Antiserum against Escherichia coli J5, a "rough" mutant of E. coli 0111, has been reported to confer broad-spectrum protection against serologically unrelated gram-negative bacteria. In order to re-evaluate these findings, we examined the influence of rabbit antiserum against E. coli J5 on the phagocytosis of heterologous gram-negative bacteria by rabbit granulocytes in vitro and its ability to protect mice against gram-negative bacterial infection. In vitro, J5 antiserum enhanced the phagocytosis of E. coli 0111, E. coli 06 and Serratia marcescens 06/014:H2 when compared to normal rabbit serum. However, J5 antiserum did not enhance the phagocytosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae type 2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 9. In vivo, the protective effect of J5 antiserum against lethal gram-negative infection was not superior to that of normal (pre-immune) serum with the exception of E. coli 0111 septicemia. In contrast, type-specific antiserum against each of the smooth gram-negative bacteria markedly enhanced phagocytosis in vitro and exerted significant protection in vivo. Thus, in this study antiserum against E. coli J5 proved to be of limited value for opsonization of gram-negative bacteria and protection against gram-negative bacterial infection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined activity of trospectomycin and colloidal bismuth subcitrate against Helicobacter pylori in vitro.

The combined activities of trospectomycin, a spectinomycin analogue, and colloidal bismuth subcitrate against Helicobacter pylori were investigated, the agar dilution method being employed. Forty-seven strains of H. pylori were examined. An additive effect was observed in 89%, and a synergistic interaction in 11% of the isolates. There was no antagonism observed. The MIC50 of trospectomycin against H. pylori was 2 mg/l; the MIC ranged from 0.5 to 4 mg/l.

Antacids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental Klebsiella septicemia in mice: treatment with specific antibodies from the rabbit alone and in combination with gentamicin.

Using a model of an experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae septicemia in mice, we examined the therapeutic effect of passively administered specific antibacterial antibodies from rabbits. Both specific IgM and IgG antibody proved to be therapeutically effective. However, the effect of IgG was markedly superior to that of IgM with regard both to the degree of protection and the time interval allowing efficient therapy after infection. The effect of IgG was due to a marked enhancement of in vivo phagocytosis, as demonstrated by monitoring bacterial numbers in the liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. In mice immunocompromised with cyclophosphamide, treatment with IgG still exerted protection against low challenge inocula. When higher inocula were used, treatment with IgG ceased to influence the final mortality rates but delayed the course of the disease for several days by transient reduction of bacterial numbers in the parenchymal organs. In both normal and immunocompromised mice, concomitant treatment with gentamicin resulted in a marked synergistic enhancement of survival.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of an atypical interferon by bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli in experimental infections and in leukocyte cultures.

Previous reports have shown that Bacteroides fragilis may enhance the pathogenicity of coinfecting enterobacteriaceae by interfering with the host's immune response. With the present study, we have investigated the possible role of interferons (IFN) in mediating these effects. Mice injected with B. fragilis developed moderate serum levels of IFN that appeared just prior to alterations of the animals' immunity described earlier. The IFN was neutralized by treatment with anti-IFN-alpha/beta-antibodies or hydrochloric acid; hence it displayed the same "atypical" characteristics as IFN found in patients with immuno-compromising diseases such as AIDS, systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. Escherichia coli displayed the same induction patterns as B. fragilis, while gram-positive bacteria induced "regular" IFN alpha/beta and gamma. Spleen cells, peritoneal macrophages, or liver leukocytes taken from B. fragilis or E. coli-injected animals 6 h post infection were refractory to IFN induction by E. coli lipopolysaccharide in vitro; cells from mice infected with gram-positive organisms showed normal or enhanced responsiveness.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Identification and susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens during a one-year period.

During the whole of 1983, all anaerobes cultured from clinical specimens were identified using both the Minitek system and gas chromatography. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were established using a broth microdilution test. The results show isolation rates for the individual species to be in good agreement with previous studies. Despite widespread use (even for prophylactic purposes), mezlocillin, latamoxef, cefoxitin, metronidazole and clindamycin retained their high activity against anaerobic bacteria and no clusters of resistance were observed. Augmentan also showed excellent in vitro activity. Penicillin was found to be inactive against most gram-negative anaerobic rods while tetracycline showed a rather high degree of resistance.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative efficacy of ciprofloxacin, azlocillin, imipenem/cilastatin and tobramycin in a model of experimental septicemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in neutropenic mice.

The in vivo activity of ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied in a septicemia model in neutropenic mice and compared to that of other antibiotics with established activity against P. aeruginosa. When given as a single agent, ciprofloxacin proved to be as effective as imipenem/cilastatin, whereas azlocillin and tobramycin were rather ineffective. After infection with higher challenge inocula, combinations of two (synergistic) antibiotics were more effective than single agent therapy in most instances. The combination of ciprofloxacin with azlocillin was at least as effective as that of imipenem/cilastatin with tobramycin. Selection of mutants with decreased sensitivity to ciprofloxacin occurred during therapy, however, post-therapy MICs of ciprofloxacin did not exceed a level of 1 mg/l and rises of MICs did not detrimentally influence treatment outcome. Taken together with the results of earlier studies, our data encourage the use of ciprofloxacin in gram-negative septicemia in neutropenic patients.

Agranulocytosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Three-year prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria in an urban patient population in Germany.

The prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria over a three-year period was 3.1% in an urban population in Germany. Nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. (1.8% prevalence) represented 59.3% of all positive isolates, followed by Campylobacter spp., which constituted 22.1% of such isolates. Clostridium difficile toxin was detected in 5.6% of samples submitted specifically for detection of cytotoxigenic C. difficile. The seasonal distribution showed an increase of Salmonella, Shigella and Aeromonas/Plesiomonas isolates in the post-holiday season, partly due to returning travelers. An epidemic five-fold increase of Salmonella enteritidis isolates was found over the three-year-period. Enteropathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and cytotoxigenic C. difficile were common etiologic agents of gastrointestinal tract infections in patients with AIDS. We conclude that travelers and HIV-infected subjects are especially prone to infection with enteropathogenic bacteria; preventive measures to control the Salmonella enteritidis epidemic are essential.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Randomized comparison of two nystatin oral gels with miconazole oral gel for treatment of oral thrush in infants. Antimycotics Study Group.

Recently, two commercial oral nystatin gels have been marketed in Germany (Candio-Hermal, Hermal; Lederlind, Lederle). In a prospective open randomized multicentre study involving 12 paediatricians in private practice, Candio-Hermal and Lederlind were compared with miconazole oral gel (Daktar, Janssen) in 95 infants with oral thrush (candidosis). Oral and rectal swabs were taken on days 0 and 14. Treatment duration varied according to the amount of drug contained in one tube (Candio-Hermal 10 days; Lederlind 14 days; Daktar 8 days). On day 14, clinical cure was observed in 23 of 27 infants treated with Daktar (85.1%), in 15 of 35 infants treated with Candio-Hermal (42.8%; p < 0.0007); and in 16 of 33 infants treated with Lederlind (48.5%; p < 0.004). Clinical relapses were observed in 15 patients (Candio-Hermal: n = 9; Lederlind: n = 6). The overall oral mycologic cure rate was significantly higher with Daktar (29.6%) and Candio-Hermal (20.0%) than with Lederlind (3.0%; p < 0.005 and < 0.03, respectively). It can be concluded that Daktar oral gel is significantly more effective than Candio-Hermal and Lederlind in curing oral thrush in infants.

Candidiasis, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of Clostridium difficile toxin by enzyme immunoassay, tissue culture test and culture.

Clostridium difficile toxin is frequently encountered in patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. A commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) detecting toxins A and B was evaluated, screening 148 stool specimens specifically submitted for the detection of C. difficile. A sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.5% were found compared to a tissue culture assay. The overall prevalence of C. difficile toxin was 22.1%. Cephalosporins had been administered significantly more often to toxin-positive patients. The EIA proved to be a suitable test for the detection of C. difficile toxin, revealing high prevalences in specifically submitted clinical specimens.

Bacterial Proteins↗