RESUMO
We investigated two consecutive Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) outbreaks which occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary level hospital in North Italy in a period of 10 years (January 2003-December 2012). Risk factors associated with S. marcescens acquisition were evaluated by a retrospective case-control study. A total of 21,011 clinical samples was examined: S. marcescens occurred in 127 neonates: 43 developed infection and 3 died. Seven clusters were recorded due to 12 unrelated clones which persisted for years in the ward, although no environmental source was found. The main epidemic clone A sustaining the first cluster in 2003 reappeared in 2010 as an extended spectrum ?-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strain and supporting the second epidemic. Birth weight, gestational age, use of invasive devices and length of stay in the ward were significantly related to S. marcescens acquisition. The opening of a new ward for non-intensive care-requiring neonates, strict adherence to alcoholic hand disinfection, the timely identification and isolation of infected and colonized neonates assisted in containing the epidemics. Genotyping was effective in tracing the evolution and dynamics of the clones demonstrating their long-term persistence in the ward.
Assuntos
Infecção Hospitalar/epidemiologia , Infecções por Serratia/epidemiologia , Serratia marcescens/isolamento & purificação , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Infecção Hospitalar/microbiologia , Surtos de Doenças , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal/estatística & dados numéricos , Itália , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Infecções por Serratia/microbiologia , Serratia marcescens/genéticaRESUMO
We report an unusual case of documented Bartonella henselae genotype I from hepatic tissue in an Italian immunocompetent girl presenting with erythema nodosum and hepatic granulomata. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on biopsied liver sample to confirm the etiologic role of B. henselae and to identify the genetic variant of this organism. A PCR on the same liver biopsy for parvovirus B19 was also positive, but the clinical meaning of this was not clear.
Assuntos
Infecções por Bartonella/diagnóstico , Bartonella henselae/genética , Eritema Nodoso/etiologia , Parvovirus B19 Humano/genética , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Infecções por Bartonella/complicações , Infecções por Bartonella/tratamento farmacológico , Bartonella henselae/classificação , Pré-Escolar , Claritromicina/uso terapêutico , Eritema Nodoso/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Granuloma/tratamento farmacológico , Granuloma/microbiologia , Humanos , Imunocompetência , Hepatopatias/tratamento farmacológico , Hepatopatias/microbiologia , Infecções por Parvoviridae/complicações , Infecções por Parvoviridae/diagnóstico , Infecções por Parvoviridae/genética , Reação em Cadeia da PolimeraseRESUMO
Thymidylate synthase (TS, ThyA) catalyzes the reductive methylation of 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate to 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-monophosphate, an essential precursor for DNA synthesis. A specific inhibition of this enzyme induces bacterial cell death. As a second round lead optimization design, new 1,2-naphthalein derivatives have been synthesized and tested against a TS-based biolibrary, including human thymidylate synthase (hTS). Docking studies have been performed to rationalize the experimentally observed affinity profiles of 1,2-naphthalein compounds toward Lactobacillus casei TS and hTS. The best TS inhibitors have been tested against a number of clinical isolates of Gram-positive-resistant bacterial strains. Compound 3,3-bis(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H,3H-naphtho[1,2-c]furan-1-one (5) showed significant antibacterial activity, no in vitro toxicity, and dose-response effects against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC=0.5-2.5 microg/mL) clinical isolate strains, which are resistant to at least 17 of the best known antibacterial agents, including vancomycin. So far this compound can be regarded as a leading antibacterial agent.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Benzofuranos/química , Naftalenos/química , Timidilato Sintase/antagonistas & inibidores , Timidilato Sintase/química , Animais , Antibacterianos/síntese química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Benzofuranos/síntese química , Benzofuranos/farmacologia , Chlorocebus aethiops , Citrobacter/efeitos dos fármacos , Cryptococcus neoformans/enzimologia , Bases de Dados Factuais , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Enterococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Enterococcus/isolamento & purificação , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Escherichia coli/enzimologia , Humanos , Lacticaseibacillus casei/enzimologia , Listeria monocytogenes/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Modelos Moleculares , Naftalenos/síntese química , Naftalenos/farmacologia , Staphylococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus/isolamento & purificação , Streptococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/química , Células VeroRESUMO
We report a case of Legionella pneumonia in a patient with psoriasis. The clinical strain had an identical PFGE pattern of 1 subtype of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 isolated at low concentration in a sporting club bath. Diagnostic, clinical and epidemiological aspects are discussed for their relevant public health implications.
Assuntos
Legionella pneumophila/isolamento & purificação , Doença dos Legionários/microbiologia , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado/métodos , Humanos , Doença dos Legionários/epidemiologia , Pulmão/microbiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Saúde PúblicaRESUMO
A case of primary infection by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variant A in a 54-year-old woman, which occurred at the same time as the onset of encephalomyelitis, is reported. The correlation between the two events is discussed. It is speculated that, during the early phase of the infection, the HHV-6 spread to the central nervous system and triggered a pathogenic process that initially developed without symptoms. When the neurological disorders appeared, HHV-6 had already established a latent state: only the virus carried by infected blood cells was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Assuntos
Encefalomielite/virologia , Herpesvirus Humano 6/classificação , Herpesvirus Humano 6/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Roseolovirus/complicações , Vértebras Cervicais/diagnóstico por imagem , DNA Viral/sangue , DNA Viral/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Encefalomielite/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Variação Genética , Herpesvirus Humano 6/genética , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Radiografia , Infecções por Roseolovirus/diagnóstico por imagem , Infecções por Roseolovirus/virologiaRESUMO
The case of authoctonous isolated laryngeal leishmaniasis due to L. infantum in an italian immunocompetent host is reported. It is highlighed the need to consider mucosal leishmaniasis in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal tumors. Rapid nested-PCR technique and enzyme restriction analysis were useful for diagnosis and species identification directly from bioptic samples.
Assuntos
Hospedeiro Imunocomprometido , Neoplasias Laríngeas/diagnóstico , Leishmania infantum/isolamento & purificação , Leishmaniose/diagnóstico , Mucosa/parasitologia , Animais , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Itália , Leishmaniose/imunologia , Leishmaniose/parasitologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Trichomonacidal treatment based on 5-nitroimidazoles is problematic both when Metronidazole, the drug of choice, is ineffective owing to the presence of resistant strains and when bacterial aerobic infections are present. Sulphimidazole (SIZ) possesses two distinct functional groups: one sulphonamide, the other 5-nitroimidazole. Since SIZ is active against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, we set out to discover whether, in view of the presence of the 5-nitroimidazole group, it could also be effective against Trichomonas vaginalis. Twelve strains of T. vaginalis were cultured in Modified Thioglycate Medium in anaerobic conditions; subsequently, their growth was monitored in the presence of Metronidazole (MZ), SIZ, Sulphamethoxazole (SMX), Trimethoprim (TMP) and their associations. Eight strains proved to be sensitive to Metronidazole (minimum lethal concentration=0.5 microgml(-1)) and four to be resistant (minimum lethal concentration=40-60 microgml(-1)). SIZ was active against both the sensitive and the Metronidazole-resistant strains (minimum lethal concentrations=0.5-1 and 10 microgml(-1), respectively), thus showing that the chemotherapeutic activities of the two functional groups coexisting in SIZ remain unimpaired.
Assuntos
Antitricômonas/farmacologia , Resistência a Medicamentos , Metronidazol/farmacologia , Nitroimidazóis/farmacologia , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Trichomonas vaginalis/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Técnicas In Vitro , Testes de Sensibilidade ParasitáriaRESUMO
Candidiasis and cryptococcosis are the most common fungal diseases among patients suffering from HIV infection. In the present work we assess whether the combined therapies, proteinase inhibitors and antimycotic drugs, could modify the therapeutic effect of antimycotics. An in vitro study to evaluate the antifungal effect of saquinavir and antimycotic drugs combination on yeast growth was performed. Strains of C. albicans and C. neoformans from HIV-seropositive patients were used. Susceptibility tests of yeasts to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, miconazole and fluconazole, singly and in combination with saquinavir, were performed in two different media. In the combinations the antimycotic agents and saquinavir were tested at sub-inhibitory concentrations: 0.1-10 microg ml(-1) and 12.50 microg ml(-1), respectively. The fractionary inhibitory concentration (FIC) index was also calculated. The results show that the interaction between saquinavir and all the antimycotic drugs never resulted in antagonism. Fluconazole acts in more synergistic way, no matter which medium is used. The combined therapy miconazole/saquinavir results in synergism, especially in Sabouraud. The total absence of antagonism and the presence of synergism suggest that a combined therapy could be proposed in the treatment of HIV-seropositive patients to reduce side effects, thanks to the use of lower doses of antimycotic drugs.