Pichia anomala fungaemia in immunocompromised children. Fallbericht. Pichia anomala-Fungamie bei immunkompromittierten Kindern

Pichia anomala is an emerging yeast causing serious nosocomial infections in newborn and immunocompromised children. We describe nosocomial port catheter infection due to P. anomala in three children who were receiving cancer chemotherapy, bloodstream infection in a preterm infant and in an infant with severe combined immunodeficiency. All patients were treated with amphotericin B. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and fluconazole. No recurrence was observed during follow-up in four of five patients. The common clinical feature in all of our patients was the presence of prior antimicrobial therapy.

[Detection of secretory acid proteinase enzyme from Candida strains on protein supplemented agar media]

In this study, we identified the species of 130 candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens, and we also investigated the secretory acid proteinase activity of these strains on hemoglobin, albumin and casein containing agar media. In 65 of 75 C. albicans, 8 of 15 C. tropicalis, 5 of 15 C. pseudotropicalis, in 3 C. stellatoidea and in 2 C. glabrata strains enzyme activity was shown. We couldn't detect proteinase activity in any of the 7 C. krusei, 7 C. parapsilosis and in 6 C. guilliermondii strains. Enzyme activity was shown to be inhibited when proteolytic strains were treated with specific inhibitor pepstatin-A.

[Frequency of adenovirus group complement-specific antibodies in children]

Two hundred and six serum samples collected from children in Hacettepe University and Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine Hospitals, aged between 0-15 were tested for the presence of Adenovirus group specific antibodies by complement fixation test. The frequency of Adenovirus group specific complement fixation antibodies were found to be 4.85%. Most of positive sera were detected in 0-2 age group.

[In vitro susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections to acylureidopenicillins]

Ureidopenicillins exert antibacterial activity on many Gram negative bacteria and also some Gram positive bacteria Two acylureido penicillins called azlocillin and mezlocillin have been introduced recently into medical practice in many countries as broad spectrum antibiotics. In this communication we present the sensitivity of Gram negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infection of pediatric age patients to azlocillin, mezlocillin, another semisynthetic penicillin called pipercillin and aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin by MIC and disk-diffusion methods. The results are discussed in the view of the use of new semisythetic penicillins in clinical practice.