Diagnosis of Fulminant Pneumonia Caused by Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 8 with the Sequence Analysis of the 16S rRNA Gene.

In conclusion, this cultivation-independent method is a potential diagnostic modality for pneumonia, especially in patients with rapidly progressive pneumonia or those who are immunocompromised. PMID: 21878746 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the DoctorsInChains.org campaign for the health workers in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

View the original article here

Epidemiology of Respiratory Infections Caused by Atypical Bacteria in Two Kenyan Refugee Camps

Abstract   Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. are common causes of atypical pneumonia; however, data about these atypical pathogens are limited in the refugee setting. Paired nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens were collected from patients with respiratory illness presenting to healthcare centers in two refugee camps in Kenya. The specimens were tested for C. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. as well as eight respiratory viruses. Atypical pathogens were detected in 5.5% of the specimens of which 54% were co-infected with at least one of the eight viruses tested. Patients positive for atypical bacteria co-infected with virus were significantly more likely to have severe acute respiratory illness than patients infected with onl...

View the original article here