Non-dermatophyte moulds as skin and nail foot mycosis agents: Phoma herbarum, Chaetomium globosum and Microascus cinereus.

The increased prevalence of dermatomycoses along with the wide range of organisms now recognized as potential pathogens needs accurate laboratory isolation and identification of the aetiological agents. In this report three cases of foot dermatomycoses due to filamentous fungi commonly present in the environment with ubiquitous distribution are described in immunocompetent subjects. Skin and nail samples were collected, suspended in 20% KOH solution, examined under a light microscope and cultured in Mycobiotic agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol to detect fungal growth.

Synergistic effect of erythromycin on polymorphonuclear cell antibacterial activity against erythromycin-resistant phenotypes of Streptococcus pyogenes.

To evaluate the synergistic activity of erythromycin and human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) on the binomial erythromycin-resistant (ERY(R)) Streptococcus pyogenes/host, the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of PMNs against ERY(R) streptococcal strains (cMLS(B), M, and iMLS(B) A, B and C phenotypes) were assessed in the presence of the macrolide. The results showed that when erythromycin, PMNs and streptococci [both erythromycin-sensitive (ERY(S)) and ERY(R)] were simultaneously present in the culture medium, PMN phagocytic activity was similar to that of drug-free controls. In contrast, the results emphasised a significant high increase in intracellular killing by PMNs in the presence of erythromycin not only for ERY(S) streptococci but also for ERY(R)S.

Synergy of caspofungin with human polymorphonuclear granulocytes for killing Candida albicans.

The influence of caspofungin on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida albicans was investigated. Caspofungin, at all of the concentrations tested (2, 3.2, and 8 microg/ml), significantly increased intracellular killing by PMNs through its direct action on both yeast cells and PMNs, indicating the potential ability of caspofungin to synergize with phagocytes for candidal killing.

Antibiotic susceptibility of respiratory pathogens recently isolated in Italy: focus on cefditoren.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of respiratory pathogens recently isolated in Italy to commonly used antibiotics including cefditoren. Six clinical microbiological laboratories collected, between January and September 2009, a total of 2,510 respiratory pathogens from subjects with community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CARTI). Ceftditoren, out of all the beta-lactams studied, had the lowest MIC(90 )against 965 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae examined, followed by cefotaxime and ceftriaxone (2% resistance in penicillin-resistant S.

The erythromycin-resistance in S. pyogenes does not limit the human polymorphonuclear cell antimicrobial activity.

In order to highlight the potential erythromycin immunomodulatory properties related to different antibiotic resistance patterns in Streptococcus spp., we evaluated the influence of the macrolide on the PMNs primary functions against erythromycin-susceptible (Ery-S) and erythromycin-resistant (Ery-R) S. pyogenes strains.

In vitro compared activity of telithromycin and azithromycin against northwest Italian isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae with different erythromycin susceptibility.

Aims: This study compared the in vitro activity of telithromycin with that of azithromycin against 438 Streptococcus pyogenes and 198 Streptococcus pneumoniae, isolated over the period 2005-2007 from specimens of different human origin obtained in three Piemonte Region's hospitals.

Methods And Results: The determination of antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the microdilution broth method and the erythromycin-resistant (Ery-R) phenotypes by the triple-disc test. Exactly 78.

In vitro activities of fluconazole and voriconazole against clinical isolates of Candida spp. determined by disk diffusion testing in Turin, Italy.

The in vitro activities of fluconazole and voriconazole against 1,024 clinical isolates of Candida spp. were determined by the agar disk diffusion test using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M44-A guidelines. The results of this investigation demonstrated the broad-spectrum in vitro activity of voriconazole, relative to that of fluconazole, against yeasts tested, in particular fluconazole-resistant isolates, such as Candida krusei that showed high susceptibility to voriconazole.

Schizophyllum commune: an unusual of agent bronchopneumonia in an immunocompromised patient.

We report a case of bronchopneumonia due to Schizophyllum commune in an immunocompromised patient. While this fungus rarely causes disease in humans, it has been reported in association with several clinical entities and lung disorders. A 59-year-old white man with a gastric carcinoma was admitted to S.

Role of fosfomycin tromethamine in modulating non-specific defence mechanisms in chronic uremic patients towards ESBL-producing Escherichia coli.

Antimicrobial agents and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) have the potential to interact in such a way that improve the therapy for infectious diseases. In immunocompromised patients highly susceptible to microbial infections with high morbidity and mortality, several metabolic and functional alterations in PMNs, mostly related to microbicidal activity, are observed. Therefore, the antibiotic of choice should have a good antimicrobial effect without impairing host defences.

Tinea pedis and tinea unguium in a 7-year-old child.

This report documents tinea pedis and tinea unguium in a 7-year-old child. In all cultures Trichophyton rubrum was present. As tinea pedis and tinea unguium affect adults more often than children, they might be overlooked and misdiagnosed in the latter.

Antifungal activity of essential oils against filamentous fungi determined by broth microdilution and vapour contact methods.

Aims: The in vitro activity of some essential oils (EO) (thyme red, fennel, clove, pine, sage, lemon balm and lavender) against clinical and environmental fungal strains was determined.

Methods And Results: The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by a microdilution method in RPMI 1640 and by a vapour contact assay. The composition of oils was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry.

Improvement of clinical response in allergic rhinitis patients treated with an oral immunostimulating bacterial lysate: in vivo immunological effects.

Allergic rhinitis is known to be one of the most common chronic diseases in the industrialized world. According to the concept that allergic rhinitis patients generally suffer from an immune deficit, in order to stimulate specifically or aspecifically their immune system, immunomodulating agents from various sources, such as synthetic compounds, tissue extracts or a mixture of bacterial extracts, have been used. The aim of the present trial is to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with an immunostimulating vaccine consisting of a polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate (PMBL) in the prophylaxis of allergic rhinitis and subsequently to analyze its in vivo effects on immune responses.

Effect of dialysis membrane biocompatibility on polymorphonuclear granulocyte activity in dialysis patients.

Background: Among patients with defects of the phagocytic component of the immune system, chronic haemodialysis patients are highly susceptible to microbial infections characterized by high morbidity/mortality, related to an impairment of the phagocytic response. Therefore the potential influence of dialysis membrane biocompatibility on the activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocytes from dialysis patients was investigated in this study.

Methods: Nineteen patients in haemodialysis were included in the protocol and divided into two groups: a control group (7 patients) and a study group (12 patients).

Regional combined with systemic chemotherapy in unresectable biliary tract cancers: a phase II study.

Unresectable biliary tract cancers have a very poor prognosis. No good systemic chemotherapeutic regimen is available. This study aimed to evaluated the activity and toxicity of a novel approach of combined loco-regional and systemic chemotherapy.

Contribution of imaging to the evaluation of pyomyositis.

Purpose: To analyse the fundamental features of each imaging modality with the aim of defining their contribution to the diagnosis of pyomyositis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10 observations collected between 1997 and 2004, 5 of paravertebral muscles and 5 of the muscles of the limbs. Imaging was carried out with US (8/10 observations) and/or CT (9/10 observations), and/or MRI (6/10 observations).

Bacterial counts of intestinal Lactobacillus species in infants with colic.

Intestinal colonization by lactobacilli is suggested to be a prerequisite to normal mucosal immune functions. An inadequate level of lactobacilli may be involved in appearance of allergic disease of which, infantile colic, is often considered an early clinical manifestation. The aim of the study is to evaluate intestinal lactobacilli in breast-fed infants with infantile colic and healthy infants.

In vitro fluconazole susceptibility of 1565 clinical isolates of Candida species evaluated by the disk diffusion method performed using NCCLS M44-A guidelines.

We determined the in vitro activity of fluconazole against 1565 clinical Candida spp. isolates collected from different specimens of non-AIDS outpatients and inpatients in 3 different regions of Italy. Susceptibility testing was performed by agar disk diffusion using the NCCLS document M44-A guidelines.

Influence of thiamphenicol on the primary functions of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes against Streptococcus pyogenes.

Current antibiotic therapy encourages the use of antibiotics that may potentiate the host's immune defences. We therefore investigated the effect of thiamphenicol (TAP), the active principle of thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate (TGA), on human granulocyte functions, mainly phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Streptococcus pyogenes. Our findings support the use of thiamphenicol in the treatment of respiratory tract infections caused by S.

Immunomodulating effect of antimicrobial agents on cytokine production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

It has been previously demonstrated that some antimicrobial agents enhance activities of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). The effect on the release of cytokines in an inflammatory context from PMNs by these antibiotics was evaluated. We studied the effect of the release of some cytokines by human PMNs RT-PCR analysis on a clinical strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae by comparing the effect with that observed in the presence of co-amoxiclav, sanfetrinem, clarithromycin, prulifloxacin and tobramycin.

Clarithromycin mediated the expression of polymorphonuclear granulocyte response against streptococcus pneumoniae strains with different patterns of susceptibility and resistance to penicillin and clarithromycin.

There is an urgent need for antibiotics that can be used in the therapy of infections caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, the incidence of which is often associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Antibiotics that can interact positively with the immune response and that also possess microbicidal properties might significantly contribute to improving the outcome of S. pneumoniae infections.

Impact of co-amoxiclav on polymorphonuclear granulocytes from chronic hemodialysis patients.

Phagocyte-dependent host defenses are frequently impaired in maintenance hemodialysis patients who show an increased susceptibility to infections. In these individuals, the course of infections can be more aggressive than in normal hosts, and the antibiotic of choice should have a high antimicrobial effect without impairing host defenses. Hence, in uremic patients, the antibiotic enhancement of phagocyte functions may be of potential clinical importance in the outcome of bacterial infections.

Improved phagocyte response by co-amoxiclav in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Infectious diseases are a major source of morbidity and mortality for immunosuppressed transplant recipients and the antimicrobial chemotherapy can be often less effective in these individuals, because the contribution of underlying host defenses is absent.

Methods: The influence of co-amoxiclav on the functions of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) from renal transplant recipients were investigated.

Results: PMNs from renal transplant recipients showed a diminished phagocytic activity with reduced phagocytosis and bactericidal activity against intracellular Klebsiella pneumoniae, compared to that seen with PMNs from healthy subjects.

Antidermatophytic action of new 1-naphthylmethyl and benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl hydrazones related to inhibitors of squalene epoxidase.

Two series of hydrazonic compounds related to main classes of inhibitors of fungal squalene epoxidase (SE) were designed and prepared on the hypothesis of a pharmacophoric model. The antifungal activity of the new compounds was evaluated in vitro against dermatophytes, moulds and yeasts. Antidermatophytic activity resulted for several hydrazones, particularly for those containing a tett-butylacetylenic group, supporting the hypothesis that the introduction of a hydrazonic function in the model could retain the antimycotic activity.

Influence of a new fluoroquinolone, AF3013 (the active metabolite of prulifloxacin), on macrophage functions against Klebsiella pneumoniae: an in vitro comparison with pefloxacin.

The efficacy of an antibiotic in the treatment of bacterial infections depends upon the interaction of bacterium, drug and phagocytes. In this study we have investigated the influence of AF3013, a new fluoroquinolone, on the activities of mouse peritoneal macrophages against Klebsiella pneumoniae, in comparison with the influence of pefloxacin. Bacterial susceptibility to phagocytosis and intracellular killing were determined after klebsiellae and macrophages had been incubated simultaneously with inhibitory concentrations of both AF3013 and pefloxacin and following pre-exposure of the microorganisms and the macrophages individually to the same concentrations of each drug.