[Risk factors for hepatitis C virus transmission to Health Care Workers after occupational exposure: a European case-control study]. / Facteurs de risque de transmission accidentelle du VHC au personnel soignant au décours d'un accident exposant au sang: une étude cas-témoins européenne.

BACKGROUND: Factors that influence the risk for HCV infection after occupational exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) have not yet been determined. The objective of this study was to assess potential risk factors for Hepatitis C seroconversion after occupational exposure to HCV. METHODS: We conducted a European matched case-control study from 01/01/1991 through 31/12/ 2002. Cases were Health Care Workers (HCWs) who were HCV seronegative at the time of exposure, sustained a documented exposure to HCV, and present documented HCV seroconversion temporally associated with the exposure. Controls-HCWs had a documented exposure to HCV, were HCV seronegative at the time of exposure, and remained so at least 6 months later. Controls were matched to cases for the center and the time period of the exposure occurrence. RESULTS: 60 cases and 204 controls were included. All cases were exposed to HCV-infected materials through percutaneous injuries. Those for whom information was available (61.6%) were exposed to viremic source patients. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis, in which HCV viral load was not introduced because of missing values, identified needle placed in the source patient's vein or artery (Odds Ratio [OR]=100.1; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=7.3-1365.7), deep injury (OR=155.2; 95%CI=7.1-3417.2), and HCW's gender (M vs. F: OR=3.1; 95%CI=1.0-10.0) as risk factors for HCV infection. In univariate unmatched analysis the risk of HCV transmission was increased 11-fold (C195%=1.1-114.1) in HCWs exposed to sources with a viral load>6 log10 copies/mL when compared to sources with a HCV viral load<4 log10 copies/mL. CONCLUSION: The risk of HCV transmission after percutaneous exposure increases with a larger volume of blood, and, a higher titer of HCV in the source patient's blood. The role of HCW's gender need to be further investigated. The results of this study have important implications for counselling and follow-up of HCWs after exposure.

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus transmission to health care workers after occupational exposure: a European case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Additional studies are required to identify risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission to health care workers after occupational exposure to HCV. METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study in 5 European countries from 1 January 1991 through 31 December 2002. Case patients were health care workers who experienced seroconversion after percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposure to HCV. Control subjects were HCV-exposed health care workers who did not experience seroconversion and were matched with case patients for center and period of exposure. RESULTS: Sixty case patients and 204 control subjects were included in the study. All case patients were exposed to HCV-infected fluids through percutaneous injuries. The 37 case patients for whom information was available were exposed to viremic source patients. As risk factors for HCV infection, multivariate analysis identified needle placement in a source patient's vein or artery (odds ratio [OR], 100.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.3-1365.7), deep injury (OR, 155.2; 95% CI, 7.1-3417.2), and sex of the health care worker (OR for male vs. female, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.0-10.0). Source patient HCV load was not introduced in the multivariate model. In unmatched univariate analysis, the risk of HCV transmission increased 11-fold for health care workers exposed to source patients with a viral load >6 log(10) copies/mL (95% CI, 1.1-114.1), compared with exposures to source patients with a viral load < or =4 log10 copies/mL. CONCLUSION: In this study, HCV occupational transmission was found to occur after percutaneous exposures. The risk of HCV transmission after percutaneous exposure increased with deep injuries and procedures involving hollow-bore needle placement in the source patient's vein or artery. These results highlight the need for widespread adoption of needlestick-prevention devices in health care settings, together with other preventive measures.

[Nephritic colic due to indinavir]. / Coliques néphrétiques sous indinavir.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the frequency and assess curative and preventive measures against urinary lithiasis in patients treated with indinavir. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen HIV seropositive patients who developed severe and acute flank pain were included. Four of the patients receiving 800 mg indinavir t.i.d. had fever (38.5 degrees C) or delayed secretion (> 2 h). Delay from indinavir treatment onset was 1 to 321 days. During the same period, 155 patients had been treated with indinavir. Clinical features, radiology and laboratory results were recorded in addition to an analysis of the lithiasis if possible. RESULTS: Transient moderate renal failure occurred in 8 patients. Mean urine pH was 6. Serum phosphorus, calcium, and uric acid, liver tests and urinalysis were normal. A JJ ureteral stent was inserted in 4 cases due to complications. In all cases, fluids, analgesics and antispasmodics provided favorable outcome. Inversely, nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs given in 2 patients had a deleterious effect on renal function. The lithiasis was eliminated in 3 cases and infrared spectrophotometry demonstrated a structure compatible with indinavir monohydrate. CONCLUSION: The formation of urinary lithiasis is a frequent complication of indinavir therapy (9%). Hyperhydration and urine acidification are usually successful but emergency drainage is required in approximately 3% of cases. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs should be avoided due to the risk of renal toxicity. A precise evaluation of fluid intake and diet, drug associations and personal history is needed to recognize patients at risk of recurrent lithiasis formation.

Pharmacokinetics of a new oral formulation of amoxicillin.

The bioavailability of the recently developed 1 g dispersible tablet form of amoxicillin (B) and the 1 g dispersible tablet in suspension form (C) were compared to that of the 1 g standard reference formulation (A). Twelve healthy volunteers were involved in this single-dose, open, randomized, three-way cross-over study. The mean peak serum levels were 14.1 +/- 4.1 micrograms/ml after A, 15.1 +/- 3.1 micrograms/ml after B and 15.1 +/- 5.4 micrograms/ml after C. The area under the drug concentration versus time curves were 47.6 +/- 12.0 micrograms.h/ml after A, 52.8 +/- 10.2 micrograms.h/ml after B and 51.1 +/- 13.8 micrograms.h/ml after C. On the basis of these two pharmacokinetic parameters, the three formulations were found to be bioequivalent. In addition, the predicted serum concentrations during multiple dosing (3 times a day), derived from the corresponding mean concentrations after a single 1 g dose of C showed that 8 hourly administration would yield therapeutic serum concentrations for infections such as uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia due to susceptible or less susceptible strains in otherwise healthy subjects.

Impairment of polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in HIV-infected patients.

Impaired polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function may contribute to the onset of certain bacterial and fungal infections and to tissue damage in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Published data on PMN function in HIV infection are controversial, possibly because most studies have involved PMNs isolated from the normal blood environment by various procedures that may modify PMN responses. We therefore used flow cytometry to study the expression of adhesion molecules at the PMN surface, actin polymerization, and the oxidative burst of whole-blood PMNs in 42 HIV-infected patients at different stages of the disease. These PMNs were activated in vivo, as shown by increased expression of the adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18, reduced L-selectin antigen expression, increased actin polymerization, and increased H2O2 production. The alterations were present in asymptomatic patients with CD4+ cell counts above 500/microliters and did not increase with progression of the disease. This PMN activation could contribute to the oxidative stress described in HIV infection. Stimulation by bacterial N-formyl peptides showed dysregulation of L-selectin shedding and decreased H2O2 production after cx vivo priming with tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-8. These latter impairments, which correlated with the decrease in CD4+ lymphocyte numbers, could contribute to the increased susceptibility of HIV-infected patients to bacterial infections.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients show enhanced activation, diminished fMLP-induced L-selectin shedding, and an impaired oxidative burst after cytokine priming.

Impaired polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function may contribute to the onset of certain life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Published data on PMN functional activity in HIV infection are controversial, possibly because most studies have involved PMNs isolated from their blood environment by means of various procedures that may differently affect surface receptor expression and thereby alter cellular responses. We therefore used flow cytometry to study the expression of adhesion molecules at the PMN surface, actin polymerization, and the oxidative burst of whole-blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils in 42 HIV-infected patients at different stages of the disease. These PMNs were activated in vivo, as demonstrated by increased expression of the adhesion molecule CD11b/CD18, reduced L-selectin antigen expression, increased actin polymerization, and increased H2O2 production. The alterations were present in asymptomatic patients with CD4+ cell counts greater than 500/microL and did not increase with the progression of the disease. Stimulation by bacterial N-formyl peptides showed dysregulation of L-selectin shedding and decreased H2O2 production after ex vivo priming with tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-8 (IL-8). These latter impairments, which correlated with the decrease in CD4+ lymphocyte numbers and with IL-8 and IL-6 plasma levels, could contribute to the increased susceptibility of HIV-infected patients to bacterial infections.

Epidemiology of intestinal colonization by members of the family Enterobacteriaceae resistant to cefotaxime in a hematology-oncology unit.

Intestinal colonization by members of the family Enterobacteriaceae resistant to cefotaxime was surveyed for 3 years in a hematology-oncology unit. Of 416 patients, 66 (15.9%) were colonized, each with a different strain. The incidence of intestinal carriage was not correlated with cefotaxime consumption in the ward but was strongly associated with individual exposure to cefotaxime.