Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C N Baker

Publications and source records attributed to C N Baker.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Compound A49759, the 3-O-demethyl derivative of fortimicin A: in vitro comparison with six other aminoglycoside antibiotics.

O-Demethylfortimicin A (compound A49759) was tested against 445 bacteria, and the results were compared with those obtained with fortimicin A, amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, sisomicin, and tobramycin. A49759 was found to be active and bactericidal against the Enterobacteriaceae, nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli, and Staphylococcus aureus. A49759 was two- to fourfold more active than fortimicin A against most species tested, but generally fourfold less active than amikacin against this population of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (85% inhibited at less than or equal to 16 microgram of amikacin per ml and 85% inhibited at less than or equal to 64 microgram of A49759 per ml). Only amikacin and A49759 were resistant to most aminoglucoside-inactivating enzymes and also had significant antipseudomonal activity. Amikacin was inactivated by aminoglycoside 6'-acetyltransferase, and A49759 was inactivated by aminoglycoside 3-acetyltransferase. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of all tested aminoglycosides were increased by augmenting the inoculum size.

Aminoglycosides↗

Piperacillin susceptibility tests by the single-disk agar diffusion technique.

Piperacillin is a new semisynthetic penicillin with a spectrum of activity broader than that of carbenicillin or ticarcillin. Studies were performed to establish standards for agar diffusion susceptibility tests with piperacillin disks. Tests with 100-, 150-, and 200-micrograms piperacillin disks and with 100-micrograms carbenicillin disks were evaluated. With both penicillins, 100-micrograms disks were satisfactory, in spite of the fact that piperacillin is a larger molecule and diffuses at a slower rate. With both carbenicillin and piperacillin disks, resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus produced zones less than or equal to 28 mm and susceptible strains gave zones greater than or equal to 29 mm in diameter. When testing other microorganisms, zone standards of less than or equal to 13 mm for resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml) and greater than or equal to 17 mm for susceptible (minimal inhibitory concentration, less than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) are recommended for tests with 100-micrograms piperacillin disks. Similar zone standards are currently recommended for carbenicillin and ticarcillin disk tests.

Bacteria↗

Characterization and identification of 95 diphtheroid (group JK) cultures isolated from clinical specimens.

Ninety-five cultures of group JK bacteria isolated from clinical specimens were characterized morphologically and biochemically. The microorganisms were isolated primarily from blood cultures. The bacterial cultures produced positive reactions when tested for catalase, Tween hydrolysis, and carbohydrate fermentation. Glucose and galactose were fermented by more than 90% of the organisms. Gas-liquid chromatography of trimethylsilyl derivatives of whole-cell hydrolysates of some of the group JK cultures yielded nearly identical elution profiles. The group JK microorganisms were susceptible to vancomycin but were resistant to most of the other 17 antimicrobial agents tested. A method is presented for differentiating the group JK microorganisms from other similar bacteria encountered in clinical specimens. Although these bacteria rarely occur in clinical specimens, they are capable of producing fatal infections (endocarditis and sepsis) in humans.

Actinomycetales↗

In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents on Legionnaires disease bacterium.

Six isolates of Legionnaires disease bacteria were tested for their susceptibility to 22 antimicrobial agents. The most active agent was rifampin (minimal inhibitory concentration, </=0.01 mug/ml). On the basis of minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints that have been used to categorize susceptibility for most of these drugs, the organisms were susceptible to rifampin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, the aminoglycosides, minocycline and doxycycline, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, penicillin G, carbenicillin, colistin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (19:1 ratio); sensitive to intermediate in susceptibility to tetracycline, methicillin, cefamandole, cephalothin, and clindamycin; and resistant to vancomycin. More clinical data must be obtained before an optimal therapeutic regimen can be recommended.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Inhibition of beta-lactamase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae by sodium clavulanate.

Sodium clavulanate at subinhibitory concentrations affected the activity of penicillin G, ampicillin, or amoxicillin on beta-lactamase-positive strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as demonstrated by marked reduction in the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the drugs for the organisms. The compound did not affect the activity of these penicillins on beta-lactamase-negative strains of N. gonorrhoeae. It also had no effect on the activity of cefoxitin against either beta-lactamase-negative or -positive strains. The reduction in minimal inhibitory concentrations of the penicillins for the beta-lactamase-positive organisms brought about by sodium clavulanate is probably due to inhibition of the beta-lactamase by the compound.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Susceptibility of ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae to seven penicillins.

Sixty-seven clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae from various sections of the United States, England, and Germany were tested for susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, epicillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and methicillin. Fifty-three of the strains had previously been judged to be ampicillin resistant and 14 had been determined to be ampicillin susceptible. Fifty-two of the 53 resistant strains produced beta-lactamase, but none of the susceptible strains produced it. On the basis of minimal inhibitory concentrations, the most active compounds were ticarcillin and carbenicillin. Whether this greater activity is useful clinically has not been established.

Ampicillin↗

Halophilic Vibrio species isolated from blood cultures.

The Special Bacteriology Section of the Center for Disease Control has received 38 cultures of a halophilic bacterium which apparently unnamed. On the basis of the minimal characteristics of Vibrio species proposed by Hugh and Sakazaki, this bacterium belongs to the genus Vibrio. The unnamed species can be differentiated from Vibro parahaemolyticus by a lower tolerance for sodium chloride (NaC1) and the fermentation of lactose. The failure to ferment sucrose is an additional characteristic which differentiates these organisms from V. alginolyticus. Of 33 unnamed species strains tested, all were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, chlorapmphenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline, rifampin, nitrofurantoin, and sulfisoxazole by agar diffusion and agar dilution tests. The sources of isolation of the cultures of the unnamed species suggest that it is a clinically important organism. Twenty strains were isolated remaining cultures were isolated from localized infections of the extremities. In contrast, only 2 of 60 cultures of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus received in our laboratory as human isolates from extra-intestinal sources were isolated from blood.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Effect of calcium and magnesium ions on the susceptibility of Pseudomonas species to tetracycline, gentamicin polymyxin B, and carbenicillin.

The effect of calcium and magnesium on the susceptibility of 13 species of Pseudomonas to tetracycline, gentamicin, polymyxin B, and carbenicillin was measured. The majority of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these antibiotics was increased if these cations were added to the test media. The increases in MICs caused by calcium or magnesium were similar, but the combination of both ions generally caused a greater change than either alone. Although the MIC of polymyxin B was most affected by calcium and magnesium, its interpretive susceptibilities (i.e., whether susceptible or resistant) were least changed. Susceptibility tests on Pseudomonas species probably should be done with Muller-Hinton broth supplemented with physiological concentrations of calcium and magnesium to better approximate the in vivo activity of these antibiotics. When the susceptibility tests were performed with Mueller-Hinton agar, the MICs were slightly less than those obtained with Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with both cations but greater than those obtained with Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with individual cations.

Calcium↗

Antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus bovis and other group D streptococci causing endocarditis.

Seventy-four strains of Streptococcus bovis and 35 strains of enterococci (Streptococcus faecalis and its varieties, Streptococcus faecium and Streptococcus durans), most of which were isolated from patients with endocarditis, were tested for their susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, cephalothin, vancomycin, methicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, streptomycin, and gentamicin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by a microtiter broth dilution technique. All of these organisms are group D streptococci, but the S. bovis strains are not enterococci. On the basis of both MIC and MBC, the S. bovis strains were much more susceptibile in general to antibiotics then were the enterococcal strains. For the S. bovis strains, the lowest MICs were obtained with penicillin, ampicillin, and erythromycin, and the lowest MBCs with penicillin and ampicillin. Although these antibiotics were also the most active against the enterococci, the MICs and MBCs were much higher than obtained with the S. bovis strains. Gentamicin was the most active aminoglycoside. On the basis of in vitro susceptibility results, the S. bovis strains resemble the viridans streptococci rather than enterococci.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus mutans isolated from patients with endocarditis.

Forty-one strains of Streptococcus mutans (34 from blood specimens from patients with endocarditis and 7 from stock cultures) were tested for susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, erythromycin, cephalothin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin. Minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were determined by a broth microdilution procedure. Most of the strains were very susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin, and erythromycin, with most strains having minimal inhibitory concentrations of 0.08 mug/ml or less. Most of the strains were also susceptible to cephalothin, methicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and vancomycin. Gentamicin was the most effective aminoglycoside. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are similar to those of other viridans streptococci. S. mutans strains have proven to be difficult for some microbiologists to identify. But when organisms suggesting S. mutans are isolated from patients with endocarditis, they should be at least identified as nonenterococcal streptococci so that appropriate therapy can be initiated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Effect of temperature on the in vitro susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillinase-resistant penicillins.

Heteroresistant (methicillin-resistant) and nonheteroresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were tested for their susceptibility to penicillinase-resistant penicillins at incubation temperatures of 37, 35, and 30 C. Susceptibilities were determined by agar dilution and by the standard Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion tests. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were higher at 35 and 30 C than at 37 C. Heteroresistance could be detected with the Kirby-Bauer test if the incubation temperature was 30 or 35 C instead of 37 C, when tests were performed against methicillin, oxacillin, or nafcillin, because the resistant organisms grew up to the disks even though the susceptible organisms were inhibited. At 37 C, the resistance was detectable with some strains but not with others. When cloxacillin disks were used, the temperature effect was not seen. The incubation temperature did not affect results with nonheteroresistant strains. Therefore, it is recommended that all Kirby-Bauer tests be incubated at a temperature of 35 C to insure detection of methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. Detection of these strains is of increasing importance because the incidence of infections with these organisms is increasing, particularly in hospitalized patients.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

"Upper limits of normal" antistreptolysin O and antideoxyribonuclease B titers.

"Upper limits of normal" antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease (ADN) B titers were determined on serum specimens from various age groups of pediatric patients with no history of a recent streptococcal infection and on healthy adult hospital employees. The upper limit of normal value is that level of antibody titer exceeded by no more than 15% of the total subjects in each age group. This value varies with the age of the subject, and the most pronounced differences are between the values of preschool age children, school age children, and adults. The upper limit of normal values for these groups were as follows: preschool age, ASO = 85(100); ADN B = 60(50); school age, ASO = 170(166); ADN B=1 70(166); and adult, ASO = 85(100); ADN B = 85(100).

Adolescent↗

Comparison of antistreptolysin O latex screening test with the antistreptolysin O hemolytic test.

This report describes a comparison of the Behringwerke antistreptolysin O (ASO) latex screening test with the ASO hemolytic test. Agreement between the two tests was poor when Difco streptolysin O (SLO) reagent was employed in the hemolytic test; approximately 34% of the sera with ASO titers in the normal range of the hemolytic test gave false-positive latex test reactions. However, the percentage of false-positive latex test reactions was only 5% when Behringwerke SLO reagent was used in the hemolytic test. An assay of the Difco and Behringwerke SLO reagents against an ASO standard indicated that the Difco SLO reagent was more potent than the Behringwerke SLO reagent. The lack of agreement between the Behringwerke latex test and the hemolytic test using Difco SLO reagent is attributed to the potency of the SLO reagents.

Antistreptolysin↗

Micro test for streptococcal anti-deoxyribonuclease B.

A methyl green decolorization micro test for the determination of streptococcal anti-deoxyribonuclease B titers in serum is described. The micro test was compared with an alcohol precipitation macro test on 112 human sera. The anti-deoxyribonuclease B titers agreed within one dilution step for 85.7% of the 112 sera examined by both techniques. Both tests were about equal in the detection of titers above the upper limits of normal. The micro test requires smaller amounts of reagents and fewer man-hours to perform than the macro test. This translates into lower cost per test and more tests per man-hour.

Antibodies↗