[Musculoskeletal infections in the era of multiresistant pathogens]. / Muskuloskelettale Infektionen im Zeitalter multiresistenter Erreger.

The burden of musculoskeletal infections is permanently growing. A probable explanation for this development could be the increasing number of elderly people undergoing extensive surgery using implants and prosthetic devices while having more significant comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular, metabolic and malignant). However, a relative reduction of acute (hematogenous) osteomyelitis compared to the occurrence of much more complex situations, such as diabetic foot syndrome or chronic osteitis and prosthetic implant infections is being observed. This poses new challenges for the clinician in managing these patients. Furthermore, there is the evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance as well as the increasing amount of infections with Gram-negative pathogens. Several aspects have to be considered for successful management of musculoskeletal infections: the site of infection and feasibility of local surgical treatment, the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment, the inclusion of comorbidities and their specific treatment in an advanced therapeutic concept as well as the interdisciplinary approach led by surgeons and infectious disease specialists.

Lack of evidence for systemic cytomegalovirus reactivation in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation among hemodialysis (HD) patients is unknown. In 52 HD patients from a single center, CMV serology and quantitative PCR were performed. The detection limit of PCR was 20 copies/ml. Here, PCR ruled out CMV viremia, despite CMV-IgM seropositivity in 15.4% patients.

Reducing the burden of influenza-associated complications with antiviral therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Influenza imposes an annual burden on individuals, society, and healthcare systems. This burden is increased by the development of complications that are often more severe than the primary infection. Here, we examine the main complications associated with influenza and review the effectiveness of antiviral therapy in reducing the incidence of such events. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The content of this review is taken from the study of the authors' extensive collection of reference materials, examination of the bibliographical content of relevant papers, and the results of Medline searches. RESULTS: The most commonly encountered complications in adults are sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and, particularly in the elderly, bacterial pneumonia. Such complications may exacerbate pulmonary complaints. Children are particularly prone to post-influenza croup and otitis media. Complications involving the central nervous system, heart, or skeletal muscle also occur in influenza patients. Influenza-associated complications impose sizeable healthcare costs in terms of outpatient contacts, hospitalizations, and antibiotic use. Vaccination is the primary prevention strategy for influenza and its complications, but has limitations. Neuraminidase inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the incidence of influenza-associated complications in populations with different ages and risks. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza complications place a large burden on healthcare providers and society. Neuraminidase inhibitors can reduce the incidence of such complications, particularly in high-risk groups.

Antiviral treatment and prophylaxis of influenza in primary care: German recommendations.

Antiviral drugs are a valuable supplementation to vaccines for the control and prevention of influenza. In Germany, for treating influenza amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir are approved. Amantadine and oseltamivir are also licensed for prophylactic use. On behalf of the Paul-Ehrlich-Society of Germany and the German Association for the Control of Virus Diseases, as two independent scientific societies, the first consensus Conference on the Antiviral Treatment and Prophylaxis of Influenza was held in June 2002. Based on the available data of clinical studies an expert group developed the following recommendations for the appropriate clinical use of the antiviral drugs: (1) since oseltamivir (orally administered) and zanamivir (administered by inhalation) have apparently similar clinical efficacy both drugs can be used alternatively for treatment. (2) Amantadine is not an alternative to the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors because it is not effective against influenza B viruses, it frequently selects resistant virus mutants and it can cause adverse events. (3) When influenza is prevalent in the community patients with the clinical diagnosis of influenza should be treated with neuraminidase inhibitors if the symptoms are lasting not longer than 48 h. (4) Immunocompetent patients with a non-febrile illness and patients with a symptom history of more than 2 days should not be treated with antiviral drugs. (5) Although there are no data from clinical trials immunocompromised patients should also be treated when influenza has been diagnosed. (6) The prophylactic use of antiviral drugs can be recommended for persons with close contact to acutely ill persons and no recent vaccination against influenza. (7) The use of anti-influenza drugs have to be considered for prophylaxis in pandemics. A precondition for the adequate use of anti-influenza drugs in the primary medical care is the timely information on the local influenza situation delivered by surveillance systems.

[Toxic hepatitis and liver failure under therapy with flutamide]. / Ikterus und schwere Leberfunktionsstörung bei der hormonablativen Behandlung des Prostatakarzinoms.

Flutamide is an antiandrogen and frequently used for the treatment of prostatic cancer. Severe hepatotoxicity occurs in few patients but may be fatal. We report on two patients with prostatic cancer who received a therapy with flutamide. They showed different degrees of liver damage. One patient recovered completely after withdrawal of Flutamide under medication with steroids. Clinical symptoms and laboratory findings returned to normal within four weeks. Despite immediate withdrawal of Flutamide, the other patient showed a severe course with progressive liver dysfunction and hepatorenal syndrome. He finally died under the clinical picture of fulminant hepatic coma. This case represents the first death associated with flutamide in Germany. The literature concerning the metabolism of flutamide and the published cases of hepatotoxicity of this drug are reviewed.

Open, randomized study to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of an influenza split vaccine with an MF59-adjuvanted subunit vaccine and a virosome-based subunit vaccine in elderly.

BACKGROUND: An open, randomized, multicenter study was carried out in elderly to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a conventional influenza split vaccine (SpV) with an MF59-adjuvanted subunit vaccine (aSuV) and a virosome-based subunit vaccine (vSuV) since earlier studies reported better immunogenicity for adjuvanted and virosome-based vaccines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 840 subjects, aged 60 years or more, who had not been vaccinated or diagnosed with influenza in the preceding season were investigated. Hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers were measured, and signs and symptoms recorded. RESULTS: The three vaccines exceeded EU efficacy requirements for subjects aged older than 60 years and seroprotective levels (titers > 1:40) were equally maintained with the three vaccines during 8 months post vaccination. SpV was as immunogenic as aSuV for the A/H3N2 strain (p < 0.0001) and significantly more immunogenic than aSuV for A/H1N1 strain (p = 0.0006). SpV was as immunogenic as vSuV for all three strains and significantly more immunogenic than vSuV for the A/H1N1 strain (p < 0.0001). In terms of reactogenicity, aSuV showed a higher rate of solicited local signs and symptoms than SpV (p = 0.021) and vSuV (p = 0.046), respectively. Incidence of solicited general symptoms was comparable on all treatments. No serious adverse event related to vaccination was reported. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that all three vaccines are highly immunogenic with an acceptable reactogenicity profile and that they are appropriate for use in elderly.

[Nosocomial epidemiology and transmission of Clostridium difficile infection]. / Nosokomiale Epidemiologie und Transmission der Clostridium-difficile-Infektion.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile is of growing importance as a hospital-acquired pathogen. Pseudomembraneous colitis is the main clinical disease. Transmission and epidemiological features are not yet fully understood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Stool samples from 1164 individuals (571 women and 593 men) attending were examined for the presence of C. difficile. Follow-up examinations and molecular typing methods were used for the detection nosocomial transmissions. Additionally, hospital-borne environmental samples as well as staff samples were tested. RESULTS: Incidence of C. difficile infection was 8.4%. Nearly all patients (92.9%) had antibiotics given. Using molecular typing nosocomial transmission was evident. Though, environmental samples in general had a low positivity, toilet chairs were contaminated in 15.4% and may be a potential source of transmission. Staff was positive in only one case. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of infections with C. difficile becomes to be a major threat for the clinical and hygienic management.

[Sporadic acute hepatitis E in Germany: an underdiagnosed phenomenon?]. / Sporadische akute Hepatitis E in Deutschland: eine zu selten erkannte Erkrankung?

Hepatitis E virus infection is the leading cause of enterically transmitted hepatitis worldwide. Case reports of hepatitis E in individuals in Germany so far related to travel to endemic areas. A 33-year-old man presented with painless jaundice. By serology and liver biopsy, no cause of hepatitis could be identified. After discharge transaminases were persistently elevated. Serology (IgG and IgM) confirmed acute hepatitis E. The transaminases declined to normal values within six months. Detailed anamnestic questioning revealed no travel to an endemic region or contact with individuals who had visited such areas. In addition to our patient, a total of 34 cases of acute hepatitis E were reported to the Robert-Koch-Institute (German center of disease control) in 2001. In five of them, the disease had obviously been acquired in Germany. These data indicate that community acquired hepatitis E virus infection may occur sporadically in Germany and should be considered as a cause of seronegative (non-A-non-B-non-C) hepatitis.