A W Friedrich

Publications of A W Friedrich

• Characteristics of hospital patients colonized with livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CC398 versus other MRSA clones.

  Authors: R Köck, K Siam, S Al-Malat, J Christmann, F Schaumburg, K Becker, A W Friedrich

  The Journal of hospital infection. 12/2011; 79(4):292-6.

  Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with the clonal complex (CC) 398 has emerged among livestock and humans exposed to these animals. MRSA CC398 has so far contributedMeticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with the clonal complex (CC) 398 has emerged among livestock and humans exposed to these animals. MRSA CC398 has so far contributed relatively little to spread of MRSA and the burden of disease in the healthcare setting. This study aimed to assess whether demographic and clinical differences in patients colonized with MRSA CC398 and those carrying other MRSA clones contribute to the observed differences in transmission and infection rates. Age, sex, length of stay (LOS), diagnoses and medical procedures were assessed in all patients with MRSA admitted to a university hospital in 2008 and 2009. S. aureus protein A gene (spa) typing was performed on the first MRSA isolate from each patient. Patients colonized or infected with MRSA that had spa types indicative of CC398 (MRSA CC398) were compared with patients who had other MRSA clones (MRSA non-CC398). Age (53 vs 59 years), mean LOS (8 vs 13 days) and percentage of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (12% vs 17%) differed significantly between MRSA CC398 and MRSA non-CC398 patients, respectively. The mean numbers and types of diagnoses and medical procedures performed for patients in these two groups also differed significantly. The differences in patient characteristics could explain, at least in part, the relatively low rates of transmission and infection associated with MRSA CC398 in the healthcare setting.

• Non-return valves do not prevent backflow and bacterial contamination of intravenous infusions.

  Authors: B Ellger, D Kiski, E Diem, I van den Heuvel, H Freise, H Van Aken, F Hinder, A W Friedrich

  The Journal of hospital infection. 03/2011; 78(1):31-5.

  Non-return valves (NRVs) are designed to avoid backflow of infusion fluid against the designated direction of flow (DDF) when more than one infusion is delivered via one venous access. We tested inNon-return valves (NRVs) are designed to avoid backflow of infusion fluid against the designated direction of flow (DDF) when more than one infusion is delivered via one venous access. We tested in vitro whether NRVs reliably prevent flow against the DDF at clinically relevant low flow rates. Since catheter-related infections caused by the infusion of contaminated fluids represent a relevant problem in patient care, we tested whether NRVs preclude bacterial contamination of infusions proximal to the NRVs and thus might play a role in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Additionally, the incidence of bacterial contamination of drips and infusion fluids in our intensive care unit (ICU) was quantified. In vitro, a low flow against the DDF of ten examples each of five different NRV models was applied and the integrity for fluid and transmigration of three different indicator micro-organisms was tested. Second, we investigated whether contamination of intravenous infusion tubing collected from patients treated on our ICU occurred. Largely independent from the model, 40% of the tested NRVs were not leak-tight for fluids when a pressure against the DDF was built up slowly. In 30%, bacteria migrated against the DDF and were detected proximal to the valve. In 6.7% of the tubing samples collected from ICU patients we detected bacterial contamination. In conclusion, contamination of drips is a relevant problem on ICU. NRVs neither reliably prevent backflow of fluids nor serve as micro-organism filters. Therefore they cannot be recommended as a way of reducing healthcare-associated infections.

• Differential cytotoxic actions of Shiga toxin 1 and Shiga toxin 2 on microvascular and macrovascular endothelial cells.

  Authors: Andreas Bauwens, Martina Bielaszewska, Björn Kemper, Patrik Langehanenberg, Gert von Bally, Rudolf Reichelt, Dennis Mulac, Hans-Ulrich Humpf, Alexander W Friedrich, Kwang S Kim, Helge Karch, Johannes Müthing

  Thrombosis and haemostasis. 12/2010; 105(3):515-28.

  Shiga toxin (Stx)-mediated injury to vascular endothelial cells in the kidneys, brain and other organs underlies the pathogenesis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused by enterohaemorrhagicShiga toxin (Stx)-mediated injury to vascular endothelial cells in the kidneys, brain and other organs underlies the pathogenesis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). We present a direct and comprehensive comparison of cellular injury induced by the two major Stx types, Stx1 and Stx2, in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and EA.hy 926 macrovascular endothelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy of microcarrier-based cell cultures, digital holographic microscopy of living single cells, and quantitative apoptosis/necrosis assays demonstrate that Stx1 causes both necrosis and apoptosis, whereas Stx2 induces almost exclusively apoptosis in both cell lines. Moreover, microvascular and macrovascular endothelial cells have different susceptibilities to the toxins: EA.hy 926 cells are slightly, but significantly (∼ 10 times) more susceptible to Stx1, whereas HBMECs are strikingly (≥ 1,000 times) more susceptible to Stx2. These findings have implications in the pathogenesis of HUS, and suggest the existence of yet to be delineated Stx type-specific mechanisms of endothelial cell injury beyond inhibition of protein biosynthesis.

• Semi-selective broth improves screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

  Authors: S Böcher, B Middendorf, H Westh, A Mellmann, K Becker, R Skov, A W Friedrich

  The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. 04/2010; 65(4):717-20.

  To evaluate two enrichment broths for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection and compare results with direct plating. Swabs from 1224 patients were re-analysed for MRSA in aTo evaluate two enrichment broths for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection and compare results with direct plating. Swabs from 1224 patients were re-analysed for MRSA in a central laboratory (Münster) using six methods. Swabs were suspended in 0.5 mL of non-selective enrichment broth (NB) and vortexed. Aliquots of 100 microL were inoculated on/into: (I) ChromID MRSA agar; (II) Columbia sheep blood (5%) agar (BA) and ChromID MRSA; (III, IV) NB incubated overnight followed by plating on BA and ChromID MRSA; and (V, VI) a semi-selective broth containing cefoxitin and aztreonam (TSB-SSI) incubated overnight followed by plating on BA and ChromID MRSA. In III-VI, 100 microL of the enriched broth was plated on each agar. The combined MRSA-positive rate was 21.5%. MRSA isolates detected by each method were: TSB-SSI, n = 223; NB, n = 205; BA and ChromID MRSA, n = 203; ChromID MRSA alone, n = 183. TSB-SSI detected more positive throat samples than the comparators and significantly reduced methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) growth. The maximum sensitivity obtained was only 85%, possibly due to the study design using pre-used swabs and dilution of swab material. For 997 samples, results from Münster were compared with initial results. Peripheral laboratories identified 172 MRSA compared with Münster where 186, 186 and 204 MRSA were found for direct plating, NB and TSB-SSI broth, respectively. TSB-SSI was superior to both NB and direct plating on ChromID MRSA and BA. Despite re-using swabs for the study, we showed that routine diagnostic screening could be significantly improved, using a semi-selective enrichment broth.

• Geographic distribution of Staphylococcus aureus causing invasive infections in Europe: a molecular-epidemiological analysis

  Authors: H. Grundmann, D.M. Aanensen, C.C. van den Wijngaard, B.G. Spratt, D. Harmsen, A.W. Friedrich, European Staphylococcal Reference Laboratory Working Group.

  PLoS.Med. 01/2010; 7.

  BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens and methicillin-resistant variants (MRSAs) are a major cause of hospital and community-acquired infection. We aimed toBACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens and methicillin-resistant variants (MRSAs) are a major cause of hospital and community-acquired infection. We aimed to map the geographic distribution of the dominant clones that cause invasive infections in Europe. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In each country, staphylococcal reference laboratories secured the participation of a sufficient number of hospital laboratories to achieve national geo-demographic representation. Participating laboratories collected successive methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and MRSA isolates from patients with invasive S. aureus infection using an agreed protocol. All isolates were sent to the respective national reference laboratories and characterised by quality-controlled sequence typing of the variable region of the staphylococcal spa gene (spa typing), and data were uploaded to a central database. Relevant genetic and phenotypic information was assembled for interactive interrogation by a purpose-built Web-based mapping application. Between September 2006 and February 2007, 357 laboratories serving 450 hospitals in 26 countries collected 2,890 MSSA and MRSA isolates from patients with invasive S. aureus infection. A wide geographical distribution of spa types was found with some prevalent in all European countries. MSSA were more diverse than MRSA. Genetic diversity of MRSA differed considerably between countries with dominant MRSA spa types forming distinctive geographical clusters. We provide evidence that a network approach consisting of decentralised typing and visualisation of aggregated data using an interactive mapping tool can provide important information on the dynamics of MRSA populations such as early signalling of emerging strains, cross border spread, and importation by travel. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to MSSA, MRSA spa types have a predominantly regional distribution in Europe. This finding is indicative of the selection and spread of a limited number of clones within health care networks, suggesting that control efforts aimed at interrupting the spread within and between health care institutions may not only be feasible but ultimately successful and should therefore be strongly encouraged

• [EUREGIO MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland: "search & follow" by Euregional network building]

  Authors: A W Friedrich

  Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Ärzte des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)). 11/2009; 71(11):766-70.

  Staphylococcus aureus causes the majority of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Particularly critical are infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for whichStaphylococcus aureus causes the majority of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. Particularly critical are infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for which there are few possibilities of antibiotic therapy. It is known that the occurrence of MRSA is directly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. There is also evidence for an increased lethality in hospital-acquired MRSA infections and MRSA bacteraemia in comparison to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Besides prolonged and severe disease conditions, the occurrence of MRSA results is extremely laborious and has for the hospitals very expensive consequences, in extreme cases the closure of an entire ward. Nosocomial infections due to MRSA lead to a significantly prolonged length of stay of the patient and leads therefore to extra costs due to recommended hygiene measures (e. g. isolation in a single room). The long-term treatment options can have side effects and are often limited to expensive antibiotics. The growing number of patients treated with severe underlying diseases and the increasing number of expensive medical treatments leads to a further exacerbation of this situation. In times of limited financial resources, this might lead to irresolvable conflicts between the patient safety required and the health funding available.

• Cross-border comparison of the admission prevalence and clonal structure of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

  Authors: R Köck, L Brakensiek, A Mellmann, F Kipp, M Henderikx, D Harmsen, I Daniels-Haardt, C von Eiff, K Becker, M G R Hendrix, A W Friedrich

  The Journal of hospital infection. 02/2009;

  Since patient exchange between hospitals sharing a common catchment area might favour regional spread of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the reliable detection of patientsSince patient exchange between hospitals sharing a common catchment area might favour regional spread of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the reliable detection of patients colonised at admission is crucial. This, hospitals in the Dutch-German border area EUREGIO MRSA-net aim at synchronising their local MRSA standards in order to prevent unidentified inter-hospital as well as cross-border spread. This assumes enhanced knowledge of MRSA prevalence and risk factors associated with MRSA carriage at admission. We conducted nasal MRSA screening of all inpatients admitted to 39 German hospitals (in the period 1 November to 30 November 2006) and to one Dutch hospital (in the period 1 July to 30 September 2007) in the EUREGIO MRSA-net. A total of 390 MRSA cases were detected among 25 540 patients screened. The admission prevalence was 1.6 MRSA/100 patients (6.5% of all S. aureus) in the German and 0.5 MRSA/100 patients (1.4% of all S. aureus) in the Dutch part of the border region. Overall, the predominating S. aureus protein A gene (spa) sequence types were t003, t032 and t011. One isolate (t044) carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) encoding genes. Altogether, 79% and 67% of all MRSA patients in the German and Dutch regions respectively, were identifiable by the classical nosocomial risk factors assessed. In patients lacking all risk factors assessed, spa types t011 and t034 were predominant (P<0.001).

• EUREGIO MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland--a Dutch-German cross-border network for the prevention and control of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

  Authors: A W Friedrich, I Daniels-Haardt, R Köck, F Verhoeven, A Mellmann, D Harmsen, J. E. van Gemert-Pijnen, K Becker, M G R Hendrix

  Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. 09/2008; 13(35).

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Community-acquired (CA)-MRSA are a growingMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Community-acquired (CA)-MRSA are a growing concern worldwide. In the last 10 years, an increase in the MRSA rate from 2% to approximately 23% has been observed in Germany, while a rate under 5% has been recorded for many years in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In the Netherlands in particular, MRSA rates have become very low in stationary care due to a consistent 'search and destroy' policy. The main focus in Germany lies on hospital-acquired MRSA, whereas the Netherlands focus on the control of the importation of MRSA cases from abroad and on CA-MRSA. As MRSA in hospitals and in the community can be a problem in cross-border health care, the European Union-funded EUREGIO MRSA-net project was established in the bordering regions Twente/Achterhoek, the Netherlands and Münsterland, Germany. The main aim of the project is the creation of a network of the major health care providers in the EUREGIO and the surveillance and prevention of MRSA infections. A spa-typing network was established in order to understand the regional and cross-border dissemination of epidemic and potentially highly virulent MRSA genotypes. As the reduction of differences in health care quality is an important prerequisite for cross-border health care, a transborder quality group comprising hospitals, general practitioners, public health authorities, laboratories, and insurerance companies has been established since 2005 equalising the quality criteria for the control of MRSA on both sides of the border.

• A European laboratory network for sequence-based typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a communication platform between human and veterinary medicine--an update on SeqNet.org.

  Authors: A W Friedrich, W Witte, H de Lencastre, W Hryniewicz, J Scheres, H Westh

  Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. 06/2008; 13(19).

• Faecal S100A12 as a non-invasive marker distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease from irritable bowel syndrome.

  Authors: T Kaiser, J Langhorst, H Wittkowski, K Becker, A W Friedrich, A Rueffer, G J Dobos, J Roth, D Foell

  Gut. 12/2007; 56(12):1706-13.

  OBJECTIVE: S100A12 is a pro-inflammatory protein that is secreted by granulocytes. S100A12 serum levels increase during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed the first study analysing faecalOBJECTIVE: S100A12 is a pro-inflammatory protein that is secreted by granulocytes. S100A12 serum levels increase during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed the first study analysing faecal S100A12 in adults with signs of intestinal inflammation. METHODS: Faecal S100A12 was determined by ELISA in faecal specimens of 171 consecutive patients and 24 healthy controls. Patients either suffered from infectious gastroenteritis confirmed by stool analysis (65 bacterial, 23 viral) or underwent endoscopic and histological investigation (32 with Crohn's disease, 27 with ulcerative colitis, and 24 with irritable bowel syndrome; IBS). Intestinal S100A12 expression was analysed in biopsies obtained from all patients. Faecal calprotectin was used as an additional non-invasive surrogate marker. RESULTS: Faecal S100A12 was significantly higher in patients with active IBD (2.45 +/- 1.15 mg/kg) compared with healthy controls (0.006 +/- 0.03 mg/kg; p<0.001) or patients with IBS (0.05 +/- 0.11 mg/kg; p<0.001). Faecal S100A12 distinguished active IBD from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100%. We also found excellent sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 96% for distinguishing IBD from IBS. Faecal S100A12 was also elevated in bacterial enteritis but not in viral gastroenteritis. Faecal S100A12 correlated better with intestinal inflammation than faecal calprotectin or other biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal S100A12 is a novel non-invasive marker distinguishing IBD from IBS or healthy individuals with a high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, S100A12 reflects inflammatory activity of chronic IBD. As a marker for neutrophil activation, faecal S100A12 may significantly improve our arsenal of non-invasive biomarkers of intestinal inflammation.

• The molecular evolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

  Authors: R H Deurenberg, C Vink, S Kalenic, A W Friedrich, C A Bruggeman, E E Stobberingh

  Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 03/2007; 13(3):222-35.

  Staphylococcus aureus is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that causes a broad spectrum of diseases. S. aureus can adapt rapidly to the selective pressure of antibiotics, and this has resulted inStaphylococcus aureus is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that causes a broad spectrum of diseases. S. aureus can adapt rapidly to the selective pressure of antibiotics, and this has resulted in the emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Resistance to methicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics is caused by the mecA gene, which is situated on a mobile genetic element, the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec). To date, five SCCmec types (I-V) have been distinguished, and several variants of these SCCmec types have been described. All SCCmec elements carry genes for resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, as well as genes for the regulation of expression of mecA. Additionally, SCCmec types II and III carry non-beta-lactam antibiotic resistance genes on integrated plasmids and a transposon. The epidemiology of MRSA has been investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing and SCCmec typing. Numerous MRSA clones have emerged and disseminated worldwide. SCCmec has been acquired on at least 20 occasions by different lineages of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Although most MRSA strains are hospital-acquired (HA-MRSA), community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains have now been recognised. CA-MRSA is both phenotypically and genotypically different from HA-MRSA. CA-MRSA harbours SCCmec types IV or V, and is associated with the genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin. The prevalence of MRSA ranges from 0.6% in The Netherlands to 66.8% in Japan. This review describes the latest developments in knowledge concerning the structure of SCCmec, the molecular evolution of MRSA, the methods used to investigate the epidemiology of MRSA, and the risk-factors associated with CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA.

• [EUREGIO-projekt MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland. Creation of a regional network to combat MRSA]

  Authors: I Daniels-Haardt, F Verhoeven, A Mellmann, M G R Hendrix, J E C Gemert-Pijnen, A W Friedrich

  Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Ärzte des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)). 12/2006; 68(11):674-8.

  Over the last years, Germany has observed an increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) in all S. aureus isolates from 2 % to about 25 % whereas in The Netherlands thisOver the last years, Germany has observed an increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) in all S. aureus isolates from 2 % to about 25 % whereas in The Netherlands this proportion has continuously been kept below 1 % thanks to a consistent "search & destroy" policy. Both countries increasingly register so-called community-acquired (CA) MRSA which are a threat also to the healthy population without any known risk factor for MRSA carriership. The EUREGIO project "MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland" has made it its main goal to set up a German-Dutch network serving as a basis for a quality association which includes all those who are actively involved in health care provision on both sides of the border and to implement a coordinated strategy for MRSA control and prevention. The project is being carried out with the financial support of the European Union under the INTERREG-IIIA Community initiative and of the Ministry of Economics of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The epidemiological backbone of the MRSA-net is a genetic-based MRSA typing strategy (spa-typing) which has been developed by the Institute for Hygiene, University Hospital, Münster and which allows regional and cross-border comparability of laboratory results. The Faculty of Behavioural Sciences of the University of Twente examines MRSA hygiene protocols with regard to their acceptability and realisability with the intention of developing user-friendly, target group-oriented MRSA protocols for the EUREGIO. The health departments involved in the project play a central role in the coordination of the network partners in the municipalities. By performing their function of surveillance in accordance with Sections 23 and 36 of the Infectious Disease Control Act they provide an important contribution to enhancing MRSA control and prevention strategies. Thanks to its cross-border cooperation and exchange of knowledge and technology the EUREGIO project "MRSA-net" contributes to controlling the proliferation of MRSA in the EUREGIO and thus to removing obstacles to the free cross-border movement of patients and personnel.

• Assignment of Staphylococcus isolates to groups by spa typing, SmaI macrorestriction analysis, and multilocus sequence typing.

  Authors: B Strommenger, C Kettlitz, T Weniger, D Harmsen, A W Friedrich, W Witte

  Journal of clinical microbiology. 08/2006; 44(7):2533-40.

  The implementation of the new clustering algorithm Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) into the Ridom StaphType software tool enables clustering based on spa typing data for Staphylococcus aureus. WeThe implementation of the new clustering algorithm Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) into the Ridom StaphType software tool enables clustering based on spa typing data for Staphylococcus aureus. We compared clustering results obtained by spa typing/BURP to those obtained by currently well-established methods, i.e., SmaI macrorestriction analysis and multilocus sequence typing/eBURST. A total of 99 clinical S. aureus strains, including MRSA and representing major clonal lineages associated with important kinds of infections which have been prevalent in Germany and Central Europe during the last 10 years, were used for comparison. SmaI macrorestriction analysis revealed the highest discriminatory power, and clustering results for all three methods resulted in concordance values ranging from 96.8% between the two sequence-based methods to 93.4% between spa typing/BURP and SmaI macrorestriction/cluster analysis. The results of this study indicate that spa typing, together with BURP clustering, is a useful tool in S. aureus epidemiology, especially because of ease of use and the advantages of unambiguous sequence analysis as well as reproducibility and exchange of typing data.

• Urease genes in non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: mostly silent but valuable markers for pathogenicity.

  Authors: A W Friedrich, R Lukas, A Mellmann, R Köck, W Zhang, W Mathys, M Bielaszewska, H Karch

  Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 06/2006; 12(5):483-6.

  The distribution of ureC was investigated among 294 Escherichia coli isolates, comprising 72 strains from the E. coli standard reference collection (ECOR), 62 strains from the diarrhoeagenic E. coliThe distribution of ureC was investigated among 294 Escherichia coli isolates, comprising 72 strains from the E. coli standard reference collection (ECOR), 62 strains from the diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) collection, and 160 clinical isolates of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The ureC gene was more frequent among STEC isolates harbouring eae than among those lacking eae (p < 0.0001). All clinical STEC isolates of serogroups O111 and O145 contained ureC, but only two of 294 isolates expressed urease activity. The silencing of urease expression could not be linked to a stop codon in ureD. The frequent occurrence of ure genes in eae-positive STEC isolates makes them valuable markers for virulence.

• SeqNet.org: a European laboratory network for sequence-based typing of microbial pathogens.

  Authors: A W Friedrich, W Witte, D Harmsen, H de Lencastre, W Hryniewicz, J Scheres, H Westh

  Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. 02/2006; 11(1):E060112.4.

• New strains of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin causing an outbreak of severe soft tissue infection in a football team.

  Authors: M Müller-Premru, B Strommenger, N Alikadic, W Witte, A W Friedrich, K Seme, N Svent Kucina, D Smrke, V Spik, M Gubina

  European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology. 01/2006; 24(12):848-50.

• [Evidence-based infection control methods using spa genotyping for MRSA spread in hospitals]

  Authors: A Mellmann, A W Friedrich, F Kipp, F Hinder, U Keckevoet, D Harmsen

  Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). 07/2005; 130(22):1364-8.

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Isolation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) often implies rigorous infection control measures. The use of rapid and accurate typing is required toBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Isolation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) often implies rigorous infection control measures. The use of rapid and accurate typing is required to monitor their spread. Prompt identification of epidemic MRSA is crucial to control an outbreak, in order to avoid unnecessary interventions in patients and staff. In this study we evaluated protein A ( spa) gene repeat sequence analysis for MRSA typing in a hospital. METHODS: In 2003, all non-replicate MRSA-strains from staff and patients admitted to the University Hospital Münster (1480 beds), Germany, were spa typed. The spa types were assigned using the Ridom StaphType software. Typing results were correlated with the epidemiological findings of each MRSA isolate. RESULTS: Assignment of spa types was possible for all 175 MRSA isolates and provided rapid (mean, 2 days) typing results. spa typing method yielded 34 spa types. Synchronizing the sequencing results with a central database (http://www.spaServer.ridom.de) created a reproducible and uniform nomenclature for easy intra- and inter-hospital comparisons. CONCLUSION: spa typing makes continuous and fast MRSA typing possible for hospital isolates. The differentiation between outbreaks and accidental accumulations due to imported MRSA was easily possible and allowed implementation of focused and evidence-based infection control measures.

• Characterization of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from humans in Austria: phenotypes, toxin gene types and epidemiology.

  Authors: M Wagner, F Allerberger, M Manafi, G Lindner, A W Friedrich, A-K Sonntag, H Foissy

  Journal of veterinary medicine. B, Infectious diseases and veterinary public health. 09/2004; 51(6):288-92.

  One hundred and ten clinical Escherichia coli isolates of serovar O157 (n = 102) and O26 (n = 8) were characterized for the presence of putative virulence genes by PCR. All but one of these isolatesOne hundred and ten clinical Escherichia coli isolates of serovar O157 (n = 102) and O26 (n = 8) were characterized for the presence of putative virulence genes by PCR. All but one of these isolates contained the eae gene. The EHEC-hly gene could be detected in all E. coli O157 and in 50% of E. coli O26 isolates. Forty-five (40.9%) of the 110 E. coli were positive for both stx(1) and stx(2) genes, 2 (1.8%) isolates were positive for stx(1) and 57 isolates (51.8%) were positive for stx(2) only. Among the 102 stx(2) positive isolates, 14 (13.7%) E. coli O157 contained also the stx(2c) variant gene. No other stx(2) variant was identified. Six clinical isolates (five E. coli O157:H7 and one E. coli O26) did not contain stx genes. Ten non-pathogenic E. coli isolates which were amplified as controls didn't contain any stx and eae gene but two of the ten strains contained the EHEC-hly gene. By their growth on chromogenic media, all but two of 50 E. coli O157 could be differentiated from eight E. coli O26 and 10 non-pathogenic E. coli. Sixty-one of the O157:H7 isolates were further subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) which identified 49 distinguishable patterns. In five cases where contact infection among family members was suspected, indistinguishable PFGE patterns confirmed the epidemiological relatedness of the isolates. Moreover, two PFGE clusters were identified which comprised five and three strains, respectively. These findings indicate the occurrence of both family and diffuse outbreaks of E. coli O157 infections in Austria during recent years and demonstrate the need for molecular subtyping of these pathogens.

• Escherichia coli O157 infections and unpasteurised milk.

  Authors: F Allerberger, M Wagner, P Schweiger, H P Rammer, A Resch, M P Dierich, A W Friedrich, H Karch

  Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. 11/2001; 6(10):147-51.

  We report on two children with Escherichia coli O157 infection, one of whom developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Both had drunk raw cows or goats milk in the week before their illness.We report on two children with Escherichia coli O157 infection, one of whom developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Both had drunk raw cows or goats milk in the week before their illness. Molecular subtyping identified a sorbitol fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H isolate from a dairy cow. This isolate differed from Shiga toxin producing O157:H strains isolated from the 6 year old boy with HUS. This result underlines the need to search for other causes of infection, despite documented consumption of unpasteurised milk. In the second patient, human sorbitol non-fermenting O157:H isolates and animal isolates from goats were indistinguishable. The isolation of indistinguishable sorbitol non-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H from contact animals supports the association between HUS and consumption of raw goats milk, and re-emphasises the importance of pasteurising milk.

• [What should be used for salmonella and company? Antibiotic therapy for bacterial diarrhea]

  Authors: A Janka, A W Friedrich, H Karch

  Pharmazie in unserer Zeit. 02/2001; 30(5):406-10.