laminaran and Bacteremia

The value of (1 → 3)-beta-D-glucans (BG) and galactomannan (GM) assays on diagnostic invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has been observed in adult ICU and in children with hematological malignancies. Only scant data evaluated non-hematological in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Here, we retrospectively analyzed the role of bacterial infection to the reactivity of BG and GM assays in PICU. The results showed that the overall prevalence of bacteremia was 13.8% (65/470). The most common underlying disease was pneumonia (81.8%), followed by congenital heart disease (43.2%). The median levels of GM and range for each group [A: without bacterial infection nor IFIs (n = 151); B, patients with bacterial infection (n = 36); C, patients with bacterial infection and IFIs (n = 8)] were, respectively: 0.14 (0.01-1.34), 0.21 (0.06-1.34), 0.14 (0.02-0.99). No significant difference was found among three groups (P = 0.66). The median levels of BG and range for each group (A, B, C) were, respectively: 50.00 pg/mL (16.20-548.20 pg/mL), 50.00 pg/mL (16.10-597.60 pg/mL), 268.7 pg/mL (50.9-4224.00 pg/mL). Patients with bacteremia and IFIs showed significantly higher BG levels than these who with or without bacteremia (P = 0.003), but there was no significant difference between control subjects and patients with bacteremia group. We also observed the GM and BG levels in Gram-negative and Gram-positive groups. No significant difference was found between two groups. In conclusions, the results showed that bacteremia was unlikely cause of false-positive results of the BG and GM assays in PICU.

Topics: Bacteremia; beta-Glucans; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Galactose; Humans; Infant; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Invasive Fungal Infections; Male; Mannans; Retrospective Studies

Aeromonas hydrophila is increasingly recognized as a pathogen of man that gives rise to both intestinal and extraintestinal infection. This study examined the effect of one the immunostimulants; fungal cell-wall beta-1, 3-D-glucan (Laminarin) on the immune response to Aeromonas hydrophila in albino rats. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml of 1% laminarin (15 mg/100 g b.wt) stimulated humoral immunity. On the ninth day, after application of laminarin in vivo, a statistically higher value of total Ig (p < 0.05) was observed. At the same time, serum total immunoglobulins (25.5 +/- 2) g/L in bacterial groups were significantly higher (p < 0.05), compared to the control group (17 +/- 2) g/L. For Aeromonas infected group, all Ig classes showed increase statistically significant (p < 0.05). On the other hand laminarin groups exhibited reduced values of Ig subclasses but still higher than control values. This was reported for all time period. Rats were divided into 3 equal groups designated, Aeromonas infected, Laminarin-treated and control groups. Infection was carrid out by intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10(6) bacteria daily for 6 days.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aeromonas hydrophila; Animals; Bacteremia; Cell Wall; Fungi; Glucans; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Immunoglobulins; Male; Polysaccharides; Rats

The antimicrobial effect of soluble beta-1,3-D-glucan from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SSG) was examined in mice experimentally infected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 4 and 6B. SSG was administered i.p. either 3 days before challenge or 3-48 h after challenge. The number of bacteria in blood samples and the mouse survival rates were recorded. Pre-challenge SSG administration protected dose-dependently against both S. pneumoniae type 4 and 6B infections. SSG injected 24 h post-challenge had a curative effect against type 6B but not type 4 pneumococcal infection. The data demonstrate that SSG administered systemically protects against pneumococcal infection in mice.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Bacteremia; beta-Glucans; Colony Count, Microbial; Female; Glucans; Humans; Mice; Pneumococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Survival Rate