Characterization of vaginal lactobacilli in women after kidney transplantation.

Limited number of publications described vaginal microflora after kidney transplantation. Our PubMed search revealed only 18 publications including words "vaginal bacteria & kidney transplant" in the period of 1978-2011. The aim of this study was to characterize lactobacilli isolated from vaginal swabs of women after kidney transplantation, compared with healthy women. Eighteen renal transplant recipients (mean age 36.1) and 20 healthy women (mean age 36.0) were evaluated. Lactobacilli were cultured on MRS and Columbia blood agars. Biochemical identification with API 50 CHL (bioMerieux, Marcy L'Etoile, France) and multiplex PCR according to Song et al. was performed. Lactobacilli were tested for production of H(2)O(2). Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of selected antimicrobial agents were determined with E-tests (bioMerieux, Marcy L'Etoile, France) and interpreted with CLSI and EUCAST criteria. No bacterial vaginosis was found among studied women. Two strains of group I were identified as Lactobacillus delbrueckii; 18 strains as Lactobacillus gasseri and 15 strains as Lactobacillus crispatus. Only 3 strains from group II were not identified by species-specific mPCR. Group IV was represented with 2 unidentified strains. Vaginal lactobacilli isolated from healthy women represented more homogenous group compared with heterogenous renal transplant recipients. Biochemical identification of lactobacilli by API 50 CHL kits was concordant with mPCR results only in 7 cases (17.5%), all 7 strains were identified as L. crispatus. Majority (93%) of lactobacilli were H(2)O(2) producers. All isolated lactobacilli (100%) demonstrated high resistance to metronidazole (MIC > 256 µg/ml). Only 2 strains resistant to vancomycin (MICs: 32 and 256 µg/ml respectively), in the study and control group, and one to moxifloxacin (MIC = 32 µg/ml), were found. Resistance to metronidazole and vancomycin was concordant in CLSI and EUCAST (2010) criteria. Although significant differences between lactobacilli isolated from vaginas of kidney transplant and healthy women were not demonstrated, we demonstrated strains resistant to metronidazole, vancomycin and moxifloxacin in groups of examined women. Our study was performed on a small group of kidney transplant recipients and further more detailed molecular studies on a larger group of patients are required to confirm our results.

Pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Numerous Helicobacter pylori virulence factors, including various enzymes (urease, catalase, lipase, phospholipase and proteases), vacuolating cytotoxin (a product of expression of the vacA gene), and the immunogenic protein CagA, encoded by the cagA gene localised in the H. pylori pathogenicity island, are involved in the pathomechanism of infection caused by these organisms. This review presents the current state of knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms and epidemiology of H. pylori infection, based on the published literature and recent unpublished observations.

[Bacterial flora in pharyngitis and tonsillitis]. / Flora bakteryjna w zapaleniu gardla i migdalków.

The aim of the study was a microbiological analysis of pharyngeal swabs obtained from 158 patients with the diagnosis of pharyngitis and purulent exudates from the tonsillar crypts of 10 patients treated for chronic purulent tonsillitis. Beta haemolytic streptococci groups A, B, C and G were isolated from 30% of the patients. The most frequently isolated were Streptococcus pyogenes--12% of patients and Streptococcus group C--10.7%. Other streptococci were isolated less frequently: Streptococcus group B--44%, group G--2.5%. The majority of isolated bacteria belonged to potential pathogenic flora (70% patients). Staphylococcus aureus (37%) and Haemophilus spp. (36%) were isolated most frequently. Other bacteria were isolated in the following sequence: Moraxella catarrhalis--22%, Streptococcus pneumoniae--17% and Gram-negative rods from the Enterobacteriaceae family--6%. One case of Plaut-Vincent tonsillitis was diagnosed. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from purulent exudates from the tonsillar crypts of 10 patients treated for chronic purulent tonsillitis. The isolated anaerobic bacteria belonged to genus of Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus and Gemella.

[Bacterial flora in chronic inner ear infections in adults]. / Flora bakteryjna w przewleklym zapaleniu ucha srodkowego u doroslych.

The aim of the study was to analyse microbiologically middle ear exudate obtained from 56 patients, aged 17 to 83 years, treated for chronic otitis media. Aerobic bacteria only were found 49 patients (87,5%). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic isolates were recovered from 7 patients (12,5%). The most common bacteria isolated from the middle ear exudate, in descending order frequency, were Staphylococcus aureus (45%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34%), Proteus mirabilis (16%) and Prevotella melaninogenica (9%). Other organisms were isolated less frequently. In 34 patients only one isolate was recovered, in 22 patients the isolated bacteria coexisted with other microorganisms.

[Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora in chronic sinusitis in adults]. / Tlenowa i beztlenowa flora bakteryjna w przewleklym zapaleniu zatok przynosowych u doroslych.

The aim of the study was to analyse microbiologically samples obtained from 30 patients aged from 21 to 73 years treated for chronic sinusitis. Aerobic bacteria only were isolated in 16 patients (53%), and anaerobic organisms only in 5 patients (17%). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic isolates were recovered from 9 patients (30%). The isolated aerobic bacteria were as follows: streptococci from the species Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus group C, Streptococcus sanguis, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative rods from the genus Haemophilus and rods from the Enterobacteriaceae family, and strains of Moraxella catarrhalis. The isolated anaerobic microorganisms Gram-negative rods from the genus Prevotella, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Gram-positive cocci from the genus Peptostreptococcus. Other organisms from the genus Vailonella, Eubacterium and Actinomyces were isolated less frequently. In 15 patients only one isolate was recovered, in 15 patients isolated bacteria were mixed with other microorganisms.

[Activity of lysozyme in serum and selected granulocytic cytoenzymatic markers evaluated in patients with duodenal ulcer treated with ranitidine]. / Aktywnosc lizozymu w surowicy i wybrane granulocytarne wskazniki cytoenzymatyczne oceniane u chorych z wrzodem dwunastnicy leczonych ranitydyna.

In 20 patients with active, endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer, serum lysozyme activity, metabolic and phagocytic activity of neutrophils using the NBT spontaneous and stimulated test and stimulated test, and cytoenzymatic reaction for alkaline phosphatase were evaluated before treatment and after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine 150 mg every 12 hours. In some of the studies carried out the differences were obtained between the mean results which turned out to be statistically significant. In the group of patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine, a statistically significant increase was found of diluted serum lysozyme activity as compared to the activity of this enzyme before the treatment. After the treatment with ranitidine, a statistically highly significant increase was noted of alkaline phosphatase activity in the neutrophils as compared to the activity of this enzyme assessed in patients with untreated duodenal ulcer. On the basis of the obtained results of studies the conclusions were formulated: 1) The increase of diluted serum lysozyme activity in the patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine may evidence the presence of inhibitors of the enzyme in the serum of the studied group. 2) In patients with duodenal ulcer after two weeks of treatment with ranitidine the activity increases of cytoenzymatically determined alkaline phosphatase in the neutrophils, while the cytoenzymatically determined values of the markers in the test with NBT remain unchanged.

[Effects of disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na2EDTA) and tetracyclines on drug resistant bacteria. Studies in vitro]. / Badanie dzialania soli dwusodowej kwasu etylenodwuaminoczterooctowego (Na2EDTA) i tetracyklin na lekooporne bakterie. Badania in vitro.

An effect of Na2EDTA and tetracycline (oxytetracycline and doxycycline) resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested. The strains were isolated from clinical specimens. The tests were performed in vitro by serial dilutions of the drugs in liquid medium. MIC for Na2EDTA, tetracyclines and a combination of Na2EDTA and tetracyclines was determined. It was shown that the combination of oxytetracycline or doxycycline with Na2EDTA caused changes in sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to these antibiotics. After an application of the mixture of various concentrations of tetracycline and Na2EDTA it was observed that, with the reduction of the effective Na2EDTA dose by about half, the lowest concentrations of tetracyclines inhibiting the growth of resistant bacteria were 2-64 times lower than MIC values of antibiotics without Na2EDTA.