Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Wernik, M.
Correlation of microbiological findings in patients with suspected clostridial myonecrosis
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2014. pp. 50
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Grisold Andrea
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- Abstract:
- A clostridial infection is a rare disease with a complex, mostly severe and aggressive progressing course, with enormous demands not just for the patient and his or her survival but also for clinicians in diagnosis and treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine correlation between two microbiological methods, gram-staining and culture, with regard to clostridial myonecrosis. In addition, we assessed capacity utilisation of a 24 hours emergency system provided by the Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine. From 2009 to 2013 a total of 132 patients (90 males and 42 females), average age 57 years, with suspected gas gangrene that were recorded were included in the analysis. 23 patients (17%) had laboratory evidence of an infection with a Clostridium species. 12 of 132 samples showed evidence of gram-positive rods in the gram-staining. Whereas in ten cases growth of Clostridium spp. were observed in two cases the gram-positive rods turned out to be Actinomyces turicensis. 61 calls regarding suspected gas gangrene were made during the observed time period. 45 were made outside the routine working hours and therefore carried out by the emergency service. Our study indicates, regarding to samples with clinical suspicion of gas gangrene, that the reliability of a gram-staining result with gram-positive rods is acceptable good and in our case in 83% leads to the result of a cultured-proof of clostridia. In contrast, a negative result for gram-positive rods in gram-stainings can show clostridial growth after all.