Risk Assessment for Molds in the Vicinity of a Child Requiring Peritoneal Dialysis Living in a Rural Northern German Area

As well as severe immunosuppression, other predisposing factors may facilitate invasive mycosis caused by molds. Chronic kidney disease and the resulting peritoneal dialysis have been reported as factors putting patients at risk of fungal infections from environmental sources. We describe an environmental investigation undertaken to guide exposure prevention for a peritoneal dialysis patient with transient colonization of her nostrils by Lichtheimia corymbifera in a rural area of northern Germany. Systematic screening for airborne and surface-deposited molds enabled targeted recommendations to be made, although Lichtheimia corymbifera itself was not grown from the collected environmental samples. This communication is intended to illustrate how such an investigation can be performed on the basis of the environmental distribution of the molds and how preventive recommendations can be derived from the results

Infectious Causes of Cholesteatoma and Treatment of Infected Ossicles prior to Reimplantation by Hydrostatic High-Pressure Inactivation

Chronic inflammation, which is caused by recurrent infections, is one of the factors contributing to the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. If reimplantation of autologous ossicles after a surgical intervention is intended, inactivation of planktonic bacteria and biofilms is desirable. High hydrostatic pressure treatment is a procedure, which has been used to inactivate cholesteatoma cells on ossicles. Here we discuss the potential inactivating effect of high hydrostatic pressure on microbial pathogens including biofilms. Recent experimental data suggest an incomplete inactivation at a pressure level, which is tolerable for the bone substance of ossicles and results at least in a considerable reduction of pathogen load. Further studies are necessary to access how far this quantitative reduction of pathogens is sufficient to prevent ongoing chronic infections, for example, due to forming of biofilms

Comparison of Self-Reported Sexual Activity Among Heterosexuals with Sexual Spread of Poorly Transmittable Agents: A Minimalistic Approach to Estimating Sexual Activity Based on HIV Incidence

The aim of this study was to assess whether epidemics of sexually transmitted infections caused by poorly transmittable agents corresponded to self-reported sexual activity in a distinct population. To exemplify this, a model was used to investigate whether HIV infection incidences corresponded to the extent of sexual activity as assessed by a questionnaire-based study. The model suggested between 97 and 486 sexual contacts per German individual during a sexually active lifetime based on the annual HIV incidence of 680 among the heterosexual population reported by the German National Health Authority. This is in line with the estimated 296 sexual contacts during one’s lifetime, which was indicated by questionnaire respondents. The model confirms the correspondence of self-reported sexual activity with HIV incidence as reported by the German National Health Authority. Accordingly, HIV incidence- and prevalence-based modeling of sexual activity in a population provides crude estimations in situations where a range of uncertainty is acceptable. The model’s veracity is limited by a number of assumptions necessitated by the paucity of data. Nevertheless, the model may be suitable in settings where severe reporting bias has to be expected for legal or socio-cultural reasons

Microbial colonization of untreated ossicles.

<p>All bacterial strains listed above were detected by conventional culture techniques.</p><p>*Strains that were able to form biofilms in vitro at 37°C.</p><p>**Strains that were able to form biofilms in vitro at 30°C.</p

Microbial viability of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts after HHP treatment (350 MPa, 10 minutes).

<p>See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030150#pone-0030150-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a> for an explanation of the symbols used.</p

Microbial colonization of ossicle specimens with and without exposure to HHP treatment (350 MPa, 10 minutes).

<p>All bacterial strains listed above were identified using semi-quantitative culture techniques. “−” No growth in liquid media and on solid media. “+/−” Growth only in liquid media. “+” Growth in liquid media plus light growth on solid media. “++” Growth in liquid media plus heavy growth on solid media;</p><p>*Strains that were able to form biofilms in vitro at 37°C.</p><p>**Strains that were able to form biofilms in vitro at 30°C.</p

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure treatment on an in vitro <i>S. epidermidis</i> biofilm after 3 days of growth.

<p>SEM pictures. A, B: intact cell and extracellular matrix morphology before pressure treatment, magnification ×500 (A) and ×5000 (B). C, D: destruction zones with only few structurally intact cells after pressure treatment at 540 MPa for 10 minutes, magnification ×500 (C) and ×5000 (D).</p

Viability of <i>Neisseria subflava</i> cells within biofilms after HHP treatment using increasing levels of pressure.

<p>Pressure levels of 100 MPa, 250 MPa, 400 MPa and 540 MPa were used. <i>N. subflava</i> biofilms were grown for 3 days. For HPP treatment, the cells were suspended in 0.9% NaCl (circles and small diamonds) or H₂O (triangles and large squares). CFU: colony forming units as determined by viability counts. The figure shows the results of two representative and independent assays.</p