Absence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in pharyngeal swabs of geriatric inpatients.

Colonization of the pharynx by Streptococcus pneumoniae was studied in 185 in-hospital geriatric patients (median age 81 years) from 29 March 2011 to 22 June 2011. Swabs were plated on blood agar plates. Colonies with a morphology suggesting S.

Fungal encephalitis in human autopsy cases is associated with extensive neuronal damage but only minimal repair.

Aims: The present study aimed at examining neuronal injury and repair in post mortem brain sections of humans who died from fungal central nervous system infections.

Methods: Histological and immunohistochemical abnormalities in 15 autopsy cases with fungal central nervous system infections from 1990 to 2008 were compared with findings in 10 age- und sex-matched control cases that died from acute non-neurological causes. The fungal pathogens were identified by culture or polymerase chain reaction and morphology in post mortem tissue.