PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Raul Raz

Publications and source records attributed to Raul Raz.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Vaginal colonization by orally administered Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

BACKGROUND: The lack of lactobacilli in the vagina of postmenopausal women due to estrogen deficiency plays an important role in the development of bacteriuria. In the last few years the use of lactobacilli for the prevention of genitourinary infections has been explored using different probiotic strains. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the vaginal colonization by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in postmenopausal healthy women following oral administration of the bacteria in a yogurt base for 1 month, as a first step in evaluating the potential probiotic role of LGG in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections. METHODS: One or two doses per day of yogurt containing 10(9) colony-forming units of LGG were administered orally to 42 postmenopausal healthy women for 1 month. Vaginal and rectal swabs were cultured at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: At the end of the study the vaginas of only four women (9.5%) were colonized with LGG, at a very low number of bacteria, despite the fact that the gastrointestinal tracts of 33 women (78.6%) were colonized. There were no significant differences between one or two doses daily. CONCLUSIONS: LGG should not be considered as a probiotic agent in urinary infections since it does not attach well to the vaginal epithelium.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Procalcitonin as a marker of acute pyelonephritis in infants and children.

In the absence of specific symptomatology in children, the early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge, particularly during infancy. In an attempt to differentiate acute pyelonephritis from lower urinary tract infection (UTI), we measured serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and compared these with other commonly used inflammatory markers. We evaluated the ability of serum PCT levels to predict renal involvement, as assessed by dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte counts, and PCT levels were measured in 64 children admitted for suspected UTI. Renal parenchymal involvement was assessed by (99m)Tc-DMSA scintigraphy in the first 7 days after admission. In acute pyelonephritis, the median PCT level was significantly higher than in the lower UTI group (3.41, range 0.36-12.4 microg/l vs. 0.13, range 0.02-2.15 microg/l, P<0.0001). In these two groups, respectively, median CRP levels were 120 (range 62-249 mg/l) and 74.5 (range 14.5-235 mg/l, P=0.012) and leukocyte counts were 15,910/mm(3) (range 10,200-26,900) and 14,600/mm(3) (range 8,190-26,470, P=0.34). For the prediction of acute pyelonephritis, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT were 94.1% and 89.7%, respectively; CRP had a sensitivity of 100%, but a specificity of 18.5%. We conclude that serum PCT may be an accurate marker for early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

[Home intravenous antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis patients].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate both the safety and the costeffectiveness of the Home Intravenous Antibiotic Therapy (HIAT) program for the treatment of patients with osteomyelitis in the district of Haifa and Western Galilee. METHODS: We checked the medical records of all the patients with osteomyelitis who had been treated at home with intravenous antibiotics during 1999-2000. We reviewed their records for etiological agents, types of antibiotics given, complications and cost evaluation. RESULTS: During the two year period (January 1999 to December 2000), 52 patients received 55 courses of HIAT. The total duration of treatments was 1187 days. Eighty-five percent of the patients were referred from clinical departments from one of the medical centers in our area. In 54.6% of cases the infecting agent is unknown. Among the known ones, Staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most prevalent pathogens. Penicillins and Cephalosporins were the most common antimicrobial agent prescribed. The HIAT program saved NIS. 1,299,765 (approx. $365,000) during 1999-2000. Only minor complications were present. CONCLUSIONS: HIAT for the treatment of patients with osteomyelitis is effective, safe and comfortable for the patients and has an important economic impact.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Staphylococcus aureus carrier state among elderly residents of a long-term care facility.

INTRODUCTION: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have recently become a major concern in long-term care facilities (LTCF). Patients that have been colonized with MRSA in general hospitals may introduce the organisms into LTCF, and these can become reservoirs for the pathogen. Our objective was to evaluate the rate of colonization by S aureus, especially MRSA, in elderly residents of a large LTCF, and to find factors that predispose to it. METHODS: A nasal culture was obtained from randomly selected patients in an Israeli LTCF. Inclusion criteria were absence of active infection and no antibiotic treatment in the preceding month. The carrier state was defined when two consecutive cultures were positive for S aureus. RESULTS: The study population comprised 270 patients, aged 81 +/- 9.3 years and from all types of wards. Of these, 63 (23.3%) were carriers of S aureus and 17 of those (27%) had MRSA. From univariate analysis, the carrier state was associated with antibiotic treatment or an invasive procedure in the previous 3 months, and with a prior MRSA infection. Subacute LTCF departments had a higher carrier rate than the chronic care wards. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multilevel facility, 6.2% of the patients were MRSA carriers, and came predominantly from the subacute departments, suggesting an influx from general hospitals. This information and the identification of factors associated with MRSA infection permit the development of an institutional infection control program.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mycetoma of the foot caused by Cylindrocarpon lichenicola in an immunocompetent traveler.

Cylindrocarpon is a cosmopolitan soil fungus, which rarely causes human disease. It has infrequently been reported as causing keratitis, mycetoma, osteomyelitis and peritonitis in chronic peritoneal ambulatory dialysis patients and disseminated infection in leukemic neutropenic hosts. This report describes a case of invasive infection caused by Cylindrocarpon lichenicola, localized in the right foot of an otherwise immunocompetent traveler.

Foot Dermatoses↗