11 research outputs found
Hospital infection control in Europe: evaluation of present practice and future goals.
No full textItem does not contain fulltextThe objective of this study was to assess current infection control practice in Europe and its structure, future research priorities, and how infection control should be organised. A questionnaire was sent to 223 hospital infection control physicians throughout Europe, of whom 54 in 18 countries responded. With respect to future research priorities in infection control in Europe, the largest proportion (69%) of the infection control specialists sampled expressed the need for standardisation of surveillance systems for international comparison of nosocomial infection rates. The results of this survey might help to create a basis for standardised guidelines which take into account European-wide interests
The Role of Anisakis sp. in α-Gal Sensitization: Implications for Parasitic-Induced Meat Allergy
No full textAuthor Contributions:
Conceptualization, M.R., A.S.O., F.V., A.D. and C.C.; methodology, M.R., S.R., Á.V. and J.G.-F.; validation, M.R., J.G.-F., A.D. and C.C.; formal analysis, M.R., J.G.-F., A.D. and C.C.; investigation, M.R., S.R., Á.V., J.G.-F., A.S.O., F.V., A.D. and C.C.; resources, A.S.O., F.V. and C.C.; data curation, M.R., J.G.-F., A.D. and C.C.; writing—original draft preparation, M.R. and C.C.; writing—review and editing, M.R., J.G.-F., A.D. and C.C.; funding acquisition, A.S.O., F.V. and C.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscriptBackground/Objectives:
This study investigates the potential of Anisakis sp. as a novel source of α-Gal (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) epitopes capable of inducing allergic sensitization in humans. While α-Gal is classically associated with delayed IgE-mediated hypersensitivity following tick bites, emerging evidence suggests that parasitic helminths such as Anisakis sp. may also express α-Gal-containing glycoconjugates, offering an alternative sensitization pathway.
Methods:
Protein extracts from Anisakis sp. third-stage larvae and mammalian tissues (beef, pork) were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot using a monoclonal anti-α-Gal antibody (clone M86), and α-Gal epitopes were detected by ELISA. Sera from urticaria patients, stratified by Anisakis sp. sensitization status, were evaluated for anti-α-Gal IgG, IgE, and IgG4 antibodies. Inhibition assays assessed cross-reactivity
Results:
Results confirmed the presence of α-Gal epitopes on Anisakis sp. proteins, with prominent bands at ~250 kDa and 65 kDa. Urticaria patients sensitized to Anisakis sp. exhibited significantly elevated anti-α-Gal antibody levels compared to controls. Inhibition ELISA demonstrated substantial reduction in antibody binding with Anisakis sp. extracts, indicating shared antigenic determinants with mammalian α-Gal.
Conclusions:
These findings establish Anisakis sp. as a source of α-Gal-containing glycoproteins capable of eliciting specific antibody responses in humans, highlighting a potential parasitic route for α-Gal sensitizationDepto. de Microbiología y ParasitologíaDepto. de Sanidad AnimalFac. de FarmaciaFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu
Comparative in vitro activity of piperacillin, piperacillin–sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam against nosocomial pathogens isolated from intensive care patients
No full textWe investigated the antimicrobial activity of piperacillin-tazobactam versus piperacillin–sulbactam against common nosocomial pathogens (n = 565) isolated from intensive care patients. For Gram-positive bacteria, antimicrobial susceptibilities to the two piperacillin–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations were almost identical. For Gram-negative bacteria, piperacillin–tazobactam exhibited greater activity against Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris than piperacillin–sulbactam. Both combinations, however, were equally effective against the other Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Piperacillin–sulbactam exhibited better antimicrobial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii. Our findings might prove important for the appropriate choice of antibiotic therapy with β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations
Achieving compliance with healthcare waste management regulations: empirical evidence from small European healthcare units
No full textHealthcare units generate substantial amounts of hazardous or potentially hazardous wastes as by-products of their medical services. The inappropriate management of these wastes poses significant risks to people and the environment. In Portugal, as in other EU countries, the collection, storage, treatment and disposal of healthcare waste is regulated by law. Although legal provisions covering the safe management of healthcare waste date back to the 1990s, little is known about the compliance of Portuguese healthcare units with the relevant regulations. In this study we evaluate the extent of compliance by small private healthcare units with current waste management regulations, and its determinants. Recent estimates indicate that these units account for at least 20% of the healthcare waste produced at the national level. Their large numbers, however, make monitoring and government control of their compliance with legislative requirements problematic. Using data collected by a national survey of over 700 private healthcare units, we find that the majority of these units do not comply with current waste management regulations. An estimated generalized linear model uncovers a regional effect on the degree of compliance, which is also influenced by the type of healthcare delivered, use of service providers, implementation of regular internal audits, etc. The strongest factor influencing the degree of compliance is, however, education and training. This result is extremely important for policy because it shows empirically that providing education and training for all healthcare workers on medical waste issues is crucial in order to attain proper practices in healthcare waste management and compliance with regulations.Waste management; medical waste; legislation; compliance
Comparison of PCR-based methods for typing Escherichia coli
No full textObjectiveTo establish a library typing system appropriate for studying cross-transmission of Escherichia coli.MethodsEighteen epidemiologically unrelated isolates were genotyped by means of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), repetitive (rep) PCR, and fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Fingerprints were analyzed either by Pearson correlation or, in the case of AFLP, by Dice coefficients employing the novel ‘uncertain band’ software tool from GelCompar II. During a nine-month period, 112 isolates taken from 93 patients hospitalized in five intensive care units were analyzed by use of the two most discriminative PCR typing methods.ResultsGenotyping by RAPD and rep-PCR revealed insufficient discrimination. Among 18 epidemiologically unrelated strains with 17 different PFGE patterns, IS3 rep-PCR and AFLP distinguished 10 and 18 types, respectively. Comparison of the different methods for analysis of AFLP fingerprints showed that the Dice coefficients, which ignore ‘uncertain bands’, offered the best concordance with visual interpretation. Consecutive isolates originating from the same patient differed in less than three fragments.ConclusionsAFLP analysis showed the highest discriminative capacity for PCR typing of E. coli isolates. Analysis of fingerprints employing the Dice coefficients proved the most efficient method for an automated software-based retrieval of visually indistinguishable genotypes in an AFLP fingerprint database
Predominance of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus -ST88 and New ST1797 causing Wound Infection and Abscesses.
No full textAlthough there has been a worldwide emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), little is known about the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Tanzania. In this study, we characterized MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania, between January and December 2008. Of 160 S. aureus isolates from 600 clinical specimens, 24 (15%) were found to be MRSA. Besides molecular screening for the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes by PCR, MRSA strains were further characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. Despite considerable genetic diversity, the spa types t690 (29.1%) and t7231 (41.6%), as well as the sequence types (ST) 88 (54.2%) and 1797 (29.1%), were dominant among clinical isolates. The PVL genes were detected in 4 isolates; of these, 3 were found in ST 88 and one in ST1820. Resistance to erythromycin, clindamicin, gentamicin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole was found in 45.8%, 62.5%, 41.6%, 45.8% and 50% of the strains, respectively. We present the first thorough typing of MRSA at a Tanzanian hospital. Despite considerable genetic diversity, ST88 was dominant among clinical isolates at the Bugando Medical Centre. Active and standardized surveillance of nosocomial MRSA infection should be conducted in the future to analyse the infection and transmission rates and implement effective control measures
Multicentre study of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic consumption among 6,780 patients with bloodstream infections
No full textUdgivelsesdato: DE
80 Skin disinfection with octenidine dihydrochloride for central venous catheter placement and care — a randomized controlled trial
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