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Biomedical subjects

M E Levison

Publications and source records attributed to M E Levison.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1973

Clinical and in vitro evaluation of cefazolin, a new cephalosporin antibiotic.

Cefazolin sodium, a cephalosporin for parenteral use, was evaluated in vitro and in 26 patients. Cefazolin had activity equivalent to cephalothin against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, group A streptococci, and Proteus mirabilis. Cefazolin was four- to eightfold more active against Escherichia coli and slightly more active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas cephalothin was slightly more active against indole-positive Proteus species. After a 500-mg dose of cefazolin intramuscularly, peak concentrations in the serum were high enough to inhibit all strains of S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, group A streptococci, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. mirabilis, as well as 60% of strains of Proteus species other than P. mirabilis. All of 26 patients (18 with pneumonia, 6 with urinary tract infection, and 2 with skin infections) responded clinically and bacteriologically to cefazolin therapy. There were no major side effects of therapy, and no patient complained of pain at the site of intramuscular injection. Cefazolin is an effective cephalosporin which can be used intramuscularly for therapy of serious bacterial infections. Its major advantages over other cephalosporins are higher, more sustained concentrations in the blood and apparent lack of pain on intramuscular injection.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Double-blind controlled comparison of phlebitis produced by cephapirin and cephalothin.

In a double-blind study with each patient as his own control cephapirin and cephalothin were administered to 20 patients in opposite arms for a period of 48 hr each. Neither the incidence of phlebitis nor the degree of phlebitis was significantly different with the two drugs, and there was no difference in the time of onset of pain or phlebitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Double-blind comparison of carbenicillin indanyl sodium, ampicillin, and cephalexin in treatment of urinary tract infection.

Carbenicillin indanyl sodium, ampicillin, or cephalexin was administered orally to 61 patients with urinary tract infections. Assignment of drug was made by a computer-generated, randomized plan in a double-blind fashion. The rates of cure 4 weeks after therapy were 50, 42, and 50% for patients treated with carbenicillin, ampicillin, and cephalexin, respectively. Failure of therapy was correlated with chronicity of infection and sensitivity of the microorganism to the antibiotic used. Thirty-nine percent of the patients developed side effects, but there were no significant differences in side effects among the three antibiotics. This double-blind study demonstrates that carbenicillin indanyl sodium is as effective as ampicillin and cephalexin in treatment of urinary tract infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

Effect of colon flora and short-chain fatty acids on growth in vitro of Pseudomonas aeruginsoa and Enterobacteriaceae.

Heat-stable antibacterial activity in the following suspensions was demonstrated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at pH 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5: (i) pooled colon contents of normal mice; (ii) an anaerobic, 48-h culture of normal mouse feces; and (iii) anaerobic, 48-h cultures of different bacteria from human colon flora (Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis). The lower the pH of the medium, the greater was the antibacterial activity of these suspensions. The antibacterial activity of five fatty acids (propionic, butyric, isobutyric, acetic, and formic acids) was greater against P. aeruginosa than against three Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. mirabilis) at all fatty acid concentrations (0.16 M to 0.005 M) and at the 3 pH values studied (5.5, 6.0, and 6.5). As the pH value increased, the antibacterial activity decreased. Antibacterial activity was greater at higher fatty acid concentrations, and at each pH value it was greatest for the fatty acids having high pK(a) values. Lactic acid, with the lowest pK(a), exhibited little or no antibacterial activity. Acetic and butyric acids, two of the three predominant volatile fatty acids determined by gas chromatography in the mouse colon contents and in the anaerobic culture of mouse feces, occurred in vivo in concentrations which inhibited growth of P. aeruginosa in vitro at the pH of the mouse cecum. These results suggest that undissociated short-chain fatty acids produced by the colon flora may be a mechanism of intestinal resistance to colonization by P. aeruginosa.

Acetates↗
PubMed1972

Clinical and in vitro evaluation of cephapirin, a new cephalosporin antibiotic.

Cephapirin sodium, a cephalosporin for parenteral use, was evaluated in vitro and in 27 patients. Cephapirin had activity equivalent to cephalothin against 25 strains each of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus; 10 strains each of Diplococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas species, and Enterobacter species; and 8 strains of Proteus species other than P. mirabilis. All strains of S. aureus and D. pneumoniae and most strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Proteus species were inhibited by concentrations of cephapirin achieved in the serum. Of 27 patients (20 with pneumonia, 2 with S. aureus empyema, and 5 with miscellaneous infections), 25 responded to cephapirin therapy. The only major toxicity thought to be drug-related occurred in a patient who developed reversible bone marrow depression with leukopenia, neutropenia, and anemia. Although cephapirin was painful on intramuscular injection, phlebitis and pain were absent in patients treated intravenously. In a controlled comparison of intravenously administered cephalothin and cephapirin in four additional patients, the latter caused much less pain than the former and caused no phlebitis.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1972

Neutropenia associated with cephapirin therapy.

A case of neutropenia associated with cephapirin therapy is described. After discontinuation of cephapirin therapy, the neutrophil count returned to normal. Bone marrow examination revealed a marked reduction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes beyond the metamyelocyte stage and eosinophilia.

Agranulocytosis↗
PubMed1972

Survey for methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

The incidence of isolation of Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to methicillin is increasing in England and other European countries, whereas there have been only isolated reports of resistance in the United States. We thought this contrast might be related to the use of special sensitive screening techniques (i.e., incubation at 30 C, prolonged incubation, use of 5% sodium chloride-agar medium, and use of a large inoculum) in these other countries. A survey was undertaken in a hospital in Philadelphia to detect methicillin-resistant S. aureus. In spite of using large inocula, 5% sodium chloride-agar medium, and prolonged incubation at 30 C, no strains of S. aureus resistant to methicillin were found.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1972

In vitro evaluation of tobramycin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic.

One hundred fifty-two strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella-Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species, and Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited by 3.1 mug of tobramycin/ml in a broth-dilution method and showed zones of inhibition of 16 mm or more around a 10-mug tobramycin disc in the Kirby-Bauer method. Tobramycin was most active against S. aureus, 100% of strains being inhibited by 0.1 mug/ml. All strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and indole-positive Proteus species, and 80% of Enterobacter species were inhibited by 0.8 mug of tobramycin/ml, whereas only 48% of P. mirabilis strains were inhibited by this concentration. Tobramycin was approximately twice as active as gentamicin against S. aureus, four times as active against P. aeruginosa, slightly more active against E. coli and Enterobacter species, equally active against P. mirabilis, and slightly less active against K. pneumoniae. The minimal bactericidal concentrations of tobramycin and gentamicin were the same as or twice the minimal inhibitory concentrations for all strains except those of P. aeruginosa, against which greater concentrations of both gentamicin and tobramycin were required for bactericidal activity. Tobramycin sterilized cultures of S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, but the rate of bactericidal action was faster with a combination of tobramycin and carbenicillin than with either antibiotic alone in the same concentrations. Tobramycin retained potency in the presence of 200 to 600 mug of carbenicillin/ml for at least 6 hr of incubation at 37 C, but lost potency in the presence of 600 mug of carbenicillin/ml by 24 hr of incubation and in the presence of 800 mug/ml by 2 hr of incubation.

Aminoglycosides↗