PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Goglio

Publications and source records attributed to A Goglio.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Vancomycin susceptibility in enterococcal blood isolates in Italy: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

A retrospective, multicenter survey was performed to evaluate the frequency of vancomycin resistance among enterococcal blood isolates in Italian hospitals during 1993. Twenty-four laboratories, representing 21 cities, provided data on 177,623 blood cultures. Of 15,500 positive cultures, 778 (5%) yielded an Enterococcus. Of 362 evaluable cases of enterococcal bacteremia, a vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE) was found in only 6 (1.6%). Based on these results, VRE bacteremia did not appear to be a major problem in Italian hospitals in 1993.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1995

A Family Case Report of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Italian Travelers.

Schistosoma haematobium infection is endemic in 53 countries and is confined to Africa and the Middle East.1,2,3 It is estimated that about 90 million persons are infected and that at least 180 million persons are exposed to the risk of infection.1 Fortunately, the morbidity caused by S. haematobium infection is probably low, even though it is still difficult to define and evaluate this morbidity with any precision. S. haematobium infection is not a significant cause of death in most endemic areas.1,2 In fact, this particular parasitic infection is mild and often without symptoms. In some cases, the only clinically relevant symptom is recurrent, painless hematuria.2 Among people living in endemic areas, almost all children are infected by the parasite and, in some cases, complications develop, such as chronic renal infection, bladder abnormalities, and carcinoma.2 The seriousness of the disease is related to the rate of infection, since the active disease is more frequently detected among children aged 5-15 years.1,3,4 In developing countries, strategies for the control and prevention of the increasing diffusion of the S. haematobium infection are mainly aimed at the following: (1) education of the population to avoid contamination of fresh water with urine, possibly containing viable eggs of the parasite; (2) education to avoid bathing in or contact with, contaminated water; (3) control of irrigation systems and snails; and (4) use of noninvasive diagnostic techniques and treatment of infected subjects.2,3 In industrialized countries, S. haematobium infection is a rare, imported disease. In most cases, it exhibits only mild symptoms related to the urinary tract. The disease is often frequently unsuspected and misdiagnosed. In fact, S. haematobium infection is usually suspected only in patients immigrating from endemic areas and suffering from urinary tract symptoms, whereas correct diagnosis is often delayed in most cases of infected patients returning from a visit to an endemic area with similar symptoms. In addition, only a few laboratories can perform the correct diagnostic procedures. One such procedure is urine filtration, which can detect the presence and determine the number of S. haematobium eggs in urine samples obtained from infected subjects. In Italy, the number of reported cases of S. haematobium infection has increased in recent years. The increase is due to the increasing presence of immigrants from endemic African countries (unpublished data). The aim of this work was to describe the case report of an Italian family, which was infected by S. haematobium while vacationing in Malawi, and to emphasize that, in addition to immigrants from endemic areas, this parasitic infection should be suspected in patients who travel to these areas and who return, suffering from urinary tract symptoms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Epidemiological characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing infection in an Italian general hospital. A one-year surveillance.

During the 1989 calendar year, P. aeruginosa caused clinical infections in 0.46% of patients admitted to Ospedali Riuniti (a general hospital), Bergamo, Italy. Strains (n = 267) of P. aeruginosa were collected during this period, and epidemiological characteristics were studied. The mean prevalence of P. aeruginosa infection in inpatients was 1.1% (range 0.06-7.3), whereas outpatients showed a significantly lower prevalence of infection (0.05%). Strains were recovered from inpatients of surgical wards (n = 126; 47.2%), and outpatients (n = 15; 5.6%). Males were more often affected than females (2.7:1). Infection of the urinary tract was the most common (34.1%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also involved in lower respiratory tract infections (18.7%) and septicaemia (17.6%). Four typing methods were performed, i.e. serotyping, antibiotyping, pyocin typing, and restriction endonuclease analysis (REA). Serotypes O:11 and O:6 were endemic in the hospital. Some serotypes correlated with specific clinical wards. Pyocin typing was an unreliable epidemiological tool. However, antibiotyping showed the presence of some epidemic clusters, probably related to the antibiotic consumption of the patients. REA suggested the circulation of edemic P. aeruginosa strains in both the obstetrics and neurosurgery wards.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1995

Activity of seven antimicrobial agents, alone and in combination, against AIDS-associated isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex.

The activity of seven antimicrobial agents (and five two-drug combinations and five three-drug combinations) was investigated against 37 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium recovered from blood cultures of AIDS patients. The susceptibility tests were performed in Middlebrook 7H12 broth using a radiometric method. MICs of amikacin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, clofazimine, ethambutol, rifabutin and sparfloxacin were determined. Five antimicrobial agents were tested in combination with clarithromycin and also with clarithromycin plus amikacin to look for possible synergic activity. Synergic activity in combination with clarithromycin and with clarithromycin plus amikacin, was detected for rifabutin (54% and 51% of isolates, respectively), clofazimine (38% and 35%), ethambutol (16% and 32%), ciprofloxacin (8% and 14%) and sparfloxacin (3% and 8%). No antagonism was observed. We conclude that clarithromycin is an essential component in the chemotherapy of M. avium complex disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Human nocardiosis in northern Italy from 1982 to 1992. Northern Italy Collaborative Group on Nocardiosis.

We conducted a retrospective survey of nocardiosis in 9 city hospitals in northern Italy from 1982 to 1992. The medical records of 30 patients with documented nocardiosis were reviewed. Microbiological data included morphology, biochemical characteristics, serology and in vitro susceptibility testing. The 29 isolates (1 case was diagnosed on the basis of serological results) were Nocardia asteroides (n = 25) and Nocardia farcinica (n = 4). Predisposing factors including immunosuppression for organ transplant rejection prophylaxis, lung disease (silicotuberculosis and pulmonary fibrosis), solid tumours and hematological malignancies, and AIDS. Three patients had no identified risk factors. 20 cases of pulmonary nocardiosis were observed. Sites of infection in patients without previous pulmonary involvement were: brain abscesses, soft tissues, pericardium, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. Most strains tested were susceptible to amikacin and imipenem. Resistance to several antimicrobial agents was found, particularly erythromycin, fosfomycin, pefloxacin, sulphonamides and trimethoprim. Antimicrobial chemotherapy included sulphonamides, amikacin, ceftriaxone, imipenem and minocycline. 21 patients survived, although 2 relapsed transiently. Nocardiosis appears to be more common than generally realised by physicians in northern Italy. The local species distribution and disease spectrum are similar to those described elsewhere. Nocardiosis should be part of the differential diagnosis in patients with pulmonary infiltrates or brain abscess, particularly those with predisposing factors.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Ulcerative colitis precipitated by a verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infection.

The aetiology of ulcerative colitis remains unknown, despite extensive research into likely causes, such as infections, diet, environmental factors, immunological or genetic defects, psychomotor disorders, and abnormalities of mucin. We report here a case of ulcerative colitis in which the first episode of the disease was associated with serologic evidence of infection by verocytotoxin (VT)-producing O157 Escherichia coli (VTEC), possibly the trigger factor of a previously silent ulcerative colitis. Although histological reports of ulcerative colitis associated with VTEC infection are sporadically reported, the trigger role of VTEC in precipitating, aggravating or prolonging this pathology should be more fully elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Ten-year Experience with Imported Malaria in Bergamo, Italy.

Malaria infections have become an increasing public health problem in Europe, especially those imported into nonendemic areas. The transmission and diffusion of malaria has increased, especially over the last decade, due to changes in agricultural practices, vector resistance to insecticides, and most relevantly, increasing international travel and the resistance of these parasites to chemophrophylaxis. This study investigates the epidemiologic factors if imported malaria in an area of Italy, as related to international travel and prophylaxis by Italian immigrants who have revisited their country of origin. All cases (175) of imported malaria detected at the Laboratory of Microbiology of Ospedali Riuniti in Bergamo, Italy, between 1984 and 1993 were studied epidemiologically for the following variables: age, sex, and nationality; travel destination, length of stay, and date of return; and pathogen(s) detected, chemoprophylaxis used, and clinical symptoms exhibited. A high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was detected in more than three quarters of the cases with 91.4% of these travelers having visited African countries. Only two subjects had received adequate, correct prophylaxis. Fever, headache, and fatigue were experienced most often; however, in a few cases, blood, exchange transfusion, or treatment for splenomegaly were required. The results indicate that there is an emerging public health problem with immigrants who have resided in Italy for some time, revisited their country of origin, and consequently become infected with malaria, with specific prophylaxis not having been provided. This study emphasizes the importance of local epidemiologic studies, effective prophylaxis, and the need for those involved in the travel industry to promote specialized pretravel advice on a routine basis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Activity of antimicrobial drugs evaluated by agar dilution and radiometric methods against strains of Nocardia asteroides isolated in Italy from immunocompromised patients.

Benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, cephalothin, cephaloridine, cefotaxime, imipenem, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were tested in vitro by the agar dilution method against eleven strains of Nocardia asteroides isolated both from AIDS and other immunocompromised patients. Imipenem, amikacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were shown to be the most active drugs with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values nearly always lower than concentrations achievable in blood. Ciprofloxacin, cephaloridine and cefotaxime were moderately active, while the remaining drugs were totally ineffective. When susceptibility was assessed by the radiometric method the MIC90 values were uniformly lower than those in the agar method, possibly due to lower inactivation of drugs during incubation. The two methods showed a good correlation only for imipenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin. The results obtained by the radiometric method seem to indicate that, as for mycobacteria, this method may also give a more accurate evaluation of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Nocardiae.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Community-wide outbreak of hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with non-O157 verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli.

From 20 April through 13 May 1992, 9 children were hospitalized with hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Lombardia, Italy, where only 14 cases of this syndrome had occurred in the preceding 4 years. Cases were scattered in a large area encompassing five provinces, and the source of the outbreak was not identified. Eight patients needed dialysis, and there was 1 death. Seven of the 9 cases were examined for evidence of infection by Vero cytotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Six children had serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide of E. coli O111, and a VT-producing E. coli O111:NM was isolated from stool in 1 case. This is the first outbreak of VTEC infection recognized in Italy and the first associated with an E. coli serotype other than O157:H7.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

Nosocomial outbreak of severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in haematological patients.

From June to September 1988, an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in neutropenic patients admitted to the Haematological Wards of "Ospedali Riuniti" in Bergamo, Italy, was detected. Out of 11 cases of P. aeruginosa infections, 8 were bacteremic. Of these, 7 died within few days of onset (mortality rate: 87.5%). Consequently, possible sources of infection were investigated, and moist areas of the hospital environment were shown to be highly contaminated by P. aeruginosa. A clinical and microbiological follow-up of patients admitted to the Haematological Wards was performed for a 10 month period following the outbreak. Adequate measures for cleaning and disinfection were shown to reduce the frequency of P. aeruginosa hospital infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Multicentre evaluation of a biphasic culture system for recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens.

A new biphasic system (MB Check, Roche) for isolation of mycobacteria from clinical specimens was evaluated by eight different microbiological laboratories in comparison with methods routinely used in the respective laboratories. Altogether 1125 clinical specimens were processed; pretreatment, if performed, was by a variety of methods. Mycobacteria were recovered from 167 specimens with the biphasic system and 165 specimens with the other methods. The average time required for isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 22.6 days with the biphasic system and 24.7 days with egg-based media; for other mycobacterial species it was 23.5 versus 20.8 days. The inclusion of a chocolate agar section in the biphasic system facilitated the early detection of contaminants, while the NAP-containing section appeared unable to differentiate Mycobacterium tuberculosis from other mycobacterial species. The biphasic system, which enables recovery of mycobacteria in small laboratories without specialized equipment, is more practical than conventional methods and at least as sensitive.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1991

Risk factors for HIV infection in adults attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Italy.

We assessed prevalence and risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 637 patients (506 men, 131 women; median age 30 years, range 17-64) attending between September 1988 and July 1989 for the first time two sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Northern Italy, for suspected or STD treatment. A total of 44 subjects (6.9%, 95% confidence interval, (Cl): 4.9-8.9) were seropositive for HIV antibodies. The prevalence of HIV infection decreased with age, from 9% in patients aged 24 years or less to 3% in those aged 45 years or more (chi 21 trend 4.97, p less than 0.05). Women tended to have a lower prevalence of infection than men (5.3% versus 7.3%) but this was not statistically significant. Compared with men reporting no homosexual intercourse, HIV infection risk was about 50% higher in those reporting bisexual intercourse (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.5,95% Cl: 0.6-3.6) and about fourfold in those reporting only homosexual intercourse (OR 3.8, 95% Cl: 1.7-8.5). No clear trend in risk was observed with number of sexual partners both in men and in women. Intravenous drug users had an increased risk of HIV infection; compared with non-users, the OR was 5.6 (95% Cl: 3.0-10.5) in users, and the point estimates increased with frequency of use, from 3.3 (95% Cl: 0.8-11.5) in occasional users to 6.4 (95% Cl: 3.2-12.8) in regular users. The risk of HIV infection was 2.2 (95% Cl: 1.1-4.3) in patients reporting a history of STD, and 1.6 (95% Cl: 0.8-3.3) in those reporting syphilis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Urinary albumin excretion in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

We measured the urinary excretion of albumin in 67 healthy primigravidae, at monthly intervals, from 16 to 36 weeks of gestation and 12 weeks postpartum. Of the 67 primigravidae, 55 completed a normal pregnancy and 12 developed pregnancy-induced hypertension. In the latter group, an additional measurement of urinary albumin excretion was performed at 24 weeks postpartum. The aims of the study were: to look for changes of urinary albumin excretion during the progression of normal pregnancy; to assess if microalbuminuria could be an early feature of pregnancy-induced hypertension; to evaluate the effects of physical activity on the excretion of albumin in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension. In contrast with glomerular hyperfiltration and increased urinary total protein, two recognized characteristics of the pregnant state, we found that normal primigravidae, during the day, excrete significantly less albumin (p between less than 0.01 and less than 0.001) in comparison with the postpartum period and nonpregnant women. Normal primigravidae, as a group, showed parallel changes of urinary albumin excretion and diastolic blood pressure throughout pregnancy and postpartum, suggesting an important physiologic role of hemodynamic factors in regulating glomerular permeability to albumin. The daytime urinary albumin excretion in patients developing pregnancy-induced hypertension was significantly higher (p between less than 0.005 and less than 0.001) than in normal pregnancy from the 28th gestational week onwards. The increased urinary albumin excretion preceded the onset of hypertension and tended to persist long after blood pressure had returned to normal levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1989

Clinical evaluation of non-radiometric BACTEC NR 660 system for routine detection of bacteremia.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the sensitivity, accuracy and practicability to a two-bottle nonradiometric blood culture system (BACTEC NR 660) with the two bottle conventional blood culture system in use in our laboratory. A total of 592 sets of four blood culture bottles were collected from adults in a twenty-week period, giving 126 positive sets. The conventional system recovered 121 isolates, whereas the BACTEC NR 660 system recovered 97 microorganism. The difference in the recovery rate was not statistically significant. Contaminant isolates were detected with greater frequency in the conventional system (p less than 0.001). Microorganism were recovered faster in one or both BACTEC NR 660 bottles than in conventional system (p less than 0.001). Our study confirms that BACTEC NR 660 system is suitable for routine detection of bacteremia.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1987

AIDS in Italy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

[Comparison of 2 different blood culture systems: liquoid-BHI and hemoline performance diphasique].

The Liquoid-BHI, biphasic blood culture system, was compared with a conventional blood culture bottle (Hemoline performance diphasique) in 3125 paired blood cultures. Both systems were inoculated with equal volumes of blood (5 ml). Streptococcus spp. (P less than 0.02) and S. epidermidis (P less than 0.05) were recovered from BHI system. In contrast, P. fluorescens (P less than 0.02) were recovered in conventional system. No important differences were found for other bacteria and fungi. For optimal detection of microorganisms, however, the biphasic BHI system should be paired with conventional bottle.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗
PubMed1986

[Isolation of thymidine-dependent strains. Microbiologic considerations and personal observations].

We describe the emergence of three thymidine-dependent strains (Thy-): two Escherichia coli obtained in successive occasions from urine of a woman treated with co-trimoxazole before the organisms were isolated and one Proteus mirabilis obtained from urine of a man who had a treatment with norfloxacin. Cultural characteristics and methods for the detection of these Thy- strains are given.

Aged↗