The Streptococcus pyogenes fibronectin/tenascin-binding protein PrtF.2 contributes to virulence in an influenza superinfection.

Influenza A virus (IAV) and Streptococcus pyogenes (the group A Streptococcus; GAS) are important contributors to viral-bacterial superinfections, which result from incompletely defined mechanisms. We identified changes in gene expression following IAV infection of A549 cells. Changes included an increase in transcripts encoding proteins with fibronectin-type III (FnIII) domains, such as fibronectin (Fn), tenascin N (TNN), and tenascin C (TNC). We tested the idea that increased expression of TNC may affect the outcome of an IAV-GAS superinfection. To do so, we created a GAS strain that lacked the Fn-binding protein PrtF.2. We found that the wild-type GAS strain, but not the mutant, co-localized with TNC and bound to purified TNC. In addition, adherence of the wild-type strain to IAV-infected A549 cells was greater compared to the prtF.2 mutant. The wild-type strain was also more abundant in the lungs of mice 24 hours after superinfection compared to the mutant strain. Finally, all mice infected with IAV and the prtF.2 mutant strain survived superinfection compared to only 42% infected with IAV and the parental GAS strain, indicating that PrtF.2 contributes to virulence in a murine model of IAV-GAS superinfection.

Reliability and responsiveness of an 18 site, 10-g monofilament examination for assessment of protective foot sensation.

PURPOSE: Older persons including those with diabetes are at increased risk for loss of protective sensation in the feet. The 5.07 (10-g) monofilament is recognized as a valid instrument to test for the presence or absence of protective sensation in the foot. Few studies report reliability and no studies report responsiveness for a multisite examination using the 10-g monofilament. The purpose of this study was to determine the responsiveness and reliability for the 10-g monofilament in evaluating protective sensation in the feet. MATERIALS/METHODS: A convenience sample of 28 (20 women and 8 men) participants between the ages 50 and 78 years were recruited for the study. Sensory testing was performed on 18 different sites (9 per foot) by 3 testers for each participant using the 10-g monofilament. Participants were tested on 2 occasions with approximately 1 week between tests. Participants' eyes were closed for the duration of the examination to blind them to the tester. Testers were blinded to each other and previous test results. RESULTS: Intratester and intertester reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Intratester ICC (3, 1) and minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC(95)) were calculated for each tester and then averaged yielding the following: ICC = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68-0.84), MDC(95) = 2.83. Intertester ICC (2, 1) was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88). MDC(95) was 2.81. This gives an MDC(95) for this test of 3 sites. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the use of the 10-g monofilament as a reliable clinical tool to assess changes in protective sensation of the feet for our participant pool. An 18-site sensory examination using the 10-g monofilament must result in sensory change at 3 or more sites to indicate actual change in protective sensation.

A multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team improves emergency department discharge planning practice.

In response to difficulties meeting the demand for hospital services ("access block") at Royal Melbourne Hospital, a major metropolitan tertiary referral hospital, an audit of patient needs revealed a shortage of aged-care beds and a need for post-acute care. A multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team (CCT) was formed at the end of July 2000 to ensure that emergency department patients were provided with services that would facilitate their return to, or maintenance in, the community. The target population included the frail elderly, those living alone, the homeless, frequent emergency department attenders, and those with complex medical or drug and alcohol problems. As part of routine emergency department care, a risk screen was implemented to determine referral to the CCT. In the first 12 months, the CCT saw 2532 patients (5.8% of all emergency department attendances). Nearly half of these patients were discharged home with referrals to community service providers. The rate of hospital admission from the emergency department fell significantly compared with the 12-month period before implementation of the CCT (13 420 patients, 30.9% [95% CI, 30.5-31.3] v 14 217 patients, 32.6% [95% CI, 32.2-33.0]; P < 0.001). Surveys of staff, patients and carers, as well as community service providers, showed a high level of satisfaction with the CCT.