Whole cell ELISA for detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies with reference to peptic ulcers

The specific objectives of this study are to compare isolation of the H. pylori from biopsies with results of a whole cell enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for specific antibodies in serum and saliva. One hundred and nine patients attending outpatient endoscopy clinics were randomly selected. Two biopsies were collected from each patient, one biopsy from each site was cultured and an additional biopsy was taken from the antrum for campylobacter like organism [CLO] test. Blood and saliva samples were also collected to determine specific antibodies to H. pylori using whole cell ELISA. H. pylori specific serum IgG, IgM, IgA and salivary IgA in patients were determined by whole cell ELISA. The results confirmed the diagnostic value of ELISA for determination of serum IgG antibodies against H. pylori and showed that 1/100 dilutions of serum and 1 /5 dilutions of saliva distinguished between H. pylori infected and non-infected patients which is correlated with CLO test. The results of the ELISA assay are significantly correlated with the presence of H. pylori in gastric biopsies determined with CLO test, microscopy and culture. In addition, the assay differentiated between patients with and without peptic ulcers. These results suggest that ELISA might be useful for screening patients referred for endoscopy, thereby reducing the endoscopy list in the clinic

Candidemia in a burn intensive care unit, a six-year analysis

To determine the current candidemia frequency trends in Burn Intensive Care Unit [BICU], to assess the dominant species causing infection and the mortality rates among burn patients. The populationstudied [six-year retrospective study from January 2000 to January 2006] comprised all the patients with microbiological evidence of septicaemia admitted to the BICU at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Hospital [BPSH], Tripoli, Libya. Candida species isolated from blood culture were identified using API-20 C AUX system. Among 691 admitted to BICU, there were 24 [6.3%] episodes of candidemia identified from 380 positive blood cultures. There was a difference in the yearly episodes observed during this period with higher numbers of cases in the years 2000 and 2002. Candida ranked the fourth most common isolate exceeded only by Staphylococci, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella. Five patients [20.8%] had only Candida species, while the majority [79.2%] had a multiple episodes caused by one or two bacterial species followed by Candida. C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species accounting for 58% of all isolates. Non-albicans Candida species accounted for 42% of all episodes of candidemia and were mostly represented by C. parasilosis 5 [20.8%], C. glabrata 4 [16.6%[and C. tropicalis 2 [8.3%] Despite that all patients received fluconazole, the overall mortality rate 14/24 [58%] was significantly high [P <0.05] compared with 85/187 [45%] patients who had septicemia but from whom Candida species were not isolated. Blood stream infections [BSls] caused by Candida species were the 4[th] most common isolate exceeded only by Staphylococci, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella. We suggest that surveillance for antifungal sensitivities should be conducted for successful treatment