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Volume 16,
Issue 4,
1983
Volume 16, Issue 4, 1983
- Short Articles
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Clinical comparison of glucose broth with nutrient broth blood cultures for the detection of “Streptococcus viridans” bacteraemia
More LessSUMMARYViridans streptococci were isolated from the blood stream of half of 50 patients undergoing dental extractions approx. 2 min before blood culture. Glucose and nutrient broths were tested in parallel. There was no significant difference between the isolation rates of streptococci by the two methods after incubation for 7 days, nor did the addition of glucose 0.1% to nutrient broth significantly increase the speed of detection of streptococci; the isolation rates of streptococci during the first 48 h of incubation were similar with both types of broth. Although there were a few more isolations of streptococci from the glucose broth than from the nutrient broth during the first 20 h. the difference was not statistically significant. No rapid lethal effect against streptococci was observed in glucose broth during incubation for 7 days. These results suggest that adding glucose 0.1% to nutrient broth for blood culture does not influence the recovery of organisms from patients with “Streptococcus viridans” bacteraemia after incubation of the broth for 2-7 days.
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The incidence of tinea versicolor in central Sweden
More LessSUMMARYIn a survey of 3302 people in an area of central Sweden, tinea versicolor was diagnosed in 0.5% of males and 0.3% of females; all those infected were adults. Tinea versicolor is much less common in Sweden than in the tropics.
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- Articles
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Correlation of penicillinase production with phage type and susceptibility to antibiotics and heavy metals in Staphylococcus aureus
More LessSUMMARYOne hundred and thirty-nine bacteraemia strains of Staphylococcus aureus, representing different combinations of phage type and susceptibility to antibiotics and to cadmium (Cd), arsenate (As) and mercury (Hg), were investigated for penicillinase production. The determination of enzyme activity in induced and uninduced conditions was performed by iodometric titration. The amount of penicillinase produced could be correlated with phage pattern. Epidemically occurring strains of the 94,96 and the 83A complexes produced the largest amount of penicillinase, whereas strains of the 52, 52A, 80, 81 complex were weaker producers. Group-II and group-Ill strains produced the smallest amount.
Susceptibility to antibiotics and to Cd, As and Hg could not be correlated with enzyme activity, but strains resistant to penicillin plus tetracyclines and strains resistant only to Cd did produce less enzyme than strains with other resistance patterns. The percentage mean values of extracellularity of the enzyme was highest amongst strains of the 94,96 complex and of type 95. Four strains had constitutive production, one being macro-constitutive and three micro-constitutive. All four strains represented rare combinations of the above properties but were susceptible to fusidic acid. The importance of penicillinase production by epidemically occurring strains is discussed.
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Bactericidal activity of serum from cystic fibrosis patients for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
More LessSUMMARYThe bactericidal action of serum from 61 adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) against autologous and heterologous strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been studied. CF serum had a similar bactericidal action to normal human serum (NHS) against a reference panel of strains. Six CF sera had a selective inability to kill autologous strains of pseudomonas, which were sensitive to NHS and to sera from other CF patients. The six sera had normal levels of complement and immunoglobulin and were bactericidal to other strains. A titratable blocking factor was present in these sera and it interfered with the bactericidal action of NHS on the appropriate strain. This factor was present in the IgG-containing fractions of serum obtained by ion-exchange chromatography, but was not removed from the serum by absorption with the pseudomonas strain. Some CF sera may fail to kill sensitive strains of pseudomonas because of the development of a blocking IgG antibody against naturally occurring bactericidal IgM antibody.
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Inhibitor production by group-G streptococci of human and of animal origin
J. R. Tagg and H. K. WongSUMMARYStrains of group-G streptococci were tested by a “fingerprinting” method for the production of (P typing) and sensitivity to (S typing) inhibitory agents, and were biotyped. In the standard P-typing test, 28 of 50 strains of human origin, but none of 30 strains of animal origin, showed inhibitory activity. Of the human strains, 12 formed a bacteriocin that was active on group-A streptococci, including three (strains 12, 15 and 18) of the four streptococci of this group among the indicator strains. Sixteen other human strains inhibited the fourth group-A indicator (strain 17), and to a lesser extent strain 12, by lowering the pH of the typing medium. This acid-mediated inhibition was eliminated by testing on a medium containing calcium carbonate 0.5%; the 16 strains were then completely non-inhibitory, and the bacteriocin-forming strains, the typing pattern of which had originally been 12,15, 17, 18, showed only inhibition attributable to the action of the bacteriocin. Nearly all group-A streptococci were sensitive to the group-G bacteriocin. The indicator strain 17 and several other members of M-type 28 were exceptions, but their resistance was not associated with the presence of R-antigen 28. Fifteen inhibitor-sensitivity patterns and 12 biotypes were identified among the strains; some of these tended to be associated with either a human or an animal origin. Neither S type nor biotype appeared to correlate with inhibitor production.
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Serum IgA antibody to Bordetella pertussis as an indicator of infection
More LessSUMMARYThe levels of pertussis-specific IgA antibodies in sera from vaccinees and from children with Bordetella pertussis infection were compared by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum IgA antibodies were produced only after natural contact with the pathogen and, therefore, their presence can be used as an indicator of infection. However, in view of the relatively long interval between infection and the appearance of antibodies, and the prolonged antibody response, their presence cannot be used as proof of recent infection. The finding of these antibodies in a high percentage of the normal adult population may indicate a constant circulation of B. pertussis without symptoms of disease.
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The adhesins and fimbriae of Proteus mirabilis strains associated with high and low affinity for the urinary tract
More LessSUMMARYIn strains of Proteus mirabilis of urinary origin, no correlation was found between proticine types, reflecting relative affinity for the urinary tract, and the production of haemagglutinins and presence of fimbriae, a measure of adhesiveness.
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Distribution and transferability of plasmids in trimethoprim resistant urinary Escherichia coli
More LessSUMMARYUrinary isolates of Escherichia coli that were resistant to trimethoprim were collected in Glasgow Royal Infirmary during 1979 and 1980. Eighty-eight were resistant to trimethoprim 1024 µg/ml and 80 (92%) were also resistant to sulphamethoxazole 1024 µg/ml; 73% were multiresistant.
Plasmids were detected in 98% of strains and 60% carried two or more. Half of the isolates transferred trimethoprim resistance to E. coli K12 and 70% of these cotransferred resistance to sulphonamide although these markers were often not linked. Trimethoprim resistance was carried on 12 different plasmids, four of which also conferred sulphonamide resistance. All except two carried streptomycin resistance which suggests that Tn7 was probably present. The results are discussed in relation to current prescribing policy.
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Immunogenic and protective properties of meningococcal serotype 2a protein in the hen-embryo model
More LessSUMMARYThe ability of serotype 2 outer membrane protein (SP-2) of Neisseria meningitidis strain M986 serogroup B, serotype 2a (B, 2a) to stimulate antibody formation in hens and to confer protection against meningococcal challenge to embryos from immunised hens was investigated. Hens, housed with roosters, were immunised with 100 μg of SP-2 once a week for 5 weeks to maintain consistent levels of serum antibody during the study. Antibodies in sera of hens, yolks and plasma of 13-day-old embryos reacted in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunodiffusion with outer membrane vesicles (OMV) from serotypes 2a, 2b and 2c and most of the other prototype group B strains of N. meningitidis. Cross-reactivity of hen sera with most OMV appeared after only one injection of SP-2. Embryos from immunised hens were protected against challenge with up to 10,000 LD50 doses of either the homologous strain M986 (B, 2a) or strain M1011 (B, 2a). Protection was also evident against strains 614 (W135, 2a), S5896 (Y, 2c) and 2241 (C, 2a), but not against strain 78704 (C, 2a) despite strong cross-reactivity of antibody with OMV of this strain. Embryos were only partially protected against strain 78069 (B, 2b) and were fully susceptible to strain 2996 (B, 2b). Some protection was also obtained against meningococcal strains M1080 (B, 1), M982 (B, 9), S3032 (B, 12), 79001 (B, 12), 79694 (B, 15-related) but not strain 77252 (B, nontyp-able). These results suggest that proteins extracted from both serotype 2a and 2b meningococci would provide the broadest protection against infection with group B, serotype 2 meningococci and that antibody, presumably directed against common peptides in the major outer membrane proteins, can prevent infection by some other disease-associated serotypes of N. meningitidis.
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Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) for detection of IgG antibodies against coxsackie B viruses
More LessSUMMARYIn tests for IgG antibodies against Coxsackie B viruses in man, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was essentially group-specific and, unlike the type-specific neutralisation test, usually failed to detect rises in antibody titre in paired, acute and convalescent, sera. However, in rabbits immunised against Coxsackie B viruses, ELISA demonstrated both group- and type-specific antibody responses. The lack of type-specificity of ELISA in man is probably because repeated infection with enteroviruses—echoviruses and Coxsackie A as well as Coxsackie B—results in masking of the type-specific antibody response by group-specific antibody.
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Aspects of the pathogenicity of some oral and other haemophili
J. E. Tuyau and W. SimsSUMMARYThe pathogenicity of the predominantly non-capsulated, V-factor requiring haemophili that are commonly recovered from oral infections has been explored by studies of their endotoxins and infectivity as compared with those of Haemophilus influenzae. Similar yields of endotoxin (2.40-2.59% w/w) were obtained from all the haemophili examined except H. haemolyticus (1.61% w/w). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracts all contained heptoses but not 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO). The fatty acid compositions of the lipid-A fractions were essentially similar but comprised 76% of the LPS in the H. influenzae type d strain tested and only 20% in the H. influenzae type b strain and some strains of H. parainfluenzae. All extracts contained arachidic acid, which may be unique to haemophili. The endotoxins from all strains produced characteristic pyrogenic and polymorph effects in rabbits. The endotoxins from the pharyngeal X-and V-factor-requiring strains had LD50 values for actinomycin-D-sensitised mice of 2.4-2.7 µg/kg, and were about eight times more potent than those from the oral V-factcr-requiring strains (LD50 values 17.2-22.4 µg/ml). Approximately ten thousand times more free endotoxin was detected in broth cultures of H. influenzae type b than in those of oral haemophili, and this greater endotoxin release was not associated with a greater degree of autolysis. Endotoxin release from viable cells may be important in the pathogenicity of this organism. H. influenzae type b was much more potent in producing infection in chambers implanted subcutaneously in guinea pigs than were oral strains of haemophili; only 10 type b organisms were required, compared with 9 x 105 of H. parainfluenzae. However, in infections maintained for 90 days, the numbers of haemophili—c. 107/ml of chamber fluid—were similar for all the test strains. Thus, although the oral haemophili lack special attributes of invasiveness and resistance to host defences, they are not devoid of pathogenic potential and, if allowed to proliferate, may become an important element in an infection.
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Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Interaction between Haemophilus influenzae and organ cultures of rat trachea
More LessSUMMARYOrgan cultures of rat trachea inoculated with either a type b or a non-capsulated strain of Haemophilus influenzae showed loss of ciliary activity and disruption of the mucosal surface. Examination of tissue pieces by scanning electronmicroscopy showed that mucosal damage was due to the sloughing of epithelial cells. Bacteria associated with the epithelial surface were seen infrequently and this, together with the observation that sloughed cells were usually free of adherent bacteria, indicated that bacterial attachment was not a necessary prerequisite for the production of tissue damage.
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Identification of staphylococci by pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography
More LessSUMMARYThe identification of bacteria by pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography (PGLC) was evaluated with the genus Staphylococcus. A matrix containing the characteristics of seven species of Staphylococcus was constructed from the results obtained with 42 named strains identified by biochemical methods. An identification program based upon this database was evaluated in tests with 100 isolates of catalase-positive oxidase-negative gram-positive cocci identified by biochemical and PGLC systems. Agreement between the two systems was 90%. Pure cultures of unknown isolates were identified within 30 min by PGLC using a microcomputer data acquisition and analysis program. A taxonomic analysis of the data is presented, and methods for quality control of PGLC, prolongation of column life, and data analysis are described and discussed.
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- Proceedings Of The Pathological Society Of Great Britain And Ireland
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- Books Received
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