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Risk factors and course of illness among children with invasive penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. The Streptococcus pneumoniae Working Group.

OBJECTIVES: To assess differences in risk factors, clinical presentation, and course of illness between children infected with penicillin-sensitive and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study conducted in Uruguay and Argentina using information from a hospital-based surveillance system. Hospitalized children 5 years of age and younger who had S pneumoniae isolated from a normally sterile site between June 1993 and October 1996 were eligible. Hospital records were linked with surveillance data. Both stratified univariate analysis and logistic regression was completed. RESULTS: Of the 380 children eligible for the study, 274 records (72%) were available for review. Ninety-nine children (36%) had DRSP; 46 showed intermediate susceptibility (minimum inhibitory concentration, 0.12-1.0 microg/mL) and 53 showed high-level resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration >/=2.0 microg/mL). Children with meningitis were less likely to have DRSP than those with other forms of invasive disease (relative risk = 0. 5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.9). Risk factors associated with DRSP were use of penicillin or ampicillin in the 3 months before illness (odds ratio = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.7) and possession of private medical coverage (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-5.0). Response to therapy, including response to penicillin or ampicillin among children with nonmeningeal invasive disease, course of illness, and clinical outcome did not differ significantly between children infected with penicillin-susceptible or penicillin-resistant isolates. CONCLUSION: In this study, previous use of penicillin or ampicillin and private medical coverage were associated with having DRSP. Children with nonmeningeal invasive disease responded equally well to penicillin regardless of the penicillin susceptibility of their pneumococcal isolate.

Ampicillin↗

Secretory and serum antibodies against Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus in relation to ingestion of fermented milk products.

Serum, saliva, and urine were analyzed for the presence of IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies reactive with the yoghurt bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. A comparison was made between four subjects who frequently ate yoghurt and four subjects who never ate yoghurt. Salivary IgA and serum IgG activity against the milk-fermenting bacterium S. lactis was studied in five other subjects before, during, and after a period of ingestion of a fermented milk product, filmjölk. All analyses were carried out by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Antibody activity against the yoghurt bacteria was found in saliva, serum, and urine. No difference in antibody activity between yoghurt eaters and non-yoghurt eaters was measured for salivary IgA, but for serum IgG a lower activity against S. thermophilus was present among the yoghurt eaters. Antibody activity against S. lactis was present already before the ingestion of filmjölk began, and the activity was not altered during the period of ingestion. It is concluded that in adult subjects, the ingestion of milk-fermenting bacteria does not result in a significant change in the antibody activity against these bacteria.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Prevalence, capsular type distribution, anthropometric and obstetric factors of group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) colonization in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence, serotype distribution, anthropometry and obstetric factors of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. SETTING: Chinhoyi General Hospital. SUBJECTS: 206 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Chinhoyi General Hospital were systematically randomly sampled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All the isolates were serotyped on the basis of capsular polysaccharide (CHO) antigen designated, Ia, Ib, II, III, IV and V. RESULTS: 65 (31.6%) were carriers of GBS. The serotypes found were, type III (41.8%), type V (37.4%), type Ia (11.0%), type IV (3.3%), type Ib (3.3%) type II (1.0%) and 2.0% of the isolates were non-typable. All isolates were sensitive to penicillin and resistant to gentamycin. Colonization was more common in women with parity 0 to 2 (4.6%) and age group 20 to 24 years (43.1%). There was some evidence (p = 0.063) to suggest that GBS was more often isolated from the vagina (12.6%) than from the rectum (6.3%). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women in Chinhoyi. Types III and V were the most common serotypes found.

Adult↗

[The antimicrobial efficiency of aqueous solutions of calcium hydroxide on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus faecalis and Candida albicans, in vitro].

Calcium hydroxide preparations Ca(OH)2 are used as water solutions, putly, liner, cement or artificial material. The therapeutic effect of each medicaments depends on physical and chemical characteristic of additional components. The aim of the paper is to research the sensitivity of Streptococcus faecalis and Candida albicans to different water solution concentrations of calcium hydroxide. As solid plates, Bacto-Mitis-Salivarius agar was used for S. mutans, Torlak blood agar for S. faecalis and Sabourand agar "Torlak" for C. albicans. The holes were drilled in solid plates and were filled by 0.2 ml of water solutions of Ca(OH)2. Preparations, created as described were incubated aerobically at 37 degrees C in the period of 48 hrs. Results were read after 24 as well as after 48 hrs. The examined solutions of Ca(OH)2, revealed the highest antimicrobic effect after 24 hrs. The result remained unchanged even after 48 hrs. The inhibition of S. mutans growth on the solid plate occurred with the concentration of Ca(OH)2 solution from 271.18 x 10(-2) mol/dm3 and pH 12.76. The growth of S. faecalis at the solid plate was inhibited with the concentration of 3335.21 x 10(-3) mol/dm3 and pH 12.82. The inhibition of C. albicans growth on solid plate occurred with the concentration of Ca(OH)2 solution from 1023.20 x 10(-3) mol/dm3 and pH 12.84. The difference in the sensitivity of the examined microorganisms at the same concentrations of Ca(OH)2 solution was observed.

Calcium Hydroxide↗

Streptococcus milleri group (Streptococcus anginosus): recovery from intra-abdominal and soft tissue sites.

One hundred thirty-three Streptococcus milleri group (S. anginosus) isolates were recovered from 487 surgical patients. The streptococci were recovered from 33 percent of intra-abdominal infection cultures (84/257). 22 percent of samples from penetrating visceral trauma (19/86), 52 percent of perirectal abscess specimens (13/25), 13 percent of nonpuerperal breast abscess cultures (8/60), and 15 percent of diabetic foot lesions (9/59). Ninety-eight percent of the S. milleri (131/133) were recovered as companion flora in polymicrobial cultures. The organisms were highly susceptible to the beta-lactam antibiotics. The precise pathogenic role of the S. milleri group (S. anginosus) is unknown. However, intrinsic virulence may be expressed in patients with severe infection or other predisposing factors.

Abdomen↗

[The appearance of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae in serum and lung lavage fluid of mice after the administration of different antigens. 2. IgG and IgA antibody detection after intraperitoneal, aerosol and oral immunization with Streptococcus pneumoniae].

The stimulation of secretory and systemic IgG- and IgA-antibodies in the lung lavage fluid was examined in an animal test. It was also examined in the serum of mice after once to four times oral, aerosol or intraperitoneal immunization with total formalin destroyed bacteria of the species Streptococcus pneumoniae type I. Not only in the lung lavage fluid, but also in the sera specific antibodies could be found with the enzyme immunoassay. An intraperitoneal antigen application mainly resulted in increase of the specific IgG in the serum, whereas an oral and especially aerosol antigen application mainly developed a stimulation of IgA in the lung lavage fluid.

Administration, Oral↗

[The appearance of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae in serum and in lung lavage fluid of mice after the administration of different antigens. 1. Development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae].

Immunization against streptococcus pneumoniae is for the prophylaxis of pneumococcus diseases in an increased number of risk patients and because of an increasing presence of antibiotica resistance in present days necessary. In order to get better possibilities to test the immunization effect, improved methods for detection of antibodies are applied. In this publication a double sandwich-EIA and a protein-coupled EIA are presented and compared. The double sandwich-EIA has proved to be superior with regard to its day by day variability of 12.5% and its series variability of 3.5% and to be of the same value compared with international developments. The production of most of antigens and antisera is described and the application of gamma-irradiated micro-plates is proposed.

Animals↗

Clinically significant Streptococcus anginosus (Streptococcus milleri) infections: a review of 186 cases.

We describe clinically significant infections due to Streptococcus anginosus in 186 patients; 114 (61.3%) males and 72 (38.7%) females, median age 42 years, range 9 months to 93 years. In 101 (54.3%) cases S anginosus alone caused infection and in 85 (45.7%) cases it was associated with other microorganisms. Abscesses accounted for 110 (59.1%) infections. Sites of infection were: miscellaneous skin and soft tissue, 64 (34.4%), intraabdominal 41 (22%), head and neck 34 (18.3%), pleuropulmonary 22 (11.8%), genitourinary 9 (4.8%), musculoskeletal 6 (3.2%), endocarditis 5 (2.7%) and primary bacteraemia 5 (2.7%). Treatment consisted of antibiotic therapy which was often prolonged, median 30 days, range 2-90 days, and surgery in 159 (85.5%). S anginosus infection was a contributory factor in two of the three deaths which occurred.

Abscess↗

Heart-reactive antibodies in rabbit anti-Streptococcus mutans sera fail to cross-react with Streptococcus mutans.

Immunization of rabbits with Streptococcus mutans antigens results in the production of serum antibodies that bind in vitro to human, rabbit, and monkey cardiac muscle. Antibodies to heart, however, have also been reported to occur at lower titers in the sera of unimmunized rabbits. In this study, the specificities of heart-reactive antibodies (HRA) in sera of unimmunized and S. mutans-immunized rabbits were compared using indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot, and Bio-Dot immunoassays. Both groups of sera gave striational indirect immunofluorescence-staining patterns on thin sections of native human and monkey cardiac muscle. Western blot analyses revealed that antibodies in normal sera bound 9 to 20 components of human, rabbit, and monkey heart. The major bands had Mr of 205,000, 160,000, 135,000, and 70,000. Several of the normal sera did not have antibody activity to S. mutans antigens, indicating that these HRA do not cross-react with these bacteria. Although immunization of rabbits with S. mutans caused increased titers of HRA (two to three doubling dilutions), Western blot assays using anti-S. mutans sera showed banding patterns qualitatively similar to those of normal sera on heart extracts. Antibodies to skeletal muscle myosin were detected in both serum groups. Of eighteen normal rabbit sera sixteen had antimyosin titers of 10 to 40, whereas all eighteen anti-S. mutans sera had titers of 10 to 160. Affinity-purified antimyosin antibodies isolated from anti-S. mutans serum did not bind to S. mutans components. Conversely, affinity-purified antibodies to S. mutans antigens did not bind to myosin or to other cardiac muscle components. Among these were antibodies to the 185-kDa cell wall protein (also known as B, I/II, IF, Spa A, and P1) previously believed to possess antigenic mimicry. HRA were removed from anti-S. mutans sera by absorption with S. mutans but this effect was not specific, because a non-cross-reactive internal standard antibody was also absorbed to the same extent. Because previous evidence for antigenic mimicry between S. mutans and cardiac muscle was based on serum cross-absorption experiments, this immunologic relationship is not substantiated. These results indicated that naturally occurring antibodies to cardiac muscle components are present in the sera of unimmunized rabbits and that immunization with S. mutans does not stimulate production of new heart-reactive antibody, but rather serves to boost antibody production by preexisting clones of self-reactive B-lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Genetic transformation in Streptococcus sanguis. Identification, surface spreading and competence of invasive strains of Streptococcus sanguis Lancefield groups H and W and other invasive viridans streptococci.

Of 46 viridans streptococci isolated from cases of probably true bacteremia, 26 strains or 56% could be grouped serologically in the Lancefield system. Eight strains (17%) were identified as serogroup H (characteristic of Streptococcus sanguis), ten strains (22%) as serogroup W (a new group antigen found in S. sanguis) and eight strains (17%) as serogroup K (related to S. mitis (mitior)). The high number of serogroupable viridans streptococci was specially due to the introduction of serogroup W and indicates the importance of this serogroup in cases of bacteremia. A set of six diagnostic tests (production of hydrogen peroxide, arginine and esculin hydrolysis, polysaccharide production, Voges-Proskauer reaction, mannitol fermentation) was used for speciation of the viridans streptococci; in addition, search for spreading zones around the colonies was included in the diagnostic procedure. Spreading zones were only present in S. sanguis and occurred more frequently in group H strains than group W strains. The 46 viridans streptococci were tested in genetic transformation. The prevalence of spontaneous competence in strains isolated from the blood was high, particularly in S. sanguis serogroup H (88%) and W (50%). For serogroup H, spontaneous competence was found as frequently among invasive strains as among carrier isolates previously studied.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Drug resistance in Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus faecium and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from laboratory animals.

A total of 1,278 strains of Streptococcus faecalis, 688 of Str. faecium and 796 of Staphylococcus epidermidis were collected from laboratory animals of 20 colonies in 1980, and tested for their resistance to 20 drugs. Thirteen percent of Str. faecalis, 12% of Str. faecium and 25% of Staph. epidermidis were drug resistant. Multiple drug resistant organisms were frequently detected in laboratory animal colonies where antibiotic treatment had been undertaken. TC-resistant streptococci and EM-resistant Staph. epidermidis were distributed in about half of the colonies regardless of the history of antibiotic usage.

Animals↗

Group B streptococcus-comparison of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from humans and cows in the Republic of South Africa.

The serological and biochemical characteristics of 100 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from quarter mild of dairy cows and of 107 strains cultured from various sites of human patients, were determined and compared. All the isolates were CAMP-phenomenon and Na-hippurate positive, aesulin negative, fell into Lancefield's Group B and could be placed into one of the 6 recognised serotypes. No human isolates fell into type R but for the rest all the other types were represented in the series of bovine and human cultures. In order of frequency, the human isolates were of type III, II, Ib, X and Ia and the bovine of type II, X, III, Ia, Ib and R. Of the human and bovine cultures respectively, 34 and 96% altered litmus milk, 30 and 100% were sensitive to bacitracin, 32 and 4% were pathogenic to mice, 82 and 93% reduced the ultimate pH of glucose broth to 4,2-4,8, 36 and 100% fermented lactose, 93 and 99% salicin and 94 and 79% trehalose. Concerning the combination of lactose/salicin fermentation, 35 and 95% of bovine and human isolates were , 0 and 5% were , 59 and 0% were -/=nd 7 and 0% were -/-. Data are summarised in 5 tables and discussed against the background of reports from other countries. It appears that a proportion of the human infections concern organisms likely to have been derived from bovine sources, either directly or indirectly. Definite classification of South African GBS into either human or animal strains does not seem possible. It is concluded that it would be more correct to refer to the source of an isolate instead of inferring that because the organism was primarily cultured from, say human resources, it is necessarily a human "strain'.

Adolescent↗

Development of gene probes for the specific identification of Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus parauberis based upon large subunit rRNA gene sequences.

23S ribosomal RNa (rRNA) gene sequences of Streptococcus uberis and Strep. parauberis were determined by direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. Oligonucleotide probes specific for Strep. uberis and Strep. parauberis were designed from variable regions of the 23S rRNA gene sequence data. Molecular hybridizations with PCR-amplified rRNA gene targets provided a precise and reliable means of differentiating Strep. uberis and Strep. parauberis from each other and from other streptococcal species.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Plasmid linkage of a bacteriocin-like substance in Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strain WM4: transferability to Streptococcus lactis.

Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strain WM4 transferred lactose-fermenting and bacteriocin-producing (Bac+) abilities to S. lactis LM2301, a lactose-negative, streptomycin-resistant (Lac- Strr), plasmid-cured derivative of S. lactis C2. Three types of transconjugants were obtained: Lac+ Bac+, Lac+ Bac-, and Lac-Bac+.S. diacetylactis WM4 possessed plasmids of 88, 33, 30, 5.5, 4.8, and 3.8 megadaltons (Mdal). In Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants, lactose-fermenting ability was linked to the 33-Mdal plasmid and bacteriocin-producing ability to the 88-Mdal plasmid. Curing the 33-Mdal plasmid from Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants resulted in loss of lactose-fermenting ability but not bacteriocin-producing ability (Lac- Bac+). These strains retained the 88-Mdal plasmid. Curing of both plasmids resulted in a Lac- Bac- phenotype. The Lac+ Bac- transconjugant phenotype was associated with a recombinant plasmid of 55 or 65 Mdal. When these transconjugants were used as donors in subsequent matings, the frequency of Lac transfer was about 2.0 X 10(-2) per recipient plated, whereas when Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants served as donors, the frequency of Lac transfer was about 2.0 X 10(-5) per recipient plated. Also, Lac- Bac+ transconjugants were found to contain the 88-Mdal plasmid. The data indicate that the ability of WM4 to produce bacteriocin is linked to an 88-Mdal conjugative plasmid and that lactose-fermenting ability resides on a 33-Mdal plasmid.

Conjugation, Genetic↗

Ultrastructure and Host Specificity of Bacteriophages of Streptococcus cremoris, Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis, and Leuconostoc cremoris from Finnish Fermented Milk "Viili".

"Viili," a fermented milk product, has a firm but viscous consistency. It is produced with traditional mesophilic mixed-strain starters, which have various stabilities in dairy practice. Thirteen morphologically different types of phages were found in 90 viili samples studied by electron microscopy. Ten of the phage types had isometric heads with long, noncontractile tails, two had elongated heads with long, noncontractile tails, and one had a unique, very long elongated head with a short tail. Further morphological differences were found in the tail size and in the presence or absence of a collar, a baseplate, and a tail fiber. To find hosts for the industrially significant phages, we examined the sensitivities of 500 bacterial isolates from starters of the viili. Seven of the phages attacked Streptococcus cremoris strains, three attacked S. lactis subsp. diacetylactis strains, and four attacked Leuconostoc cremoris strains. Some phages differed only in their host specificity. Hosts were not found for 4 of the 13 morphological types of phages.

Journal Article↗

Enzymatic deacylation of lipoteichoic acid by protoplasts of Streptococcus faecium (Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790).

High-molecular-weight, micellar lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was converted to a lower-molecular-weight, apparently deacylated polymer when the former was incubated in the presence of growing protoplasts of Streptococcus faecium (S. faecalis ATCC 9790), but not when incubated in fresh or spent protoplast medium. The mobility of the low-molecular-weight polymer upon agarose gel electrophoresis was indistinguishable from that of native extracellular lipoteichoic acid LTA(X) from this organism or from chemically deacylated LTA. Native LTA(X) was shown to contain less than one fatty acid equivalent per 18 LTA(X) molecules, in contrast to the 4:1 ratio of fatty acids to polyglycerolphosphate chains in micellar LTA.

Enterococcus faecalis↗

Autolytic enzyme system of Streptococcus faecalis. V. Nature of the autolysin-cell wall complex and its relationship to properties of the autolytic enzyme of Streptococcus faecalis.

Cell walls from exponential-phase cultures of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 contain an autolysin (a beta-N-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.17) which has been isolated from trypsin-speeded wall autolysates. The autolysin, which was excluded from Bio-Gel P-60, was further fractionated by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose chromatography or filtration on Bio-Gel P-200. After DEAE-cellulose chromatography, which removed most of the wall polysaccharide, autolysin activity was extremely labile and was rapidly lost at -20 C, even in the presence of albumin. The P-60-excluded enzyme was rapidly bound by walls at both 37 C (50% bound in about 1 min) and 0 C (50% bound in less than 4 min). Wall-bound autolysin could not be removed by 1.0 m ammonium acetate (pH 6.9). Autolysin was also bound by walls that had been extracted with 10% trichloroacetic acid or treated with 0.01 n periodate, suggesting that the nonpeptidoglycan wall polymers are not important for binding. Wall-bound autolysin was more stable than the soluble enzyme to proteinase digestion, acetone (40%), 8 m urea (at 0 C), or to inactivation at 56 C. Two bacterial neutral proteinases (which do not hydrolyze ester bonds) activated latent wall-bound autolysin, suggesting that activation results from the cleavage of one or more peptide bonds. The group A streptococcal proteinase activated latent autolysin but differed from the other proteinases in that it did not inactivate soluble autolysin. The results suggest that the autolysin is not covalently linked to the wall. The high affinity of the walls for the autolysin appears to be responsible for the firm, not easily reversed binding.

Autolysis↗