Evidence of a clonal expansion of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in adults as in children assessed by the DiversiLab® system.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A was the main serotype responsible for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the Paris area in 2007 and 2009 in both adults and children. To verify if a particular clone is emerging, we determined the populational structure of S. pneumoniae isolates. Eighty-four S. pneumoniae strains responsible for invasive infections isolated from 52 adults and 32 children hospitalized in Parisian hospitals were analyzed. Capsular typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the semi-automated repetitive sequence-based (rep-PCR) DiversiLab® System. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was also performed on 26 strains (ten selected strains after cluster analysis and 16 control strains). In 2007 and 2009, S. pneumoniae serotype 19A represented, respectively, 28.6 % and 25 % of the serotypes involved in IPDs in children and 13 % and 13.7 % in adults. The rep-PCR DiversiLab® analysis showed that the 84 S. pneumoniae serotype 19A isolates were distributed in five clusters and four unique rep-PCR types. Overall, 77/84 (91.6 %) S. pneumoniae 19A serotypes grouped into three main genetically related clusters (71/77 belonged to the cluster I). The five other strains exhibited different profiles. Using MLST, we demonstrated that most strains of the main cluster belonged to clonal complex (CC) 230, sequence type (ST) 276. However, for the other strains, the DiversiLab® method cannot be used to predict to which ST a strain belongs. The DiversiLab® method allowed us to identify the clonal expansion of S. pneumoniae serotype 19A strains isolated from both children and adults in 2007 and 2009.

Helicobacter pylori infection in children in Madagascar: risk factors for acquisition.

AIM: The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors for acquisition and the clinical characteristics of H. pylori infection in Malagasy children. METHODS: A 2 year prospective study was conducted among 434 children from a rural (group A) and an urban area (group B). H. pylori status was evaluated by an ELISA serological test. Various demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 39.6% and increased significantly from 18.1% for children <1 year old to 61.5% for children >10 years old. It was significantly higher in group B (46.9%) than in group A (26.4%). Using multivariate logistic regression modelling, a significant association was found between H. pylori infection and drinking spring water. Exposure to antibiotics during the previous year had no observable effect on H. pylori. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection among Malagasy children was 39.6%. A significant association between H. pylori infection and drinking spring water was found.

Epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae in France before introduction of the PCV-13 vaccine.

The purpose of this article was to describe the serotype incidence and antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from adults and children with invasive disease (IPD) or acute otitis media (AOM) before introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine. During 2009, 494 strains of S. pneumoniae isolated were collected. Complete serotyping by latex antisera and molecular methods was performed. The most frequent serotypes isolated from children with IPD were 1 (26.2%), 19A (25%) and 7F (14.3%). Serotype 19A was predominant (42.1%) in children ≤ 2 years, whereas serotype 1 was predominant (63.3%) after the age of 5. Serotype 19A was the most frequently isolated serotype from AOM (62.3%). In adults, serotypes responsible for IPD were 7F (19.4%), 19A (13.7%), 1 (8.4%) and 3 (7.5%). The serotype 19A was predominant in adults older than 65 years (19.1%). The emergence of serotype 12F was observed in adults. Between 2007 and 2009, the introduction of PCV-7 has resulted in a significant decrease of IPD caused by serotypes included in the vaccine, in children as well as in adults, confirming the herd effect. Serotype coverage of PCV-13 was 70% and 80.9% for adult and children's IPD, respectively. PCV-13 will be more efficient in preventing invasive diseases among children and adults.

Total and fetal cell-free DNA analysis in maternal blood as markers of placental insufficiency in intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare total and fetal DNA levels in the maternal plasma in three groups: pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency (PI) and other causes, and in control pregnancies. METHODS: Total as well as fetal DNA was quantified in 78 maternal plasma samples. In 19 pregnancies, the fetus presented IUGR due to PI (group A), and in 31 pregnancies due to other causes (group B). The control group comprised 28 patients (group C). DNA quantification was done using real-time quantitative PCR with a standardized pool of plasmid calibrators. DNA concentrations of the three groups were compared using non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests). RESULTS: The three groups did not statistically differ regarding maternal age (mean +/- SD: 30.5 +/- 5.4 years), gestational age (30 +/- 5.3 weeks) or the proportion of male fetuses (48.2%). Plasma total DNA was significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C (p = 0.001 for both). An increase in fetal DNA was only observed in group A for patients beyond 28 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma total DNA level is higher in patients with IUGR due to PI. These results suggest the presence of maternal endothelial damage independently of preeclampsia.

[Primary actinomycosis of the breast due to Actinomyces neuii]. / Un cas d'actinomycose mammaire primitive àActinomyces neuii.

Primary actinomycosis of the breast is a rare disease, with only 32 cases reported in the literature since 1893. The diagnosis is done in front of a recurrent abscess with fistulas and purulent discharge. Bacteriologic analysis only can confirm the diagnosis. We report the first case of primary actinomycosis of the breast caused by Actinomyces neuii, in a 46-year-old premenopausal woman. No cause of this condition was reported. Targeted antibiotic therapy did not improve the condition. A tumorectomy of the breast was decided. Six months after surgery, no recurrence has been observed.