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L F Camargo

Publications and source records attributed to L F Camargo.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Comparison between antigenemia and a quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Antigenemia and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are widely used for cytomegalovirus (CMV) diagnosis after heart transplantation due to their enhanced predictive values for disease detection when specific cut-off values are used. The purpose of this study was to compare, in the same patient setting, the predictive values of quantitative PCR and antigenemia for CMV disease detection, using specific cut-off values. METHODS: Thirty heart transplant receptors were ch prospectively monitored for active CMV infection and disease detection, using quantitative PCR and anti- po genemia. Positive and negative predictive values for pr CMV disease detection were calculated using cut-off pr values for both antigenemia (5 and 10 positive cells/300,000 neutrophils) and quantitative-PCR (50,000 and 100,000 copies/10(6) leukocytes). RESULTS: Active CMV infection was diagnosed in 93.3% of patients and CMV disease in 23.3%. The positive and negative predictive (%) values for CMV disease detection were 35/100 and 46.7/100, respectively, for quantitative PCR and antigenemia. Using 5 and 10 positive cells/300,000 neutrophils as cut-off values for antigenemia, the positive and negative predictive values (%) for disease detection were respectively 63.6/100 and 70/100. For quantitative PCR, the positive and th negative predictive values (%) for cut-off values of to 50,000 and 100,000 copies/10(6) leukocytes were 53.8/100 and 60/94.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our series, antigenemia and quantitative-PCR had enhanced and similar predictive values for CMV disease detection when specific cut-off values were used. The choice between these two methods for disease detection may rely less on their efficiency and more on the experience and familiarity with them.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Mediastinitis after cardiac transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of incidence and behavior of mediastinitis after cardiac transplantation. METHODS: From 1985 to 1999, 214 cardiac transplantations were performed, 12 (5.6%) of the transplanted patients developed confirmed mediastinitis. Patient's ages ranged from 42 to 66 years (mean of 52.3 +/- 10.0 years) and 10 (83.3%) patients were males. Seven (58.3%) patients showed sternal stability on palpation, 4 (33.3%) patients had pleural empyema, and 2 (16.7%) patients did not show purulent secretion draining through the wound. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was the infectious agent identified in the wound secretion or in the mediastinum, or both, in 8 (66.7%) patients. Staphylococcus epidermidis was identified in 2 (16.7%) patients, Enterococcus faecalis in 1 (8.3%) patient, and the cause of mediastinitis could not be determined in 1 (8.3%) patient. Surgical treatment was performed on an emergency basis, and the extension of the débridement varied with local conditions. In 2 (16.7%) patients, we chose to leave the surgical wound open and performed daily dressings with granulated sugar. Total sternal resection was performed in only 1 (8.3%) patient. Out of this series, 5 (41.7%) patients died, and the causes of death were related to the infection. Autopsy revealed persistence of mediastinitis in 1 (8.3%) patient. CONCLUSION: Promptness in diagnosing mediastinitis and precocious surgical drainage have changed the natural evolution of this disease. Nevertheless, observance of the basic precepts of prophylaxis of infection is still the best way to treat mediastinitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Nosocomial coagulase negative Staphylococci bacteremia: five year prospective data collection.

UNLABELLED: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) species, as a group, constitute a major component of the normal microflora of the human skin and mucous membranes. Over the last 20 years, there has been an increase in the documentation of infections due to CoNS, especially with S. epidermidis species, the most common cause of nosocomial primary bloodstream infections. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of CoNS isolates in blood cultures, to evaluate the meaning of this isolation (contaminant or pathogen), and to determine their epidemiologic and susceptibility patterns (oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, clindamycin and teicoplanin). METHODS: All strains of CoNS isolated from blood cultures collected from adults and children during 1993 to 1998, were classified as contaminant or pathogenic according to NNISS criteria (1988). Infections were classified as primary or secondary bacteremia, from clinical or surgical patients, and divided by sex and age. Susceptibility patterns were also studied in both groups. RESULTS: From 1993 to 1998, 1,702 positive blood cultures were recorded. CoNS were isolated from 546 samples (32%), with 306 (56%) classified as contaminant and 240 (44%) as true bacteremia. The presence of an intravenous catheter was an important risk factor. Endocarditis (47%) ans pneumonia (32%) were the most common sites leading to secondary bacteremia. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the increasing importance of true CoNS bacteremia and confirm their association with prosthetic valve endocarditis. We emphasize the need for care at the time of blood collection, as well as the need for care in the processing of the material, so that contamination can be reduced. This will allow a more precise description of the infections caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Epidemiologic investigation of an outbreak of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus primary bacteremia in a newborn intensive care unit.

Infections due to coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) are an ever-increasing nosocomial problem, particularly in the pediatric population. The authors describe a cluster of three primary bloodstream infections due to CNS in a newborn intensive care unit that occurred between November 23 and December 2, 1992. Two children died as a direct consequence of the bacteremia; at autopsy, one had a large bacteria-containing thrombus extending from the insertion site of a central catheter to the superior vena cava. The children were placed in isolation, and the nursing and medical staff were given topical nasal mupirocin. Plasmid analysis performed later disclosed three different blood isolates that also were different from any of the staff's nasal isolates. The authors concluded that molecular methods such as plasmid analysis are important tools in identifying true outbreaks and can prevent needless interventions, such as those during this cluster.

Bacteremia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The clinical parameters relevant for the differential diagnosis between mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and paracoccidioidomycosis].

We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 15 patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis and of 28 patients diagnosed with paracoccidioidomycosis presenting with involvement of the oral-nasal-pharyngeal mucosa seen at Escola Paulista de Medicina from 1986 through 1990. These patients were compared in regard to the following variables: sex, age, time since disease onset, location of lesion, and clinical complaints. Sex, time since disease onset, lesion at the nasal septum, palate, tongue, and lips, and history of oral pain, dysphagia/odynophagia, and nasal obstruction were significantly different in the two groups of patients. The authors point out to the relevance of these findings in the differential clinical diagnosis of leishmaniasis and paracoccidioidomycosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hospital bacteremia at the "Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP": a four-year retrospective study].

We conducted a retrospective study to establish mortality rates and prevalence of nosocomial bacteremias at our institute. We found 1.21 nosocomial bacteremias per 100 hospital discharges with an overall Mortality rate of 29.5%. Primary bacteremias increased during the four-year-study-period from 31 to 41%. Staphylococcus, both coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative, was the bacteria most frequently isolated. An abrupt increase in the isolation of P.aeruginosa occurred in 1992. We concluded that a blood-culture surveillance program is required for determining an endemic rate.

Bacteremia↗