Dental infections: clinical and microbiological evaluation of responsiveness to twice daily amoxicillin-clavulanic acid [Amoxiclave]

The aim of this study was to determine the types of bacteria causing dental infections in Duhok city, Iraq, and examine its response to twice daily Amoxicillin- Clavulanic acid [Amoxiclav]. The study was conducted in Duhok Dental Health Center from November 2007 to April 2008, and included 47 adult patients with the following dental infections: dry socket, pericoronitis, cellulitis, and periapical abscess. After taking smear or drainage for culture and sensitivity study, patients were prescribed Amoxiclave one gram twice daily for one week. After ten days, culture/ sensitivity studies were repeated. More than three quarter of the total isolates were made up by Streptococcus anginosus [31%], Actinomyces israeli [22%], Staphylococcus aureus [16%] and Bacteroides fragilis [8%]; more than half of the isolates had mixed infections. The overall cure rate was [87%]; the cure rate was [94%] in acute infections and [86%] in chronic ones. It may be concluded that Amoxiclave, as prescribed here, is effective against most of the isolated dental microbes

Comparative study of current antimicrobial resistance patterns of uropathogens: evaluation of empirical treatment

Urinary tract infection is a common disease in the community. There is a huge problem in management of these cases in general practice, which mainly attributed to misdiagnosis and misuse of empirical therapy. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of uropathogens in Northern Iraq together with their in vitro susceptibility profiles to antimicrobial agents. The study included urine samples submitted for culture and antibiotic susceptibility examination for inpatient and outpatient cases. Mosul samples were from inpatient admitted to Al-Salam teaching hospital for a one year period of 2005. Duhok samples were from outpatients sent to the Laboratory of one of the two main private hospital in the city for a one year period of 2006. All samples were tested microbiologically by standard procedures and cultured quantitatively. Colony count was estimated after overnight incubation at 35 C. A total of 1692 and 842 samples were sent for urine culture for inpatient and out patient cases of which 31% and 60.6% of them showed a significant bacteruria respectively. Escherichia coli was the commonest bacteria isolated represented above 40% of total isolates in both groups. The other main bacterial isolates from inpatients were Klebsiella spp 18.9%, Staphylococcus. aureus 8.6%, Psendomonas aeruginosa 7.0% and Proteus spp 6.5%. while in out patients were; according to frequency, Proteus spp. 30.7%, Enterococcus, fecalis 7.8% and Staphylococcus saprophyticus 7.4%. The study showed a high emerging resistance for most commonly used antibiotics in general practice; with overall increase in antibiotic resistance profile mainly among inpatients. Empirical treatment was chosen as a general guideline for treating urinary tract infections in the North of Iraq. The data provide much needed information on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance amongst pathogens currently causing UTI in hospitals and community in the North of Iraq

value of 2-mercaptoethanol test in diagnosing recurrent active brucellosis

Brucellosis is endemic in Iraq; particularly in Northern parts. Several problems are encountered in diagnosing the disease depending on serological tests; especially among cases suspected to have reactivation of the disease. To evaluate the value of 2-Mercaptoethanol [2ME] test in diagnosing recurrent active brucellosis. The study population consisted of 466 patients who had been treated and cured from a previous attack of brucellosis [diagnosed clinically or serologically], who returned suffering from symptoms suggesting a new attack of brucellosis with positive slide agglutination [SAT] test and on whom a 2ME test was conducted. Patients were collected from A1-Salam teaching hospital in Mosul during 2 years period [1999-2000]. The 2ME test was positive in 184/408 [45%]. The probability of having a positive 2ME test increased if the SAT was positive at high titers. The study also revealed high lgG antibody titers, mainly ranged between 1:160 and 1:640, with doubled positive rate among females in comparison to males. The study revealed that 2ME test is useful in diagnosing about 45% of suspected cases with activation of previously treated and cured brucellosis. A direct SAT should first be conducted for suspected cases and the probability of having a positive 2ME test has increased if the primary SAT was positive at higher titers

Effect of ionizing radiation on some microorganisms causing chronic suppurative otitis media

To evaluate the effect of diagnostic x-ray in vitro study on bacteria causing chronic suppurative otitis media. The Number of viable cell count pre and post exposure to different doses of radiation was estimated. Ear, nose and throat Dept. in Erbil Military hospital, Microbiology and x-ray unit in general hospital- Mosul Iraq during the period from July 1999 to July 2000. The effect of ionizing radiation [x-ray] has been studied on different strains of bacteria in vitro. The final results showed that there is a statistically significant reduction in the number of viable cell count of certain microorganisms after exposure to a specific dose of radiation in vitro. The single small dose of x-ray radiation [diagnostic x-ray dose] reduced the number of viable cells of certain microorganism in vitro