Passive acquisition of anti-Staphylococcus aureus antibodies by newborns via transplacental transfer and breastfeeding, regardless of maternal colonization

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transmission of anti-Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 via placental transfer and the transfer of IgA via the colostrum according to maternal Sa carrier status at delivery. METHODS: We evaluated anti-Sa IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 in maternal and cord sera and IgA in colostrum from a case (n=49, Sa+) and a control group (n=98, Sa-). RESULTS: Of the 250 parturients analyzed for this study, 49 were nasally colonized with S. aureus (prevalence of 19.6%). Ninety-eight non-colonized subjects were selected for the control group. The anti-Sa IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 levels and the IgG avidity indexes in the maternal and cord sera did not differ between the groups, with a low transfer ratio of anti-Sa IgG to the newborns in both groups. The anti-Sa IgG2 titers were significantly higher than the IgG1 titers in the maternal and cord sera. Inversely, the transfer ratios were higher for anti-Sa IgG1 compared with IgG2; however, no differences between the groups were detected. The Sa-specific IgA levels and avidity indexes in the colostrum were equivalent between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal Sa nasal colonization at delivery is not associated with higher antibody levels in the mother or newborns. The high titers of anti-Sa IgG2 found in the cord serum indicate a greater reactivity with non-protein antigens, which may further contribute to the susceptibility to staphylococcal infections at birth. The presence of IgA in the colostrum with avidity to S. aureus reinforces the importance of breastfeeding shortly after birth

Assessment and comparison of bacterial load levels determined by quantitative amplifications in blood culture-positive and negative neonatal sepsis

Bacterial sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and blood cultures are the gold standard of laboratory diagnosis even though they lack sensitivity in neonates. Culturenegative sepsis, also known as clinical sepsis, has long been considered a diagnosis in neonatal intensive care units because, as well as culture-positive infants, culture-negative neonates have worse prognosis in comparison with non-infected ones. Quantitative amplifications are used to detect bacterial infections in neonates but results are considered only in a qualitative way (positive or negative). The aim of the present study was to determine and compare bacterial load levels in blood culture-positive and culture-negative neonatal sepsis. Seventy neonates with clinical and laboratory evidence of infection admitted at three neonatal intensive care units were classified as blood culture-positive or culture-negative. Blood samples obtained at the same time of blood cultures had bacterial load levels assessed through a 16S rDNA qPCR. Blood cultures were positive in 29 cases (41.4%) and qPCR in 64 (91.4%). In the 29 culture-positive cases, 100% were also positive by qPCR, while in the 41 culture-negative cases, 35 (85.4%) were positive by qPCR. Bacterial load levels were in general < 50 CFU/mL, but were significantly higher in culture-positive cases (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.013), although clinical and laboratory findings were similar, excepting for deaths. In conclusion, the present study has shown that blood culture-negative neonates have lower bacteria load levels in their bloodstream when compared to blood culture-positive infants

Study clinical-epidemic of patients with the Turner Syndrome users' to SUS in the state of Mato Grosso

In the feminine population with short stature with the Turner Syndrome it is a differential obligatory diagnosis this study aims at knowing its clinical epidemic characteristics to help in the planning of the actions of health care in this population. The prevalence in the State of Mato Grosso is unknown and the 17 cases reported were more than expected for a well-known frequency of 1:2000 to 1:5000. A descriptive study of series of patients' cases was accomplished with the Turner Syndrome in using the Growth Hormone with cariotip confirmation filled in the SUS until July 2004. Most of them were from Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, 64,71% were born to term, 23,52% were low weight at birth, 70,59% (n=12/17) presented short stature at the diagnosis and had normal weight (92,31%); 94,12% (n=16/17) was diagnosed over age 6 and the beginning of the treatment was late (7,08 and 15,50 years of age). The family was responsible for 82.35% of the diagnosis suspicion and the confirmation was made mainly by the Pediatrician and the Endocrinologist. In 82.35% of the patients dysmorphical terations reported as the most frequent was the short stature (82.35%) which was the main reason for looking for a doctor. The most frequent type of karyotype presentation was 45X (n=7/17, 41.18%), but most of them mosaicism (n=10/17, 58.82%), with low frequency of solicitation of markers of chromosome Y, 35.29% (n=6/17). The main reactions of the family when they knew about the disease weres adness, a feeling of impotence and concern about the stature. When asked about the use of the Growth Hormone, they reported that it was due to short stature or the Turner Syndrome. 58.82 % reported mild to great difficulties in the access to SUS to get medicine for the treatment due to bureaucratic problems. The annual expenses with the Growth Hormone, in these patients correspond approximately to 16% of the total expense of the State

Evaluation of placental and colostral transfer of anti-Staphylococcus aureus IgG and IgA antibodies in mothers with and without nasal colonization

A transferência passiva de anticorpos da mãe para o filho auxilia na adaptação ao meio externo. No recém-nascido (RN), a colonização pelo Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) é precoce, sendo este um importante agente etiológico em infecções neonatais e no lactente jovem, para o qual ainda não se dispõem de vacina. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as concentrações, títulos e avidez de anticorpos maternos anti-S. aureus do tipo IgG e IgA e a passagem desses anticorpos para os RN por transferência placentária e pelo colostro. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle de 147 parturientes saudáveis. Foram coletadas amostras de soros maternos, de cordão umbilical e colostro. O grupo caso foi definido pela colonização nasal natural pelo S. aureus, sendo que para cada caso (n=49) foram selecionados 2 controles (n=98). Foram utilizadas as metodologias de imunoturbidimetria para dosagem de IgG total, ensaio imunoenzimático para dosagem IgA total e para a aferição das concentrações e títulos de anticorpos específicos anti-S. aureus (IgG sérica, subclasses séricas IgG1 e IgG2, IgA de colostro e os índices de avidez). Foram aplicados testes não paramétricos de Wilcoxon para amostras pareadas e de Mann-Whitney para amostras não pareadas, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, nível de significância p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: No grupo caso, as concentrações séricas de IgG total materna foram maiores mas com menor taxa de transferência placentária de IgG total, ocorrendo o inverso para o grupo controle. Não foram observadas diferenças nas concentrações séricas de IgG materna anti-S. aureus entre os grupos, mas com taxa de transferência placentária significantemente menor no grupo caso. Observou-se que os títulos específicos de IgG1 anti-S. aureus foram mais baixos no soro materno e no cordão do grupo caso, com taxas de transferência similar para os grupos caso e controle. Para os títulos específicos de IgG2 anti-S. aureus, não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos caso e controle, com taxas de transferência similares entre os grupos. Observou-se que os títulos de IgG2 foram maiores que os de IgG1, tanto no soro materno como no de cordão em ambos os grupos. No soro materno e de cordão, não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos nos ensaios de avidez de IgG anti-S. aureus. No estudo de colostro, a concentração de IgA total foi maior no grupo caso, mas sem diferenças entre os grupos para a IgA anti-S. aureus. A comparação da avidez de anticorpos IgA anti-S. aureus do colostro com a de IgG anti-S. aureus do soro materno, em ambos os grupos, mostrou que a avidez de IgA foi maior. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados demonstraram que a colonização nasal materna por S. aureus não esteve associada com uma maior transferência para o RN de anticorpos IgG ou IgA específicos via placenta ou colostro. A maior transmissão de títulos elevados de IgG2 específicos para o recém-nascido, isto é, anticorpos com uma baixa atividade opsonizante, reitera a maior susceptibilidade neonatal para este agente patogênico. A IgA secretora no colostro apresentou melhor índice de avidez do que a IgG do soro, o que corrobora com a importância da amamentação nos primeiros meses de vidaThe passive transfer of antibodies from mother to child assists in adjustment to the external environment. In the newborn (NB), colonization by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) occurs early, which is an important etiologic agent in neonatal and young infant infections, for which no vaccine is available. AIMS: To evaluate concentrations, titers and avidity of anti-S. aureus maternal IgG and IgA antibodies and transmission of these antibodies to the newborns via placental transfer and colostrum. METHODS: Case-control study of 147 healthy pregnant women. Samples of maternal serum, cord blood and colostrum were collected. The case group was defined by natural nasal colonization with S. aureus, and for each case (n = 49) were selected 2 controls (n = 98). Immunoturbidimetric assay was used to measure total IgG, and immunoenzymatic assay to measure total IgA in colostrum and anti-S. aureus concentrations and titers (serum IgG, serum IgG1 and IgG2, colostrum IgA and IgG and IgA avidity indexes). Nonparametric Wilcoxon test for paired samples and the Mann-Whitney test for unpaired samples were applied, with a confidence interval of 95%, significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In the study group, maternal total IgG serum concentrations were higher but with lower total IgG placental transfer ratio, while the opposite occurred for the control group. No differences were observed in anti-staphylococcal maternal IgG serum concentrations between groups, but placental transfer ratio was significantly lower in the case group. It was observed that anti-S. aureus IgG1 titers were lower in maternal and cord serum from the case group, with with similar transfer ratios for case and control groups. Regarding antistaphylococcal IgG2 titers, no differences were observed between case and control groups, with similar transfer ratios between groups. It was observed that specific IgG2 titers were higher than those of IgG1 in both maternal and cord serum from both groups. In maternal and cord blood serum, no differences between groups were found in avidity assays of anti-S. aureus IgG. In colostrum, total IgA concentrations were higher in the case group, but no differences between groups for anti-S. aureus IgA were detected. The comparison of anti-staphylococcal IgA antibodies avidity in colostrum with anti-S. aureus IgG in maternal serum from both groups, showed that IgA presents higher avidity indexes. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that maternal nasal colonization by S. aureus was not associated with a higher transfer to the NB of specific IgG or IgA antibodies via the placenta or colostrum. The greatest transmission of Sa-specific IgG2 titers to the newborn, i.e., antibodies with low opsonizing activity, reiterates the higher neonatal susceptibility to this pathogen. Secretory IgA in colostrum showed better avidity index than serum IgG, which reinforces the importance of breastfeeding in the early months of lif

Passive acquisition of anti-Staphylococcus aureus antibodies by newborns via transplacental transfer and breastfeeding, regardless of maternal colonization

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transmission of anti-Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 via placental transfer and the transfer of IgA via the colostrum according to maternal Sa carrier status at delivery. METHODS: We evaluated anti-Sa IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 in maternal and cord sera and IgA in colostrum from a case (n=49, Sa+) and a control group (n=98, Sa-). RESULTS: Of the 250 parturients analyzed for this study, 49 were nasally colonized with S. aureus (prevalence of 19.6%). Ninety-eight non-colonized subjects were selected for the control group. The anti-Sa IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 levels and the IgG avidity indexes in the maternal and cord sera did not differ between the groups, with a low transfer ratio of anti-Sa IgG to the newborns in both groups. The anti-Sa IgG2 titers were significantly higher than the IgG1 titers in the maternal and cord sera. Inversely, the transfer ratios were higher for anti-Sa IgG1 compared with IgG2; however, no differences between the groups were detected. The Sa-specific IgA levels and avidity indexes in the colostrum were equivalent between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal Sa nasal colonization at delivery is not associated with higher antibody levels in the mother or newborns. The high titers of anti-Sa IgG2 found in the cord serum indicate a greater reactivity with non-protein antigens, which may further contribute to the susceptibility to staphylococcal infections at birth. The presence of IgA in the colostrum with avidity to S. aureus reinforces the importance of breastfeeding shortly after birth

Assessment and comparison of bacterial load levels determined by quantitative amplifications in blood culture-positive and negative neonatal sepsis

ABSTRACT Bacterial sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and blood cultures are the gold standard of laboratory diagnosis even though they lack sensitivity in neonates. Culturenegative sepsis, also known as clinical sepsis, has long been considered a diagnosis in neonatal intensive care units because, as well as culture-positive infants, culture-negative neonates have worse prognosis in comparison with non-infected ones. Quantitative amplifications are used to detect bacterial infections in neonates but results are considered only in a qualitative way (positive or negative). The aim of the present study was to determine and compare bacterial load levels in blood culture-positive and culture-negative neonatal sepsis. Seventy neonates with clinical and laboratory evidence of infection admitted at three neonatal intensive care units were classified as blood culture-positive or culture-negative. Blood samples obtained at the same time of blood cultures had bacterial load levels assessed through a 16S rDNA qPCR. Blood cultures were positive in 29 cases (41.4%) and qPCR in 64 (91.4%). In the 29 culture-positive cases, 100% were also positive by qPCR, while in the 41 culture-negative cases, 35 (85.4%) were positive by qPCR. Bacterial load levels were in general < 50 CFU/mL, but were significantly higher in culture-positive cases (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.013), although clinical and laboratory findings were similar, excepting for deaths. In conclusion, the present study has shown that blood culture-negative neonates have lower bacteria load levels in their bloodstream when compared to blood culture-positive infants