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Biomedical subjects

P Canton

Publications and source records attributed to P Canton.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Penetration of ciprofloxacin into heart valves, myocardium, mediastinal fat, and sternal bone marrow in humans.

The penetration of ciprofloxacin into heart tissue (valve and myocardium), mediastinal fat, and sternal bone marrow was the object of a prospective nonrandomized study involving 36 patients undergoing mitral and/or aortic valve replacement. Patients were divided into two groups of 18. Group 1 patients were administered a single 400-mg intravenous dose of ciprofloxacin over a 1-h period. Group 2 patients received a 750-mg dose of ciprofloxacin orally every 12 h over the 48-h period preceding surgery. In this group, the last dose of ciprofloxacin consisted of an intravenous infusion of 400 mg. Concentrations of ciprofloxacin in plasma and tissue were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Peak and trough levels in plasma were, respectively, 6.19 +/- 1.73 and 0.54 +/- 0.25 micrograms/ml in group 1 patients and 11.59 +/- 3.95 and 0.89 +/- 0.57 micrograms/ml in group 2 patients. Levels of ciprofloxacin in plasma remained significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 until 12 h postinfusion (P less than 0.05). Concentrations of ciprofloxacin in heart valves and myocardia rose rapidly by 1 h postinfusion and remained greater than the MICs for usually susceptible pathogens for at least 5 h. Peak concentrations in myocardia were achieved by hour 1 and were 31.6 +/- 25.0 micrograms/g for group 1 and 21.8 +/- 13.0 micrograms/g for group 2. Peak concentrations in heart valves, achieved between hours 1 and 3, were 5.8 +/- 3.2 and 8.3 +/- 3.1 micrograms/g for groups 1 and 2, respectively. In both groups, peak concentrations in mediastinal fat were lower and achieved later. These were 3.1 +/- 3.8 micrograms/g in group 1 and 2.0 +/- 1.8 micrograms/gram in group 2 and were achieved between hours 3 and 5 and hours 1 and 3, respectively. In conclusion, the good diffusion of ciprofloxacin into heart tissue warrants its use for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis. On the other hand, low and delayed concentrations in mediastinal fat could limit its value as an antibiotic prophylactic agent in a cardiovascular surgical setting when administered immediately (less than 3 h) before surgery.

Adipose Tissue↗

[The combination of penicillin G and ofloxacin: a response to the empirical treatment of community acquired pneumonia].

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy of a combination of penicillin G and ofloxacin in the treatment of community acquired pneumonia. Thirty eight patients (23 males, 15 females, mean age 62.8 years +/- 19.6) were included. They presented a CAP with the following criteria: fever, abnormal chest X-ray pattern. They received the combination of IV penicillin 12 x 10(6) U daily and IV ofloxacin 200 mg bid. After 48 hours of apyrexia, this treatment was followed by oral ofloxacin alone 200 mg bid. In six cases, the etiologic agent was identified: 2 S. pneumoniae, 1 Chlamydiae psittaci, 2 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Mycoplasma. In 32 cases, the bacteriological investigation was negative. Five patients were excluded: 2 deaths due to heart failure, 3 alterations of treatment. Twenty eight patients recovered: apyrexia was obtained in 3.5 days. Penicillin G was prescribed for 7.5 days +/- 2.65, followed by ofloxacin alone for 11.43 +/- 3 days. Five patients were considered as clinical failures: 2 deaths due to extensive pneumonia, 3 recoveries after alteration of treatment. Side effects were rare: 1 confusion, 2 skin rashes. As a conclusion: penicillin G and ofloxacin in combination for the initial therapy of CAP, rapidly relayed by ofloxacin alone, permitted 84.3% of recovery in our patients.

Acute Disease↗

Evaluation of teicoplanin for treatment of endocarditis caused by gram-positive cocci in 20 patients.

Teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic similar to vancomycin, was evaluated for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis in an open multicenter study from May 1985 to August 1987. A total of 20 patients with positive blood culture endocarditis received teicoplanin once daily as a mean intravenous injection of 7.3 mg/kg of body weight (range, 4.8 to 10.6 mg/kg); in 17 patients, teicoplanin was combined with another antibiotic, usually an aminoglycoside. The mean duration of therapy was 28 days (range, 7 to 66 days). The diagnosis of endocarditis was confirmed by echocardiography or anatomical findings in 15 patients and established on the basis of clinical manifestations plus positive blood cultures in 5 patients. The tricuspid valve was involved in 11 of the 20 patients. Isolates from blood were 12 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Staphylococcus hominis, 1 Micrococcus sedentarius, 1 Enterococcus faecalis, 3 Streptococcus bovis, and 2 nongroupable Streptococcus sp. At the end of therapy, bacterial eradication was achieved in 17 of 20 patients (85%), and a favorable clinical outcome had occurred in 14 of 17 evaluable patients (82%). Of these 14 patients, one relapsed 4 months after the end of treatment. Thus, teicoplanin was effective in 13 of 17 patients (76%). Mean peak levels of teicoplanin in serum were lower, 23.1 +/- 2.9 micrograms/ml, in patients who failed than in those who were cured (45.8 +/- 8.4 micrograms/ml). Side effects occurred in 7 of 20 patients (35%), and required premature discontinuation of teicoplanin in 3 patients. These side effects were fever in three patients, rash in three patients, hearing loss in two patients, and increased serum transaminase levels in two patients. This study demonstrates the efficacy of teicoplanin in the treatment of endocarditis and the need for achieving peak levels in serum close to 40 micrograms/ml. Teicoplanin should now be further evaluated in endocarditis caused by gram-positive cocci means of controlled comparative study with standard therapy.

Adolescent↗

LFA1 expression in HIV infection.

The expression of the adhesion molecule LFA1 was investigated in mononuclear cells from 200 samples of peripheral blood obtained from asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients. The numbers and percentages of LFAI-positive cells were established by indirect immunofluorescence. A significant decrease in the number of labelled cells was observed (mean percentage 68.9) while 100% of the cells were positive in controls. These data suggest that LFA1-mediated cell-cell cooperation might be impaired in HIV infection, adding to the immune deficiency related to the disappearance of CD4+ cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Pyoderma gangrenosum: treatment with plasma exchange (4 cases)].

Four patients with pyoderma gangrenosum were treated by plasma exchange. The series included one woman (cervical localization) and three men (sural localization in 1 case, multiple trunk and facial localizations in the second case and multiple, recurrent localizations on trunk and limbs in the third case). In 2 cases another disease was associated (ulcerative colitis in 1 case and Crohn's disease in the other). Between 6 and 12 plasma exchange sessions were carried out in combination with corticotherapy (1/2 mg/kg/day). Results in 2 cases were rated as very good: progression of the disease interrupted and no further pain after the 1st plasma exchange, rapid healing of lesions (a skin graft was necessary for a lesion of hand exposing tendons). A good result was obtained in the 3rd case with interruption of progression of lesions after the 1st plasma exchange but slower relief of pain. Treatment was considered a failure in the 4th case since there was no obvious regression in lesions or pain. Three of the 4 patients had no recurrences, one patient developing recurrences on 4 occasions responding well to plasma exchange each time. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a good indication for use of plasma exchange, which limits extension of ulcerating lesions, suppresses or reduces pain and decreases esthetic prejudice.

Adolescent↗

[Bases of antibiotherapy in neuromeningeal infections].

An early treatment and an adequate antimicrobial chemotherapy are major prognostic factors for bacterial meningitis, brain abscesses and related infections. The necessity of an early therapy requires to begin an empiric antibiotic treatment prior to obtain microbiological results. The principles that apply to empiric therapy of other types of infections are equally applicable to the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) infections and include: the capacity of achieving adequate levels of antibiotic in the CNS and for the brain (pharmacokinetic criteria), the knowledge of the most likely etiologic agents for central nervous system infections and their antibiotic susceptibility (bacteriological criteria). The main clinical types of CNS infection are reviewed for their usual etiologic agents, with a definition of an optimal "bacteriological deal" for each situation. Most studies emphasize the striking differences in the clinical features, etiologic agents and prognosis of spontaneously occurring (primary) meningitis, as opposed to post-traumatic or post-surgical, frequently Gram negative bacillary (secondary) meningitis and other CNS infections (brain abscesses and related infections). These studies, as our experience, suggest that the selection of an empiric therapy must be adapted for each clinical situation. Ampicillin still appears to be an ideal agent for empiric therapy for primary meningitis in older children and adults, in whom meningitis are usually caused by N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae. In younger children (before 6 years), H. influenzae is more often implicated and the occurrence of beta lactamase mediated resistance to ampicillin in as high as 15% of isolates led to use a third generation cephalosporin as an empiric therapy. Neonatal meningitis, meningitis following trauma or surgery, brain abscess, subdural empyema, epidural abscess are caused by various etiologic agents including Streptococcus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Enterobacteriaceae, and for brain infections, anaerobic bacteria. Each situation led to specific recommendations by authors. Finally, miscellaneous aspects of therapy as the usefulness of intrathecal or intraventricular therapy, duration of treatment and place of the neuro-surgery during CNS infections are briefly reviewed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Teicoplanin and Gram-positive coccus infections. Results of a multicenter study on 66 cases].

Sixty-six cases of Gram positive infections were treated with teicoplanin in an open multicenter study, comprising 7 centers in Eastern France. There were 38 male patients and 28 females. Teicoplanin was given at a dose of 400 mg daily for a mean duration of 18.4 days. The most common infections were due to Staphylococcus aureus, found in 43 out of 56 documented cases. 69 (89.9%) of the 78 Gram + strains isolated had an MIC for teicoplanin of less than or equal to 2 mg/l. There were 44 serious infections (30 septicemia, 10 endocarditis, 1 joint and bone infection, 2 mediastinitis, 1 toxic shock syndrome) and 22 less serious infections (4 urinary infections, 14 skin and soft tissue infections, 3 lower respiratory infections, 1 hepatic abscess). In 42 cases concurrent medication was given: beta-lactamase in 11 cases, rifampicin in 10 cases, aminoglycosides in 22, phosphomycin in 3, pefloxacin in 5. The clinical cure and improvement rate was 90.10%. Adverse events were reported in 11 patients, and in only 3 cases was the therapy stopped. All were reversible on stopping therapy. Teicoplanin was found to be well tolerated and effective in the treatment of Gram positive infections in this study.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of post-traumatic and post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis with ceftriaxone alone or in combination with fosfomycin].

From 1984 to 1986, 13 patients (10 adults, 3 children) with bacterial meningitis following neurosurgery or traumatism were given ceftriaxone alone 6 times at a dose of 40 mg/kg one IV injection per day, or in association 7 times with fosfomycin at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day, 3 IV perfusions every 4 h. The bacteriological diagnosis was confirmed in 9 cases (3 Staphylococcus aureus, 4 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 Klebsiella, 1 Peptococcus). In vitro neither synergy nor antagonism were observed between the two antimicrobial agents. The acute infections episode resolved in all patients except on who died with a negative CSF culture. One superinfection meningitis with Achromobacter was seen. CSF concentrations of ceftriaxone were assayed and found to be comparable with those reported by most authors. Tolerance was excellent for all our patients.

Adult↗

[Legionnaires' disease in hairy cell leukemia. 2 new cases].

We report the cases of two patients who developed legionnaires' disease during the course of hairy cell leukaemia. The clinical features are described with special emphasis on the severity of illness in one patient and marked jaundice in both. These cases demonstrate the enhanced susceptibility to Legionella pneumophila infections in patients with hairy cell leukaemia. We therefore suggest a reevaluation of empiric antimicrobial treatment of pneumonia in such patients.

Aged↗

[Indications for piperacillin in pediatrics].

The clinical activity of piperacillin was evaluated in 34 children (mean age: 8 years) presenting with severe infection (septicaemia, meningitis, bronchopneumonia, pyelonephritis). A bacteriological diagnosis was established in 24 cases. The mean duration of treatment was 11 days, and the mean dose 220 mg/kg/day administered in three injections. In 25 cases piperacillin was combined with another antibiotic, usually an aminoglycoside (20 cases). Clinical cure or improvement was obtained in 29 children (85%). Treatment was well tolerated, with only 2 cases of moderate blood eosinophilia. In view of these results the authors suggest that piperacillin could be used in children in two circumstances: severe infections caused by Gram-negative cocci or bacilli in children with cystic fibrosis or neutropenia, and against infections contracted in intensive care units, or in children with febrile leucopenia, combined with an aminoglycoside in the absence of, or pending bacteriological results.

Adolescent↗