[Adherence to copper and stainless steel metal coupons of common nosocomial bacterial strains].

Background: Copper has a bactericidal activity against a series of bacterial strains.

Aim: To measure resistance to bacterial adherence of copper (Cu) and stainless steel (SS) metal coupons.

Material And Methods: Bacterial strains causing nosocomial infections in Chile were analyzed.

[Application of copper bactericidal properties in medical practice].

Copper is essential for cell metabolism in animals and plants and thus for life. Along centuries, copper has been identified as a metal containing antimicrobial properties. In recent years, laboratory assays and clinical studies have revealed that surfaces of metallic copper or its alloys, containing at least 70% copper, eliminate in a few hours several pathogenic organisms including bacterial strains associated with nosocomial infections, influenza virus, HIV, and fungi such as Candida albicans.

[Hemolytic uremic syndrome associated to shigatoxin producing Escherichia coli in Chilean children: clinical and epidemiological aspects].

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of shigatoxin producing E. coli (STEC) infections and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are reviewed. Surveillance results from 14 sentinel centers during 2000-2002 showed a mean incidence rate of 3.

[Multiplex PCR assay in spinal fluid to identify simultaneously bacterial pathogens associated to acute bacterial meningitis in Chilean children].

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a serious disease that needs rapid diagnosis for an accurate treatment. The most important etiological agents are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Overall pathogen detection rate in patients with ABM in Chile is 83%.

[Shigella spp infections in children living in the Metropolitan Region, Chile, during summer of 2004-2005].

Background: Shigella spp is a frequent cause of diarrhea in children. Antimicrobials decrease the duration of diarrhea and pathogen excretion. However, the increasing resistance limits their therapeutic value.

[In vitro activity of telithromycin against community acquired respiratory pathogens].

Background: Telithromycin is a new ketolide antimicrobial, that can be useful for the treatment of respiratory infections.

Aim: To compare in vitro activity of telithromycin against respiratory pathogens, isolated in outpatient clinics.

Material And Methods: Two hundred eighty strains isolated from patients with respiratory infections, were studied.