Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L A Ganguli.
A prospective study on 90 patients undergoing vasectomy as day cases is reported. The use of a chlorhexidine gluconate bath or shower on day 1 and day 2 post-operatively reduced the wound infection rate from 37.8 to 6.7%. It is suggested, therefore, that this technique is an economical and successful way of reducing the incidence of infection in these patients.
Results of blood culture examination using the radiometric (Bactec-460) system for one year showed no overall improvement compared with those of the previous three years when a manual system with early blind subculture was used. The isolates from the manual system were available more often on solid media, 24 hours earlier, than when the radiometric system was used. In a further study of 1100 blood cultures the radiometric medium was tested for growth index as well as being subcultured blindly, irrespective of growth index, on the first day. Thirty six out of 54 (67%) of the blood cultures were positive on subculture but negative for growth index at this time. The overall cost of the radiometric system is also considerably more than that of the manual system.
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A total of 102 patients with urinary tract infection were treated with 400 mg norfloxacin twice daily for three days. Midstream specimens of urine were cultured at the initial visit and also one and five weeks after treatment. Forty-eight out of 50 patients (96%) with significant bacteriuria were successfully treated and remained free from recurrences during the follow-up period. There was no evidence of serious toxicity and only minor adverse symptoms were recorded.
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Inspection and blind subculture was carried out on 7031 consecutive blood cultures at 10 p.m. on the day they were received. Analysis of the results after a 2-year period showed that 119 out of 237 (50%) bacteraemic patients were detected at this stage. Preliminary sensitivity tests were done at this time and their results were available within 24 h of the blood cultures being received. Thus earlier specific therapy was possible in 50% of the cases of bacteraemia.
Thirty one of 60 consecutive isolates of Streptococcus faecalis produced a reaction in both D and G streptococcal grouping sera. A close correlation was found between this grouping reaction and haemolysin production, resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim, and delayed fermentation of sorbitol.
On examination of Bactec blood cultures for pneumococcal antigen by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis the consistent presence of a non-specific protein band caused problems with the interpretation of results, even in laboratories experienced in performing countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis. When the Bactec blood culture system is used, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis should not be relied on for the detection of pneumococcal antigen.
Clostridium bifermentans, C. sporogenes and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius were grown in Fastidious Anaerobe Broth with glucose concentrations from 0-1.5% (w/v). Gas chromatographic (GLC) analysis of fermentation end-products revealed that a change in glucose concentration markedly affected fermentation patterns of each microorganism. Increased glucose concentration resulted in stimulation of ethanol production by all strains, and of butanol and butyric acid by C. sporogenes. With C. bifermentans, there was a parallel increase in ethanol and acetic acid production and decreased formation of propanol and propionic, iso-butyric and iso-valeric acids. Increased ethanol formation by P. anaerobius was accompanied by an increase in acetic acid and a decrease in butan-1-ol production. The greatest incremental change in GLC profiles occurred when glucose concentration was raised from zero to 0.1% (w/v). These data suggest that glucose concentration in a medium for GLC analysis must be rigorously controlled if reproducible results are to be obtained.
A study was made of the influence of eight growth media upon the fermentation end-product patterns obtained with ten species of anaerobes. Acidic and neutral end-products of fermentation were analysed by gas chromatography and the results were examined statistically by computer. Differences in end-product profile were at least as great between different media used to grow a single anaerobic species, as between different anaerobes grown in a single type of medium. When individual fermentation end-products produced by a single anaerobe species were examined statistically significant differences were found between different media for individual end-products. It is concluded that standardisation of growth medium is essential in diagnostic laboratories concerned with identification of anaerobes with the aid of gas chromatography.
Three commercial blood culture media were compared with a freshly prepared cooked meat medium in tests to stimulate the recovery of small inocula of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in routine blood cultures. The cooked meat medium gave the most reliable recovery and supported continued viability, whilst Fastidious Anaerobe Broth (LAB M) was a good alternative. Results with Southern Group thioglycollate and Difco Thiol were less satisfactory as delays in recovery and loss of viability occurred on continued incubation with some of the test strains.
The effects of time, glucose and calcium carbonate upon fermentation profiles of Clostridium difficile were determined. The test organism was grown in three media, viz. fastidious anaerobe broth (FAB), FAB with 1% w/v glucose, and FAB with 1% glucose plus calcium carbonate. Fermentation products were analysed after 24, 48 and 72 h incubation. By 48 h, qualitatively 'typical' profiles could be produced. Glucose supplementation of FAB suppressed formation of certain branched-chain carboxylic acids. However, the presence of calcium carbonate, in addition to glucose, resulted in a quantitative increase in products after 48 h and 72 h. This effect was particularly marked with respect to alcohol production by C. difficile.
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A case is reported of a young patient with Campylobacter enteritis who underwent first appendicectomy and then a laparotomy because of the severity of the pain and the marked abdominal signs.