ABSTRACT
A combination of Bactec MGIT 960 system, a PCR-based assay and a PCR-Restriction Analysis procedure (PRA) was assessed for the detection and identification of mycobacteria from clinical samples. The MGIT recovered 243 from 266 mycobacterial isolates. The PCR-based assay correctly identified all (234) Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, while 35 nontuberculous mycobacterial isolates were identified by PRA.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods , Mycobacterium/classification , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Automation , Colony Count, Microbial , Culture Media , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Mycobacterium/isolation & purification , Mycobacterium Infections/diagnosis , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Sampling Studies , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to determine the tolerance and efficacy of human brucellosis vaccine as well as the tolerance and sensitivity of the intradermal reaction test for brucellosis. A total of 1,121 subjects initially consented to participate in the study. Following clinical examination, 762 were tested with the intradermal reaction test (IDR Test, Pasteur Merieux, France), of whom 576 with no previous or current brucellosis infection were accepted for vaccination. Two hundred seventy-one were vaccinated with brucellosis vaccine and 305 with tetanus vaccine, the latter group serving as a comparative control group. The vaccinated persons were monitored monthly for at least nine months. Although brucellosis vaccine caused some unpleasant side effects in about one-fourth of the vaccinated persons, it appears safe for large-scale use in prevention programs. In addition, the results indicate that the intradermal reaction test is safe and sensitive for large-scale use in prevention programs. The test was positive in 28 of 30 individuals with previous infection, representing a sensitivity of 93.33%.
Subject(s)
Brucella Vaccine/administration & dosage , Brucellosis/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brucella Vaccine/adverse effects , Brucellosis/diagnosis , Brucellosis/epidemiology , Child , Female , Greece/epidemiology , Humans , Intradermal Tests , Male , Middle Aged , Rural Population , Sensitivity and Specificity , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a bacterium not previously reported in a corneal infection. We present a case of infectious keratitis caused by this organism, occurring 1 month following penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: Identification of the organism was accomplished by staining, culture, and sensitivity testing of the corneal scraping obtained from the involved area. The infection responded to subconjunctival ticarcillin, piperacillin eye drops, and I.V. azlocillin. RESULTS: Complete healing with a resultant corneal opacity involving mostly the anterior and middle stroma was achieved 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS: A. xylosoxidans should be considered as a potential pathogen in instances of early postkeratoplasty infectious keratitis.
Subject(s)
Alcaligenes , Eye Infections, Bacterial/microbiology , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Keratitis/microbiology , Keratoplasty, Penetrating/adverse effects , Adult , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
A survey aiming at assessing the frequency and the distribution of serological syphilis has been carried out on a sample of 6049 subjects aged 6-18 years in Mauritania. 33.4% of the samples had a reciprocal titer of 150 or more as determined by means of an immunofluorescence technique. However, frequencies in the different villages ranged from 7.5 to 47.6% and were strongly associated with the percentage of Black elements in the community. A significant difference was found between the age-groups 6-13 and 14-18, with a mean increase of 56%. These results suggest that an intervention program might be necessary in Mauritania.
