PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Branca

Publications and source records attributed to G Branca.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prospective 3-year surveillance for nosocomial and environmental Legionella pneumophila: implications for infection control.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a 3-year, prospective surveillance program for legionnaires disease (LD) in a large university hospital in Rome, and to assess the usefulness of the hospital water monitoring program in predicting the risk of nosocomial LD. METHODS: Samples from patients with new cases of nosocomial pneumonia were sent for legionella laboratory investigations. Meanwhile, water samples for bacteriological analysis were collected every 6 months from high- and medium-risk hospital wards (10 in total). Legionella pneumophila isolates collected were serotyped and analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: From June 2001 through May 2004, the pneumonia surveillance identified one case of nosocomial LD among 43 cases of nosocomial pneumonia (2.3%). Environmental investigations detected L. pneumophila in 12 (18.7%) of the 64 water samples, of which 50% belonged to serogroup 1. The L. pneumophila count and the percentage of positive locations never exceeded 10(2) colony-forming units/L and 20%, respectively, except when the LD nosocomial case occurred (positive water samples, 40%; L. pneumophila count, <10(2) colony-forming units/L). Genotyping showed 3 prevalent clones of L. pneumophila in the water distribution network, of which one persisted over the 3 years. One clone contained 3 different L. pneumophila serogroups (2, 4, and 6). CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of nosocomial cases of LD appears to be associated with a low percentage (<20%) of positive water samples per semester and with a low contamination level (<10(2) colony-forming units/L). An infection control system for nosocomial LD should, therefore, be based on both environmental and clinical surveillance, together with the appropriate maintenance of the hospital water distribution system.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2004

High efficacy of 1-week doxycycline- and amoxicillin-based quadruple regimen in a culture-guided, third-line treatment approach for Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection may persist after both first- and second-line current treatments. AIM: To assess the efficacy of a third-line, culture-guided treatment approach for the eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: Patterns of resistance were analysed in H. pylori isolates from 94 consecutive patients in whom H. pylori infection had persisted after two eradication attempts. Using the epsilometer test, susceptibility analysis was performed for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline and levofloxacin. Patients were then treated with a culture-guided, third-line regimen: 89 patients with a 1-week quadruple regimen including omeprazole, bismuth, doxycycline and amoxicillin, and five patients with a 1-week triple regimen containing omeprazole, amoxicillin and levofloxacin or clarithromycin. RESULTS: Ninety-four subjects (100%) were resistant to metronidazole, 89 (95%) to clarithromycin, 29 (31%) to levofloxacin and five (5%) to tetracycline. No resistance to amoxicillin was found in any patient. Overall, H. pylori eradication was obtained in 90% of subjects. The quadruple regimen was effective in 81 patients (92% by per protocol and 91% by intention-to-treat analysis). Four patients (80%, both per protocol and intention-to-treat analysis) were H. pylori-negative after the triple regimen. CONCLUSIONS: A culture-guided, third-line therapeutic approach is effective for the eradication of H. pylori. Furthermore, the 1-week doxycycline- and amoxicillin-based quadruple regimen is a good third-line 'rescue' treatment option.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2000

Efficacy of a multistep strategy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies do not achieve 100% success rates. Antibiotic resistant strains are among the major causes of failure. Current recommendations concerning the management of treatment failures are not fully clear. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a multi-step therapeutic strategy in a large group of infected patients. METHODS: A total of 2606 H. pylori-positive patients were administered tinidazole, clarithromycin and a proton pump inhibitor for 1 week. Patients with continuing infection were then given a second 1-week course of amoxycillin, clarithromycin and ranitidine bismuth citrate. Patients still infected after the second course underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with H. pylori culture, and then received a 1-week quadruple proton pump inhibitor-bismuth based scheme established on H. pylori antibiotic sensitivity. RESULTS: After the first step, eradication was achieved in 2063 out of 2413 patients [86% per protocol analysis (PP); 79% intention-to-treat analysis (ITT)]. First-step failures (350 out of 2413; 14.5% PP) showed second-step eradication rates of 82% (271 out of 329 patients, PP; 77% ITT). The specific quadruple therapy for second-step failures (58 out of 329, 18% PP) achieved 77% (30 out of 39 patients, PP) or 52% (ITT) success. This algorithm led to overall eradication rates of 99% (PP) or 91% (ITT). CONCLUSIONS: This multi-step strategy succeeded in a high percentage of H. pylori infected patients. Given the lack of precise guidelines on treatment failures, assessing H. pylori sensitivity to antibiotics only after failure of the second treatment could be suggested in clinical practice.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1996

Low-dose omeprazole plus clarithromycin and either tinidazole or amoxycillin for Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare two 1-week, low-dose triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms with H. pylori infection, were randomly allocated to 7 days of treatment with omeprazole 20 mg o.m. plus clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and either tinidazole 500 mg b.d. (group A: n = 50, 19 with peptic ulcer) or amoxycillin 1000 mg b.d. (group B: n = 50, 20 with peptic ulcer). H. pylori-status was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Three patients did not complete the treatment. H. pylori eradication was obtained in 35 patients from group A (73%) (95% CI, 55-82%) and in 40 patients from group B (82%) (95% CI, 66-90%). On intention-to-treat analysis, the rates of eradication were similar. Side-effects occurred in seven patients from group A (14.58%) and in four patients from group B (8.33%), but none discontinued therapy because of side-effects. CONCLUSION: Both triple 1-week, low-dose omeprazole therapies gave good eradication rates with infrequent side-effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A simple method to detect bacteriolytic enzymes produced by enterobacteriaceae.

The production of bacteriolytic enzymes by Enterobacteriaceae in various growth conditions was investigated. Peptone-based media containing killed Gram-negative cells facilitated detection of bacteriolytic enzyme production in the highest number of species. These belonged to the genera Serratia, Proteus, Morganella and Providencia. In contrast, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter species did not produce bacteriolytic activities in any of the conditions tested.

Bacteriolysis↗
PubMed1995

Prevention and treatment of low-grade B-cell primary gastric lymphoma by anti-H. pylori therapy.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) showing a follicular structure can develop in the gastric mucosa as a response to Helicobacter pylori infection. We emphasize the importance of anti-H. pylori antibiotic therapy in the elimination of acquired MALT. Of the 200 patients studied, acquired MALT was found in 70 of the 151 H. pylori-positive patients, whereas it was present in only five of the 49 H. pylori-negative patients. Thirty-eight H. pylori-positive and MALT-positive patients were treated with antibiotic therapy and reevaluated after 6 months: 21 patients were H. pylori negative/MALT negative, 12 were H. pylori positive/MALT positive, four were H. pylori negative/MALT positive, one was H. pylori positive/MALT negative. In the control group (n = 20), H. pylori and acquired MALT were still present at follow-up. One patient with histological and immunohistochemical evidence of low-grade B-cell gastric MALT lymphoma underwent antibiotic treatment and was reexamined after 8, 12, and 24 weeks: histological examination of biopsy samples showed regression of the MALT lymphoma in tandem with the disappearance of H. pylori colonization. Our data confirm the correlation between H. pylori infection and acquired MALT, as documented by the ability of antibiotic therapy to induce the disappearance of acquired MALT and regression of MALT lymphoma. Considering the potential evolution of MALT into low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma, H. pylori eradication should play a role in the prevention of this tumor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Chlamydial genital infections and laparoscopic findings in infertile women.

Several studies have shown that previous chlamydial genital infection, reflected by serological markers, is strongly associated with tubal damage leading to tubal infertility. In 105 women undergoing laparoscopy, multiple samples were collected from the lower (urethra and cervix) and upper (endometrium, peritoneal fluid, tubal lumen) genital tract, in order to isolate Chlamydia trachomatis in cell culture. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from at least one site in 13 (30.9%) of 42 infertile women with tubal infertility, in 5 (12.1%) of 41 women with unexplained infertility, in 1 of 4 women affected by acute salpingitis and in 1 (5.5%) of 18 women with endometriosis or uterine malformations. The latter group was the control group. Thirteen (65%) of the 20 positive women harboured Chlamydia trachomatis in their upper genital tract alone and 16 women were positive in one or both tubes. Only one of the positive women showed laparoscopic signs of acute pelvic infection. Four of the 5 positive women with unexplained infertility harboured Chlamydia trachomatis in the tubal lumen. This study confirms that chlamydial infection is strongly associated with tubal damage. It suggests that cervical cultures are inadequate for excluding a tubal infection and that chlamydial colonization of the tubal mucosa is possible in the absence of symptoms and laparoscopic signs of active infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ten years of brucellosis in Italy (1977-1986).

In the decade 1977-1986 the total number of cases of brucellosis recorded in Italy was 25,165. The reported cases probably reflect only a minority of the total number of the effective cases due to lack of reporting. The epidemiological and clinical features of 62 cases of brucellosis, observed by the authors are reported as a sample of the total number of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Common antigens of human intestinal treponemes and of swine Treponema hyodysenteriae.

The antigenic cross-reactivity between intestinal treponemes of human and swine origin (T. hyodysenteriae and T. innocens) was studied by sodium-dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting techniques. Several distinct peptides, ranging in molecular weight from 14,400 to about 150,000 daltons, were recognized by SDS-PAGE analysis of twelve human and two swine hemolytic intestinal treponemes. Thirty antigenic bands were develope by homologous antiserum against treponeme D87, one of 12 human intestinal hemolytic treponemes isolated in our laboratory. An identical number of cross-reacting antigens was found when Western blots of human treponemes D87 were tested with antisera against ten other human treponemes or with antisera against swine treponemes (T. hyodysenteriae, T. innocens). Similar results were obtained when Western blots of swine T. hyodysenteriae were tested for cross-reactivity with antisera against all human intestinal treponemes.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a large university hospital.

The results of a study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a 1800 bed University hospital are reported. The study, carried out over a 9 months period, included: continuous microbiological surveillance, and a clinical and epidemiological survey. On the basis of the microbiological data collected and analyzed by a computer data system, developed and employed for the control of nosocomial infections, a weekly bed-to-bed survey was carried out by the staff of the Institute of Infectious Diseases. Among 2777 suspected nosocomial infections, as revealed by microbiological monitoring, 701 were confirmed after the bed-to-bed survey. The nosocomial infection rate was 6.75 per 100 discharges. It was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (7.3 and 6 per 100 discharges, respectively). Nosocomial urinary tract infections were the most frequent (74.2%). The urinary infection rate was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (5.3 and 4.6 per 100 discharges, respectively). Escherichia coli (19.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.3%), Proteus spp. (18.4%) were the pathogens most frequently associated with nosocomial infections. They were followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.5%) in frequency. Among the risk factors, involved in nosocomial infections, the importance of catheterization was confirmed: among our patients with nosocomial urinary tract infections, 73.4% and 79.5%--in the medical and surgical wards, respectively--underwent urological instrumentation, mainly catheterization. An analogous and more detailed study is now in progress and will be extended in the next years.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Congenital familial dwarfism with cephaloskeletal dysplasia (Taybi-Linder syndrome)].

The authors report the case of an infant presenting with a syndrome associating dwarfism, microcephaly, facial dysmorphy and important skeletal abnormalities consisting of radiologic changes concerning the skull, long bones, vertebrae, pelvis, ribs, metacarpus and metatarsus. Severe cerebral atrophy and neurologic involvement were responsible for death in the first year of life. This rare syndrome is likely to have an autosomal recessive transmission.

Bone Diseases, Developmental↗
PubMed1978

Antibacterial activity of sisomicin.

A study of the in vitro antibacterial activity of a new aminoglycoside, sisomicin, is reported. The results show no significant differences between the activity of sisomicin and gentamicin.

Enterococcus faecalis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

One-week low-dose triple therapy vs. two-week medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Our study is to compare a short-term low-dose triple therapy with a long-term medium-dose double therapy for H.pylori eradication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and ten consecutive patients, suffering from dyspeptic symptoms, with H.pylori infection, were randomly allocated to one of the following 2 groups with different therapeutic regimens: A) omeprazole 20 mg/day for 7 days, tinidazole 500 mg bid for 7 days, clarithromycin 250 mg bid for 7 days (55 pts, 20 with peptic ulcer); B) omeprazole 20 mg bid for 14 days, amoxycillin 1000 mg bid for 14 days (55 pts, 28 with peptic ulcer). The "H.pylori status" was evaluated by means of histology, culture and urease test, at entry and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Two group A and one group B pts didn't complete the treatment. The H.pylori eradication was obtained in 38 pts of group A (71.69%) (C.I.95%: 55.19176-80.86293), in 31 of group B (58.49%) (C.I.95%: 42.32777-69.7017); on Intention-to-Treat analysis, the rate of eradication gave similar results. Side effects occurred in 9 pts of group A (16.98%), in 8 of group B (14.81%). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term low-dose triple therapy with omeprazole/tinidazole/clarithromycin has a better cost/benefit ratio than long-term dual therapy with omeprazole/amoxycillin in the H.pylori eradication, but it causes more side-effects.

Amoxicillin↗