Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases
Volume:6 Issue: 4, Nov 2011

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of which diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and positive laboratory findings. Since serology tests are not specific and sensitive enough, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be an alternative method in making the final decision in suspicious cases.In this study, three diagnostic methods were compared in suspected patients with brucellosis in the endemic area of Mianeh, Iran. Patients and In this descriptive study, results of standard agglutination test (SAT) and specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared with Multiplex PCR in 100 patients with suspected brucellosis referred to the Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mianeh, Iran. Their sera were collected and tested by SAT, ELISA and Multiplex PCR. DNA was extracted from serum samples and examined by Multiplex PCR involving specific primers for B. melitensis and B. abortus based on IS 711 in the brucella chromosome. We found 28 cases with positive results for B. melitensis by Multiplex PCR technique which was significantly different from of SAT (P<0.05). Six samples were positive for B. abortus by PCR. The results of present study showed that Multiplex PCR assay is a rapid and sensitive technique for diagnosis of brucellosis compared to SAT. However it is more accurate when coupled with conventional methods.

This research was carried out to compare antibacterial effect of Rosa nutkana sepal extract with synthetic antibiotics on methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria isolated from patients with sty.Patients and This descriptive study was done in 2009 at remedial center of ShahidBeheshti Universityand sampling was performed from patients suffering from sty using sterile soap. After preparation of Rosa nutkana sepal extract and after determining bacteria type, antibiogram test was used to determine bacterial resistance and sensitivity to cephalothin, co-amoxiclav, amoxicillin and tetracycline, as well as to the extract. Disc diffusion and agar dilution were used for this purpose. The area of non-growth resulting from antibiotic discs was compared with of the extract. In this study, 31% of samples were reported to be MRSA. MRSA in 1/128 concentration of extract was sensitive in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. In disc diffusion test, Staphylococcus aureus was 100% sensitive to the extract, 15.8% to cephalothin, 26.3% to tetracycline, 31.6% to co-amoxiclav and 100% resistant to amoxicillin.

One of the prominent microorganisms in several reports of nosocomial infections is Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) which is carried by several health care workers (HCW) many times throughout the day. The present investigation was conducted to assess the nasal and hand carriage rate of S. aureus amongst medical personnel of Loghman Hakim Hospital's Toxicological Intensive Care Unit (TICU). Patients and All health care workers of TICU (n= 70) were recruited to this study. A questionnaire with demographic information, work category, duration of working in the (TICU) and history of infection by S. aureus was completed by one trained nurse of the ward. A total of 140 swabs (nasal=70, hand=70) were collected from personnel in TICU. Isolates with both inhibition zone diameter ≤13 mm around oxacillin disc and ≤21 mm around cefoxitin disc were considered MRSA strains. Also, we used KOH preparation technique to identify hyphae from the samples. Eighteen (25.7%) persons were S. aureus carriers while methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found in 6 (8.6%) subjects. There was no significant difference between the sexes (p = 0.075), age (p = 0.080), work category (p=0.100), and duration of working in the TICU (≤5 and>5 years) (p = 0.875) with regard to nasal and hand carriage of S. aureus. Transmission of S. aureus by HCWs has to be concerned, however more studies are required to examine the relationship between nasal or hand colonization of MRSA in HCWs and subsequent MRSA infection in patients.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection during pregnancy may lead to fetal loss. The aim of this study was to explore the infection rate of HSV type 1 and 2 infection associated with spontaneous abortion in a pilot case-control study in two cities of Iran in 2010. Patients and Placenta and curettage samples from 35 healthy full term neonates and 35 cases of spontaneous abortion with related questionnaires were collected. Sample DNA was extracted using Qiagen extraction kit, and then PCR was applied for detection of both types of viruses. In parallel, results were checked using SinaClon detection kit. In this study 2.8% (1/35) of samples taken from aborted materials were found to be HSV positive (p=0.497). Differences were detected between case and control groups regarding vaginal infection (p =0.001) and having previous spontaneous abortion (p =0.018). Our findings revealed that HSV can be an abortion-related factor in pregnancy

Ferula gummosa grows as a native plant in different parts of Iran and has been used for treatment of some infections such as UTI since ancient times. Present study is planned to show the antibacterial effect of this herb on bacteria isolated from infectious diarrhea. Patients and Extracts of the plant were achieved using maceration method. The concentration of 0.2gr/ml was used against pathogenic bacteria causing gastroenteritis; isolated from patients admitted to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Hospitals and also minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was determined. The highest value of MIC was due to Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and even Pseudomonas with 1/1024 dilution liter. Three antibiotics of tetracycline, trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin were also tested against the bacteria. The highest MIC was in 1/1000 mg/ml of ciprofloxacin and was against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens with MIC dilution of. According to our findings, it is recommended to use Ferula gummosa extract, as a herbal alternative treatment, in more investigations to prove its treatment effects on infections.

The prevalence of syphilis is increasing in the world. Although ocular syphilis is not a common presentation of syphilis, it occurs in 2.5 to 5% of patients with tertiary syphilis and less than 1% of patients with untreated late syphilis. Patient: We report a 58-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of decreased vision. He developed neurosensory detachment, retinitis and panuveitis in his left eye and retinitis in the right eye with no evidence of neurosyphilis as an initial presentation of syphilis. Ocular syphilis should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses of patients with ocular manifestations to make the correct diagnosis and choose a proper treatment option.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Nairovirus in the family of Bunyaviridae, transmitted to humans by the bite of the Hyalomma tick or by direct contact with blood or tissue of an infected animal or human. CCHF is a severe disease with a high mortality rate ranging from 2% to 70%. Early diagnosis and treatment of CCHF infection is critical to rescue the patients and control the disease. The important approach to treatment of CCHF is based on general supportive measures, monitoring of the patient’s hematologic and coagulation status, with replacement of cells and other factors as needed, and the prompt use of ribavirin. In this article, we underline current therapeutic approaches to CCHF infection.

Because of increased incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in recent years, infective spondylitis is still a major problem in the world. Symptoms of spinal TB are often nonspecific, and clinicians should be aware of this entity. Patients and In this study, epidemiologic aspects, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and radiologic studies of cases with documented tuberculosis spondylitis in Loghman Hospital were evaluated. Of our patients, 25 (62.5%) were men and 15 (37.5%) were women. The oldest was 77 and the youngest was 17 years old. Average of age was 47 years. Involved vertebras were as follow: cervical 10%, thoracic 37.5%, thoracolumbar 27.5% and lumbar 25%. Accompanying diseases were pulmonary TB (72%), TB