In vitro antimicrobial activity of commonly used vasoactive drugs.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Microbial contamination during preparation of the infusion drugs is an important issue in intensive care units. Objective of this study was to investigate in vitro antimicrobial properties of commonly used vasoactive drugs. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Clinical microbiology laboratory of a university hospital. MEASUREMENTS: Growth of the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in saline dilutions of adrenaline at 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL; noradrenaline at 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL; and dopamine at 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL concentrations was investigated. Each drug solution and saline were analyzed with a digital pH meter. MAIN RESULTS: Saline dilutions of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine at clinically used concentrations decreased microbial growth. The highest concentration doses of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine used in the study had significant antimicrobial effect when compared to the low and moderate doses. This effect was shown with the all microorganisms. S aureus, S epidermidis, and C albicans were more sensitive; on the other hand, E coli and P aeruginosa were more resistant against the effect of the drug dilutions. CONCLUSIONS: To limit microbial growth in case of contamination of the drug solution, it is advisable to use more concentrated dilutions of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine used in clinical practice.

The prevalence of enterotoxigenic E. coli isolated from the stools of children aged 0-10 years with diarrhea in mid-anatolia region, Turkey

The stool samples from 245 patients with diarrhea were tested for heat labile toxin (LT) and heat stable toxins (ST) by passive latex agglutination and enzyme immunoassay methods respectively. Twelve (4.9 percent) enterotoxigenic E. Coli ETEC strains were isolated. Five strains (2 percent) expressed ST, and 7 (2.8 percent) expressed LT.

Antibacterial activity of remifentanil and mixtures of remifentanil and propofol.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antibacterial activity of glycine, which is contained in remifentanil, when combined with propofol. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Departments of anesthesiology and microbiology of a university hospital. MEASUREMENTS: Growth of the microorganisms Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans in propofol 1%; saline dilutions of remifentanil at one-, 10-, and 100-microg/mL concentrations; and 1:1 mixtures of propofol with remifentanil solutions was determined. MAIN RESULTS: Remifentanil inhibits bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner. The antibacterial effects were more pronounced with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at cultures obtained at the fifth hour. The inhibition of bacterial growth was less influenced with Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol and remifentanil mixtures decreased bacterial growth, and combinations may reduce the infectious complications from accidentally contaminated propofol.

The possible association of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with nasal polyps.

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible etiologic role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in nasal polyps. This prospective clinical study was undertaken enrolling 30 patients with nasal polyps, and 30 age and sex-matched control subjects from whom epithelial material was obtained during endoscopic surgery. IgG specific ELISA was used to determine seropositivity, and indirect immunoflorescence to determine C. pneumoniae in the biopsy material. C. pneumoniae specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 16 (53.3%) of the patients with nasal polyps, and 9 (22%) of the control subjects (P = 0.065). Indirect immunofluorescence results indicate that there was a significant difference between groups; 16 (53.3%) patients in the study group and 8 (26.6%) patients in the control group were found to be positive (P = 0.034). We found no correlation with cigarette smoking. Our results indicated that Chlamydia pneumoniae is possibly associated with the presence of nasal polyps. However, these results remain to be confirmed with further studies using other techniques, and the underlying mechanism should be defined.

Increased seropositivity of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated gene-A in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitic syndrome with unknown etiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and cytotoxin associated gene-A status in patients with Behçet's disease. Ninety-one patients with Behçet's disease and 83 age- and sex-matched persons with or without any gastrointestinal complaints were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and H. pylori IgG, IgM, and cytotoxin-associated gene-A IgG status of the Behçet's disease and the control groups were analyzed. The influence of eradication therapy on clinical findings was also determined. The prevalence of H. pylori IgG seropositivity was slightly but not significantly higher in patients with Behçet's disease compared to the controls [72 (79.1%) vs 56 (67.5%), (p = 0.082)]. The prevalence of cytotoxin-associated gene A positivity was significantly higher in Behçet's disease compared to the controls [59 (64.8.%) vs 32 (38.5%), respectively, (p = 0.002)]. Eradication of H. pylori has significantly decreased clinical manifestations such as oral and genital ulceration, arthritis/arthralgia, and cutaneous findings of Bahçet's disease. Our study indicates that H. pylori may be involved in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease or disease activity might be enhanced due to induced inflammation or altered immunity.

Echinococcosis: a possible etiology in psoriatic disease.

We aimed to investigate seroprevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in patients with psoriasis to determine a possible etiologic role, since both echinococcosis and psoriasis are defined as T cell-mediated diseases. Forty psoriatic patients and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included in the study. IgG-specific ELISA was used to determine seropositivity. E. granulosus-specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 17/40 (42.5%) of the patients with psoriasis and in 11/50 (22%) of the control subjects (p = 0.008). Our results suggest that echinococcosis might be one of the causative pathogens in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis in highly endemic regions.