Microflora changes with norfloxacin and pivmecillinam in women with recurrent urinary tract infection.

Similar changes in the periurethral and vaginal microflora were observed in 19 women with recurrent urinary tract infection following treatment with norfloxacin (NOR) or pivmecillinam (PIV). Escherichia coli strains were suppressed by both treatments. Staphylococcus spp.

Renal concentrating capacity in female outpatients with symptomatic urinary tract infection.

Objective: Renal concentrating capacity (RCC) has been used as a tool in the diagnosis of the site of urinary tract infection (UTI). In this study, RCC was measured in women with symptoms of UTI in relation to the clinical picture and the bacterial species isolated.

Material And Methods: In 633 outpatients aged > or =18 years with symptoms of UTI, a renal concentration test with desmopressin was performed at baseline.

Infectious disease emergencies: role of the infectious disease specialist.

The importance of infections for public health has become obvious during the last decades. Examples are emerging infections such as HIV/AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome, deliberate release of microorganisms, such as the anthrax episode in the USA, the increasing problems with organisms resistant to antimicrobial treatment, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and the threat of a new influenza pandemic with a case fatality rate similar to that in the 1918 outbreak. An effective response to infectious disease emergencies requires careful planning and establishment of resources in advance.

Report of working group 3: specialist training and continuing medical education/professional development in the infection disciplines.

The European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) core curricula for training in infectious diseases and medical microbiology are adequate with the exception of one deficiency which is the absence of training in epidemiology, public health and infection control. Infectious disease curricula should include training in HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases. There is a need for a core curriculum in infection control.

Lack of development of new antimicrobial drugs: a potential serious threat to public health.

Antimicrobial resistance is threatening the management of infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS. In the past, resistance could be handled by development of new drugs active against resistant microbes. However, the pharmaceutical industry has reduced its research efforts in infections; genomics has not delivered the anticipated novel therapeutics; new regulatory requirements have increased costs; antibiotic use in common infections-eg, bronchitis and sinusitis-is questioned; and, compared with other drugs, return on investments is lower for antimicrobials.

Alert to a European epidemic.

Funds must be forthcoming for an effective EU Centre for Disease Control.

Relief of symptoms in patients with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis: comparison between telithromycin and penicillin V.

This study compared the resolution of symptoms in patients with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis treated with 5 d of telithromycin 800 mg once daily, or 10 d of penicillin V 500 mg 3 times daily. At days 3-5 of treatment, the mean improvement in total symptom score was greater with telithromycin than with penicillin V (p = 0.042).

Treatment and prevention of influenza: Swedish recommendations.

The introduction of the 2 neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) zanamivir and oseltamivir has offered new options for the prevention and treatment of influenza. This article summarizes a Swedish consensus guidance document on the rational use of antiviral drugs in the management of influenza virus infections. Vaccination remains the cornerstone for influenza prophylaxis.

The Treatment of Severe Group A Streptococcal Infections.

Group A streptococci can cause a variety of diseases ranging from uncomplicated superficial infections to severe systemic infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Since the late 1980s a drastic resurgence of highly aggressive invasive streptococcal infections, including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, have been noted worldwide. This has prompted intense research in the field and important new information has been gained regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of life-threatening invasive group A streptococcal infections.

Differential immune response to the variable surface loop antigen of P66 of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in geographically diverse populations of lyme borreliosis patients.

We have studied the immune response to a variable surface-exposed loop region of the P66 outer membrane protein from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato by using an enzyme immunoassay. Lyme borreliosis populations found in North America and Sweden were preferentially more seroreactive to P66 from their respective regional species, namely, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B.

Three major Lyme Borrelia genospecies (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii and B. garinii) identified by PCR in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with neuroborreliosis in Sweden.

The Lyme Borrelia genospecies Borrelia afzelii and B. garinii have previously been isolated using a culture method in Swedish patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB). There are reports suggesting that the genospecies distribution in human tissue specimens as determined by molecular methods is different from that obtained by culture.

Atypical pneumonia in the Nordic countries: aetiology and clinical results of a trial comparing fleroxacin and doxycycline. Nordic Atypical Pneumonia Study Group.

Community-aquired pneumonia caused by atypical bacteria or viruses was studied in a double-blind trial comparing fleroxacin 400 mg od and doxycycline 100 mg bd for 10 days. The aetiology was confirmed in 258 of 411 cases (66%), of which 133 were caused by Mycoplasma spp., Chlamydia spp.

Useful agents in the management of urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) encompass a large variety of clinical conditions ranging from asymptomatic bacteriuria in healthy individuals to life-threatening bacteraemic infections. The choice of antibiotic therapy must be based on identification of the type of UTI to be treated, possible contraindicating factors with the individual patient and, above all, knowledge of the antibiotic resistance pattern in the geographical area where the patient acquired the bacteriuria. In many countries trimethoprim-sulphonamide combinations, trimethoprim plain or nitrofurantoin are still useful drugs.