Epidemiology and associated factors for nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a tertiary-care hospital.

We analysed nosocomial MRSA cases between January 2004 and December 2006 in a retrospective case-control study in a 250-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital. During the study period, 265 nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infections were identified in 231 patients. There was a significant increase in methicillin resistance in isolates (MRSA) from these infections with frequencies for 2004 of 39/88 (44.3%), 2005 (62/80, 77.5%), and 2006 (75/97, 77.3%) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that associated factors for nosocomial MRSA infection were prolonged hospitalization (OR 3.982, 95% CI 2.235-7.094, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation (OR 3.052, 95% CI 1.666-5.590, P<0.001), surgical operation (OR 2.032, 95% CI 1.102-3.748, P=0.023), and male sex (OR 2.000, 95% CI 1.081-3.699, P=0.027). The determination of associated factors for methicillin resistance in nosocomial S. aureus infections in hospitals will play an important role in efforts to reduce MRSA infection rates.

Evaluation of a mass measles vaccination campaign among school children aged 7-14 years old in Denizli, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pre-campaign level of measles seropositivity and to evaluate the effect of a mass measles vaccination campaign on measles seroposivity among primary school children in Denizli, Turkey. METHODS: The study was completed in two socioeconomically different areas of Denizli, Turkey, with a sample size of 520 students. One primary school from each area and one classroom from each grade were randomly included in the sample. Before and 2-months after the measles mass vaccinations, blood samples were collected from the students and measles specific IgGs were studied. RESULTS: The pre-campaign overall seropositivity was 74.7%. Post-campaign overall seropositivity increased to 96.5%. Pre-campaign seropositivity among 8-graders was significantly lower than that in other grades (57.5%, p<0.001) and the difference was explained by the number of vaccinations 8-graders received. Except for the number of vaccination doses, other factors did not have any effect on seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The mass measles vaccination programs have a potential to control measles for developing countries. In addition, more than one dose of measles vaccination is required for developing countries.

Antithrombin III Prevents Early Bacterial Translocation in Burn Injury.

We experimentally studied the effects of antithrombin III (AT III) on bacterial translocation (BT) and intestinal morphology in the early period of burn injury. For this aim, 30 male albino rats were used. A sham burn group (group 1, no. 10) was exposed to 21 °C water. A burn group (group 2, no. 10) and a burn + AT III group (group 3, no. 10) were exposed to 95 °C water for 10 sec, producing full-thickness burn in 30% of the total body surface area. In group 3 the rats received 250 U/kg AT III via the right jugular vein, 15 min before burn injury. One ml 0.9% NaCl was given as a placebo in group 1 and in two rats by the same route. All group 3 rats were sacrificed on day 2 post-burn using an overdose anaesthetic. Cultures of the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, blood, and caecal contents were performed. Histopathological examinations, including polymorph nuclear leukocyte (PNL) infiltration and villus morphologies, were qualitatively evaluated on the resected distal ileal segment. The incidence of BT was 1/10 (10%) in group 1, 7/10 (70%) in group 2, and 1/10 (10%) in group 3. A significant increase in BT incidence was observed in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.02), while a significant decrease in BT incidence was found in group 3 rats with AT III treatment. Although the PNL infiltration rate was reduced by AT III treatment, a significant decrease was not found compared with group 2 (50% and 90%, respectively). On the other hand, the villus degeneration rate was significantly reduced by AT III treatment compared with group 2 (30% and 90%, respectively). These results suggest that the incidence of BT was enhanced by the burn injury. AT III decreased the incidence of BT in the early period of burn injury. We conclude that AT III can be effectively used to protect from intestinal mucosal injury and to prevent bacterial translocation, especially in early post-burn period.