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Franz Allerberger

Publications and source records attributed to Franz Allerberger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Classifying spa types in complexes improves interpretation of typing results for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A total of 382 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus originating from three Austrian regions and one adjacent Italian region (Vienna, Lower Austria, North Tyrol, and South Tyrol) were typed by DNA sequence analysis of the variable repeat region of the protein A gene (spa typing). The strain collection consisted of arbitrarily chosen isolates originating from clinical specimens taken in the years 2003 to 2005 at 17 hospitals. The most common spa types found were t001 (28.8% of all isolates), t190 (27.0%), t008 (14.1%), and t041 (11.3%). The 42 remaining spa types accounted for <or=2.4% each. The dominating spa types varied between the different regions. As short sequence DNA repeat units are unstable entities, the 46 spa types were classified into seven spa complexes with respect to short sequence repeat unit composition and organization. Such classification into complexes can provide additional information for the hospital epidemiologist, empowering one to differentiate the introduction of a new strain from mere variation of endemic spa types.

Austria↗
PubMed2005

Listeria meningitis in transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Meningitis is a rare complication following organ and stem-cell transplantation and can be caused by a variety of microorganisms. AIM: To retrospectively review the clinical course and outcome of five cases of listeriosis in four organ recipients and one stem-cell recipient during a seven-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient records for more than 3500 patients undergoing organ or stem-cell transplantation at the university hospital of Innsbruck during a 27-year period were evaluated. Standard immunosuppression consisted of calcineurin inhibitor-based triple drug therapy with or without ATG or IL2 receptor antagonist induction. RESULTS: The first case affected a 35-year-old woman who received an allogenic bone marrow transplant for advanced breast cancer. Cases two and three related to two male heart recipients. Cases four and five were diagnosed in one male and one female renal recipient. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from blood in two cases and from cerebrospinal fluid in three. Treatment consisted of ampicillin in all cases with the addition of tobramycin (1), TMPS (1), meropenem (2) or imipenem/cilastatin (1). The deaths of two patients were directly related to L. monocytogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Although listeriosis is a rare complication following transplantation, this infection should be ruled out in individuals presenting with neurological symptoms and fever.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

An Austrian outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 36 in 2004.

In June 2004, an egg packing station was epidemiologically incriminated as possibly distributing the vehicle of the Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Typhimurium definitive type (DT) U291 outbreak which began in September 2003 and--as of June 2004 affected more than 100 persons all over Austria and 8 German tourists. A total of 68 egg producing farms were screened for salmonella. Whereas all samples tested negative for S. Typhimurium DT U291, one batch of laying hens was identified as being heavily contaminated with a rare Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Enteritidis phage type, namely PT 36. This phage type was cultured from 6 of 7 swabs from pooled fecal samples (drag swabs), from 1 of 4 samples of pooled yolks, and from 7 of 11 hens tested (ovaries, liver and intestinal content pooled per hen). In 2004, a total of 36 culture-confirmed human PT 36 infections (19 manifest cases, 12 asymptomatic carriers, and 5 excreters with unknown clinical status) were documented in 4 of the 9 Austrian provinces. It was possible to demonstrate that eggs from this single farm were the probable source of infection for 30 of 31 culture-confirmed human infections. Only in the case of one patient, who regularly purchased eggs at the local market, could no connection to the farm be proven due to inability to trace the market's egg source. The PT 36 outbreak ceased after elimination of the contaminated flock. This episode underlines the considerable potential of adequate epidemiological and microbiological investigations of food-borne outbreaks to improve prevention and control of communicable diseases. The source of the S. Typhimurium DT U291 outbreak--which initially prompted this investigation--is still not identified and accounts for more than 300 human cases until August 2005.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

An outbreak of Norovirus infection affecting an Austrian nursing home and a hospital.

On November 9, 2004, a resident in a nursing home experienced a severe episode of vomiting in the dining room, in the presence of most of the other residents and members of staff. Following that episode, 17 of the 23 (73.9%) other residents and 7 of the 18 (38.9%) staff members fell ill with diarrhea and/or vomiting in the period up to November 17. A second cluster of gastroenteritis occurred between November 11 and 28, 2004, in a nearby hospital to which eight cases among the nursing home residents had been referred. Ten of 46 (21.7%) other hospital patients and 18 of 60 (30%) members of the hospital staff suffered from vomiting or diarrhea. Epidemiological and laboratory investigations proved a causal relationship between the two institutional clusters of short-lived gastroenteritis related by time and place, and identified Norovirus genotype GGII.4 (Jamboree-like) as the causative pathogen. Control measures for Norovirus, based on epidemiological and clinical features of the outbreak, were effectively implemented in the nursing home without waiting for virological confirmation. At the hospital, specific measures were not implemented until after virological confirmation of the causative agent, by which time 16 cases had already occurred. In a suspected Norovirus outbreak it is of great importance -- especially within closed and semiclosed settings -- to implement control measures as soon as possible, even before laboratory confirmation of the agent.

Austria↗
PubMed2005

Travel-associated rabies in Austrian man.

Rabies developed in an Austrian man after he was bitten by a dog in Agadir, Morocco. Diagnosis was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The patient's girlfriend was bitten by the same dog, but she did not become ill.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Listeria: growth, phenotypic differentiation and molecular microbiology.

The identification of Listeria species is based on a limited number of biochemical markers, among which absence or presence of hemolysis and arylamidase are used to differentiate between L. monocytogenes and L. innocua. The CAMP (Christie, Atkins, Munch-Petersen) test must be interpreted with caution. Chromogenic media are based on both the specific chromogenic detection of phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C and the xylose fermentation and give specific and direct identification of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. Isolates of L. monocytogenes with atypical properties require tools of molecular biology for final identification. Serotyping, although not allowing speciation, serves a useful purpose for confirming the genus diagnosis Listeria. Polymerase chain reaction is particularly useful when prior administration of antimicrobial agents compromises culture. For clinical specimens the importance of trying to isolate the pathogen as a prerequisite for an epidemiological work-up and finally for prevention of further cases cannot be overstressed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Identifying and subtyping species of dangerous pathogens by automated ribotyping.

An investigation of dangerous bacterial pathogens was conducted to determine the usefulness of automated rRNA operon ribotyping (RiboPrinter system) to identify species. A total of 26 isolates comprising Bacillus anthracis, Brucella spp., Burkholderia mallei, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis were tested using restriction endonucleases EcoRI, PstI, PvuII and AseI. The main problem was that the system's database-relying on EcoRI as restriction enzyme-does not contain the essential dangerous pathogens. B. anthracis was misidentified as B. cereus and Y. pestis as Y. pseudotuberculosis. Two isolates of F. tularensis ssp. holarctica were falsely identified as Vibrio cholerae. This study underscores that riboprint patterns generated with a single restriction enzyme are not always unique for each of the species tested. Using more than one enzyme, the RiboPrinter proved to be a valuable primary typing method. Databases of commercially available systems for the identification of bacteria should include the most important dangerous pathogens.

Austria↗
PubMed2003

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H infection and consumption of unpasteurized cow's milk.

BACKGROUND: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26 has emerged as a significant cause of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). The source and the vehicle of contamination with EHEC O26 are not often identified. We report two Austrian cases of HUS due to E. coli O26:H- affecting an 11-month-old boy and a 28-month-old girl in which transmission through unpasteurized cow's milk was positively identified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using automated ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the isolates (which yielded the virulence genes stx2, eae, and hly) were indistinguishable from each other. An epidemiologic investigation revealed that the children had stayed in the same hotel. Both patients had consumed unpasteurized cow's milk from the breakfast buffet. Fecal samples were taken from the cows of the farm producing the incriminating milk, and one of three cattle EHEC O26:H- isolates had a PFGE pattern indistinguishable from that of the patients' strains. CONCLUSIONS: These two cases of E. coli O26 infection illustrate the hazards associated with the consumption of raw milk, and underline the importance of microbiological diagnostic approaches able to detect sorbitol-fermenting, non-O157 EHEC.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Occurrence of Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin in Austria.

In Austria, Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin, a bovine-adapted serovar, rarely causes human infections. In the year 2000, Austria was within the European mean with an incidence of 0.1 per million inhabitants. Our data show that the vast majority of all Austrian serovar Dublin infections can be traced to two Tyrolian districts. This concentration of cases can be explained by a particularly traditional aspect of cattle farming in Tyrol, the alpine pasture. There is increased risk of cross-infection due to the communal keeping of animals from various farms. Infected cattle are a source of infection for people, and contagion usually occurs from eating beef and drinking cow's milk. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and automated ribotyping, 3 out of 5 available isolates from human infections could be traced to characteristic Tyrolian S. Dublin clones. Bacteriological screening of herds with a known history of S. Dublin infection would be a start to prevent future contamination of alpine pastures through latently infected cattle excreting potentially infectious feces. Bacteriological screening for fecal carriage before the return of cattle from pastures known to be connected with infections could prevent cross-contamination of large mixed herds.

Adult↗