ABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo a fin de describir un brote epidémico de meningitis causado por enterovirus, que comprometió a 143 niños de 1 mes a 14 años internados en el Hospital Pediátrico de Posadas (Misiones) con diagnóstico de meningitis aséptica, entre agosto y diciembre de 2005. Se observó un aumento de casos entre las semanas 33 a 50, con un pico máximo entre las semanas 47 y 48, lo que confirmó el brote. La mediana de edad de los niños afectados fue de 8 años y el 55,2% fueron varones. El 80% de los casos se observó entre escolares (5 a 14 años). El promedio del tiempo de internación fue de 4,5 ± 1,7 días, y no se registraron fallecidos. Los LCR se estudiaron mediante examen citoquímico y estudios bacteriológicos y virológicos (aislamiento viral, RT- PCR anidada e identificación molecular mediante secuenciación génica). Los recuentos de células en LCR variaron entre 6 y 5040 células /mm3, el 92% fueron inferiores a 500 células/mm3 y el 43,5% mostró predominio linfocitario. El 56% presentó concentraciones de glucosa normal, con proteínas ligeramente elevadas. El 28% de las muestras estudiadas por cultivo (17/60) mostró efecto citopático, compatible con enterovirus. La RT-PCR anidada permitió detectar enterovirus en un 73% de las muestras (43/59), con 6 casos que se tipificaron como echovirus tipo 4. El índice de positividad al combinar ambas técnicas alcanzó el 83%.
A descriptive retrospective study was carried out to describe an epidemic outbreak of enteroviral meningitis in Misiones. We reviewed records of 143 children from 1 month to 14 years of age who were hospitalized with aseptic meningitis in the Pediatric Hospital of Posadas from August to December 2005. Increased number of cases was observed between weeks 33 to 50 which reached a maximum peak in weeks 47 and 48, confirming an outbreak. The median of age was 8 years old, 55.2% were males. Eighty percent of cases were in 5 to 14 years old children. The average length of time spent in the hospital was 4.5±1.7 days, no deaths were reported. We performed cell counts, chemical and bacterial studies of CSF, and culture or RT-Nested/PCR for enteroviruses. Isolates were serotyped by RT-PCR amplification and genetic sequencing. Cell counts were from 6 to 5040 cells/mm3. Ninety two percent had less than 500 cells/mm3 and 43.5% had lymphocyte predominance. Glucose levels were normal with slightly elevated protein counts in 56% of cases. Of the cultured samples, 28% (17/60) showed cytopathic effect compatible with enterovirus. RT-n-PCR detected enterovirus in 73% (43/59) of the analyzed CSF. Echovirus type 4 was identified in 6 of them. The positive indicator obtained by combining both techniques was 83% (58/70).
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Disease Outbreaks , Echovirus Infections/epidemiology , Meningitis, Viral/epidemiology , Argentina/epidemiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics was investigated in Aeromonas spp. Microorganisms were isolated from both, clinical and water creek samples, as well as from processed raw chicken carcasses. Aeromonas like colonies were identified by means of Aerokey II and API 20 E System (Bio-Merieux). A. hydrophila prevailed both of human origin (44) and water creek samples (41), while A. caviae ranked first among raw chicken samples (65). Dilution testing by Agar Method was performed to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), following NCCLS standards. All tested microorganisms were susceptible to third generation cephalosporin, cefepime, imipenem, aztreonam, and resistant to ampicillin. Only with cefepime and aztreonam exceptions, strains of human origin showed higher values of MIC90 than environmental ones. These results suggest that antibiotic resistance is mainly due to a steady environmental pressure, on account of the widely used above mentioned compounds.