Intercontinental spread of a new antibiotic resistance gene on an epidemic plasmid.

Bacteria of different genera isolated at nine medical centers in different parts of the United States and at one center in Venezuela during the first decade of gentamicin usage carried the gentamicin resistance gene 2"-aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase on the same transferable plasmid. Such widespread dissemination of a newly observed resistance gene on one plasmid suggests that a new resistance gene may emerge once on a single plasmid, which then carries it to other centers and other plasmids. The resistance gene might, therefore, be contained if detected early.

Surgical wound infection by Aspergillus fumigatus in liver transplant recipients.

Cutaneous aspergillosis is generally associated with immunosuppression, burns, and major trauma. Most cases are acquired by direct inoculation, although cutaneous involvement does occasionally occur with disseminated disease. Surgical wound infections caused by Aspergillus species are very unusual and to our knowledge have not been described in the setting of organ transplantation. We describe two liver transplant recipients who developed wound aspergillosis during a nosocomial outbreak of Aspergillus infection. Infection developed in the second and fourth postoperative week respectively, and in both cases wound appearance mimicked necrotizing fasciitis. Both patients died despite local debridement and antifungal therapy with amphotericin B. Aspergillus must be added to the list of potential pathogens of surgical wounds, especially in the setting of organ transplantation.

Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis: case reports and review.

Cerebral and cerebellar masses occurred in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. Correct diagnosis was delayed due to overlooking the abnormal lung roentgenograms and the history of previous disease in a different localization. The fungus was identified through biopsy and direct examination of the samples. In two patients necropsy confirmed the diagnosis. None of the patients responded to amphotericin B or cotrimoxazole. A 10 year English and Latin American literature review on neuroparacoccidioidomycosis was performed through a MEDLINE and LILACS (Latin American Literature Search System) data base systems.

Inhibition of direct haemolytic plaques by antistaphylococcal sera.

An in vitro study was carried out to determine the IgM response to staphylococcal antigens (Staphylococcus aureus, serotype 3, ATCC 12600), at different stages of the growth curve. This was in order to observe the number of inhibited haemolytic plaques when immunosera obtained from blood-letting in rabbits previously immunized with antigenic components were used.

ELISA IgG as screening test for the research of true prevalence of human hydatidosis in Badajoz, Spain.

IgG antibodies against E. granulosus were investigated in order to determine the true prevalence of human echinococcosis in Badajoz, Spain. The seroepidemiological survey was carried out on 1540 subjects not suspected of suffering from hydatidosis, in order to add this morbidity rate to that already declared. Because of its high sensitivity and specificity, a standardized immunoenzymatic technique, ELISA was used, and the results subsequently compared using a classical technique for seroepidemiological surveys, namely indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). According to ELISA, 2.2% of the tested subjects were positive. This indicates a higher morbidity in our province than that declared. This test was found to be ideal for seroepidemiological surveys since it is reproducible, easily and rapidly conducted and safe. It requires economical reagents, a large number of samples can be processed simultaneously and it offers a totally objective reading.