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Biomedical subjects

D Merzbach

Publications and source records attributed to D Merzbach.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

In vivo adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to rat bladder epithelium.

To date, the study of bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells has utilized considerable variation in methodology, resulting in highly divergent conclusions. In an attempt to standardize methodology, a modified method is described to more accurately measure the in vivo bacterial adherence to rat bladder uroepithelium utilizing Pseudomonas species labeled with 2-[3H]adenine. Two isolates of P. aeruginosa were selected for more intensive study; one showed consistently good adherence; the second strain always adhered poorly, thus providing a negative control. Maximum adherence was detected after 60 min of incubation. Neither of the two Pseudomonas isolates when examined by transmission electron microscopy showed evidence of pili formation. The morphological features of Pseudomonas adherence to bladder mucosa as studied by scanning electron microscopy are described.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Antibacterial prophylaxis in chronic granulomatous disease. A case report.

The value of long-term prophylactic treatment of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) in childhood cannot be established with certainty, as controlled studies are not available. We describe a boy, presently 15 years old, who suffered from CGD since early infancy. By the clinical, laboratory and genetic features, this case appeared to be a new variant of CGD, combining elements of the "childhood" type with others that characterize the "adult" type of the syndrome. For years, the patient had been almost continuously ill and needed frequent and prolonged hospitalizations because of severe bacterial infections. At age 13 years, long-term prophylactic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) was instituted. With this regimen, the patient was maintained practically infection-free, relapsing only in those instances when he neglected to comply with the prophylactic regimen for 1 to 2 weeks. Thus, the patient served as his own control in demonstrating the efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis in CGD. The rationale for employing TMP-SMX for the prophylactic regimen is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Pseudomonas septicemia in childhood.

A 5-year study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in children was conducted in two large hospitals. The average age of the patients was 20 months. Fourteen (93%) of the 15 patients were debilitated by underlying diseases or by a major invasive procedure. Most of the patients had received broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy prior to the development of Pseudomonas septicemia. The overall mortality was 53%. Ecthyma gangrenosum appeared in only three cases. The serotype H-11 was found in 53% of the septicemic patients, suggesting that Pseudomonas septicemia was a nosocomial disease in most of these cases. The adequate evaluation of the patient at risk, prevention, and early therapy are essential.

Child↗
PubMed1982

Prevalence of group B streptococci in parturient mothers and their infants.

Eighty pregnant women and their newborn infants were studied for the presence of group B Beta hemolytic streptococci (G.B.S.). G.B.S. were recovered from endocervical cultures in 5 (6.5%) women and 2 (2.5%) had positive throat cultures. Six (7.5%) infants had umbilical and external ear cultures positive for G.B.S. Four infants presented with clinical signs of respiratory distress. All infected infants were treated with penicillin and gentamycin. One case developed fulminant sepsis and died in spite of early diagnosis and treatment. This study shows a high incidence of G.B.S. infection and sepsis with a high mortality rate.

Female↗
PubMed1982

Nosocomial Pseudomonas cepacia infection associated with chlorhexidine contamination.

During the period of January to July 1980, a marked increase in the number of Pseudomonas cepacia isolates was observed in a microbiologic surveillance program. Although P. cepacia was isolated from wound specimens and vaginal cultures, the majority of isolates were of urinary origin from catheterized patients. Retrospective chart analysis of the patients failed to verify a causal pathogenic role for P. cepacia. However, fulminant sepsis subsequently developed in two hospitalized immunocompromised patients, with both blood and urine cultures positive for P. cepacia. Investigation revealed the presence of this organism in chlorhexidine (0.2 percent) mouthwash as well as other chlorhexidine antiseptic solutions used for routine urologic and obstetric procedures. The source of the P. cepacia was identified as the rubber tubing in the pharmacy through which deionized water passed during the dilution of concentrated (5 percent) chlorhexidine gluconate. In vitro tests demonstrated that P. cepacia was resistant to 0.2 percent chlorhexidine.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

The action of cells from patients with chronic granulomatous disease on Staphylococcus aureus.

Contrary to current opinion, neutrophil leucocytes from patients with the inherited immunodeficiency syndrome chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) killed 80% of ingested Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial killing was not impaired by increasing the ratio of bacteria to cells from 1:1 to 10:1. The organisms that survived within the patients' cells did not themselves appear to constitute an unduly resistant subpopulation because they were killed when exposed to fresh cells, and no growth phase of a synchronous culture was found to be particularly resistant. The pH within the phagocytic vacuoles of CGD neutrophils and monocytes is abnormally low and methylamine, which has been shown to normalise this vacuolar pH, improved killing. Clumped bacteria appeared to be more resistant to killing than dispersed ones, suggesting that organisms near the centre of a clump might be protected from the toxicity of the compromised killing systems in cells of these patients.

Granulomatous Disease, Chronic↗
PubMed1982

Lysozyme concentration in tears of patients with sicca syndrome.

Fifty-three patients with sicca syndrome and 34 healthy controls had their tear lysozyme concentration examined. Lysozyme level was significantly decreased (P less than .0005) in all patients with low Schirmer test values as compared with healthy controls. Even in rheumatoid arthritis patients with normal Schirmer test results a low concentration of tear lysozyme was found. Tear lysozyme can be used to detect subclinical involvement of lacrimal glands in collagen diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Factors affecting sperm motility. VI. Sperm viability under the influence of bacterial growth in human ejaculates.

The influence of bacterial growth on human sperm motility and viability was evaluated objectively with the multiple-exposure photography method. Experimental semen specimens, obtained from normal donors bh nonaseptic means of masturbation, were incubated with antibiotics at room temperature or body temperature for 24 hours. Although bacteria, grew in control specimens, were totally eradicated in all antibiotic-treated specimens, no significant difference was found between these groups with regard to sperm motility throughout the time of incubation. Sperm survival was not inhibited, nor was it extended as a result of suppression of bacterial growth. In both groups, survival time was much shorter in specimens incubated at body temperature than in those kept at room temperature. Sperm motility was not affected after 2 hours of incubation of fresh specimens with concentrations of various pathogenic bacteria similar to those found in severe prostatitis. The question of whether the use of antibiotics in the treatment of asthenospermia per se has a prognostic value is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Intrafamilial meningococcal meningitis.

Two couples of sibs presented with meningococcal meningitis. In both families, immediate preventive measures were not taken due to a negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) smear in the first case from Family A, and a negative CSF smear and culture in the first case from Family B. All the children were treated successfully. Our recommendations are: a) contacts of patients with pyogenic meningitis should have close clinical surveillance, and b) contacts of meningococcal infection should have nasopharyngeal cultures and should be given a prophylactic antibiotic such as rifampicin or minocycline.

Adolescent↗