@article{HetzerOrthHoellerWuerzneretal.2019, author = {Hetzer, Benjamin and Orth-H{\"o}ller, Dorothea and W{\"u}rzner, Reinhard and Kreidl, Peter and Lackner, Michaela and M{\"u}ller, Thomas and Knabl, Ludwig and Geisler-Moroder, Daniel Rudolf and Mellmann, Alexander and Sesli, {\"O}zcan and Holzknecht, Jeanett and Noce, Damia and Akarathum, Noppadon and Chotinaruemol, Somporn and Prelog, Martina and Oberdorfer, Peninnah}, title = {"Enhanced acquisition of antibiotic-resistant intestinal E. coli during the first year of life assessed in a prospective cohort study"}, series = {Antimicrobial Resistance \& Infection Control}, volume = {8}, journal = {Antimicrobial Resistance \& Infection Control}, doi = {10.1186/s13756-019-0522-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-320284}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Background Increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a serious problem worldwide. We sought to record the acquisition of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) in healthy infants in Northern Thailand and investigated potential determinants. Methods Stool samples from 142 infants after birth, at ages 2wk, 2mo, 4 to 6mo, and 1y, and parent stool samples were screened for E. coli resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and cefazoline by culture, and isolates were further investigated for multiresistance by disc diffusion method. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed to identify persistent and transmitted strains. Genetic comparison of resistant and transmitted strains was done by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and strains were further investigated for extra- and intra-intestinal virulence factors by multiplex PCR. Results Forty-seven (33\%) neonatal meconium samples contained resistant E. coli. Prevalence increased continuously: After 1y, resistance proportion (tetracycline 80\%, ampicillin 72\%, co-trimoxazole 66\%, cefazoline 35\%) almost matched those in parents. In 8 infants (6\%), identical E. coli strains were found in at least 3 sampling time points (suggesting persistence). Transmission of resistant E. coli from parents to child was observed in only 8 families. MLST showed high diversity. We could not identify any virulence genes or factors associated with persistence, or transmission of resistant E. coli. Full-term, vaginal birth and birth in rural hospital were identified as risk factors for early childhood colonization with resistant E. coli. Conclusion One third of healthy Thai neonates harboured antibiotic-resistant E. coli in meconium. The proportion of resistant E. coli increased during the first year of life almost reaching the value in adults. We hypothesize that enhancement of infection control measures and cautious use of antibiotics may help to control further increase of resistance.}, language = {en} } @article{ZlamyAlmanzarParsonetal.2016, author = {Zlamy, Manuela and Almanzar, Giovanni and Parson, Walther and Schmidt, Christian and Leierer, Johannes and Weinberger, Birgit and Jeller, Verena and Unsinn, Karin and Eyrich, Matthias and W{\"u}rzner, Reinhard and Prelog, Martina}, title = {Efforts of the human immune system to maintain the peripheral CD8+ T cell compartment after childhood thymectomy}, series = {Immunity \& Ageing}, volume = {13}, journal = {Immunity \& Ageing}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1186/s12979-016-0058-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146497}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Background Homeostatic mechanisms to maintain the T cell compartment diversity indicate an ongoing process of thymic activity and peripheral T cell renewal during human life. These processes are expected to be accelerated after childhood thymectomy and by the influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) inducing a prematurely aged immune system. The study aimed to investigate proportional changes and replicative history of CD8+ T cells, of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) and CD103+ T cells (mostly gut-experienced) and the role of Interleukin-(IL)-7 and IL-7 receptor (CD127)-expressing T cells in thymectomized patients compared to young and old healthy controls. Results Decreased proportions of naive and CD31 + CD8+ T cells were demonstrated after thymectomy, with higher proliferative activity of CD127-expressing T cells and significantly shorter relative telomere lengths (RTLs) and lower T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). Increased circulating CD103+ T cells and a skewed T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire were found after thymectomy similar to elderly persons. Naive T cells were influenced by age at thymectomy and further decreased by CMV. Conclusions After childhood thymectomy, the immune system demonstrated constant efforts of the peripheral CD8+ T cell compartment to maintain homeostasis. Supposedly it tries to fill the void of RTEs by peripheral T cell proliferation, by at least partly IL-7-mediated mechanisms and by proportional increase of circulating CD103+ T cells, reminiscent of immune aging in elderly. Although other findings were less significant compared to healthy elderly, early thymectomy demonstrated immunological alterations of CD8+ T cells which mimic features of premature immunosenescence in humans.}, language = {en} } @article{PrelogSchoenlaubWuerzneretal.2013, author = {Prelog, Martina and Sch{\"o}nlaub, J{\"o}rn and W{\"u}rzner, Reinhard and Koppelstaetter, Christian and Almanzar, Giovanni and Brunner, Andrea and Gasser, Martin and Prommegger, Rupert and H{\"a}usler, Gabriele and Kapelari, Klaus and H{\"o}gler, Wolfgang}, title = {Lower CD28+ T cell proportions were associated with CMV-seropositivity in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis}, series = {BMC Endocrine Disorders}, journal = {BMC Endocrine Disorders}, doi = {10.1186/1472-6823-13-34}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96352}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Alterations in the naive T cell subpopulations have been demonstrated in patients with T cell mediated autoimmune disorders, reminiscent of immunological changes found in the elderly during immunosenescence, including the switch from CD45RA + to CD45RO + T cells and decreased thymic function with increased compensatory proliferative mechanisms, partly associated with latent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The present study was aimed to investigate proportions of lymphocytes, their relation to CMV-seropositivity and the replicative history of CD45RA + expressing T cells in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT, n = 18) and healthy controls (HC, n = 70). Methods Proportions of peripheral T cells were investigated by flow cytometry. The replicative history was assessed by T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and relative telomere length (RTL). Expression of CD62L was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in thyroid sections. The role of CMV was assessed by serology, ELISPOT assay and in situ hybridization. Results Our results demonstrated a significant increase of CD28-negative T cells, associated with CMV-seropositivity in HT patients. HT showed abundant CD45RO + T cells with peripheral loss of CD62L-expressing CD8 + CD45RA + T cells, the latter mainly depending on disease duration. CD62L was expressed in thyroid lymphocyte infiltrations. The diagnosis of HT and within the HT group CMV-seropositivity were the main determinants for the loss of CD28 expression. RTL was not different between HC and HT. HT showed significantly lower TRECs in CD4 + CD45RA + T cells compared to HC. Conclusions Patients with HT display a peripheral T cell phenotype reminiscent of findings in elderly persons or other autoimmune disorders. Whether these mechanisms are primary or secondary to the immunological alterations of autoimmune conditions should be investigated in longitudinal studies which may open research on new therapeutic regimes for treatment of HT and associated autoimmune diseases.}, language = {en} } @article{PrelogZlamyKofleretal.2013, author = {Prelog, Martina and Zlamy, Manuela and Kofler, Sabine and Orth, Dorothea and W{\"u}rzner, Reinhard and Heinz-Erian, Peter and Streng, Andrea}, title = {The impact of Rotavirus mass vaccination on hospitalization rates, nosocomial Rotavirus gastroenteritis and secondary blood stream infections}, series = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2334-13-112}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96147}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of universal mass vaccination (UMV) against rotavirus (RV) on the hospitalization rates, nosocomial RV infections and RV-gastroenteritis (GE)-associated secondary blood stream infections (BSI). Methods The retrospective evaluation (2002-2009) by chart analysis included all clinically diagnosed and microbiologically confirmed RV-GE cases in a large tertiary care hospital in Austria. The pre-vaccination period (2002-2005) was compared with the recommended and early funded (2006-2007) and the funded (2008-2009) vaccination periods. Primary outcomes were RV-GE-associated hospitalizations, secondary outcomes nosocomial RV disease, secondary BSI and direct hospitalization costs for children and their accompanying persons. Results In 1,532 children with RV-GE, a significant reduction by 73.9\% of hospitalized RV-GE cases per year could be observed between the pre-vaccination and the funded vaccination period, which was most pronounced in the age groups 0-11 months (by 87.8\%), 6-10 years (by 84.2\%) and 11-18 years (88.9\%). In the funded vaccination period, a reduction by 71.9\% of nosocomial RV-GE cases per year was found compared to the pre-vaccination period. Fatalities due to nosocomial RV-GE were only observed in the pre-vaccination period (3 cases). Direct costs of hospitalized, community-acquired RV-GE cases per year were reduced by 72.7\% in the funded vaccination period. The reduction of direct costs for patients (by 86.9\%) and accompanying persons (86.2\%) was most pronounced in the age group 0-11 months. Conclusions UMV may have contributed to the significant decrease of RV-GE-associated hospitalizations, to a reduction in nosocomial RV infections and RV-associated morbidity due to secondary BSI and reduced direct hospitalization costs. The reduction in nosocomial cases is an important aspect considering severe disease courses in hospitalized patients with co-morbidities and death due to nosocomial RV-GE.}, language = {en} }