Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to U Frank.
The authors outline the organization of infection control in Germany, focusing on official regulations, the training of infection control staff, and functions of the infection control committee and the availability of guidelines.
The categorical diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is currently discussed as sufficiently reliable and valid. However, specific standardized instruments to measure the degree of the symptomatology are currently not available. Based on the criteria of DSM-IV, the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) and the opinion of clinical experts and borderline-patients, a self-rating scale was developed to quantify the intrapsychic strain of patients with BPD. 308 female borderline-patients scored the 99 items. Factor analyses revealed seven factors: self-image, affect regulation, autoaggression, dysthymia, social isolation, intrusions and hostility. Analyses of reliability and validity revealed promising results.
AIM: Although colour coded Doppler ultrasound (CCDU) is established as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for detecting renal artery stenoses (RAS), no uniform criterion for defining a hemodynamically relevant stenosis (i.e. angiographic stenosis of > or = 70% of the diameter) exists. We therefore investigated the predictive value of the renal-aortic flow-velocity ratio (RAR) > 3.5 m/s and a difference of < 0.05 between the left and right side for the resistance index according to Pourcelot (dRI) in the detection of a relevant RAS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 500 consecutive CCDU examinations of patients with hypertension retrospectively. An RAR > 3.5 and/or a lateral inequality of the RI < 0.05 were used as stenosis criterion. RESULTS: In 448 patients (90%) both renal arteries could be found, in 11 patients (2%) only the right artery, in 6 patients (1%) the left artery, and in 35 patients (7%) no renal artery was detectable. In 98 patients (19.6%), RAS was diagnosed, 69 (71%) of them underwent angiography. 38 patients presented an RAR > 3.5 plus dRI > 0.05. In 29 of these, angiography was performed. 96% of them presented with an RAS of > or = 70% and 4% showed an RAS of 40-69% (specificity 97%, sensitivity 76%). In 54 patients the RAR was > 3.5, but dRI < 0.05. 24% of the patients undergoing angiography (n = 37) presented with an RAS of > or = 70%, 68% with an RAS of 40-69%, and 8% with an RAS of < 40% (specificity 60%, sensitivity 100%). 44 hypertensive patients who underwent angiography after a CCDU examination not suggesting the presence of RAS were used as control group. CONCLUSION: An experienced physician using a high quality colour-coded duplex-machine can reliably detect the renal arteries. The presence of RAS can be diagnosed with certainty by CCDU applying the criterion of RAR > 3.5, but the diagnosis of a one-sided haemodynamically relevant RAS can only be certain if the criterion of dRI > 0.05 is used in addition.
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and limitations of a new rotational thrombectomy device (Straub-Rotarex) in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Straub-Rotarex catheter is a new, wire-guided rotational thrombectomy device for the treatment of acute and subacute occlusions of the femoro-popliteal arteries. Over a 6-month period, 28 patients (64% male, mean age 69 +/- 9.5, 51-91 years) with 31 legs, mean duration of occlusion 4.4 +/- 4 (0-20) weeks, mean occlusion length 22 +/- 11 (5-40) cm were treated with the device, 5 of them in a cross-over technique. Target lesions: Aortic-femoral bypass, common iliac artery, external iliac artery, common femoral artery: 1 each, superficial femoral artery: 23, popliteal artery: 17. Initial stage of claudication: IIa: 6%, IIb: 72%, III: 16%, IV: 6%. RESULTS: Primary success rate: 90% (ipsilateral: 100%, cross-over: 40%). Stage of claudication after intervention: I: 85%, IIa: 7%, III: 4%, IV 4%, one amputation. 3-months follow-up: stage I: 86% (n = 24), IIa: 14% (n = 4), one femoro-popliteal bypass. Restenosis rate 18%. 6-months follow-up: stage I: 56% (n = 9), IIa: 31% (n = 5), IIb: 13% (n = 2). Restenosis rate 56%. COMPLICATIONS: 32% (5 perforations, three cases of embolism after PTA, one wire-induced dissection, one retroperitoneal bleeding coming from the puncture site). CONCLUSIONS: The new device is a useful tool for the treatment of (sub)acute long-distance occlusions of the SFA and popliteal artery and in-stent restenosis as well in antegrade technique. Main complications are perforations. Cross-over interventions can only be done in special cases.
An infectious disease consulting service was set up at a large tertiary university hospital in 1996 to evaluate and to improve antibiotic prescription patterns. Treatment guidelines for the most common bacterial infections were implemented. On daily ward rounds antibiotic therapies without evidence of an infectious disease were stopped and inappropriate regimens were changed by an infectious disease specialist. During a 6-month prospective intervention period, 3,528 patients were studied on 13 wards of the department of internal medicine; 513 of these patients (14.5%) received antibiotic therapy. These treatment courses were evaluated as adequate in 394 cases (76.8%) and incorrect in 119 cases (23.2%). Inadequate antibiotic substances were chosen in 72 out of 119 cases (60.5%) and there was no indication for treatment in 38 out of 119 cases (32%). Pathogen-specific therapies were inadequate significantly more often than empirical antimicrobial therapies (p < 0.001). In addition, the duration of the perioperative prophylaxis could be limited to 1 d. Comparing the intervention period with a 3-month control interval without an infectious disease consulting service, a total of 31,510 Euro (including the costs for the infectious disease specialist) could be saved. No increase in infection-related mortality or length of stay was observed. These data show that an infectious disease consulting service optimizes antibiotic usage, and is cost-effective as a result of a significant cost reduction in hospitals, while not interfering with the quality of medical care.
This study compares the in vitro activity of novel fluoroquinolones against clinical Legionella pneumophila isolates. We determined both the MICs and intracellular efficacy of moxifloxacin, trovafloxacin, clinafloxacin and levofloxacin in the Mono Mac 6 infection model. Six legionella strains were tested and all proved highly susceptible to the fluoroquinolones. Clinafloxacin and trovafloxacin were found to have the lowest MICs (0.004 mg/L) followed by levofloxacin and moxifloxacin (0.015-0.03 mg/L). In the Mono Mac 6 infection model, inhibition of L. pneumophila was achieved at concentrations four times below the respective in vitro MICs. Concentrations as low as 0.015 mg/L of moxifloxacin and levofloxacin, 0.004 mg/L of trovafloxacin and 0.002 mg/L of clinafloxacin markedly decreased viable intracellular bacterial counts. These data strongly support further clinical evaluation of new fluoroquinolones for empirical treatment of lower respiratory tract infection including atypical pneumonia caused by L. pneumophila.
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In the week following a carnival during 19-24 February 1998, an outbreak of meningococcal disease occurred in a rural German county. The available isolates belonged to phenotype C:2a:P1.2,5 and were clonally related by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A case-control study was done to identify risk factors for the outbreak and to define possible vaccination target groups. Five persons aged 13-16 years who fell ill during 24-27 February were included in the study. Four of 5 cases and 10 of 32 controls visited local discotheques (OR = 8.8; P = 0.06). Cases also visited discotheques more frequently than controls (chi2 for trend, P = 0.0002). Multiple discotheques during the carnival may have been predominant locations of transmission in this outbreak. Because this risk factor was limited in time, a mass community vaccination campaign was not initiated.
We investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of clinically meaningful, low concentrations of azithromycin against intracellular growth of two clinical isolates of Legionella pneumophila. The mature monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 was used as a model to investigate the effects of antimicrobial agents on L. pneumophila. Extracellular susceptibility was determined by microdilution susceptibility testing in BYEalpha broth after 48 h of incubation. Mono Mac 6 cells infected with L. pneumophila were incubated with various concentrations of azithromycin. After 2 days of incubation, intracellular bacteria were released from the phagocytes and plated on to BCYEalpha agar. Addition of the intracellular-acting antibiotics azithromycin or ciprofloxacin at their MICs (0.5 and 0. 015 mg/L, respectively) resulted in a significant decrease in cfu, of up to approximately 1 log(10) after 48 h of incubation. In contrast, incubation of intraphagocytic L. pneumophila in the presence of antibiotics without intracellular activity (ceftizoxime, imipenem or amoxycillin-clavulanic acid) did not have any effect. Azithromycin inhibited intracellular replication at concentrations as low as 0.125 mg/L, approximately one-quarter of the extracellular MIC. The Mono Mac 6 cell line is a useful infection model for investigating the intracellular activity of antimicrobial agents in vitro. In accordance with clinical data and animal experiments, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin inhibited the intraphagocytic replication of L. pneumophila. In particular, azithromycin killed ingested legionellae in vitro at concentrations below the peak serum concentrations and below the MIC.
Mechanically and enzymatically dissociated cells from five anthozoan species were laid on seven substrates in vitro. Cells were taken from two sea anemones (Aiptasia sp. and Anemonia sulcata), a scleractinian coral (Stylophora pistillata) and two alcyonacean corals (Heteroxenia fuscescence and Nephthea sp). Substrates tested: glass (coverslips), plastic (uncoated tissue culture plates), type IV collagen, gelatin, fibronectin, mesoglea pieces from the scyphozoan jellyfish Rhopilema nomadica and acetic acid extract of jellyfish mesoglea. Except for the mesoglea pieces, cells did not respond to any one of the other substrates, retaining their rounded shape. Following contact with mesoglea pieces, cells attached and spread. Subsequently they migrated into the mesogleal matrix at a rate of 5-10 microm/h during the first 2-5 h. No difference was found between the behavior of cells from the five different cnidarian species.
In a controlled clinical comparison, three commercial blood culture systems--the standard aerobic BacT/Alert bottle (STD), the aerobic BacT/Alert FAN bottle (FAN) and the Isolator system (ISO; Wampole Laboratories, USA) were compared for their ability to detect aerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms. A total of 945 BacT/Alert (STD and FAN) blood culture sets were compared. Of these, 110 blood culture sets (11.6%) yielded growth of 116 clinically significant bacterial and fungal isolates. Microorganisms were recovered from 10.7% (101/945) of the FAN bottles compared to 8.9% (84/945) of the STD bottles. Of the significant isolates, 78 (67.2%) were recovered by both bottles, 29 (25%) by the FAN bottle only and nine (7.8%) by the STD bottle only (P<0.01). Along with 56.1% (530/945) of BacT/Alert blood culture sets, a concomitant ISO tube was obtained. Of the triple (STD + FAN + ISO) blood culture sets, 54 (10.2%) yielded growth of 59 clinically relevant isolates. Microorganisms were detected in 9.1% (48/530) of the FAN bottles, 8.3% (44/530) of the STD bottles and 4% (21/530) of the ISO tubes (P<0.001). Overall, the BacT/Alert system detected more clinically significant microorganisms than the ISO tube; the STD and the FAN bottle each recovered significantly more staphylococci (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively) and gram-negative rods (P<0.01, both). In conclusion, the BacT/Alert FAN bottle performed better than the BacT/Alert STD bottle; both BacT/Alert bottles, however, were superior to the ISO tube in terms of recovery of clinically significant microorganisms, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
In our study, we present the data of eleven patients suffering from scarring of the median nerve, predominantly after open decompression of the carpal tunnel. Dysaesthesia in the palmar region and loss of grip strength prevented performing normal daily activities. All patients except one were relieved of the palmar discomfort and experienced an increase of grip strength allowing their return to work. The hypothenar fat flap has been shown to be a reliable source of local tissue to cover the median nerve. The sprouting of nerve fibers to the skin is prevented as well as median nerve readherence. We believe that the hypothenar fat flap provides sufficient regenerative conditions and coverage of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel in the surgical treatment of abundant scarring.
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Although experience in replantation surgery increased during the past 30 years, there are still problems remaining. Refinement of microsurgical operations and improvement in rehabilitation technique have lead to superior functional results. Beside clear indications as thumb loss or replantation in children there are only few absolute contraindications. A retrospective analysis of more than 300 replantation showed that there are still problems concerning exhaustive supply of replantation centres. Because time is one of the many critical components of successful preplantation improvements are necessary in extra- and intrahospital organization of replantation surgery.
Because of the loss of mobility, scarring of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel can lead to chronic pain syndrome of the wrist joint, with reduced sensation, muscular dystrophy and severe limitation of the use of the hand. This syndrome most often appears following open carpal tunnel release. Nine patients with scarring of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel were treated with a hypothenar fat-pad flap. Eight of them showed a significant reduction in pain, with improved sensation, trophism and strength. The procedure is suitable as a salvage procedure for restoring a sliding pathway and for cushioning the median nerve in the presence of recurrent lesions in the carpal tunnel.
In a prospective study, we investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of nosocomial infections (NIs) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus disease. There was a total of 528 admissions of 405 eligible patients; 46 NIs (8.7% per discharge) were identified in 39 patients. The proportional frequencies of NIs were as follows: 16 skin and/or soft-tissue infections (including localized catheter-associated infections), 3.0%; 14 respiratory tract infections, 2.7%; 11 bloodstream infections, 2.1%; and 5 urinary tract infections, 0.9%. The most common etiologic agents were Staphylococcus aureus (27.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.8%), and Enterobacter cloacae (13.8%). The duration of hospitalization was not significantly prolonged by NI in the cohort.