[Development of a PCR-based method for diagnostics of mycoses]. / Razrabotka i aprobatsiia sistem PTSR-detektsii dlia vyiavleniia invasivnykh mikozov.

Since the express-diagnostics of mycoses in immune-deficit patients still remains an acute problem, we developed an effective test system (Kan-Am) to detect DNA Candida albicans, which is a leader in the list of causative agents of candidosis. A comparison study of three PCR-systems used to detect a broad spectrum of fungoid pathogens was carried out, and a universal system (FungAm), which ensures the detection of DNAs of above 78 strains of 25 types of pathogenic fungi, was selected. The results of clinical testing of the species-specific and universal PCR-systems are well confirmed by the culture method, and they are indicative of the efficacy of applying them for the diagnostics of mycoses in neonatology. The use of the mentioned systems is a promising factor for the express-diagnostics of mycoses in immunodeficiency patients. The high sensitivity of the method makes it possible to detect 10 to 100 cells of a causative agent in 100 mcl of the examined biological material, which is compatible with the culture method. A kit of dry reagents (IonoMix) designed for an accelerated sample preparation and isolation, from them, of DNAs on the basis of Chelex-100 and of proteinase K was worked out; the kit is portable and meant for a long-term storing.

[Etiology and microbiological diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in newborns]. / Etiologiia i mikrobiologicheskaia diagnostika nozokomial'nykh pnevmonii u novorozhdennykh.

A comparative analysis of the cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among premature infants in intensive care units and premature infant nurseries in 1994 (group I) and 1999 (group II) is presented. It was shown that the number of the cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the premature infants of group. I was 2,4 times higher than that in the group II (45.8 and 19.2 per cent respectively). A marked difference in the species pattern of the pathogens isolated from the endobronchial aspirate in 1994 and 1999 was observed. The species pattern of the isolates from the respiratory tract (Pseudomonas aeruginosa--40 per cent; Klebsiella pneumoniae--31 per cent; Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus--rare) showed that the pneumonia were nosocomial. The revealed similarity of the species patterns of the microflora in various parts of the respiratory tract and the throat posterior wall made it possible to consider the isolates of the throat posterior wall as a relative guide for confirming the etiological diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia.