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Biomedical subjects

M de Saxe

Publications and source records attributed to M de Saxe.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Septicaemia in paediatric intensive-care patients at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street.

A review of nosocomial septicaemia in paediatric intensive care in a tertiary referral setting was undertaken for a 33-month period (1988-90). This involved six units: Cardiothoracic surgery; Neonatal surgery; general medical; Renal dialysis/transplant; Haematology/Oncology and Infectious disease/Immunology. The latter two units undertake bone marrow transplantation. During the study period, 10,719 admissions were made to these areas and 624 episodes of septicaemia were documented in 464 children. The frequency of septicaemia per 100 admissions ranged from 1.5 in the Renal Transplant Unit to 17.3 in the Haematology/Oncology unit. Over 60% of all septicaemic episodes occurred in children in the Haematology/Oncology and Cardiac Units. Gram-positive organisms were responsible for 66% of episodes, Gram-negative organisms for 17% and fungi for 3%. Polymicrobial episodes accounted for 13%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent isolates overall (43% of episodes in pure culture, and a further 6% in combination with other organisms). Staphylococcus aureus was associated with 10% of episodes, Enterobacteriaceae with 9% and Pseudomonas spp. 6% among which environmental pseudomonads predominated. Anaerobes and Haemophilus influenzae were each isolated in less than 1% of episodes.

Child↗
PubMed1990

A subdivision of strains of Staphylococcus aureus in the 94,96 complex by means of experimental phages.

In order to facilitate epidemiological investigations a subdivision of Staphylococcus aureus strains belonging to the 94,96 complex by means of two experimental phages, 16 and 47A, was performed. These phages were selected from the nine experimental phages initially examined because they gave the greatest discrimination. On the basis of reactions with these two phages, 2199 isolates which reacted with phages 94 and 96, and 773 isolates which reacted with phage 96 alone, were each subdivided into two major and two minor groups. Strains with different phage patterns were in a few cases (2/64) isolated from the same deep body site in a patient, and lysogenisation experiments suggested that differences in phage patterns were determined by the presence of prophages. Strains with the phage patterns 94/96 and 96 were found to be unevenly distributed throughout Denmark. This regional distribution suggested that particular strains might predominate in some areas. The extended phage patterns with the experimental phages did not give any retrospectively useful epidemiological information. It is proposed that in future phages 16 and 47A be used for specific investigations into the sources and relatedness of strains involved in small incidents.

Bacteriophage Typing↗
PubMed1986

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the UK and Ireland. A questionnaire survey.

The results of a questionnaire survey of the distribution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the UK and Ireland between 1982 and 1983 are reported. Information was obtained about the geographical distribution of MRSA, the units affected, the sites of isolation and the preventive measures employed. Serious clinical problems were confined to a small number of hospitals with high isolation rates of MRSA.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1985

Gram-negative endotoxins and staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome.

Strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from toxic shock syndrome (TSS) produce toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST1) which causes a shock-like illness in rabbits with many features similar to TSS in humans. TSST1 is lethal per se in rabbits and also acts synergistically with endotoxin to potentiate lethality. The mode of action of TSST1 is as yet unknown; it has been suggested that it may act by inhibiting the reticuloendothelial system thus allowing endotoxic shock to occur. Rabbits pretreated with polymyxin-B, which prevents the effect of endotoxin, were found to be protected from death by TSST1 indicating that endotoxin is indeed implicated in the pathogenesis of TSS. Specific pathogen-free rabbits which presumably have negligible levels of circulating LPS were susceptible to TSST1 suggesting that very small amounts of endotoxin are sufficient to potentiate lethality. The ways in which TSST1 may allow shock to occur is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Waardenburg syndrome in South Africa. Part II. Is there founder effect for type I?

Three South African families of Afrikaner descent with the Waardenburg syndrome (WS) type I have been traced back for 12 generations. The families may be related through a French Huguenot couple who came to the Cape in 1683. Although the number of families in this study is small and the information incomplete and, although the earliest known family member with WS was born in 1842, the findings suggest that founder effect for the gene for WS type I may possibly exist in the Afrikaner population of South Africa.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

Waardenburg syndrome in South Africa. Part I. An evaluation of the clinical findings in 11 families.

The clinical findings in 11 families with 52 members affected with the Waardenburg syndrome (WS) are presented and compared with the findings from other studies. The families are assigned to WS type I (7 families containing 31 affected individuals), or type II (4 families with 21 affected members), depending on the presence or absence of dystopia canthorum, and the differences between the two types are discussed. The hypothesis that the features of WS are explicable on the basis of a neural crest defect is supported. Attention is drawn to the finding of spina bifida in 2 unrelated WS type I patients, and of delayed milestones or poor school performance necessitating special schooling in 9 different unrelated patients. Deafness has previously been considered to be the most disabling characteristic of the condition, but if there is an increased incidence of spina bifida or mental retardation associated with WS, the approach to genetic counselling might need to be altered.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

The Aarskog (facio-digital-genital) syndrome in South Africa. A report of three families.

Aarskog's syndrome comprises facial, digital and genital anomalies associated with short stature. Six affected males from three families were examined, and their clinical features are discussed. The presence of cleft lip in 1 of the patients supports the suggestion that cleft lip and cleft palate may well be a feature of the syndrome. Analysis of the pedigrees of the three families supports an X-linked recessive mode of inheritance with minimal expression in female carriers. The ultimate prognosis for affected individuals is good.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗