Epidemiology & Infection (2)
Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis strains with increase of penicillin minimal inhibitory concentrations
J. A. Sáez-Nieto, D. Fontanals, J. Garcia De Jalon, V. Martinez De Artola, P. Peña, M. A. Morera, R. Verdaguer, I. Sanfeliu, C. Belio-Blasco, J. L. Perez-Saenz, J. Casal
Journal: Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 99 / Issue 2 / October 1987
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 October 2009, pp. 463-469
We report the isolation and characterization of ten strains showing an increase in the minimal inhibitory concentrations to penicillin (MICs > 0·1 μg/ml), and describe the epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features.
The susceptibility of 3432 meningococcal strains isolated from patients in the recent epidemic wave (1978–86) in Spain, to several antimicrobial agents used in the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal infection has been tested. Most were resistant to sulphadiazine but sensitive to other antibiotics.
The possible existence of a new pattern of behaviour of meningococcal to penicillin is discussed.
Presence of granulocytic ehrlichia in ticks and serological evidence of human infection in La Rioja, Spain
J. A. OTEO, H. GIL, M. BARRAL, A. PÉREZ, S. JIMENEZ, J. R. BLANCO, V. MARTINEZ DE ARTOLA, A. GARCÍA-PÉREZ, R. A. JUSTE
Journal: Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 127 / Issue 2 / October 2001
In order to estimate the risks of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in an endemic area for Lyme disease in the North of Spain (La Rioja), we collected and investigated by PCR specific to the E. phagocytophila group DNA, a total of 6870 Ixodes ricinus ticks. We also used an indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) test to study the presence of antibodies to the HGE agent in 147 human serum samples including patients with Lyme disease (LD), forestry workers, and persons with history of previous tick bite. Fifty serum samples from healthy people resident in urban areas and with no history of tick-bite disorder and without tick exposure were used as controls. Four of 76 adults and 49 of 203 nymphs pools carried E. phagocytophila DNA. This result, and the finding of 1·4% of sera reacting in the IFI test confirms that this tick-borne agent is present in La Rioja, and that humans show evidence of contact with it. HGE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of flu-like syndromes in the study area in the north of Spain.