[Characteristics of invasive group B streptococcal infections in adults]

An obvious increase in the invasive due to group B streptocoque [GBS] in adult has recently been noted in several developed countries. Very few series describe the situation in developing countries. To determine the epidemiologic characteristics, the clinical features, the underlying conditions and the course of these infections observed in a Tunisian hospital. We retrospectively analysed 65 episodes hospitalized between 1993 and 2007. The sex-ratio was 0.3 and the mean age was 59 years. 73.8% of the patients had at least one risk factor. These factors were dominated by diabetes mellitus [40%] and recurrent urinary tract infections [25%]. Urosepsis, genital infections and bacteremia with no identified focus dominated the clinical manifestations. 13.9% of these infections were poly-microbial and all GBS isolates were sensitive to penicillin. The course was often favourable, 4.6% of the patients died and a recurrence of the invasive infection was noted in 7.7% of the cases. Our study shows a particular clinical spectrum of invasive group B Streptococcal infections in adults and confirms the role of underlying medical conditions. A Tunisian multi-centric study would specify the actual extent of these infections in our country

Salmonella enteritidis spondylodiscitis: case report and review of literature

Extraintestinal manifestions of Salmonellosis are rare. Most of cases reported presented gastrointestinal symptoms, and were immunologically compromised. We report a case of a young immunocompetent patient with Salmonella enteritidis spondylodiscitis. She did not present any digestive symptoms. The tomodensitometric exam revaled L2 L3 spondylodiscitis. The culture of the biopsy yielded S. enteritidis. In the litterature, 115 cases of non-typhoidal salmonellosis were reported. Most of cases occur in patients immunologically compromised by sickle cell disease. Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella choleraesuis were the most common serotypes described

[Prognostic factors of pneumococcal meningitis. Retrospective study of 31 cases]

Our aim was to study the susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae to antibiotics in patients with pneumococcal meningitis and to search for the prognosis factors in those patients. We have studied retrospectively 31 cases of pneumococcal meningitis. Comparisons were performed with univariate analysis. The mean age was 36,7 +/- 20,5 years [ranged: 9 and 78 years]. The sex ratio was 3,4. The susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin G was affected in 10 cases [33% of isolated pneumococcus. The MIC to penicillin G was >/= 2 in only one case. The hospital mortality was 26% [8/31]. With univariate analysis, factors associated with death were: age >/= 55 years [Ss p= 0,006, OR: 17.2; IC[95%]: 2.3-134], albuminorachie >/= 7g/l [p= 0,002, OR: 22; IC[95%]: 1,9-251], shock [p= 0,031, OR: 6.7; IC[95%],: 1.05-42] and Glasgow Coma Score [GCS] /= 7g/l shock and Glasgow Coma Score