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Biomedical subjects

A M Le Flohic

Publications and source records attributed to A M Le Flohic.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Zygomycosis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae in a kidney transplant recipient.

Infections caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae are rare but severe. Only 32 cases have been reported as yet, but in 26 of these this species was a contributing cause of the death of the patient. This opportunistic mould in the order Mucorales infects immunocompromized patients suffering from haematological malignancies or diabetes mellitus, as well as solid organ transplant patients. The lung is the organ most often involved. Two cases of primary cutaneous infection have been previously reported subsequent to soft-tissue injuries. We report a case of primary cutaneous C. bertholletiae zygomycosis in a 54-year-old, insulin-dependent diabetic man who was treated with tacrolimus and steroids after kidney transplantation. No extracutaneous involvement was found. In this patient, the infection may have been related to insulin injections. The patient recovered after an early surgical excision of the lesion and daily administration of itraconazole for 2 months. This case emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis of cutaneous zygomycosis, which often presents as necrotic-looking lesions. Prompt institution of antifungal therapy and rapid surgical intervention are necessary to improve the prospects of patients who have contracted these potentially severe infections.

Cunninghamella↗
PubMed2003

Two cases of systemic Candida glabrata infection following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Presented here are two cases of systemic Candida glabrata infection diagnosed in two expectant mothers and their fetuses at 34 and 22 weeks' gestation. The underlying risk factors in case 1 were in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, recurrent yeast vaginitis and two intravenous injections of betamethasone. The risk factors in case 2 were in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, recurrent yeast vaginitis, antibiotics for treatment of a urinary tract infection due to Morganella morganii and amniocentesis. In both cases, vaginal fluid yielded growth of a yeast that was not identified. Candida glabrata was isolated from samples obtained from the mothers and their babies. Since Candida glabrata lacks hyphae, membranitis and infection of the fetuses were demonstrated only on slides stained with Gomori Grocott and periodic acid-Schiff. Both cases suggest that for such pregnancies the follow-up of vaginal fluid should include the identification of any yeasts grown on selective Candida medium. In case of premature rupture of membranes, systematic sampling of mothers and their infants or fetuses should be associated with microscopic study of placentas, membranes and stillborn fetuses with Gomori Grocott and periodic acid-Schiff staining techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Low rate of Candida parapsilosis-related colonization and infection in hospitalized preterm infants: a one-year prospective study.

We determined the rate of Candida parapsilosis colonization in preterm neonates (NN) and the relationship between colonization and systemic infection through a prospective study in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital. All NN born at a gestational age of 32 weeks or less were included. Specimens from rectum, mouth and retro-auricular skin were obtained at admission and weekly thereafter. All samples were inoculated on to Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar and Dixon media. Candida species were identified using API Candida and API 20C. DNA analysis was performed using pulse field gel electrophoresis.Fifty-four patients were included (mean age: 30 +/- 1.5 weeks; mean birthweight: 1347 +/- 301 g; male: 40%). Fungal colonization was detected in 43 (79.6%). Causative agents were C. parapsilosis (N= 7);Malassezia furfur (N= 30);C. albicans (N= 21), C. guillermondii (N= 1). No sample was positive for two different yeasts at the same time. C. parapsilosis colonization included anal (N= 6), buccal (N= 1), and skin (N= 2). The average age at time of colonization was 17.8+/-9.8 days. Neither fungal septicaemia nor death were observed in colonized infants. Two central venous catheters were found to be colonized, one with C. parapsilosis and one with M. furfur. Logistic regression showed a link between colonization and gestational age alone. Three different DNA profiles were observed. This study suggests that in our units, the occurrence of C. parapsilosis colonization is low and bears no relation to systemic infection. The systematic identification of C. parapsilosis carriers for the purposes of isolation and preventive treatment does not appear to be warranted.

Candida↗
PubMed2000

Cross-sectional survey of trachoma in school age children in the region of Thiès (Senegal).

BACKGROUND: Trachoma is a leading cause of blindness in West Africa. In Senegal previous studies have shown that the endemicity is high. AIMS: To verify the extent of the pathology and to study the epidemiologic characters of this infectious disease in a population of school age children in a rural zone, located in the Thiès region (Senegal). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey in six villages in the region of Thiès was performed in a population of school age children (5 to 15 years old). Sixty variables (individual, family, village, etc.) with morbidity indicators for trachoma cases were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The cross-sectional survey confirmed the extent of the prevalence of trachoma in the childhood population; 208 of the 388 children (mean age, 9.19 years) included had trachoma (53.6%). Significant statistical correlations were found among the occurrence of trachoma and ethnic origins, the village of residence, the father's profession and the daily quantity of water ingested and its origin. Inversely no correlation could be found between the occurrence of trachoma and sex, age (except for florid trachoma), the size of the sibship, whether the mother washes the child, washing their hands before eating, the number of cospouses and the number of children per mother. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained confirmed the extent of this endemic disease in the region of Thiès, because dispensing antibiotic eye drop has limited efficacy over time. Information should be provided to the population on the extent of the disease and its epidemiologic characteristics and more widespread well drilling, and use of that water should be encouraged.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Acanthamoeba keratitis: search for a healthy carrier in Mali].

The first cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Africa were reported in 1990 at the Institute of African Tropical Ophthalmology (IOTA) in Bamako, Mali. From 1990 to 1995, a total of 22 cases of corneal ulcers involving Acanthamoeba sp. were diagnosed at the IOTA. To improve our understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of these lesions in tropical areas, we attempted to identify healthy carriers of Acanthamoeba sp. by studying the normal eye flora of 149 patients examined at the IOTA in February 1996. Acanthamoeba sp. was not detected in any sample. Fungi were detected in 22.15 p. 100 of the samples. Thus, it would appear that, unlike fungi, Acanthamoeba sp. is not present in normal eye flora in Mali. This findings suggests that the occurrence of Acanthamoeba in corneal ulcers is not an accident. Our results also emphasize the need for screening to detect Acanthamoeba in developing countries such as Mali. However, further study will be needed to confirm these findings in a larger group of subjects more closely matched with the patients presenting the corneal ulcers diagnosed at the IOTA, especially with regard to geographical origin.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1992

[Imported malaria in Brest hospitals from 1981 to 1990].

From 1981 to 1990, 96 confirmed hospital cases of imported malaria occurred in Brest. An important increasing of the annual number was observed in 1986. A high proportion of infection was due to Plasmodium falciparum, mainly from black Africa. Most of the patients was French young men, without or with inadequate chemoprophylaxis. Every case of malaria due to P. falciparum appeared during the 2 months following their return from an endemic area. Two patients had a clinical profile of visceral evolutive malaria and 5 a cerebral malaria. Three patients died.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The extent of oral fungal flora in 353 students and possible relationships with dental caries.

An epidemiological study was conducted on 353 students to determine the potential relationships between oral saprophytism with Candida albicans and dental status. For each student included, an interview, a dental examination, a mycological investigation and determination of oral pH were conducted. Various factors liable to affect the presence of oral fungus were investigated using the chi(2) test. 58.6% of samples were positive when cultured, with C. albicans in 93.7% of cases. The mean DMF index was 7.6. C. albicans was more frequently isolated in men, smokers, when pH was lower than 7, when dental plaque was abundant and when the time since the teeth had last been brushed was more than 8 h. DMF and F indexes were greater when C. albicans was present but not when it was abundant, while decay was more often present in subjects with abundant C. albicans. Although the specific role of the various factors is difficult to establish, the results suggest that further research to elucidate the possible role of C. albicans in caries aetiology would be valuable.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hemoglobinoses and hemoglobinopathies in the Central African Republic. 2].

Part of an inquiry which took place in R. C. A. from january 1972 to january 1975, we are able to give results concerning the prevalence of haemoglobin S in three new prospected regions and the value of sickling test. Cellogel electrophoresis sorted 20 0/0 of haemoglobin S bearers (AS or SS) od of 527 school children. On the same lot, sickling test by field practice, revealed only 7 0/0 and on the whole lot of examined individuals (684) only 8 0/0. This confirms that sickling test, when alone, is not reliable enough to appreciate the prevalence of haemoglobin S.

Adolescent↗