Biomedical subjects
M Morillon
Publications and source records attributed to M Morillon.
[Management of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Outcome apropos of 326 cases treated with high-dose pentamidine isethionate].
The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the outcome of pentamidine isethionate treatment (4 mg/kg of Pentamidine by the intramuscular route on Days 1 and 3) of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 326 cases that occurred during an outbreak among French military personnel in French Guyana from 1998 to 1999. A great difference was found between the 205 patients treated in French Guyana (series G) and 32 patients treated at the Laveran Military Hospital in Marseille, France (series L). Failure rate, i.e. 25% in series L versus 5% in series G, was significantly correlated with the delay to treatment which was much longer in series L. Extensive rhabdomyolysis was observed in all cases tested: this side-effect has not been reported. Based on these findings and a review of the literature on pentamidine isethionate, the authors recommend prompt treatment using lower doses. Other treatment alternatives for American cutaneous leishmaniasis are also presented including two of the latest developments in the field, i.e., oral treatment using miltefosine and topical treatment using agents such as paromomycine.
[Antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella isolated in army hospitals between 1998-1999].
OBJECTIVES: Monitor the evolution in France of antibiotic sensitivity of non-typhoid salmonella isolated in fecal cultures conducted in army hospital laboratories. METHODS: A prospective study was performed from January 1998 to December 1999 in all the biology departments of the 11 army hospitals in France. All the non-repetitive strains were sent to an official center for serotyping and determination of the minimum inhibiting concentrations, by dilution in Mueller Hinton's gelose. The antibiotics currently used in treatment were tested and interpretation endpoints followed the recent recommendations of the Antibiogram committee of the French society of microbiology. Identification of beta-lactamase was conducted by iso-electric focalization and polymerization by chain reaction (PCR). For Salmonella Typhimurium, research for the specific resistance locus of the DT104 clone was made using PCR. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-two non-repetitive salmonella strains were isolated. The principle serotypes found were: Salmonella Enterididis (23.9%), S. Typhimurium (21.2%) and S. Hadar (10.8%). All the strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxim, whereas one third exhibited reduced sensitivity to aminopenicillin. Depending on the serotype, Typhimurium and Hadar serotypes exhibited significantly lesser sensitivity to aminopenicillin, nalidixic acid and tetracycline. For S. Typhimurium, resistance is related to the diffusion of the multiresistant DT104 clone, which involves half of the strains of this serotype. For S. Hadar, 18 out of 24 strains (75%) were resistance to nalidixic acid, and 5 of them exhibited reduced resistance to ciprofloxacin. There was no difference in sensitivity to antibiotics between the strains responsible for diarrhea and those isolated in systematic examinations for capacity to work in the food trade (respectively 54 and 46% of strains). CONCLUSION: Non-typhoid salmonella are frequently isolated in diarrhea of infectious origin. The increasing resistance to antibiotics is primarily related to the diffusion of the DT104 clone, regarding S. Typhimurium and to the increase in resistance to quinolone, regarding S. Hadar.
[Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis for travellers in Southeast Asia].
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[American pulmonary histoplasmosis. Prospective study with 232 soldiers after a 2-year assignment in Guiana].
The purpose of this report is to describe the results of a prospective study on pulmonary histoplasmosis in French Guiana. Chest radiographs were performed in 232 French legionnaires returning from a two-year assignment in French Guiana. Further examinations were performed in a total of 8 subjects in whom chest radiographs demonstrated the presence of nodules in the lungs. No evidence of cancer or tuberculosis was found. Findings confirmed histoplasmomas in two cases and demonstrated probable histoplasmosis nodules in 6 cases including three involving calcified lesions. Five of these eight patients had been in high-risk rain forest environments. Pulmonary histoplasmosis should be considered as a possible diagnosis in subjects returning from endemic zones. Confirmation depends on a spectrum of findings. Calcified nodules require only radiographic surveillance with follow-up at six months. Non-calcified nodules require further investigation including CT-scan, bronchoscopy, and serological tests. Surgical biopsy may be necessary to achieve exact histological and mycological identification of the lesion and is recommended in smokers.
[Epidemiologic surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guiana. Summary of military data collected over 10 years].
This report describes the results of epidemiological surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in French military personnel in French Guiana. Data was collected regarding microscopic diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and lesion location as well as compliance with vector control measures. Year-to-year variations in the incidence in the general population have been attributed to changes in climatic conditions. Monitoring incidence and density curves, correlation of findings with local epidemiological data, and analysis of the most recent epidemic in 1998/99 (326 cases, attack rate 3.2% men years) highlight the importance of behavioral factors. The proportion of total cases involving military personnel varied widely from 20 to 85%. Investigation consistently showed that failure to apply elementary protective measures against sandfly bites was the most determinant factor in this proportion. Strict compliance with these measures appears to reduce the risk of infection considerably.
[Suspected epidemic at a hospital in Senegal].
Most outbreaks of noscomial infection are detected by means of molecular biological testing. However Euclidian distance is a rapid, reliable alternative if facilities for molecular biological testing are unavailable, as at the Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Over the 7 month period from 01/10/98 to 31/04/99, 110 of the 1033 blood cultures specimens collected in a group of 2360 children hospitalized in pediatric departments A and B of the Principal Hospital were found to be positive for Burkholderia cepacia. This high incidence suggested the possibility of an epidemic. This likelihood was further increased by evidence showing that all strains exhibited the same biotype and by results of pulsed-field electrophoresis (CHEF Mapper, Spel digestion) indicating that bacteria was of clonal origin. These findings were entirely consistent with those obtained by Euclidian distance but excessive mortality was not observed in the children involved. Testing of environmental specimens demonstrated the presence of the same strains in respirators and catheters. The most feasible hypothesis to account for these findings is environmental contamination resulting in mucocutaneous contamination of patients. Hemoculture containers were probably contaminated during handling.
[Clinical overview of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis].
This richly illustrated article (80 color photographs) based on the authors' experience in French Guyana documents the clinical diversity of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Main highlights include the often outstanding aspect of lesions, the high frequency of forms not associated with ulceration or scab formation that must be recognized to achieve diagnosis in travellers returning from endemic zones, and the special prognosis of clinical forms associated with intradermic, lymphatic or hematogenous spread. The article also reviews an original diagnostic method based on culture of cutaneous biopsy specimens on specific nutrient mediums that provides isolates in a high percentage of cases (80%) and thus allows identification of offending parasite.
[Typhoid fever epidemic in the Ivory Coast in vaccinated French military personnel].
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[Campylobacter lari bacteremia (letter)].
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[Sensitivity to antibiotics of bacteria from nosocomial infections. Evolution in resuscitation services of military hospitals].
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study, conducted in the French Military hospitals, was to monitor the course of the antimicrobial sensibility of bacteria isolated from nosocomial infection in intensive care units. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study has been conducted from January to December 1998 in all the intensive care units of the French Army. All the non-repetitive strains isolated from nosocomial infection were collected and sent to a reference centre. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the agar dilution method. Beta-lactamase were identified by iso-electro-focalisation. Antibiotics choice and interpretative criteria were those of the "Comité Français de l'Antibiogramme de la Société Française de Microbiologie". RESULTS: A total of 849 strains are included in this study. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated bacterium (20%) followed by Escherichia coli (19%) Staphylococcus aureus (15%), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) (11%) and Enterococci (7%). Imipenem was the most effective antibiotic against enterobacteriaceae (336 isolates; 100% susceptibility). Gentamicin (92%), amikacin (92%) third generation cephalosporins (83%), aztreonam (83%) and ciprofloxacin (78%) were also very effective. Resistance to III generation cephalosporins was correlated with an extended spectrum beta-lactamase (BLSE) in 36% of cases. This BLSE could be associated with an over production of the constitutive cephalosporinase. The most frequent species producing BLSE were Enterobacter aerogenes (75% of BLSE) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%). Among the 172 P. aeruginosa isolated, antimicrobial susceptibility were respectively: 71% for imipenem, 62%: tobramycin, 60%: amikacin 59%: ciprofloxacin 59% piperacillin + tazobactam, 55% piperacillin, 53%: ceftazidime and 44% for ticarcillin. Seventy per cent of the 96 CoNS and 50.2% of the 126 S. aureus isolated were resistant to methicillin. A strain of S. aureus and 2 CoNS strains had intermediate resistance to teicoplanin. Twenty per cent of the 59 Enterococci strains isolated were resistant to aminopenicillins (10/11 strains of E. faecium), and 9% presented a high level of resistance to gentamicine. One strain of E. faecium was resistant to vancomycin. CONCLUSION: The evolution of the susceptibility to antibiotics in intensive care units reflects the antibiotic pressure and level of cross-transmission. High rates of meticillin-resistance among staphylococci, of resistance to beta-lactams antibiotics among P. aeruginosa and of ciprofloxacin among Enterobacteriaceae are shown in this study. The implementation of appropriate strategies for surveillance and prevention is necessary.
Evaluation of the monocyte counting by the ABX Vega. Comparison with the manual method and fluoro-flow cytometry.
This study allowed evaluation and comparison of the precision (20 samples) and agreement (200 samples) of the relative and absolute values of the monocyte count using three methods: microscopic, flow cytometry and the automated ABX Vega hematology analyzer. Flow cytometry is the most precise method, even if the coefficient of variation of the automated analyzer is very similar. The coefficient of correlation between the ABX Vega and the flow cytometer is very satisfactory (r=0.8042). This study of the agreement also made it possible to confirm the difficulty that automated hematology analyzers have in differentiating between some granulocytes and monocytes and their propensity to overstimate the latter when the sample includes immature forms of granulocytes. This fact stresses the importance of the microscopic method, despite its lack of precision. The observed discrepancies did not lead to any difficulties in clinical interpretation; however, this finding should be taken into consideration, particularly in myleoproliferative syndromes and the laboratory monitoring of chemotherapy.
[Inter-laboratory reproducibility of pulsed-field electrophoresis for the study of 12 types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].
The increasing hospital-to-hospital transmission of multiple drug-resistant bacteria is a major concern for bacteriology laboratories involved in nosocomial infection control. The interlaboratory reproducibility of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa typing was evaluated by asking four hospital laboratories (two in Lyon, one in Brest, and one in Marseille) to study 11 P. aeruginosa isolates, some of which were epidemiologically related, and the reference strain ATCC 27853. Two laboratories used the Genepath system, one the Chef DR II, system, and one the Chef Mapper system, Bio-Rad, restriction/Spe I. Profiles were read visually and by computerized comparison of restriction band molecular weights (Taxotron, software, PAD Grimont, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France). These two methods led to similar epidemiological conclusions. However, centralization of the data showed poor center-to-center reproducibility due to inadequate standardization of the procedure.
[Cholera in Guinea: the 1994-1995 epidemic].
Since the first outbreak in 1970, cholera epidemics have occurred regularly in Guinea. Until 1994, epidemics recurred every 8 years and were confined to the capital and coastal areas. The first cases in every epidemic were observed in coastal lagoons near the Sierra Leone border. In 1994, the disease demonstrated its migratory ability as the first cases were reported in towns located in far eastern inland areas. Spread of the disease from war-torn Sierra Leone and Liberia where epidemics have also been reported cannot be ruled out. Control measures have gradually been implemented to deal with these outbreaks and a treatment facility was built at the University of Conakry in 1994. Bacteriological studies including antibiotic susceptibility tests carried out at this center showed that the offending bacteria was Vibrio cholerae El Tor of the Ogawa group. Although this strain is relatively sensitive to all antibiotics, analysis of epidemiological data revealed high mortality rates at the beginning of every outbreak probably due to delays in organizing appropriate care. A major effort is now being made to improve the response time particularly in remote inland areas.
[Djibouti, history of 2 epidemics of cholera: 1993-1994].
When two cholera epidemics broke out in Djibouti, respectively in 1993 and 1994, Bioforce was obliged to intervene. The first time, three goals were pursued: setting up a rehydration centre in a tent, organizing epidemiological surveillance and training local personnel in treatment and diagnosis techniques. The next year, the epidemic followed serious flooding. The epidemiological analysis showed that cholera had become endemic in the poor neighbourhoods of the town and that epidemic break-outs were favoured by contaminated surface water and disturbances in the distribution of drinking water. The epidemic of 1997, likewise following flooding, only confirmed this point of view.
[Frequency of malaria in adult expatriates consulting for a fever in 4 medical-social centers in Africa].
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[Diagnostic and treatment of hypereosinophilia upon return from the tropics: 102 patients].
Management of blood eosinophilia in travelers returning from the tropics is controversial. In this prospective study, 102 asymptomatic tropical travelers underwent investigation and treatment for hypereosinophilia. In contrast with direct tests for parasitic infection which were positive in only 15% of cases, immunological tests were suggestive of helminthic infection is 77%. The most common diagnoses were toxocarosis (49%), strongyloidiasis (30%), and filariasis (19%). Anti-parasite treatment was undertaken based on laboratory findings (12 cases) or on presumptive diagnosis using two-agent therapy (ivermectin and praziquantel) in 13 cases or three-agent therapy (ivermectin, praziquantel, flubendazole) in 77 cases. As a result of treatment, eosinophil count returned to normal in 61% of cases and decreased in 30%. These findings suggest that presumptive treatment of blood eosinophilia can be undertaken in tropical travelers using three anti-parasitic drugs: ivermectin (1 x 0.4 mg/kg), flubendazole (2 x 100 mg per day for 3 days), and praziquantel (1 x 40 mg). As a precaution before using ivermectin, tests should be performed to detect loiasis which can lead to adverse reactions.
[Focus. New Caledonia: Western medicine in the tropical islands].
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