[Comparative characteristics of uropathogenic scherichia coli strains, allocated in polyclinic and stationary conditions].

The etiological structure of urinary tract infections (UTI) is determined by the leading role of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The aim of the work is to study the biological properties and phylogenetic diversity of E. coli strains isolated from UTI in outpatient and inpatient patients. METHOD: s and materials. 198 clinical UPEC strains were studied, 105 of which were designated as polyclinic and 93 as nosocomial (73 are isolated from urine and 20 are from catheter surface 48 hours after hospitalization). UPEC phylogenetic groups were determined by polymerase chain reaction (quadruplex PCR) according to O. Clermont et al. (2013). RESULTS: Among polyclinic cultures, representatives of all eight recognizable phylogroups were found; strains of UPEC phylogroup B2 (37.1%), E (13.3%) and F (8.6%) were most often found. Nosocomial cultures in almost 90% of cases belonged to the phylogroup B2, to which all the catheter-associated strains were assigned. The E. coli of the phylogroup B2, both in the mono-species and in the polymicrobial associations, was authentically more often isolated in the hospital than in the polyclinic (p<0.00001), whereas the bacteria of the phylogroup E, on the contrary, in the polyclinic (p<0.0001) . The hemolytic activity and biofilm-forming ability of UPEC strains did not differ in the two groups, while in the hospital hemolytic E. coli of the B2 phylogroup was significantly more likely than the polyclinic (p<0.001). In addition, B2 strainsformed biofilms in more than 60% cases. Regardless of the source of isolation, the strains were resistant to ampicillin (62.1%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (27.8%), cefotaxime (37.9%) and ciprofloxacin (36.9%). The production of ESBL was detected in fifty-one (25.8%) cultures, with a statistically significant difference in nosocomial strains: urinary

[Ejaculate and serum procalcitonin levels in healthy men and men with oligoasthenozoospermia].

INTRODUCTION: Seminal plasma composition reflects the activity of reproductive organs involved in the semen production. AIM: To study procalcitonin concentrations in serum and semen samples of healthy men and men with oligoasthenozoospermia. METHOD: s .The study included 88 men, who were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation to establish the cause of infertile marriages. The study group comprised 40 men with oligoasthenozoospermia, the comparison group included 48 men with normal sperm concentration. Laboratory testing of all participants revealed no abnormal findings in blood count, blood chemistry studies and urinalysis. RESULTS: Mean seminal plasma procalcitonin level in the study subjects (n=87) was 0,349+/-0,370 ng/ml being about 10 times higher than its serum level, which was 0.037+/-0.027 ng/ml (p<0.000001). In the study group, seminal plasma PCT concentration was significantly greater than in the control group (p=0.0095), while the serum procalcitonin levels in all participants were almost identical (p=0.605). There were no statistically significant correlations between the procalcitonin levels and spermatozoa concentration, total count and ejaculate volume. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that elevated levels of procalcitonin in seminal plasma can be regarded as an unfavorable prognostic factor, indicating the reduced ejaculate fertility. Further studies seem warranted, specifically considering the role and source of procalcitonin production in sperm.