Acute phase protein concentrations in colostrum-deprived pigs immunized with subunit and commercial vaccines against Glässer's disease.

Haemophilus parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease, which is characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis and meningitis in pigs. This study was focused on the characterization of the acute-phase response after immunization and infection of colostrum-deprived pigs with H. parasuis serovar 5, by measuring serum concentrations of three positive acute-phase proteins (APPs) (pig major acute-phase protein pig, MAP; haptoglobin, HPG; C-reactive protein, CRP) and one negative APP (apolipoprotein A-I, ApoA-I). Six experimental groups were established: a non-immunized but infected control group (CTL); two groups immunized with either a recombinant transferrin-binding protein (Tbp) A or TbpB fragment from H. parasuis Nagasaki strain (rTbpA and rTbpB, respectively); two groups immunized with native outer membrane proteins with affinity to porcine transferrin (NPAPT), one of them inoculated intramuscularly (NPAPTim) and the other intratracheally (NPAPTit), and the last group receiving a commercially available bacterin (PG). The greatest concentrations of the three positive APPs and the lowest concentration of the negative APP were detected in CTL group, as well as in those animals belonging to rTbpA or rTbpB groups that died in response to challenge. Significant differences (P<0.005) were found in these groups when comparing challenge with the following days after it. However, no significant differences were seen for the remaining vaccinated groups (NPAPTim, NPAPTit and PG), which were effectively protected against Glässer's disease. Therefore, APPs could be used as useful biomarkers for both evaluating disease progression and determining vaccination effectiveness.

Haemophilus influenzae Type B conjugate vaccine introduction in Mali: impact on disease burden and serologic correlate of protection.

In Bamako, Mali, where surveillance revealed a high incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) invasive disease, Hib conjugate vaccine was introduced into the Expanded Program on Immunization and the impact assessed. Annual confirmed Hib hospitalizations for infants 0-11 months of age fell from 175/10(5) to 44/10(5) (P < 0.001); among infants 6-7 months of age Hib hospitalizations fell from 377/10(5) to 69/10(5), (82% decrease, P < 0.001). Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae hospitalizations remained unchanged. In a baseline serosurvey, only 3/200 infants 6-7 months of age (1.5%) had protective anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) titers > or = 0.15 microg/mL and 1(0.5%) had >or = 1.0 microg/mL. In serosurveys 18 and 30 months after vaccine introduction, 168/201 (84%) and 184/200 (92%) infants, respectively, had titers > or = 0.15 microg/mL and 141/201 (70%) and 163/200 (82%) had titers > or = 1.0 microg/mL. Introduction of Hib vaccine led to rises in anti-PRP seroprevalence, significant reductions in Hib disease, and all-cause hospitalizations, whereas S. pneumoniae disease remained unchanged.

Infecciones invasoras por Haemophilus influenzae tipo b después de la incorporación de la vacuna conjugada al Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones en Chile / Invasive infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b after the institution of the conjugated vaccine on the Expanded Programm on Immunization in Chile

Tras nueve años desde la introducción en Chile de la vacuna conjugada contra Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (Hib) a las edades de 2-4 y 6 meses, las infecciones por este agente han disminuido notoriamente, pero aún son causa de morbilidad de importancia en algunos pacientes. Se reportan los niños con enfermedad invasora por Hib ocurridas entre los años 2000 y 2004. Para esto se analizaron los egresos del Hospital Padre Hurtado, consignándose epidemiología, clínica, laboratorio, terapia y complicaciones para cada paciente. Durante este período, 23 pacientes (17 varones), con una mediana de edad de 30 meses (rango 1-71 meses) presentaron enfermedad invasora por Hib. Estas se presentaron como neumonía (7), meningitis (4), pleuroneumonía (2), empiema pleural (2), sepsis (2), celulitis (2), meningitis y pleuroneumonía (1), purpura fulminans (1), miositis (1) y epiglotitis (1). No se registraron fallecimientos, pero 4 pacientes presentaron secuelas graves al momento del alta. Veinte pacientes fueron catalogados como falla de vacuna. Hamophilus influenzae b es aún un agente causal de enfermedad grave y con morbilidad asociada en nuestro país, por lo que es importante tener un alto índice de sospecha. Su estudio y notificación son relevantes para la evaluación del esquema de vacunación anti-Hib actualmente utilizado.

Resolution of infectious parameters after antimicrobial therapy in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Although recommended durations of antimicrobial therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) range from 7 to 21 d, these are not based on prospective studies and little is known about the resolution of symptoms after start of antibiotics. Resolution of these symptoms was investigated in 27 patients. VAP was diagnosed on clinical, radiographic, and microbiological criteria, including quantitative cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage. All patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy. Highest temperatures, leukocyte counts, Pa(O(2))/FI(O(2)) ratios, and semiquantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates were recorded from start of therapy until Day 14. Resolution was defined as the first day that these parameters fulfilled the following definition: temperature < or = 38 degrees C, leukocytes < or = 10 x 10(9)/L, Pa(O(2))/FI(O(2)) ratio > or = 25 kPa, and no or +1 of bacterial growth of etiologic pathogens in cultures of endotracheal aspirate. VAP was caused by Enterobacteriaceae (n = 14), P. aeruginosa (n = 7), S. aureus (n = 6), H. influenzae (n = 3), and S. pneumoniae (n = 1). H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae were eradicated from tracheal aspirates, whereas Enterobacteriaceae, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa persisted, despite in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics administered. Significant improvements were observed for all clinical parameters, most apparently within the first 6 d after start of antibiotics. Newly acquired colonization, especially with P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae, occurred in the second week of therapy. Six patients developed a recurrent episode of VAP, four of them with P. aeruginosa. Clinical responses to therapy for VAP occur within the first 6 d of therapy, endotracheal colonization with Gram-negative bacteria persists despite susceptibility to therapy, and acquired colonization usually occurs in the second week of therapy and frequently precedes a recurrent episode.

The efficacy of mezlocillin-amikacin combination in febrile neutropenic children with oncologic disease.

The efficacy of mexlocillin-amikacin combination as empirical therapy for febrile neutropenic patients was studied in 30 children (21 males, 9 females) with various oncologic diseases aged 1-15 years (mean age 7.3 +/- 4.4) in the Istanbul Medical School, Oncologic Disease Research and Treatment Center, and Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology between January 1 and May 31, 1988. The response rate was 76.6%. Profound persistent granulocytopenia (fewer than 100 ml) was present in 70% of the patients. In 63.3% of patients, the infections were microbiologically documented (60%) Gram(+) and 40% Gram(-). The combination was well tolerated with hepatic and/or renal disturbances in 8 cases (26.6%). We conclude that mezlocillin-amikacin is an effective empirical combination in the initial treatment of infections in febrile neutropenic children with various oncologic diseases.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of cefamandole in the therapy of Haemophilus spp. Bronchopulmonary infections.

A prospective, randomized, single-blind comparison of parenteral cefamandole and ampicillin was conducted in 27 hospitalized adult patients with pneumonia or purulent tracheobronchitis due to Haemophilus spp. Patients received either parenteral cefamandole or ampicillin in a dose of 1 g every 6 h. Cefamandole was as effective and safe as ampicillin. Of the 14 patients treated with cefamandole, 13 were considered cured, as were 12 of the 13 treated with ampicillin. One patient in each treatment group improved clinically but did not clear his sputum of Haemophilus spp. One patient treated with cefamandole had a recurrence of Haemophilus spp. bronchitis 9 days after cure. Adverse effects were more common in the cefamandole-treated group (50% versus 15%), but were mild and did not require discontinuation of therapy in any patient. The in vitro susceptibilities of 64 clinical isolates of Haemophilus spp. to 10 antibiotics were determined. Cefamandole was the most active of the cephalosporin-cephamycin antibiotics tested, inhibiting 98% of 61 non-beta-lactamase-producing isolates at 2 mug/ml and 100% at 4 mug/ml. Cefamandole inhibited the three ampicillin-resistant isolates at 2 mug/ml or less. Cephapirin, cefoxitin, and cephalothin were the next most active, whereas cefazolin and cephradine were the least active.