Investigation of atypical bacteria and virus antigens in respiratory tract infections by use if an immunofluorescence method

PubMed: 15118204In this study an immunofluorescence (IF) method was used to investigate the antigens of viruses and atypical bacteria in respiratory tract infections (RTI) in pediatric and adult age groups. In this prospective study of 2 years (1998-2000), IF was used to investigate the antigens of 7 viral and 3 atypical bacteria to be used for the etiological diagnosis of RTI. Sputum (33.6%) and nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens were obtained from pediatric patients (Group I, 76 cases) and adults (Group II 135 cases) with RTI symptoms. Antigen detection rates were found to be 44.7% in Group I and 67.4% in Group II (P 0.05); Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 0 and 9.6% (P 0.05); respiratory syncytial virus, 9.2 and 1.5% (P 0.05); and influenza B virus, 1.3 and 1.5% (P > 0.05). Mixed agents were found at a rate of 2.6 and 3.7% (P > 0.05) in Groups I and II, respectively. Parainfluenza virus type 3 and Legionella pneumophila antigens were not found. Since detecting etiological agents provides an important guide for determining the most appropriate antibiotic therapy, this IF method could be applied in clinical practice for arriving at a correct diagnosis and administration of effective treatment

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in ceftazidime-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Turkish hospitals

Purpose: To study the prevalence of TEM-, SHV- and GES-type β -lactamases among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains having ceftazidime MICs higher than 2 mg/L. Methods: A total of 63 E. coli and 41 K. pneumoniae isolated from five different university hospitals were studied for the existence of TEM-, SHV- and GES-type β -lactamases. Susceptibility tests were carried out according to the criteria of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. MICs were obtained by agar dilution method. Existence of extended-spectrum β -lactamases (ESBLs) were assessed by double-disc synergy test (DDST). Existence of the above-mentioned β -lactamase genes were studied both by PCR with specific oligonucleotide primers and isoelectric focusing methods. Results: None of the isolates were carbapenem-resistant. DDSTs were positive in 50 (79.3%) and 33 (80.5%) of E. coli and K. pneumoniae , respectively. TEM gene was detected in 41 (65.1%) and 19 (46.3%), whereas SHV gene in 18 (28.6%) and 20 (48.8%) of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains, respectively. GES genes were not detected. Conclusions: TEM and SHV genes are highly prevalent among ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae , whereas GES-type ESBLs are absent and found not to be responsible of ceftazidime resistance in Turkish hospitals

In vitro susceptibility of respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes to telithromycin and 11 other antimicrobial agents: Turkish results of e-BASKETT-II surveillance study [Solunum yolu enfeksi·yonu etkenleri· Streptococcus pneumoniae ve Streptococcus pyogenes'i·n teli·tromi·si·n ve 11 anti·mi·krobi·k i·laca i·n vi·tro duyarliligi: E-BASKETT-II sürveyans çalişmasinin türki·ye sonuçlari]

PubMed ID: 17427547In respiratory tract infections, therapy is often empirical and there is a need for local data on the rate of resistance to available antimicrobials. In this multicentre study which is a part of the international e-BASKETT-II surveillance study, respiratory isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=260) and Streptococcus pyogenes (n=312) collected between September 2002 and June 2003 from 18 hospitals in Turkey were tested against penicillin G, amoxicillin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, telithromycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin and vancomycin. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined with disk diffusion method and confirmed with broth dilution method following the CLSI guidelines. Isolates which were resistant to erythromycin were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. In S.pneumoniae 11.5% of the isolates were highly and 22.7% were intermediately resistant to penicillin. Rate of resistance to erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin was 17.3%, and 21.5% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline. Resistance to levofloxacin and vancomycin was not observed and only one isolate was found intermediately resistant (MIC=2µg/mL) to telithromycin. Genotypes in erythromycin-resistant isolates were ermB (77.8%), mefA (17.8%) and ermB+mefA (2.2%). S.pyogenes isolates were uniformly susceptible to beta-lactams and vancomycin, and only one isolate was intermediately resistant to levofloxacin. Macrolide resistance was observed in 1.3% of the isolates and three out of these harboured the mefA gene. One isolate with an MIC of 4µg/mL for telithromycin had ermB gene. Telithromycin has demonstrated a good in vitro activity against macrolide-resistant respiratory tract isolates. As a result, e-BASKETT-II surveillance study has been one of the most extensive in vitro studies comparing telithromycin to available antimicrobial agents for respiratory tract infections in Turkey