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Biomedical subjects

A P Pallett

Publications and source records attributed to A P Pallett.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Fatal infection associated with group C streptococci.

Serious infection caused by Lancefield group C streptococci is unusual in man. Two unrelated deaths associated with these organisms in a 55 year old woman who died after three days of diarrhoea and vomiting, and in a 65 old man who died after a week of non-specific symptoms, are presented. Post mortem examination showed septicaemia in the former and severe aortic stenosis with widespread septic emboli and probable meningitis in the latter. Lancefield group C streptococci were isolated from both cases. These organisms may be carried asymptomatically and usually cause disease in animals but cases of serious human infection have recently been described, mainly in elderly patients or those with other predisposing factors.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Group G streptococcal endocarditis: two case reports, a review of the literature and recommendations for treatment.

Two cases of endocarditis caused by a group G streptococcus are reported and the literature on group G streptococcal endocarditis is reviewed. The onset of illness is usually acute and the portal of entry for the organism through the skin. The left side of the heart is mainly involved and in about 50% cases the endocarditis arises on a normal valve. Most patients develop complications, both embolic and cardiac, and the mortality is high (36%). We suggest that patients with proven group G streptococcal endocarditis should be treated with large doses of benzyl penicillin and with an aminoglycoside for not less than 4 weeks. Patients with complications should be referred to a cardiothoracic centre. We should be glad to know details of complications, treatment and outcome in other cases of group G streptococcal endocarditis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Clinicians' guide to antibiotics. Tetracycline.

Tetracyclines have a broad range of activity against many organisms and remain the antibiotics of choice for some diseases, including brucellosis, chlamydial infections and severe acne vulgaris. However, because of their side effects, increasing resistance and the alternative antibiotics now available, their clinical usefulness is limited.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Clinicians' guide to antibiotics. Chloramphenicol.

Chloramphenicol, despite its well-recognized toxic side effects, is a cheap and useful antibiotic in the management of meningitis, typhoid, brain abscess and severe Haemophilus influenza infections. Where possible, drug levels should be monitored.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1988

Vancomycin.

Vancomycin is an important antibiotic for the treatment of severe Gram-positive infection, especially in cases with resistant organisms or when the patient is allergic to penicillin. Because of its mode of action, pharmacokinetics and side effects, close liaison with the medical microbiologist is necessary.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1984

Prospective study of Clostridium difficile colonization and paracresol detection in the stools of babies on a special care unit.

Infants' stools were examined for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in a study performed over a one-year period on a special care baby unit. Overall, 21% of infants were colonized, but the organism was only recovered in a seven-month period during which its weekly prevalence in the group varied from zero to 44%, with a distinct clustering of colonized infants being observed. Tests for the presence of cytotoxin in the stools and in supernatants of broth that had been inoculated with each isolate were negative. The factors predisposing to colonization were a prolonged stay in the unit, low birth weight, younger gestational age and being nursed in an incubator. The organism was recovered only once from an environmental screen. An antibiogram, used in conjunction with toxin production, was helpful in distinguishing these isolates from a collection obtained from other units in the hospital. We conclude that Cl. difficile was acquired by nosocomial spread although we did not establish the precise mechanism involved. The detection of para-cresol by gas-liquid chromatography was found to be specific but insufficiently sensitive as a screening test for the organism's presence in the stools. It could only be demonstrated in infants whose birth-weights were less than 2500 g, and no association was observed between the type of feed and para-cresol presence in stools.

Clostridium↗