[Retrospective survey on epidemiologic monitoring of accidents due to professional exposure to biological agents in A.O.U. "G. Martino" of Messina, Italy)]. / Indagine retrospettiva sul monitoraggio epidemiologico degli infortuni biologici da esposizione professionale nel- i'A.O.U. "G. Martino" di Messina.

The management of healthcare professionals exposed to biological material which may potentially be contaminated with HIV HBVand HCV viruses, is of vital importance in acquiring precise epidemiological data regarding the type and means of exposure, and the efficacy or failure to apply recommended preventive measures. This will make it possible to assess over time which measures need to be implemented or improved. For these reasons we decided to analyze cases of occupational exposure to biological risk occurring in the University Hospital in Messina between 1998 and 2002. Our study highlighted in particular that the most frequently affected category was that of professional nurses (46.74%) and that only 31.72% of the healthcare workers who tested negative for HBsAb were administered vaccine prophylaxis also after the accident. Moreover, it emerged that there is the need to increase the amount and quality of information made available, by changing report forms, with the aim of identifying problems and risky behavior and procedures, and thus make ways to ensure the continued improvement of the accident prevention and management programmes. In fact, in the accident reporting procedure used, it was not possible to specify the precise way in which the accidents happened.

[Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori infections in acute myocardial infarction]. / Infezione da Chlamydia pneumoniae e da Helicobacter pylori nell'infarto miocardico acuto.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests an acute or chronic linkage between infection and acute coronary syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) antibodies in patients with angiographically defined acute myocardial infarction and in population controls. Case patients and controls were drawn from the same geographic area (city of Messina and its province). METHODS: Blood samples were collected in 206 incident cases of acute myocardial infarction presenting to the Coronary Care Unit (196 men, 10 women, mean age 58+/-7 years) in the period from March 1997 to June 1999. Case patients were selected if they were non-smokers, non-diabetic and if they had no history of hypertension. The control group consisted of 142 healthy subjects, without a known history of smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. Controls were matched to acute myocardial infarction patients for age, sex and socio-economic status. Commercial ELISA assay was used to measure IgG antibody to HP (positive titer > 8 IU/ml) and indirect immunofluorescence method was used to assess IgG antibody anti-CP (IgG titer > 1:64 was considered a marker of chronic infection). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the frequency of HP antibodies in acute myocardial infarction patients and in the control group (43.3 vs 41.5%, p = NS, odds ratio-OR 1, 95% confidence interval-CI 0.7-1.6). On the contrary, CP titers were increased in 83% of acute myocardial infarction patients, and in 57% of control subjects (p < 0.001, OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.2-5.7). In acute myocardial infarction patients seropositivity for CP was associated with increased basal fibrinogen levels (539 vs 445 mg/dl). No correlation was found between seropositivity to CP and C-reactive protein, and with total or fractionated cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate that, in our sample, acute myocardial infarction was associated with an increased frequency of CP seropositivity. The presence of CP antibodies was not associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein. Our data support the need for controlled studies to investigate the role of these infective agents as a trigger of acute coronary syndromes.

The presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of multiple sclerosis patients in eastern Sicily. Preliminary data.

The authors evaluate the presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in a group of polysclerotic patients of Eastern Sicily, in order to verify or dismiss a correlation between Borrelia infection and demyelinizing syndrome. 460 samples of serum were examined, of which 60 belonged to patients affected by definite multiple sclerosis; the other 400 were taken from a group of apparently healthy subjects. From the analysis of the data obtained it can be seen that of the 60 polysclerotic subjects examined, 12 equal to 20% were found to be positive for the presence of IgG anti-Borrelia burgdorferi, while in the control group 30 subjects were found to be positive, equal 7.5%.

The frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies in a Calabrian population.

The epidemiological survey was carried out in a Calabrian population in order to ascertain the incidence of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In the past it has been felt that this infection does not occur in Southern Italy. We have found an incidence in our survey equal to that of the other countries. It was impossible to tell when these infections had occurred and the possibility of a continuing survey is discussed.