MRSA prevalence rates detected in a tertiary care hospital in Austria and successful treatment of MRSA positive patients applying a decontamination regime with octenidine.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decontamination regimens predominantly use chlorhexidine bathing in combination with mupirocin nasal ointment. However, resistances in Staphylococcus aureus strains are increasingly common and there is a need of alternative, safe and feasible protocols. This interventional cohort study performed at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Graz, Austria, aimed to (1) determine MRSA prevalence at different body sites and (2) assess the efficacy of the decontamination using octenidine-based leave-on products added to existing robust infection control measures. All inpatients of this tertiary care hospital being treated in geriatric medical wards (GWs) and apallic care units (ACUs) were screened for MRSA and decontamination rates were determined after one, two or three decontamination cycles, respectively. At baseline, MRSA was detected in 25 of the 126 patients screened (19.8%). We found MRSA in 13/126 (10.3%) swabs from nasal vestibules, in 12/126 (9.5%) skin swabs, in 11/51 (21.6%) swabs from PEG-stomata or suprapubic catheters and in 8/13 (61.5%) tracheostomata swabs. A maximum of three 5-day decontamination cycles reduced the number of MRSA positive patients by 68.0%. Excluding non-compliant and deceased patients, decontamination reduced MRSA carriage by 93.3% (n = 15). No adverse events related to the applied decontamination regimen occurred. Exclusive screening of the nose might underreport MRSA prevalence rates. In this study, decontamination with octenidine-based leave-on products was safe and effective in a critical patient population.

Differential effects of fluvastatin alone or in combination with ezetimibe on lipoprotein subfractions in patients at high risk of coronary events.

BACKGROUND: Ezetimibe, a cholesterol-absorption inhibitor, significantly lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) when administered in addition to statin treatment. The effect of ezetimibe on the incidence and progression of vascular disease is elusive. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of fluvastatin plus ezetimibe on lipoprotein subfractions in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or coronary heart disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with LDL-C between 100 and 160 mg dL(-1) were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single-blind, single-centre study. A total of 84 patients were treated with either fluvastatin 80 mg (n = 28) alone or in combination with ezetimibe 10 mg (n = 56) for 12 weeks to determine the effects on lipids, apolipoproteins and LDL subfractions by equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00814723. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, LDL-C and apolipoprotein B were significantly more reduced in the combined therapy group. High density lipoproteins increased in the fluvastatin-only group and decreased in the combined therapy group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in buoyant and intermediate, but not in dense LDL particles. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of ezetimibe to fluvastatin resulted in a further reduction of buoyant and intermediate, but not of dense LDL compared with fluvastatin alone.

Biphasic insulin aspart compared to biphasic human insulin reduces postprandial hyperlipidemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Premixed insulin analogues reduce postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes in comparison to premixed regular insulin. Insulin also plays an important role in the regulation of postprandial lipid metabolism. It is known that increased levels of postprandial insulin reduce postprandial hyperlipemia but, on the other hand, no information exists with regard to the possible effect of insulin analogues in comparison to human insulin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 12 subjects (3 men; age 59 +/- 5 years; BMI 30.5 +/- 5.9 kg/m2, duration of diabetes 9 +/- 1 years, HbA1c 8.33 +/- 1.1 %) already on therapy with premixed insulin were treated either with biphasic human insulin (BHI30) or with biphasic insulin aspart (BIAsp30) (1.3 IU fast acting insulin/12 g KH) in the setting of a standardized test meal. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, C-peptide and triglycerides as well as retinylpalmitate in plasma and chylomicron remnants were determined before and up to 8 hours after the meal. RESULTS: As was to be expected, therapy with BIAsp30 reduced the maximum increase of postprandial glucose from 7.10 +/- 2.00 mmol/l to 5.27 +/- 1.83 mmo/l (p = 0.007) compared to BHI30 insulin. In the same way, the maximum increase of triglycerides (from 2.33 +/- 1.03 to 1.65 +/- 0.69 mmol/l, p = 0.014) was reduced. The AUC 0 - 8 for triglycerides was not significantly influenced (34.20 +/- 19.86 vs. 31.46 +/- 16.21 mmol x 8 h/l) but the incremental area over baseline (AOB 0 - 8) was significantly reduced from 8.02 +/- 4.35 to 6.12 +/- 3.94 mmol x 8 h/l (p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conventional human premixed insulin the prandial therapy with biphasic insulin aspart results not only in an improvement of glucose tolerance but also in a significant reduction of postprandial hyperlipemia.

Non-glycemic effects of insulin therapy: a comparison between insulin aspart and regular human insulin during two consecutive meals in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To control postprandial hyperglycemia in insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients, prandial therapy with regular human insulin (HI) or fast acting insulin analogs is used. Postprandial hyperglycemia seems to be reduced more effectively with insulin analogs than with normal insulin, but there are no data concerning the effect on lipolysis or pancreatic insulin and proinsulin secretion of normal insulin in comparison to insulin analogs. DESIGN AND METHODS: We included 13 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age 62.2±10.3 years) with preexisting insulin therapy in this crossover, prospective, open-labeled, randomized trial comparing regular HI with insulin aspart (IA) in the setting of a standardized breakfast and a standardized lunch 4 h later. Blood samples for determination of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides, C-peptide, and intact proinsulin were drawn during fasting and every 30 min until 4 h after the second test meal. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA for repeated measurements and paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean increase in blood glucose was significantly lower after IA (24.18±16.33 vs 34.92±29.07 mg/dl, P=0.02) compared with HI. Both therapies reduced FFA; however, the mean reduction was significantly higher after IA than after HI (-0.47±0.16 vs -0.35±0.15 µmol/l, P<0.001). The mean increase in intact proinsulin was significantly lower after IA than after HI (10.53±5 vs 15.20±6.83 pmol/l, P<0.001). No differences were observed in the C-peptide levels between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In the setting of two consecutive meals, IA reduces lipolysis and proinsulin secretion more effectively than HI.

[Evaluation of a newly discovered LDL receptor mutation (exon 10, GAC>AAC, D271N, "FH Graz-1") in familial hypercholesterolemia-- a familystudy]. / Evaluation einer neu entdeckten LDL-Rezeptor-Mutation (Exon 10, GAC>ACC, D471N, "FH Graz-1") bei familiärer Hypercholesterinämie--eine Familienanalyse.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH, prevalence 1:500) is a major cause of early atherosclerotic disease. Little is known about possible co-factors influencing individual patient's risk. We investigated this question in a large family carrying a new LDL-receptor-mutation. Genetic analysis of all exons of the LDL-receptor gene in the index case using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed a previously unknown mutation in exon 10 (GAC > ACC, D471N, "FH Graz-1"). Investigation of 21 family members (15 females, 6 males), aged 17 to 86 years, revealed 9 female and 4 male carriers of the mutation. 7 female carriers aged 17 to 58 years show no clinical signs of macrovascular disease. An 86-year old female patient, who was asymptomatic until 85, recently suffered a transient cerebral ischemic attack. All these females were normotensive. The only hypertensive 76-year old patient (ex-smoker with a history of 15 pack years) suffers from angina pectoris. 2 male carriers of the mutation (32 and 38 years old) are asymptomatic. A 65-year old patient suffers from cardiovascular disease. A 49-year old patient had a coronary artery bypass graft after a myocardial infarction at the age of 37. Additionally he has a history of bilateral thrombendarterectomy of the carotid arteries and suffers from bilateral peripheral artery disease. This patient also carries the apoE-genotype 4/3, which might be responsible for his poor response to stain therapy, and needs extracorporal lipid elimination (LDL-C > 200 mg/dl under drug therapy). Both of his daughters are homozygous for the apoE-allele 3 and and responded well to stain therapy. Genetic analysis in patients with FH assures diagnosis, but is not sufficient to determine the individual patient's risk. A precise clinical examination remains the gold standard for individual risk evaluation.