Human bocavirus (HBoV) in children with respiratory tract infection by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a recently discovered parvovirus associated with mild to severe lower respiratory tract infections in children, the aim of the work was determination of human bocavirus in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) of infants by qualitative PCR and determination of acute human bocavirus infection by estimation of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in serum by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty two (22%) out of the 100 NPA specimens of the patients with respiratory manifestations were positive for HBoV by qualitative PCR, while ELISA revealed positive HBoV IgM antibodies in 18 (18%) patients who were also positive by PCR. Non of the controls were positive by both techniques. The correlation study between ELISA and PCR revealed high significant association, (p < 0.001, X²= 36 and agreement = 96%). Also PCR detected 4 (18.1%) NPA samples as HBoV positive cases among the patients that were not identified by ELISA. This could be due to high sensitivity and efficacy of PCR. ELISA being less sensitive than RT-PCR, sensitivity was (81.8% vs 100%), the efficacy was 97.7% in ELISA versus 99.7% for RT-PCR.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HBoV infections could be diagnosed in NPA of children by conventional PCR as a rapid and sensitive technique. While ELISA was a reliable serologic analysis for diagnosis of acute HBoV infection by estimation IgM antibodies in serum.</p

Maternal chronic oral infection with periodontitis and pericoronitis as a possible risk factor for preeclampsia in Egyptian pregnant women (microbiological and serological study).

Background: Several studies have hypothesized that oral infection may increase the risk of preeclampsia. We explore the relationship between chronic oral infection and the risk of preeclampsia in Egyptian pregnant women. Methodology: Forty preeclamptic women with periodontitis and/or pericoronitis (group I) and 40 control subjects having periodontitis and/or pericoronitis (group II) were subjected to microbiological assessment of subgingival plaque, pseudo-pocket and placental samples. TNF-a was determined in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), saliva and serum by ELISA and real time PCR. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards to subgingival plaque and pericoronal pseudo-pocket organisms revealed by culture and PCR. The total number of anaerobes in blood and placental samples was higher in preeclamptic group than controls. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards to the level of TNF-a by ELISA in serum (P-value ¼ 0.021). Conclusion: There was a relationship between chronic oral infection and preeclampsia, so treatment of oral infection during pregnancy may represent a novel approach and preventive strategy that reduce oral bacterial load which would decrease the incidence of preeclampsia

Quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate in respiratory ICU

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is considered a frequent nosocomial complication in intensive care, and it remains a common cause of prolonged hospital stay and death, although there is improvement in diagnosis and therapy. Aim The aim of this study was to detect the type of organism and prevelance of VAP in the respiratory ICUs at Ain Shams University Hospital. Patients and methods A total of 50 patients connected to mechanical ventilation were selected for serial chest radiography, total leukocytic count, and quantitative endotracheal aspirate culture to diagnose new invading tracheobronchial organisms. Results We found direct relation between bypassing of oropharyngeal commensal, invasion of tracheobroncial tree by new microorganisms, and the duration of mechanical ventilation. The percentage of Acinetobacter baumannii was 25.8%, whereas it was 19.3% for Staphylococcus aureus, 16.1% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 9.67% for Haemophilus influenza, and 6.4% for each Proteus mirabilis and Citrobacter freundii. Conclusion VAP is a serious problem that leads to high costs in treatment, longer hospital stay, and high rate of mortality and morbidity. Long time of mechanical ventilation is a causative factor. A. baumannii and S. aureus were the most common germs in endotracheal aspirate cultures