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Biomedical subjects

E Kniehl

Publications and source records attributed to E Kniehl.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Bed, bath and beyond: pitfalls in prompt eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrier status in healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) in close contact with patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were screened for MRSA acquisition. From 1995 to 2001, MRSA was identified from the nasopharyngeal swabs of 87 HCWs, collected one to two weeks after contact with 592 known MRSA-positive patients. These HCWs were withdrawn from work and treated with topical antibiotics/antiseptics. They were advised to disinfect their bathrooms and personal hygiene articles, and to wash bed linen and pillows. They were screened for successful eradication for up to three months. Seventy-three (84%) HCWs lost their carrier status. The eradication regimen failed in 14 cases. In 11 of these MRSA was detected only in later nasopharyngeal swabs (suspected recolonization). Screening identified nasal colonization of close household contacts in eight of these 11 cases. Environmental sampling detected contamination in seven out of eight screened home environments. When eradication treatment was applied to household contacts and when household surfaces were cleaned and disinfected, the carriage cleared in most cases within a few weeks. However, when home environments are heavily contaminated, despite adequate medical treatment, eradication took upto two years. Due to withdrawal from work, the 14 carriers without prompt and lasting eradication after the first course of treatment accounted for about 70% of all lost working days. These experiences support the hypothesis that control measures should not be restricted to antibiotic or antiseptic treatment of long-term carriers (HCWs as well as patients), but must also include cleaning and disinfection of the household.

Carrier State↗
PubMed2003

Pseudo-outbreak of toxigenic Bacillus cereus isolated from stools of three patients with diarrhoea after oral administration of a probiotic medication.

From December 2000 to January 2001 toxigenic Bacillus cereus was isolated from stools of three patients with diarrhoea at two tertiary hospitals in southwest Germany. Two cases with nosocomial diarrhoea were apparently epidemiologically related (same time and ward), a third case was unrelated with respect to time and location. In order to investigate the epidemiology of these three cases, clinical isolates and isolates from an unexpected, possible common source (probiotic medication) were compared by toxin assay, biotyping and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The three clinical isolates, as well as the two isolates from different lots of the probiotic medication (Bactisubtil containing 'Bacillus IP 5832'; Cassella-med, Cologne, Germany), were indistinguishable by toxin assay, biotyping and RAPD, when compared with other distinguishable clinical B. cereus strains. As the diarrhoeal disease had begun before the probiotic medication had been administered to overcome it, the isolated B. cereus probably was at least initially, not the cause of the observed diarrhoeal disease. Isolation of toxigenic B. cereus from stools appeared to be a diagnostically misleading epiphenomenon after oral medication with the probiotic. We conclude, that probiotic medication with Bactisubtil (Bacillus IP 5832) may result in diagnostically misleading results when culturing stool specimens from patients with diarrhoea. The clonal identity of isolates may be misinterpreted as an outbreak. Stool specimens should be taken before start of probiotic treatment and clinicians should state probiotic medication when ordering stool examinations to allow correct interpretation of results. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that a probiotic medication contains potentially toxigenic material.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

[Triclosan, a topical dermatologic agent. In vitro- and in vivo studies on the effectiveness of a new preparation in the New German Formulary].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is an antiseptic suitable for formulation as a W/O emulsion. The objective of the present study was to explore its potential utility in atopic dermatitis and prophylactic skin care following leg eczema and leg ulcer treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed in vitro susceptibility testing using the agar diffusion test on 602 isolates from swabs of our institution's Division of Dermatology. Additionally in an in vivo study with 15 healthy volunteers, the occlusion test and the expanded flora test were performed following the application of Hydrophobic Triclosan Cream 2% NRF (New German Formulary) 11.122. (TC) versus untreated, triclosan-free vehicle, 1% chlorhexidine digluconate solution, and ethanol 70%. RESULTS: In vitro susceptibility testing showed excellent activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, and Proteus species. TC had little or no effect on Pseudomonas, beta-hemolytic streptococci, enterococci, and Candida species. In the in vivo study, TC produced a highly significant, quantitatively substantial reduction in aerobic bacterial counts versus untreated and versus vehicle. The 1% chlorhexidine digluconate solution was significantly more effective than TC in the expanded flora test. CONCLUSIONS: As S. aureus is a relevant pathogen in atopic dermatitis, and gram-negative organisms, including Klebsiella and Proteus species, as well as S. aureus play a major role in the prophylactic skin care after leg eczema and leg ulcer treatment, TC appears to be suitable for maintenance therapy in these indications.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1998

Rupture of therapeutic oleothorax leading to paraffin oil aspiration and dissemination of tuberculosis--a fatal late complication of tuberculosis therapy in the 1940s.

In the 1940s, oleothorax (paraffin oil instillation) was widely used to treat patients with apical tuberculosis. The oil plombage should have been removed after a few years; however, since oleothoraces were usually asymptomatic, removal was uncommon. These in the meantime elderly patients are at risk of late complications, such as rupture of the oleothorax and aspiration of oil. We report the case of a 69-year-old man with a spontaneous rupture of an oleothorax leading to oil aspiration, lipid pneumonia and culture-proven disseminated tuberculosis with fatal outcome. Unexpected positive PCR for M. tuberculosis-DNA in tracheal secretions was one of the leading signs in this case. Thus oil plombage in patients with oleothorax may be "time bombs". Primary physicians should be aware of this life-threatening complication.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral gnathostomiasis as a cause of an extended intracranial bleeding.

This is a report of a fourteen year old Thai-girl who presented with acute hemiparesis because of intracranial haemorrhage six weeks after immigrating to Germany. Marked blood eosinophilia and raised IgE in serum in comparison with her origin led to the suspected diagnosis of parasitosis. Angiography showed mycotic aneurysm typical for cerebral gnathostomiasis one of the major causes of intracranial haemorrhage in children in Thailand. This diagnosis was confirmed by detecting specific antibodies against Gnathostoma spinigerum in serum and CSF by Western blot. Therapy was started with albendazole and dexamethasone and the girl made a complete recovery. In case of intracranial haemorrhage cerebral gnathostomiasis should be considered if the patient originates from an endemic area.

Acute Disease↗