Case of the month. Brain abscess.
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Intermedilysin is a pore-forming cytolysin belonging to the streptolysin O gene family known as the 'Cholesterol-binding/dependent cytolysins' and is unique within the family in that it is highly humanspecific. This specificity suggests interaction with a component of human cells other than cholesterol, the proposed receptor for the other toxins of the gene family. Indeed, intermedilysin showed no significant degree of affinity to free or liposome-embedded cholesterol. Characterization of intermedilysin undecapeptide mutants revealed that this lack of affinity to cholesterol was a result of the substitutions of intermedilysin in this region. Absorption assays with erythrocyte membranes from various animals, competitive inhibition with domain 4 of intermedilysin and liposome-binding assays of streptolysin O and intermedilysin indicated that cell membrane binding is the human-specific step of intermedilysin action, that the host cell membrane-binding site is located within domain 4 in common with other members of the family and that the receptor for this toxin is not cholesterol. The species specificity of undecapeptide mutants of intermedilysin and streptolysin O and chimeric mutants between intermedilysin and streptolysin O, and intermedilysin and pneumolysin indicated that domain 4 of intermedilysin determines the human-specific action step and the cell-binding site of domain 4 lies within the 56 amino acids of the C-terminal, excluding the undecapeptide region.
Chronic alcohol consumption is known to be a major risk factor for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. The incidence of esophageal cancer (4.4%) in alcoholics is reported to be much higher than that in the Japanese population as a whole (0.0001%). This suggests the presence of specific factors in chronic alcohol consumption-related carcinogenesis. Recently, data showing a significant correlation between Streptococcus anginosus and carcinogenesis in the upper aerodigestive tract have been reported. In this study, the ratio of S. anginosus to oral bacteria in the saliva of 38 alcoholic patients was investigated to determine if there is an association between alcoholic patients and S. anginosus infection. The level of S. anginosus in the saliva from 22 healthy people, 41 esophageal cancer patients, 32 gastritis patients, and 24 periodontitis patients was also investigated and compared to the level in alcoholic patients. In the saliva from esophageal cancer patients, the level of S. anginosus was not significantly different from that of healthy people. The levels of S. anginosus in periodontitis and gastritis patients were also similar. In alcoholics, however, there was an extremely high level of S. anginosus, suggesting that they, rather than healthy people and general esophageal cancer patients, have a high risk for S. anginosus infection.
Many different diseases have overlapping clinical symptoms. A major challenge in daily clinical practice is to differentiate between diseases associated with systemic inflammation, such as neoplasia, infection and autoimmune disease. We report on a 46-year-old Caucasian male with a 3-month history of rheumatoid arthritis presenting with dramatic weight loss and dysphagia. Computer tomography revealed multiple lesions in the liver and the spleen, strongly suggesting malignant disease of unknown origin. Surprisingly, on biopsy, the liver lesions drained pus. Workup revealed that the abscesses resulted from gastric perforation, which was the consequence of NSAR therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Antibiotic therapy was initiated, abscesses diminished and dysfunctional deglutition improved. This unique case demonstrates in a dramatic way the difficulties in daily clinical practice to differentiate between paraneoplasia, infection and autoimmune disease and the potentially life-threatening consequences of their therapy.
The direct cytotoxicity of sonic extracts (SE) from nine periodontal bacteria for human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) was compared. Equivalent dosages (in terms of protein concentration) of SE were used to challenge HGF cultures. The cytotoxic potential of each SE was assessed by its ability to (1) inhibit HGF proliferation, as measured by direct cell counts; (2) inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation in HGF cultures; or (3) cause morphological alterations of the cells in challenged cultures. The highest concentration (500 micrograms SE protein/ml) of any of the SEs used to challenge the cells was found to be markedly inhibitory to the HGFs by all three of the criteria of cytotoxicity. At the lowest dosage tested (50 micrograms SE protein/ml); only SE from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum caused a significant effect (greater than 90% inhibition or overt morphological abnormalities) in the HGFs as determined by any of the criteria employed. SE from Capnocytophaga sputigena, Eikenella corrodens, or Wolinella recta also inhibited cell proliferation and thymidine incorporation at this dosage; however, the degree of inhibition (5-50%) was consistently, clearly less than that of the first group of three organisms named above. The SE of the three other organisms tested (Actinomyces odontolyticus, Bacteroides intermedius, and Streptococcus sanguis) had little or no effect (0-10% inhibition) at this concentration. The data suggest that the outcome of the interaction between bacterial components and normal resident cells of the periodontium is, at least in part, a function of the bacterial species.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of bacterial colonization of IV catheters among young dogs suspected to have parvoviral enteritis, to identify the organisms responsible for catheter colonization, and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of organisms that were obtained. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 100 dogs. PROCEDURE: Catheters were aseptically removed when fluid therapy was discontinued, the catheter was replaced, or the dog died. The distal tip of the catheter was cut off, split open, and vortexed with sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. The saline solution was plated on culture plates, which were then incubated and examined for bacterial growth every 24 hours for 72 hours. All bacteria cultured were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined. RESULTS: Bacteria were isolated from 22 catheters. Most bacteria that were isolated were of gastrointestinal tract or environmental origin (Serratia odorifera, S. liquefaciens, S. marcescens, Acinobacter anitratus, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp). Only 2 gram-positive organisms were isolated (Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus spp). High percentages of organisms were resistant to penicillin, lincomycin, cloxacillin, erythromycin, and cephalexin. Percentages of organisms resistant to amikacin, enrofloxacin, chloramphenicol, potentiated sulfonamides, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were low. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that IV catheters may be colonized with bacteria in 22% of young dogs suspected to have parvovirus infection.
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Three cases of bacterial brain abscesses, in immunocompetent patients, are reported. In all these cases, the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map has permitted an early diagnosis and a rapid treatment. This emergency MRI showed in the three cases a low signal on TI-weighted images, a high signal on T2-weighted and echo-planar images, and a decrease of ADC (0.36- 0.49 x 10(-3) mm2/s). So, this new MRI technique provides an available and rapid element in the brain abscess diagnosis which often remains a complex clinical and radiological diagnosis.
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The bacterial pneumoniae are the significant factor of morbidity and mortality all over the world. So USA are at the sixth place per mortality cause. The bacteria are in 60-80% of cases the causes of pneumonia in the communities. Therefore this is the review on the ethiology of the verification and treatment of pneumonias in the 17-month period in the General hospital "Sarajevo". In the period of the 1st January 2002 till the 31st May 2003 year, it was examined 105 sputa on the antibiogram, and in 12 cases (11.4%) was found the positive bacterial finding. Most often were gram negative bacteria in 7 cases (58.3%), while were found the gram positive in 5 patients (41.7%). Therefore that the majority of the examinees belonged to the risk group, and that were the patients with over 50 years of age 11 (78.6%), with the chronic obstructive lung disease 5 (35.7%), with the malignant disease 1 (7.1%) and with the coinfection of the urinary tract. E. coli was found in 3 patient (25.0%), Kl. Pneumoniae in 2 (16.7%), Ps. aeruginosis in 1 (8.3%), Citrobacter freundi in 1 (8.3%), and in 2 cases (16.7%) were isolated. Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus beta haemolyticus gr. A and Str. Pneumoniae in 1 case (8.3%). To the patients with the positive finding of sputum on antibiogram were most often administered empirically cefalosporia of the third generation because it was about the more severe patients, then the combination of ampicillin with gentamicin. All were dismissed as recovered or in better condition. Pneumonias is in the risk groups are possible to prevent to the five-years pneumococcus vaccine when is indicated or by influenza vaccine when simultaneously was prevented the viral, that is the possible bacterially superinfected pneumonia.
Medical records of 131 dogs with external ocular diseases were reviewed. Bacteriologic culture of swab specimens from 151 eyes revealed 100 eyes (66.2%) were considered positive for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Of 127 species of microorganisms (bacterial and fungal) isolated, 50 (39.3%) were Staphylococcus spp (S intermedius, 17.3%). Streptococcus spp were the next most frequently isolated organism at 32 (25.2%), (Str canis, 16.5%). beta-Hemolytic streptococci (17%) were isolated more frequently than were alpha-hemolytic streptococci (9%), and coagulase-positive staphylococcal species (29%) were isolated almost 3 times as often as were coagulase-negative species (11%). Fungal and yeast organisms were isolated from 4.6% of the eyes. In vitro, most Staphylococcus spp were susceptible to cephalothin, bacitracin, and gentamicin, whereas most Streptococcus spp were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, carbenicillin, and cephalothin. Pseudomonas spp were sensitive to tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin.
The survival rate of Bacteroides intermedius was first tested in monoculture, and Streptococcus sanguis was then added in 5 different transport media; 2 nonnutritious media, the viability-preserving medium of the University of Göteborg No. IV (VMG IV), reduced transport fluid (RTF), and 3 nutritious media, thioglycolate medium (TG), peptone yeast extract medium (PY) and PY medium with 1% glucose (PYG). All manipulations were carried out in an anaerobic chamber. After a given transport time (6 or 24 h) aliquots were spread on plates containing solid PY medium by means of an automated spiral system device, thus permitting counts after incubation. The slight variations in the counts of B. intermedius in monoculture, not exceeding 0.5 log10 in the 5 media tested, indicated its good survival capability, i.e. at least 24 h. By contrast, when S. sanguis was added, it was only possible to use nutritious media such as PY or TG for 6 h. In the glocose-containing media (PYG, TG), the multiplication of rapidly glucose-fermenting microorganisms such as streptococci influenced the B. intermedius survival rate. Therefore, the transport time for oral microbiological samples needs to be reduced as much as possible. The use of excessively rich media (particularly media containing a high level of glucose) should be avoided.
Microorganisms referred to as Streptococcus anginosus (Streptococcus milleri) group which consist of S. anginosus, S. intermedius and S. constellatus is very difficult to identify to the species level, because of their diversity of biochemical, hemolytic and serological characteristics and because of confusion surrounding their taxonomy. Identification procedures on three isolates from primary sterile sites of three different patients, using API 20A system are described. Streptococcus intermedius was established in two and Streptococcus anginosus in one case. The importance of these organisms as human pathogens should enhance efforts of clinical microbiologist towards their accurate identification.
A collection of 297 clinically documented 'Streptococcus milleri' strains, identified to the genotype level by 16S rRNA gene hydridisation, was screened for haemolysis of human and animal red blood cells. Forty-nine strains (65%) of the S. intermedius genotype displayed haemolysis restricted to human blood; they were named 'exclusive human haemolytic' (EHH) S. intermedius strains. The 26 remaining S. intermedius strains were named S. intermedius non-EHH strains. Quantitative studies on the haemolysis indicated that intermedilysin was the factor involved. The S. intermedius EHH strains represented the S. intermedius phenotype, whereas the S. intermedius non-EHH strains were phenotypically characteristic of S. constellatus. The complete 16S rRNA sequences of the S. intermedius EHH strains exhibited identity with S. intermedius strains ATCC 27335 (= NCDO 2227, NCTC 11324); the 16S rRNA sequences of the S. intermedius non-EHH strains were identical to S. constellatus strain ATCC 27823 (= NCDO 2226, NCTC 11325) except for positions 228 and 229 that carried an S. intermedius sequence signature. The 16S sequence similarities between the non-EHH strains and the S. constellatus and the S. intermedius type strains were 99.5% and 98.6%, respectively. Hybridisations of the complete 16S rRNA genes with oligonucleotide probes indicated a 16S rRNA homogeneity within the S. intermedius EHH and the non-EHH strains respectively. The S. intermedius EHH strains were isolated most frequently from infection- and abscess-related specimens. The present data emphasise the genetic variability within the S. constellatus species and redefine the S. intermedius species as a homogeneous group at the 16S rRNA level.
The microbial ecology of adherent plaque was investigated in relation to the pathological findings of gingivitis in plaque-susceptible rats. Plaque developed in the gingiva of the lower incisor in plaque-susceptible rats, but not in plaque-resistant rats, after they were fed a commercial powder diet. With increase in plaque volume, the total counts of bacteria increased 10(9) to 10(11)/g. In the first 3 months, Bacteroides species increased and became the predominant population. Streptococcus species also increased at the same time. After 9 months, Fusobacterium species and oral Treponema species were recognized in increasing numbers. The anaerobic bacteria increased in proportion with the progression of plaque development. Bacteroides intermedius, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus salivarius, and other species were isolated. Acute gingivitis was observed within 3 months, and subacute-chronic gingivitis was observed between 2 and 12 months. These findings suggest that proportional changes in the gingival plaque flora may uniquely contribute to the development of gingival inflammation in this experimental model.
Strains of oral Streptococcus milleri group were compared with the type strains of Streptococcus anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus by DNA-DNA hybridization at 60 degrees C. Of the 29 strains tested, twelve, twelve, and two strains were closely related to S. anginosus ATCC 33397T, S. intermedius ATCC 27335T, and S. constellatus ATCC 27823T, respectively. Generally, the strains classified in the S. anginosus group in DNA homology were non-beta-haemolytic and belonged to API S. milleri II and biotype I (lactose fermenting), whereas the strains of S. constellatus group were beta-haemolytic and belonged to API S. milleri I and biotype II (lactose non-fermenting). The strains of the S. intermedius group were all non-beta-haemolytic and belonged to API S. milleri II and mostly biotype II (lactose fermenting). Furthermore, all except one strain of the S. anginosus group were Lancefield group A/serotype a (A/a), ungroupable/serotype b (-/b), C/c, -/d, -/e, F/f or G/k, whereas those of the S. constellatus group were F/-. The strains of the S. intermedius group were -/g, -/h, -/i, -/j, or -/-.