Maternal transmission of genital mycoplasmae to the newborns

This study included 96 pregnant women and their newborns. They were subdivided into 2 groups according to their socio-economic classes. Each group comprised 48 cases, all of them were subjected to a complete history taking and a thorough clinical examination. A vaginal swab was taken from all mothers immediately before delivery and a sterile amniotic fluid sample was taken in the delivery ward. Immediately after birth, a neonatal throat swab was taken. The birth weight, gestational age and any complications to the baby were recorded. Biochemical detection for the presence of the genital mycoplasmas [Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasrna hominis] in the 3 samples was done. This work aimed to assess the frequency of maternal and neonatal colonization with genital mycoplasmas in two different social classes. Our results showed that colonization by Ureaplasma uealyticum was more common than colonization by Mycoplasma hominis in all the three sites. In the vagina, 41.7% of the total maternal populations were colonized by Ureaplasma urealyticum while 16.8% were colonized by Mycoplasma hominis. Also isolation rates of Ureaplasma urealyticum from the vagina of pregnant women in the low social class group were higher than those of high social class group [54.2% versus 29.2%]. Similarly isolation rates of Mycoplasma hominis from the vagina of pregnant women were higher in the low than in the high social class [27.1% versus 6.3%]. This study showed that in the low social class group when the vagina was colonized by Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis, 42.3% and 53.8% of the amniotic fluids were colonized respectively white in the high social class group when the vagina was colonized, 57.1% and 100% of the amniotic fluids were colonized respectively by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis; and in the low social class group 54.5% and 44.4% of the neonatal throat swabs were colonized respectively while in the high social class group, 37.5% and 66.3% of the neonatal throats were colonized respectively by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. The associations between vaginal, amniotic fluid and neonatal throat colonization by genital mycoplasmas was statistically significant in both social classes and colonization of the amniotic fluid was an important intermediate step in the vertical transmission of genital mycoplasmas from mothers to neonates. Our results showed that the mean gestational age and the mean birth weight of colonized neonates and infants born to colonized mothers with Mycoplasma hominis were significantly less than those who were not colonized. Also, colonization with Ureaplasma urealyticum in the vagina, amniotic fluid or neonatal throat was significantly associated with neonatal complications as respiratory distress syndrome and or the need for incubator care. So, it was concluded that, statistically significant associations were present between colonization of the mother and the neonate with genital mycoplasma, and the occurence of prematurity, low birth weight, and neonatal complications

Rapid diagnosis of adenoviral tonsillitis using monoclonal antibodies

Adenovirus antigen, specific IgM antibodies to adenovirus, and bacterial causes were detected in nasopharyngeal swabs and sera obtained from 30 children suffering from acute febrile exudative tonsillitis and 10 healthy control children. Adenovirus antigen was detected in the nasopharyngeal swab by Enzyme Immune Assay [EIA] using monoclonal antibodies. Also adeno specific IgM antibodies were detected by EIA in the patient[s] sera. Out of 30 cases, 6 gave positive results for adenovirus infection by [EIA] and 13 cases were positive for bacterial culture, while in 11 cases the causative agent was undetected. EIA offered rapid and efficient method for detection of adenovirus antigen from throat swabs. The specificity of the test was 100 percent and the sensitivity was 86 percent. The use of monoclonal antibody greatly improves the specificity and the sensitivity of the EIA. Also detection of specific IgM antibodies in the patients sera helped in the diagnosis of acute adenovirus infection

Pharmacokinetics of cefazolin and chloramphenicol in nephrotic syndrome among children

The antibacterial levels of Cefazolin and of Chloramphenicol were assayed microbiologically in the serum and urine of children suffering from nephrotic syndrome. Twenty five children suffering from nephrosis with equal number of normals as control of same sex were the subject of this study. The bioavailability of Cefazolin after parenteral route was found to be higher in corticosteroid resistant nephrotic syndrome with parallel lowering of urinary concentrations, while in corticosteroid sensitive nephrotics no variations from normal were noticed. Study of chloramphenicol levels in serum and urine did not show significant change from normal. The possible mechanism of these changes is discussed

Pharmacokinetics of cefazolin and chloramphenicol in protein-energy malnuirition

The antibacterial levels of cefazolin and chloramphenicol-Chloramphenicol were assayed in the serum by a microbiological method using Sarcina lutea as the test organism. Twenty infants and children suffering from protein-energy malutrition [PEM] compared to normal controls of the same age and sex were the subject of this study. All children were studied on two separate occasions with a seven to ten days interval between the two studies. The bioavailabitity of chloramphenicol for parenteral route was found to be significantly higher in malnourishd infants and children compared to normal controls, while with cefazolin no variation from normal was noticed. Concomitant higher levels of chioram were assayed in the serum by a microbiological method using Sarcina lutea as the test organism