Occurrence Of Colonization Research Articles

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in tracheal aspirate: Colonization, infection, and recurrence.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections are challenging, and the risk of recurrence is a frequent problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the presence of P.aeruginosa, and the risk factors related to the recurrence and death of lower airway infections in inpatients in a Brazilian hospital. Retrospective cohort with inpatients that had a sample of airways culture (tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage) with the detection of P.aeruginosa. The patients with clinical criteria of infection were classified as ventilator-associated, hospital-acquired, or community-acquired pneumonia. P.aeruginosa in respiratory samples without symptoms was considered colonization. The antimicrobial treatment adequacy and the clinical data were evaluated. Outcome variables included mortality and recurrence. One hundred and fifty-four patients were included in the study, most of them were men, and the majority (102) were considered infected. The average length of stay was superior to 30 days. Previous pulmonary disease was associated with the occurrence of colonization. Aminoglycosides were the most active drug according to susceptibility tests and were successfully used as monotherapy. Septic shock was a risk factor for death in the infected patients. The use of adequate antimicrobial therapy was associated with major survival, independent of the infection classification. It is possible to evaluate clinical data associated with recurrence and mortality in patients with different lung infections by P.aeruginosa. Aminoglycoside monotherapy is safe and effective in P.aeruginosa respiratory infections.

Colonization by Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in an urban park in the city of São Paulo.

INTRODUCTION: This communication reports on the occurrence of colonization by Panstrongylus megistus in an urban park in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Entomological research includes active search for vectors based on notifications by the population and identification and examination of insects. RESULTS: A colony of triatomines was found to be associated with enclosed birds. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of P. megistus has already been reported in the city of São Paulo; however, reports of colonization by this species provide evidence of its potential for the occupation of artificial ecotopes, which may pose a risk to the human population.

Colonialism without Colonies? A Bronze Age Case Study from Akrotiri, Thera

Using ceramic evidence from Bronze Age Akrotiri on Thera, the authors explore the idea that regional cultural interactions of a colonialist character can take place without the occurrence of colonization per se. They assess the types and frequency of Cretan Middle Minoan IIIA imports from selected deposits at the site, the nature of local imitations of Cretan pottery, and the adoption of a characteristically Cretan technology, the potter's wheel. By comparing processes of material, stylistic, and technological transfer, the authors seek to characterize Crete's influence off-island and the responses of neighboring island communities, concluding that Cretan material culture is more a cause than an effect of Minoanization.

Streptococcus canis infections in humans: Retrospective study of 54 patients

This 5-year retrospective study reports 54 patients with infection, caused by Streptococcus canis, a pyogenic Lancefield group G streptococcus initially isolated from various animal sources. During 1997-2002, Streptococcus canis accounted for 1% of all streptococci isolated. The clinical signs, outcome and bacteriological characteristics were reviewed. All except eight were symptomatic. Clinical manifestations were: soft tissue infection (n=35), bacteremia (n=5), urinary infection (n=3), bone infection (n=2) and pneumonia (n=1). The course was favorable in 52 cases while two died from sepsis. Cultures were often polymicrobial (n=42, 77.8%) apart from hemocultures. The isolates were sensitive to most antibiotics. Presence of the bacteria did not always signify infection owing to the possible occurrence of colonization. The frequency of S. canis infections is rare and likely underestimated owing to the fact that streptococci are sought only on the basis of the Lancefield classification. The search for S. canis is recommended whenever patients present with symptoms evocative of exposure to a potentially contaminated animal.

Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes: prevalência de colonização e avaliação da suscetibilidade aos antimicrobianos

PURPOSE: to verify the occurrence of colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women attended at the prenatal outpatient clinic of the Teaching Maternity Hospital of Rio de Janeiro University (UFRJ) and to evaluate the susceptibility of the isolates to antimicrobial agents. METHODS: a total of 167 pregnant women between the 32nd and 41st week of gestation, regardless of risk factors, attended at the antenatal clinic between February 2003 and February 2004, were evaluated. The vaginal/anal material, collected by the same swab, was inoculated in Todd-Hewitt broth to which nalidixic acid (15 µg/mL) and gentamicin (8 µg/mL) were added, with following subcultures onto sheep blood-agar. Identification was carried out observing colony morphology and beta-hemolysis type on blood-agar, catalase, cAMP, and serological tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing used agar diffusion and agar dilution methods. Statistical analysis was performed by the c2 test with the level of significance set at p 0.05). All 32 isolated strains were susceptible to penicillin, cefotaxime, ofloxacin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin and meropenem. Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin was detected in 9.4 and 6.2% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: the relatively high incidence (19.2%) of colonization by S. agalactiae among the evaluated pregnant women and the recovery of antimicrobial resistant strains, especially those recommended in cases of penicillin allergy, emphasize the importance, for a correct prevention of neonatal infections, of detecting colonization at the end of pregnancy and evaluating antimicrobial susceptibility.

Bacteremia associated with central venous catheter infection is not an independent predictor of outcomes

Background: Infection is the leading complication of central venous catheters. In the setting of suspected line infection, the CDC recognizes only catheter-related bloodstream infection but not catheter infection without bacteremia, which is designated “colonization.” To evaluate the hypothesis that catheter-related bloodstream infection has worse outcomes than catheter infection without bacteremia, we compared demographics, clinical data, and outcomes. Study Design: Analysis of catheter infections was performed on data collected prospectively for all episodes of infection occurring from December 1996 to September 1999 on the surgical services at a university hospital. Catheter tips were cultured only when infection was suspected. Catheter infection without bacteremia was defined as systemic evidence of infection, the presence of at least 15 colony-forming units on the catheter tip by a semiquantitative technique, and absence of bloodstream infection with the same organism as the catheter. Catheter-related bloodstream infection required the presence of bacteremia with the same organism as the catheter tip. Results: The 59 patients with catheter-related bloodstream infection had more coexistent infections than the 91 patients with catheter infection without bacteremia (2.9 ± 0.1 versus 1.7 ± 0.1; p = 0.0001), most commonly pneumonia (37.3% versus 16.5%, p = 0.004) and urinary tract infections (28.8% versus 8.8%, p = 0.001). Catheter-related bloodstream infection was associated with an increased proportion of gram-negative organisms compared with catheter infections without bacteremia (29.5% versus 16.9%, p = 0.04) and a trend toward fewer gram-positive organisms (61.5% versus 73.7%, p = 0.07). There were no differences in APACHE II score, WBC, length of hospital stay, time from admission to fever, time from fever to treatment, normalization of WBC, days of antibiotics, defervescence, gender, presence of comorbidities, occurrence of colonization while in an ICU, or mortality rate (18.6% with bacteremia, 24.2% without; p = 0.42). Conclusions: The presence of bloodstream infection in addition to catheter infection does not appear to alter outcomes. The definition of catheter infection perhaps should be extended to include catheter infections without bloodstream infection in the presence of systemic illness without another source.