ABSTRACT
Sepsis is a significant health problem with an estimated 750,000 new cases in the USA annually. It is also the third leading cause of death in developed countries, equaling the number of fatalities from acute myocardial infarction. The high sepsis-related mortalities mean there is an urgent need to improve the diagnosis and management of sepsis patients. The aim of this study was the evaluation of fibronectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels in patients with sepsis and other infectious diseases without sepsis. In a case-control study, 90 patients with sepsis and 90 patients with other infectious diseases without sepsis were studied. Serum levels of fibronectin and CRP were measured. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 15. The mean levels of fibronectin in the cases and controls were 288.97±89.10 mg/l and 341.24±110.53 mg/l respectively (P=0.001). The mean levels of CRP in the cases and controls were 89.42±54.05 µg/ml and 27.42±25.89 µg/ml respectively (P<0.001). Concerning the source of infection, the mean CRP levels were significantly higher in septic patients with urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and soft tissue infection (P<0.001). Decreased levels of fibronectin and increased levels of CRP may be considered as reliable diagnostic markers for sepsis. Also, CRP could be a better predictive factor for sepsis than fibronectin.
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Fibronectins/blood , Sepsis/blood , Bacterial Infections/blood , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections constitute a global health problem, leading to a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and antimicrobial resistance patterns of nosocomial infections in edu-cational hospitals of Hamadan, western Iran. METHODS: During a 1-year period from April 2006 to March 2007, all patients with cul-ture-proven nosocomial infections from educational hospitals in Hamedan, west-ern Iran were included. Nosocomial infections were defined as a culture-proven infection, which occurred more than 48h after admission in the hospital. An-timicrobial susceptibility testing of isolated bacteria was performed by disc dif-fusion method. RESULTS: A total of 170 cases of culture-proven nosocomial infections were diag-nosed. Most cases were in intensive care units (ICUs) (57.4%). The common sites of infection were lower respiratory tract (51.8%) and urinary tract (31.9%). Kleb-siella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, were the most prevalent pathogens (32.7%, 22.9%, and 14.8% respectively). Most en-terobacteriacea isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporins. The resis-tant rates to ceftriaxone were 75.5% for K. pneumoniae, and 76% for E. coli. Among P. aeruginosa isolates, 26.5% were resistant to ceftazidim, and 36% to cipro-floxacin. Among S. aureus isolates, 80% were methicillin-resistant. CONCLUSION: The patients in the ICUs are at a higher risk of nosocomial infec-tions. The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the hospitals highlights the need of further infection control activities and surveillance programs.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study on the frequency of hepatitis B and C infections in chronic psychiatric patients in Day Night Patient Care Centres in Hamedan in 2006-2007. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study done on 170 patients with chronic mental disorders admitted in patient care institutions of Hamedan in 2006-2007. Positive tests for HCV-Ab were confirmed by RIBBA test. RESULTS: Of 170 patients, 56% were males and 44% were females, (age range 15-71 years). Hepatitis B and C infection was found only in males, with Hepatitis B in 1.8% patients. All of Hepatitis B cases two thirds of Hepatitis C cases were institutionalized in one of the centers. CONCLUSIONS: Overall frequency of Hepatitis B and C infections in chronic psychiatric patients in care centers is more than the general population and centralization of these cases in one center causes transmission of infection if the standard precautions are not observed.
