Epidemiology of neonatal sepsis in two neonatal intensive care units in Krakow, Poland in 2016-2017 years

BACKGROUND

Sepsis in low-birth-weight neonates remains one of the most significant causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Approximately 3 million newborns suffer from sepsis globally every year. The aim of this study was to compare demographic and clinical features, as well as etiology and antibiotic susceptibility, of the main pathogens related to neonatal sepsis in two neonatal intensive units during a two-year period.

METHODS

We observed early-onset (EO-BSI) and late-onset bloodstream infections (LO-BSI) cases in two high-reference neonatal intensive care units (NICU) over a 24-month period (2016-2017). Samples of patients' blood were tested for the presence of the microorganisms. All bacterial isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibiotics.

RESULTS

The majority of sepsis cases weighed above 1000 g and were born by cesarean section. About 10% of the EO-BSI group died. There were differences in the EO-BSI /LO-BSI ratio in the compared wards due to differences among the admitted children. The most common pathogens isolated from blood were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were represented by two dominating species: S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus, followed by Klebsiella spp. strains and E.coli, which were mostly found in EO-BSI cases. No single S. agalactiae (GBS) strain was isolated. The majority of CoNS strains were resistant to methicillin, half were resistant to aminoglycosides, and one-third were resistant to macrolides and lincosamides. Half of the Gram-negative rods were resistant to beta-lactams.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiology of sepsis in two observed NICUs is comparable to data obtained from other studies with a predominance of methicillin-resistant CoNS in LO-BSI and beta-lactam resistant E. coli in EO-BSI. It is of importance that the campaign for controlling GBS carriage in pregnant women in Poland resulted in the disappearance of GBS as a cause of sepsis. Unfortunately, there are no such measures to control E.coli related sepsis.

Population Structure of Phytophthora infestans from a Single Location in Poland Over a Long Period of Time in Context of Weather Conditions

Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary is a destructive potato pathogen. Changing weather conditions are among the factors that influence the pathogen population structure. In this study, 237 P. infestans isolates were collected from a single unprotected experimental field in an area with high late-blight pressure located in Boguchwała in the southeastern part of Poland during 15 growing seasons (2000-2014). The isolates were assessed for mating type, mitochondrial haplotype, resistance to metalaxyl, virulence, and polymorphism of 14 single-sequence repeat markers (SSRs). The results revealed 89 unique genotypes among the 237 P. infestans isolates. Eighty-seven isolates belonged to genotype 34_A1, which was detected in all the years of research except 2012. Isolates of P. infestans from individual years were very similar to each other, as shown by Nei's genetic identity based on 14 SSR markers. The obtained results on isolate characteristics were analyzed in terms of meteorological data (air temperature and precipitation) and indicated that frost, long winters, and hot, dry summers did not directly affect the P. infestans population structure. We described the variability in metalaxyl resistance and virulence among isolates of the P. infestans genotype 34_A1.

Abstract P1-15-01: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Citation Format: Metzger Filho O, Janiszewska M, Guo H, Yardley D, Mayer I, Spring L, Arteaga C, Wrabel E, DeMeo M, Freedman R, Tolaney S, Waks A, Bardia A, Parsons H, Partridge A, Mayer E, King T, Polyak K, Viale G, Winer E, Krop I. Withdrawn [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-15-01.

[Use of three-dimensional conformal radiation system in radiotherapy of solid tumours in children]

Three - dimensional treatment planning system using CT is the most modern tool in the radiotherapy of children. It is most useful in treatment of solid tumours when the neoplasm is very close to the vital organs. In our work we have presented three cases of small children in whom owing to conformal radiotherapy it was possible to give the treatment dose to the planning target volume (PTV) and spare adjacent critical organs.

Effect of Average Number of Piglets in the First Three Litters of Polish Large White Sows-Family Founders on the Reproduetive Performance of Gilts in the Next Generations

Abstract. The studies concerned the reproduetive perfonnance of four generations of sows originating from families where the average number of piglets in the first three litters amounted to: 8.1–9.0 (group A), 9.1–10.0 (group B), 10. 1–11.0 (group C) and more than 11.0 (group D). 988 sows and 2964 litters were examined altogether. The average number of piglets reared up to the age of 21 days in the first three litters of sows-family founders has a significant effect on the fertility and feeundity levels of sows in the next generations. The best results are to be expected in the case of sows originating from families where the average number of piglets in three successive litters was higher than 10. Sows coming from families in which the average number of piglets on 21st day was lower do not show promise of equally good reproductive performance, in spite of higher weight gains and better appearance (resulting from better conditions in the periods of pre- and postnatal development). In the private sector there were no sows originating from family founders in the group < 9,0 while 95% of them belonged to groups with average piglet number >10,0.

Plasma catecholamines, neuropeptide Y and leucine-enkephalin in uremic patients before and after dialysis during rest and handgrip

We have studied the effects of handgrip on plasma levels of catecholamines, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and leu-enkephalin before and after hemodialysis of uremic patients. A cuprophan dialyzer was used. We found, that dopamine level was higher in uremia group before hemodialysis both during rest (0.38 +/- 0.39 pmol/ml) and handgrip (1.13 +/- 1.00 pmol/ml) compared to control (0.17 +/- 0.19, and 0.66 +/- 0.83 pmol/ml respectively). Hemodialysis leads to further increase of its level (0.49 +/- 0.35 pmol/ml) at rest. Epinephrine level was almost the same in uremic patients before (0.43 +/- 0.51 pmol/ml) and after dialysis (0.46 +/- 0.60) as in control subjects (0.41 +/- 0.37 pmol/ml) during the rest. Its level measured after the handgrip was the highest in uremic group after dialysis (2.10 +/- 2.00 pmol/ml), significantly lower before dialysis (1.26 +/- 0.85 pmol/ml), and the lowest in control group (0.78 +/- 0.43 pmol/ml). Norepinephrine level were very similar in uremic group before dialysis (1.54 +/- 1.05 pmol/ml), after dialysis (1.79 +/- 1.29 pmol/ml) and in control group (1.46 +/- 1.06 pmol/ml) during the rest. During the handgrip test its level was higher in uremic group after hemodialysis than before it (adequate values 8.78 +/- 4.61 and 6.70 +/- 4.74 pmol/ml). The difference between uremia group before dialysis and control group did not reach significance. The level of NPY has the tendency to increase in uremic patients. Dialysis leads to following increase of its level, but the changes did not reach the significance both in rest and handgrip. Leu-enkephalin level was higher in uremic group (9.21 +/- 7.62 pmol/ml) compared to control (5.22 +/- 1.53 pmol/ml). We observed non-significant fall of this level after dialysis (6.79 +/- 4.76 pmol/ml). We found the same tendency during the handgrip, and the changes were significant.

IN CONCLUSION

uremia per se leads to increase the level of dopamine and leu-enkephaline during the rest and handgrip, but the level of epinephrine only during the handgrip; dialysis leads to further increase of dopamine during the rest, but epinephrine, norepinephrine and leu-enkephaline only during the handgrip.

Proliferation, phenotype, and cytotoxicity of human lymphocytes isolated from lymph nodes invaded by melanoma cells

The effects of human recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) on metastatic melanoma (lymph node)-derived T lymphocytes cultured with human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were studied. Lymphocytes isolated from melanoma-invaded lymph nodes were cultured in media with rIL-2 in the presence (MB-2,4) or absence (MB-2) or rIL-4 for up to 48 days. A majority of lymphocytes grown in both cultures were CD3+ T lymphocytes. Addition of rIL-4 to the rIL-2 culture abrogated the growth of the CD3-, CD56+ cell population [natural killer (NK) cell], which were present in culture with rIL-2 alone. Lymph-node-derived T lymphocytes that had expanded under MB-2,4 conditions lysed only autologous melanoma cells and they maintained the autologous-specific cytolytic activity during the entire culture period. They did not lyse K562, Daudi, or allogeneic target cells. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against CD3 molecules and MHC class I molecules but not MHC class II molecules inhibited the specific lytic functions of T lymphocytes under MB-2,4 culture conditions. Collectively, these data indicate that in lymphocyte culture derived from melanoma-invaded lymph nodes, rIL-4 inhibits the rIL-2-dependent proliferation of NK cells and antigen nonspecific killer T lymphocytes and also effectively abrogates the rIL-2-induced NK and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activities.