Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Fainstein

Publications and source records attributed to V Fainstein.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Comparative in vitro study of SQ26,776.

A new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, SQ26,776, was evaluated in vitro against clinical isolates, and its activity was compared with that of other cephalosporins, penicillins, and aminoglycosides. This compound was very active against the majority of the aerobic gram-negative bacilli tested, including 47 multiresistant strains. It had no activity against the gram-positive cocci. It also showed activity comparable to that of moxalactam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, thienamycin, and tobramycin. It was superior to mezlocillin. The in vitro activity suggests that SQ26,776 should prove useful in settings in which the most likely pathogens are gram-negative bacilli.

Aminoglycosides↗

In vitro susceptibilities of Aeromonas hydrophila against new antibiotics.

The antibiotic susceptibilities of 16 clinical isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila obtained from cancer patients with septicemia were studied. Of the new beta-lactam antibiotics tested, azthreonam and moxalactam were the most active, followed by cefoperazone, cefotaxime, and ceftizoxime. Excellent activity was demonstrated by chloroamphenicol, tetracycline, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Semisynthetic penicillins had no appreciable activity against this organism.

Aeromonas↗

Pseudooutbreak of cryptococcal meningitis.

A pseudooutbreak of cryptococcal meningitis was caused by the use of contaminated albumin solution used in the preparation of Papanicolaou-stained slides of cerebrospinal fluid. Organisms were seen in cytocentrifuge preparations, but not in India ink preparations of cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Cryptococcal antigen tests were positive and Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from the albumin-treated cerebrospinal fluid specimens and from the albumin solution.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗

Diagnostic value of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Candida albicans cytoplasmic antigen in sera of cancer patients.

To diagnose systemic candidiasis we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitation of Candida albicans cytoplasmic antigen in sera of cancer patients. The antigen concentration was evaluated in 59 patients divided into several groups according to clinical, histological, and microbiological findings as well as antimicrobial treatment. All of seven patients with proven disseminated candidiasis had elevated antigen concentrations (mean = 1,200 ng/ml). Among 13 patients with suspected disseminated candidiasis, 9 had elevated antigen concentrations (mean = 1,039 ng/ml). The remaining four patients showed negative antigen (less than 125 ng/ml). In a group of patients with fever of unknown origin, 5 of 17 had high antigen concentrations (mean = 1,220 ng/ml) and the rest were negative. Patients with bacterial infection (6 patients), aspergillosis (3), cryptococcosis (4), coccidioidomycosis (3), and no infection (6), as well as normal healthy adults (31), had antigen concentrations of less than 100 ng/ml. This ELISA is rapid, sensitive, and specific and is a helpful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of candidiasis in cancer patients.

Adolescent↗

Pneumonia caused by a previously undescribed bacterium.

A new and as yet unidentified bacterium was isolated from the lung tissue of a cancer patient with bilateral pneumonia. Clinically, the pneumonia was consistent with legionellosis; the organism cultured from the lung grew only on the charcoal-yeast extract agar routinely used for Legionella isolation. Subsequent testing, however, showed the organism to be quite distinct from the known Legionella species in its biochemical, antigenic, and growth characteristics.

Bacteria↗

Endocarditis due to Eikenella corrodens in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia in relapse and bacterial endocarditis due to Eikenella corrodens is described. After appropriate treatment was instituted, blood cultures became negative, but the patient died of intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to thrombocytopenia. The role of Eikenella corrodens as a pathogenic bacterium in immunocompromised hosts is described.

Adult↗

Patterns of oropharyngeal and fecal flora in patients with acute leukemia.

The oropharyngeal and fecal flora in 33 patients hospitalized with acute leukemia was examined. Normal flora predominated on admission. All patients received chemotherapy during the 48 hr after admission and at least one course of antibiotics during hospitalization. By the end of the study, 68% of the initial normal throat flora and 57% of the fecal flora had disappeared. The shift in flora was mainly due to the persistence or acquisition of aerobic gram-negative bacilli. Before antibiotics were given, the normal flora in both sites had already decreased in quantity, and increased numbers of aerobic gram-negative bacilli were found. After the first course of antibiotics, a further decrease in the total number of normal strains was observed. Information obtained from surveillance cultures was helpful for understanding the changes in flora but did not correlate with the microbiology of the infectious processes and could not be used to predict infection.

Acute Disease↗

Comparative in vitro study in new cephalosporins.

Three new cephalosporins, ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, and cefotiam, were evaluated in vitro against clinical isolates, and their activities were compared with those of other cephalosporins, mezlocillin, and tobramycin. All three new cephalosporins were very active against gram-positive cocci (except enterococci), but mezlocillin was more active against Streptococcus ssp. Cefotiam and cefamandole were the most active antibiotics against Streptococcus aureus. Ceftazidime had broad-spectrum activity against all gram-negative bacilli tested, except Enterobacter spp. Ceftizoxime was active against all, except Enterobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Although cefotiam was quite active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis, it was inactive against indole-positive Proteus spp., Serratia spp, and P. aeruginosa. The in vitro activity suggests that ceftazidime should prove useful as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, in those settings in which the most likely pathogens are gram-negative bacilli.

Bacteria↗

Valuable of terminal subcultures from negative BACTEC blood culture bottles.

Terminal subcultures from 5,354 negative BACTEC blood culture bottles did not significantly improve the detection of positive cultures. Only 15 of the 545 total isolates were recovered from the terminal subcultures. All 15 of these isolates were either considered contaminants or had been previously detected.

Bacteria↗