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Biomedical subjects

E Berntsson

Publications and source records attributed to E Berntsson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Community-acquired pneumonia].

In a prospective study 212 patients were analysed who, between 1. 10. 1982-31.12. 1983 and 1. 10. 1985-31. 12. 1986, had been admitted to hospital because of pneumonia. The causative organism was identified in 127 of the 212 patients (60%). Pneumococcus was the most common organism (n = 64), as demonstrated by culture and immunological techniques of determining antigen or antibody. Next most common was Legionella (n = 15) of various species. Mixed infections were found in 11 patients, in all instances associated with pneumococci. There were 24 deaths (11.3%). It is concluded from these results that (1) determination of pneumococcal antigen in sputum, but not in urine or serum, can improve the identification of the causative organism; (2) Legionella is one of the most common causes of pneumonia acquired outside of hospital; and (3) adequate serological diagnosis of Legionnaire's disease is possible only if a large number of different species are tested for.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in patients requiring hospitalization.

The etiology of community-acquired pneumonia was studied in 127 patients with roentgenologically verified pneumonia who needed hospitalization. Etiology was determined on the basis of a positive blood culture and/or a significant antibody titer increase. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the probable etiological agent in 69 patients, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in five patients, Streptococcus pyogenes in two patients, and Legionella pneumophila and Staphylococcus aureus in one patient each. Evidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was found in 18 patients and of Chlamydia psittaci infection in three patients. Influenza virus type A was the cause of infection in 15 patients. One patient had infection with influenza virus type B, one patient with parainfluenza virus type 1, and three patients with respiratory syncytial virus. In 20 patients there was evidence of infection with more than one microorganism. No etiological agent was found in 27 patients. Since Streptococcus pneumoniae was the predominant etiological agent penicillin should be drug of first choice in patients with pneumonia who need treatment in hospital. In young adults, however, the high frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection would justify the use of erythromycin or doxycycline as drug of first choice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Increased sensitivity of the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test with biotin/avidin: a comparison with conventional FTA-ABS.

The biotin/avidin system was adapted to the FTA technique for detection of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies specific to Treponema pallidum. By using biotin/avidin IgG antibodies could be detected in a serum dilution 15 000 times higher, and IgM 3 000 times higher than was possible with conventional FTA technique. IgA antibodies, however, were not detected with any of the methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of sputum and blood for the diagnosis of chest infections caused by pneumococci or Haemophilus influenzae.

In 107 patients with lower respiratory tract infections, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) of blood and sputum, bacterial cultures of blood, sputum and nasopharyngeal secretion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibody determination were performed, with special reference to pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae. For pneumococci CIE of sputum was superior to culture especially in antibiotic-treated patients. The clinical significance of a positive CIE of sputum was supported by close correlation to significant antibody increase. The usefulness of CIE regarding H. influenzae was more difficult to evaluate.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cefaclor therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Twenty-four patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis were treated with cefaclor at a dose of 500 mg every 8 hours for 10 days. Studies included volume, appearance and bacteriological examination of sputum, and haematological and virus serology tests. The response to therapy was judged on the reduction in sputum volume or the conversion of its character from purulent to mucoid. Nineteen of 24 patients improved and in 4 of 5 failures, positive serology for influenza virus was found. Growth of Pseudomonas occurred in one sputum. Minor side effects were seen in 3 patients, and no haematological or biochemical abnormalities were found.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Serological diagnosis of pneumococcal disease with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Antibody response to pneumococcal type-specific polysaccharide was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The test was shown to be up to 500 times more sensitive than indirect hemagglutination using chromic chloride-treated red blood cells. In 16/17 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia a significant antibody increase was seen as measured with ELISA. Only 6/23 patients with pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae gave a pneumococcal antibody rise and in those cases the increase was very slight. The authors consider ELISA a valuable contribution to the serological diagnosis of pneumococcal disease.

Adult↗