Symptomatic and asymptomatic shedding of campylobacter among rural school children in Alexandria

An epidemiological study involving 200 rural schoolchildren was conducted to estimate symptomatic and asymptomatic shedding of Campylobacter. Risk factors were identified as well. Stool samples were collected and cultured on Blaser's selective agar plates. Campylobacter was isolated from 11 [27.5%] of children with diarrhea and from 33 [13.8%] asymptomatic ones. The overall isolation rate was 16.5%. Presence of pets, farm animals and chicken at home were highly associated with Campylobacter culture positive cases [p <0.001]. The same association was encountered, but at a lower level, with drinking unsafe water or raw milk [p <0.05]. These data indicated that Campylobacter is present in schoolchildren whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. Persistence of risk factors presents a great burden for persistence of infection

Urinary tract infection among hospitalized patients: evaluation of rapid methods for its detection

Urinary tract infections were searched for among 2200 patients admitted in three main hospitals in Alexandria. Of them 231 [10.5%] showed 105 or more colony forming units/ml in their urine by culturing technique. Age and sex and a significant role in the distribution of bacteriuria. E. coli was the organism of highest prevalence among bacteruria cases. The isolated organisms showed highest sensetivity to Cefobid, Amikacin and Nitrofurantion. The validity of six rapid screening test was also evaluated in relation to the conventional culturing method. The highest diagnostic efficiency was found in relation to bacterial counting in the sediment of the centrifuged urine