Streptococcus pyogenes bacteremia: a retrospective study in a Belgian university hospital.

We retrospectively studied 29 cases of S.pyogenes bacteremia, treated from September 1985 through September 1993, in order to define the clinical pattern, predisposing factors and the outcome of S.pyogenes bacteremia in our region.

Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis: changing epidemiology from 1973 until 1992.

A retrospective analysis, covering a period of 20 years, of 2049 primo-isolates of Salmonella typhimurium and 343 primo-isolates of Salmonella enteritidis was performed at our laboratory. In 1991, S. enteritidis (43.

Salmonella typhi osteomyelitis.

Salmonella infections in man can be divided in five clinical groups: enteric fever, septicaemia without localization, focal disease, gastroenteritis and the carrier state. Salmonella typhi is mostly associated with enteric fever and the carrier state. Bone infections due to S.

[Trends in pneumococcal infections in Belgium from 1986 to 1991].

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most frequent causes of pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media. Persons at high risk are young children, elderly, and individuals with immunodeficiency or with an underlying disease. Thanks to a network ot 111 laboratories spread all over Belgium, the evolution of the number of deep isolates of S.

Fluconazole-resistant Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii in an AIDS patient.

We describe a case of meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii in an AIDS patient. The reasons for the observed predominance of C. neoformans var neoformans infections in AIDS patients living in areas endemic for the gattii variety are not understood thus far.

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract and its value for patients in intensive care units.

Selective digestive decontamination (SDD) is a method that aims to eradicate the oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal carriage of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (PPMO) by means of the application of high oropharyngeal and faecal antimicrobial concentrations. The SDD technique has proven its effectiveness in patients with profound granulocytopenia and has become commonplace in most European haematological services. A large number of trials most often uncontrolled or relying on historical controls have evaluated the use of SDD in intensive care patients.

Evaluation of Bactec high blood volume resin media.

BACTEC PLUS high-blood-volume resin media (aerobic BP 26 vial and anaerobic BP 27 vial) were compared with standard BACTEC media (aerobic NR 6A and anaerobic NR 7A vial). A total of 2253 blood culture sets, each consisting of the four vials, were collected. Positive cultures were obtained from 403 sets and grew 428 organisms; 271 organisms were considered as significant.

Comparative in-vitro activity of RP 59500.

The in-vitro activity of RP 59500 was compared with that of other appropriate antibiotics against 131 staphylococci, 97 streptococci, 20 enterococci, 68 Neisseria spp., 68 Haemophilus influenzae, 21 Moraxella catarrhalis and 250 Gram-negative bacilli. RP 59500 was more active than oxacillin, vancomycin and erythromycin against staphylococci (MIC 0.

Oral cephalosporins.

The arrival of new cephalosporins faces the clinician with an evergrowing confusion as to the drug of choice. The older agents (cephalexin, cephradine, cefadroxil and cefaclor) and the newer formulations cefatrizine and cefuroxime axetil are intensively used for treatment of mild and moderate infections. The oldest agents have a better pharmacokinetic profile but are less active against Gram-positives and Gram-negatives.

Tibial osteomyelitis due to Aspergillus flavus in a heart transplant patient.

Aspergillus flavus was identified as the causative organism of a case of osteomyelitis involving the proximal epiphysis of the left tibia in a heart transplant patient. History revealed a previous pretibial wound due to a fall in the street as the consequence of a sudden cardiac arrest. Surgical debridement combined with fungostatic treatment including amphotericin B and itraconazole was followed by clinical improvement, although the fungus could still be recovered by culture on subsequent samples.

Human Salmonella and Shigella infections in Moroni, the capital of Great Comoro Island (1987-1988).

Over a period of two years 98 cultures of Salmonella and 17 cultures of Shigella were isolated at the El Maarouf Hospital, Moroni, capital of the Comoros. Almost half of the isolates were from children under 5 years. Salmonella belonged to a limited range of serotypes, S.

Characterization, in vitro susceptibility, and clinical significance of CDC group HB-5 from Rwanda.

From June 1984 until July 1988, CDC group HB-5 isolates were recovered from the exudates of genital ulcers in 25 of 675 (3.6%) patients (204 women, 471 men) in Kigali, Rwanda. Among a group of 145 men presenting with urethritis but without genital ulcers, a positive culture for HB-5 of a specimen from the coronal groove of the penis of only 1 man (0.

Capsular types and antibiotic sensitivity of pneumococci isolated from patients with serious infections in Belgium 1980 to 1988.

A total of 2,765 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in more than 60 Belgian laboratories from blood or normally sterile body fluids between 1 November 1980 and 31 December 1988 were serotyped. From January 1983 onwards susceptibility of the strains to antimicrobial agents was also tested. The 2,765 isolates belonged to 57 of the 84 currently identified serotypes.

Neonatal sepsis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

A 20-year-old primigravida in the 33rd week of gestation was delivered of a girl weighing 1,790 g 23 h after spontaneous rupture of the membranes. 13 h after birth, the child showed signs of shock. Cultures of blood, conjunctiva and nasopharyngeal aspirate grew Streptococcus pneumoniae of serotype 11.

In vitro activity of cefonicid compared to other antibiotics against clinical bacterial isolates.

The in vitro activity of cefonicid compared to that of other antibiotics has been evaluated against 401 Enterobacteriaceae, 20 H. influenzae, 17 Branhamella catarrhalis and 71 staphylococci. Cefonicid was always more active than cefazolin, and usually more active than cefamandole and cefuroxime against susceptible gram-negative organisms (E.

Campylobacter jejuni peritonitis during chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

A patient treated with chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed recurrent peritonitis. During a fourth episode, Campylobacter jejuni was cultured from the dialysate. She responded well to streptokinase and imipenem.

Plesiomonas shigelloides meningitis and septicaemia in a neonate: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 2-day-old neonate was admitted to hospital with septicaemia and meningitis found to be caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides. In spite of a course of intravenous ampicillin and cefotaxime he died 2 days later. We could not isolate the bacterium from the faeces of the mother and her dog, nor from the aquarium-water of her parents-in-law nor from the aquarium-water and fish of the doctor who delivered the baby.

Actinobacillus (formerly Pasteurella) ureae meningitis and bacteraemia: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 26-year-old man addicted to alcohol was admitted to hospital with headache and rhinorrhoea. Investigation revealed Pasteurella ureae meningitis and bacteraemia. A course of intravenous cefotaxime and penicillin G, followed by surgical correction of a nasocranial fistula, led to full recovery.

Susceptibility of ticarcillin-resistant gram-negative bacilli to different combinations of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid.

The susceptibility of ticarcillin-resistant and of ticarcillin-susceptible Gram-negative bacilli to different combinations of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid has been investigated. Susceptibility to ticarcillin has been restored in ticarcillin-resistant isolates in proportion to the amount of clavulanic acid in the combination and depending upon the species. The decrease in the MICs of ticarcillin was excellent to good in Proteus, Morganella, Providencia, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella, moderate in Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Serratia, but poor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.