Ultrastructure and types of fimbriae in uropathogenic E-coli among bilharzial patients

The aim of this work was to study the association of different types of fimbriae of urinary E coli isolates with different disease entities. We collected a total of 57 urinary E. coli isolates from 3 groups of bilharrzial patients: group 1: with cystitis [21 isolates]; group 2: with pyelonephritis [18 isolates] and group 3: with urinary bladder carcinoma [18 isolates]. Each isolate was studied for: I. Fimbrial expression and type determination by haemagglutination [HA] of human and guinea pig erythrocytes. II. Electron microscopic [E/M] structure using negative staining, standard transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that infection with mannose sensitive type 1 fimbriated E. coli dominated in group 1 and 3 [80.95% and 77.78% respectively]. In group2 [55.56%] were caused by mannose resistant P fimbriated E. coli. Although there was a perfect correlation between HA and the presence of fimbiriae by E/M [P< 0.01], yet E/M detected other types of fimibriae which could-have been missed by HA alone. Negative staining was the best technique in electron microscopy. We concluded that detection of P flimbriae in urinay E. coli strains may justify a vigorous antibiotic treatment to prevent development of pyelonephritis. Although type 1 fimbriae was associated with simple cystitis, yet follow up and complete investigations are recommended to detect an associated carcinoma

Flow cytometry antifungal susceptibility testing of candida species and comparison with Etest

Flow cytometric [FCM] susceptibility test as well as Etest were used for determination of the susceptibility of 20 Candida isolates to fluconazole, amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs] were read by Etest after 24 hours. Using FCM, 4 hours incubation were needed for azoles [fluconazole and ketoconazole] and only 2 hours for amphotericin B to obtain MICs results comparable to those of Etest. Agreement of sensitivity between the two methods was high for fluconazole and ketoconazole regarding C. albicans [Kappa 0.727, but was much lower for amphotericin B in both C. albicans and C. nonalbicans [Kappa 0.40 and 0.377, respectively]. Concerning MICs, regression analysis demonstrated that MICs from flow cytometry and Etest were positively correlated. This study points out the advantages of the flow cytometry approach in antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species over Etest, since speed remains a major problem, in spite of being expensive. Etest was time consuming, yet it did not need any special equipment, so it could be used in any laboratory. However, more studies are needed to assess values of each technique for routine antifungal susceptibility testing

Ultrastructure and types of fimbriae in uropathogenic E-coli among bilharzial patients

The aim of this work was to study the association of different types of fimbriae of urinary E coli isolates with different disease entities. We collected a total of 57 urinary E. coli isolates from 3 groups of bilharzial patients: group 1: with cystitis [21 isolates]: group 2: with pyelonephritis [18 isolates] and group 3: with urinary bladder carcinoma [18 isolates]. Each isolate was studied for: I-fimbrial expression and type determination by haemagglutination [HA] of human and guinea pig erythrocytes, II- Electron microscopic [E/M] structure using negative staining, standard transmission and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that infection with mannose-resistant type I fimbriated Ecoli dominated in group 1 and 3 [80.95% and 77.78% respectively]. In group 2. 55.56% were caused by man- nose resistant P fimbriated Ecoli. Although there was a perfect correlation between HA and the presence of fimbriae by E/M [p< 0.01], yet E/M detected other byres of fimbriae which could have, been missed by HA alone. Negative staining was the best technique in electron microscopy. We concluded that detection of P fimbriae in urinay Ecoli strains may justify a vigorous antibiotic treatment to prevent development of pyelonephritis. Although type I fimbriae was associated with simple cystitis, yet follow up and complete investigations are recommended to detect an .associated carcinoma

Gamma interferon as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous pleural effusion

This study was performed on 74 patients [45 males and 29 females] suffering from pleural effusion due to different etiologies to evaluate the use of gamma interferon [IFN-gamma] as a diagnostic marker for tuberculous pleural effusion. The patients were classified into five groups according to one or more of the following criteria: Clinical examination, tuberculin intradermal test, histopathological and microbiological examination of both sputum and pleural fluid by ZN stains and culture on Bactec-460 [Becton Dickinson]. The five groups were tuberculous effusion group [30 patients], malignant effusion group [11 patients], empyemic effusion group [10 patients] and nonspecific effusion group [14 patients]. For each pleural effusion, glucose, total protein and albumin were estimated calorimetrically and IFN-gamma was evaluated by radio-immunoassay technique