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Biomedical subjects

R Munro

Publications and source records attributed to R Munro.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Use of a selective enrichment broth for isolation of Campylobacter species from human feces.

Isolation of Campylobacter species from 1126 fecal specimens from patients with diarrhea was compared using direct plating and selective enrichment broth. The use of the enrichment broth did not increase the isolation rate, which was 4.2%. While a selective enrichment broth may have advantages where there is delay in transit to the laboratory, or where small numbers of organisms are sought, we do not recommend its use for clinical specimens from patients with diarrhea.

Campylobacter↗
PubMed1984

Systemic sepsis and intravenous devices. A prospective survey.

Seventy-five episodes of bacteraemia or fungaemia related to indwelling temporary intravenous devices were assessed by the Infectious Diseases Unit of The Westmead Centre, to determine the quality of care of these devices. The estimated incidence of systemic sepsis was 1% for all central venous catheters inserted and 0.1% for all peripheral venous catheters inserted. Sepsis was a major cause of death in 14 of 17 patients who died. Despite the existence of protocols for the insertion, management and early removal of intravenous devices, factors increasing the risk of sepsis included delay in the removal of the intravenous device and the presence of thrombophlebitis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (41%); antibiotic resistant Gram-negative rods were also common (38%). It is concluded that continued education of resident and nursing staff is essential to minimize the risk of intravenous catheter-related sepsis.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMed1984

Is the antimicrobial removal device a cost-effective addition to conventional blood cultures?

Two hundred and thirty-four blood cultures from 140 patients receiving antibiotics were processed using the antimicrobial removal device (ARD) in parallel with conventional blood cultures. One hundred and seventy cultures were obtained from patients suspected to have bacteraemia and 64 from patients known to have a positive conventional blood culture within the preceding three days. A total of 38 (16.2%) ARD-processed cultures were positive, compared with 21 (8.9%) conventional cultures (p less than 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). No instances of positive conventional cultures and negative ARD-processed cultures were identified. Thirty-three of 38 ARD-processed cultures became positive within 24 h, compared with 14 parallel conventional cultures (p less than 0.0001 Fisher's exact test). Although the yield and rapidity of isolation of bacteria from blood were improved by ARD processing, in only one of 140 patients did this information alter treatment. As the use of an ARD is associated with a sixfold increase in the cost of blood cultures, we conclude that, in our hands, general use of the device in patients receiving antibiotics is not cost-effective. Considerable care should be taken in selecting patients for ARD-processing of blood cultures.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1983

Histopathological findings in the lungs of Scottish red and roe deer.

Histopathology on portions of lung collected from 34 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 15 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) between 1977 and 1981 revealed evidence of lungworm infestation in 16 red and 14 roe deer. In the red deer, Dictyocaulus species, and the developmental stages of another parasite, believed to be Elaphostrongylus cervi, were involved. Dictyocaulus also affected the roe deer, but in them the major lesions were associated with protostrongylids. Exudative bronchopneumonia, including two cases of fungal infection, was predominantly a problem of red deer under seven months of age. Between the age of four and seven months, parasites frequently accompanied this change. Other conditions encountered were pulmonary congestion, tuberculosis and granulomata of unknown cause.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

In-vitro effects of vancomycin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid, alone and in combination, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations were determined for eighteen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, the majority also resistant to gentamicin, obtained from the blood of bacteraemic patients. Fifty per cent of organisms had a greater than four-fold difference in M.I.C. and M.B.C. for vancomycin, 83% for rifampicin, and 89% for fusidic acid. In-vitro effects of two-drug combinations of vancomycin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid demonstrated neither synergy nor antagonism when measured by a checkerboard dilution technique. The relevance of these findings to choice of therapy of serious infection due to methicillin-gentamicin resistant Staph. aureus is yet to be determined.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1982

Experimental infections with Dictyocaulus viviparus in vaccinated and unvaccinated red deer.

Four of eight red deer calves which had been artificially reared and were lungworm free were vaccinated with bovine lungworm oral vaccine when eight weeks old; the other four were not vaccinated. Three of each category were challenged daily with 500 Dictyocaulus viviparus infective stage larvae per kg liveweight for 17 days when six months old while one in each category was left as an unchallenged control. The effects of challenge were monitored and all challenged deer and one control were killed for post mortem assessment. Challenge with D viviparus was associated with reduced food intakes and weight gains but vaccinated calves were less affected than unvaccinated ones. The reaction of the alveolar tissue of red deer lung to D viviparus was mild in vaccinated and unvaccinated animals and differed from that of bovine lung in that alveolar epithelialisation was limited and hyaline membrane formation and interstitial emphysema were not seen. The disease was most evident in and around airways and was less in vaccinated calves. It was concluded that young red deer are tolerant to D viviparus but will readily acquire infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Systemic Haemophilus influenzae infection in childhood.

Forty-nine children who had systemic Haemophilus infection and were treated at the Westmead Centre, Sydney, over a two-year period are described. The majority (29 of 49 children) were aged two years or less. Epiglottis and meningitis accounted for 77% of these infections. All H. influenzae isolates associated with clinical disease were of the capsular type b. Eight per cent (four of 50) of H. influenzae infections were caused by beta-lactamase producing strains. There was no geographic clustering or seasonal variation. There was no mortality. Major morbidity included two patients who had epiglottis and required tracheostomy, and two patients who had meningitis developed bilateral profound sensorineural deafness. No secondary cases were detected in household contacts of 21 patients with H. influenzae meningitis during the study period. Epiglottis frequently occurs in very young children. The rapid response to antibiotic treatment suggests that early cases of epiglottis may be undiagnosed, but treated with antibiotic agents in the community.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1982

In vitro activity of seventeen antimicrobial agents against Gardnerella vaginalis.

The in vitro activity of 17 antimicrobial agents was tested against 25 clinical isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar dilution. The isolates were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, N-formimidoyl-thienamycin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and erythromycin. MIC90 for the beta-lactam antibiotics ranged from 0.12 mg/l for penicillin to 2 mg/l for ticarcillin. Cefoperazone was the most active cephalosporin, inhibiting all isolates at 1.0 mg/l. N-formimidoylthienamycin was the most active of the newer beta-lactam compounds inhibiting all isolates with a concentration of 0.5 mg/l. Clindamycin and erythromycin were highly active, inhibiting all isolates at 0.6 mg/l. Susceptibility to tetracycline, gentamicin, metronidazole and tinidazole varied between strains. All isolates were resistant to rosoxacin. The hydroxy-metabolites of metronidazole and tinidazole were more active than the parent compounds, inhibiting all isolates.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1982

Vancomycin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Ten patients with bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were treated with vancomycin. These patients were compared with matched controls, nine bacteremic patients with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, and one patient with penicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Controls were treated with a penicillin. There were no significant differences in time to defervescence, metastatic infections, relapse, mortality, need for surgical drainage, or duration of therapy. Fifteen of 19 episodes of serious methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection responded to vancomycin. Severe toxic effects included tinnitus, neutropenia, rash, and possible nephrotoxicity. Tolerance (a minimal bactericidal concentration to minimal inhibitory concentration ratio of at least 32), but not a minimal bactericidal concentration of at least 32 mg/L, correlated with therapeutic failure (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.11, Fisher's exact test). Bacteremic infections due to methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus cause similar morbidity and mortality. Vancomycin is effective but potentially toxic therapy for most serious infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus. In-vitro tests may not predict therapeutic efficacy.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1980

Psoroptic mange in goats in Fiji.

Mange caused by Psoroptes cuniculi was first recognised in goats in Fiji in 1977. Of 33 widely separated herds examined 16 were infested 4 herds having the "extensive" type lesions in older goats. Treatment of the skin and superficial ear lesions with malathion or gamma-BHC was successful but mites survived in the proximal parts of the ear canal. Re-appearance of the mites following treatment was a common problem.

Animals↗