Molecular characterisation of linezolid resistance in two vancomycin-resistant (VanB) Enterococcus faecium isolates using Pyrosequencing.

In this paper, we describe the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of two clinically relevant, vancomycin-resistant (VanB), linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates. Pyrosequencing showed the G to T single nucleotide polymorphism at bp 2576 in the genes coding for 23S rRNA and was used to quantify the proportion of G to T mutations among six different 23S rRNA genes in E. faecium as a marker for the molecular level of resistance to linezolid.

One hundred thirty-two consecutive pediatric liver transplants without hospital mortality: lessons learned and outlook for the future.

Objective: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has become an established procedure for the treatment of pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease. Since starting our program in 1989, 422 pediatric OLTs have been performed using all techniques presently available. Analyzing our series, we have concluded that the year of transplantation is the most important prognostic factor in patient and graft survival in a multivariate analysis.

Reversal of immunoparalysis by recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with severe sepsis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) on immunoparalysis as defined by a sustained decrease of HLA-DR expression on monocytes in patients with severe sepsis.

Design: Prospective, non-randomised observational study.

Setting: Two anaesthesiological intensive care units of a university hospital.

Critical care transesophageal endosonography and guided fine-needle aspiration for diagnosis and management of posterior mediastinitis.

Background: Acute mediastinitis is a serious complication; it occurs after esophageal perforation and thoracic surgery and is rarely due to infections. Clinical and computed tomographic scan signs may be nonspecific, especially in postoperative patients.

Design: We prospectively evaluated the value of transesophageal endosonography with guided fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis and identification of etiologic agents in critically ill patients with suspected posterior mediastinitis.