[Effect of anti-D prevention on the incidence of irregular erythrocyte antibodies in pregnant patients]. / Der Einfluss der Anti-D-Prophylaxe auf die Häufigkeit irregulärer Erythrozytenantikörper bei Schwangeren.

The immunohaematology results found during antenatal care from 1963-1981 were used to try to answer the question whether and how much the anti-D-prophylaxis, which was started in 1967 and was given to German and foreign pregnant women post partum or after abortion, had affected the frequency of immunization to D and other erythrocyte antigens. The results allow the following statements: 1. From 1973-3 or 4 years after the general introduction of anti-D prophylaxis-until 1981, a continuously sustained decline in the frequency of anti-D in the German pregnant women was found. This could not be found in the corresponding group of foreign pregnant mothers. 2. Additionally, a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of anti-D + C could only be found in the German group. 3. After 1973, other erythrocyte antibodies in combination with anti-D were only found sporadically. A rise in the frequency of other erythrocyte antibodies, such as anti-C, was not observed. 4. The frequency of "non-anti-D antibodies" was significantly higher in the foreigners than in the German group during the whole observation period. This was due to the significant increase in anti-Lea, anti-Leb, anti-H, anti-P1 and the nonidentifiable antibodies in the foreign group.

[Antibiotic therapy in patients with immunologic deficiency]. / Antibiotische Therapie bei Patienten mit immunologischer Abwehrschwäche.

Basic aspects in the treatment of immunocompromised patients are discussed with respect to medical and paediatric oncology, surgical intensive care and clinical pathology. Defining the type of immunological deficiency seems of primary importance, since it can be caused by haematological diseases, their treatment, by repeated surgery or by a polytrauma. The degree of immune deficiency should be quantitated by laboratory procedures, whenever possible. The treatment of these patients may include substitution therapy, decontamination and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Since the immune deficiency can only rarely be specifically substituted, hygiene plans should be made up for every patient, including the selective decontamination. An intensive microbiological surveillance can give early information about the prevalence of certain microorganisms, thereby facilitating a subsequent treatment. The antimicrobial chemotherapy of an overt infection in medical and pediatric oncology can follow fixed schedules, taking into account the various causative agents that can be expected. This procedure has proven to be efficient in the treatment of infections occurring during the therapy of acute lymphoblastoid leukemia in childhood. In surgical intensive care units, however, treatment of infections should be based on microbiological findings in conjunction with the local profile of bacterial resistance. Furthermore, it is important to be aware that "non-pathogenic" microorganisms can be the cause of life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Our experience shows that interdisciplinary cooperation and a mutual exchange of information is important for an efficient treatment of infections in patients with immunological deficiencies.

[Septicemia by Corynebacterium group JK in a polytraumatized patient (author's transl)]. / Corynebakterien der JK-Gruppe als Sepsiserreger.

A case of septicemia by Corynebacterium group JK is reported in a polytraumatized patient. As the significant feature of this recently isolated group of bacteria is its resistance to almost all antibiotics, therapy of infections is very difficult. Infections can occur in immunocompromised hosts in intensive-care and oncological departments. Both sections should be monitored for these germs, because the JK group can be a part of the normal flora of healthy individuals.