Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Aseptic sampling”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Central nervous system immunity associated with clinical outcome in acute encephalitis.

To search for useful laboratory measures of central nervous system (CNS) immunity that may provide an accurate prognosis or clues regarding treatment choice, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained from 14 consecutive patients with acute encephalitis during acute as well as convalescent or chronic stages, and then examined for surface antigen expressions by lymphocytes and the presence of antineuronal tissue antibodies as well as the levels of IgG-related parameters and proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Seven patients with aseptic viral meningitis served as nonencephalitic controls. Eight of the 14 acute encephalitis patients recovered fully, and reductions in the percentages of CD4(+)CD29(+) helper inducer T cells and IL-2 receptor-positive CD4(+) cells were associated with early recovery and favorable outcome, respectively, whereas a low percentage of CD4(+)CD26(+) memory T cells during an acute stage was associated with an unfavorable outcome following adjunctive intravenous corticosteroid treatment. Further, three of the four encephalitis patients who exhibited autoantibodies had a poor prognosis. These findings suggest that CNS immunity status has an effect on prognosis, while flow cytometric analyses of CSF CD4(+) helper T cell subsets may serve as effective means of assessment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Meningitis in a community with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the spectrum of aetiologies, and distinguishing clinical and laboratory features, of meningeal infection in a community with a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection. SETTING: A hospital serving mineworkers, originating from rural areas of Southern Africa. DESIGN: Prospective cohort of 60 consecutive lumbar punctures (LPs), performed for suspected meningitis. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical history and examination; concurrent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples; mortality status six months after entry to study. RESULTS: 38 of 57 patients (66.7%) were HIV-1 positive, 59.5% of whom had a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3. Nine patients had tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and two had tuberculomas; four developed disease while on TB therapy. There was one case of multidrug, and two of isoniazid-resistant TBM. There were nine episodes of cryptococcal meningitis (seven patients), nine of aseptic meningitis, two of neurosyphilis and 20 normal LPs, including four with AIDS dementia complex (ADC). Ten patients with meningococcal infection, part of a larger outbreak, were significantly younger (p=0.004). All patients with tuberculous, cryptococcal (most immune-suppressed p<0.001) and aseptic meningitis were HIV-1 positive. Within six months, 19 patients had died. Death was associated with HIV positivity (p=0.004), low CD4 count (p<0.001) and a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis, CNS TB or ADC. CONCLUSION: HIV has a major impact on the burden of disease and mortality, with a predominance of opportunistic chronic meningitides, despite a meningococcal outbreak, in this community. Of concern is the development of TBM despite therapy, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1999

Stability and compatibility of topotecan hydrochloride with selected drugs.

The physical and chemical compatibility of topotecan 56 microg/mL (as the hydrochloride) with 18 other drugs during simulated Y-site injection was studied. A vial of topotecan hydrochloride was reconstituted under aseptic conditions with sterile water for injection to yield a solution containing 1 mg of topotecan base per milliliter and further mixed with 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5% dextrose injection. Equal volumes of topotecan solution and each secondary drug, also prepared in 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5% dextrose injection, were mixed in sterile vials. All mixtures were stored at 20-23 degrees C under normal fluorescent light. Samples were taken initially and at four hours for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography, visual inspection, and pH measurement. With a few exceptions, the drug combinations exhibited no visible change in color or clarity initially or after four hours, and the concentration of topotecan hydrochloride and of the secondary drugs was 95% or more of the initial concentration. The concentration of topotecan hydrochloride dropped to 88.7% of the initial concentration after four hours when the drug was mixed with ticarcillin disodium and with clavulanate potassium in 5% dextrose injection. An intense yellow color and a slight haze developed immediately after topotecan hydrochloride was mixed with dexamethasone sodium phosphate or with fluorouracil in 0.9% sodium chloride injection. The topotecan-mitomycin combination in both diluents became pale purple immediately and turned dark pink-lavender within four hours, after which analysis showed 15-20% degradation of mitomycin. During simulated Y-site injection, topotecan hydrochloride was physically and chemically compatible with 15 of 18 drug products.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2002

Compliance with safe practices for preparing parenteral nutrition formulations.

Compliance with the guidelines of the National Advisory Group on Standards and Practice Guidelines for Parenteral Nutrition (NAG) was studied. A questionnaire based on the NAG guidelines was developed to identify common practices used in the preparation of parenteral nutrition formulations in a variety of health care settings. The questionnaire was mailed in January 2000 to a national sample of 1445 pharmacists. There were a total of 633 usable responses, for a net response rate of 45.2% (based on 1400 deliverable surveys). Almost 80% of the respondents were employed in an urban setting, and 64.3% worked in hospitals. Relatively high compliance was reported for guidelines related to filtration (86.9% and 85.9%), verification of product stability and compatibility by a pharmacist or computer program (86.4%), evaluation of the aseptic technique of persons preparing sterile products (81.4%), and having a pharmacist assess formulations to determine whether the contents are within acceptable standard ranges (78.8%). Low compliance was reported for guidelines related to the inclusion of dosing weight on the label (15.4%), the use of amount per day as the unit of measure for labeling ingredients (26.1%), direct pharmacist-to-pharmacist communication about prescriptions when patients are transferred among health settings (33.4%), and daily in-process or end-product quality assurance testing of formulations. The NAG guidelines on parenteral nutrition formulations with which pharmacists' practice was most discrepant were the use of amount per day as the unit of measure for labeling ingredients, inclusion of the patient's dosing weight on the label, direct pharmacist-to-pharmacist communication when patients are transferred, and daily quality assurance testing.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Ceftriaxone in neonates and young infants; clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetic evaluation and effect on intestinal bacterial flora].

Twenty-two newborn and young infants, including 13 premature infants, were treated with ceftriaxone (CTRX) and the clinical efficacy and side effects were evaluated. Ages of the patients ranged from 0 to 106 days, and their body weights from 1.19 to 3.92 kg. Dose levels were 15 to 23 mg/kg every 12 to 24 hours for 2 to 13.5 days. Eighteen infants with sepsis and 1 infant with purulent coxitis were considered to have responded to the CTRX treatment. The results were excellent in 13 and good in 6 patients. The drug was well tolerated, although diarrhea occurred in 2 patients, eosinophilia in 6 patients, slightly elevated serum concentrations of transaminases in 2 patients and thrombocytosis in 1 among the 22 patients. The pharmacokinetic studies on CTRX were done in 8 patients including 3 premature infants. The ages ranged from 3 to 50 days, and body weight from 2.20 to 3.94 kg. Plasma concentrations 30 minutes after single 10 mg/kg intravenous bolus injection in two 4- to 5-day-old premature neonates were 48.4 and 50.0 micrograms/ml and those at 6 hours were 22.7 and 23.4 micrograms/ml, respectively. In 2 mature neonates, plasma levels were 42.2 and 39.1 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes and 23.4 and 26.6 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after single 20 mg/kg doses. In four 12- to 50-day-old patients, plasma concentrations ranged from 35.9 to 175.0 micrograms/ml at 30 minutes and from 21.9 to 32.8 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after multiple doses of 20 mg/kg intravenous bolus injection. The plasma half-lives of the drug ranged from 6.6 to 16.8 hours in these 8 patients. Excretion rates of this drug into urine within 12 hours were 21.4 to 63.4% in 7 patients. Urine concentrations of the drug in 34 samples collected at various times from the 7 patients ranged from 28.3 to 469.0 micrograms/ml. The cerebrospinal fluid level at 2 hours after a dose was 3.33 micrograms/ml on the 5th day of treatment in 1 patient with sepsis receiving 18 mg/kg of the drug every 12 hours. Its level at 3 hours after a dose was 6.07 micrograms/ml on the 6th day of treatment in another patient with aseptic meningitis receiving 20 mg/kg every 12 hours. The influence of CTRX on the fecal flora was studied in 3 patients receiving 20 mg/kg X 2/day. The characteristic pattern observed during the drug administration was the disappearance of Bifidobacterium and Enterobacteriaceae, the preservation of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, and the increase in Candida.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2003

Revision total hip arthroplasty: the influence of gender and age on the perioperative complication rate.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Aim of this study was to report the incidence of complications in a consecutive series of revision total hip arthroplasties (THA). Gender and age as a risk factor for the occurrence of perioperative complications in patients undergoing revision THA were analyzed specifically. MATERIAL: All consecutive revision THA (n = 169) for aseptic loosening, which were performed between 1998 and 2002 were evaluated. Our study population had a mean age of 71.7 years and consisted of 65.7% women and 34.3% men. Complete exchange of the primary implant was performed in 49.7% (84/169). The cup was replaced in 66 cases (39.1%) the stem only in 11.2% of patients (19/169). METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed assessing the influence of gender and age on the complication rate by multiple regression models, estimating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Comparable complication rates to those reported in the literature were found. Overall incidence of complications was 29.6% with a fracture rate of 6.5%, dislocation rate of 8.3%, nerve palsy rate of 4.7% and occurrence of thromboembolism in 1.8% of the reported cases. Mortality rate during the observed period was low (0.6%). We were not able to provide statistical evidence for the impact of gender and age on the complication rate. DISCUSSION: A comparable complication rate following revision THA to those reported in the literature was found in our study sample. Corresponding to other authors a higher risk of nerve palsy and thromboembolism among women was assessed. The observed correlation of fracture rates and female gender might be attributable to osteoporotic bone in postmenopausal women. Dislocation seemed to be more frequent in older patients, which has been described previously as well. Our low mortality rate in revision THA comparable to previous reports might be due to our short observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Revision THA is associated with a higher risk of complications than primary THA. A predictive value of gender and age in regard to the overall complication rate could not be confirmed which should be considered while deciding about the therapeutic strategy confronted with an aseptically loosened THA. To provide statistical evidence of a correlation between gender, fracture and nerve palsy as well as age and dislocation rates greater study populations are required.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Acinetobacter junii causes life-threatening sepsis in preterm infants.

Acinetobacter junii caused sepsis in six preterm infants in our neonatal unit within 48 h. Each infant with clinical signs of systemic infection and activation of the acute phase response had two positive blood cultures with Acinetobacter junii. The sudden onset, the short duration of the outbreak and the fact that none of the infants were colonized by A. junii suggested a common source of A. junii administered directly into the blood. The only feature shared by all six affected newborns was an intravenous fat emulsion (Intralipid 10%), which was shown to be an excellent growth medium for A. junii. Sepsis did not occur in four infants with 20% fat emulsion or amino acids only. Vaminolact did not support growth of the outbreak strain. The immediate source of the outbreak could not be identified: samples of the actual feeds given were not available for investigation, but A. junii was not isolated from parenteral solutions with identical batch numbers used in the septic infants. We conclude that Acinetobacter junii can cause a life-threatening infection in preterm neonates. Contaminated intravenous fat emulsion is implicated as a possible source of the infection. As a part of rigid infection control, intravenous feedings should be prepared under aseptic conditions.

Acinetobacter Infections↗
PubMed2002

[An experimental study on the repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practicability of repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin. METHODS: Dermal substitute was prepared aseptically by mixing fibroblasts with composite dermal matrix gel. Keratinocytes were then seeded on the substitute and submersion - cultured thereafter for 1 week in keratinocyte culture medium. The composite was further cultured for 1 approximately 2 weeks on the surface of the culture liquid to form artificial skin. The composite chitosan artificial skin was then grafted onto the full skin loss wound of rabbits. Histological changes were undertaken periodically by tissue sampling from the grafted wound. The systemic reaction of rabbits to the artificial skin was observed. RESULTS: All the grafted wounds healed very well without any suppuration, bleeding or infection under the grafted skin. No obvious immune rejection was seen. The artificial skin could cover the wounds for a long time with good elasticity and easy to be manipulation. CONCLUSION: The composite chitosan artificial skin could be an optimal biological dressing with good histocompatibility and easy to be manipulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Relation between level of expression of high mobility group protein B1 in hepatic tissue with the severity and prognosis of sepsis in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the levels of expression of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in hepatic tissue are related with severity and prognosis of sepsis in rat, in order to look for a dependable marker for monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of the treatment of sepsis. METHODS: Ninety SD rats (specific-pathogen free, male, 250-300 g) were randomly divided into sham operation group (group A), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group (group B) and CLP followed by ethyl pyruvate (EP) treatment group (group C). Laparo fury was done aseptically, and the cecum was returned to the abdomen (group A) or CLP was carried out (group B and C). The abdominal wall was then closed layer by layer. Normal saline (NS) 2 ml (group A and B) or EP 2 ml (130 mg/kg, group C) was intraperitoneally injected and repeated every 12 hours. Five animals were sacrificed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the operation, blood samples and 100 grams of hepatic tissue were harvested before the animal died. Before sacrifice, activity, food taking, piloerection, diarrhea, anophthalmia, respiration, distention of intestine, hyperemia, ascites, and omental adhesion to the cecum, and hyperemia of lung were observed. Another group of 20 rats were used to observe the survival rate after CLP. The level of HMGB1 mRNA expression in the hepatic tissue was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mortality of sepsis was higher in group B than other groups (both P<0.01), that of group C was significantly lower than B but higher than A (both P<0.01). The levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in plasma rose to the peak at 6 hours after CLP in all groups, and group B>group C>group A (P<0.01), and they descended at 12 hours. The HMGB1 mRNA expression level in hepatic tissue was measurable at 6 hours and rose at 12 hours in group B, and maintained a high level up to 48 hours after CLP. The HMGB1 expression was positive correlated with IL-6 (r=0.91). The value in group C was significantly lower than group B at all time points (all P<0.01). The degree of severity and survival rate of sepsis were highly correlated with HMGB1 levels. CONCLUSION: As a late-released inflammatory mediator, HMGB1 plays a key role in lethal effect of sepsis, the surviving time and the severity degree of sepsis are highly correlated with HMGB1 expression level in hepatic tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Biodegradation of organic compounds in vadose zone and aquifer sediments.

The microbial processes that occur in the subsurface under a typical Midwest agricultural soil were studied. A 26-m bore was installed in November of 1988 at a site of the Purdue University Agronomy Research Center. Aseptic collections of soil materials were made at 17 different depths. Physical analysis indicated that the site contained up to 14 different strata. The site materials were primarily glacial tills with a high carbonate content. The N, P, and organic C contents of sediments tended to decrease with depth. Ambient water content was generally less than the water content, which corresponds to a -0.3-bar equivalent. No pesticides were detected in the samples, and degradation of added 14C-labeled pesticides (atrazine and metolachlor) was not detected in slurry incubations of up to 128 days. The sorption of atrazine and metolachlor was correlated with the clay content of the sediments. Microbial biomass (determined by direct microscopic count, viable count, and phospholipid assay) in the tills was lower than in either the surface materials or the aquifer located at 25 m. The biodegradation of glucose and phenol occurred rapidly and without a lag in samples from the aquifer capillary fringe, saturated zone, and surface soils. In contrast, lag periods and smaller biodegradation rates were found in the till samples. Subsurface sediments are rich in microbial numbers and activity. The most active strata appear to be transmissive layers in the saturated zone. This implies that the availability of water may limit activity in the profile.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Outbreak of aseptic meningitis among adults in southern Taiwan.

A total of 38 adult cases of aseptic meningitis were diagnosed based on clinical manifestations as well as examination of cerebrospinal fluid at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital in 2001. The majority (31 cases, 82%) of cases occurred between June and August, and most (33 cases, 87%) of them aged from 18 to 35 years (median age, 25 years). The male-to-female ratio was 2.16:1. Common clinical presentations included headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, and symptoms of common cold. On initial cerebrospinal fluid examination, white cell counts were above 500 cells/mm3 in 7 (18%) cases, and neutrophils predominated in 10 (28%) of 36 cases. The cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration was below 100 mg/dL in 29 (77%) of 38 cases, and hypoglycorrhachia (cerebrospinal fluid/serum glucose ratio <0.5) was seen in 9 (24%) cases. Enterovirus as a definite etiology was confirmed by isolation from cerebrospinal fluid in 17 (45%) of 38 cases and was the presumptive etiology by isolation from the stool or throat swab in 2 (5%) cases. Of the 19 cases with positive viral isolation, echovirus serotype 30 accounted for the majority (15 cases, 79%), followed by echovirus serotype 6 (3 cases, 16%), with one (5%) case undetermined. The viral isolation rate from cerebrospinal fluid correlated to the day of cerebrospinal fluid sampling after disease onset (chi2 = 12.05, p = 0.007). All patients were discharged uneventfully without receiving antibiotic therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Neutralizing antibodies to enterovirus 71 in Belém, Brazil.

Non-polio enteroviruses (Coxsackievirus A, Coxsackievirus B, Echovirus and EV 68-72) which belong to the enterovirus (EV) genus, Picornaviridae family, may be responsible for acute flaccid paralysis, aseptic meningitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, pleurodinia, neonatal sepsis, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) even though 50-80% of infections are asymptomatic. EV 71 has been responsible for outbreaks and epidemics of HFMD and acute neurologic disease justifying its study in our country. The aim of this study was to detect neutralizing antibodies (NtAb) to EV 71 in individuals up to 15 years of age living in Belém, State of Pará, northern Brazil. Serum samples from 238 patients attending the Virology Sector of Evandro Chagas Institute in Belém, Brazil, were analyzed using microneutralization tests that included RD cells and BrCr strain. Overall 40.8% (97/238) of tested samples had NtAb to EV 71. Regarding the distribution per age group, 85.2% (92/108) of patients aged 0-3 years had no NtAb to this virus and 69.2% of those 12 to 15 years of age were seropositive. These results confirm that EV 71 infection occurs in the city of Belém; and that a high rate of individuals in this study were infected aged 3 years and over and, when aged 15 years nearly 70% had EV 71 NtAb.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[A case of "neuralgic amyotrophy" with elevated serum antibody titer against Borrelia burgdorferi].

A 39-year-old man experienced an abrupt onset of right back pain. The pain improved spontaneously, but weakness of the right upper extremity developed. The weakness deteriorated during the next month, and he was admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination disclosed impairment of superficial sensation in his right upper extremity. Blood examination showed no abnormal data. The cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Neuroradiological findings were also negative. Electrophysiological examinations were normal except for needle electromyographic findings of the right upper extremity, which showed neurogenic patterns of moderate degree. Those findings suggest neuralgic amyotrophy. However, examining the serum sample significantly elevated levels of antibody titers against Borrelia burgdorferi were observed, and we suspected that his illness was Lyme disease. He recalled, however, no arthropod bite. Neuralgic amyotrophy is a syndrome which takes a characteristic clinical course. It includes some heterogeneous disorders. On the other hand, Lyme disease, a tick-transmitted spirochetal illness, occurs in stages, with remissions and exacerbations and different clinical manifestations at each stage. The neurological abnormalities include aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, cranial neuritis, motor and sensory radiculitis, and myelitis in various combinations. They can be diagnosed serologically. However, it is possible that elevation levels of the antibody titers mean nonspecific damages of peripheral nerves. Further study is necessary to decide whether cases like ours suffer from so-called Lyme disease or not.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Neurosarcoidosis. Review of the literature].

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The frequency of neurologic manifestations varies from 5 to 15% of cases. Systemic manifestations of sarcoidosis are often present and the diagnosis is still based on histopathological studies. In nearly half of the patients no systemic manifestations are found and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis may be difficult. Main neurologic involvements are cranial and peripheral nerve lesions. Other manifestations include aseptic meningitis, hydrocephalus, parenchymatous granulomata of the central nervous system, hypothalamic dysfunction and myopathies. There is more than one manifestation of neurosarcoidosis in 30% of the patients. Lumbar puncture is useful to rule out other diseases but CSF changes are not specific, neither elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels. Computed tomography is helpful, but magnetic resonance imaging is the best diagnostic tool. The granulomatous nature of the disease can only be confirmed by tissue sampling and brain biopsies are sometimes required. There have been no controlled trials of treatment for neurosarcoidosis but corticosteroids are the main stay of therapy. The prognosis is often good and 55% of patients reported have had a complete recovery. In case of failure, immunosuppressive and radiation therapy can be used. Surgery is indicated to establish tissue diagnosis, in the presence of increased intracranial pressure, or to remove brain tumor.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1984

[C-reactive protein of the cerebrospinal fluid in children. A new evaluation of its diagnostic value].

The presence of C-reactive protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been proposed as an early indicator of bacterial meningitis in children. A commercial latex agglutination test (CR-test, Hyland) was performed in CSF obtained at first lumbar puncture in 114 children (26 neonates and 88 children aged from 1 month to 15 years) presenting with meningitis-like episodes. The CSF was regarded as normal in 41 cases; 50 had non-bacterial meningitis, and bacterial infection was diagnosed in 14 and suspected in 9. The latex agglutination test was positive in the first CSF sample from 2 neonates with bacterial meningitis, but its specificity was low (= 0.58). In older infants and children the test was positive in 18/21 cases of bacterial meningitis (sensitivity = 0.86) and negative in the 18 cases with normal CSF, as well as in 47/49 cases of non-bacterial meningitis (specificity = 0.97). The presence of C-reactive protein in CSF obtained at first lumbar puncture therefore is unreliable to distinguish between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Development of an infection-resistant LVAD driveline: a novel approach to the prevention of device-related infections.

BACKGROUND: Infection remains the single most important challenge to extended left ventricular assist device (LVAD) use and often arises from the percutaneous driveline exit site. We evaluated the ability of an LVAD driveline prototype impregnated with chlorhexidine, triclosan, and silver sulfadiazine to resist bacterial and fungal colonization. METHODS: The spectrum and duration of antimicrobial activity were evaluated in vitro by daily transfer of driveline segments embedded on agar plates inoculated with 10(8) colony-forming units (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphlococcus epidermidis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, and then measuring zones of inhibition around the sample subsequent to 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C. Antimicrobial activity was demonstrated against all organisms for greater than 14 days, and for over 21 days for gram-positive bacteria. To demonstrate in vivo efficacy of the treated driveline, 3-cm segments of driveline were implanted in the dorsal and ventral surface of rats. The exit site was inoculated with 10(6) CFU of S. aureus. After 7 days, driveline segments were aseptically explanted and assayed for bacterial colonization and retention of antimicrobial activity. One hundred percent of control segments were colonized (10(5) CFU S. aureus/cm) as against 13% of the test explants (< or = 330 CFU/cm; p < 0.0001). RESULTS: Subcultures of the insertion site and driveline pocket tissue resulted in 10(3) to 10(5) CFU per swab culture for control rats and 0 to 10(2) CFU/swab for test animals. Test drivelines retained 80% of anti-S. aureus activity. Gross and histological examination of the driveline and surrounding pocket revealed minimal tissue reactivity with positive signs of tissue ingrowth. CONCLUSION: An antimicrobial driveline may prevent early infections and facilitate ingrowth of tissue to provide long-term stability and protection against late infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Growth of gram-positive mastogenic bacteria in normal, simulated bulk tank, and mastitic milk held at simulated fluctuating temperatures of farm bulk tank.

Growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus bovis, and Streptococcus uberis was studied in normal milk, simulated bulk tank milk, and aseptic mastitic milk held at simulated fluctuating temperatures of farm bulk tank for 48 h. With the exception of S. bovis, growth rates of the other five bacteria were similar in both normal and simulated bulk tank milk. Mastitic milk inhibited growth of all bacteria studied. A 24-h adjustment period occurred before most of the bacteria started growing. The mastitis level in a dairy herd may be monitored by cultures of bulk tank milk samples and by calculations as discussed in this study.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of the roche AMPLICOR enterovirus PCR assay in the diagnosis of enteroviral central nervous system infections.

BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses cause a substantial number of cases of aseptic meningitis annually in the USA. While culture has been useful in the detection of patients with viral meningitis it is time-consuming and lacks sensitivity. Detection of viral nucleic acid in patient specimens has been demonstrated to improve enteroviral detection. OBJECTIVES: A research use only commercial amplification assay, the Roche AMPLICOR EV test, was compared to culture for the diagnosis of enteroviral meningoencephalitis. STUDY DESIGN: Four-hundred and sixty-five consecutive CSF samples sent prospectively for suspicion of enteroviral infection were evaluated by PCR and shell-vial culture. Clinical information and CSF analysis were used to resolve PCR positive, culture negative samples. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using resolved data. RESULTS: There were 138 samples which met the definition of a true positive. Of these culture detected 77 (sensitivity 55.8%) and PCR detected 136 (sensitivity 98.6%). PCR missed two culture positive samples. Upon repeat testing, these CSF samples were found to contain inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The Roche AMPLICOR EV-PCR test was statistically more sensitive than culture (P<0.001) in the detection of enteroviruses in CSF in patients suspected of having enteroviral meningitis. This assay also has the advantage of a rapid turnaround time of 5-6 h compared to 3-5 days for culture.

Adolescent↗