[Clinical features of rotavirus infections: influence of child age on clinical manifestations]

The aim of the present study was to describe clinical features of rotavirus infections in children and to compare the observed symptoms according to the age of the patients. Clinical files of 278 rotavirus-positive children under 5 years of age were retrospectively examined. The presence of group A rotavirus antigens in stool samples collected from children was detected by direct sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. Pearson's correlation tests were used to determine the relationship between each clinical sign noticed and patients' age. Among the 278 rotavirus-positive children, 93.9% presented with diarrhea, 79.1% vomiting, 71.6% fever, 37.4% respiratory troubles, and 33.1% neurological signs. Intravenous rehydration was needed for 59.7% of the children. The comparison of clinical signs according to the age showed that diarrhea [p = 0.001], vomiting [p = 0.007], fever [p = 0.045], respiratory troubles [p = 0.01] and dehydration [p<0.001] were significantly more frequent in infants of 1 to 24 months old. The severity of rotavirus illness seems to be directly influenced by child's age. Interestingly, infants of 1 to 5 years old often presented with disease as severe as babies of 6 to 24 months old

[Antimicrobial susceptibilities of emterobacteriaceae isolated from urinary tract infections in the area of Monastir]

The aim of this study is to determinate the local epidemiology of urinary tract infections in the university hospital of Monastir and to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility of most incriminated Enterobacteriaceae strains since 2002 to 2005. Identification of strains was based on conventional bacteriological features. Susceptibility to antibiotics was studied according to the Antibiogram Committee of the French Microbiology Society recommendations. In total, 8505 Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated including Escherichia coli [76%] followed by Klebsiella spp. [10.5%] and Proteus mirabilis [4%]. For E. coli and P. mirabilis, resistances rates were respectively 61% and 71% to amoxicillin, 46.4% and 45.5% to the combination amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and 39.6% and 26% to cotrimoxazole. Strains of Klebsiella spp. were resistant to cefotaxim and amoxicillin + clavulanic acid in respectively 42% and 20% of cases. Finally, from 2002 to 2005, a significant increase in Enterobacteriaceae resistance was observed for ofloxacin, from 11.9% to 17.6% and ciprofloxacin, from 9.1% to 14.5%. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance justifies that empiric treatment of urinary tract infections should be revised regularly

[Prevalence of hepatitis G virus among Tunisian blood donors]

Prevalence of hepatitis G virus among Tunisian blood donors Hepatitis G virus [GBV-C/HGV] is a recently identified virus which occurs worldwide. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV in Tunisia has not been previously studied. We aimed to assess the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection in Tunisian blood donors. A total of 912 blood donors were tested for anti-E2 antibodies of GBV-C/HGV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 600 were tested by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. GBV-C/HGV RNA was found in 5.3% of the sample and HGV antibodies occurred in 4.9%. A correlation was noticed between GBV-C/HGV infection and hepatitis C virus [P = 0.006]. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV is similar to that reported worldwide