ABSTRACT
Different sponge-like plastic blocks and several samples of two coupling gels used during small-parts real-time sonography were investigated microbiologically. Whereas the coupling gels showed no contamination a great deal of different bacteria could be found on the plastic blocks. These findings lead to a restricted use of those devices especially when investigating immunocompromised patients. Sufficient procedures of decontamination do not exist. Because of the relative high purchase cost the one-way use of plastic blocks is uneconomical.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/transmission , Bacteriological Techniques , Gels/standards , Ultrasonography/instrumentation , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Colony Count, Microbial , Disinfection/standards , Humans , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The case report is presented of a newborn that developed pseudomembranous colitis and intestinal obstruction after antibiotic therapy with cefoxitin and gentamicin in the first week of life. At laparotomy on the fifth day a complete obliteration of the descending colon by pseudomembranes was encountered. After resection of the diseased segment the recovery was uneventful. We believe this case is the first to be published of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis causing intestinal obstruction.
Subject(s)
Cefoxitin/adverse effects , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/chemically induced , Gentamicins/adverse effects , Intestinal Obstruction/chemically induced , Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/drug therapy , Cefoxitin/therapeutic use , Colon/pathology , Drug Therapy, Combination , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/pathology , Gentamicins/therapeutic use , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Intestinal Obstruction/pathology , MaleABSTRACT
Lipopolysaccharide was extracted with cold phenol water from Legionella pneumophila and used as antigen for ELISA. IgG and IgM antibodies were measured with the ELISA and the immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Agglutinating antibodies were measured by the microagglutination (MA) test. In tests on sera from 27 patients with confirmed Legionella infections predominantly due to L. pneumophila serogroup 1 the results with the ELISA, the IFA and the MA were compared to each other. Antibody titers obtained by the ELISA were in general much higher than those obtained by both other tests. The ELISA proved to be the most sensitive method (IgG: 91.3%, IgM: 52.2%) whereas the sensitivities of IFA and MA were IgG: 69.6%, IgM: 30.4% and 60.9%, respectively. There was low correlation of the IgG antibody titers but good correlation of the IgM titers. Further 49 sera from patients without Legionella infection were screened to calculate the specificities of the three tests which were equally good with all methods (98%).
