Immediate Pneumothorax Diagnosis by Surgical Residents Using Portable Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: Feasibility of diagnosis of pneumothorax using handheld ultrasound by non-radiologists shows inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of portable ultrasound for immediate diagnosis of pneumothorax by general surgery residents who underwent short training. METHODS: Patients who presented to the emergency department of a university hospital with suspected pneumothorax between 10/2018 and 12/2019 were included in the study. Patients underwent ultrasound in 2 points of each hemithorax. Sensitivity and specificity for pneumothorax diagnosis by ultrasound and physical examination were calculated and compared with chest computed tomography (CT). Patients in whom a chest tube was placed prior to ultrasound examination and those who did not undergo a CT scan were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 40.7 ± 20.2 years. Pneumothorax was found among 46 patients (54%) per chest CT, and of these, 21 (46%) underwent chest tube placement following imaging. Ultrasound showed the highest sensitivity and specificity (95.6% [95% confidence interval {CI} 85.16% to 99.47%] and 97.44% [95% CI 86.40% to 99.67%], respectively). Chest x-ray had the lowest sensitivity (47.8% [95% CI 32.89% to 63.05%]) for pneumothorax detection. Physical examination showed a moderate sensitivity and specificity (82.6% [95% CI 68.58% to 92.18%] and 77.89% [95% CI 60.67% to 88.87%], respectively) for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: We found high accuracy rates of 2-point ultrasound in immediate pneumothorax diagnosis when performed by surgical residents who underwent a short ultrasound training. This is a fast and repeatable test, and has the potential for successful implementation in prehospital and military scenarios as well, minimizing unnecessary chest tube placements.

Evaluation of the Results of Group B Streptococcus Screening by MALDI-TOF MS among Pregnant Women in a Hungarian Hospital.

Pregnant women colonized by Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B streptococcus (GBS), are at an increased risk of premature delivery and stillbirth, and their neonates can be endangered by the development of an invasive GBS disease. In this study, the results of the GBS screening among pregnant women performed between 2012 and 2018 (n = 19267) are presented. For the GBS positive samples, the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated strains was also tested (n = 3554). During the examined period, the colonization rate varied between 17.4% and 19.8%. The overall rate of erythromycin and clindamycin resistance in the GBS positive samples was 34.9% and 34.6%, respectively. The frequency of the erythromycin and clindamycin resistant strains showed an increasing tendency. An analysis of the MALDI-TOF MS spectra of 260 GBS isolates revealed that 46.5% of them belonged to either the ST-1 or the ST-17 sequence types, indicating a high prevalence of these potentially invasive GBS strains in our region. More than half of the strains identified as ST-1 (52.1%) proved to be resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin.

Combination of MALDI-TOF MS and PBP2' latex agglutination assay for rapid MRSA detection.

Sample preparation was optimized for MALDI-TOF MS directly from the selective enrichment broth to detect Staphylococcus aureus. A combination of MALDI-TOF MS and the PBP2' latex agglutination assay was applied for MRSA screening and evaluated on 255 clinical samples. MRSA colonisation can be reported already 18-24h after sample collection.

Cytomegalovirus infection in patients with haematological diseases and after autologous stem cell transplantation as consolidation: a single-centre study.

Because of the widespread use of immunosuppressive drugs, CMV infection is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with haematological malignancies worldwide. The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyse the epidemiology of CMV infection in haematological patients. Between 2008 and 2014, 1238 quantitative CMV DNA detections from plasma specimens were performed. These specimens were collected from 271 patients with haematological malignancy. Patients were grouped on the basis of underlying diseases (lymphoid and myeloid malignancies and other haematological diseases). In the lymphoid and myeloid groups, we distinguished ASCT and non-ASCT groups. During the studied period, the majority of examined patients (82.6 %) were treated with lymphoproliferative disease. A total of 126 (46.5 %) patients underwent ASCT, while 145 (53.5 %) did not have stem cell transplantation. A total of 118 (9.5 %) of 1238 plasma specimens proved to be positive for CMV DNA; these specimens were collected from 66 (24.4 %) patients. Twenty-four (16.6 %) of 145 non-ASCT patients had CMV PCR positive specimens. Among non-ASCT patients with positive CMV PCR results, 10 patients were asymptomatic, 14 had symptomatic reactivation, while 2 had CMV disease. In the ASCT group, 42 (33.3 %) patients had CMV PCR positive samples. CMV reactivation was asymptomatic in 34 (81 %) cases, and 8 (19 %) patients had symptomatic reactivation. In the non-ASCT group, the rate of CMV infection is low. In the ASCT group, the prevalence of CMV infection was higher than in the non-ASCT group, but the majority of CMV infection was asymptomatic and only small number of patients had symptomatic reactivation. Thus, our results also showed that the use of routine CMV DNA monitoring is not necessary in patients with haematological malignancies not receiving fludarabine-containing regimen or alemtuzumab, in spite of this to decrease the mortality we have to consider the use of molecular tests in case of suspected infectious conditions.

[Low rate of oropharyngeal human papillomavirus infection among women with cervical lesion. Preliminary results from the South-Eastern Hungarian population]. / Oropharyngealis humán papillomavírus ritka elofordulása cervicalis laesióval rendelkezo nokben. Elozetes eredmények dél-magyarországi vizsgálat alapján.

INTRODUCTION: Although the natural history of cervical and oral human papillomavirus infection has been intensively investigated in the past years, the ability of this virus to infect oral and genital mucosae in the same individual and its potential to co-infect both cervical and oral mucosa are still unclear. AIM: The aim of the authors was to assess the presence of oropharyngeal human papillomavirus infection in women with cervical lesions in the South-Eastern Hungarian population. METHOD: The total of 103 women have been included in the study between March 1, 2013 and January 1, 2015. Brushing was used to collect cells from the oropharyngeal mucosa. Human papillomavirus DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction, and Amplicor line blot test was used for genotyping. RESULTS: Oropharyngeal human papillomavirus infection was detected in 2 cases (3%). The detected genotypes were 31, 40/61 and 73 in the oropharyngeal region. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that in women with cervical lesions oropharyngeal human papillomavirus infection rarely occurs.

Combination of selective enrichment and MALDI-TOF MS for rapid detection of Streptococcus agalactiae colonisation of pregnant women.

Sample preparation was optimized for MALDI-TOF MS directly from selective enrichment broth to detect Streptococcus agalactiae. The method was tested on 100 vaginal samples of pregnant women; positive and negative predictive values were 100 and 91%, respectively. If it indicates positivity, colonisation can be reported 18-24h after sample collection.

Monitoring human herpesvirus-6 in patients with autologous stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients and widely used autologous stem cell transplantation procedures, clinicians have to face with the emergence of infectious diseases. In this setting, we mainly focus our interest on cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing and only in some cases on other herpesviruses (HHV). Herein, we present monitoring of HHV-6 virus re-activation and infection in patients after autologous stem cell transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one blood and 2 cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 35 patients were tested for the presence of HHV-6 DNA. RESULTS: In 4 patients, a positive HHV-6 signal was detected. In 1 patient, simultaneous detection of CMV and HHV-6 could be observed; however, a low copy number result during CMV testing was obtained. Delayed engraftment or other clinical signs of infection could not be detected in patients with a positive HHV-6 result, except in the case of patient 4 who had limbic encephalitis due to HHV-6 reactivation. CONCLUSION: Because of the possible severe manifestations of HHV-6 infection in immunocompromised patients, screening of HHV-6 infection or reactivation is recommended as part of the routine laboratory procedure.

Large-scale whole genome sequencing identifies country-wide spread of an emerging G9P[8] rotavirus strain in Hungary, 2012.

With the availability of rotavirus vaccines routine strain surveillance has been launched or continued in many countries worldwide. In this study relevant information is provided from Hungary in order to extend knowledge about circulating rotavirus strains. Direct sequencing of the RT-PCR products obtained by VP7 and VP4 genes specific primer sets was utilized as routine laboratory method. In addition we explored the advantage of random primed RT-PCR and semiconductor sequencing of the whole genome of selected strains. During the study year, 2012, we identified an increase in the prevalence of G9P[8] strains across the country. This genotype combination predominated in seven out of nine study sites (detection rates, 45-83%). In addition to G9P[8]s, epidemiologically major strains included genotypes G1P[8] (34.2%), G2P[4] (13.5%), and G4P[8] (7.4%), whereas unusual and rare strains were G3P[8] (1%), G2P[8] (0.5%), G1P[4] (0.2%), G3P[4] (0.2%), and G3P[9] (0.2%). Whole genome analysis of 125 Hungarian human rotaviruses identified nine major genotype constellations and uncovered both intra- and intergenogroup reassortment events in circulating strains. Intergenogroup reassortment resulted in several unusual genotype constellations, including mono-reassortant G1P[8] and G9P[8] strains whose genotype 1 (Wa-like) backbone gene constellations contained DS1-like NSP2 and VP3 genes, respectively, as well as, a putative bovine-feline G3P[9] reassortant strain. The conserved genomic constellations of epidemiologically major genotypes suggested the clonal spread of the re-emerging G9P[8] genotype and several co-circulating strains (e.g., G1P[8] and G2P[4]) in many study sites during 2012. Of interest, medically important G2P[4] strains carried bovine-like VP1 and VP6 genes in their genotype constellation. No evidence for vaccine associated selection, or, interaction between wild-type and vaccine strains was obtained. In conclusion, this study reports the reemergence of G9P[8] strains across the country and indicates the robustness of whole genome sequencing in routine rotavirus strain surveillance.

Sudden cardiac death from parvovirus B19 myocarditis in a young man with Brugada syndrome.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of sudden death all over the world. The aetiology of sudden cardiac death among young adults includes Brugada syndrome and myocarditis. Brugada syndrome is a genetic abnormality of sodium channels in the myocardium with a characteristic electrocardiographic pattern. Myocarditis has several aetiologies including infections. One of the most common cardiotropic viruses is parvovirus B19. This infection presents as a febrile illness in childhood and may result in fatal outcome, more frequently in adults. In this report we present a case of a young man who suffered from a mild upper respiratory tract infection. After recovery he had an episode of syncope and was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. Some weeks later he died suddenly at home while sleeping. The detailed forensic pathological, histological and microbiological investigation revealed a parvovirus B19-associated myocarditis. Synergic effect of structural and functional abnormalities of the myocardium may lead to death. The cause and potential complications (eg. myocarditis) of even mild infections should be monitored carefully.

Application of DNA chip scanning technology for automatic detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae inclusions.

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that propagate in the inclusion, a specific niche inside the host cell. The standard method for counting chlamydiae is immunofluorescent staining and manual counting of chlamydial inclusions. High- or medium-throughput estimation of the reduction in chlamydial inclusions should be the basis of testing antichlamydial compounds and other drugs that positively or negatively influence chlamydial growth, yet low-throughput manual counting is the common approach. To overcome the time-consuming and subjective manual counting, we developed an automatic inclusion-counting system based on a commercially available DNA chip scanner. Fluorescently labeled inclusions are detected by the scanner, and the image is processed by ChlamyCount, a custom plug-in of the ImageJ software environment. ChlamyCount was able to measure the inclusion counts over a 1-log-unit dynamic range with a high correlation to the theoretical counts. ChlamyCount was capable of accurately determining the MICs of the novel antimicrobial compound PCC00213 and the already known antichlamydial antibiotics moxifloxacin and tetracycline. ChlamyCount was also able to measure the chlamydial growth-altering effect of drugs that influence host-bacterium interaction, such as gamma interferon, DEAE-dextran, and cycloheximide. ChlamyCount is an easily adaptable system for testing antichlamydial antimicrobials and other compounds that influence Chlamydia-host interactions.