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Biomedical subjects

M R Spence

Publications and source records attributed to M R Spence.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Single-dose ampicillin for cesarean section prophylaxis.

A single 2-g dose of ampicillin or a placebo identical in appearance was administered intravenously in a randomized, prospective, double-blind manner to 71 patients undergoing cesarean section. The solutions were given either on call to the operating room or during the intraoperative period. Postoperative morbidity from infection occurred in 59.4% of patients receiving placebo and in 14.7% of those receiving ampicillin (P less than .0001). In those individuals undergoing primary cesarean section the incidence of infection with placebo was 65% and with ampicillin 6.3% (P less than .0004). In patients undergoing repeat cesarean section the incidence was 53% in the placebo group and 22% in the treatment group (P greater than .05). There were no differences in the effectiveness of the drug whether given preoperatively or intraoperatively. Serious infections and wound infections were not encountered in patients receiving ampicillin.

Ampicillin↗

Peripartal cardiomyopathy.

Three patients with peripartal cardiomyopathy are presented. The clinical presentations of the patients are quite varied and demonstrate the wide spectrum of this syndrome. All three patients died of their disease. The clinical findings and necropsy evaluations are reviewed. Autopsy results were consistent with cardiomyopathy, and no etiologic factors were determined.

Adult↗

Cephalothin prophylaxis for midtrimester abortion.

A randomized prospective double-blind study was conducted to determine the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics as compared with placebo in 198 women undergoing second-trimester intraamniotic injection abortions. Patients received either sodium cephalothin or placebo intravenously before the procedure and for up to 8 additional doses. In 11 patients postabortion endometritis developed; 2 had received the antibiotic and 9 had received a placebo (P less than .05). Prophylactic cephalothin decreased the incidence of endometritis in patients undergoing midtrimester injection abortion. An injection-abortion interval greater than 24 hours appears to identify patients at risk for the development of postabortion endometritis.

Abortion, Induced↗

The clinical diagnosis of trichomoniasis.

Two hundred twenty-six consecutive women attending an inner-city clinic for sexually transmitted diseases were evaluated. Problem-directed histories and physical examinations were conducted and vaginal specimens for wet preparation and Trichomonas vaginalis culture were obtained from each patient. One hundred patients were found to be infected. Patients with multiple sex partners were found to be at increased risk of trichomoniasis (P less than .05). Those with abnormal discharge noted on examination had a higher frequency of positive cultures for T vaginalis (P less than .001). Only 50% of patients with trichomoniasis had an abnormal discharge. Patients with greater than 10 white blood cells per high power field on wet preparation, regardless of whether trichomonads were visualized, had a higher incidence of trichomoniasis (P less than .01). Factors that were not associated with Trichomonas infection included patient age, frequency of coitus, date of most recent coitus, day of menstrual cycle on which patient was examined, recent antibiotic use, use of contraceptives or specific contraceptive methods, symptoms of discharge or pruritus, or the finding of Leptothrix on wet preparation. These data support the contention that the classic description of trichomoniasis cannot be uniformly relied upon for diagnosis, but that patients with multiple sex partners, abnormal vaginal discharge and/or greater than 10 white blood cells per high power field on wet preparation are at increased risk of infection by T vaginalis.

Adult↗

Tubo-ovarian abscess: a retrospective review.

The charts of 160 patients with tubo-ovarian abscesses (TOAs) were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to their response to initial medical therapy. Predictive factors were identified for the two groups. Prognosis was predictable on the basis of extent of disease at diagnosis and the initial response to medical therapy. There was no apparent association between a unilateral TOA and the use of an intrauterine contraceptive device. A minimum pregnancy rate of 8% was observed in patients maintaining reproductive function. No patient with a bilateral TOA conceived. Of all patients admitted to the hospital with TOA, 53% ultimately required surgical therapy. High residual morbidity and/or resultant infertility mandates more aggressive attempts at prevention.

Abscess↗

A problem-oriented gynecology clinic for patients with sexually transmitted diseases.

A problem-oriented clinic designed to provide continuity of care for female patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is described. The primary goal of the clinic is to ensure adequate follow-up care for individuals diagnosed as having pelvic inflammatory disease. Functions of the clinic also include follow-up care for patients with positive gonorrhea cultures and consultation for individuals with other STDs. From the time of initiation of the clinic in January, 1976, until November 15, 1979, 4,305 patients were seen. A stratified random sample of 190 of these patients revealed the reasons for attending the clinic to be: (1) follow-up for PID, 85 patients (44.7%), (2) positive gonorrhea culture, 63 (36.3%), (3) unsatisfactory gonorrhea culture, 14 (7.4%), (4) gonorrhea contact, 10 (5.3%), and (5) other, 12 (6.3%). Complete follow-up has been obtained on 3,935 (91.4%) of the patients. Of the 370 patients who did not return for follow-up visits, 336 were reported to the local health department for retrieval. There were 34 patients in whom the follow-up status could not be determined. The establishment, operation, advantages, and disadvantages of the clinic are discussed.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

Single-dose and multidose prophylaxis in vaginal hysterectomy: a comparison of sodium cephalothin and metronidazole.

A total of 79 patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy and were randomly assigned to three regimens of prophylactic antibiotics: multidose intravenous sodium cephalothin, single-dose intravenous sodium cephalothin, and single-dose oral metronidazole. Control groups were selected from two previous studies conducted at our institution. The incidence rates of infectious morbidity following all three regimens of antibiotics were substantially lower than in the control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of standard febrile morbidity and serious pelvic infections among the three groups. The fever index was lowest in the single-dose sodium cephalothin group.

Adult↗

Transport of Neisseria meningitidis cultures: growth-supporting media and freezing as an alternative.

The abilities of Transgrow (TG), Thayer-Martin (TM), and New York City (NYC) solid media to maintain the viability of 12 strains of Neisseria meningitidis under various controlled conditions were assessed. The effects of charcoal impregnation of swabs, temperature, and an enriched CO2 atmosphere were examined with holding for up to 21 days. Recovery from samples held at 35 degrees C was, in almost all instances, greater than at 22 or 4 degrees C. A strong requirement for added CO2 was demonstrated, especially at lower temperatures. No positive effect could be attributed to the use of charcoal-impregnated swabs. NYC and TM media were the best overall, with the former permitting recovery from more than 75% of all samples held on slants for 20 days at 4 degrees C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Freezing, with holding on dry ice, was a useful alternative to the use of growth-supporting media. This latter method eliminated the requirement for an enriched CO2 atmosphere.

Culture Media↗

The in vitro and in vivo effects of a surgical lubricant on the recovery of gonococci from the endocervical canal.

A surgical lubricant containing phenylmercuric borate, tested in vitro, was shown to alter the recovery of the gonococcus. In vivo studies of 150 patients, 60 (40%) of whom were infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, were performed to determine if examination with the surgical lubricant, as compared to tap water, altered the ability to recover N. gonorrhoeae from the cervix. Results indicated that although the surgical lubricant containing phenylmercuric borate was bacteriostatic in vitro, it did not alter the recovery of N. gonorrhoese from infected patients.

Adolescent↗

Cytologic detection and clinical significance of Actinomyces israelii in women using intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Pancervicovaginal (Papanicolaou) smears exhibiting pseudomycilial-like clumps of organisms obtained from 35 women employing IUD's were studied by direct immunofluorescent technique for identification of A. israelii and A. naeslundi. In every case the specific fluorescence was achieved with species-specific antiserum against A. israelii. The clinical profile of these 35 women was retrospectively analyzed.

Actinomyces↗

The cold sterilization of abortion cannulae.

The purpose of this study was to determine if cold sterilization is a feasible method for sterilizing abortion cannulae and, if so, to find the appropriate solutions and time intervals for this sterilization process. Study findings show that abortion cannulae can be cold sterilized by soaking them for a minimum of 10 minutes in a solution of Cidex or 95% ethanol. Soaking the cannulae for 20 minutes in a 2% tincture of iodine solution also appears to be useful for decontamination purposes.

Abortion, Induced↗

Bacteriologic culture results obtained before and after elective midtrimester urea abortion.

Twenty patients undergoing elective midtrimester abortion by urea amnioinfusion had bacteriologic culture data obtained before and after the procedure. Despite the presence of pathogens in the vagina and cervix prior to the procedure, only 20% of patients exhibited endometrial growth following abortion. Factors that seem to favor such endometrial growth include increased injection-abortion intervals and the requirement for curettage to manage incomplete abortion.

Abortion, Induced↗

Pelvic actinomycosis and the intrauterine contraceptive device. A cyto-histomorphologic study.

In 350 pancervico-vaginal (Fast) smears obtained from women using intrauterine contraceptive devices, organisms consistent with Actinomycetes have been found. Actinomycetes, representing cervicitis, endometritis, and pelvic abscesses clinically, have been observed histologically in some of these cases. Special stains, immunofluorescence, and anaerobic cultures have confirmed these organisms to be Actinomyces israelii. Actinomyces in the Fast smear occur in isolated clumps, revealing branching, filamentous organisms, and sulfur granules. They can be detected and diagnosed in a Papanicolaou-stained routine pancervico-vaginal smear. This diagnosis in Fast smears can identify users of intrauterine contraceptive devices who may have Actinomyces infection in the genital tract and who are at risk of developing clinical disease related to this infection.

Abscess↗

Sporadic (nonepidemic) puerperal mastitis.

Sporadic puerperal mastitis is an acute cellulitis, characterized by fever and segmental erythema in the breast. Staphylococcus aureus can be cultured in approximately one-half of the cases. With early antibiotic therapy, the infection can be cleared and abscess formation prevented. Breast engorgement may also contribute to abscess formation, and so nursing should not be discontinued. No ill effects are observed in infants who continue to nurse. Twenty women with acute puerperal mastitis had breast milk cultures, and Staphylococcus aureus was recovered in seven cases. All patients were treated with antibiotics and continued nursing. No abscesses developed, and no ill effects were observed in any infants.

Female↗

Unilateral ovarian abscess associated with the intrauterine device.

Four cases of primary ovarian abscess associated with intrauterine contraceptive devices are presented. It is proposed that both their unilaterality and the fact that they were primary in the ovary rather than tuboovarian are due to the fact that bacteria from the intrauterine device are shed continuously through the fallopian tubes, resulting in the inoculation of the corpus luteum, a unilateral structure. Removal of the ovarian abscess without additional surgical therapy is sufficient for a patient with this type of pelvic infection.

Abscess↗