Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in human feces by PCR.

C. parvum has a high pathologic potential also for man, especially for immununosuppressed patients. The microscopic detection of cysts in feces is neither easy nor always reliable.

Comparison of Roche Cobas Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay with in-house PCR and culture for detection of M. tuberculosis.

The new Roche Cobas Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay, which is a semiautomated version of the manually performed Roche Amplicor M. tuberculosis test, was compared to culture and an IS6110-based in-house PCR protocol. A total of 1,681 specimens from 833 patients, including specimen types other than sputum, were tested in parallel by both the in-house PCR and the Cobas Amplicor M.

[Laboratory diagnosis and antibacterial therapy in joint diseases].

The indication for arthrocentesis is a difficult medical decision. Once obtained, however, puncture fluid is unique and important examination material which should always be thoroughly analyzed for diagnostic purposes, and also stored in a serum bank. In addition to the total protein and/or albumin fractions, the individual immunoglobulins in particular have proved to be a key parameter: they enable mechanical, hydro, inflammatory, and chronic-inflammatory processes to be distinguished.

[Yeasts: cause of infections of the respiratory tract?].

Poor data are given in literature on the rate and concentration of yeasts on mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Our data show a rate of lower than 0.2% (only concentrations of 10(4)-10(5) detected).

[Bacteriologic and serologic diagnosis of enteral infections].

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract still are numerous, ranging on the second place after infections of the respiratory tract. Some of them show quite severe or prolonged course. In contrast to other infections, especially those of the urinary tract, laboratory diagnostic of enteritis is only scarcely ordered.

[Hepatitis non-A, non-B-associated substance in stool from patients with posttransfusion and sporadic hepatitis].

A hepatitis non-A,non-B-associated substance (HNANB-AS) excreted in feces has been detected by means of a sandwich radioimmunoassay using reconvalescent serum and IgG from patients with posttransfusion HNANB. 4380 stool filtrates from 1599 patients were screened with this assay. In patients with posttransfusion or sporadic acute and chronic HNANB the substance was detected with a mean frequency of 34%, in acute posttransfusion HNANB, where samples were screened at the beginning of the clinical symptoms, 71.

[Microbiologic-immunologic laboratory diagnosis in suspected meningitis/encephalitis].

The diagnosis on the exclusion of infectious diseases of the central nervous system, especially of bacterial infections still is one of the most important issues in clinical microbiology. In bacterial meningitis, where lethal courses as well as severe sequelae are still frequent, there should be a rapid diagnosis not only with microscopy but also with Limulus test and antigen detection tests because a specific therapy should be initiated as soon as possible. But also viral infections caused by varicella or herpes virus are increasingly susceptible to chemotherapy.

[Incidence of deep respiratory tract infections].

The distribution of respiratory tract infections (RTI) among the general population is not uniform. The incidence in neonates and the elderly (older than 65) is 2 to 3 times higher than that in adults. Examinations to determine the responsible pathogen are conducted in less than 1% of cases of RTI.

[Blood culture: efficacy of the specimens for the analysis of bacteremia and sepsis].

The indication for examination of blood cultures is discussed. The evaluation of clinical information with respect to the underlying diseases demonstrated that in most cases a microbiological etiology was suspected. Mostly we obtained diagnosis like chill, septic shock or suspicion of nosocomial infection.

[Causative spectrum of bacteremia and sepsis: significance for therapy].

Nowadays, infection with septicemia still can be a life-threatening disease. We evaluated the therapeutic behavior of clinicians basing on our diagnostic experiences during the last years and data from continuous epidemiological analysis. Important statements resulted on therapy without knowledge of the pathogen.

[Laboratory diagnosis in suspected infections of the urinary tract].

Rules for diagnostic procedure in patients with urinary tract infections are presented: the different indications for the investigation, the optimal specimen and the different laboratory methods. At this point the value of the determination of infection markers is investigated. Relating to our own experience we propose a stepwise diagnostic procedure.

[Irritant effect of tensides on occupational dermatitis patients in hairdressing and nursing occupations. Comparative studies of healthy persons and neurodermatitis patients].

The irritational disposition of the skin was studied in a control group of 12 healthy persons, 8 patients with neurodermitis, 11 hairdressers with occupational dermatitis and 11 nurses with occupational dermatitis by using the Duhring-chamber-scarification test. For comparison, the alkali resistance test was also carried out. The results show that with the alkali resistance test the irritational disposition towards tensides may not be judged.

[Listeriosis: case report and repetitorium].

Three cases of listeriosis are presented: The first patient was a 72-year-old man, who had an operative removal of a thymom one and a half year ago. In 1983 he developed polyradiculitis and was treated with cortison. Three months later he developed meningeal symptoms.

[Diagnosis and therapy of newborn infants of mothers with so-called "positive Wassermann"].

With modern immunological methods of syphilis diagnosis--TPHA, FTA-ABS., cardiolipin complement-fixation reaction, separation of specific IgM-antibodies, paired sample analysis--it is possible to distinguish between antibodies, which are stimulated by prenatal treponemal infection and those transmitted through the placenta. Investigation of maternal blood during pregnancy facilitates an early diagnosis and therapy as well as it saves an unnecessary prophylaxis of the newborn.

[Bacteriological examination of bronchitis and pneumonia. Part II: quantitative analysis of homogenized sputum with respect to leucocytes, protein, erythrocytes and bacteria (author's transl)].

This study is concerned with the value of bacteriological sputum examination by lower respiratory tract infections. Prominence was given to quantitative aspects; colony forming units and markers of infection as leucocytes, albumin and erythrocytes were determined from homogenized specimens. It turned out that numbers exceeding 10(6) per ml of pathogenic bacteria correlated in more than 90% with clinical evidence of bronchitis or pneumonia if cases with antibiotic treatment are not taken into account.

[Bacteriological examination of bronchitis and pneumonia. Part I: Is sputum an appropriate material to be examined?--a literary review (author's transl)].

In a literary review the respiratory tract in its physiological condition, the causative agents of bacterial pneumonias and bronchitides are taken into consideration as are also concerned with the question of the suitability of sputum as a material to be examined by infections of the lower respiratory tract which above all with regard to the diagnostic value to other materials as transtracheal aspiration (TTA), bronchial aspiration (BA) and lung aspiration (LA) specimens.

[Studies on normal range of serum IgE concentration (author's transl)].

To obtain information about the normal range of IgE concentration in serum a random population of male and female patients was divided into 14 age groups. Based on the mean values (x +/- 1s) an age dependency is clearly recognizable with an increase of the IgE concentration at one and two years of age, a constant IgE concentration during the middle age period, and a decrease of the IgE level in the 40th year of age which becomes especially obvious after the 60th and 80th year of age. From the distribution pattern of IgE levels within the different age groups it is evident that only the curves of newborns and persons over 80 years resemble a normal Gaussian distribution.

[Malaria: 4 case reports with "atypical" symptoms (author's transl)].

Four cases of malaria are described. Five to nine days elapsed between the onset of clinical symptoms and the beginning of the anti-malaria chemotherapy. One of the patients died under signs of massive and nearly synchronous hemolysis during the last two hours of treatment.