Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitalized patients with bloodstream infections: analysis of some associated factors

Blood infections are life-threatening if not detected and managed properly. This study investigates the correlation between fever and previous antibiotics therapy with differential time to positivrty [DTP] at admitted patients at Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, southern Iran. From January 2005 to December 2006, 985 positive blood samples in Bactec bottles from the admitted patients at Nemazee Hospital were analyzed. Sensitivity patterns of the bacteria to a panel of antibiotics were determined by the disk diffusion method. S. epidermidis, S. aureus and Acinetobacter were the most prevalent isolates respectively. However, only 100 [20.7%] S. epidermidis samples were the true infections. The most susceptible Gram positive and negative bacteria were S. viridance, S. aureus, H. influenzae, and Brucella spp., respectively. Imipenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin were the effective ones against Gram negative bacteria, while vancomycin, co-amoxiclav and chloramphenicol were effective against Gram positive ones. Cefuroxime and penicillin G were less effective antibiotics against both Gram negative and positive bacteria. As demonstrated, the combined prescription of vancomycin and imipenem seems to cover the majority of infective agents in the blood whenever an empirical therapy is to be initiated. Moreover, periodic surveillance of antibacterial susceptibility patterns is warranted

Seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection among 1-70 year individuals in Iran

Varicella zoster virus [VZV] causes varicella and, later in the life of the infected person, can reactivate to cause Herpes zoster [HZ]. The objective of this study was the investigation of anti Varicella zoster virus IgG antibodies in infants and adults in Shiraz, southern Iran. A cross-sectional, age and population-based seroprevalence study was conducted in 2008 on 843 subjects, ages ranging from 1 to 70 years old. IgG antibodies against VZV were measured with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The seroprevalence of Varicella zoster antibodies increased with age, being 25.3% in 1-5 year age group, 43.1% in 6-10 year group, 73.5% in 11-15 year group and 86% in adult population. The majority of VZV infections occurred during childhood. The best policy to prevent the circulation of wild type VZV in the population and reduction of the rate of complicated cases is the immunization of 5 year old children and those younger. VZV vaccine should be incorporated in the conventional childhood vaccination plan in Iran

Molecular identification and in-vitro susceptibility andida albicans and C. dubliniensis isolated from immunocompromised patients

Yeasts are increasingly implicated in serious systemic infections. The aim of this study was to identify Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis from isolates of immunocompromised patients and evaluate the in vitro antifungal activities of them against antifungal agents. One hundred and seventy eight C. albicans were isolated by routine methods from 403 immunocompromised patients. All isolated C. albicans were inoculated on CHRO Magar Candida medium. The carbohydrate assimilation patterns of all the isolates were studied, using the API 320 system. To identify C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, PCR was done by specific primers. The susceptibility test for the isolates was performed by a broth microdilution assay, according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Of 178 isolates C. albicans, six were C. dubliniensis with PCR assay, and 7% were resistant to amphotericin B, 4.6% to fluconazole, 7% to itraconazole, 1% to nystatin, 2.3% to voriconazole, and 7% to ketoconazole. Non of the C. dubliniensis isolates were resistant to the six anti-fungal agents. It would be convenient to carry out antifungal susceptibility studies in order to establish the in-vitro activities of antifungal agents against local isolates and also to detect shifts toward resistance as early as possible

Human cytomegalovirus: Infections and diagnosis

Human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] is a ubiquitous virus whose sole host is humans. Since HCMV can contagion from person to person through numerous ways, vast populations of humans are infected. HCMV infections can potentially have a range from asymptomatic infection in immuno-competent hosts to life-threatening diseases in organ recipients and patients with AIDS. The present article reviews the occurrence of HCMV infections and diseases in humans with different physiological and immunological status, and evaluates the existing laboratory methods for diagnosis of the disease