The intrathecal polyspecific antiviral immune response (MRZ reaction): A potential cerebrospinal fluid marker for multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

We tested the performance of MRZ-reaction, an intrathecal humoral immune response against-Measles (M), Rubella (R) and Varicella Zoster (Z) viruses, in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. The MRZ-reaction was significantly more positive in MS than in non-MS group with a specificity of 91.9%.

Predictive Factors of Febrile Neutropenia Induced by Anticancer Chemotherapy in the South of Tunisia.

Introduction: Febrile Neutropenia (FN) secondary to chemotherapy is the most common and the earliest hematological complication. The aim of this work is to study the predictive factors of FN. Materiel and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 186 episodes of FN induced by chemotherapy treated in the department of oncology at Sfax in southern Tunisia during the period between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010.

[Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia: About 186 episodes. Clinical, microbiological and therapeutic characteristics].

Background: One of the major side effects of anti-proliferative treatment is their medullar toxicity. This toxicity is particularly important in neutrophils and leads to a neutropenia. Fever during these episodes of neutropenia is a frequent complication but remains of indeterminate origin in 60% of cases.

Neonatal purulent meningitis in southern Tunisia: Epidemiology, bacteriology, risk factors and prognosis.

Objectives: To study the epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological aspects and outcome of purulent neonatal meningitis (PNM).

Methodology: Retrospective analysis of 55 cases of PNM hospitalized in the pediatric ward of Hedi Chaker Hospital from 1990 to 2012. Infants less than 29 days of age were included.

Microbiological characteristics of catheter-related bacteremia in a Tunisian intensive care unit.

Background: Prevalence of catheter-related bacteremia in intensive care units is increasing as central venous catheters (CVC) are used more frequently. In the most of the published literature, Gram positive cocci are the leading cause of catheter-related bacteremia and the systemic empiric treatment recommended include the administration of glycopeptides.

Aim: To search for the microbiological characteristics of catheter-related bacteremia in a Tunisian ICU.