Invasive non-type b haemophilus influenzae disease: report of eight cases / Doença invasiva causada por haemophilus influenzae não tipo b: relato de oito casos

ASTRACT Objective: To describe eight cases of invasive non-type b Haemophilus influenzae disease in children admitted to Hospital de Clínicas of Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Cases description: In 2015, there were eight cases of invasive non-type b H. influenzae disease. We tested the ampicillin sensitivity and beta-lactamase production of the strains identified and performed the genotyping. Molecular typing was determined by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis. Four patients were diagnosed with bacteremia; in two cases, H. influenzae was detected in the pleural fluid, and two patients had meningitis. Patients with comorbidities represented 37.5% of cases. Except for the strain of one patient - not sent to the reference laboratory -, all were ampicillin-sensitive and non-beta-lactamase-producing. Genotyping identified four non-capsular, one type c, and two type a strains. Molecular typing ruled out nosocomial transmission since all serotypes were distinct regarding genotype. Comments: The rise in cases of invasive non-type b H. influenzae infection was real. There was no nosocomial transmission, and we found no justification for the increase. These data indicate the need for surveillance to correctly diagnose, monitor, and understand the spectrum of non-type b H. influenzae disease.

ABSTRACT Objetivo: Descrever oito casos de doença invasiva por Haemophilus influenzae não tipo b em crianças internadas no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Descrição dos casos: Em 2015, ocorreram oito casos de doença invasiva por H. influenzae não tipo b. Nas cepas identificadas, testou-se a sensibilidade à ampicilina e a produção de betalactamase, e realizou-se a genotipagem. A tipagem molecular foi feita por Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis. Em quatro pacientes, o diagnóstico foi de bacteremia; em dois casos, H. influenzae foi identificado em líquido pleural, e dois pacientes tiveram meningite. Comorbidades foram encontradas em 37,5% dos pacientes. Com exceção da cepa de um dos pacientes (que não foi enviada ao laboratório de referência), todas eram sensíveis à ampicilina e não produtoras de betalactamase. A genotipagem identificou quatro cepas não capsulares, uma cepa tipo c e duas cepas tipo a. A tipagem molecular descartou a transmissão intra-hospitalar, já que todos os sorotipos eram distintos quanto ao genótipo. Comentários: O aumento dos casos de infecção invasiva por H. influenzae não tipo b foi real. Não houve transmissão intra-hospitalar e não foi encontrada justificativa para o aumento. Esses dados indicam a necessidade de vigilância para diagnosticar corretamente, monitorar e entender o espectro da doença causada por H. influenzae não tipo b.

Infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with or without radiologically confirmed pneumonia / Infecção por Streptococcus pneumoniae em crianças com ou sem pneumonia radiologicamente confirmada

Abstract Objective: Community-acquired pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity in childhood, but the detection of its causative agent remains a diagnostic challenge. The authors aimed to evaluate the role of the chest radiograph to identify cases of community-aquired pneumonia caused by typical bacteria. Methods: The frequency of infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis was compared in non-hospitalized children with clinical diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia aged 2-59 months with or without radiological confirmation (n = 249 and 366, respectively). Infection by S. pneumoniae was diagnosed by the detection of a serological response against at least one of eight pneumococcal proteins (defined as an increase ≥2-fold in the IgG levels against Ply, CbpA, PspA1 and PspA2, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N, or an increase ≥1.5-fold against PcpA). Infection by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis was defined as an increase ≥2-fold on the levels of microbe-specific IgG. Results: Children with radiologically confirmed pneumonia had higher rates of infection by S. pneumoniae. The presence of pneumococcal infection increased the odds of having radiologically confirmed pneumonia by 2.8 times (95% CI: 1.8-4.3). The negative predictive value of the normal chest radiograph for infection by S. pneumoniae was 86.3% (95% CI: 82.4-89.7%). There was no difference on the rates of infection by H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis between children with community-acquired pneumonia with and without radiological confirmation. Conclusions: Among children with clinical diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia submitted to chest radiograph, those with radiologically confirmed pneumonia present a higher rate of infection by S. pneumoniae when compared with those with a normal chest radiograph.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar o papel do raios X de tórax na identificação de casos de pneumonia adquirida na comunidade (PAC) causada por agentes bacterianos. Métodos: A frequência de infecção por Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae e Moraxella catarrhalis em crianças com PAC não hospitalizadas foi comparada com a presença de confirmação radiológica da pneumonia (n = 249 crianças com pneumonia radiologicamente confirmada e 366 crianças com raios X de tórax normal). Infecção por S. pneumoniae foi diagnosticada com base na resposta sorológica a pelo menos uma dentre oito proteínas pneumocócicas investigadas (aumento ≥ 2 vezes nos níveis de IgG em relação a Ply, CbpA, PspA1 e 2, PhtD, StkP-C e PcsB-N ou aumento≥ 1,5 vez em relação aPcpA). Infecção por H. influenzae e M. catarrhalis foi definida por aumento ≥ 2 vezes nos níveis de IgG específica a antígenos de cada agente. Resultados: Crianças com pneumonia radiologicamente confirmada apresentaram maior taxa de infecção pelo pneumococo. Além disso, a presença de infecção pneumocócica foi um fator preditor de pneumonia radiologicamente confirmada, o que aumenta sua chance de detecção em 2,8 vezes (IC 95%: 1,8-4,3). O valor preditivo negativo do raios X normal para a infecção por S. pneumoniae foi 86,3% (IC95%: 82,4%-89,7%). Não houve diferença nas frequências de infecção por H. influenzae e M. catarrhalis entre crianças com PAC com ou sem confirmação radiológica. Conclusão: Crianças com diagnóstico clínico de PAC submetidas a um raios X de tórax que apresentam confirmação radiológica têm maior taxa de infecção por S. pneumoniae comparadas com as crianças com raios X normal.

Caracterización clínica de la meningitis aguda de la comunidad causada por Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae y Listeria monocytogenes en adultos en el Hospital Carlos van Buren entre los años 2013 y 2016 / Clinical characteristics of community-acquired acute meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Listeria monocytogenes in adults in Carlos van Buren Hospital between 2013-2016

INTRODUCCIÓN: la meningitis bacteriana es una enfermedad infecciosa aguda grave, que por su letalidad y costos en atención de salud genera un alto impacto en Salud Pública. Los agentes causales más frecuentes son Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae y Listeria monocytogenes, pero poco conocemos de nuestra realidad local. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo, con revisión de base de datos del laboratorio de microbiología del Hospital Carlos Van Buren, obteniendo datos de los cultivos de líquido céfalo raquídeo de pacientes mayores de 15 años entre marzo de 2013 y noviembre de 2016. RESULTADOS: 128 casos de meningitis bacteriana aguda, de los cuales 17 fueron por los microorganismos objetivos del estudio, siendo el más frecuente S. pneumoniae, clínicamente un 58% se presentó sin signos meníngeos. A 30 días del diagnóstico un 35% había fallecido, la mitad de ellos inició el tratamiento antibiótico pasadas las 24 horas desde su ingreso al hospital. En el 46% la tinción gram no evidenció bacterias. DISCUSIÓN: los microorganismos clásicamente descritos como agentes causales parecen no explicar la totalidad de los cuadros de meningitis bacteriana aguda en la población adulta estudiada, la ausencia de signos meníngeos no permite descartar la sospecha diagnóstica. La mitad de los pacientes fallecidos inició el tratamiento antibiótico pasadas las primeras 24 horas.

INTRODUCTION: bacterial meningitis is a serious acute infectious disease whose lethality and elevated health costs have a serious impact on public health. The most frequent causes are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza and Listeria monocytogenes, but we know little of the local situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study reviewing Carlos van Buren Hospital´s microbiology laboratory data base, and obtaining the details of cerebrospinal fluid cultures of patients over the age of 15 between March 2013 and November 2016. RESULTS: 128 cases of acute bacterial meningitis of which 17% were caused by the micro-organisms of study, the most frequent being Streptococcus pneumoniae. 58% of patients had no meningeal signs. At 30 days from diagnosis 35% had died, half of these having started antibiotic treatment over 24 hours after admission. 46% of the Gram stains showed no bacteria. DISCUSSION: the classical infectious agents do not appear to account for the totality of acute bacterial meningitis in the population studied. The absence of meningeal signs should not rule out the diagnosis. Half of the patients who died started antibiotic treatment after the first 24 hours.

Comparison of PCR-based methods for the simultaneous detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in clinical samples

Abstract Background Several in-house PCR-based assays have been described for the detection of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae from clinical samples. PCR-based methods targeting different bacterial genes are frequently used by different laboratories worldwide, but no standard method has ever been established. The aim of our study was to compare different in-house and a commercial PCR-based tests for the detection of bacterial pathogens causing meningitis and invasive disease in humans. Methods A total of 110 isolates and 134 clinical samples (99 cerebrospinal fluid and 35 blood samples) collected from suspected cases of invasive disease were analyzed. Specific sets of primers frequently used for PCR-diagnosis of the three pathogens were used and compared with the results achieved using the multiplex approach described here. Several different gene targets were used for each microorganism, namely ctrA, crgA and nspA for N. meningitidis, ply for S. pneumoniae, P6 and bexA for H. influenzae. Results All used methods were fast, specific and sensitive, while some of the targets used for the in-house PCR assay detected lower concentrations of genomic DNA than the commercial method. An additional PCR reaction is described for the differentiation of capsulated and non-capsulated H. influenzae strains, the while commercial method only detects capsulated strains. Conclusions The in-house PCR methods here compared showed to be rapid, sensitive, highly specific, and cheaper than commercial methods. The in-house PCR methods could be easily adopted by public laboratories of developing countries for diagnostic purposes. The best results were achieved using primers targeting the genes nspA, ply, and P6 which were able to detect the lowest DNA concentrations for each specific target.

Absceso cerebral por Haemophilus influenzae serotipo e en un paciente pediátrico con Síndrome de Apert / Brain abscess caused by Haemophilus influenzae type e in a pediatric patient suffering from Apert syndrome

Se presenta el caso de un absceso cerebral causado por Haemophilus infl uenzae tipo e, en un paciente de 12 años con síndrome de Apert. El síndrome de Apert se caracteriza por el cierre prematuro de las suturas craneales. En 2010, el paciente presentó traumatismo craneano en región frontal, fractura y fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo. En febrero de 2013 consultó por fi ebre, vómitos y convulsión tónica clónica generalizada, con deterioro progresivo del sensorio. La tomografía axial computarizada mostró una lesión frontal derecha, edema perilesional, leve dilatación ventricular y pansinusitis. Se diagnosticó absceso cerebral con pioventriculitis y se realizó drenaje. Se obtuvo desarrollo de un cocobacilo gram negativo, que fue identifi cado como H. infl uenzae serotipo e. Se realizó tratamiento empírico con meropenem (120 mg/kg/día) y vancomicina (60 mg/kg/día). Luego del resultado del cultivo, se rotó a ceftriaxona (100 mg/kg/día) y metronidazol (500 mg/8 h). El paciente cumplió 8 semanas de tratamiento y se observó evolución favorable

We report a case of a brain abscess caused by Haemophilus infl uenzae type e in a 12 year-old patient suffering from Apert syndrome. Apert syndrome is characterized by the premature closure of cranial sutures. In 2010 the patient suffered head trauma in the frontal area with cranial fracture and a cerebrospinal fl uid fi stula. In February 2013 he was admitted to hospital with fever, vomiting and generalized tonic-clonic seizure with deteriorating mental status/progressive sensory impairment. The computerized axial tomographic scan showed a right frontal lesion, perilesional edema, mild ventricular dilatation and pansinusitis. A brain abscess was diagnosed and drained. The clinical sample was then cultured. A gram negative coccobacillus was isolated and identifi ed as Haemophilus infl uenzae serotype e. Empirical treatment was started with meropenem (120 mg/kg/day) and vancomycin (60 mg/kg/day), which was later switched to ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg/day) and metronidazole (500 mg/8 h) after culture results arrived. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition

Meningite por Haemophilus influenzae tipo f / Meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type f

Com o declínio da taxa de infecções causadas pelo Haemophilus influenzae tipo b após a ampla introdução da vacina, sorotipos não-b devem ser considerados agentes patogênicos potenciais em crianças menores de 5 anos com doença invasiva. Relatamos um caso de meningite por Haemophilus influenzae tipo f em um lactente imunocompetente de 1 ano. O agente foi identificado em líquido cefalorraquidiano e hemocultura. A sorotipagem foi realizada por testes com soros policlonais e confirmada por reação em cadeia de polimerase. Todas as cepas de Haemophilus influenzae associadas à doença invasiva deveriam ser sorotipadas e notificadas, a fim de possibilitar uma análise adequada das mudanças e tendências na distribuição de sorotipos desta doença.

With the decline in the rate of infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae serotype b since the widespread vaccination, non-b serotypes should be considered as potential pathogenic agents in children with invasive disease younger than 5 years old. We report the case of an immunocompetent 1-year-old boy with Haemophilus influenzae type f meningitis. The agent was identified in cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures. Serotyping was performed by tests using polyclonal sera and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. All Haemophilus influenzae isolates associated with invasive disease should be serotyped and notified as a way to evaluate the changes and trends in serotype distribution of this disease.

Multi locus sequence type comparison of invasive and commensal Haemophilus influenzae isolates from Delhi.

Haemophilus influenzae is a major public health concern in the developing world. The most virulent strain is H. influenzae Type b (Hib). Hib also constitutes a major portion of nasopharyngeal commensal flora in otherwise healthy individuals. Through dendogram based on composite gene sequences of seven multi locus sequence type genes, it was observed that invasive and commensal isolates made two completely separate clusters which are indicative of independent evolution of these two groups of H. influenzae in the Indian subcontinent.

Addition of isovitalex in chocolate agar for the isolation of Haemophilus influenzae.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The reason for lack of data on burden of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in developing countries was mainly failure of detection of this fastidious organism in laboratories. Use of isovitalex (IVX) was suggested as an essential supplement for growing this organism. This study was carried out to investigate the impact of IVX supplementation to chocolate agar for detection of Hib. METHODS: Chocolate agar with and without supplementation of IVX was prepared. Clinical samples as well as reference strains of Hib were simultaneously cultured on both the media. RESULTS: H. influenzae isolates (N=194) were simultaneously grown on chocolate agar (CA) with and without isovitalex (IVX). Average colony size of H. influenzae on CA with IVX (CA-IVX) was larger only by 0.10 cm (range 0.05 to 0.16 cm) compared to CA alone. Addition of IVX to CA increased the cost of media by 2.1-fold. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Isovitalex is not essential for the isolation and growth of H. influenzae almost halving the cost.

Ribotyping, biotyping and capsular typing of Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated from patients in Campinas, southeast Brazil

Forty-five Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated from patients were characterized based on biochemical characteristics. Their capsular types were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); they were compared, using two molecular methods [ribotyping with a specific DNA probe amplified from the 16S rDNA region from H. influenzae and through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RLFP) of an amplified 16S DNA region]. The strains were better discriminated by the ribotyping technique that used the 16S probe and by the combination of both techniques. Biotypes I and IV were the most common, followed by biotypes VI, VIII and III. Biotypes II and VII were not found. Most of the capsular samples were nontypable (89 percent), with capsular types a and b found in 2 and 9 percent of the samples, respectively. We concluded that there is a very close genetic identity among pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains.

Caracterización de aislamientos invasivos de S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae y N. meningitidis en América Latina y el Caribe: SIREVA II, 2000-2005 / Characterization of invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and N. meningitidis in Latin America and the Caribbean: SIREVA II, 2000-2005

OBJETIVOS: Analizar las características fenotípicas y la susceptibilidad a antibióticos de las cepas circulantes de Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae y Neisseria meningitidis en América Latina y el Caribe entre 2000 y 2005. Se evaluó la cobertura potencial de las vacunas conjugadas. MÉTODOS: Se estudió por métodos convencionales la distribución de los serotipos o serogrupos de 17 303 cepas de S. pneumoniae, 2 782 cepas de H. influenzae y 6 955 cepas de N. meningitidis aisladas de casos de neumonía, meningitis, sepsis, bacteriemias y otros procesos invasivos. Se evaluó la susceptibilidad a los antibióticos de las cepas estudiadas. Los aislamientos procedían de 453 centros centinelas de 19 países de América Latina y 4 del Caribe, como parte del proyecto SIREVA II. RESULTADOS: El serotipo 14 de S. pneumoniae fue el más frecuentemente aislado (21,1 por ciento), especialmente en niños menores de 6 años (29,1 por ciento). Las coberturas potenciales de las vacunas conjugadas antineumocócicas hepta, nona, deca y tridecavalentes fueron de 59,0 por ciento, 73,4 por ciento, 76,5 por ciento y 85,9 por ciento, respectivamente. De los aislamientos, 63,3 por ciento eran sensibles a la penicilina. El serotipo b de H. influenzae estuvo presente en 72,2 por ciento de los aislamientos en niños menores de 2 años, mientras 8,6 por ciento correspondieron a los serotipos a, c, d, e y f; 19,2 por ciento resultaron no serotipables. La proporción de cepas de H. influenzae productoras de betalactamasa en aislamientos en niños menores de 2 años fue de 16,3 por ciento. Los serogrupos de N. meningitidis más frecuentes fueron el B (69,0 por ciento) y el C (25,7 por ciento); 65,8 por ciento y 99,2 por ciento de las cepas fueron sensibles a la penicilina y a la rifampicina, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de la vigilancia epidemiológica integral de S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae y N. meningitidis en América Latina...

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the phenotypical characteristics and the susceptibility to antibiotics of the circulating strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis circulating in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2000-2005. Potential coverage by conjugate vaccines was evaluated. METHODS: Conventional methods were used to study the distribution of the serotypes or serogroups of 17 303 strains of S. pneumoniae, 2 782 strains of H. influenzae, and 6 955 strains of N. meningitidis isolated from cases of pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, bacteriemias, and other invasive processes. The antimicrobial susceptibilities of the study strains were evaluated. The isolates came from 453 sentinel surveillance sites in 19 countries in Latin America and four in the Caribbean, as part of the SIREVA II (Network Surveillance System for the Bacterial Agents Responsible for Pneumonia and Meningitis) project. RESULTS: S. pneumoniae serotype 14 was the most frequently isolated (21.1 percent), especially in children under 6 years of age (29.1 percent). The potential coverages by hepta-, nona-, deca-, and trideca-valent antipneumonia conjugate vaccines were 59.0 percent, 73.4 percent, 76.5 percent, and 85.9 percent, respectively. Of the isolates, 63.3 percent were sensitive to penicillin. H. influenzae serotype b was present in 72.2 percent of the isolations from children under 2 years of age, whereas 8.6 percent produced serotypes a, c, d, e, and f, and 19.2 percent could not be serotyped. The rate of H. influenzae beta-lactamase-producing strains isolated from children under 2 years of age was 16.3 percent. The most frequent N. meningitidis serogroups were B (69.0 percent) and C (25.7 percent); 65.8 percent and 99.2 percent of the strains were susceptible to penicillin and rifampicin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of comprehensive epidemiological surveillance of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae...

The utility of the polymerase chain reaction assay for aetiologic definition of unspecified bacterial meningitis cases

Most patients with acute suppurative meningitis are otherwise healthy individuals with regard to immune mechanisms against invasive bacterial disease. This medical emergency is among the most dramatic and potentially ravaging diseases that affect humans, particularly young children. The illness often strikes suddenly, and can either result in death or leave the survivors with significant neurological dysfunctions. The demonstration of a bacterial aetiology is necessary for decisions regarding treatment and prophylaxis. Conventional bacteriological methods frequently fail to identify an agent, as a result of administration of antibiotics or delayed lumbar punctures. We investigated the major aetiologic sources of unspecified bacterial meningitis cases (G00.9, ISCD-10) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based identification of Neisseria meningitidis (crgA), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ply) and Haemophilus influenzae (bexA) in cerebrospinal fluid samples. The multiplex PCR detected N. meningitidis in 92 percent, S. pneumoniae in 4 percent and H. influenzae in 1 percent of the 192 clinical samples assayed; 3 percent were negative for all three DNA targets. Bacterial DNA detection was found to be a valuable adjunct to enhance bacterial meningitis surveillance when the yield of specimens by culture is reduced. The implementation of PCR assays as a diagnostic procedure in Public Health Laboratories is perceived to be a significant advance in the investigation of bacterial meningitis.

Outer membrane protein analysis of ampicillin-resistant isolates of Haemophilus influenzae from Saudi Arabia

Haemophilus influenzae isolates characterized in a previously published study from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were analysed by outer membrane protein [OMP] profiling, Isolates from patients with confirmed respiratory tract infections were investigated. Antibiotic susceptibility tests in vitro showed 25/129 [19.4%] had various degrees of reduced susceptibility to ampicillin although all were fully susceptible to ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin. OMP profiles of the beta-lactamase mediated ampicillin-resistant and beta-lactamase negative; ampicillin intermediate resistant strains [BLNAI] isolated were investigated. Dendrograms of scanned SDS-PAGE of these strains showed 15 different groupings from the 15 non-typable [NTHi] isolates tested demonstrating a high degree of heterogeneity whereas the 5 Hib isolates demonstrated significantly closer relatedness and were probably clonat. The present study demonstrates the groupings of H. influenzae strains by OMP profile analysis which did not correlate with the beta-lactamase production ability, BLNAI isolates, geographical origin or biotype

Simultaneous molecular detection of Neisseria Meningitidis and Haemophilus Influenzae

Bacterial meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal infection that affects the central nervous system. Because some antibiotics can prevent some types of these Bacteria and suppress them from spreading and infecting, therefore it is important to know what type of virus or bacterium is causing meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitides are the two main pathogens causing acute bacterial meningitis. Different methods are used for the detection of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis but they are of low sensitivity, taking long time and difficult to perform . Therefore, complementary methods are necessary for more sensitive detection of these agents. In this study, a muliplex polymerase chain reation [mPCR] assay was developed for detection of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis. These strains were confirmed by biochemical methods. Two specific primer pairs were designed for lic-1 and opa genes of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis respectively. DNA amplification product fragments were 150 bp and 320 bp for H. influenzae and N. meningitidis, respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae used as a negative control and did not yield a PCR product. The result of this study indicated that PCR is a useful complementary diagnostic technique, especially when Gram stain, culture, or antigenic detection is negative or inconclusive

Pooled analysis of 2.408 cases of acute adult purulent meningitis from Turkey

The aim of this study was to systematically review the Turkish literature of acute adult purulent meningitis. The published series of three national databases and two international databases were searched to perform the review. In addition to the databases, abstracts of congresses held between 1994 and 2003 by the Turkish Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association, Turkish Microbiology Association, and the Antibiotic and Chemotherapy Association were searched for reports about acute purulent meningitis. Data for 2.408 patients with a diagnosis of acute purulent meningitis were obtained from 30 reports. In terms of clinical findings, 1.254 of 1.570 [79.8%] had fever [>38°C], 1.408 of 1.595 [88.2%] headache, 1.403 of 1.562 [89.8%] stiffness of the neck, and 649 of 784 [82.7%] leukocytosis [>10.000/mm[3]]. Cerebrospinal fluid culture yielded a pathogen in 873 of 2.260 [38.6%] patients. The most common pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Neisserio meningitidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall mortality was 425 of 2.408 [17.6%]. Pathogen-specific mortality was 60 of 202 [29.7%] for S. pneumoniae and 6 of 100 [6%] for N. meningitidis. Meningitis is a serious, life-threatening disease. More preventive measures should be sought to further decrease the mortality and morbidity related to acute purulent meningitis

Amigdalitis aguda recurrente bacteriana: estudio prospectivo, comparativo y controlado de sus características clínicas y microbiológicas / Acute recurrent bacterial tonsillitis: prospective, comparative and controlled study of its clinical and microbiological characterisitics

Introducción: La amigdalitis aguda recurrente es una patología de frecuente consulta, es una de las indicaciones de amigdalectomía. No se sabe con exactitud el origen de esta patología. Objetivo: Identificar la microbiología y patrones de susceptibilidad de las bacterias en la amigdalitis aguda recurrente bacteriana (AARB) a los antimicrobianos más comúnmente en el medio nacional, usados en su tratamiento. Material y método: Se planificó un estudio prospectivo, controlado y ciego. Se evaluaron pacientes (casos) con antecedentes de AARB con indicación quirúrgica. Los criterios de inclusión de los casos fueron niños de ambos sexos entre 4 y 10 años, sin historia de inmunodeficiencias, no haber recibido antibióticos en los 15 días previos a la cirugía. Se definió como controles a los pacientes con antecedentes de apnea del sueño con indicación quirúrgica y sin antecedentes de AARB o cuadros sugerentes de amigdalitis en los últimos 6 meses. En todos los pacientes se utilizó la misma técnica de toma de muestra de tejido para cultivo y antibiograma. Para el estudio de sensibilidades se realizó un antibiograma de las cepas aisladas y se evaluó la presencia de beta lactamasas. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa S-plus para análisis univariado. Para evaluar proporciones se utilizó el test de chi-cuadrado o el test exacto de Fisher Las variables continuas fueron evaluadas con el test de Wilcoxon Two sample. Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las cepas encontradas en el grupo de casos y de controles. La bacteria aislada con más frecuencia fue Haemophilus influenzae en 26 muestras en cada grupo (81 por ciento), seguido por S. Aureusy Streptococccus beta hemolítico grupo A (SBHGA). En cuanto a las asociaciones de patógenos más frecuentes, se encontró que las mayores asociaciones fueron H. influenzae + S. aureusyH. influenzae + SBHGA. Tampoco hubo diferencias esrtadísticamente significativas en frecuencia de estas...

[Prevalence of haemophilus influenzae biotypes and their clinical significance]

Haemophilus influenza can lead to several infections in humans. For example it can lead to meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, bacteremia, septic arthritis and conjunctivitis. H. influenza can be classified into seven biotypes independent of their serotypes. Biotypes are determined by three tests including indol production, urease and ornithine decarboxylase. As specific biotypes are associated with different types of infections, sources and antimicrobial resistance patterns, this study was designed to evaluate biotyping in H.influenza and its relationship with the type of infection. In an 18 month period from April 2005 to September 2006, all clinical specimens that were candidate for Haemophilus isolation, were cultured on standard chocolate agar and blood agar with staphylococcal streak technique. Those isolates that showed the phenomenon of satellitism were biotyped by indol production, urease and ornithine decarboxylation tests. From 24 samples positive for Haemophilus influenza, 11 were isolated from eyes, 11 from paranasal sinuses, one from cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] and one from blood. The isolates from sinuses belonged to the biotype III, the biotype of 6 of the eye isolates was II and that of the other 5 biotypes were III, and the isolates from blood were type I. Another biotype was not isolated from these samples. In other studies, biotype I was the most frequently isolated biotype from CSF and blood. Biotypes II and III have been isolated from the eyes and sputum. The relationship between biotypes II and III in conjunctivitis is well documented. In this study, the most frequently isolated biotypes from conjunctivitis samples were II and III, type III was also common in sinusitis. Biotype IV has been isolated from genital tracts. Due to correlation of biotype and antimicrobial resistance, biotyping is recommended in Haemophilus isolates

Bacterial meningitis: a diagnostic approach

Over a thirteen months period, 456 patients clinically suspected of having bacterial meningitis were investigated. Cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] specimens were examined by Gram's stain, white cell [WBC] counts and culture techniques. Gram's stain and cultures of CSF [232] with a cell count of less than 10 cells/mm[3] were consistently negative. However, of the CSF specimens [88] with cell counts greater than l00/mm[3], 28 [6.7%] and 23 [5.2%] of the specimens were positive by cultures and Gram's stain respectively. A total of 31 isolates were identified by culture. Streptococcus pneumoniae [22.4%], Escherichia coli [16%], and Coagulase negative Staphylococci [16%] were the predominant organisms, followed by Haemophilus influenzae [6.4%] and Neisseria men ingitidis [2.6%]. Thus it was concluded that Gram's stain and perhaps culture of CSF with cell counts of less than l0/mm[3] are of no practical diagnostic significance and may be eliminated as routine procedures. The gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is raised WBC cell count [>100/mm[3]], positive Gram's smear and/ or culture of CSF specimen