Acute renal failure due to visceral leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum successfully treated with a single high dose of liposomal amphotericin B.

We report a visceral leishmaniasis case in an immunocompetent immigrant with acute renal failure. Parasites were demonstrated in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and kidney samples. A collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was documented, which was successfully treated with a single infusion of 10 mg/kg liposomal amphotericin B.

Preliminary evaluation of sensititre system for identifying gram-negative bacilli.

The automated microdilution Sensititre System (Sensititre, LtD.) was evaluated for the identification of 120 clinically isolated fermenter and non-fermenter Gram negative bacilli and of 12 ATCC reference strains (American Type Culture Collection). Daily and overnight (5 and 18 hours) identifications were performed according to the manufacturer.

[Detection of bacteremia by biphasic and radiometric methods].

During one year period our laboratory carried out 859 hemocultures. These have been evaluated with two methods: a conventional biphasic method (Castaneda bottles), and the automated radiometric method (Bactec System). 185 cultures were obtained with one or both methods.

[Comparison of AMS and MS-2 in the identification and antibiotic sensitivity of clinically isolated bacterial strains].

282 clinical bacterial strains have been identified with AMS and MS-2. Among biochemical tests only lysine, adhonitol , glucose did not show significant differences. The overall correlation has been 86.

[Comparative evaluation of 3 miniaturized systems (API 20E, Enterotube II, Sensititre AP60) commonly used in clinical microbiology laboratories].

API 20E, Enterotube II, Sensititre AP60 have been evaluated. Some biochemical tests (lysine, ornithine, VP, H2S, adonitol , arabinose, citrate) have revealed significative differences among three systems. The total correlations about bacterial identifications have been very similar.

WHO co-ordinated short-term double-blind trial with thalidomide in the treatment of acute lepra reactions in male lepromatous patients.

The treatment of lepra reactions constitutes one of the most serious problems in leprosy. For this reason, the first reports in 1965 of the favourable results obtained with thalidomide aroused considerable interest and led WHO, in 1967, to carry out a trial with the co-operation of four centres. A short-term double-blind trial was designed to study the effect of thalidomide, in comparison with acetylsalicylic acid, in the treatment of acute lepra reactions in male lepromatous patients.