Table of contentsP001 - Sepsis impairs the capillary response within hypoxic capillaries and decreases erythrocyte oxygen-dependent ATP effluxR. M. Bateman, M. D. Sharpe, J. E. Jagger, C. G. EllisP002 - Lower serum immunoglobulin G2 level does not predispose to severe flu.J. Solé-Violán, M. López-Rodríguez, E. Herrera-Ramos, J. Ruíz-Hernández, L. Borderías, J. Horcajada, N. González-Quevedo, O. Rajas, M. Briones, F. Rodríguez de Castro, C. Rodríguez GallegoP003 - Brain protective effects of intravenous immunoglobulin through inhibition of complement activation and apoptosis in a rat model of sepsisF. Esen, G. Orhun, P. Ergin Ozcan, E. Senturk, C. Ugur Yilmaz, N. Orhan, N. Arican, M. Kaya, M. Kucukerden, M. Giris, U. Akcan, S. Bilgic Gazioglu, E. TuzunP004 - Adenosine a1 receptor dysfunction is associated with leukopenia: A possible mechanism for sepsis-induced leukopeniaR. Riff, O. Naamani, A. DouvdevaniP005 - Analysis of neutrophil by hyper spectral imaging - A preliminary reportR. Takegawa, H. Yoshida, T. Hirose, N. Yamamoto, H. Hagiya, M. Ojima, Y. Akeda, O. Tasaki, K. Tomono, T. ShimazuP006 - Chemiluminescent intensity assessed by eaa predicts the incidence of postoperative infectious complications following gastrointestinal surgeryS. Ono, T. Kubo, S. Suda, T. Ueno, T. IkedaP007 - Serial change of c1 inhibitor in patients with sepsis – A prospective observational studyT. Hirose, H. Ogura, H. Takahashi, M. Ojima, J. Kang, Y. Nakamura, T. Kojima, T. ShimazuP008 - Comparison of bacteremia and sepsis on sepsis related biomarkersT. Ikeda, S. Suda, Y. Izutani, T. Ueno, S. OnoP009 - The changes of procalcitonin levels in critical patients with abdominal septic shock during blood purificationT. Taniguchi, M. OP010 - Validation of a new sensitive point of care device for rapid measurement of procalcitoninC. Dinter, J. Lotz, B. Eilers, C. Wissmann, R. LottP011 - Infection biomarkers in primary care patients with acute respiratory tract infections – Comparison of procalcitonin and C-reactive proteinM. M. Meili, P. S. SchuetzP012 - Do we need a lower procalcitonin cut off?H. Hawa, M. Sharshir, M. Aburageila, N. SalahuddinP013 - The predictive role of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin biomarkers in central nervous system infections with extensively drug resistant bacteriaV. Chantziara, S. Georgiou, A. Tsimogianni, P. Alexandropoulos, A. Vassi, F. Lagiou, M. Valta, G. Micha, E. Chinou, G. MichaloudisP014 - Changes in endotoxin activity assay and procalcitonin levels after direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin-b immobilized fiberA. Kodaira, T. Ikeda, S. Ono, T. Ueno, S. Suda, Y. Izutani, H. ImaizumiP015 - Diagnostic usefullness of combination biomarkers on ICU admissionM. V. De la Torre-Prados, A. Garcia-De la Torre, A. Enguix-Armada, A. Puerto-Morlan, V. Perez-Valero, A. Garcia-AlcantaraP016 - Platelet function analysis utilising the PFA-100 does not predict infection, bacteraemia, sepsis or outcome in critically ill patientsN. Bolton, J. Dudziak, S. Bonney, A. Tridente, P. NeeP017 - Extracellular histone H3 levels are in...

Hydrophilic and electrostatic cell surface properties of eight Lactobacillus strains were characterized by using the microbial adhesion to solvents method and microelectrophoresis, respectively. All strains appeared relatively hydrophilic. The strong microbial adhesion to chloroform, an acidic solvent, in comparison with microbial adhesion to hexadecane, an apolar n-alkane, demonstrated the particularity of lactobacilli to have an important electron donor and basic character and consequently their potential ability to generate Lewis acid-base interactions with a support. Regardless of their electrophoretic mobility (EM), strains were in general slightly negatively charged at alkaline pH. A pH-dependent behavior concerning cell surface charges was observed. The EM decreased progressively with more acidic pHs for the L. casei subsp. casei and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei strains until the isoelectric point (IEP), i.e., the pH value for which the EM is zero. On the other hand, the EM for the L. rhamnosus strains was stable from pH 8 to pH 3 to 4, at which point there was a shift near the IEP. Both L. casei subsp. casei and L. paracasei subsp. paracasei strains were characterized by an IEP of around 4, whereas L. rhamnosus strains possessed a markedly lower IEP of 2. The present study showed that the cell surface physicochemical properties of lactobacilli seem to be, at least in part and under certain experimental conditions, particular to the bacterial species. Such differences detected between species are likely to be accompanied by some particular changes in cell wall chemical composition.

While ICU health care workers consistently identify a number of patient factors as important in decisions to withdraw care, there is extreme variability, which may be explained in part by the values of individual health care providers.

The antibacterial activity of nitroxoline (NIT), an antibiotic used in the treatment of acute or recurrent urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli, is decreased in the presence of Mg 2؉ and Mn 2؉ but not Ca 2؉ . In order to elucidate the interaction between this drug and the divalent cations, spectrophotometric studies based on the natural absorption of the nitroxoline moiety were conducted. In the presence of the divalent metal ions, a shift in the NIT A 448 suggested the formation of drug-ion complexes, for which the stability followed the order Mn 2؉ > Mg 2؉ > Ca 2؉. A clear correlation was found between the chelating property and antibacterial activity of NIT; both were pH dependent. A convenient colorimetric method for the determination of NIT uptake by bacterial cells was also developed. Uptake was energy independent and showed biphasic kinetics: a rapid association with cells and then a slower increase in cell-associated NIT which reached a plateau. NIT uptake was reduced in the presence of magnesium. The implications of metal ion complexation and pH on the clinical efficacy of NIT are discussed.Nitroxoline (NIT), or 5-nitro-8-hydroxyquinoline, is an antibiotic which does not belong to any known antimicrobial class. This drug is used in France in the treatment of acute or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) (14, 26) since it shows bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli strains frequently encountered in UTIs. On the other hand, the pharmacokinetics of NIT in plasma and urine are well established (4). NIT also possesses fungistatic activity (11) and bactericidal properties against Mycoplasma spp. (7).Recent studies have shown an inhibition of adherence of uropathogenic E. coli to uroepithelial cells (27) and urinary catheters (8) at sub-MICs of NIT. In order to explain this activity Bourlioux et al. (9) proposed that NIT promotes a disorganization of the bacterial outer membrane resulting from the chelation by NIT of the divalent ions Mg 2ϩ and Ca 2ϩ . The same investigators observed a decrease in the antibacterial activity of NIT on E. coli in the presence of some divalent metal ions (9). It is interesting to note that 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) and its derivatives have been reported to complex with metal ions (23, 37).To acquire further information on the mechanism of action of NIT and the behavior of the molecule toward the bacterial envelope, the interaction between NIT and some divalent metal ions was spectrophotometrically examined by using the absorption properties of the molecule in the visible region. In addition, microbiological investigations were carried out to determine the role of these ions and the pH in the antibacterial activity of NIT. The uptake of NIT by E. coli was also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODSBacterial strains and culture conditions. Three strains of E. coli were studied. Strains J96 and AL46 were isolated from patients with UTIs. J96 is a standard strain, frequently used in bacterial adherence assays, expressing type 1 and P fimbriae (24); the AL...

Three patients with extensive necrotizing pneumonia due to Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains and with aggravating factors (leukopenia count of less than 3 ؋ 10 9 /liter in all three cases and hemoptysis in two cases) were successfully treated with toxin-suppressing agents introduced rapidly after hospital admission. CASE REPORT Patient 1. In December 2007, a 6-month-old boy presented to the emergency department with a 5-day history of a virallike syndrome, including rhinorrhea, fever, and diarrhea. On admission, he had dry cough, moderate dyspnea, altered general status, and sepsis (39.4°C, heart rate of 198 beats per minute [bpm], tachypnea, and marbling). The initial laboratory tests showed a C-reactive protein level of 73.4 mg/liter and a total leukocyte count of 7.3 ϫ 10 9 /liter. Chest radiography revealed a basal left-sided infiltrate without pleural effusion ( Fig. 1). Treatment with ceftriaxone and supportive measures was started, but his respiratory status worsened. Severe hypoxemia was present, with partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) of 3.9 kPa under 3 liters/min of nasal oxygenotherapy. Eight hours after admission, a second chest radiograph revealed extensive bilateral infiltrate and pleural effusion (Fig. 1). He was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with signs of septic shock (oliguria and altered mental status) which improved with fluid resuscitation. Laboratory tests showed lactic acidosis (pH 7.27 and lactic acid at 5.50 mmol/liter), hypoxemia, and leukopenia (1.83 ϫ 10 9 /liter) (Fig. 2). Pleural puncture yielded purulent fluid (40 ml) that tested negative by Gram staining and pneumococcal antigen detection. Staphylococcal necrotizing pneumonia was suspected in view of the rapid clinical deterioration, leukopenia, and negative tests for pneumococci. Vancomycin and clindamycin were added to ceftriaxone 15 h after admission. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in pleural fluid 24 h after admission, and culture yielded a Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain belonging to European clone sequence type 80 (ST80). The strain was susceptible to clindamycin, and the MIC to vancomycin was 1.5 mg/liter. The patient's status gradually improved, despite the need for pleural drainage because of recurrent pleural effusion. He was discharged from the PICU on day 7. Eight days after PICU admission, he remained febrile (39.3°C) and still had respiratory disorders (dyspnea and diminished left vesicular murmur), but the leukocyte count had risen to 32 ϫ 10 9 /liter (Fig. 2). Computed tomography (CT) revealed significant pleural effusion, multiple lung lesions, and pleural abscesses. Pleural decortication was performed. Intraoperative pleural samples were positive for the same strain of PVL-positive MRSA, and antibiotic treatment was switched to rifampin plus clindamycin. The boy was discharged from the hospital on day 28, on a 3-week course of oral antibiotics. Serologic tests and...