Listerial infection in pregnant women and their newborn

This study included 100 pregnant women during the last trimester and their newborn. Women were presented with flue-like illness, urinary tract infection and/or fever. Culture from blood CSF, amniotic fluid, placenta and exteranl auditory canal swabs, revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes type 4B in six mothers and five of the newborns. Four neonates presented early after birth with mainly: Difficult labor, thicks and dark liquor, low birth weight, respiratory distress with aspiration pneumonia and septicemia. They received intravenous ampicillin and kanamycin immediately. The outcome of these neonates was two deaths [one still born and one died two days later]. One newborn presented after 8 days with meningitis. Gamma IFN level was hardly detected in sera of neonates in the first sample with a very slight increase in the second sample compared with the gamma IFN level in sera of their mothers, where it was detectable in the first sample with double fold increase in their second sample. Placental examination reveal chorioamnionitis with microbasses formation and detection of gram positive coccobacilli. Placental examination for early diagnosis and confirmation of the disease even before it was suspected clinically. It was concluded that newborn and pregnant women with diminished cellular immunity are predisposed to the threat of listerial infection. So, increase awareness of this disease and its prevention is paramount importance

Serum concentration of soluble interleukin 2 receptors in bronchial asthma [in children]: correlation with disease activity

Thirty eight children suffering from acute episode of bronchial asthma, 28 children, with stable bronchial asthma, and 20 apparently healthy children as controls were included in this study. All subjects were blood sampled twice at two weeks intervals. First blood sample was taken prior to the commencement of corticosteroids, bronchodilators, or antibiotics to acute bronchial asthma patients group. Identification of microbial agents was done by culture of pharyngeal swab on different culture media. Virus infection was diagnosed by complement fixation test [C.F.T]. Soluble serum Interleukin-2R [sIL-2R] level was mesured by ELISA technique. From patients suffering from acute episode of bronchial asthma, Respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] was diagnosed in 29%, Adenovirus [Types: 3, 4, 7] in 21%, mycoplasmal uroplasma in 15.8%, and Candida albicans in 39. 4% and mixed infection in 10.5%; Influenza viruses [Types: A, Band Parainfluenza-l] in 2-6% and Parainfluenza-3 in 2-6%. The mean soluble serum sIL-2R was significantly higher in acute bronchial asthma patients before treatment [1669. 6 +/- 790 U/mI] than after treatment with corticosteroids [799. 2 +/- 626. 2 U/mI], which in turn was significantly higher when compared with stable cases [562.3 +/- 271.3 U/ml] P=0.0000, and control group [380 +/- 257 U/mI] P=0.0000 Also, sIL-2R levels in patients with viral infections [1829 +/- 773.7 U/mI] did not show significant difference when compared with patients with mixed infection [virus and microbial agents] [2320 +/- 752.6 U/mI] P=0.2622 and in turn, it was significantly higher when compared with patients with microbial agents [1324 +/- 678.7 U/mI] p < 0.0000. The results of this study suggest that sIL-2R level may be of value in monitoring bronchial asthma activity. Virus infection have a role in exacerbation of asthma. Mycoplasma as a cause of exacerbation of asthma should be put in mind and the role of candida should be investigated