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Query: UMLS:C0243026 (sepsis)
 52,417 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole derivative, is a unique antimicrobial agent that is active against both bacterial and parasitic organisms, although only the anaerobic members of these groups are susceptible. It has been used for the treatment of trichomoniasis for almost 30 years and is also effective in amebiasis and giardiasis. More recently, metronidazole has emerged as a principal agent for the treatment of anaerobic infections. It is highly effective against all species of anaerobes except certain non-spore-forming gram-positive bacilli and cocci and is the only agent rapidly bactericidal against the Bacteroides fragilis group. The hydroxy metabolite is 65% as effective as metronidazole and may play a major therapeutic role. Clinical studies have substantiated its efficacy for prophylaxis during elective colorectal surgical procedures and the treatment of deep abdominal sepsis (usually in combination with another agent such as an aminoglycoside). Metronidazole is the treatment of choice for bacterial vaginosis and seems to be as effective as vancomycin for treatment of Clostridium difficile-related diarrhea and colitis. Good blood levels are produced after both oral and intravenous administration, and side effects are infrequent and minimal. Metronidazole should not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy because of concerns about mutagenicity. Tinidazole and ornidazole are recently developed nitroimidazole derivatives that have even greater antimicrobial activity than metronidazole.
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PMID:Symposium on antimicrobial agents. Metronidazole. 331 51

The Gardnerella vaginalis-infection of the urogenital tract is of clinical importance in females and of epidemiological importance in males. Females suffer from Bacterial Vaginosis, with a foul-smelling grey vaginal discharge with a pH of 5.0-5.5 which contains "clue cells", and from Sepsis. The isolation and identification of G. vaginalis i necessary in man. If G. vaginalis-infection is suspected, simultaneous infections with further STD-agents such as N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis etc should be excluded. Metronidazole (1 g/day for 5 days) is the drug of choice in G. vaginalis-infection.
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PMID:[Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy]. 331 83

Intraamniotic infection is a common (2-4%) event in labor. The predictors of IAI include preterm labor or rupture of membranes, abnormal vaginal flora (e.g., GBS, sexually transmitted disease, bacterial vaginosis), obstetric manipulations (e.g., vaginal exams, internal fetal monitoring) in the presence of ruptured membranes, and diminished host response (due to smoking, drug abuse, obesity, immunodeficiency states, etc.). Group B Streptococcus and Enterobacteriaceae are the most important organisms associated with the polymicrobial infection. Anaerobes predict post-cesarean section complications. Neonatal pneumonia (2-5%) and early neonatal sepsis (1-4%) are the outcomes of the greatest concern and are caused by group B streptococcal or aerobic gram-negative rod infections. These outcomes are kept to a minimum if maternal antibiotic chemotherapy is started interpartum with agents that are safe, cross the placenta, and are active against GBS and Escherichia coli (e.g., ampicillin plus gentamicin). Anaerobic coverage should be added (clindamycin) if a cesarean section is performed. Antipyretics such as acetaminophen will reduce the hyperthermic stress on the fetus, and persistent fetal tachycardia after antipyretics may indicate fetal infection. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring is appropriate in cases of IAI, and providers should be prepared for neonatal resuscitation, early neonatal intravenous antibiotics, and respiratory support at delivery.
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PMID:Chorioamnionitis and intraamniotic infection. 829 82

In summary, a definite association has been demonstrated between preterm labor and genital tract infection. Conclusions regarding the true benefits of antibiotics as adjunctive therapy in treatment of preterm labor are inconsistent. Whereas some of the studies were able to demonstrate significant prolongation of pregnancy, no consistent reduction in either maternal or neonatal morbidity has been demonstrated. However, because the actual incidental morbidity rate is low in the populations studied, the power of this finding is also low. The potential risks for using antimicrobials has yet to be adequately addressed. It has been shown that bacterial resistance can develop when antibiotics are used without specific aim or when a specific bacteria is undertreated. It has been recently shown that prenatal and intrapartum antibiotic use is associated with an increased risk for antibiotic resistant neonatal sepsis if infection occurs. Because of these reasons, we discourage the administration of antibiotic treatment to women in preterm labor for the purpose of pregnancy prolongations. Treatment should be directed towards those with specific indications for treatment (e.g., intrapartum, group B streptococci prophylaxis, urinary tract infection, etc). The primary flaw in these many evaluations of preterm labor is the true incidence of preterm birth. The clinical diagnosis of preterm labor is a difficult one. Approximately one-half of those individuals with preterm contractions will not deliver until term. So, the use of antibiotics for all women in idiopathic preterm labor is destined to treat many women who are unlikely to benefit. If we were able to truly identify those who were in "true" labor, perhaps we could be more selective in determining who may benefit from antibiotics. Biochemical markers such as onco-fetal fibronectin could well-be a helpful marker. Goldberg et al evaluated FFN in vaginal and cervical secretions while attempting to better-predict who would have upper genital tract infection. In this large, multicenter trial, patients were tested for FFN every 2 weeks from 23 to 30 weeks gestation. In those patients who proceeded to deliver before 32 weeks gestation, increased levels of cervical FFN (> 50 ng/ml) were identified in approximately one-quarter. Fetal fibronectin was positive in 4% of their samples and was found to be twice as likely in one with bacterial vaginosis. They showed that the presence of increased FFN was associated with upper genital tract infection (clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis) as a main reason for preterm labor and delivery (increased risk 16-20-fold). Those with increased FFN levels were also shown to have an increased incidence of neonatal sepsis as well. Peaceman et al used FFN to attempt to identify those at risk for preterm delivery among women with contractions between 24 and 34 6/7 weeks gestation. Those with negative FFN were less likely to deliver within 7 days of the test. The negative predictive value was 99.7%, suggesting that this test may be helpful in identifying women who would not benefit from antibiotic treatment. However, if in the absence of prospective clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of this approach, we discourage the use of FFN screening for this indication.
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PMID:Antibiotics and preterm labor. 1110 Feb 98

The relationship between genital tract infection and preterm delivery has been established on the basis of biochemical, microbiological, and clinical evidence. In theory, pathogenic bacteria may ascend from the lower reproductive tract into the uterus, and the resulting inflammation leads to preterm labor, rupture of the membranes, and birth. A growing body of evidence suggests that preterm labor and/rupture of the membranes are triggered by micro-organisms in the genital tract and by the host response to these organisms, ie, elaboration of cytokines and proteolytic enzymes. Epidemiologic and in vitro studies do not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between infection and preterm birth. However, the preponderance of evidence indicates that treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic lower genital tract infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia will lower the risk of preterm delivery. Based on current evidence, pregnant women who note an abnormal vaginal discharge should be tested for BV, trichomonas, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Those who test positive should be treated appropriately. A 3- to 7-day course of antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy is clinically indicated to reduce the risk of pyelonephritis and preterm delivery. Routine screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea should be performed for women at high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. The practice of routine screening for BV in asymptomatic women who are at low risk for preterm delivery cannot be supported based on evidence from the literature. Routine screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy is cost-effective, particularly in high-prevalence populations. The results of antibiotic trials for the treatment of preterm labor have been inconsistent. In the absence of reasonable evidence that antimicrobial therapy leads to significant prolongation of pregnancy in the setting of preterm labor, antibiotics should be used only for protecting the neonate from group B streptococci sepsis. They should not be used for the purpose of prolonging pregnancy. Multiple investigations have shown that, in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes, prophylactic antibiotics are of value in prolonging the latent period between rupture of the membranes and onset of labor and in reducing the incidence of maternal and neonatal infection. The most extensively tested effective antibiotic regimen for prophylaxis involves erythromycin alone or in combination with ampicilln. Controversy still exists regarding the appropriate length and route of antibiotic prophylaxis.
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PMID:Infection, antibiotics, and preterm delivery. 1170 17

Intrauterine infection is a major cause of premature labor with and without intact membranes. Intrauterine infection is present in approximately 25% of all preterm births and the earlier the gestational age at delivery, the higher the frequency of intra-amniotic infection. Microorganisms may also gain access to the fetus before delivery. A fetal inflammatory response syndrome elicited in response to microbial products is associated with the impending onset of preterm labor and also with multi-systemic organ involvement in the human fetus and a higher rate of perinatal morbidity. The most common microorganisms involved in intrauterine infections are Ureaplasma urealyticum, Fusobacterium species and Mycoplasma hominis. The role of Chlamydia trachomatis and viruses in preterm labor remain to be determined. Use of molecular microbiology techniques to diagnose intrauterine infection may uncover the role of fastidious microorganisms that have not yet been discovered. Antibiotic administration to patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of preterm birth. However, such benefit has not been demonstrated for patients with bacterial vaginosis, or women who carry Streptococcus agalactia, Ureaplasma urealyticum or Trichomonas vaginalis. Antibiotic administration to patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with prolongation of pregnancy and a reduction in the rate of clinical chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis. The benefit has not been demonstrated in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. Major efforts are required to determine why some women develop an ascending intrauterine infection and others do not and also what interventions may reduce the deleterious effect of systemic fetal inflammation.
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PMID:Intrauterine infection and prematurity. 1192 80

The influence of glucose metabolism is seen in many infectious diseases, making diabetic patients more vulnerable to sepsis and other serious sequelae of bacterial invasion. Vaginal candidiasis is a common problem if the glycemia is poorly controlled. The level of glucose concentration in the blood after ingestion of sugar seems to explain an increased likelihood of recurrent infection. Specific immune aberrations, such as an elevated T-helper 2 response and a blunted T-helper 1 response, leading to tolerance, may result in chronic recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. In such patients, a low-grade infection with frequent exacerbations is seen, and treatment should be based on 24-hour glycemic control and long intermittent treatment with antifungals. Besides candidiasis, there is also evidence of an increased likelihood of cystitis. Upper urinary tract infections (UTIs) are also a frequent result of bladder colonization. Lethal emphysematous nephritis due to Candida albicans or gas-forming bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, streptococci, or enterococci are known to occur in diabetic patients. Furthermore, UTIs in diabetic patients are difficult to eradicate and need longer and intense antibiotic therapy. Awareness of the increased likelihood of UTIs, frequent screening, and prolonged treatment in case of cystitis are warranted. For the prevention of UTI and bacterial vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis, vaginal atrophy with bacterial colonization, aerobic vaginitis) estrogen therapy may be as important as antibiotic therapy. Catheterization should be limited since it promotes infection more in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients. In the case of recurrent vaginal candidiasis, tight control of glycemia is crucial, in addition to prolonged, intermittent therapy with antifungals.
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PMID:Lower Genital Tract Infections in Diabetic Women. 1243 31

Vaginal infections, during reproductive period are frequent and although not life treating, they can affect their normal functions. They can also affect women's fertility as well as the course of pregnancy. The outcome of pregnancy can be endangered due to the possibility of infection of newborn while passing trough birth canal of the infected mother. As statistically shown, bacterial vaginosis is considerably more often found with the patients having precancerous changes on cervix, or diagnosed cancer of cervix, comparing with women with healthy cervix. It can also cause the appearance of postoperative pelvic cellulitis after hysterectomy. On the other side, the presence of S. agalactiae in vaginal secretion may cause very serious and lethal infections of the newborn such as meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis. As for protozoa T. vaginalis it has been shown that it could cause reduced fertility ability and that during pregnancy it could damage fetal membranes and bring to its premature rupture and premature birth. There is also increased risk of cervix cancer. During reproductive period of women especially if risk factors are existing such as hormone therapy, diabetes mellitus type 1 and applications of wide range antibiotics, vaginal fungal infections caused by Candida can frequently appear. These infection apart from the discomfort like itch and affluent secretion they can also mean diagnostic and therapeutical problem. Regular microbiological test of women are highly recommended during reproductive period as standard for bacterial vaginosis, fungal and trichomonas infections. If those results appear negative, further microbiological tests are necessary. Such tests which are more elaborate, more timely and more expensive are referring to tests on chlamydia, microplasma and some viruses that can also be the cause of vaginal secretion disbalance in women during reproductive period.
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PMID:[Importance of microbiologic examination of vaginal secretions in the reproductive period]. 1522 66

Intrauterine infection induces an intra-amniotic inflammatory response involving the activation of a number of cytokines and chemokines which, in turn, may trigger preterm contractions, cervical ripening and rupture of the membranes. Infection and cytokine-mediated inflammation appear to play a prominent role in preterm birth at early gestations (<30 weeks). The role of infection/inflammation in preterm birth in Europe has been incompletely characterised. The rate of preterm birth in Sweden is lower, and the rate of chorioamnionitis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), neonatal sepsis, and urinary tract infections during pregnancy is lower compared with the USA. In a Swedish population of women with preterm labour or preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) <34 weeks of gestation, microorganisms were detected in the amniotic fluid in 25% of women with PPROM and in 16% of those in preterm labour. Nearly half of these women had intra-amniotic inflammation defined as elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8, and there was a high degree of correlation between cytokine levels and preterm birth or the presence of microbial colonisation. These data do not support the hypothesis that infection-related preterm birth is less frequent in northern Europe than elsewhere. The intra-amniotic inflammatory response has also been associated with white matter injury and cerebral palsy. We find that in experimental models, induction of a systemic inflammatory response using lipopolysaccharide activates toll-like receptors (TLRs), which produce either white matter lesions or increase brain susceptibility to secondary insults. Recently, IL-18 in umbilical blood was shown to correlate with brain injury in preterm infants and IL-18 deficiency in mice decreases CNS vulnerability.
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PMID:Role of cytokines in preterm labour and brain injury. 1571 88

The genital mycoplasmas have been implicated in a number of adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth is an important contributor to perinatal mortality and morbidity. If Mycoplasma hominis plays an integral part in this problem, it is likely to contribute through its involvement with bacterial vaginosis. Ureaplasmas induce cytokines and inflammation, making a casual association compelling. The role of Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma fermentans is less clear, but M. genitalium is potentially pathogenic and should be treated if detected. There is considerable evidence for the role of M. hominis in post-partum and post-abortal sepsis, and for ureaplasmas causing chronic lung disease or death in very low birthweight infants. The role of the genital mycoplasmas in adverse outcomes of pregnancy is complicated by the presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis, and this association requires further research.
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PMID:Mycoplasmas in pregnancy. 2109 27


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