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Background Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized neonates. Data on antibiotic resistance in neonatal BSIs and their impact on clinical outcomes in Africa are limited. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study at 2 tertiary level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Ghana. All neonates admitted to the NICUs were included from October 2017 to September 2019. We monitored BSI rates and analyzed the effect of BSI and antibiotic resistance on mortality and duration of hospitalization. Results Out of 5433 neonates included, 3514 had at least one blood culture performed and 355 had growth of a total of 368 pathogenic microorganisms. Overall incidence of BSI was 1.0 (0.9-1.1) per 100 person days. The predominant organisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae 49.7% (183/368) and Streptococcus spp. 10.6% (39/368). In addition, 512 coagulase negative Staphylococci were isolated but considered probable contaminants. Among K. pneumoniae, resistance to gentamicin and amikacin was 91.8% and 16.4%, respectively, while carbapenem resistance was 4.4%. All-cause mortality among enrolled neonates was 19.7% (1066/5416). The mortality rate was significantly higher in neonates with BSI compared with culture-negative neonates in univariate analysis (27.9%, n = 99/355 vs. 16.5%, n = 520/3148; hazard ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.70) but not in multivariate analysis. Conclusion The diversity of etiological agents and the high risk of antibiotic resistance suggest that standard empirical treatment is unlikely to improve the outcome of BSIs in low and middle income. Such improvements will depend on access to reliable clinical microbiologic services.

Background Helicobacter pylori is the most infamous constituent of the gastric microbiota and its presence is the strongest risk factor for gastric cancer and other gastroduodenal diseases. Although historically the healthy stomach was considered a sterile organ, we now know it is colonised with a complex microbiota. However, its role in health and disease is not well understood. Aim To systematically explore the literature on the gastric microbiota in health and disease as well as the gut microbiota after bariatric surgery. Methods A systematic search of online bibliographic databases MEDLINE/EMBASE was performed between 1966 and February 2019 with screening in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and observational studies were included if they reported next-generation sequencing derived microbiota analysis on gastric aspirate/tissue or stool samples (bariatric surgical outcomes). Results Sixty-five papers were eligible for inclusion. With the exception of H pylori-induced conditions, overarching gastric microbiota signatures of health or disease could not be determined. Gastric carcinogenesis induces a progressively altered microbiota with an enrichment of oral and intestinal taxa as well as significant changes in host gastric mucin expression. Proton pump inhibitors usage increases gastric microbiota richness. Bariatric surgery is associated with an increase in potentially pathogenic proteobacterial species in patient stool samples. Conclusion While H pylori remains the single most important risk factor for gastric disease, its capacity to shape the collective gastric microbiota remains to be fully elucidated. Further studies are needed to explore the intricate host/microbial and microbial/microbial interplay.

Helicobacter pylori is a common colonizer of the human stomach, and long-term colonization has been related to development of atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. The increased gastric pH caused by H. pylori colonization, treatment with antibiotics or proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may allow growth of other bacteria. Previous studies have detected non-Helicobacter bacteria in stomach biopsies, but no conclusion has been made of whether these represent a transient contamination or a persistent microbiota. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transient and persistent bacterial communities of gastric biopsies. The washed or unwashed gastric biopsies were investigated by cultivation and microbiota analysis (16S rRNA gene-targeted amplicon sequencing) for the distribution of H. pylori and other non-Helicobacter bacteria. The number of cultured non-Helicobacter bacteria decreased in the washed biopsies, suggesting that they might be a transient contamination. No significant differences in the bacterial diversity were observed in the microbiome analysis between unwashed and washed biopsies. However, the bacterial diversity in biopsies shown H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative were significantly different, implying that H. pylori is the major modulator of the gastric microbiome. Further large-scale studies are required to investigate the transient and persistent gastric microbiota.

Weissella confusa is a Gram-positive coccus and a commensal bacterium of the human gastrointestinal tract with a potential to cause invasive infections. We report the presence of W. confusa in the blood of a 25-year-old male patient with Crohn’s disease, short bowel syndrome treated with home parenteral nutrition, and a history of recurrent bloodstream infections, admitted to our hospital with fever and malaise. A polymicrobial culture of W. confusa and Aeromonas hydrophila was identified from blood, for which treatment with meropenem and metronidazole was initiated. The literature was searched for previous cases of infection with W. confusa . In total, 14 reports describing infection of 28 patients were found, most cases presenting with bacteremia. The previous reports have described variable susceptibility to antibiotics; however, all were reported to be vancomycin resistant. Because of its similarities to other vancomycin-resistant cocci, isolates of W. confusa might be difficult to identify with traditional methods. Infection may be facilitated by its natural vancomycin resistance, leading to severe infection in hosts with underlying diseases. We describe the treatment of previous cases of infection and suggest treatment methods shown effective in other cases. Vancomycin is often used as treatment of infection with Gram-positive organisms, but this may need to be reevaluated, as several pathogenic bacteria are intrinsically vancomycin resistant. A review on reported treatments of bacteremia by W. confusa suggests the use of daptomycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate or piperacillin/tazobactam as recommendable antibiotic regimens.

Background Carriage of multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GN) in hospitalized neonates may increase the risk of difficult-to-treat invasive infections at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Data on MDRGN carriage among hospitalized newborns in Africa are limited. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at the NICUs of 2 tertiary hospitals in Ghana. Swabs from the axilla, groin, perianal region, and the environment were cultured, GN were identified, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested. We obtained blood culture isolates from neonates with sepsis. Whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Typing was done by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results A total of 276 GN were isolated from 228 screened neonates. Pathogenic GN were cultured in 76.8% (175 of 228) of neonates. Klebsiella spp (41.7%; 115 of 276) and Escherichia coli (26.4%; 73 of 276) were the commonest organisms. Carriage rates of MDRGN and third-generation cephalosporin resistant organisms were 49.6% (113 of 228) and 46.1% (105 of 228), respectively. Among Klebsiella spp, 75.6% (87 of 115) phenotypically expressed extended-spectrum β-lactamase activity, whereas 15.6% expressed carbapenemase and harbored bla-OXA-181 and bla-CTX-M-15. Overall, 7.0% (16 of 228) of neonates developed GN bloodstream infection. In 2 of 11 neonates, sequencing showed the same identity between carriage and the bloodstream isolate. Length of stay before specimen collection and antibiotic use were independently associated with carriage rates, which increased from 13% at admission to 42% by day 2 and reached a plateau at 91% by day 15. Conclusions High carriage rates of MDRGN, including carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales may be an emerging problem in NICUs in Africa., We show carriage rate of MDR enterobacterales among neonates in 2 NICUs in Ghana. MDR carriage is associated with duration of stay and antibiotic use. We also report OXA-181 carbapenemase-producing organism from Ghana. WGS showed identity between carriage and BSI.

The study evaluated primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori within the period 2013-2015 and trends of antibiotic consumption over the last decade in Lithuania; 242 adults and 55 children were included in the study. E-tests were performed for amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and tetracycline. The presence of H. pylori and clarithromycin resistance was additionally tested by PCR. Helicobacter pylori culture was positive in 67 of 242 (28%) adult and in 12 of 55 (21.8%) children samples. Resistance rates among adults by E-tests were as follows: metronidazole - 32.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22.7-44.7%), ciprofloxacin - 7.5% (95% CI: 3.2-16.3%), rifampicin - 7.5% (95% CI: 3.2-16.3%), amoxicillin - 0%, whereas resistance rates in children were as follows: metronidazole - 25% (95% CI: 8.9-53.2%), rifampicin - 8.3% (CI: 1.5-35.4%), amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin - 0%. Accumulated clarithromycin resistance rates by E-tests and PCR were 8.2% (95% CI: 4.1-16.0%) in adults and 17.7% (95% CI: 6.2-41.0%) in children. Total use of macrolides and lincosamides in Lithuania increased from 1.26 to 1.86 defined daily dose (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day among adults, while it has doubled from 1.10 to 2.22 DDD/1000/children/day in children within 2003-2015. There are no significant changes in the susceptibility of H. pylori to the most widely used antibiotics in adults over the last years in Lithuania; however, clarithromycin resistance among children exceeds 15% and mandates further larger-scale studies in paediatric population.

Objectives: To evaluate a genome-based surveillance of all Danish third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (3GC-R Ec ) from bloodstream infections between 2014 and 2015, focusing on horizontally transferable resistance mechanisms.Methods: A collection of 552 3GC-R Ec isolates were whole-genome sequenced and characterized by using the batch uploader from the Center for Genomic Epidemiology (CGE) and automatically analysed using the CGE tools according to resistance profile, MLST, serotype and fimH subtype. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationship of the isolates was analysed by SNP analysis.Results: The majority of the 552 isolates were ESBL producers (89%), with bla CTX-M-15 being the most prevalent (50%) gene, followed by bla CTX-M-14 (14%), bla CTX-M-27 (11%) and bla CTX-M-101 (5%). ST131 was detected in 50% of the E. coli isolates, with the remaining isolates belonging to 73 other STs, including globally disseminated STs (e.g. ST10, ST38, ST58, ST69 and ST410). Five of the bloodstream isolates were carbapenemase producers, carrying bla OXA-181 (3) and bla OXA-48 (2). Phylogenetic analysis revealed 15 possible national outbreaks during the 2 year period, one caused by a novel ST131/ bla CTX-M-101 clone, here observed for the first time in Denmark. Additionally, the analysis revealed three individual cases with possible persistence of closely related clones collected more than 13 months apart.Conclusions: Continuous WGS-based national surveillance of 3GC-R Ec , in combination with more detailed epidemiological information, can improve the ability to follow the population dynamics of 3GC-R Ec , thus allowing for the detection of potential outbreaks and the effects of changing treatment regimens in the future.

Objectives During the last decades several methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones with the capability of global spread have emerged in the community. Here, we have investigated a large collection of clinical isolates belonging to MRSA clone t304/ST6, which has emerged in many European countries over the last years, in order to retrace its phylogeny and its spread. Methods We characterized 466 ST6 isolates from Denmark (n = 354), France (n = 10), Norway (n = 24), Sweden (n = 27) and the UK (n = 51). All had spa-type t304 (n = 454) or t304-related spa-types (n = 12) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was carried out on Illumina Miseq or Hiseq with 100–300 bp reads. cgMLST was performed using Ridom SeqSphere. Results A minimum spanning tree (MST) of all 466 isolates showed one large cluster including 182 isolates collected only from Denmark and related to a long-term neonatal outbreak in Copenhagen. This cluster contrasted with numerous small clusters, including the remaining Danish isolates and isolates from the other countries that interspersed throughout the tree. Most isolates were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) negative (95%) and harboured SCCmec IVa. One genome was closed using Oxford Nanopore technology and Illumina MiSeq. It contained a plasmid of 19.769 bp including the blaZ gene. A similar plasmid was found in 78% of all isolates. Discussion t304/ST6 is a successful emerging clone and the fact that isolates from five countries are interspersed throughout the MST indicates a common origin. This clone is commonly described in the Middle East and its emergence in Europe coincides with influx of refugees from the Syrian Civil War.

Summary Background Viruses cause a major proportion of human infections, especially gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in children and adults. Indirect transmission between humans via environmental surfaces may play a role in infections, but methods to investigate this have been sparse. Aim To validate and test efficient and reliable procedures to detect multiple human pathogenic viruses on surfaces. Methods The study was divided into two parts. In Part A, six combinations of three different swabs (consisting of cotton, foamed cotton, or polyester head) and two different elution methods (direct lysis or immersion in alkaline glycine buffer before lysis) were tested for efficient recovery of human norovirus GII.7 and mengovirus from artificially contaminated surfaces. In Part B we determined the detection limit for norovirus GI.1 and GII.3 using the best procedure found in Part A linked with a commercial multiplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection assay. Findings Combining the polyester swab with direct lysis allowed recovery down to 100 and 10 genome copies/cm 2 of norovirus GI.1 and GII.3, respectively. This procedure resulted in the significant highest recovery of both norovirus and mengovirus, whereas no differences in amplification efficiencies were observed between the different procedures. Conclusion The results indicate that it is possible to detect low concentrations of virus on environmental surfaces. We therefore suggest that a polyester swab, followed by direct lysis, combined with a multiplex qPCR detection assay is an efficient screening tool that merits study of different respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses on environment surfaces.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify clonally-related carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae complex members that could be involved in outbreaks among hospitalized patients in Denmark, and to identify possible epidemiological links. Methods: From January 2014 to June 2018, 103 isolates belonging to the K. pneumoniae complex were collected from 102 patients. From the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data, presence of genes encoding carbapenemase and multilocal sequence typing (MLST) data were extracted. Core genome MLST (cgMLST) cluster analysis was performed. Using data from the Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR) and reported travel history, presumptive outbreaks were investigated for possible epidemiological links. Results: The most common detected carbapenemase gene was bla OXA-48, followed by bla NDM-1. The 103 K. pneumoniae complex isolates belonged to 47 sequence types (STs) and cgMLST subdivided the isolates into 80 different complex types. cgMLST identified 13 clusters with 2-4 isolates per cluster. For five of the 13 clusters, a direct link (the patients stayed at the same ward on the same day) could be detected between at least some of the patients. In two clusters, the patients resided simultaneously at the same hospital, but not the same ward. A possible link (same ward within 1-13 days) was detected for the patients in one cluster. For five clusters detected by cgMLST, no epidemiological link could be detected using data from DNPR. Conclusion: In this study, cgMLST combined with patient hospital admission data and travel information was found to be a reliable and detailed approach to detect possible clonal transmission of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae complex members.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is a critical cause of gastrointestinal diseases. A crucial host response associated with H. pylori infection includes gastric inflammation, which is characterized by a sustained recruitment of T-helper (Th) cells to the site of infection and distinct patterns of cytokine production. Adequate nutritional status, especially frequent consumption of dietary antioxidants, appears to protect against infection with H. pylori. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether astaxanthin (AXT) from shrimp cephalothorax may modulate cytokine release of splenocytes in H. pylori-infected mice (n = 60). Six- to eight-week-old female mice were divided into three groups (n = 20 per group) to receive a daily oral dose of 10 or 40 mg of AXT for six weeks. After six weeks, a trend toward interferon gamma (IFN-γ) upregulation was found (40 mg; p < 0.05) and a significant dose-dependent increase of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-10 (both p < 0.05) was observed. These results suggest that AXT induces higher levels of IL-2 and a shift to a balanced Th1/Th2 response by increasing IFN-γ and augmenting IL-10. We concluded that AXT may influence the pattern of cytokines during H. pylori infection.

Leclercia adecarboxylata is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It has been described as an emerging human pathogen with the potential to cause severe infection in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to describe a clinical case of infection with L. adecarboxylata and give a review of previous reports on infection. We report the presence of L. adecarboxylata in a patient initially admitted to our hospital for a lung transplant. She had diarrhoea, urinary tract infection and pneumonia caused by L. adecarboxylata. The isolate was resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and susceptible to 15 other antibiotics tested. The literature search for previous reports of infection with L. adecarboxylata resulted in 61 publications describing 74 cases. Bacteremia and wound infections were most often described, and only a few cases were fatal. L. adecarboxylata was most often found as a monomicrobial infection in immunocompromised patients, and as part of a polymicrobial infection in immunocompetent patients. The previously described isolates showed a high susceptibility to antibiotics, and treatment was efficient in most cases. Due to similarities in metabolic products, L. adecarboxylata might have been mistaken as Escherichia spp., but with new identification methods such as MALDI-TOF MS, it is possible to obtain a certain identification.

In 2014, the first vancomycin-resistant (encoded by vanA ) Enterococcus faecium isolate belonging to sequence type 203 (ST203) and complex type 859 (CT859) was detected in Denmark. In 2016, 64% of the Danish clinical vanA E. faecium isolates belonged to ST203 and CT859.

Background: Current literature examining the relationship between door-opening rate, number of people present, and microbial air contamination in the operating room is limited. Studies are especially needed from low- and middle-income countries, where the risk of surgical site infections is high. Aim: To assess microbial air contamination in operating rooms at a Ghanaian teaching hospital and the association with door-openings and number of people present. Moreover, we aimed to document reasons for door-opening. Methods: We conducted active air-sampling using an MAS 100® portable impactor during 124 clean or clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures. The number of people present, door-opening rate and the reasons for each door-opening were recorded by direct observation using pretested structured observation forms. Findings: During surgery, the mean number of colony-forming units (cfu) was 328 cfu/m3 air, and 429 (84%) of 510 samples exceeded a recommended level of 180 cfu/m3. Of 6717 door-openings recorded, 77% were considered unnecessary. Levels of cfu/m3 were strongly correlated with the number of people present (P = 0.001) and with the number of door-openings/h (P = 0.02). In empty operating rooms, the mean cfu count was 39 cfu/m3 after 1 h of uninterrupted ventilation and 52 (51%) of 102 samples exceeded a recommended level of 35 cfu/m3. Conclusion: The study revealed high values of intraoperative airborne cfu exceeding recommended levels. Minimizing the number of door-openings and people present during surgery could be an effective strategy to reduce microbial air contamination in low- and middle-income settings.

In 2014, the first vancomycin-resistant (encoded by vanA) Enterococcus faecium isolate belonging to sequence type 203 (ST203) and complex type 859 (CT859) was detected in Denmark. In 2016, 64% of the Danish clinical vanA E. faecium isolates belonged to ST203 and CT859., In 2014, the first vancomycin-resistant (encoded by vanA) Enterococcus faecium isolate belonging to sequence type 203 (ST203) and complex type 859 (CT859) was detected in Denmark. In 2016, 64% of the Danish clinical vanA E. faecium isolates belonged to ST203 and CT859. Using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RS II sequencing, we describe the genome of ST203 CT859 vanA E. faecium.

Using Nanopore sequencing, we describe here the circular genome of an Escherichia coli sequence type 410 (ST410) strain with five closed plasmids. A large 111-kb incompatibility group F (IncF) plasmid harbored blaNDM-5 and 16 other resistance genes. A 51-kb IncX3 plasmid carried QnrS1 and blaOXA-181. E. coli isolates with both blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-181 carbapenemases are rare.

Using Nanopore sequencing, we describe here the circular genome of an Escherichia coli sequence type 410 (ST410) strain with five closed plasmids. A large 111-kb incompatibility group F (IncF) plasmid harbored bla NDM-5 and 16 other resistance genes. A 51-kb IncX3 plasmid carried QnrS1 and bla OXA-181 . E. coli isolates with both bla NDM-5 and bla OXA-181 carbapenemases are rare.

Background Reducing adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to gastric epithelial cells could be a new way to counteract infections with this organism. We here present a novel method for quantification of Helicobacter pylori adhesion to cells. Methods Helicobacter pylori is allowed to adhere to AGS or MKN45g cells in a 96-well microtiter plate. Then wells are added saponin, which lyses the cells without affecting the bacteria. After addition of alamarBlue® (resazurin) and 1- to 2-hour incubation, fluorescence measurements can be used to quantify the number of adherent bacteria. Results By use of the method, we demonstrate that adhesion of both a sabA and babA deletion mutant of H. pylori is significantly reduced compared to the wild type. Conclusion The method offers a number of applications and may be used to compare the adherence potential of different strains of H. pylori to either cells or different materials or to screen for potential anti-adhesive compounds. The results presented here suggest that this easy and reproducible assay is well suited for quantitative investigation of H. pylori adhesion.

SUMMARYThe surveillance of Clostridium difficile (CD) in Denmark consists of laboratory based data from Departments of Clinical Microbiology (DCMs) sent to the National Registry of Enteric Pathogens (NREP). We validated a new surveillance system for CD based on the Danish Microbiology Database (MiBa). MiBa automatically collects microbiological test results from all Danish DCMs. We built an algorithm to identify positive test results for CD recorded in MiBa. A CD case was defined as a person with a positive culture for CD or PCR detection of toxin A and/or B and/or binary toxin. We compared CD cases identified through the MiBa-based surveillance with those reported to NREP and locally in five DCMs representing different Danish regions. During 2010–2014, NREP reported 13 896 CD cases, and the MiBa-based surveillance 21 252 CD cases. There was a 99·9% concordance between the local datasets and the MiBa-based surveillance. Surveillance based on MiBa was superior to the current surveillance system, and the findings show that the number of CD cases in Denmark hitherto has been under-reported. There were only minor differences between local data and the MiBa-based surveillance, showing the completeness and validity of CD data in MiBa. This nationwide electronic system can greatly strengthen surveillance and research in various applications.

Summary Background The rising number of children in daycare nurseries increases opportunities for the transmission of infectious diseases. Pathogens may be transmitted directly from child to child via sneezing, coughing and touching, or indirectly via the environment. Toys are among the fomites with the highest pathogen load, but their role in disease transmission is unknown. Aim To determine if washing and disinfection of toys can reduce sickness absence and microbial pathogen load in the nursery environment. Methods Twelve nurseries (caring for 587 children) were randomized to intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of washing and disinfection of toys and linen every two weeks for three months by a commercial cleaning company. The extent and causes of sickness absence among the children were recorded in both groups before and after introduction of the intervention. Ten sampling points in each nursery were examined for bacteria and respiratory viruses. Results The presence of respiratory virus DNA/RNA was widespread, but very few pathogenic bacteria were found in the environment. The intervention reduced the presence of adenovirus [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.0], rhinovirus (OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.3–12.4) and respiratory syncytial virus (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.5–11.2) compared with the control group, but the intervention had no effect on sickness absence or disease patterns in the nurseries. Conclusion Although cleaning and disinfection of toys every two weeks can decrease the microbial load in nurseries, it does not appear to reduce sickness absence among nursery children.

Environmental sampling in hospitals is becoming increasingly important because of the rise in nosocomial infections. In order to monitor and track these infections and optimize cleaning and disinfection, we need to be able to locate the fomites with the highest amount of microorganisms, but the optimal method for this is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate which of four different dipslides or a standard TSA contact plate were best at recovering human bacteria from the environment. We tested four different dipslides with selective and non-selective agars versus a standard TSA contact plate in order to find the best sampling media. Two hundred sites in a children's medical ward in Copenhagen University hospital were sampled in autumn 2012. There was no difference in total bacteria count between the TSA contact plate and the dipslides. Faecal indicator bacteria recovery was the same for the dipslides and the TSA contact plate. Dipslides may be equally well suited for environmental sampling and hygiene assessment as TSA contact plates. Dipslides have some advantages, such as better sample security, easier sampling in confined spaces and longer shelf life that may speak in favour of choosing these for bacteria environmental sampling in hospitals, depending on the task.

The emergence of extreme-drug-resistant (EDR) bacterial strains in hospital and nonhospital clinical settings is a big and growing public health threat. Understanding the antibiotic resistance mechanisms at the genomic levels can facilitate the development of next-generation agents. Here, comparative genomics has been employed to analyze the rapid evolution of an EDR Acinetobacter baumannii clone from the intensive care unit (ICU) of Rigshospitalet at Copenhagen. Two resistant A. baumannii strains, 48055 and 53264, were sequentially isolated from two individuals who had been admitted to ICU within a 1-month interval. Multilocus sequence typing indicates that these two isolates belonged to ST208. The A. baumannii 53264 strain gained colistin resistance compared with the 48055 strain and became an EDR strain. Genome sequencing indicates that A. baumannii 53264 and 48055 have almost identical genomes—61 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found between them. The A. baumannii 53264 strain was assembled into 130 contigs, with a total length of 3,976,592 bp with 38.93% GC content. The A. baumannii 48055 strain was assembled into 135 contigs, with a total length of 4,049,562 bp with 39.00% GC content. Genome comparisons showed that this A. baumannii clone is classified as an International clone II strain and has 94% synteny with the A. baumannii ACICU strain. The ResFinder server identified a total of 14 antibiotic resistance genes in the A. baumannii clone. Proteomic analyses revealed that a putative porin protein was down-regulated when A. baumannii 53264 was exposed to antimicrobials, which may reduce the entry of antibiotics into the bacterial cell.

The study evaluated the changes in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori strains with primary resistance to antibiotics during the last 10 years in Lithuania. H. pylori susceptibilities to antibiotics were tested in 89 patients in 1998, in 81 patients in 2001 and in 90 patients in 2007/2008. Susceptibility to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline was tested using E-test or agar dilution method. Susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was only tested in 2007/2008. Data about utilization of all authorized and available on market macrolides and clindamycin in Lithuania during 2003-2007 were evaluated using WHO ATC/DDD methodology. A total of 260 H. pylori strains cultured from untreated adult patients were investigated. Primary resistance rates (1998, 2001 and 2007/2008) for metronidazole were 24.7%, 33.3%, and 35.6%, for clarithromycin 1.1%, 3.7%, and 3.3% and for tetracycline 0%, 2.5% and 0% respectively. No cases of amoxicillin resistance have been detected. The resistance rate for ciprofloxacin was 5.6% in 2007/2008. Data of total macrolides and clarithromycin utilization in Lithuania revealed that despite an increase of consumption of these drugs in Lithuania during 2003-2007 in 1.5 times, the total macrolide consumption remains one of the lowest in Europe. We have not observed any significant changes in the susceptibility of H. pylori to the most widely used antibiotics during the recent 10-year period. The low resistance rate to clarithromycin might be related to the policy to avoid use of macrolides as first-line treatment for pulmonary and other infections.

Helicobacter pylori represents the major etiologic agent of gastritis, gastric, and duodenal ulcer disease and can cause gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue B-cell lymphoma. It is clear that the consequences of infection reflect diverse outcomes of the interaction of bacteria and host immune system. The hope is that by deciphering the deterministic rules – if any – of this interplay, we will eventually be able to predict, treat, and ultimately prevent disease. Over the past year, research on the immunology of this infection started to probe the role of small noncoding RNAs, a novel class of immune response regulators. Furthermore, we learned new details on how infection is detected by innate pattern recognition receptors. Induction of effective cell-mediated immunity will be key for the development of a vaccine, and new work published analyzed the relevance and contribution of CD4 T helper cell subsets to the immune reaction. Th17 cells, which are also induced during natural infection, were shown to be particularly important for vaccination. Cost-efficiency of vaccination was re-assessed and confirmed. Thus, induction and shaping of the effector roles of such protective Th populations will be a target of the newly described vaccine antigens, formulations, and modes of application that we also review here.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and identify independent risk factors for nosocomial infections in a Danish Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and to compare these findings with international results. Methods: The study was performed prospectively from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Specific criteria for blood stream infection and respiratory tract infection adapted for neonates in our ward were worked out. Results: Six hundred and eighty-three patients were included. The overall incidence of nosocomial infection was 8.8/1000 hospital days. Blood stream infection was the most frequent type of infection, with an incidence of 5.1/1000 hospital days. Multivariate analysis showed gestational age and heart disease to be significant independent risk factors for both first time blood stream infection and respiratory tract infection, and central venous catheter and parenteral nutrition risk factors for first time blood stream infection. Conclusion: This first prospective study of nosocomial infection in a Danish Neonatal Intensive Care Unit found an overall incidence of 8.8/1000 hospital days, which is low or similar compared to other studies. Further Danish multicentre studies are needed, and we suggest that procedures related to central venous catheters should be a future focus area.

The aim of the study was to assess and compare the IgG seroprevalence of H. pylori in children with recurrent abdominal pain with healthy children and to investigate the related symptoms. IgG antibodies against low-molecular weight H. pylori antigens were assessed in 438 children with recurrent abdominal pain and in 91 healthy controls. Sera with an ELISA unit-value above the cut-off level were confirmed by Western immunoblot. Only seropositive children with recurrent abdominal pain were examined by an oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy. Symptomatology was recorded according to the localization of the abdominal pain, presence of pyrosis, nocturnal pain, relation of pain to meals and bowel irregularities. The seroprevalence was 21% (95% CI: 17-25%) in the children with recurrent abdominal pain and 10% (95% CI: 5–18%) in the healthy controls (p= 0:30). In seropositive children with RAP H. pylori was found in 46/66 by culture and histology. The presence of H. pylori was significantly associated with active or inactive chronic gastritis. The presence of H. pylori was associated with both parents being born in a country with a high prevalence and a low social class. Helicobacter pylori-positive children had more often pain related to meals than the H. pylori- negative children. No differences among the two groups were seen according to the levels of haemoglobin, leucocytes, thrombocytes, weight and height. In conclusion, the seroprevalence of H. pylori is comparable in children with recurrent abdominal pain and healthy children. No specific symptomatology was seen in H. pylori- positive children with RAP.

The emerging pathogen Campylobacter ureolyticus has been isolated from human and animal genital infections, human periodontal disease, domestic and food animals, and from cases of human gastroenteritis. We report the whole-genome sequence of the human clinical isolate RIGS 9880, which is the first closed genome for C. ureolyticus .

Campylobacter concisus has been as frequently isolated from human diarrhea as the important enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni , but it also occurs in the feces of healthy individuals. The role of C. concisus in human disease has been difficult to determine, since the species comprises at least two phenotypically indistinguishable but genetically distinct taxa (i.e., genomospecies) that may vary in pathogenicity. We examined 62 C. concisus strains by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) profiling and correlated the results with clinical data. All C. concisus strains gave unique AFLP profiles, and numerical analysis of these data distributed the strains among four clusters. The clustering was of taxonomic significance: two clusters contained, respectively, the type strain (of oral origin) and a reference strain (from diarrhea) of each of the known genomospecies. Genomospecies 2 strains were more frequently isolated from immunocompetent patients and/or patients without concomitant infections that presented with fever, chronic diarrhea, and gut inflammation than was genomospecies 1, clustering with the type strain of oral origin. Bloody diarrhea was recorded only with C. concisus genomospecies 2 infections. We identified two additional C. concisus genomospecies: genomospecies 3 comprised a single strain from an immunocompetent patient, and genomospecies 4 contained five isolates from severely immunodeficient patients, i.e., organ transplantation recipients or those with hematological malignancies. All genomospecies 4 strains were of the same protein profile group and failed to react with a C. concisus species-specific PCR assay based on 23S rRNA gene sequences: the taxonomic position of this group requires closer investigation. Campylobacter concisus is genetically and taxonomically diverse and contains at least four distinct genomospecies that may exhibit differences in their spectra of virulence potential.

Objective To characterize and subgroup clinical strains of Campylobacter concisus isolated from patients with gastrointestinal disease. Methods A total of 109 C. concisus isolates from 98 patients obtained between June 1997 and December 1998 were analysed using protein profiles, conventional biochemical tube tests, ApiCampy, and susceptibility patterns by Neosensitabs and E-test. Results Two groups were identified by using protein profiles. One resembled the ATCC 33237 type strain of oral origin, and a second group differing from it, particularly in the high molecular weight zone. Considerable diversity exists in the lower molecular range of the gels, also within assigned subgroups. Biochemical testing showed differences between the groups in the ability to reduce nitrate, ApiCampy testing also yielded differences between the two assigned groups, although reactions were highly heterogeneous. Resistance to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone and tetracycline occurred in 3%, 13%, 7%, 11% and 0% of the isolates when using Neosensitabs. The E-test yielded comparable results 7%, 5%, 0%, 2% and 3%, respectively. Conclusion Results indicate that C. concisus can be assigned to two broad groups based on differences in protein profiles. No distinct phenotypic marker was identified. Susceptibility patterns are not suitable for discrimination between the two assigned groups. Further studies using a polyphasic approach including the application of genetic methods are needed to assess the complex taxonomy of this potential pathogen.

Background: Upregulation of proinflammatory endothelial cell adhesion molecules and decreased bioactivity of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) are important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of co-infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori on these two events in apoE-KO mice. Methods: Thirty-two apoE-KO mice, 8 weeks old, were equally divided into 4 groups. The first 2 groups were infected with either C. pneumoniae or H. pylori, while the 3rd group was infected with both C. pneumoniae and H. pylori. Mice from the 4th group and 4 wild-type mice served as controls. Thoracic and abdominal aortas were harvested after 10 weeks, and staining for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 was analyzed by immunocytochemistry. The endothelial vasomotor responses of thoracic aortas to methacholine were studied in organ chambers in the absence and presence of L-NAME. The plasma levels of nitrate/nitrite were measured. Results: Staining for VCAM-1 was more intense at the branching sites of aortas from mice with co-infection than in mono-infected or noninfected apoE-KO mice. The relaxation responses to methacholine and the plasma levels of nitrate/nitrite were significantly less in the co-infected group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Co-infection of apoE-KO mice with C. pneumoniae and H. pylori seems to be associated with impaired bioactivity of endothelial NO and increased expression of VCAM-1 at branching sites. The findings may suggest an additive interaction of these pathogens in atherogenesis.

Treatment failures are common in patients infected with metronidazole-resistant Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa when triple therapy including metronidazole is used. In patients with treatment failure and metronidazole-resistant H. pylori , a higher eradication rate for H. pylori was found after secondary treatment with bismuth/ranitidine in combination with antibiotics including metronidazole, compared with the same antibiotics combined with a standard dose of omeprazole. This agrees with our previous finding that bismuth was able to reduce the susceptibility of H. pylori to metronidazole. In this study, we have found that nizatidine, an H 2 -receptor antagonist, is also able to reduce the susceptibility of H. pylori to metronidazole in vitro, despite having no direct inhibitory effect on the growth of H. pylori. This agrees with earlier findings that compounds having the ability to reverse antibiotic resistance do not necessarily have an antibiotic or chemotherapeutic effect in the sense of growth inhibition. Therefore, it was decided to investigate the effect of nizatidine and omeprazole on the oxidative respiratory chain, as it is known that metronidazole is able to inhibit the activity of fumarate reductase of H. pylori . This enzyme is a key enzyme in the alternative respiratory chain under anaerobic conditions. Nizatidine was, in these preliminary experiments, found to inhibit fumarate reductase in a dose-dependent way, like metronidazole, whereas omeprazole had almost no effect on fumarate reductase. No other significant effects on the enzymes of the respiratory chain were found. The synergistic effect of nizatidine on metronidazole resistant H. pylori strains could be explained by the effect on fumarate reductase, whereas the effect of omeprazole is different and could be an inhibition of a proton pump in H. pylori . Reversal of antimicrobial resistance with the help of different non-antibiotics seems to be possible by using quite different compounds, and is therefore to be explained by different molecular mechanisms.

A multicentre in vitro survey was carried out in 1998 in 22 European centres in order to assess the variation in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance. The susceptibility of 1,274 isolates to metronidazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin was determined by the E test. The mean rate of resistance to metronidazole was 33.1% (95% CI, 7.5-58.9), to clarithromycin 9.9% (95% CI, 0-28.1) and to amoxicillin 0.8% (95% CI, 0-8.9). Resistance to metronidazole was significantly higher in females (P

Background. The role of Helicobacter pylori remains unclear in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). In this study children with RAP were included in a double blind treatment study to elucidate whether symptoms disappear in children with a H. pylori infection and RAP, if the bacteria are eradicated. Methods. Thirty-seven H. pylori-infected children aged 4.9–14.5 years (median 9.8 years) with RAP were included. H. pylori was identified by histology and culture. The children were treated with amoxicillin and metronidazole for 14 days. A re-endoscopy including biopsies for histology and culture was done at least one month after the end of treatment. Simple questions for symptoms were asked and blood for serology was repeated 3 and 6 months after the end of treatment. During the observation period the results of the re-endoscopy and the serology 3 and 6 months after the re-endoscopy were blinded for 23 patients and opened to 14 of the patients according to the choice of the families. Results. The eradication rates were 81% (30/37) in the total group and 74% (17/23) in the blinded group. The IgG antibodies to H. pylori decreased significantly 3 (p = .03) as well as 6 months after end of treatment (p

Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen, whereas the natural hosts for 'Gastrospirillum hominis' and Helicobacter felis are animals. 'G. hominis' is occasionally found to cause infection in humans, whereas H. felis only rarely infects humans. The pathogenesis of H. pylori infection is not completely understood and in order to reveal differences in immune response to the three Helicobacter species, the upregulation of adherence molecule CD11b/CD18, chemotactic activity and oxidative burst response of neutrophils after stimulation with H. pylori, 'G. hominis' and H. felis sonicates, were compared. Like H. pylori, 'G. hominis' and H. felis induced upregulation of CD11b/CD18 and chemotaxis of neutrophils. 'G. hominis' demonstrated a more pronounced upregulation of CD11b/CD18, whereas H. felis was the strongest stimulant of neutrophil chemotaxis. H. felis was unable to stimulate neutrophils to oxidative burst response, whereas 'G. hominis' activated neutrophils in a dose-dependent way similar to H. pylori. 'G. hominis' and H. felis were both able to prime neutrophils for oxidative burst response similar to H. pylori. In conclusion, we observed clear differences in neutrophil responses to different Helicobacter species, which indicates that bacterial virulence factors may be important for the diversity in the pathogenetic outcome of Helicobacter infections.

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated by hot phenol-water extraction from Helicobacter pylori strain D4 and found to contain no fucosylated poly-N-acetyllactosamine chain typical of most H. pylori strains studied but a homopolymer of D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (DD-Hep). The heptan attached to a core oligosaccharide was released by mild acid degradation of the LPS, and the following structure of the trisaccharide-repeating unit was established by chemical methods and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy: --> 2)-D-alpha-D-Hepp-(1 --> 3)-D-alpha-D-Hepp-(1 --> 3)-D-alpha-D-Hepp-(1 -->. 1H NMR spectroscopy performed on small amounts of the intact LPS revealed the presence of the same polysaccharide in LPS of H. pylori strains D2 and D5, but not strain D10.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium affecting about half of the world population, causing chronic gastritis type B dominated by activated phagocytes. In some patients the disease evolves into gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer or MALT lymphoma. The pathogenesis is in part caused by the immunological response. In mouse models and in human disease, the mucosal immune response is characterized by activated phagocytes. Mucosal T-lymphocytes are producing IFN-gamma thus increasing mucosal inflammation and mucosal damage. A low dietary intake of antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamin C may be an important factor for acquisition of H. pylori by humans. Dietary antioxidants may also affect both acquisition of the infection and the bacterial load of H. pylori infected mice. Antioxidants, including carotenoids, have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether dietary antoxidant induced modulation of H. pylori in mice affected the cytokines produced by H. pylori specific T-cells. We found that treatment of H. pylori infected mice with an algal cell extract containing the antioxidant astaxanthin reduces bacterial load and gastric inflammation. These changes are associated with a shift of the T-lymphocyte response from a predominant Th1-response dominated by IFN-gamma to a Th1/Th2-response with IFN-gamma and IL-4. To our knowledge, a switch from a Th1-response to a mixed Th1/Th2-response during an ongoing infection has not been reported previously.

STUDY OBJECTIVES—To assess the incidence of seroconversion and seroreversion in IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori within a 11 year observation period using these events as markers for acquisition and loss of the infection, respectively. DESIGN—Population based prospective cohort study SETTING—Northern part of Copenhagen County, Denmark PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS—A random sample of 2527 Danish adults were examined and blood obtained in 1983 and in 1994. Matching pairs of sera were analysed for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies to H pylori with an in house enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Participants who were seronegative at study entry and seropositive at follow up and had a fourfold increase in baseline IgG antibody levels were categorised as seroconverters and regarded as having acquired H pylori infection. Participants who were seropositive at study entry and had at least a fourfold decrease in baseline IgG antibody levels at follow up were assumed to have lost the infection (seroreverters). RESULTS—The seroprevalence of H pylori infection was 24.7 (95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 23.0, 26.4) % in 1983 and 24.5 (95% CI 22.8, 26.2) % in 1994. A total of 14 participants seroconverted within the observation period (cumulative 11 year incidence proportion: 1.0 (95% CI 0.5, 1.5) %). Having increased IgM antibody levels at study entry significantly increased the likelihood of IgG seroconversion (relative risk 6.4 (95% CI 2.1, 19.6). Seroreversion was seen in 48 participants (cumulative 11 year incidence proportion: 7.7 (95% CI 5.6, 9.8) %). CONCLUSIONS—Changes in H pylori infection status with time are rare in Danish adults. Few adults become infected with H pylori in Denmark. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; seroconversion; sero-reversion

Infection with Helicobacter pylori in childhood may be the initiation of a lifelong coexistence between microorganisms and epithelial cells resulting in chronic inflammation. The adhesion pattern of H. pylori found in antral biopsies from a group of H. pylori-infected children with recurrent abdominal pain was compared with a group of H. pylori-infected adults suffering from dyspepsia, in an attempt to reveal differences in the type of adhesion.The histology of antrum biopsies and the ultrastructure of adherent H. pylori in biopsies from 26 children (median age, 10.1 years) were compared with organisms in biopsies from 19 adults (median age, 54.4 years).More than 1000 adherent H. pylori were studied and divided into four types of adhesion: 1) contact to microvilli; 2) connection to the plasma membrane via filamentous material; 3) adhesive pedestal formation; and 4) abutting or making a depression in the plasma membrane. Contact to microvilli was significantly higher (69% versus 39%; P = 0.002) in children compared with adults and comprised two-thirds of all adherent organisms in children. The more intimate adhesion types as abutting or adhesive pedestals dominated in adults.These results indicate a change in contact types between H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells in adults compared with children and this may be a natural development in the lifelong infection of humans.

The respiratory chain of Helicobacter pylori has been investigated. The total insensitivity of activities of NADH dehydrogenase to rotenone and of NADH-cytochrome c reductase to antimycin is indicative of the absence of the classical complex I of the electron transfer chain in this bacterium. NADPH-dependent respiration was significantly stronger than NADH-dependent respiration, indicating that this is a major respiratory electron donor in H. pylori. Fumarate and malonate exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the activity of succinate dehydrogenase. The activity of succinate-cytochrome c reductase was inhibited by antimycin, implying the presence of a classical pathway from complex II to complex III in this bacterium. The presence of NADH-fumarate reductase (FRD) was demonstrated in H. pylori and fumarate could reduce H2O2 production from NADH, indicating fumarate to be an endogenous substrate for accepting electrons from NADH. The activity of NADH-FRD was inhibited by 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone. A tentative scheme for the electron transfer pathway in H. pylori is proposed, which may be helpful in clarifying the pathogenesis of H. pylori and in opening new lines for chemotherapy against this bacterium.

Microbial typing is a useful tool in clinical epidemiology for defining the source and route of infection, for studying the persistence and reinfection rates, clonal selection in the host and bacterial evolution. Phenotypic methods such as biotyping, serotyping and hemagglutinin typing have little discriminatory power compared to genotypic methods concerning the typing of Helicobacter pylori. Therefore great efforts have been made to establish useful molecular typing methods. In this context, the most frequently used genotypic methods are described based on our own experience and the literature: (1) restriction endonuclease analysis, (2) endonuclease analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, (3) ribotyping, (4) polymerase chain reaction (using either random primers or repetitive DNA sequence primers), and (5) polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of e.g. the urease genes. Furthermore, reproducibility, discriminatory power, ease of performance and interpretation, cost and toxic procedures of each method are assessed. To date no direct comparison of all the molecular typing methods described has been performed in the same study with the same H. pylori strains. However, PCR analysis of the urease gene directly on suspensions of H. pylori or gastric biopsy material seems to be useful for routine use and applicable in specific epidemiological situations.

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with mucosal inflammation. The aim of the present study was to assess human neutrophil and monocyte activation induced by H. pylori strains with different virulence genotypes. Bacterial sonicates from 12 strains were used to induce phagocyte upregulation of adherence molecule CD 11b, assessed by fluorescence flow cytometry, and oxidative burst responses, assessed by chemiluminescence. A dose-dependent induction of the expression of CD11b was observed with sonicate from all H. pylori strains on both neutrophils and monocytes. Strains negative for cagA and picB genes had the same inducing activity of upregulation of CD 11b as strains positive for these genes. A vacA-S2 type strain had the same activity as vacA-S1 type strains. The induction of toxic oxygen radicals by H. pylori-activated neutrophils gave higher median values for the cagA-positive strains than for the cagA-negative strains. For the monocyte chemiluminescence response, cagA-negative strains gave higher median values compared to cagA-positive strains. We conclude that upregulation of the neutrophil and monocyte adherence molecule CD11b induced by H. pylori sonicates is not associated with the presence of cagA, picB or mosaic pattern of vacA, and that cagA, picB-negative strains and vacA-S2 strains retain their inflammatory capacity.

Background & Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection was recently associated with iron-deficiency anemia. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between H. pylori infection, hemoglobin, and iron status using serum ferritin as a marker for total body iron. Methods: Serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against H. pylori were assessed in 2794 Danish adults who attended a population survey. IgG antibodies were measured with an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum ferritin with an immunoradiometric assay, and hemoglobin with Coulter-S. Results: The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection did not relate to hemoglobin. Serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in men (114 vs. 120 μg/L; P = 0.01) and in postmenopausal women (63 vs. 77 μg/L; P = 0.02) who were IgG positive than in seronegative individuals. IgG-positive people more often had reduced serum ferritin levels (≤30 μg/L) than seronegative people. This association persisted in multivariate analysis after adjusting for possible confounding factors (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.8). Conclusions: Serum ferritin levels are reduced in people with increased IgG antibodies to H. pylori. H. pylori infection affects iron metabolism in humans. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:268-274

It has been suggested that antibodies against GM1 are involved in the pathogenesis of the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Recently, we have developed a standardized ELISA assay for anti-GM1 antibodies of IgM type well-suited for longitudinal patient studies. The relationship between serum antibodies against GM1 and Campylobacter jejuni was investigated in patients with GBS and in patients with C. jejuni infection. Patients with a short-lasting anti-GM1 elevation had a fast recovery, whereas patients with slow recovery had a long-lasting anti-GM1 elevation. A linear relationship was found between significant clinical recovery and the time until the anti-GM1 peak was halved (R = 0.9, p < 0.01). The absolute level of anti-GM1 did not predict the length of the recovery nor was the level of anti-GM1 related to the clinical disability at its nadir. Our data indicate that monitoring of the IgM anti-GM1 level can predict clinical recovery in GBS patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between housing conditions, educational level, occupational factors, and serologically diagnosed acute and chronic Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: Immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M serum antibodies against H. pylori were measured in 3589 Danish adults who participated in a population study. RESULTS: Low socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7, 3.0), short duration of schooling (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.5), lack of training/education (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2, 1.7]), unskilled work (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.5), and high work-related energy expenditure (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.9) increased the likelihood of chronic H. pylori infection. Infection was frequent in people who had lived abroad. Increased levels solely of immunoglobulin M antibodies were found more often in people who were divorced (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.2, 4.4) or unmarried (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.8) or who worked long hours (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1, 4.0). CONCLUSIONS: Educational and occupational factors relate to the likelihood of chronic H. pylori infection in adults. The rate of acute infection is high in single individuals.

The release from mucosal neutrophils of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to be an important part of the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and duodenal ulcer. In this study, bacterial sonicates prepared from 1 reference and 29 patient strains were used to stimulate ROS release from peripheral blood neutrophils. In 29 H. pylori-positive patients, the neutrophil response toward the homologous strain was absent. In contrast, a significant response was observed toward the reference strain. In addition, on stimulation of neutrophils from 29 patients without H. pylori infection, ROS release was significant. The stimulatory effect on neutrophils by FMLP was comparable in the 2 groups. It is concluded that a specific neutrophil hyporesponsiveness in ROS release toward the homologous R. pylori strain exists. This feature has, to our knowledge, not been described previously for neutrophil responses to any human pathogen.