Search

Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. We describe two patients with chronic syphilis causing neurosyphilis. The first had had several brain infarctions due to the presence of meningovascular syphilis. Second patient suffered from motor and psychiatric symptoms caused by syphilis. The symptoms of our patients were alleviated by antibiotic therapy. Recognition of the multifaceted symptom picture of syphilis is increasingly important, because the occurrence of the disease has increased in our country over the last few decades. An early enough treatment can prevent permanent disability of the patient.

Hand disinfection is one of the most important part of patient safety. By adequate hand disinfection healthcare workers can prevent about 40 per cent of healthcare-associated infections and about 50 per cent of patients' MRSA contaminations in hospitals. Adherence to hand disinfection has been observed in an average of 40 per cent of patient contacts. One of the risk factors leading to poor adherence is the "doctor" status of a healthcare worker. Introduction of an alcohol-based hand rub close to the patient is one of the most significant factors for improved hand hygiene.

Childhood cancer and its treatment weaken the immune defenses and predispose the patient to infections. The recovery of immune defences depends on the provided cancer therapy and associated complications such as the graft-versus-host reaction. Recovery takes place gradually and the spectrum of infections suffered by the patient reflects the different stages of restoration of the immune defenses. Bacterial and fungal infections dominate the early, neutropenic phase, viral infections being predominant during the later lymphocytopenic phase. In the follow-up it is essential to recognize the risk factors, to observe the recuperation of the immune system and to treat the complications.

We describe an epidemic of tuberculosis of occupational origin in five healthcare workers, which originated from a patient with tuberculous peritonitis. The source of the infection was not revealed until one year after the patient's death. Over 300 workers were exposed to tuberculosis. Up-to-date microbiological molecular technology was applied to the investigation of the infection among the exposed workers. This was the first time that an electronic reporting system for biological exposures was utilized for the investigation of an epidemic. Within this epidemic it is assumed that another five workers will develop a symptomatic tuberculosis infection during their lifetime.

Clostridium difficile is the major identified cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Metronidazole has been applied as the first-line treatment, while vancomycin has been used in recurring cases of the disease. Fecal transfusion has already long been applied as experimental therapy in the treatment of recurring C. difficile infection. The aim of fecal transfusion is normalization of the intestinal microbial flora. An only recently published extensive Finnish patient series and a randomized study have confirmed fecal transfusion as a highly efficient and safe form of treatment in recurrent C. difficile infection.

Background & Aims: Treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) with antibiotics leads to recurrences in up to 50% of patients. We investigated the efficacy of fecal transplantation in treatment of recurrent CDI., Methods: We reviewed records from 70 patients with recurrent CDI who had undergone fecal transplantation. Fecal transplantation was performed at colonoscopy by infusing fresh donor feces into cecum. Before transplantation, the patients had whole-bowel lavage with polyethylene glycol solution. Clinical failure was defined as persistent or recurrent symptoms and signs, and a need for new therapy., Results: During the first 12 weeks after fecal transplantation, symptoms resolved in all patients who did not have strain 027 C difficile infections. Of 36 patients with 027 C difficile infection, 32 (89%) had a favorable response; all 4 nonresponders had a pre-existing serious condition, caused by a long-lasting diarrheal disease or comorbidity and subsequently died of colitis. During the first year after transplantation, 4 patients with an initial favorable response had a relapse after receiving antibiotics for unrelated causes; 2 were treated successfully with another fecal transplantation and 2 with antibiotics for CDI. Ten patients died of unrelated illnesses within 1 year after transplantation. No immediate complications of fecal transplantation were observed., Conclusions: Fecal transplantation through colonoscopy seems to be an effective treatment for recurrent CDI and also for recurrent CDI caused by the virulent C difficile 027 strain., (Copyright © 2012 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Zygomycoses are opportunistic infections caused by the Mucorales fungi. They are typically seen in immunosuppressed patients. The incidence of zygomycosis cases seems to be increasing. We report on zygomycosis in a pediatric, female stem-cell-transplant recipient. This case report underlines the difficulty of taking care of patients with zygomycosis. In fungal infections of immunosuppressive patients on broad-coverage antibiotics, foci of skin necrosis are unique and typical for zygomycoses, and may be helpful in this challenging diagnosis.

Norovirus is easily transmitted from a patient, patient secretions, or spread by surfaces, food and drinking water infected by the virus. The symptoms are characterized by rapid onset, abundant vomiting or diarrhoeal disease. The duration of symptoms varies from half a day to five days. In hospitals the epidemic spreads effectively to others in the room, to other patients within the ward and to the staff. In suspected cases of patient infection caused by norovirus, new patients should not be admitted to the same room, and a separate WC and shower room should be reserved for the patients.

Approximately 10 to 30% of the population will suffer from herpes zoster (HZ) during their lifetime. Prompt treatment of acute HZ with acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir is recommend, if patients are over 50 years old or have severe or moderate pain or severe or moderate rash or they are immonocompromised or suffer from herpes zoster ophtalmicus. Zoster lesions contain high concentrations of Varicella zoster virus that can spread, and cause chicken pox. There is no universal recommendations for varicella vaccination. It has been shown that zoster vaccine markedly reduced morbidity from herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among older adults.