urinary tract as seen by ultrasound.

Six year follow up of infants with bacteriuria on screening.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of screening for bacteriuria in infants with special emphasis on the natural course of untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria, renal growth, and renal damage. DESIGN: Prospective six year follow up of infants with bacteriuria on screening in an unselected infant population. SETTING: Paediatric outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: 50 Infants (14 girls, 36 boys) with bacteriuria on screening verified by suprapubic aspiration from an unselected population of 3581 infants in a defined area of Gothenburg. INTERVENTIONS: Children with asymptomatic bacteriuria and normal findings on initial urography were untreated, although other infections were treated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Culture of urine and determination of C reactive protein concentration every six weeks for the first six months after diagnosis, every three months from six months to two years, and every six months between two and three years; thereafter yearly urine culture. Evaluation of renal concentrating capacity with a desmopressin test; radiological examination, including first and follow up urography and micturition cystourethrography without antibiotic cover; and measurement of renal parenchymal thickness and renal surface area. RESULTS: Of the original 50 infants, 37 (12 girls, 25 boys) were followed up for at least six years. Two infants developed pyelonephritis within two weeks after bacteriuria was diagnosed; the others remained free of symptoms. 45 Infants were untreated; the bacteriuria cleared spontaneously in 36 and in response to antibiotics given for infections in the respiratory tract in eight. Recurrences of bacteriuria were observed in 10 of the 50 children, of whom one had pyelonephritis. No child had more than one recurrence. At follow up urography in 36 of the 50 children (9 girls, 27 boys) after a median of 32 months no child had developed renal damage. First samples tested for renal concentrating capacity showed significantly higher values than those from a reference population (mean SD score 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.79; p less than 0.001), but the last samples showed no significant difference (mean SD score 0.08, -0.24 to 0.40; p greater than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mass screening for bacteriuria in infancy results primarily in detection of innocent bacteriuric episodes and is not recommended.

Antigenic specificity and expression of a natural idiotope on human pentameric and hexameric IgM polymers.

Natural antibodies (NAbs) are present in circulation even before the exposure to antigen and they exert various biological functions. They are polyreactive and mainly represented by immunoglobulin M (IgM), which is the first antibody produced in an ongoing immune response to infection and/or immunization. IgM is always secreted as a polymer with predominant pentameric structure, although other polymeric forms such as hexamer can be also formed. The biological functions of hexameric IgM are still not known and it is proposed that its existence as a NAb could be deleterious. However, the nature of IgM hexamers has not been investigated yet. In this paper, we have tested the expression of natural idiotope and antigenic specificities of pentameric and hexameric IgM polymers originating from sera of patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, as well as patients suffering from recurrent urinary bacterial infections. We demonstrate that although pentameric IgM polymers can exist as natural and immune antibodies, IgM hexamers are exclusively immune and do not exist as NAbs.