Subject(s)
Burkholderia Infections/epidemiology , Burkholderia cepacia/classification , Cystic Fibrosis/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Burkholderia Infections/microbiology , Burkholderia cepacia/drug effects , Burkholderia cepacia/genetics , Burkholderia cepacia/isolation & purification , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Cystic Fibrosis/microbiology , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field , Female , Genotype , Humans , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Phenotype , Risk Factors , SerotypingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii has become an increasingly important nosocomial pathogen, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this investigation was to study the molecular epidemiology of A baumanii in a university hospital in Italy. METHODS: All A baumanii isolates were collected and typed with phenotypic and genotypic methods during a 7-month period. A 1-year prospective surveillance of ICU-acquired infections was performed by using the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance methodology. RESULTS: A baumanni accounted for 28.4% of all infections and 46.7% of all pneumonia acquired in the ICU, with a nosocomial infection rate of 12.4% or 8 infections per 1000 patient-days. Risk factors for A baumannii acquisition in the ICU were mechanical ventilation and previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, whereas administration of carbapenems showed a significant protective effect. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic Apa I digests identified at least 5 outbreaks in the ICU caused by 5 different clones, one replacing the other in a well-defined temporal order. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the sequential temporal cluster of epidemic clones in the ICU is intriguing and requires further research, the clear evidence of cross-contamination of A baumannii isolates involved with infections in the ICU demands extensive preventive efforts.
Subject(s)
Acinetobacter Infections/microbiology , Acinetobacter/genetics , Cross Infection/microbiology , Acinetobacter/isolation & purification , Acinetobacter Infections/classification , Acinetobacter Infections/epidemiology , Acinetobacter Infections/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field , Female , Genotype , Hospitals, University , Humans , Incidence , Intensive Care Units , Italy/epidemiology , Length of Stay , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Epidemiology , Phenotype , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The authors studied 30 children affected with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia. They point out some clinical and epidemiological features pertinent to the pathology examined.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology , Chlamydia trachomatis , Chlamydophila pneumoniae , Chlamydophila psittaci , Pleuropneumonia/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Pleuropneumonia/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/diagnosisABSTRACT
The authors studied 5 children affected with a pneumopathy by Chlamydia psittaci. They discuss the effects of a transitory immunodeficiency relative to NK cells in predisposing little patients to the infective disease.