Levels of anti-streptolysin-O antibody correlated to throat colonization with haemolytic streptococci

Antistreptolysin O titer [ASO] was determined in the sera of rheumatic heart patients and age matched controls, together with the isolation of possible offending organisms in their throats. The average of ASO titer in patients group was 1/276 Todd units/ml [Tu.ml], compared with I/I72 TU/ml in the control group, an average which is higher than other studies made abroad, which may reflect a higher exposure rate to infection by haemolytic streptococci in our environment. Within patient group, ASO titer was markedly diminished in those receiving penicillin as prophylactic measure [1/204 TU/ml] compared with those who did not receive this therapy [1/800 TU/ml]. A greater reduction was observed in ASO titer with increasing the period of receiving penicillin therapy. Also, the average ASO titer was higher in younger age group, [6 to 9 years old] than older age group [10 to 12 years] in both patients and control groups which may reflect higher susceptibility and lower resistance to streptococcal in infection in younger age group. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from patients who did not receive penicillin with failure to detect this organism in treated patients and the highest ASO titer coincided with the isolation of this organism in both patient and control groups

Prevalence of campylobacter SPPS in infantile diarrhoea in Cairo

A group of 84 infants below one year of age who attended Rehydration Clinic at Bab El-Shairia Teaching Hospital during the period from April to September, 2987 were included in the present study. It was reported, clinically, that those infants were having acute diarrhoea. 25 apparently healthy infants from a private nursery were included as a control group. Three rectal swabs were collected carefully to avoid contamination with bacteria from the anal skin and inoculated to Campylobacter selective medium and MacCondey's agar plates. The isolated organisms were identified by their culturing, microscopic and biochemical characteristics. Serological identification of some enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli [ETEC] was done. Five isolates of Campylobacter jejuni [5.95%], three isolates of Shigella dysenteriae [3.57%], two of Salmonella spps. [2.38%] and 12 isolate of ETEC strains [14.29%] were isolated during the present study. None of the reported enteropathogens was isolated from the control group of infants

Beta-lactamase producing staphylococcus aureus in rheumatic heart patients

A total of 150 Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] strains, 50 from each group were isolated from the anterior nares. These strains were subjected to different tests to check their identification. This was followed by testing the susceptibility of each isolate to penicillin G, and quantitative estimation of beta-lactamase production: the rheumatic patients group had a significantly lower carriage rate of S. Aureus [19.9%] than both the medical worders [28.6%] and the apparently healthy groups [30.7%]. The incidence of penicillin-resistant strains isolated from rheumatic patients was significantly higher than that of strains isolated from the apparently healthy individuals [74%]. The incidence of beta-lactamase producing strains isolated from rheumatic patients was significantly higher than that of strains isolated from the apparently healthy individuals. The average enzyme activity beta-lactamases produced by S. aureus isolated from rheumatic patients [9.9 U.D /strain] was significantly higher than that of strains isolated form both medical workers [5.7 UD/ strain], and apparently healthy individuals [3.6 UD/ strain]. In all groups, the beta-lactamase non-producing strains were highly sensitive to penicillin G, while the beta-lactamase producing strains were either resistant or moderately sensitive to penicillin G., and a non-linear negative correlation between the amount of beta-lactamase enzyme activity produced and the diameter of the zone of inhibition of growth by penicillin G, was observed

Immunoglobulins G and A in sera and saliva of diabetic patients with chronic periodontal diseases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of IgG and IgA both in sera and saliva obtained prior and after initial periodontal therapy. This study included four groups, first non-diabetic individuals free of local dental factors, the second, were non-diabetic individuals with local etiological factors, and other two groups were diabetic patients with both juvenile-onset and adult types suffering from chronic periodontal disease. In the present study, salivary IgA levels in diabetic patients of both types were significantly higher than control group free of local etiological factors as calculus or plaque. Also non-diabetic individuals, with local factor, showed a high non-significant levels of serum and salivary IgA. In all groups studied, an observed decrease in the serum and salivary levels of both IgG and IgA following periodontal therapy and removal of local etiological factors were detected. At the same time, duration of diabetes affected significantly each of the periodontal disease and levels of immunoglobulins. Screening of IgA, especially salivary type, could be used as a diagnostic aid to forecast susceptibility to periodontal disease and control of diabetes mellitus could play an important role in prognosis of successful periodontal therapy