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Biomedical subjects

F Paradisi

Publications and source records attributed to F Paradisi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Proposal of an improved score method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in childhood in developing countries.

210 children aged less than 5 years, referred to the Arua Regional TB Centre (Uganda) for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), were examined by anamnesis, clinical examination, Mantoux test, gastric washing, chest X-ray. The response to treatment criterion was applied to the patients treated. According to the score method suggested by Ghidey and Habte, 31 children were diagnosed as PTB patients. 30 of the 31 children with PTB tested positive for alcohol acid-fast bacilli (AAFB) in the aspirated juice. The Mantoux test and X-rays gave a minor contribution to diagnosis. The clinical results are commented. A statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the role of gastric washing in the diagnosis of PTB in children under 5 years of age (sensitivity, 96.8%; specificity, 92.2%; positive predictive value, 68.2%; negative predictive value, 99.4%). The response to treatment was also evaluated. A modified enlarged score method (based on gastric washing and including response to treatment) is proposed to be applied in developing countries where chest X-ray and other facilities are often lacking.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed1992

Which prophylactic regimen for which surgical procedure?

For optimal prevention of infection subsequent to a surgical intervention, it is necessary to follow a series of general principles, including the classification of the type of surgical intervention, the characteristics of the antibiotic used, and the route and the time of its administration. Moreover, with reference to the different types of surgery, other factors assume importance: the etiology of the infection and the ability of the antibiotic to achieve adequate levels in the tissues at the beginning of the infective process. In general abdominal, biliary, and obstetric-gynecologic surgery, which covers many clean-contaminated and contaminated interventions for which antibiotic prophylaxis has been shown to be the most effective, the etiology is often mixed (aerobic and anaerobic flora) with a predominance of gram-negative microorganisms. Thus, an appropriate prophylactic regimen must consider a third-generation cephalosporin, such as cefotaxime, that is effective against most gram-negative bacteria, in particular against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Acylureido penicillins can also be used because of their activity against enterococci, gram-positive microorganisms that are also causes of infection in this area of surgical intervention. Combining an antimicrobial such as clindamycin or metronidazole, which are particularly active against anaerobes, may be recommended as well. In urologic surgery, most infections are caused by Enterobacteriaceae; in addition to the antimicrobial spectrum, the ability of the antibiotic to concentrate adequately in the urine and renal tissue must also be considered. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the agents of choice, in particular, third-generation cephalosporins, aztreonam, and acylureido penicillins. In cardiac, orthopedic, and partially in neurologic surgery, where most infections are due to gram-positive bacteria (primarily methicillin-resistant staphylococci), antibiotic prophylaxis should include a glycopeptide agent (teicoplanin, vancomycin). In the field of surgical prophylaxis, more experience has been accumulated with cefotaxime, used as a short-course regimen or as a convenient single dose, than with any other newer cephalosporin. Cefotaxime's broad spectrum of action provides coverage against most potential pathogens and, when used as a single dose, is both convenient and cost-effective.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Effect of enoxacin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin on polymorphonuclear leukocytes chemiluminescence.

We studied the interactions between the neutrophilic granulocytes and three quinolone antibiotics, enoxacin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin, using the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence method to evaluate the respiratory burst of the cells. Neutrophils obtained from healthy human volunteers were exposed to different therapeutic concentrations of the drugs for one and three hours and then opzonized zymosan was added to stimulate chemiluminescence reaction. None of the three drugs tested exercised any influence on neutrophil function.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1991

Influence of teicoplanin on the chemiluminescence of phagocytosing human granulocytes.

Teicoplanin is a new glycopeptide antibiotic that is structurally related to vancomycin. It is especially active against virtually all gram positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of teicoplanin on the phagocytosis of human neutrophils, using the chemiluminescence reaction method. We incubated three different concentrations (2, 5, 10 microg/ml) of teicoplanin for one and three hours with polymorphonuclear leukocytes of healthy human volunteers and then measured the chemiluminescence reaction during zymosan phagocytosis. The neutrophil function was not influenced by teicoplanin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

Antimicrobial agent susceptibility patterns of staphylococci isolated in urban and rural areas of Bolivia.

Staphylococcal strains obtained from cutaneous swabs of hospital staff and school students of Camiri and Boyuibe and healthy people living in Javillo, Bolivia, were tested for their in-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility. The highest percentages of resistance to the antibiotics tested were found in staphylococcal strains isolated from hospital personnel. All the S. aureus strains from these subjects were resistant to penicillin. Coagulase-negative staphylococci from hospital personnel evidenced a high rate of multiresistant strains, mainly to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol. The staphylococcal strains isolated in the rural population of Javillo were highly susceptible to all the antibiotics tested.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Parasitological observations on three Bolivian localities including rural communities, cities and institutions.

Three hundred of 381 subjects examined from the Camiri, Boyuibe and Gutierrez areas (Santa Cruz Department) harboured one to six species of intestinal helminths and/or protozoa. High infection rates were found in Camiri in the orphanage (43 of 44 persons) and in the Military Hospital (10 of 10 persons), as well as in Itanambicua (97.4%), a rural community close to the city (38 of 39 persons). No significant differences were noted between the overall parasitic prevalences observed in rural and urban environments, but the frequency of species was different. Indiscriminate defaecation, the habit of living in close association with animals, overcrowding, and especially lack of health education, are some of the factors responsible for the parasitic situation observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The influence of ofloxacin versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on the aerobic flora in granulocytopenic subjects.

Ofloxacin (300 mg twice a day) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) (160 mg trimethoprim and 800 mg sulfamethoxazole twice a day) were given prophylactically to 19 adult patients with acute leukemia undergoing induction chemotherapy. The influence of the two regimens on the bacterial aerobic flora was evaluated. Both of the prophylactic regimens conditioned the aerobic microflora of the patients. Both groups acquired new microorganisms, prevalently gram-positive cocci, but also gram-negative bacteria with the TMP-SMZ regimen. Both treatment groups acquired yeasts.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Clinical experience with ofloxacin (DL-8280) in the therapy of various infections.

Thirty-four hospitalized patients with various infections: 19 with typhoid fever, 4 with gastroenteritis, 7 with lower respiratory tract infections, 2 with biliary tract infections, 1 with brucellosis and 1 with infection of necrotic ulceration of the feet, were treated with ofloxacin at a daily dosage ranging between 600 and 900 mg orally. Thirty-one of 34 patients (91.18%) completely recovered and pathogens were eradicated. In 2 patients, both with respiratory tract infections, the treatment failed and in one patient, affected by infection of necrotic ulcerations of the feet, improvement was registered. No side effects were recorded. Ofloxacin can be considered a safe and effective antimicrobial agent in the therapy of these infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

In vitro antimicrobial sensitivity of staphylococci isolated in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia.

The in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci isolated in two different communities, Camiri and Javillo, of the Santa Cruz region in south-eastern Bolivia was tested by the agar diffusion technique and by a micro dilution susceptibility test to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations. Staphylococcal strains isolated from hospital staff of the Camiri Hospital were compared to that isolated from healthy people of Javillo, a very small community isolated in the jungle. In the Camiri Hospital, staphylococci showed a high prevalence of penicillin resistance, 100% for S. aureus strains and 73.5% for coagulase-negative staphylococci. Among coagulase-negative strains we found a high rate of multiresistant strains, mainly to ampicillin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. In the rural population of Javillo we found staphylococcal strains highly susceptible to all the antibiotics tested.

Axilla↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia.

Several epidemiological studies have shown the worldwide distribution of hepatitis A with the highest prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in developing countries (Papaevangelou 1984). There is no information about the epidemiology of hepatitis A in Bolivia. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anti-HAV antibody prevalence in the Santa Cruz region, southeastern Bolivia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

[Multicenter research on cefoperazone efficacy and tolerance in the therapy of urinary and respiratory infections].

In this multicenter study the authors evaluated the clinical and microbiological efficacy and the local and general safety of cefoperazone sodium in 1,546 patients (946 males and 600 females, mean age 61.3 years) with lower respiratory tract (1,044) and urinary tract (539) infections. Results were very encouraging with 95.3% of clinical cures or improvement, 91.6% of microbiological eradication, and a local and general safety which was always extremely high, i.e. 96.9% and 98.3% respectively.

Adolescent↗