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Biomedical subjects

Z Hussain

Publications and source records attributed to Z Hussain.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of MicroScan Rapid Pos Combo panels for identification of staphylococci.

MicroScan Rapid Pos Combo panels (Baxter Diagnostics, Inc., MicroScan, West Sacramento, Calif.) contain substrates conjugated with fluorophores and substrates with a fluorescent pH indicator. AutoSCAn W/A, an automated panel processor equipped with a fluorometer, reads the panels after 2 h of incubation and can identify staphylococci to the species level. We tested 239 strains belonging to 17 species of staphylococci. All the strains were identified by conventional methods (W.E. Kloos and K.H. Schleifer, J. Clin. Microbiol. 1:82-88, 1975) and by the MicroScan Rapid ID system. The system correctly identified 219 (91.6%) strains; nine (3.8%) identification results were probably correct, and six (2.5%) results were incorrect. The system designated five (2.1%) strains as rare biotypes. The automated MicroScan Rapid ID system is useful and reliable in identifying most human isolates of staphylococci encountered in the clinical laboratory.

Bacterial Typing Techniques

Outer membrane protein profiles and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis for differentiation of clinical isolates of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris.

Outer membrane protein (MP) profiles and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) analysis were used as tools for differentiating clinical isolates of Proteus spp. Fourteen distinct MP profiles were established by sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 54 clinical isolates of Proteus spp. (44 strains identified as P. mirabilis and 10 strains identified as P. vulgaris). Forty-one isolates of P. mirabilis and eight isolates of P. vulgaris were grouped within six and three MP profiles, respectively. The remaining P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris isolates had unique profiles. MEE analysis was used to further discriminate among the strains belonging to the same MP groups. Thirty-five distinct electrophoretic types (ETs) were identified among P. mirabilis isolates. The isolates of P. mirabilis from the four most common MP groups were subgrouped into 30 ETs. All of the P. vulgaris strains had unique ETs. The results suggest that upon biochemical classification of Proteus isolates as P. mirabilis or P. vulgaris, further differentiation among strains of the same species can be obtained by the initial determination of MP profiles followed by MEE analysis of strains with identical MPs.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids for identification of gram-negative anaerobic bacilli.

A commercially available, computer-assisted microbial identification system (MIS) employs gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids for bacterial identification. MIS was compared with conventional identification systems. Of 225 gram-negative anaerobes tested, MIS identified 72.4% of the strains to the species level, 88.9% to the appropriate group, and 93.3% to the correct genus.

Bacteriological Techniques

Accuracy and reproducibility of the MicroScan rapid anaerobe identification system with an automated reader.

Rapid anaerobe identification (MicroScan) panels (4 h) were evaluated both visually and by the AutoScan-4, a computer-controlled microplate reader. The results of both reading methods were compared with identifications obtained by the conventional (Virginia Polytechnic Institute) method. In total, 237 anaerobes were tested. Correct identifications were obtained for 166 strains (70%) by visual reading and 157 strains (66.2%) by the AutoScan-4. Supplementary tests resulted in 80.1 and 76.7% total correct identifications, respectively. Comparison of the two reading methods revealed complete agreement for 169 strains. Differences between the two reading methods were due to difficulties in reading specific reactions. This was especially true with the clostridial species. The performance of the MicroScan system in the identification of anaerobic bacteria appears comparable to that of other 4-h identification systems for anaerobes, but this system shows significant variance from the conventional system. Improvements in the trays and data base are required before the system can be recommended for routine use.

Autoanalysis

Pulmonary cavitation due to Neisseria mucosa in a child with chronic neutropenia.

A case of spontaneous pulmonary abscess with cavitation caused by Neisseria mucosa in a chronically neutropenic child is reported. Neisseria mucosa was isolated as the sole pathogen from a percutaneous needle aspirate. It appears that the clinical course of the pulmonary lesion was indolent. Interestingly, a gallium scan was diagnostic for pulmonary abscess even though the child was neutropenic.

Adolescent

Rinderpest in the Landhi Dairy Colony.

Earlier diagnostic reports of rinderpest in buffaloes in the Landhi Dairy Colony were discounted by most veterinarians in Pakistan. Four recent investigations have shown beyond doubt that the affliction was indeed rinderpest.

Animals

Microbiological investigation of an outbreak of bacteraemia due to Streptococcus faecalis in an intensive care unit.

An increased incidence of bacteraemia due to Streptococcus faecalis in a Critical Care and Trauma Centre (CCTC) during November 1985 prompted investigation. During the epidemic 21 blood cultures from five CCTC patients were positive for S. faecalis. A point prevalence culture survey revealed two more strains from wounds from two of these five patients. Fifteen strains from blood cultures and the two strains from wound sites were further characterized by conventional biotyping methods and susceptibility patterns, but they could not be differentiated from 40 unrelated control strains by these methods. The API-20S and the API-ZYM systems, however, were able to distinguish the outbreak isolates from the control strains. This investigation supports the hypothesis that S. faecalis is capable of causing cross-infection, and it may be necessary to characterize enterococci beyond routine tests to identify an outbreak due to this organism.

Adult

Comparison of RapID-ANA and Minitek with a conventional method for biochemical identification of anaerobes.

Two micromethods for the identification of anaerobes, one requiring growth (Minitek) and one nongrowth dependent (RapID-ANA), were compared with a conventional identification culture system. For 222 clinical isolates, RapID-ANA agreed with PRAS in 187 (84%) and Minitek agreed for only 170 strains (76%). Both systems identified common isolates well, but encountered some difficulty in identifying less common clostridia and Gram-negative bacilli. Although adequate for most strains, the results from both systems should be interpreted with caution, particularly for less frequently isolated species.

Bacteria, Anaerobic

Comparison of susceptibility results of anaerobic organisms determined by agar dilution method and Sceptor Anaerobe MIC/ID Micro Broth Dilution Panels.

A commercial broth microdilution system (Sceptor Anaerobe MIC/ID, BBL) for susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria was compared to a reference agar dilution system. Of the 172 organisms tested, only 7% failed to grow sufficiently for testing in the Sceptor system. In 1,590 antibiotic/organism combinations, 86.7% of the Sceptor results were identical or within one doubling dilution of the reference system. In 91.9% of the cases, interpretation of the results was same in both systems. Two hundred and twelve MIC values, however, differ by greater than or equal to 2 log2 dilution from the reference system. Due to this reduced correlation in the actual MIC values with the reference results, further studies are warranted before the Sceptor system can be recommended for routine use.

Agar

Supplement peptone agar--a simple carbohydrate degradation plate medium for the identification of Neisseria species.

A carbohydrate degradation medium was developed for the detection of acid production by Neisseria species and Branhamella catarrhalis. A total of 223 clinical isolates were identified by Supplemented Peptone Agar and the results were compared with those of Cystine Trypticase Agar. Supplemented Peptone Agar and Cystine Trypticase Agar correctly identified 99.1% and 93.7% of the total strains respectively within 24 h. With Cystine Trypticase Agar method another 4% of the isolates could be identified but required an additional 24 h of incubation.

Culture Media

Endophthalmitis due to Oerskovia xanthineolytica.

Unilateral endophthalmitis developed in a 47-year-old man following an intraocular eye injury with a metallic foreign body. Eventually, Oerskovia xanthineolytica was isolated from the vitreous humour. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of endophthalmitis caused by this organism in humans. The clinical course and management of this opportunistic infection are discussed.

Bacterial Infections

Effect of Cuscuta chinensis water extract on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced skin papillomas and carcinomas in mice.

Cuscuta chinensis, known as Aftimun, is reputed to have antitumour activity in the Unani system of medicine in India. The effect of a hot water extract of C. chinensis on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin papillomas and carcinomas in Swiss albino mice was studied. Oral administration of the extract (1 g/kg body wt) thrice a week in 22 mice, started on the tenth day after the first application of DMBA to the 252nd day, markedly delayed the appearance and retarded the growth of papillomas and the incidence of carcinoma, relative to a control group with 28 mice, in a two-stage system of tumorigenesis. Its prophylactic effect was found to be statistically significant.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene