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Models for predicting Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in wheat provide farmers with a tool for preventing yield loss and mycotoxin contamination. Due to the complex nature of FHB, these models typically take only a subset of explanatory variables as inputs, such as weather conditions during anthesis and, to a lesser extent, field-specific variables and crop characteristics. We present a thorough statistical analysis of a broad spectrum of variables that affect FHB and DON content, using an unique database of field observations covering nine years. This study unveils new variables that play an important role in FHB incidence and DON content. Evidence is brought forward demonstrating the effect of species interactions on DON content and the effect of weather conditions during the vegetative growth stage. Indeed, temperature from November till May was positively correlated with FHB and DON content, whereas relative humidity was negatively correlated with DON content in November and December. In a broader view of the divergent results obtained regarding FHB and DON content in wheat crops, this study underscores that the prediction of FHB and DON content should be seen as two distinct goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of 1824 primary total hip replacements performed between April 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983, 1007 were reviewed at regular interval and provided sufficiently complete data with special emphasis on pre- and postoperative bacteriological examination and pre- and postoperative determination of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. All patients with known superficial and deep infections were included. In all cases 2 g of cefamandole q.i.d. were administered within a 24-h period starting with the induction of the anesthesia. All procedures were performed in operating rooms equipped with a vertical laminar air flow. Other precautions included the use of Charnley gowns with a body exhaust system, special draping of the patient, and preoperative culture of the urine. As of June, 1981, gentamicin-loaded polymethylmetacrylate was used routinely. When positive cultures were found in the swabs taken from the tissues during the surgical procedure, appropriate antibiotics were started if the patient was still hospitalized. Follow-up showed two deep (0.2%) and four superficial infections (0.4%). Host factors may play a more important role than suspected, since one patient with a deep infection suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis and the other from diabetes. Both these patients underwent bilateral hip replacement, the second intervention following the first within 5 weeks. In these two patients the deep infection became apparent 5 and 9 months after the second procedure. Only one of these patients developed a sinus (Staphylococcus aureus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

238 patients undergoing primary total hip replacement had on a routine basis both 'clean air system' prophylactic conditions and a one day lasting prophylactic Cefamandole treatment on the day of surgery. All patients had a follow-up during at least one year; the follow-up in some patients was up to 25 months. Deep infections were not seen in any of the patients and E.S.R. returned to normal values one year after the intervention in all patients. Superficial wound infections were seen in 2% of the patients. One fifth of the patients had significant bacteriuria on the day of the intervention. This did not seem to have any implication. In our series both laminar air flow and prophylactic administration of Cefamandole on the day of intervention give an adequate prophylactic coverage to prevent the dangerous deep infection as a complication in total hip surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malassezia furfur fungaemia is reported in six preterm infants receiving a parenteral fat emulsion through a deep central venous catheter. The fungus was detected in blood cultures drawn through the catheter. The features of these cases are compared to those reported since 1981, when M. furfur was described for the first time as a cause of deep tissue infection. Clinical signs such as fever, in spite of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and the presence of pulmonary infiltrates, associated with leucocytosis and thrombocytopenia in neonates with cardiac or pulmonary disease should raise the suspicion of M. furfur fungaemia. The laboratory should be informed of this possibility since routine blood culture techniques are not appropriate for the isolation of this lipid-dependent organism. Treatment of the condition consists in removal of the catheter and discontinuation of the lipid administration. Effects and choice of antifungal therapy should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen multiple drug resistant strains of Salmonella typhi belonging to Vi-phage types E1 (14) and O (2) and isolated in Southeast India in 1991 were characterized. All strains were resistant to chloramphenicol and the majority to trimethoprim and ampicillin. In all strains these resistances were encoded by plasmids of the H incompatibility group with molecular weights ranging from 110 to 120 megadaltons. Physicians in European countries should be aware that treatment may fail if patients with typhoid fever who have recently returned from the Indian sub-continent are given first-line treatment with chloramphenicol, trimethoprim or ampicillin. With the possible exception of young children, ciprofloxacin is currently the best choice for treatment of such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2,861 consecutive patients undergoing appendicectomy for clinically suspected appendicitis an enteric pathogen was isolated from the appendix in almost 7 % using an optimal combination of culture media. The pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes 03 and 09 predominated (3.6 %), followed by Campylobacter and nontyphoid Salmonella. The same pathogen was isolated from the stool in 72.5 % of patients with a culture-positive appendix and in 84.1 % of those positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. Conversely, no pathogenic Yersinia were isolated in 326 gynaecologic control patients, in whom a normal appendix was removed. No frank appendicitis but mesenteric adenitis and/or terminal ileitis were found in 62.3 % of 138 patients with a culture positive appendix, and in 74.6 % of those positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. Histologic findings available in 135 patients showed acute suppurative appendicitis in only six (4.5 %) patients, and in only one of 73 (1.4 %) positive for a pathogenic Yersinia. In contrast, 46.8 % of a group of 345 culture-negative appendices showed acute inflammation. A positive stool culture in a patient with suspected appendicitis, if consistent with sonographic and clinical findings, should be taken as strong evidence against the presence of true appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 2,765 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in more than 60 Belgian laboratories from blood or normally sterile body fluids between 1 November 1980 and 31 December 1988 were serotyped. From January 1983 onwards susceptibility of the strains to antimicrobial agents was also tested. The 2,765 isolates belonged to 57 of the 84 currently identified serotypes. Overall, 94 % of the strains were represented in the current 23-valent vaccine. The remaining 6 % of strains were distributed among 18 serotypes. More than 84 % of the middle ear fluid isolates came from children under ten years. Meningitis was commonest in children under five years and in adults over sixty years. Two-thirds of pneumococcal bacteremia isolates came from patients over 50 years. Of 1,933 isolates tested for susceptibility to antibiotics, 335 (17 %) were resistant to one or more of the agents tested (tetracycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, penicillin). Only 19 strains were relatively resistant to penicillin, while six were fully resistant. Resistance to erythromycin increased significantly from 5.2 % in 1986 to 11.5 % in 1988. The resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to other antimicrobial agents did not change significantly during the study period. There was no relationship between age group and resistance to any of the agents tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six newborns with Listeria monocytogenes infection were admitted to the same neonatal unit between 31 October and 3 December 1985. The index case, a preterm baby, was born to a mother who was febrile with an influenza-like illness at the time of delivery. This baby presented with Listeria sepsis and pneumonia. Another child was born from whose mother L. monocytogenes was isolated from the cervix with the same serotype as that in the CSF of her newborn. In the other cases blood and cervical cultures of the mothers were negative, while Listeria was isolated from the CSF of their babies. Five out of six infants developed meningitis between 9 and 12 days after birth. All isolates were serotype 4b and indistinguishable by phage typing. All babies were successfully treated without any major sequelae. Although cross-infection was strongly suggested, the source of the outbreak could not be established. This is the first documented report of human listeriosis in Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stools of 147 children belonging to different age groups were examined for the presence of Clostridium difficile, its cytotoxin and other enteric pathogens. None of the 31 full-term neonates, 5 (16%) of the 32 premature neonates, 27 (46%) of the 59 infants and 1 (4%) of the 25 older children excreted C. difficile in their stools. Faecal cytotoxin was only detected in four infants (7%). There was no correlation with diarrhoea, previous antibiotic therapy, type of diet, or the concomitant presence of other intestinal pathogens. We conclude that colonisation of the intestine by C. difficile is probably acquired from environmental sources and that it cannot be regarded as a significant cause of diarrhoea in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pure growth of Branhamella catarrhalis was obtained from a purulent bronchial exudate in a 28-month-old Rwandese girl, hospitalized for acute inspiratory dyspnoea with fever. The outcome was favourable under treatment with ampicillin, although the isolate was shown to produce a beta-lactamase in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Infection is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Infection is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Infection is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Infection is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Infection is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)