Endemic and epidemic aspergillosis associated with in-hospital replication of Aspergillus organisms

Article Abstract:

Aspergillus is a genus of fungus that frequently infects patients who have received organ transplants or who are being treated with chemotherapy for cancer, as the immune systems in these groups are impaired. The infection, aspergillosis, can involve the nose, lungs and blood vessels. Aspergillosis is spread by inhaling spores from the fungus that are present in the air. The fungus can grow on moist surfaces in hospitals and can act as a reservoir of infection for patients. The fungus is more likely to be present in older hospital buildings, where it has had more opportunity to establish itself. Transferring patients to newer hospital buildings has been reported to reduce the number of cases of aspergillosis. To investigate this further, a newly opened hospital building was studied. During the first six years that the hospital was used, the number of cases of aspergillosis increased and an epidemic was even declared. Samples of air inside the building and samples taken from a variety of different surfaces were tested for Aspergilli. It was found that the air filters were heavily covered with Aspergillus fumigatus and other building surfaces had Aspergillus flavus growing on them. When the contaminated air filters were removed, there was a dramatic decrease in the number of cases of aspergillosis over the next two years. It is concluded that the hospital environment should be monitored for Aspergilli because they can grow on common hospital surfaces and increase the incidence of aspergillosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Hospitals, Disease transmission, Aspergillus, Contamination, Aspergillosis, Heating, cooling and ventilation, Air filters

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Diffuse-adhering Escherichia coli (DAEC) as a putative cause of diarrhea in Mayan children in Mexico

Article Abstract:

Diarrhea is a major cause of illness among Mexican infants and commonly results in death. This is true in other developing countries as well. Escherichia coli, a bacterium, is one organism that invades the intestines and can cause diarrhea. Grouped by clinical characteristics, four types of E. coli have been identified. Using tests that allow culture, or growth, of tissues in the laboratory, E. coli strains were analyzed in an effort to isolate the infectious agents that caused diarrhea in Mayan children in Mexico. Over a period of three weeks, 58 children aged six years or younger who suffered from diarrhea were identified, and matched with an uninfected (control) child. Mothers of all participants provided demographic information and clinical history, and stool samples were collected. It was found that a strain of E. coli (DAEC; diffuse-adhering escherichia coli) was significantly present in 24 stool samples where no other pathogens were identified. This is evidence of the potential for DAEC to infect young children and cause life-threatening diarrhea. The need remains to look for agents other than those known to commonly be responsible for diarrhea. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Diseases, Mexico, Escherichia coli, Identification and classification, Diarrhea, Escherichia coli infections, Mayas

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