14 research outputs found
Urinary tract infections in patients with malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system
No full textSummaryAimTo diagnose the etiological factors involved in urinary tract infections (UTI) and to examine antibiotic sensitivities in bacteria – causative agents of UTI in female patients with genitourinary malignancies.Materials/MethodsNineteen patients aged between 35 and 75 years treated for genitourinary malignancies and with a diagnosis of UTI were examined. The majority of these patients (17) were treated with X rays to the pelvic region (tele – and brachytherapy). Six patients were treated for endometrial carcinoma. One patient was treated for ovarian cancer, and one for vaginal cancer. Significant bacteriuria was defined as 104 or more CFUs/ml in quantitative urine examination. Microorganisms were identified according to standard bacteriological methods using bio-Merieux tests. The isolated bacteria were tested for antibiotic sensitivity using the ATB Expression system.ResultsE. coli was the most frequently observed causative factor in cases of UTI. E. faecalis strains were the next most commonly observed species. One of 11 isolated E. coli strains was resistant to 5 antibiotics, a second was resistant to 3 antibiotics and three strains were resistant to 2 antibiotics. E. coli strains were classified into 9, and E. faecalis into 4, sensitivity patterns. UTI was diagnosed in four patients with stage I B, in four with stage III B and in one patient with stage IV cervical cancer.ConclusionsE. coli and E. faecalis were the most frequently isolated species from the urine of female patients with genitourinary malignancies. These bacteria are among the main causative agents of UTI. The results of these investigations may be used for epidemiological purposes: to find the causes and sources of nosocomial infections and in the prophylaxis of these infections
Risk factors in superficial infections of surgical sites in colorectal carcinoma surgery
No full textSummaryAimThe aim of the paper was to conduct a retrospective analysis of a group of patients after surgery for colorectal cancer: to define aetiological factors for, and assess drug-sensitivity of bacteria causing infection.Materials/MethodsBetween January 2000 and June 2004, 350 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. Within that group 17 (4,86%) patients developed postoperative wound infections within 30 days of the operation. In all cases we performed microbiological examinations. All the cases of infections were analysed, with special attention being paid to the following groups of risk factors: patient-related and perioperative procedures.ResultsIn all, 17 cases of superficial infections were identified within the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The most frequently identified aetiological factors were colibacillus species and Enterococcus faecalis. Targeted antibiotic therapy was applied, based on the results of antibiograms. Rapid recovery was observed in all patients. The most important patient-related risk factors included: BMI over 25 kg/m2 in 11 (64.7%) patients, high (3rd) degree of neoplastic advancement in 13 (76.5%) patients and preoperative radiotherapy in 7 (41.2%) patients. All infections were found in patients after resection of the sigmoid colon or rectum.ConclusionsThe most frequent aetiological factor identified, on the basis of cultures, was bacterial fl ora of the colorectum. 1. The most important risk factors include: degree of neoplastic advancement, obesity and preoperative radiotherapy. 2. The application of appropriate systems for the preparation of the patient during the perioperative period has a great infl uence on the frequency of infections. 3. Because high drug-resistance in bacterial cultures is a real possibility, it is essential to perform antibiograms in order to help select the most appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of infections
The application of different methods for indirect microbial development assessment in pilot scale drinking water biofilters
No full textThe biofiltration process in the biologically activated carbon filters (BAC) is one of advanced methods of water treatment. It enables efficient elimination of dissolved organic matter and some inorganic pollutants. The production of high-quality drinking water requires an appropriate method of filter work control based on biofilm growth assessment. The first aim of the study was to assess the microbial development in beds of two BAC filters with the use of various methods. The second aim was to compare the obtained results and indicate the method which could support filter operators during routine control of biofiltration process. The study was carried out in a pilot scale on models of BAC filters during two filter runs. The analysis of microorganisms was performed in water samples collected from different depths of the filter beds with the use of culture method (HPC), metabolic activity assay (with the FDA), epifluorescence microscopy – total cell count method (TCC) and biochemical method (system Vitek 2 Compact). No statistical correlation between HPC and metabolic activity assay was noted. Total bacteria number determined with the use of TCC was approx. 100–900 times higher than in the HPC method. The biochemical tests revealed the presence of several Gram-negative species. The comparison of the applied methods shows that microbial activity assay is the most useful, fast and low-cost method which may be applied additionally to the HPC method at standard water treatment plant laboratory
Usuwanie związków organicznych z wody w procesie biofiltracji – badania w skali technicznej
No full textThe research was carried out on the full scale Water Treatment Plant with maximal capacity of 150 000 m3/d. Treated water is characterized by a high content of organic pollutants. In order to eliminate them from water and ensure the biological stability of water in the water supply network, in January 2015 a second stage of water treatment was launched, based on integrated ozonation and filtration through carbon filter beds. Between January and May 2016, samples of water and a filter bed were collected from four carbon filters and then physicochemical and bacteriological analysis were done. The FDA test and biochemical diagnostics were made to prove the microbiological activity of the filter bed. The studies showed a decrease in the content of organic compounds, meassured as TOC and COD (KMnO4), and the biological activity of the analyzed carbon filters. The carbon filter beds were populated by Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Aeromonas salmonicida and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. In none of the analyzed filters were found strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family which may have a potential threat to health of the consumers. The application of carbon filters has reduced the organic matter content in treated water.Badania prowadzono w skali technicznej na Stacji Uzdatniania Wody (SUW) o maksymalnej wydajności 150 000 m3/d. Woda dopływająca do SUW charakteryzuje się zawartością specyficznych zanieczyszczeń organicznych. W celu ich eliminacji z wody oraz zapewnienia biologicznej stabilności wody w sieci wodociągowej, w styczniu 2015 r. uruchomiono drugi stopień oczyszczania wody, oparty o zintegrowane procesy ozonowania i filtracji przez złoże węglowe. Co miesiąc, w okresie od stycznia do maja 2016 r., pobierano próbki wody oraz złoża filtracyjnego z czterech filtrów węglowych. Próbki wody pobierano bezpośrednio znad złoża filtracyjnego oraz na odpływie z filtrów. Próbki złoża filtracyjnego pobierano z jego górnej warstwy, w pięciu punktach każdej komory filtracyjnej. Przeprowadzono analizy fizyczno-chemiczne i bakteriologiczne wody oraz złóż filtracyjnych. W celu wykazania aktywności mikrobiologicznej złóż wykonywano test aktywności esteraz z dwuoctanem fluoresceiny FDA. W próbkach wody i węgla aktywnego w celu zidentyfikowania mikroorganizmów prowadzono diagnostykę biochemiczną z wykorzystaniem zautomatyzowanego systemu Vitek 2 Compact (bioMerieux). Przeprowadzone badania wykazały obniżenie zawartości związków organicznych wyrażonych jako OWO i ChZT (KMnO4) oraz biologiczną aktywność analizowanych filtrów węglowych. Złoża filtrów węglowych zasiedlone były przez Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Aeromonas salmonicida oraz Sphingomonas paucimobilis. W żadnym z analizowanych filtrów nie wyhodowano natomiast szczepów z rodziny Enterobacteriaceae stanowiących potencjalne zagrożenie dla zdrowia konsumentów.Wprowadzenie filtrów węglowych do ciągu technologicznego SUW spowodowało obniżenie zawartości materii organicznej w wodzie uzdatnionej
Complication of radiation therapy among patients with positive S. aureus culture from genital tract
No full textAbstractAimThe main goal of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of positive Staphylococcus aureus culture from the genital tract on patients receiving radiation therapy, suffering from carcinoma of the uterus. The other aim was to observe radiation therapy complications.BackgroundRadiation therapy of patients suffering from cervical cancer can be connected with inflammation of the genitourinary tract.Materials and methodsIn years 2006–2010 vaginal swabs from 452 patients were examined. 39 women with positive S. aureus cultures were analysed.ResultsComplications and interruptions during radiation therapy were observed in 7 (18.9%) of 37 patients with positive vaginal S. aureus culture. One of them, a 46-year-old woman developed pelvic inflammatory disease. None of the six patients who received palliative radiotherapy showed interruption in this treatment. Isolated S. aureus strains were classified into 13 sensitivity patterns, of which 8 were represented by 1 strain, two by 2 strains and three by 13, 8 and 6 strains. One strain was diagnosed as methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA).ConclusionsThe results of the present study show that S. aureus may generally be isolated from the genital tract of female patients with neoplastic disease of uterus but is not often observed as inflammation factor of this tract. Comparison of species’ resistance patterns may be used in epidemiological studies in order to discover the source of infections and therefore be of profound significance in the prevention of nosocomial infections
Environmental biodegradation of halophenols by activated sludge from two different sewage treatment plants
No full textThe sorption of organic compounds from water during technological start-up of carbon filters
No full textNatural waters contain organic substances that have a major impact on the quality of water, in particular on its organoleptic properties. They can also change its physical and chemical properties and have a negative impact on the technological processes used during water treatment. There is no doubt that organic substances contained in natural waters have to be removed during treatment processes in order to achieve concentrations consistent with the requirements concerning the quality of water intended for human consumption. A very effective method of organic compounds elimination from water is to use of biologically active filters (BAF). This article presents the results of pilot scale research on the effectiveness of removal of organic compounds from water using filtration through a bed of activated carbon filters, during their technological start-up. The obtained results showed high, more than 91% efficiency of reducing the content of organic compounds expressed by TOC, COD (KMnO4) and UV254 absorbance. The predominant process at the start of the use of carbon filters has been sorption. During the research, the development of biofilm in the filter bed was also controlled. The identification of microorganisms showed the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in the beds of both filter columns
Differences between [<sup>18</sup>F]FLT and [<sup>18</sup>F]FDG Uptake in PET/CT Imaging in CC Depend on Vaginal Bacteriology
No full textThis study aims to investigate if vaginal bacteriology obtained prior to treatment influences the 3′-deoxy-3 18F-fluorothymidine (FLT) [18F]FLT and 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (2-[18F]FDG) [18F]FDG parameters in positron emission tomography (PET/CT) in cervical cancer (CC) patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 39 women with locally advanced histologically confirmed cervical cancer who underwent dual tracer PET/CT examinations. The [18F]FLT and [18F]FDG PET parameters in the primary tumor, including SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, heterogeneity, before radiotherapy (RT) were analyzed, depending on the bacteriology. The p-values max, and SUVmin values for three independent groups for the [18F]FLT. Conclusions: The lowest values of SUVmax and SUVmin for [18F]FLT are registered in Gram-negative bacteria, higher are in Gram-positive, and the absence of bacteria causes the highest [18F]FLT values
Risk factors in superficial infections of surgical sites in colorectal carcinoma surgery
Get PDFAimThe aim of the paper was to conduct a retrospective analysis of a group of patients after surgery for colorectal cancer: to define aetiological factors for, and assess drug-sensitivity of bacteria causing infection.Materials/MethodsBetween January 2000 and June 2004, 350 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. Within that group 17 (4,86%) patients developed postoperative wound infections within 30 days of the operation. In all cases we performed microbiological examinations. All the cases of infections were analysed, with special attention being paid to the following groups of risk factors: patient-related and perioperative procedures.ResultsIn all, 17 cases of superficial infections were identified within the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The most frequently identified aetiological factors were colibacillus species and Enterococcus faecalis. Targeted antibiotic therapy was applied, based on the results of antibiograms. Rapid recovery was observed in all patients. The most important patient-related risk factors included: BMI over 25 kg/m2 in 11 (64.7%) patients, high (3rd) degree of neoplastic advancement in 13 (76.5%) patients and preoperative radiotherapy in 7 (41.2%) patients. All infections were found in patients after resection of the sigmoid colon or rectum.ConclusionsThe most frequent aetiological factor identified, on the basis of cultures, was bacterial fl ora of the colorectum. 1. The most important risk factors include: degree of neoplastic advancement, obesity and preoperative radiotherapy. 2. The application of appropriate systems for the preparation of the patient during the perioperative period has a great infl uence on the frequency of infections. 3. Because high drug-resistance in bacterial cultures is a real possibility, it is essential to perform antibiograms in order to help select the most appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of infections
lncRNA EGOT Is the Marker of HPV Infection and a Prognostic Factor for HNSCC Patients
No full textBackground: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to oropharyngeal cancers through mechanisms involving the deregulation of host cell functions by oncoproteins E6 and E7. Changes in the epigenome, particularly involving long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are crucial for understanding HPV-related carcinogenesis. Methods: This study aimed to analyze the expression levels of lncRNAs in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to determine their biological and clinical significance, addressing the current gap in clinically validated biomarkers for early screening and therapeutic interventions. Results: The study highlights the significant overexpression of the EGOT gene in HPV-positive HNSCC samples, suggesting its potential as a marker to distinguish between HPV-negative and HPV-positive cases. Furthermore, high EGOT expression correlates with better overall survival (OS) and indicates possible resistance to therapy, making it a valuable prognostic factor. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of incorporating EGOT expression analysis in clinical practice for improved patient stratification and treatment outcomes in HNSCC
