[Woman's experience with the choice of the Billings Ovulation Method].

This is a case study with a qualitative approach, carried out between February and November 2010 with 10 women, mean age of 34 years old, users of this Billings Ovulation Method (MOB) for over than two years, with the objective of understand the experience of women by choosing the MOB. Data was obtained from interviews, and analyzed through content analysis technique. The categories of analysis showed that the reasons for the choices of the MOB were: religion; natural method, and benefits of self-knowledge.

Characteristics and prognosis in patients with prosthetic vascular graft infection: a prospective observational cohort study.

Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a devastating complication, with a mortality rate of up to 75%, which is especially caused by aortic graft infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with in-hospital mortality of patients with definite graft infection, and with long-term outcome. We reviewed medical records of 85 patients treated for PVGIs defined by positive bacterial culture of intraoperative specimens or blood samples, and/or clinical, biological and radiological signs of infection.

Outcome of patients with diabetes with negative percutaneous bone biopsy performed for suspicion of osteomyelitis of the foot.

Aims: To assess the outcome of patients with diabetes with suspicion of osteomyelitis of the foot who had undergone a percutaneous bone biopsy that yielded negative microbiological results, with focus on the occurrence of osteomyelitis at the biopsied site.

Methods: Medical charts of adult patients with diabetes with a negative percutaneous bone biopsy were reviewed. Patients' outcome was evaluated at least 2 years after the initial bone biopsy according to wound healing, the results of a new bone biopsy and bone imaging evaluation when applicable.

Outcome and predictors of treatment failure in total hip/knee prosthetic joint infections due to Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Variables associated with the outcome of patients treated for prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) due to Staphylococcus aureus are not well known.

Methods: The medical records of patients treated surgically for total hip or knee prosthesis infection due to S. aureus were reviewed.

[Cluster of indigenous typhoid fever cases in a French city].

Background: A cluster of indigenous typhoid fever cases in the greater Lille area, in January 2009, triggered investigations to identify the contamination source and to optimize care for infected individuals.

Methods: A case was defined as a person, living in the greater Lille area of, having presented with symptoms of typhoid fever, from January to March 2009.

Results: Sixteen cases of typhoid fever were identified between January 23 and March 22, 2009.

Tolerability of prolonged linezolid therapy in bone and joint infection: protective effect of rifampicin on the occurrence of anaemia?

Background: Linezolid therapy has shown high rates of clinical success in patients with osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infections caused by Gram-positive cocci. Recent studies have demonstrated that linezolid/rifampicin combination therapy prevents the emergence of rifampicin-resistant mutations in vitro. However, linezolid/rifampicin combination-related haematological and neurological toxicities have not been evaluated.

Needle puncture and transcutaneous bone biopsy cultures are inconsistent in patients with diabetes and suspected osteomyelitis of the foot.

Background: Needle puncture has been suggested as a method for identifying bacteria in the bones in patients with diabetes with osteomyelitis of the foot. However, no studies have compared needle puncture with concomitant transcutaneous bone biopsy, which is the current standard recommended in international guidelines.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 2 French diabetes foot clinics.

Safety of prolonged high-dose levofloxacin therapy for bone infections.

The records of 84 patients with bone infections treated with high-dose levofloxacin (i.e. 0.

[Compliance to the antibiotic committee guidelines in Tourcoing Hospital].

Aims Of The Study: We evaluated the compliance to the antibiotic committee guidelines of Tourcoing Hospital.

Methods: A national nosocomial infections prevalence study was conducted in June 2006. We collected additional data on the name and indication of prescribed antibiotics compared to recommended drugs in our therapeutic guidelines.

Effectiveness and tolerability of prolonged linezolid treatment for chronic osteomyelitis: a retrospective study.

Background: Linezolid is an oxazolidinone agent which is apparently well designed for treating chronic osteomyelitis, but data on effectiveness and tolerability as prolonged therapy is currently lacking.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of linezolid in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Methods: The charts of hospitalized patients who had been treated with linezolid for >4 weeks because of chronic osteomyelitis and were followed up for > or =12 months after the end of treatment were retrospectively reviewed for clinical outcome and tolerability.

Culture of percutaneous bone biopsy specimens for diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis: concordance with ulcer swab cultures.

Background: We assessed the diagnostic value of swab cultures by comparing them with corresponding cultures of percutaneous bone biopsy specimens for patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

Methods: The medical charts of patients with foot osteomyelitis who underwent a surgical percutaneous bone biopsy between January 1996 and June 2004 in a single diabetic foot clinic were reviewed. Seventy-six patients with 81 episodes of foot osteomyelitis who had positive results of culture of bone biopsy specimens and who had received no antibiotic therapy for at least 4 weeks before biopsy constituted the study population.

[Are the principles of treatment of chronic osteitis applicable to the diabetic foot?].

Objective: The interest of the management of bone infections in the diabetic foot, inspired by the recommendations for the treatment of chronic osteitis, was assessed in this study.

Methods: Twenty bone infections in 17 diabetic patients with moderate to mild infections of the feet were confirmed by the results of X-ray and/or scintigraphic studies and bone surgery biopsy cultures revealing one or more bacteria sensitive to standard osteitis treatment (rifampicine + fluoroquinolone). The patients had received this treatment per os for a median duration of 6 months (3 to 10 months).

Rifampicin-ofloxacin oral regimen for the treatment of mild to moderate diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

Seventeen diabetic patients with moderate to mild foot lesions associated with 20 osteomyelitic bones diagnosed by both bone scan and bone biopsy received rifampicin plus ofloxacin for a median duration of 6 months. Cure was defined as disappearance of all signs and symptoms of infection at the end of the treatment and absence of relapse during follow up. At the end of the treatment period, cure was achieved in 15 patients (88.

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Nord Department of France during 1995.

In order to determine the current situation and to evaluate the human to human transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Northern France, the genetic polymorphism of strains was studied by using IS6110 fingerprint. One hundred and fifty-eight cases of bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis were analyzed. One hundred and twenty-six patients (82%) were infected with genetically different isolates and 28 isolates (18%) were grouped into 14 clusters.

[ParaSight F in the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria].

The ParaSight F is a new diagnostic test for Plasmodium falciparum infections and is based on the detection of a trophozoite-derived antigen, the histidine rich protein II (HRP-II). To assess the usefulness of this test, we conducted a prospective study and analyzed 62 blood specimens from 38 patients, using thin blood films, thick blood films and the ParaSight F test. Compared to thick blood film, on samples taken before and during treatment, the ParaSight F test had 86.

Reliability of quantitative cultures of protected specimen brush after freezing.

Protected specimen brush (PSB) is considered to be one of the standard methods for diagnosing mechanical ventilator-acquired pneumonia at a threshold value > or = 10(3) cfu/ml. Nevertheless, this procedure requires immediate cultures which are not always possible 24 h per day. We therefore wanted to appreciate the diagnostic value of delayed quantitative cultures after specimen freezing.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection.

Variations in cytokine production in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection could be involved in the physiopathology and in the progression of the disease. Therefore we studied the level of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) produced in patients with HIV infection at stage II (asymptomatic seropositives) and stage IV (AIDS) of the CDC classification, by using an enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay. We measured the level of GM-CSF and TNF alpha in supernatant of phytohemagglutinin-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients and healthy individuals.

Clinical and bacteriological efficacy, and practical aspects of amikacin given once daily for severe infections.

In a multicentre non-randomized open prospective study, 124 patients hospitalized in medical infectious disease or intensive care units, with severe community and hospital-acquired bacterial infections were treated with 15 mg/kg body weight amikacin in a once-daily dose given as a 30 min iv infusion, combined with other antibiotics. Infections were bacteriologically proven in 101 patients. The clinical responses showed 83.