BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the differences in the cervical load and prevalence of Lactobacillus crispatus DNA, Lactobacillus iners DNA, Gardnerella vaginalis DNA, Sneathia sanguinegens DNA, and Ureaplasma species DNA between pregnant women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) with and without a history of cervical excisional treatment. We also assessed the changes in the cervical load and prevalence of L. crispatus DNA, L. iners DNA, G. vaginalis DNA, S. sanguinegens DNA, and U. spp DNA. according to the cone length. METHODS: This retrospective study included 132 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM. For all women, information about the cervical loads of bacterial DNA corresponding to L. crispatus, L. iners, G. vaginalis, S. sanguinegens, and U. spp., which was assessed using PCR, was available. RESULTS: Women with a history of cervical excisional treatment had a higher cervical load of L. iners DNA (4.4 × 106 copies DNA/mL vs. 3.5 × 105 copies DNA/mL, p = .04) and a higher load and prevalence of U. spp. DNA (1.1 × 105 copies DNA/mL vs. 9.6 × 104 copies DNA/mL, p = .03; 2.7% vs. 0.5%, p = .04) than those without a history of cervical excisional treatment. In the subset of women with a history of cervical excisional treatment, those with a cone length 18 mm and more had a lower relative abundance of L. crispatus DNA (6% vs. 89%, p = .02), a higher load and relative abundance of L. iners DNA (1.1 × 107 copies DNA/mL vs. 8.2 × 105 copies DNA/mL, p = .04; 91% vs. 35%, p = .04), and higher loads of G. vaginalis DNA (7.6 × 104 copies DNA/mL vs. 3.2 × 102 copies DNA/mL, p = .02) than those with cone length < 18 mm. CONCLUSIONS: A history of cervical excisional treatment was associated with alterations in the cervical microbiota composition in pregnant women with PPROM.

• MeSH
• cervix uteri * mikrobiologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• DNA bakterií analýza   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• Gardnerella vaginalis izolace a purifikace   genetika   MeSH
• Lactobacillus izolace a purifikace   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiota MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * mikrobiologie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Ureaplasma izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the relative counts of different leukocyte subsets in peripheral and umbilical cord blood in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) with respect to the presence of intraamniotic inflammation (IAI) and fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). METHODS: Fifty-two women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM were included in this study. From samples of peripheral and umbilical cord blood, relative counts of these leukocyte subpopulations were determined using multicolor flow cytometry: granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, T cells and their subpopulations, B cells and their subpopulations, and NK cells and their subpopulations. IAI was defined as increased concentrations of interleukin 6 in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis. RESULTS: Women with IAI had higher relative counts of monocytes (p = 0.04) in peripheral blood. There was an increased relative number of granulocytes (p = 0.003) and a decreased number of lymphocytes (p = 0.0048), helper CD4+ T cells (p = 0.019), NK cells (p = 0.0001) within leukocytes, NK cells within lymphocytes (p = 0.003) and CD16+ NK cells within NK cells (p = 0.005) in umbilical cord blood samples of women with FIRS. However, after adjusting the results for gestational age at sampling, all differences disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of IAI or FIRS is not accompanied by significant changes in the relative counts of immune cells in peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood in pregnancies complicated by PPROM.

• MeSH
• chorioamnionitida imunologie   krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fetální krev * imunologie   cytologie   MeSH
• interleukin-6 krev   metabolismus   MeSH
• leukocyty imunologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plodová voda imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• počet leukocytů MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * imunologie   krev   MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie MeSH
• syndrom systémové zánětlivé reakce imunologie   krev   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zánět imunologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The main aim of this study was to determine expanded sequence types (eSTs) of Ureaplasma species (U. spp.). DNA isolated from the amniotic fluid of pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) using an expanded multilocus sequence typing scheme. Additionally, the study sought to examine whether phylogenetic subgroups of U. spp. DNA differ with respect to maternal demographic and clinical parameters and selected aspects of short-term neonatal morbidity. This retrospective cohort study was focused on singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM occurring between the gestational ages of 24+0 and 36+6 weeks, where amniocentesis was conducted to assess the intra-amniotic environment and the presence of U. spp. DNA in the amniotic fluid samples was confirmed. The stored aliquots of U. spp. DNA were used to assess differences in nucleotide sequences in six U. spp. genes (ftsH, rpL22, valS, thrS,ureG, and mba-np1) using the eMLST scheme. The expanded multilocus sequence typing scheme was performed in 73 samples of U. spp. DNA isolated from pregnancies complicated by PPROM. In total, 33 different U. spp. DNA eSTs were revealed, 21 (#20, 233-244, 248-251, 253, 255, 259, and 262) of which were novel. The most frequently identified eST was #41, identified in 18% (13/73) of the aliquots. Based on their genetic relationships, the U. spp. DNA was divided into two clusters and four subgroups [cluster I (U. parvum): A, 43% (n = 31); B, 15% (n = 11); and C, 26% (n = 19); cluster II (U. urealyticum): 1; 16% (n = 12)]. Cluster II had a higher rate of polymicrobial findings than cluster I (58% vs 16%; p = 0.005), while subgroup A had the highest rate of concomitant Mycoplasma hominis in the amniotic fluid samples (66%; p = 0.04). In conclusion, Ureaplasma spp. DNA obtained from PPROM consisted of 33 different eSTs of U. spp. DNA. No differences in maternal and neonatal characteristics were found among the phylogenetical subgroups of U. spp. DNA, except for a higher rate of polymicrobial amniotic fluid findings in those with U. urealyticumand the concomitant presence of M. hominis in the amniotic fluid in those with the presence of U. parvum.

• MeSH
• DNA bakterií analýza   genetika   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• gestační stáří MeSH
• infekční komplikace v těhotenství mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• multilokusová sekvenční typizace * MeSH
• plodová voda * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Ureaplasma * genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• ureaplasmatické infekce * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess variations in the absolute counts of various leukocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of women with pregnancies affected by preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM), in relation to the presence of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI). METHODS: The study included fifty-two women with singleton pregnancies experiencing PPROM. Absolute counts of different leukocyte subpopulations, such as granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, T cells and their subsets, B cells and their subsets, and NK cells and their subsets, were measured in maternal peripheral blood samples using multicolour flow cytometry. IAI was identified by elevated concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the amniotic fluid, which was collected through transabdominal amniocentesis. RESULTS: Women with IAI exhibited higher absolute counts of leukocytes (p = 0.003), granulocytes (p = 0.008), and monocytes (p = 0.009). However, the presence of IAI did not significantly affect the absolute counts of lymphocytes or their subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that IAI is associated with changes in the absolute counts of leukocytes from the innate immunity compartment in the peripheral blood of women with pregnancies complicated by PPROM. Conversely, it does not significantly alter the counts of cells from the adaptive immune system. The changes observed may reflect the natural, temporal, and localised characteristics of IAI.

• MeSH
• amniocentéza MeSH
• chorioamnionitida * krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• interleukin-6 krev   analýza   MeSH
• leukocyty MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plodová voda cytologie   MeSH
• počet leukocytů MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * krev   MeSH
• přirozená imunita MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate CD36 concentrations in amniotic fluid in pregnancies complicated by spontaneous delivery with intact fetal membranes (preterm labor, PTL) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) with respect to the presence of the intra-amniotic infection. METHODS: A total of 80 women with PPROM and 71 with PTL were included in the study. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid CD36 concentrations were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Microbial colonization of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) was determined by the cultivation and non-cultivation approach. Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) was defined as an amniotic fluid bedside interleukin-6 concentration ≥3000 pg/mL. Intra-amniotic infection was characterized by the presence of both MIAC and IAI. RESULTS: Women with PPROM with intra-amniotic infection had higher amniotic fluid CD36 concentrations than women without infection (with infection: median 346 pg/mL, IQR 262-384 vs. without infection: median 242 pg/mL, IQR 199-304; p = .006) A positive correlation between amniotic fluid CD36 concentrations and interleukin-6 concentrations was found (rho = 0.48; p < .0001). In PTL pregnancies, no statistically significant difference was found in the amniotic fluid level of CD36 between intra-amniotic infection, sterile IAI, and negative amniotic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of intra-amniotic infection is characterized by higher amniotic fluid CD36 concentrations in pregnancies complicated by PPROM. An amniotic fluid CD36 cutoff value of 252.5 pg/mL was found to be optimal for the prediction of intra-amniotic infection. In PTL pregnancies, no statistically significant change in CD36 concentration was found with respect to the presence of intra-amniotic infection.

• MeSH
• chorioamnionitida * MeSH
• gestační stáří MeSH
• interleukin-6 MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• plodová voda MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * etiologie   MeSH
• předčasný porod * MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zánět komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Mycobacterium chelonae, a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, is usually described as a causative agent of soft tissue infections (postsurgical, posttraumatic, posttransplantation, postinjection, catheter infection, etc.), but only rarely as a cause of osteomyelitis. The authors describe a case report of a 72-year-old man with osteomyelitis of the talus. Initially, the infection was assessed as a soft tissue infection, without any osteolytic changes on the X-ray. After cultivation with subsequent targeted molecular typing of the rpoB gene, M. chelonae was identified from the affected tissue. The bone involvement was subsequently detected on MRI and confirmed histologically with findings of the granulomatous tissue and acid-fast bacilli. The patient was initially treated intravenously with a combination of tigecycline, amikacin, and moxifloxacin for 4 weeks, after which the oral combination of doxycycline and moxifloxacin continued. Identification of the infecting pathogen using molecular typing thus helped to establish the correct diagnosis and represents a rarely described case of osteomyelitis caused by M. chelonae.

• Publikační typ
• kazuistiky MeSH

Cíl: Stanovit hladiny solubilní formy CD93 (sCD93) v plodové vodě u pacientek s předčasným odtokem plodové vody (PPROM – preterm prelabor rupture of membranes) s ohledem na přítomnost mikrobiální invaze do amniální dutiny (MIAC – microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity) a/nebo intraamniálního zánětu. Metody: Do studie bylo zahrnuto celkem144 žen s jednočetným těhotenstvím komplikovaným PPROM. Plodová voda byla získána amniocentézou. MIAC byla stanovena kultivačními a nekultivačními technikami. Intraamniální zánět byl stanoven hladinou interleukinu 6 ≥ 3 000 pg/ml v plodové vodě. Ženy byly rozděleny do následujících skupin: i) intraamniální infekce, ii) sterilní intraamniální zánět, iii) kolonizace a iv) negativní plodová voda. Hladiny sCD93 v plodové vodě byly stanoveny pomocí testu ELISA. Výsledky: Hladiny sCD93 v plodové vodě se lišily mezi skupinami žen s PPROM s intraamniální infekcí, sterilním intraamniálním zánětem, kolonizací a negativní plodovou vodou (intraamniální infekce: medián 22,3 ng/ml, sterilní intraamniální zánět: medián 21,0 ng/ml, kolonizace amniové dutiny: 8,7 ng/ml, negativní plodová voda: medián 8,7 ng/ml; p < 0,0001). Závěr: Intraamniální zánět u PPROM, bez ohledu na přítomnost, či chybení MIAC, je spojen se zvýšením hladin sCD93 v plodové vodě.

Objective: To determine the soluble form of CD93 (sCD93) concentration in amniotic fluid from pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) based on the presence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or intra-amniotic inflammation. Methods: A total of 144 women with a singleton pregnancy complicated by PPROM were included in this study. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis. MIAC was determined by the combination of cultivation and non-cultivation techniques. Intra-amniotic inflammation was characterized as a concentration of interleukin-6 ≥ 3,000 pg/mL in amniotic fluid. Women were categorized in the following groups: i) intra-amniotic infection (both MIAC and intra-amniotic inflammation), ii) sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (intra-amniotic inflammation per se), iii) colonization of the amniotic cavity (MIAC per se), and iv) negative amniotic fluid (without both MIAC and intra-amniotic inflammation). Levels of sCD93 in amniotic fluid were assessed by ELISA. Results: A difference in the levels of sCD93 in amniotic fluid was found among the groups of women with intra-amniotic infection, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, colonization of the amniotic cavity, and negative amniotic fluid (intra-amniotic infection: median 22.3 ng/mL, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation: median 21.0 ng/mL, colonization of the amniotic cavity: 8.7 ng/mL, negative: median 8.7 ng/mL; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Intra-amniotic inflammation in PPROM, irrespectively of the presence or absence of MIAC, is associated with the elevation of the level of sCD93 in amniotic fluid.

• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• chorioamnionitida etiologie   MeSH
• extraembryonální obaly chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• plodová voda MeSH
• předčasný odtok plodové vody * MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zánět komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH

Although Francisella (F.) tularensis is a well-described and understood zoonotic pathogen, its importance in Central Europe is relatively minor and, as such, tularaemia may be missed in the differential diagnosis. The annual incidence of tularaemia in the Czech Republic is relatively stable with up to 100 reported cases per year, except in the epidemic years 1998 and 1999 with 225 and 222 reported cases, respectively. It is, however, higher in comparison with the neighbouring countries. The common route of transmission in Central Europe is handling infected animals. Tularaemia is not commonly recognized as a tick-borne disease. Here we report two rare cases of a tick bite-associated ulceroglandular form of tularaemia in 2.5-year-old and 6.5-year-old children presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy. The unusual and interesting features of those cases are the young age and relatively uncommon route of transmission suggesting possible changes in the epidemiology of tularaemia in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the infection with F. tularensis should be considered in the differential diagnosis after a tick bite even in infants.

• MeSH
• Francisella tularensis * MeSH
• kousnutí klíštětem * komplikace   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfadenopatie * MeSH
• nemoci přenášené klíšťaty * epidemiologie   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• tularemie * epidemiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between newborn birth weight and the presence of intra-amniotic infection, presence of sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and absence of intra-amniotic inflammation in pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: A total of 69 pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes between gestational ages 22 + 0 and 34 + 6 weeks who delivered within seven days of admission were included in this retrospective cohort study. Transabdominal amniocentesis to determine the presence of microorganisms and/or their nucleic acids in amniotic fluid (through culturing and molecular biology methods) and intra-amniotic inflammation (according to amniotic fluid interleukin-6 concentrations) were performed as part of standard clinical management. The participants were further divided into three subgroups: intra-amniotic infection (presence of microorganisms and/or nucleic acids along with intra-amniotic inflammation), sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (intra-amniotic inflammation alone), and without intra-amniotic inflammation. Birth weights of newborns were expressed as percentiles derived from the INTERGROWTH-21st standards for (i) estimated fetal weight and (ii) newborn birth weight. RESULTS: No difference in birth weights, expressed as percentiles derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight, was found among the women with intra-amniotic infection, with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and without intra-amniotic inflammation (with infection, median 29; with sterile inflammation, median 54; without inflammation, median 53; p = 0.06). Differences among the subgroups were identified in the birth weight rates, expressed as percentiles derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight, which were less than the 10th percentile (with infection: 20%, with inflammation: 13%, without inflammation: 0%; p = 0.04) and 25th percentile (with infection: 47%, with inflammation: 31%, without inflammation: 9%; p = 0.01). No differences among the subgroups were observed when percentiles of birth weight were derived from the birth weight standard. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of intra-amniotic inflammatory complications in pregnancies with preterm labor with intact membranes prior to the gestational age of 35 weeks was associated with a higher rate of newborns with birth weight less than the 10th and 25th percentile, when percentiles of birth weight were derived from the standard for estimated fetal weight.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Infections caused by Mycobacterium setense or Clostridium celerecrescens are extremely rare. In this report, for the first time a dual infection with these two pathogens is described. An 18-year-old female suffered multiple injuries, including an open comminuted fracture of the right humeral diaphysis after falling from a fifth-floor balcony in January 2019. Five months after the accident, a fistula appeared in the scar, reaching the bone tissue. M. setense and C. celerecrescens were cultured from sinus swabs and subsequently from perioperative samples. The patient was initially treated with a combination of intravenous antibiotics (ATBs): imipenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. One month after the fracture fixation with a titanium nail, C. celerecrescens was again detected; therefore, metronidazole was added to the therapy. A triple combination of oral (PO) ATBs (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, moxifloxacin, and metronidazole) followed, 8 weeks after the initial intravenous therapy. C. celerecrescens was cultured again two times, most recently in November 2019, when surgical debridement was supplemented by the topical administration of cancellous bone impregnated with vancomycin. Signs of bone healing were found at follow-ups and ATB treatment was finished in March 2020 after a total of 9 months of therapy. To this day, there have been no signs of reinfection. This case thus illustrates the need for a combination of systemic and individualized local therapy in the treatment of complicated cases of dual infections with rare pathogens.

• Publikační typ
• kazuistiky MeSH