Lactation mastitis: bacterial cultivation of breast milk, symptoms, treatment, and outcome.

The aim of this prospective study was to compare serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes, hemoglobin, clinical signs, treatment, and outcome among 41 episodes of lactation mastitis grouped by the outcome of bacterial cultivation of breast milk. Group A included 25 cases with positive cultures only for bacteria normally present on skin. Group B included 16 cases in which cultures indicated the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Serious complications were observed among women in group B, including protracted illness and weaning. No complications were observed in group A. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated bacteria in group B. Mean serum leukocytes were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Although CRP levels in both groups were elevated, no significant difference was found between groups. Rest and frequent emptying of the breast were curative in group A. Further interventions were necessary for mothers in group B.

Diagnostic efficacy of chlamydial antibodies in cervical secretions from pregnant women and adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of cervical antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in two different populations and to correlate the findings to culture, direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) and serum antibodies. SETTING: Antenatal clinics and clinic for teenage counselling in Gävle. PATIENTS: 1078 pregnant women attending for routine follow up in the third trimester of pregnancy and 256 teenage girls. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cervical IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis. Cervical cultures for chlamydia. Serum IgG antibodies. DFA tests were used only in the teenage group. RESULTS: The prevalence of positive culture was 2.0% in pregnant women and 8.6% in teenage girls. In pregnant women cervical IgG > or = 8 and IgA > or = 8 were found in 7.2% and 5.8% respectively and in teenage girls in 6.6% and 2.0% respectively. The agreement between cervical IgG > or = 8 and humoral IgG > or = 32 was 0.76 in the pregnant group and 0.95 in the teenage group. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for cervix IgG > or = 8 to predict a positive culture was 0.64, 0.94 and 0.18 respectively in pregnant women and 0.41, 0.97, 0.53 respectively in teenage girls. Of 31 teenage girls with either positive culture or positive DFA 12 had cervical IgG > or = 8 while five of 225 with negative chlamydia tests had cervical IgG > or = 8 (sensitivity 0.40 and PPV of 0.71). Cervical IgG > or = 16 was found in eight of 31 with positive chlamydia tests and in one of 225 with negative tests (sensitivity 0.26 and PPV 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of cervical IgG > or = 16 predicts current chlamydia (culture or DFA) in nearly 90% in a teenage population. It might indicate current infection in spite of negative culture in some cases. For low titres and in a low prevalence pregnant population cervical IgG are not useful for the diagnosis of chlamydia. As the sensitivity is low cervical antibodies cannot be used for screening purposes.

Oral ciprofloxacin versus intravenous cefuroxime as prophylaxis against postoperative infection in vascular surgery: a randomised double-blind, prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that oral ciprofloxacin is equally effective as intravenous cefuroxime in preventing postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing peripheral arterial surgery involving the groins. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, double-blind multicentre study. MATERIALS: 580 patients undergoing arterial surgery involving the groins were randomised to ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin, Bayer) 750 mg x 2 p.o. or cefuroxime (Zinacef, Glaxo) 1.5 g x 3 i.v. given only on the day of surgery. The primary endpoint was wound/graft infection within 30 days postoperatively. Wound infection was defined as pus. RESULTS: The wound infection rate in the ciprofloxacin group was 9.2% (27 patients) and in the cefuroxime group 9.1% (26 patients) according to intention to treat. For correct treatment the corresponding numbers were 9.5% (23 patients) and 9.7% (22 patients), respectively. There were three graft infections (0.5%). The infection rate was 7.1% (31/433) in the absence and 14.9% (22/147) in the presence of distal ulcers (p < 0.05). S. allreus was the most common bacteria isolated. Forty percent of the wound infections were localised to the groins. By multivariate analysis presence of distal ulcer was the only factor of prognostic significance. CONCLUSIONS: The infection rate was similar in the two groups. Thus, oral administration of ciprofloxacin is an attractive, cost-effective and safe alternative to prophylaxis in vascular patients capable of taking oral medication on the day of surgery.

Ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for urinary tract infection: prospective, randomized, cross-over, placebo controlled study in patients with spinal cord lesion.

To evaluate the efficacy of low-dose long-term treatment with ciprofloxacin in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord lesions and neurogenic bladder dysfunction, a prospective, randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled study was performed. The study period was 12 months long, including 6 months of treatment with 100 mg. ciprofloxacin at night and 6 months of placebo treatment. The study was completed by 18 men and 3 women, median age 38 years (range 19 to 73 years). Within the last 12 months before inclusion into the study, the patients had between 3 and 14 urinary tract infections (mean 5.8) treated with antimicrobial agents. The number of urinary tract infections treated with antimicrobial agents during 6 months of ciprofloxacin prophylaxis was 5 and during the 6 months of placebo treatment it was 59 (p < 0.00005) [corrected]. Fecal specimens showed supercolonization with ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus) in 1 instance. No severe side effects were observed. Ciprofloxacin at a dose of 100 mg. at night was efficacious in preventing urinary tract infections during 6 months in patients with spinal cord lesions and neurogenic bladder dysfunction. After the controlled study 10 of the 21 patients used ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for up to 39 months with a marked reduction in the pre-study infection frequency. In 1 patient ciprofloxacin resistant Escherichia coli was subsequently found in the feces.

Evaluation of a direct fluorescence assay as a screening method in asymptomatic young women.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate one rapid antigen test (DFA), in comparison to culture, for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in young, asymptomatic women. C. trachomatis was isolated from specimens of 8.6% of the patients studied, and 11.3% had 10 or more elementary bodies (EBs) in their specimens. A lowered cut-off point of the DFA did not affect the sensitivity of the method, but the predictive value of a positive test decreased markedly when the cut-off point was lowered. Patients with symptoms of genital infection, signs of genital infection, or both had a higher DFA sensitivity than those who were asymptomatic. Patients whose specimens yielded 1-9 EBs were reexamined three times, once every fourth week. We found little evidence that those patients should be regarded as falsely negative in culture, since most of them remained negative. In order to minimize the social consequences of a false positive test, the DFA method should not be substituted for culture as a diagnostic tool, especially for screening of asymptomatic groups with a low prevalence of C. trachomatis.

Ciprofloxacin versus a tobramycin/cefuroxime combination in the treatment of serious systemic infections: a prospective, randomized and controlled study of efficacy and safety.

Sequential intravenous and oral ciprofloxacin (CF) was compared with a combination of tobramycin and cefuroxime (T/C) in the treatment of serious systemic infections. Altogether 310 patients were randomized, 160 receiving CF and 150 T/C, the 2 groups being reasonably well balanced. 29 patients without infection were excluded from the analysis. Complete clinical resolution was obtained in 75% (107/143) patients receiving CF and in 78% (107/138) receiving T/C; the difference was not statistically significant. The rate of bacterial eradication in septicaemia was 72% (95% confidence interval (95% c.i.): 58-86%) for patients treated with CF and 87% (95% c.i.: 77-96%) when T/C was given, while the eradication rates in urinary tract infection were 72% (95% c.i.: 54-90%) and 45% (95% c.i.: 23-67%) for CF and T/C, respectively. Significant differences in bacteriological response for other diagnoses were not detected. Also for lower respiratory tract infections (LTRI) the clinical and bacteriological responses were quite similar, although relatively more failures occurred in CF treated patients with LRTI caused by pneumococci. The frequencies of adverse reactions were comparable, but the reactions were less serious following CF treatment. Our results indicate that CF may be used for empirical treatment of serious infections. However, if pneumococcal etiology is likely, alternative antibiotics should be used, and if necessary, coverage against anaerobic bacteria should be added.

Chlamydia trachomatis in sexually active teenage girls. Factors related to genital chlamydial infection: a prospective study.

The incidence of new infections with C trachomatis was found to be 19%. Predisposing factors for a subsequent chlamydial infection were multiple partners, smoking and previous infection with C trachomatis. Girls with a spread cervical ectopy were not more likely to contract a chlamydial infection in one year than girls without an ectopy. Oral contraceptive use was not found to predispose for a chlamydial infection.

PIP: This study investigated the incidence of new cases of Chlamydia trachomatis in 1 year and characterized those adolescent girls most at risk. A total of 301 sexually active teenage girls attending an adolescence clinic were included in the study population. The mean age of girls at the initial visit was 17.7 years; the age range was 14-19 years. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 53 (17.6%) of the 301 girls at the initial visit. The majority of the girls (82%) were current users of combined low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs). The results showed an incidence of new cases of Chlamydia trachomatis of 19/100 woman-years among adolescent, sexually-active girls, which corresponds to the prevalence found at the initial visit. Predisposing factors for a subsequent chlamydial infection were multiple partners, smoking, and previous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Girls with a spread cervical ectopy were not more likely to contract a chlamydial infection in 1 year compared with girls without an ectopy. OC use was not found to predispose users to chlamydial infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis among sexually active teenage girls: influence of sampling location and clinical signs on the detection rate.

A total of 707 cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis were obtained from healthy teenage girls attending an adolescence clinic for family planning. Apart from sampling from the endocervix, specimens were also obtained from outside the squamocolumnar junction and from the posterior fornix and cultured separately in order to study whether it was possible to improve the detection rate of C trachomatis by sampling from outside the endocervix. In 91 (12.8%) of the girls a positive culture was found. Of the chlamydia positive samples, 83.5% were obtained from the endocervix and 95% from outside the squamocolumnar junction of the portio. Of the 91 positive cultures, 15 (16.5%) were positive only in the sample obtained from the portio surface. The results indicate that the detection rate of C trachomatis could be improved by extended specimen collection. C trachomatis was isolated significantly more often when there was an ectopy, irrespective of whether the specimens had been collected from the endocervix or from outside the squamocolumnar junction. C trachomatis was particularly common if there was an ectopy and a bleeding at specimen collection. If there was no bleeding at sampling, C trachomatis was equally common in women with as in those without an ectopy.

Dados clínicos mundiais sobre a eficácia e a segurança da ciprofloxacina / World wide clinical data on efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin

Em ensaios clínicos 8.861 pacientes foram tratados com ciprofloxacina a nível mundial. Dos tratamentos realizados,03.822 foram válidos para análise da eficácia, de acordo cocm os padröes do FDA. Em geral foram administradas as seguintes doses: infecçöes do trato urinário: 100 a 50 mg duas vezes por dia, por via oral ou 100 mg duas vezes por dia, por via intravenosa; infecçöes do trato respiratório: 250 a 1.000 mg, duas vezes ao dia, por via oral ou 200 mg duas vezes por dia, por via intravenosa; septicemia: 200 mg duas vezes por dia, por via intravenosa; gonorréia: 250 a 500 mg, por via oral, em dose única; todas as outras infecçöes: 500 a 1000 mg duas vezes por dia, por via oral ou 200 mg, duas vezes por dia, por via intravenosa. A ciprofloxacina foi administrada em 762 tratamentos de infecçöes respiratórias baixas, 88 infecçöes respiratórias altas, 108 bacteremias, 766 infecçöes de pele e anexos, 142 infecçöes dos ossos e articulaçöes, 149 infecçöes intra-abdominais, 33 infecçöes gastrintestinais, 1.633 infecçöes do trato urinário, 49 infecçöes pélvicas, 279 doenças transmitidas sexualmente, principalmente gonorréia, e em três meningites. A resposta clínica foi cura em 76%, melhora em 18% e falha em apenas 6%. A resposta bacteriológica em relaçäo a todos os locais avaliáveis foi: patógenos erradicados em 74%, acentuadamente reduzidos em 2% e persistentes em 10%. Ocorrem recidivas em 4% e reinfecçöes em outros 6%. A resposta global foi favorável em 90% dos pacientes. A segurança da droga foi estabelecida com base nos dados de 8.861 tratamentos a nível mundial. De acordo com a terminologia de COSTART, foram observadas as seguintes reaçöes adversas: digestivas 5%, metabólico-nutricionais 4,6% sistema nervoso central 1,6%, pele 1,4%, hematológicas e linfáticas 1%, cardiovasculares 0,4%, urogenitais 0,3%, órgäos dos sentidos 0,3%, músculo-esqueléticas 0,1%, respiratórias 0,08%...

Tolerance of intravenous ciprofloxacin.

Available information about the safety of intravenous (i.v.) administration of ciprofloxacin is reviewed. No increased incidence of systemic toxicity is apparent over the oral route. CNS side effects occur, but at a low rate and they are mild. Caution is indicated in patients with tendency for seizures. Laboratory changes are minimal, mainly mild elevations of liver enzymes. No increased risk of crystalluria has been seen. Local side effects in the form of erythema and burning are relatively common in some volunteer studies and are also seen in clinical studies, infusion phlebitis also occurs. It is recommended that i.v. ciprofloxacin is administered in slow infusion through a large or preferably central vein.

Safety of ciprofloxacin. A review.

In clinical trials phase II and III world wide 8,861 courses of ciprofloxacin were entered into the data base for safety evaluation. The following adverse reactions were observed-gastrointestinal 5%, metabolic and nutritional 4.6%, central nervous system 1.6%, skin 1.4%, hemic and lymphatic 1%, cardiovascular 0.4%, body as a whole 0.4%, urogenital 0.3%, special senses 0.3%, musculo-skeletal 0.1%, respiratory 0.08%. Total incidence of adverse reactions was 10.2%. Ciprofloxacin interacts with theophylline and certain antacids. Caution should be exercised in treating patients with known history of convulsions. Crystalluria does not appear to be a problem. Ciprofloxacin is well tolerated and side effects are usually mild or moderate in intensity. However, unusual and unexpected reactions have to be watched for.

Chlamydia trachomatis among sexually active teenage girls. Lack of correlation between chlamydial infection, history of the patient and clinical signs of infection.

Cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis were obtained from 1012 teenage girls attending an adolescence clinic mainly for family planning; C. trachomatis was isolated from 174 (17.2%). The proportion of chlamydia-positive girls varied between 15.7% and 28.5% depending whether or not there were symptoms and signs of infection. Neither the history nor the finding at pelvic examination offered conclusive evidence for or against the presence of an infection with C. trachomatis. Of the chlamydia-positive, untreated, asymptomatic girls, 17.5% developed symptoms of a genital infection within 3 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of positive cultures by the two investigators, suggesting that the procedure for specimen collection is of great importance.

Correlation between chlamydia infection and clinical evaluation, vaginal wet smear, and cervical swab test in female adolescents.

Vaginal wet smear, endocervical swab test, gynecologic examination, and history were investigated in 148 healthy female adolescents. Cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis were obtained from all patients. The overall prevalence was 19/148 (13%). No significant correlation was found between chlamydia infection and any of the parameters investigated in the wet smear. Results of swab test or history showed no discrimination between young women with cultures positive for C. trachomatis and those with cultures negative for C. trachomatis. Chlamydia was found in 32% of patients when the gynecologic examination showed signs of infection and in 10% when no signs of infection were seen (p less than 0.025). Thirteen of the 19 (70%) adolescents with chlamydia infections had no signs of infection. We conclude that neither swab test, vaginal wet smear, nor the history of the patient can give conclusive evidence of a chlamydial infection. Detection of C. trachomatis in this population can be done only by culture or other specific methods.