Bacterial Pathogens and Evaluation of a Cut-Off for Defining Early and Late Neonatal Infection.

Bacterial infections are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns. The main risk factors include low birth weight and prematurity. The study identified the most common bacterial pathogens causing neonatal infections including their resistance to antibiotics in the Neonatal Department of the University Hospital Olomouc. Additionally, the cut-off for distinguishing early- from late-onset neonatal infections was assessed. The results of this study show that a cut-off value of 72 h after birth is more suitable. Only in case of early-onset infections arising within 72 h of birth, initial antibiotic therapy based on gentamicin with ampicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid may be recommended. It has been established that with the 72-h cut-off, late-onset infections caused by bacteria more resistant to antibiotics may be detected more frequently, a finding that is absolutely crucial for antibiotic treatment strategy.

Antibiotic susceptibility and production of endotoxin by Ochrobactrum anthropi isolated from environment and from patients with cystic fibrosis.

The aim of this work was to compare production of endotoxin and to determine susceptibility to antibiotics in two groups of specimens-wild-type strains Ochrobactrum anthropi isolated from the environment and the strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis. The determination of the endotoxin produced by the test strains was carried on by using a limulus amebocyte lysate test (LAL test). Determination of ATB sensitivity was accomplished by means of a broth dilution method in a microtiter plate (MIC). No significant difference was found between the group of ochrobacters isolated from the environment and the group of ochrobacters isolated from cystic fibrosis patients. Antibiotic sensitivity testing has indicated that the resistance to tigecycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin was slightly higher in strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients in comparison with strains isolated from the environment. In general, most of the test strains were sensitive to most of the antibiotics tested. Significant resistance has been demonstrated for cefotaxime. Resistance was also found for gentamicin in strains number 4 and 7. The MIC was equal to the breakpoint for this antibiotic (8000 mg/L).

Alternative tests versus measurement of fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance test for diagnosis of pediatric type 2 pre-diabetes: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE: The gold standard for the diagnosis of pre-diabetes is the measurement of fasting plasma glucose and the oral glucose tolerance test. The objective of this systematic review is to identify all alternative tests currently in use for the diagnosis of type 2 pre-diabetes mellitus in children and establish their accuracy relative to this gold standard.