PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Ausina

Publications and source records attributed to V Ausina.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Assessment of Acinetobacter baumannii susceptibility to antiseptics and disinfectants.

Disinfection and antisepsis are of primary importance in controlling outbreaks of Acinetobacter baumannii, a nosocomial pathogen that frequently shows multiple antibiotic resistance. In this study we assessed the susceptibility of nine A. baumannii strains isolated during a sustained intensive care unit outbreak, to several antiseptics and disinfectants based on European Standards. While the tested strains showed diverse antibiotic resistance patterns, they were equally sensitive to the biocides assessed in vitro. We observed neither evidence of development of resistance to biocides over time, nor a correlation between resistance to antibiotics and a decreased susceptibility to antiseptics or disinfectants.

Acinetobacter Infections↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of two different cell lysis methods for releasing mycobacterial nucleic acids in the INNO-LiPA mycobacteria test.

The INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria Test (Innogenetics, N.V., Belgium) is a PCR-based reverse hybridization assay for the simultaneous identification of several mycobacterial species. We evaluated two simplified lysis methods for mycobacterial DNA release for application in the INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria Test. The two methods were based on either (i) heat treatment or (ii) sonication. Both methods were performed directly on 45 positive liquid cultures (MB-BacT, BioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) containing 17 different mycobacterial species. These two simple lysis procedures demonstrated similar effectiveness (100%) to that recommended by the manufacturer. They also significantly shortened the time required for mycobacterial DNA release.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2003

Seven-year review of paediatric bacteraemias diagnosed in a Spanish university hospital.

UNLABELLED: This study analysed the clinical and bacteriological patterns of paediatric bacteraemia in a university hospital, by a review of 213 episodes over a period of 7 y. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent aetiological agent after the neonatal period and Streptococcus agalactiae in neonatal sepsis. Almost half of pneumococci and meningococci were penicillin non-susceptible. Four neonatal deaths attributed to bacteraemia were recorded. CONCLUSION: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired bacteraemia. Mortality due to bacteraemia in children without underlying conditions is rare.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2003

Usefulness of urinary antigen detection by an immunochromatographic test for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in children.

We evaluated an immunochromatographic assay detecting pneumococcal antigen in urine samples from children diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunochromatographic test with nonconcentrated urine (NCU) were 86.7 and 62.9%, respectively; with concentrated urine (CU), they were 100 and 11.7%, respectively. Pneumococcal antigen was also detected in 42.5% of NCU and 87.1% of CU samples from nasopharyngeal carriers. This is a nonspecific test for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia in children, particularly the very young.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Utility of an in-house mycobacteriophage-based assay for rapid detection of rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates.

A rapid in-house mycobacteriophage-based assay to identify multidrug resistance by detecting the rifampin susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a microtiter plate format was evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of the assay were 100%. This test is rapid to perform and suitable for widespread implementation.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗
PubMed2002

Production of antibodies against glycolipids from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall in aerosol murine models of tuberculosis.

Evolution of antibodies against glycolipids from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall has been studied for the first time in experimental murine models of tuberculosis induced by aerosol, in which infection, reinfection, reactivation, prophylaxis and treatment with antibiotics have been assayed. Results show a significant humoral response against these antigens, where diacyltrehaloses (DAT) and sulpholipid I (SL-I) elicited higher antibody levels than protein antigens like antigen 85 protein complex (Ag85), culture filtrate proteins (CFP) and purified protein derivative (PPD). Only immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies have been detected against DAT and SL-I. Their evolution has a positive correlation with bacillary concentration in tissues.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of the VITAL (bioMérieux) automated blood culture system using blind subculture.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the ability of the VITAL system to detect and allow recovery of microorganisms that are difficult to grow, such as Brucella spp., yeasts, or anaerobes, as well as to determine the need for blind subcultures after the incubation period. METHODS: A prospective evaluation of the system was performed, and 8247 blood culture bottles were processed. The standard was blind subculture from all the bottles after 5 days of incubation. RESULTS: There were 3.2% false-positive and 0.6% false-negative results (72% of clinical importance). The system sensitivity for yeasts was 41%. The mean time for detection of Neisseria meningitidis was 31.9 +/- 2.8 h, for Brucella spp. 119.7 +/- 2 h, and for yeast 51.5 +/- 27.8 h. CONCLUSIONS: The VITAL system poses has serious difficulties in the detection of N. meningitidis, Brucella spp., yeast and methicillin- and aminoglycoside-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MARSA). The low system sensitivity for yeast detection makes the blind subculture necessary after the incubation period.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2001

Prospective follow-up of Epstein-Barr virus load in adult kidney transplant recipients by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction in blood and saliva samples.

The aim of the study presented here was to set up and standardize a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction method for monitoring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in blood and saliva samples from transplant recipients and to determine the value of these levels as an early marker for the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. EBV DNA load was prospectively measured in 53 adult kidney transplant recipients. Results were correlated with clinical features and degree of immunosuppression. Healthy blood donors and patients with infectious mononucleosis were used as controls. Levels higher than 500 EBV DNA copies/75,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells were found in all patients with infectious mononucleosis and in all patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder but in only 7.5% of transplant recipients without that complication.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Rapid detection of several mycobacterial species using a polymerase chain reaction reverse hybridisation assay.

The ability of a polymerase-chain-reaction-based technique combined with a reverse hybridisation line-probe assay to detect and identify eight of the most clinically significant mycobacterial species directly from cultures in liquid medium was evaluated. The line-probe assay allows simultaneous identification of eight different mycobacterial species. Ninety-seven mycobacterial strains belonging to 22 different species were evaluated. All strains were previously inoculated into MB/BacT bottles (Organon Teknika, USA). The sensitivity and specificity of the test when applied on positive MB/BacT liquid cultures containing isolates from mycobacterial species included as specific probes on the line-probe assay strip was 100% and 100%, respectively. These results further support the potential clinical usefulness of this technique in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infections.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2001

Usefulness of adding multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid samples to routine diagnostic testing for herpesvirus encephalitis.

The present study was conducted to assess the usefulness of adding the multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid samples to routine diagnostic testing for herpesvirus encephalitis and to monitor the efficacy of therapy. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 45 patients with presumed herpesvirus encephalitis were tested for herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and Epstein-Barr virus. Ten of the 45 patients were positive for a virus using the polymerase chain reaction assay: herpes simplex virus (n=5), Epstein-Barr virus (n=3), and herpes simplex virus plus the Epstein-Barr virus (n=2). Cerebrospinal fluid from two patients who had undergone acyclovir therapy gave negative results. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by multiplex polymerase chain reaction can be useful for establishing an accurate diagnosis and as a marker of the efficacy of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of a new test to detect Legionella urinary antigen for the diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease.

Given that the rate of mortality by Legionella pneumonia increases in incorrectly treated patients, rapid diagnosis and early antibiotic treatment are needed. We have assessed the performance of a new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test (Bartels Inc. Trinity Biotech Company, Wicklow, Ireland) to detect Legionella pneumophila antigen in urine comparing it to Binax EIA (Binax, Portland, Maine). We also evaluated the capability of both EIAs to detect extracted soluble antigens of Legionella strains. Using nonconcentrated urine samples (NCU) the sensitivity of Bartels EIA was 74.1% (66/89) and the sensitivity of Binax EIA was 51.7% (46/89). The sensitivity of both EIA tests were 91.5% (54/59) using concentrated urine samples (CU). Specificity of both EIA tests was 100% in NCU and CU. Bartels EIA was able to detect all serogroup L. pneumophila antigens, achieving a higher sensitivity in the case of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 soluble antigen. The new EIA was found to be a useful test for the rapid diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia, being a better alternative to the Binax EIA if NCU is used.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2001

Towards a 'human-like' model of tuberculosis: intranasal inoculation of LPS induces intragranulomatous lung necrosis in mice infected aerogenically with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It is well known that one of the differences between murine and human tuberculosis is the lack of intragranulomatous necrosis in the former. The aim of this study was to create a feasible and reproducible model of an experimental model of murine tuberculosis in which this necrosis should be present. Considering the Shwartzman reaction as a possible explanation for intragranulomatous necrosis in human tuberculosis, C57Bl/6 mice, infected aerogenically with a virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were intranasally inoculated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on day 19 postinfection (p.i.). Twenty-four hours later, neutrophils infiltrated the lung parenchyma in a significant level, and 10 days after necrosis could be detected in the centres of primary granulomas, that showed scanty macrophages and large amounts of collagen on an eosinophilic background. On the other hand, a significant decrease in the concentration of colony forming units (CFU) could be appreciated 24 h after the LPS inoculation. Afterwards, nonbronchogenic spreading of granulomas increased and higher levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA were detected. These results lend support to the Shwartzman reaction as the origin of the intragranulomatous necrosis in the M. tuberculosis infection, and provides a useful tool to improve experimental murine models in tuberculosis.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed2001

Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen by a rapid immunochromatographic assay in urine samples.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of a newly available rapid (15 min) immunochromatographic membrane test (ICT) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae in urine samples, in order to assess its utility in the diagnosis of bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: We studied urine samples from 51 patients with bacteremic and nonbacteremic pneumonia due to S pneumoniae diagnosed by blood culture and pneumococcal polysaccharide capsular antigen detection by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in urine samples, 16 patients with probable pneumococcal pneumonia, 71 patients with nonpneumococcal pneumonia, and 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. Urine samples were collected and frozen at - 20 degrees C until used. The ICT test was performed following the instructions of the manufacturer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: S. pneumoniae antigen was detected in 41 of 51 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (80.4%); results were positive in 23 of 28 bacteremic cases (82.1%) and in 18 of 23 nonbacteremic cases (78.3%). From patients with a diagnosis of presumptive pneumococcal pneumonia, antigen was detected in seven urine samples (43.7%) and also in one case of the 16 patients with pneumonia but no pathogen identified. The specificity of the ICT test was 97.2%. CONCLUSION: The ICT assay is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia, especially for the nonbacteremic cases.

Adolescent↗