N Grude | PubMed Health

PubMed2001

[Rat-bite fever].

BACKGROUND: Rat bite fever and Haverhill fever are caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis which is part of the natural oral flora of rats and other rodents. Fever accompanied by headache, nausea and myalgia develops within ten days. Complications can be fatal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case of rat bite fever is described. A 48-year-old woman developed fever and malaise five days after being bitten by a pet rat. Two days later rash and arthritis in the hand and feet developed. Erythromycin was administered without effect. Ten days after the bite the patient was admitted to hospital and recovered after two weeks of intravenous penicillin therapy. RESULTS: S moniliformis was isolated from blood culture. On admission CRP was 231, ESR 88, ASAT 87, ALAT 218 and gamma-GT 461. Laboratory results normalized after therapy. INTERPRETATION: In cases of fever after rodent bites, S moniliformis infection should always be considered. Diagnosis is made by blood culture or cultivation from pus from the bite wound. First choice therapy is penicillin, or in case of intolerance, tetracycline.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Urinary tract infections in Norway: bacterial etiology and susceptibility. A retrospective study of clinical isolates.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to determine bacterial etiology and susceptibility in urinary tract infections. The study was designed as a retrospective study of urine samples from patients both inside and outside hospitals and nursing homes that were received at our laboratory between 1 January 1997 and 31 October 1999. The Telemark Biomedical Center receives all the medical microbiology specimens from hospitals, nursing homes and general practitioners in the County of Telemark (165,000 inhabitants), Norway. All urines fulfilling the criteria for significant bacteriuria [> or =10,000 colony-forming units/mL urine] were included in the study. METHODS: Bacterial susceptibility testing was performed using breakpoint methodology. During the study period, we received 52 350 urine samples, of which 28,066 (53.6%) fulfilled the criteria for significant bacteriuria (pure growth of > or =10,000 CFU/mL urine). RESULTS: Escherichia coli was the most predominant bacterium in the urine from both inpatients (56.7%) and outpatients (68.3%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci and enterococci occurred significantly more often (P < 0.001) in urine samples from inpatients (12.5% and 7.9%) than in urine samples from outpatients (7.5% and 4.7%). Escherichia coli from both outpatients and hospitalised patients was highly susceptible (>93%) to cefalothin, mecillinam and nitrofurantoin, and more than 75% of E. coli isolates were also sensitive to ampicillin. Overall, the susceptibility to nitrofurantoin in bacteria from outpatients was 90% and from hospitalised patients was 85%. The corresponding figures for cefalothin were 92% and 90%, and for trimethoprim were 81% and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria causing urinary tract infections in Norway are less resistant to antibacterial medication than in other western countries and the reason for this may be the low consumption of antibacterials by the Norwegian population. During the period from 1990 to 1999 the mean total annual consumption of antibacterial drugs in Norway was 15.3 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per year.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1997

[Disability pension after a factory close-down--eight years after].

A follow-up study of 97 persons who were granted a disability pension in 1987 or 1988 after closure of a shipyard showed 82 alive in 1995. The predominant diagnoses were musculoskeletal complaints, heart disease and psychiatric disorders. The 82 who were still alive were in good health and satisfied with their pension. However, if the factory had not been closed down, many of them could probably have continued in work. For many of them, and especially the youngest, the first year on disability pension was difficult. Based on today's more restricted rules, we have estimated that 25% of the applications for disablement benefit would have been refused.

Adult↗