[In vitro activity of doripenem and other carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa]. / Actividad comparativa in vitro de doripenem y de otros carbapenemes frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Doripenem, a new carbapenem, has shown to be more active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than other carbapenems. The activity of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem was evaluated against 93 P. aeruginosa isolates, by agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. MIC50 and MIC90, were as follows (microg/ml): doripenem, 2 and 4; meropenem, 2 and 8; and imipenem, 4 and 8, respectively. Doripenem MICs were 1 to 3 dilutions lower (i.e. more active) than those for imipenem in 82% of the isolates. In comparison with meropenem, doripenem was 1 to 3 dilutions more active in 50% of the isolates. Forty-nine percent of isolates showed the same MIC for both antibiotics. Resistance percentages for both methods were (dilution/diffusion): imipenem = 7.5%/49.5% and meropenem = 3.2%/9.7%. As the CLSI has not established cut off values for doripenem yet, resistance rates for this antibiotic were estimated by considering (a) the same cut off values for imipenem/meropenem set up by the CLSI, and (b) those suggested by Brown et al. In case (a), resistance rates would be 1.1%/2.2% whereas in case (b) 1.1%/17.2% for agar dilution and disk diffusion, respectively. In scenarios where resistance to carbapenem is based on mechanisms other than carbapenemases, doripenem has a promising future for treating P. aeruginosa infections.

Actividad comparativa in vitro de doripenem y de otros carbapenemes frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa / In vitro activity of doripenem and other carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Según estudios previos, el nuevo carbapeneme doripenem sería más activo frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa en comparación con otros carbapenemes. En este estudio evaluamos la actividad in vitro del doripenem, el meropenem y el imipenem frente a 93 aislamientos de P. aeruginosa mediante los métodos de dilución en agar y de difusión con discos. Las CIM50 y CIM90 de los carbapenemes fueron (μg/ml): imipenem, 4 y 8; meropenem, 2 y 8; doripenem, 2 y 4, respectivamente. El doripenem fue 1 a 3 diluciones más activo que el imipenem para un 82% de los aislamientos. Comparado con el meropenem, el doripenem fue, 1-3 diluciones más activo frente a un 50% de los aislamientos, mientras que en el 49% la CIM fue la misma. Los porcentajes de resistencia según los métodos de dilución y de difusión fueron: imipenem = 7,5%/49,5% y meropenem = 3,2%/9,7%. Para el doripenem, estos valores variaron según los puntos de corte (PC) que se consideraron: 1,1%/2,2% usando el PC del CLSI para el imipenem y el meropenem, o 1,1%/17,2% según los PC sugeridos por Brown et al. El método de difusión presentó un elevado porcentaje de errores menores en la categorización de los aislamientos respecto de la dilución en agar, lo que sobrestimó la resistencia. El doripenem mostró muy buena actividad frente a P. aeruginosa, superior a la del imipenem y al menos equiparable a la del meropenem, por lo que puede considerarse una interesante opción para el tratamiento de infecciones por esta bacteria.

Doripenem, a new carbapenem, has shown to be more active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than other carbapenems. The activity of doripenem, imipenem and meropenem was evaluated against 93 P. aeruginosa isolates, by agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. MIC50 and MIC90 were as follows (μg/ml): doripenem, 2 and 4; meropenem, 2 and 8; and imipenem, 4 and 8, respectively. Doripenem MICs were 1 to 3 dilutions lower (i.e. more active) than those for imipenem in 82% of the isolates. In comparison with meropenem, doripenem was 1 to 3 dilutions more active in 50% of the isolates. Forty-nine percent of isolates showed the same MIC for both antibiotics. Resistance percentages for both methods were (dilution/diffusion): imipenem = 7.5%/49.5% and meropenem = 3.2%/9.7%. As the CLSI has not established cut off values for doripenem yet, resistance rates for this antibiotic were estimated by considering (a) the same cut off values for imipenem/meropenem set up by the CLSI, and (b) those suggested by Brown et al. In case (a), resistance rates would be 1.1%/2.2% whereas in case (b) 1.1%/17.2% for agar dilution and disk diffusion, respectively. In scenarios where resistance to carbapenem is based on mechanisms other than carbapenemases, doripenem has a promising future for treating P. aeruginosa infections.

Multicenter study on spreading of the tet(M) gene in tetracycline-resistant Streptococcus group G and C isolates in Argentina.

A prospective multicenter study on invasive infections caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci was performed over 6 months and involved 42 centers from 16 cities in Argentina. Among 33 isolates recovered, 9 group G Streptococcus isolates (39.1%) and 2 group C Streptococcus isolates (20%) exhibited resistance to tetracycline and harbored the tet(M) gene. Genealogical analysis revealed that tetracycline resistance has a polyclonal origin in Argentina.

Complications of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) changed the staging criteria for endometrial cancer in 1988 and adopted a surgical-pathological staging involving also pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy. A total of 236 patients were treated for endometrial adenocarcinoma at Department B of the Gynecologic and Obstetrics Institute, University of Turin, between January 1976 and December 1995. Our protocol for surgical staging always entails pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and a simple total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy with removal of the upper third of the vagina. The aim of this study was to carry out a retrospective evaluation of the morbidity in patients with endometrial cancer after surgical treatment, either TAH-BSO alone or TAH-BSO with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Grand multiparity: a study of 168 cases.

The aim of this retrospective study was to consider the problem of grand multiparity in our female population to evaluate if grand multiparity represents a real risk factor for pregnancy, delivery and fetal well-being. From 1981 to 1989 the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Institute of Turin University together with St. Anna Hospital of Turin carried out a retrospective study on pregnancy course, delivery and fetal status in 168 women who had had four or more pregnancies and in 5320 multiparous women who had parity < 4. We analyzed the parity distribution in the different ages with the aid of the registry office and by consulting patient's obstetric clinical history. We evaluated the incidence of gestational complications in the multiparous group. Finally we studied the delivery modality and perinatal mortality in 72,907 births from 1981 to 1989.

Surgical management of leiomyomata in pregnancy.

A review was made of the medical records of 26 patients with uterine myomas during pregnancy between 1983 and 1992 among 12,965 deliveries. Thirteen patients underwent myomectomies before pregnancy. In three patients myomectomy was performed during pregnancy between the 12th and the 19th week of pregnancy. In ten patients myomectomy was performed during cesarean section delivery to prevent necrobiosis. Myomectomy should remain exceptional during pregnancy and it must be performed only in selected cases but is frequently used towards the end of a cesarean section. Indications for hysterectomy, on the other hand, remain limited.

Cervical cerclage for malformed uterus.

The role of cervical cerclage was evaluated in six pregnant women with anomalous uterus. Early prophylactic cerclage according to the Shirodkar and McDonald technique was done on all cases of uterine malformation (except septate uterus) with or without cervical incompetence in association with progesterone and antispastic therapy. Improvement in obstetrical outcome was noted after cerclage. Even if no doubt exists as to the need for cerclage in cases of cervical incompetence, the concept of routine prophylactic cerclage in all cases of uterine anomalies should be considered.

Tamoxifen and endometrial cancer: new data for an old problem. Review.

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, is used for pre- and postmenopausal patients with breast cancer. Data on a possible association of endometrial pathologies with Tamoxifen treatment have been accumulating. The current literature and our experience are presented.

Cervical cerclage for the treatment of patients with placenta previa.

Over a ten year period, placenta previa occurred in 103 instances among 12,965 deliveries. In six of these, cervical cerclage was undertaken to prevent severe bleeding while prolonging pregnancy between the 24th and the 30th weeks of gestation, according to the McDonald technique. We performed cesarean section delivery in all cases. The medium prolongation of the pregnancy was of 8.2 weeks and the foetus weighed from 1,820 to 3,360 g. No complications due to fetal respiratory distress were observed. No patients needed transfusions. Postpartum and the puerperium were regular. These results support the use of cervical cerclage for the treatment of patients with symptomatic placenta previa early in gestation.

Endometrial carcinoma in women 45 years of age or younger.

Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in patients 45 years or age of younger accounts for 21% of all endometrial neoplasms diagnosed. The clinical and pathological findings in 17 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma patients aged 45 years or younger treated between January 1976 and December 1992 in Department B of the Gynecologic and Obstetric Institute, University of Torino, Italy are reported. The patients age ranged from 31 to 45 years, with a median age of 39.3 years. Thirteen of the 17 neoplasms (76.4%) were stage IB (FIGO 1988), two (11.7%) stage IIB, one (5.8%) IIIC and one IVA. Histologically all patients had endometrial adenocarcinoma, eight were well-differentiated tumors (G1), six were moderately-differentiated tumors (G2) and three poorly-differentiated tumors (G3). Three of the patients treated from 1976 to 1979 received post-operative administration of 17-hydroxiprogesterone-19-norcapronate (500 mg i.m. weekly for one year) and 14 of the patients treated from 1980 to 1992 received, according to neoadjuvant hormonal protocols, Medroxiprogesterone acetate (MPA) 1,000 mg daily per os for 90 days and 500 mg per os for one year. The aim of this paper is to draw attention to the existence of this neoplasm in an unexpected age range.

Reduced IL-2 level concentration in patients with breast cancer as a possible risk factor for relapse.

Reduced interleukin 2 (IL-2) production has been described as one of the most frequent immune dysfunctions observed at relapse in patients with disseminated solid neoplasms. It was seen that patients treated for breast cancer (NED-no evidence of disease- at check-up) have a relapse percentage of 4.7% if the IL-2 plasmatic level is normal while the relapse percentage increased to 33.3% if it is low after a 10-12 month follow-up. This link between low IL-2 and the host immune response is a new prognostic indicator and one not strictly related to the tumour itself.

Management of patients with intrauterine fetal death.

Fetal death incidence is 5-10 per 1,000 births. About 25% of the women who carry a dead fetus for more than 4 weeks will show significant alterations in their coagulation system. The treatment for a patient with endouterine fetal death depends on when the pregnancy is terminated, based on the ecographic fetus age. There were 15,070 births from January 1983 to December 1994 in Department B of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Torino. We took into consideration the cases ofintrauterine fetal death between the 26th and 40th week before labour. This study is based on a cohort of 57 cases of intrauterine fetal demise from the 24th to the 40th week of pregnancy before spontaneous labour.

Frecuencia y grado de "tolerancia" a penicilina en streptococcus pyogenes / Frequency and degree of "tolerance" to penicillin in streptococcus pyogenes

Se emplearon distintas técnicas con el objetivo de determinar la frecuencia y grado de "tolerancia" en 65 cepas de Streptococcus pyogenes aislados sucesivamente de materiales clínicos. Utilizando el método de "curva de muerte" se detectó un 7,7 ciento por ciento de cepas "tolerantes" mientras que sólo se encontró un 6,2 ciento por ciento de cepas con la relación CBM/CIM > 32. Al evaluarse el grado de población sobreviviente se encontró que en un 35,4 por ciento del total de las cepas fue > 0,1 por ciento. En las cepas que se definieron como "tolerantes" por los métodos utilizados fue siempre > 0,2 por ciento, por lo que se consideró a este valor como un punto de corte apropiado para diferenciar cepas "tolerantes" de no "tolerantes". Utilizando el método de "curva de muerte" se detectó "tolerancia" en una cepa más que con el método CBM/CIM. Como la diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa no podemos afirmar que un método sea más sensible que el otro (AU)

Frecuencia y grado de "tolerancia" a penicilina en streptococcus pyogenes / Frequency and degree of \"tolerance\" to penicillin in streptococcus pyogenes

Se emplearon distintas técnicas con el objetivo de determinar la frecuencia y grado de "tolerancia" en 65 cepas de Streptococcus pyogenes aislados sucesivamente de materiales clínicos. Utilizando el método de "curva de muerte" se detectó un 7,7 ciento por ciento de cepas "tolerantes" mientras que sólo se encontró un 6,2 ciento por ciento de cepas con la relación CBM/CIM > 32. Al evaluarse el grado de población sobreviviente se encontró que en un 35,4 por ciento del total de las cepas fue > 0,1 por ciento. En las cepas que se definieron como "tolerantes" por los métodos utilizados fue siempre > 0,2 por ciento, por lo que se consideró a este valor como un punto de corte apropiado para diferenciar cepas "tolerantes" de no "tolerantes". Utilizando el método de "curva de muerte" se detectó "tolerancia" en una cepa más que con el método CBM/CIM. Como la diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa no podemos afirmar que un método sea más sensible que el otro

Comparison between digital rectal examination, prostate-specific antigen and transrectal ultrasound in symptomatic patients. Results on 141 cases.

In this study we proposed to verify sensitivity and specificity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in patients who referred at our institution for prostatic complaints. 141 patients, ages ranging between 55 and 86 years (mean 67.5), underwent DRE, blood PSA, TRUS and ultrasonically guided biopsy of the prostate. The comparison of the results obtained with the different diagnostic tools allowed us to draw a diagnostic algorithm for prostate cancer in symptomatic patients.

In vitro activity of cefpirome compared with other third generation cephalosporins against nosocomial isolates in Argentina.

The in vitro activity of cefpirome was evaluated against strains that showed conflicting results for third generation cephalosporins. Against isolates with derepressed inducible chromosomal cephalosporinase (n = 40) cefpirome was the sole cephalosporin with an MIC90 in the susceptible range; Klebsiella spp. with plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases (broad spectrum SHV-2 or SHV-2 type) (n = 40) remained most susceptible to ceftizoxime and cefpirome; against aminoglycoside-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 50), cefpirome was as active as ceftazidime and cefoperazone; against oxacillin-susceptible and oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp., (n = 40), cefpirome was more active than other third generation cephalosporins but killing was inadequate against both oxacillin-resistant staphylococci and enterococci.

Estudio sobre cepas productoras de beta lactamasas plasmídicas de espectro extendido en Argentina / Plasmid mediated extended spectrum beta-lactamase strains isolated in Argentina

La inactivación de cefalosporinas de tercera generación (C3G) por beta lactamasas de enterobacterias era hasta hace poco responsabilidad exclusiva de cepas productoras de cefalosporinasas cromosómicas. Actualmente, se han descripto nuevas beta lactamasas plasmídicas, transferibles, de espectro ampliado (BLEA) que hidrolizan C3G. Para determinar la incidencia de enterobacterias productoras de BLEA se estudiaron las cepas aisladas de 824 pacientes de siete centros asistenciales de Buenos Aires. Se seleccionaron por: 1) obtención de un halo de <26mm, por el método de discos frente a cefotaxima (CTX) o ceftacidima (CAZ) y 2) aumento del halo a >30mm al emplear discos de CTX o CAZ adicionados de clavulanato (30:10). Reunieron estas condiciones 44 Klebsiella spp y 2 E. coli. Estas últimas resultaron ser simultaneamente hiperproductoras de beta lactamasa cromosónica y de TEM-1. Todas las cepas de Klebsiella fueron productoras de BLEA en base a: perfil de resistencia por CIM, punto isoeléctrico (pI) de las beta lactamasas, acción de inhibidores de beta lactamasas y transferencia de la resistencia a C3G. Las cepas productoras de BLEA, se aislaron en el 14,6 por ciento de pacientes internados en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos, 3,6 por ciento en otras áreas y 1,2 por ciento de pacientes externos. Un 56,5 por ciento provinieron de infecciones urinarias, 17,3 por ciento de bacteriemias, 15,2 por ciento de infecciones respiratorias y 11 por ciento de otras localizaciones. Los fracasos terapéuticos con C3G predominaron entre las infecciones extraurinarias. De acuerdo a la CIM todas las cepas fueron resistentes a las penicilinas, excepto a temocilina; a las cefalosporinas de primera y segunda generación, excepto a la cefoxitina. Para las C3G todas presentaron CIM entre 50 y 100 veces más elevadas que las habituales en Klebsiella spp. no productoras de BLEA. Cefoperazona y CAZ fueron las más perjudicadas mientras que ceftizoxima y cefpiroma fueron las más estables. Aztreonama fue más afectada que carumonama. Todas fueron sensibles a imipenem y moxalactama y también a ciprofloxacina, excepto una cepa. Todas las cepas presentaron bandas a pI correspondientes a derivados SHV y todas, salvo una, a pI:5,4 correspondiente a TEM-1...(AU)