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F Richardin

Publications and source records attributed to F Richardin.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

[Routine use of gene amplification for pertussis diagnosis in children].

OBJECTIVES: The resurgence of whooping cough observed in France convinced us to develop a specific PCR assay to detect B. pertussis in nasopharyngeal secretions in parallel of the culture. The aim of our study was to show the value of the PCR in routine diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From November 1996 to August 2000, in two hospitals located in the Yvelines (France), the children consulting for a cough compatible with the diagnosis of whooping cough were included in this study. A questionnaire including clinical, biological and radiological items was completed for each one of these patients. A culture of Bordetella and a detection by PCR of B. pertussis were carried out on each nasopharyngeal aspirate. The diagnosis of whooping cough was retained if the detection was positive in PCR and/or culture. RESULTS: Among the 215 investigated children with suspected cases of whooping cough, the diagnosis was positive for 45 (20.9%), of which 39 were less than one year old (median: three months). Sixteen (35.5,%) were positive at the same time for both the PCR and the culture, 26 (57.8%) for only PCR and three (6.7%) for only culture. The PCR was positive in 93.3% of the cases. The results were obtained with an average time of 48 hours. The culture was positive in 61.2% of the cases with an average time of six days. The monthly distribution of the cases of whooping cough was very inhomogeneous and of epidemic appearance. The majority of the cases was located between two periods: 42% between November 1996 and September 1997 and 40% between November 1999 and August 2000. Among the infected children, 15 were less than two months old and were not yet vaccinated; among the 24 others infants, a delay in the vaccine calendar was noted in 50% of the cases. Four children between six and 14 years old were correctly vaccinated. The evolution was favourable in all the children. CONCLUSION: The PCR due to its sensitivity, its specificity and its rapidity offers to the clinician a powerful tool for the diagnosis of whooping cough. Nevertheless, the culture must be associated with the PCR, in order to follow the epidemiology and the sensitivity to antibiotics of B. pertussis.

Adolescent↗

[Outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in general hospital intensive care unit].

Mantes' hospital polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) experienced an outbreak episode caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Suspicion of physicians was strengthened by observing the weekly reading of multiresistant germs and the significative increase of MRSA carriers incidence rate, compared with the number of admission in the ICU: 5.5% to 11.3%. This outbreak was surprising: it happened immediately after the installation in a new hospital and the reinforcement of nosocomial infection surveillance (systematic screening of every patient admitted to the I.U.C., his isolation if he presents risk factors to multiresistant germs, increasing of handwashing stations). The overlapping period of hospitalisation concerning the 13 patients being reported as SARM carrier, having the same antibiogram, and the epidemic curve suggested a cross contamination. The index case was a MRSA carrier the day of her admission and have had a recent hospitalisation in a high risk unit. MRSA has always been isolated in nasal swab. Six patients among the thirteen carriers developed an infection and have been treated by vancomycin: two systemic infections and four pulmonary infections. The mortality rate was 33% and only one of them seemed to be directly due to MRSA. Area samples were all negative. The clinical staff have been screened with nasal swab. We identified only one nasal MRSA carrier. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis study showed that 9/11 which have been analysed were identical. This outbreak brought about staff, more sensibilisation to the nosocomial infection and updating of plain hygien rules leaded to its stop five months later.

Adult↗

[Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin. Survey of prevalence in Yvelines hospitals].

During 2 months (01.01.95-28.02.95), we noted for each Staphylococcus aureus (SA) isolates, identification and susceptibility methods, hospital size, medical speciality, source, penicillin (P) and methicillin (M) susceptibility. For each non repetitive methicillin resistant SA we noted phenotype of aminoglycoside resistance of SA to 6 antistaphylococci drugs. We isolated 399 SA, SAP sensitives 6.5%, methicillin resistant SA (MRSA) 31.8%. MRSA in acute care unit 28.4%, non acute care unit 61.7%, surgery 28.6%, medicine 36.5%, orthopedics 34.5%, pédiatrics 4%, ICU 38.8%, others 10.3%. MRSA from wound 28.2%, respiratory tract 38.3% blood 22.5%, urine 58.5%, others 25.8% - MRSA kanamycin 1.7%, kanamycin tobramycin 36.2%, kanamycin, tobramycin, gentamicin 56.9% - MRSA erythromycin 79.5%, pefloxacin 91.3%, rifampicin 53.5%, acide fusidique 8.7%, fosfomycine 18.9%, TMP SMZ 5.5%. The proportion MRSA is equivalent among medical specialities predominant in urine cultures and respiratory tract. It should be better to carry on the survey for more than two months in each hospital.

Aminoglycosides↗

[Nocardia farcinica infection. Cutaneous form in an immunodepressed patient].

Nocardiosis is a rare localized or systemic infection caused by bacteria of the Actinomycetaceae family. Nocardia farcinica, recently identified as a distinct species from Nocardia asteroides, characteristically causes severe systemic infections and is particularly resistant to antibiotics. We report a case of nocardiosis observed in a patient receiving general corticosteroid therapy for bullous pemphigoid and who developed a sub-cutaneous abscess of the breast. N. farcinica was identified on puncture specimens and found to be resistant to beta-lactams, aminosides, cyclines, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin and pefloxacin. No dissemination beyond the skin was observed. The abscess was drained and cleaned surgically and cicatrization was uneventful. Six weeks later the patient was again hospitalized for an inflammatory abscess of the left buttocks which was drained surgically. N. farcinica was again identified and a complete work-up eliminated dissemination. Cotrimoxazole was given as a long-term therapy (480 mg trimethoprim, 2.4g sulfamethoxazole) for 6 months and was well tolerated. No recurrence was observed.

Abscess↗

[Tinea capitis presenting as staphylococcal pyodermatitis of the scalp].

Two severe cases of pyoderma (staphylococcus aureus) of the scalp, resistant to appropriate antibiotic treatment, proved to be due to exotic dermatophytes (Trichophyton soudanense and Trichophyton violaceum) in two North African children living in France. Both cases exemplify the growing number of Tinea capitis due to anthropophilic species imported from Africa by immigrated populations, their sometimes atypical clinical presentation and their familial epidemiology. Fungal cultures and identification procedures are essential for the diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of such cases.

Child, Preschool↗