Pseudomonas aeruginosa

J Med Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 21(2), 179 - 86
Polyagglutinating and non-typable strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis; Pitt TL et al.; Serologically polyagglutinating (PA) and non-typable (NT) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, but are uncommon in other patients . From serologically typical parent strains, we isolated two variants (one PA, the other NT) which differed from the parent in bacteriophage susceptibility or in sensitivity to the bactericidal action of normal human serum . The PA and NT variants (strains 7/1 and 18S respectively) reacted with antiserum to the parent strains 7 and 18R but did not absorb homologous specific O antibody from antiserum to the parent strains . In contrast the parent strains absorbed anti-PA and anti-NT antibodies from antisera to the variant strains . The yield of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from acetone-dried cells of the parent strain 7 was similar to that of the PA derivative; but the NT strain 18S yielded only half the LPS of its parent strain . LPS of the variant 7/1 gave a banding profile by SDS-PAGE similar to that of the parent LPS 7, but lacked high-molecular-weight components . LPS of the variant 18S appeared to be grossly different in profile from LPS 18R . Of 533 isolates of P . aeruginosa that were tested with O antisera and with antisera to the two variants, 15% were O-typable and 22% were O-non-typable; 26% reacted with anti-PA serum alone, 10% with anti-NT serum alone, and 27% were agglutinated by both sera . There was a statistically significant correlation between serum sensitivity of CF isolates and their reaction with the PA or NT antisera.

Biochemistry, 1986 Feb 25, 25(4), 787 - 90
Variations in the oxidation-reduction behavior of liganded species of Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase; Carson SD et al.; In an effort to determine the steady-state redox properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome cd1, changes in absorption spectra after the addition of excess reductant (ascorbate, ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) were monitored for degassed unliganded enzyme and samples in the presence of CO and CN- at pH 6.0, 8.0, or 10.0 . Plots of {c2+}/{c3+} vs . {d2+}/{d3+} indicate that a "pseudoequilibrium" was reached for all samples at pH 8.0 . Calculated values of delta Ed-c, the difference in reduction potential between the heme c and heme d moieties, at pH 8.0 were -25 +/- 5 (unliganded), -10 +/- 5 (enzyme-CO), and -25 +/- 5 mV (enzyme-CN) . Relative rates of heme c and heme d reduction were found to be dependent upon type of ligand, reductant, and pH . Evidence for a cooperative heme c-heme d interaction is discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Feb, 39(2), 242 - 50
Semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics . II . Effect on antibacterial activity of ureido N-substituents in the 6-{(R)-2-{3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-1- ureido}-2-phenylacetamido}penicillanic acids; Ohi N et al.; The synthesis and the relationship between in vitro and in vivo activities of 6-{(R)-2-{3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-R1-1-ureido}-2- phenylacetamido}penicillanic acids having C2 approximately 8 alkyl or substituted alkyl groups as the substituents (R1) are described . In this series, 6-{(R)-2-{3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1-ureido} -2-phenylacetamido}penicillanic acid (1b, AO-1100) showed the most potent protective effect on mice in experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, although it did not have the strongest in vitro activity among the penicillins we synthesized.

Laryngoscope, 1986 Feb, 96(2), 146 - 51
Medical management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma in children; Kenna MA et al.; Tympanomastoid surgery is considered standard management for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) without cholesteatoma, which is unresponsive to ototopical/oral antimicrobial therapy . The following makes this sequence of management less attractive today: 1 . potential ototoxicity of ototopical agents; 2 . lack of oral antimicrobial agents effective against most common pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa); 3 . frequent occurrence in children who have tympanostomy tubes; and 4 . failure of tympanomastoid surgery to eradicate the disease in all cases . We conducted a study in 36 pediatric patients with chronic suppurative otitis media, in which all received parenteral antimicrobial therapy and daily aural toilet (mean duration of treatment = 9.7 days) . Thirty-two patients (89%) had resolution of their infection with medical therapy alone; four children required tympanomastoidectomy . Further investigation is needed to understand the etiology, pathogenesis, and most effective methods of management/prevention of CSOM in children.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 281 - 3
Penetration of aztreonam into cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bacterial meningitis; Modai J et al.; The penetration of aztreonam into the cerebrospinal fluid was determined in 16 patients with bacterial meningitis undergoing treatment with other antibiotics . Three aztreonam doses of 30 mg/kg were infused intravenously over 30 to 45 min at 8-h intervals, first between days 2 and 4 and again between days 11 and 20 after onset of the disease . Concentrations of aztreonam in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained at 60, 90, 120, and 240 min after the third aztreonam dose were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography . The concentrations of aztreonam in cerebrospinal fluid ranged from 3.5 to 62 micrograms/ml, depending on the sampling time and the time elapsed since the onset of the disease . These concentrations were equal to or higher than the MICs for most of the gram-negative bacilli (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Arch Ophthalmol, 1986 Feb, 104(2), 266 - 8
Subconjunctival administration of ceftazidime in pigmented rabbit eyes; Shockley RK et al.; The ocular kinetics of ceftazidime, a third-generation cephalosporin, were examined in phakic and aphakic pigmented eyes of rabbits following subconjunctival injection (100 mg) . Peak ceftazidime concentrations (mean +/- SE, n = three to five rabbits per determination) were as follows: phakic eyes, 40.2 +/- 7.3 mg/L in aqueous humor and 11.2 +/- 0.6 mg/L in vitreous humor at one hour; aphakic eyes, 30.5 +/- 4.8 mg/L in aqueous humor and 15.8 +/- 2.4 mg/L in vitreous humor at one hour . The ability of ceftazidime to eliminate an incipient bacterial infection was also studied . Ten aphakic rabbits received intravitreal injections of 50 colony-forming units (cfu) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Six of the ten immediately received a subconjunctival injection of ceftazidime (100 mg) . At 48 hours following injections, four of four control eyes yielded bacterial counts greater than 6.2 X 10(6) cfu/mL . Of the six that received ceftazidime, five were sterile and one yielded 10 cfu/mL.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1986 Feb, 104(2), 263 - 5
Antibacterial effect of donor corneas stored in gentamicin-enriched McCarey-Kaufman medium; Yau CW et al.; Penetrating keratoplasty was performed on five pairs of rabbit eyes; one eye of each animal received a donor cornea stored in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium containing gentamicin, and the contralateral eye received a donor cornea stored in M-K medium without gentamicin . At the end of surgery, dilutions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were introduced into the anterior chamber of both eyes . The eyes receiving gentamicin-enriched corneas showed mild to moderate infection; the contralateral eyes showed significantly more severe infection . The results indicated that donor corneas stored in gentamicin-enriched M-K medium inhibit the growth of bacteria acquired at the time of surgery and thus may improve the safety of such transplantation procedures.

J Infect Dis, 1986 Feb, 153(2), 202 - 8
Impairment of antibacterial defense mechanisms of the lung by extrapulmonary infection; White JC et al.; To determine whether extrapulmonary infection alters antibacterial defenses of the lung, we challenged mice with peritonitis due to Escherichia coli by aerosol inhalation with either Staphylococus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In animals without peritonitis, 14% +/- 5% and 11% +/- 1% of the initially deposited viable S . aureus and P . aeruginosa, respectively, remained in the lungs at 4 hr . In contrast, in mice with peritonitis, at 4 hr 45% +/- 9% of the staphylococci were recoved, and the P . aeruginosa had increased to 948% +/- 354% of the initial inoculum . Proliferation of P . aeruginosa in mice with peritonitis was associated with impaired recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the lungs . In contrast, a noninfectious stimulus induced more PMNs into the peritoneal cavity than did intraabdominal sepsis but only minimally impaired PMN recruitment into the lungs after aerosol challenge with P . aeruginosa . Sterile intraperitoneal stimulation did not significantly impair intrapulmonary killing of P . aeruginosa . Levels of antigenic C3 and functionally active C5 were significantly depleted in mice with peritonitis due to E . coli . We conclude that the systemic effects of sepsis, including complement depletion, contribute to the decreased pulmonary PMN recruitment and to impaired intrapulmonary bacterial killing of animals with peritonitis due to E . coli.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 346 - 9
Comparative in vitro antimicrobial activity of carumonam, a new monocyclic beta-lactam; Smith BR et al.; The antimicrobial activity of carumonam (formerly RO-17-2301), a monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, was compared with those of aztreonam, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, piperacillin, and gentamicin against 455 bacterial isolates . Carumonam did not possess activity against gram-positive cocci and was generally comparable to aztreonam and ceftazidime for most gram-negative bacilli . However, carumonam was the most active beta-lactam against gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (90% MIC, 8 micrograms/ml).

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 230 - 4
Bactericidal activity and killing rate of serum from volunteers receiving pefloxacin alone or in combination with amikacin; Van der Auwera P et al.; Serum bactericidal activities (SBAs) were studied after intravenous administration of pefloxacin (8 mg/kg) and amikacin (7.5 mg/kg) alone or in combination to 15 human volunteers . About 10 strains each of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were tested . The serum levels of pefloxacin were measured microbiologically by using E . coli KP 1976-712 as the test organism at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 720 min after infusion; at 0, 30, 60, and 720 min these levels were 7 +/- 1.4, 5 +/- 0.8, 4.5 +/- 0.7, and 2.1 +/- 0.6 mg/liter (mean +/- standard deviation), respectively, with a terminal half-life of 10 h . The serum levels of pefloxacin in the presence of amikacin were measured similarly; 1% sodium polyanethol sulfonate was added to the agar to inactivate amikacin . Treatment with pefloxacin alone resulted in high SBAs against E . coli, K . pneumoniae strains susceptible to cephalothin, and Staphylococcus aureus at the peak concentration; 81 to 100% of the sera had SBAs of greater than or equal to 1:8 . However, treatment with pefloxacin alone resulted in low SBAs against K . pneumoniae strains resistant to cephalothin and P . aeruginosa; only 34% of the sera had SBAs of greater than or equal to 1:8 . At trough concentrations the percentages of sera with SBAs greater than or equal to 1:8 were 75 to 83% (E . coli), 9 to 27% (K . pneumoniae), 0% (P . aeruginosa), and 10% (S . aureus) . The combination of pefloxacin plus amikacin was most often additive; the peak activity was due to amikacin, and the trough activity was due to pefloxacin . Occasionally antagonism occurred with P . aeruginosa, K . pneumoniae, and S . aureus strains . These observations were confirmed by the killing curves in pooled serum obtained at peak and trough levels . Regrowth was observed for seven strains of P . aeruginosa treated with pefloxacin alone; amikacin seemed to prevent this phenomenon.

Biochem J, 1986 Feb 1, 233(3), 737 - 42
Resolution of branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase complex of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; McCully V et al.; Branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase was purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO with the objective of resolving the complex into its subunits . The purified complex consisted of four proteins, of Mr 36,000, 42,000, 49,000 and 50,000 . The complex was resolved by heat treatment into the 49,000 and 50,000-Mr proteins, which were separated by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose . The 49,000-Mr protein was identified as the E2 subunit by its ability to catalyse transacylation with a variety of substrates, with dihydrolipoamide as the acceptor . P . aeruginosa, like P . putida, produces two lipoamide dehydrogenases . One, the 50,000-Mr protein, was identified as the specific E3 subunit of branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase and had many properties in common with the lipoamide dehydrogenase LPD-val of P . putida . The second lipoamide dehydrogenase had Mr 54,000 and corresponded to the lipoamide dehydrogenase LPD-glc of P . putida . Fragments of C-terminal CNBr peptides of LPD-val from P . putida and P . aeruginosa corresponded closely, with only two amino acid differences over 31 amino acids . A corresponding fragment at the C-terminal end of lipoamide dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli also showed extensive homology . All three peptides had a common segment of eight amino acids, with the sequence TIHAHPTL . This homology was not evident in any other flavoproteins in the Dayhoff data base which suggests that this sequence might be characteristic of lipoamide dehydrogenase.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 23(2), 322 - 8
Microbiological assessment of 24- and 48-h changes and management of semiclosed circuits from ventilators in a neonatal intensive care unit; Malecka-Griggs B; The contamination of semiclosed disposable circuits of Healthdyne and Bourns ventilators was studied in a newborn intensive care unit over a 2-year period . A total of 379 fluid samples was obtained from inspiratory and expiratory tubing condensates and traps and from thermal humidifier columns fed with prefilled containers of sterile water . In addition, 100 tryptic soy agar plates were exposed to the exhalation mist of the circuits sampled . With 24-h changes of circuits a 2.5% contamination rate was observed (phase I) . In an effort to contain costs, circuits were changed every 48 h (phase II); the concentration of potential pathogens increased to greater than 10(5) CFU/ml with this extension of changing time . Two long-term (15- and 9-month) infants were colonized and intermittently infected, one with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus and the other with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . When the protocol was readjusted from 48- to 24-h circuit changes (phase II), the contamination rate decreased; for the two colonized infants (35 circuits, 123 samples) the contamination rate decreased from 19 to 6% (P less than 0.01; chi-square test), and for seven noncolonized infants (59 circuits, 217 samples) the contamination rate decreased from 5 to 0.5% P less than 0.001; (chi-square test) . These data suggest that frequent changing of the circuits reduces colonization and cross-infection.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 98 - 102
Effect of increasing doses of amikacin with or without piperacillin in the serum bactericidal test; Lagast H et al.; To determine whether high doses of amikacin would prevent the development of resistance in clinical isolates, the serum bactericidal activity and killing rate of conventional and high doses of amikacin and piperacillin alone and in combination were measured in volunteer sera against a series of ten strains each of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Amikacin serum levels were 24.9 +/- 6.0 mg/l 1 h after infusion of the 7.5 mg/kg dose and 44.8 +/- 5.0 mg/l after the two-fold dose . Median serum bactericidal titers for low dose piperacillin + amikacin were 1:8-1:64 and for high-dose piperacillin + amikacin 1:16-1:128 . Both were satisfactory, except against piperacillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (median bactericidal titers less than or equal to 1:2), and both combinations had equivalent killing rates.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 88 - 92
Correlation of predicted serum bactericidal activities and values measured in volunteers; Drusano G et al.; A method was devised for predicting the serum bactericidal activity of new drugs . Six healthy volunteers received 2 g moxalactam, cefoperazone and cefotaxime, respectively, as 30-min infusions in a crossover manner at one-week intervals . The pharmacokinetics of each drug was characterized and the bactericidal activity of the serum 1 h after infusion was measured against panels of six strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, six strains of Escherichia coli, six strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and four strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The minimum bactericidal concentration of each antibiotic was determined for each organism by the standard NCCLS reference method and the method of Stratton and Reller . On the basis of these values and a serum concentration-time curve constructed from individual patient pharmacokinetic parameters, the bactericidal activity of the serum 1 h after infusion was predicted . These predictions showed a 90% agreement with measured values calculated according to the method of Stratton and Reller, whereas an agreement of 74% was obtained with the reference method . This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001).

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 71 - 8
Serum bactericidal test in volunteers--a review; Schimpff SC et al.; A review is given of work utilizing the serum bactericidal test for preclinical evaluation of agents considered for treatment of gram-negative sepsis among neutropenic cancer patients . Following a description of the methodology of the two major groups, the results of the various antibiotic trials are summarized . First the extended-spectrum cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cefoperazone, and moxalactam) were tested and found to be, at best, of limited value as single agents for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common pathogen of neutropenic cancer patients . When the extended-spectrum penicillins became available, the serum bactericidal levels in volunteers of mezlocillin and piperacillin were compared alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside to ticarcillin with or without aminoglycoside against the same organisms . Piperacillin proved to be most effective followed by mezlocillin and then ticarcillin; in each case the addition of the aminoglycoside improved serum bactericidal activity . Recent studies suggest that imipenem alone is as active as the combination of a broad-spectrum penicillin plus an aminoglycoside and is worthy of a carefully controlled clinical trial . These types of volunteer-based evaluations of the serum bactericidal activity of new compounds may help predict useful clinical approaches for the future.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 119 - 23
Evaluation of novel antipseudomonal drugs using the serum bactericidal activity test; Braveny I et al.; Serum bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined in six volunteers 1 and 4 h after administration of 2 g ceftazidime, 4 g piperacillin, 500 mg imipenem, 80 mg tobramycin and four combinations of these agents . Ceftazidime produced the highest serum bactericidal titers, killing 100% and 86% of the 50 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains tested after 1 and 4 h respectively at a serum dilution of 1:8 . Imipenem had lower serum bactericidal titers than ceftazidime, killing 88% of the isolates after 1 h at a serum dilution of 1:8 . The combination showed only slightly higher titers . Killing curves were determined for nine strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using undiluted volunteer serum drawn 1 h after administration of the antibiotics . The combinations ceftazidime/tobramycin and piperacillin/tobramycin exhibited higher killing activity than the single drugs . As the activity of the aminoglycosides could be underestimated on the basis of their low serum bactericidal titers, it is concluded that determination of these titers is inappropriate for evaluating the efficacy of the aminoglycosides.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 5(1), 110 - 4
Serum bactericidal activity of mezlocillin, ceftazidime, mezlocillin/ceftazidime and mezlocillin/amikacin against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Van Laethem Y et al.; Sera of volunteers receiving 1 g mezlocillin, 5 g mezlocillin, 1 g ceftazidime, 3 g ceftazidime, 1 g mezlocillin plus 1 g ceftazidime, and 1 g mezlocillin plus 500 mg amikacin, respectively, were evaluated for bactericidal activity against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The titers of bactericidal activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae in serum from subjects receiving ceftazidime were higher than with other regimens both one and six hours after administration . Peak titers of bactericidal activity greater than or equal to 1:8 were also achieved more often against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sera from subjects receiving ceftazidime than with other regimens . Killing studies confirmed these results . Although the checkerboard technique indicated synergism with the combination mezlocillin plus amikacin in vitro, this was not confirmed in vivo . Single drug therapy with ceftazidime was superior to the tested combinations.

Can J Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 32(2), 160 - 6
The binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane ghosts to human buccal epithelial cells; Doig P et al.; The binding of outer membrane (OM) ghosts derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 492c to human buccal epithelial cells (BECs) was examined . Electron microscopic examination of the binding of OM ghosts to BECs revealed direct OM ghost-BEC interaction . Equilibrium analysis of the binding of OM ghosts to trypsinized BECs employing the Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicated the number of binding sites (N) to be 1.3 X 10(-4) micrograms protein per BEC with an apparent association constant (Ka) of 3.4 X 10(-2) mL/microgram protein . The Langmuir analysis of binding of OM ghosts to untrypsinized BECs was complex, suggesting two possible classes of receptors, a high affinity-low copy number class (Ka, 7.8 X 10(-2)mL/microgram protein; N, 8.6 X 10(-5) microgram protein per BEC) and a low affinity-high copy number class (Ka, 3.7 X 10(-3)mL/microgram protein; N, 9.2 X 10(-4)microgram protein per BEC) . Sugar inhibition studies incorporating D-galactose enhanced binding to each BEC type . N-Acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetylglucosamine both enhanced binding of OM ghosts to untrypsinized BECs, while inhibiting binding to trypsinized BECs . D-Arabinose inhibited binding to both BEC types . Binding of OM ghosts to both BEC types was greatly inhibited by D-fucose, while L-fucose only greatly inhibited binding to untrypsinized BECs . These sugar inhibition data demonstrated a difference in the binding of OM ghosts to trypsinized and untrypsinized BECs and possibly reveal the nature of the receptor(s), free of possible bacterial metabolic effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Feb, (2), 14 - 9
{Safety and sensitizing properties of a polyvalent corpuscular Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine and its effect on hematological indices}; Kharitonova AM et al.; The acute and chronic toxicity, influence on hematological characteristics and sensitizing properties of P . aeruginosa polyvalent corpuscular vaccine have been studied in experiments on 3 species of animals . The acute experiment has shown that the LD50 of the preparation contains not less than 7800 million cells, which is almost 160 times higher than the recommended immunizing dose (500 million cells) . The safety of the preparation is confirmed by the data obtained in the histological and histochemical investigations of the tissues and organs of animals subjected to multiple immunizations with the vaccine . These investigations have revealed no pathological changes in the animals . During the study of the chronic toxicity of the preparation the hematological characteristics of the animals have been found to remain within normal limits . The vaccine has been shown to possess low sensitizing activity, which is manifested by the absence of severe reactions to allergic skin tests with different bacterial allergens (specific allergens obtained from P . aeruginosa and allergens obtained from other bacterial species), made on completion of the course of immunization with the vaccine.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Feb, 39(2), 230 - 41
Semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics . I . Synthesis and antibacterial activity of new ureidopenicillin derivatives having catechol moieties; Ohi N et al.; The synthesis and antibacterial activity of new ureidopenicillin derivatives having catechol moieties in the 6-acyl side chain are described . These compounds showed remarkably strong activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Especially, 6-{(R)-2-{3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-methyl-1-ureido}-2- phenylacetamido}penicillanic acid (7a) had the most potent activity in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria, its activity being 30 approximately 60-fold greater than that of piperacillin against most strains of P . aeruginosa.

J Med Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 21(1), 87 - 90
Characterisation of mouse monoclonal antibodies produced by immunisation with a single serotype component of a polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine; Barclay GR et al.; Mouse monoclonal antibodies raised by immunisation with a protective antigen extract from Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 1 varied in immunoglobulin isotype, in passive protective properties against infection by homologous P . aeruginosa serotype 1, and in cross-reactions in ELISA against antigen preparations from 15 other P . aeruginosa serotypes . All monoclonal antibodies with specificity in ELISA for the immunising antigen gave some degree of protection to mice against lethal infection by the homologous P . aeruginosa serotype . The IgG antibodies were more protective than the IgM antibodies.

J Clin Pathol, 1986 Feb, 39(2), 220 - 2
Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis by selective media; Fonseca K et al.; Pseudomonas Isolation Agar (selective agent, Irgasan, 25 mg/1) and Pseudomonas Selective Agar (selective agents, cetrimide 200mg/1 and nalidixic acid 15 mg/1) inhibited some strains of P aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis sputum but did not inhibit isolates from other sources . Of 200 cystic fibrosis isolates, 22 were inhibited by 16 mg/1 Irgasan, 45 by 8 mg/1 nalidixic acid, and 15 by 128 mg/1 cetrimide . We recommend that cystic fibrosis sputum should be cultured on selective and non-selective media to maximise the isolation of P aeruginosa.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1986 Feb, 133(2), 255 - 60
Influence of sputum IgA and elastase on tracheal cell bacterial adherence; Niederman MS et al.; Bacterial adherence is an important pathogenetic mechanism for airway colonization, but the influence of airway proteins on this phenomenon is largely unknown . We measured tracheal cell bacterial binding in 13 subjects with chronic tracheostomy and related these results to measurements of sputum IgA, elastase activity, and total protein from the same subjects . Tracheal cell adherence was related directly to sputum elastase activity (r = 0.61, p = 0.02); and elastase activity, primarily a serine protease, was higher in subjects colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa than in those without this finding (p = 0.02) . Sputum levels of IgA/mg protein were related inversely to tracheal cell adherence (r = 0.64, p = 0.02) . Sputum IgA concentrations, in turn, were affected by host nutritional status and airway elastase activity . Evidence that elastase can degrade sputum IgA was provided by an inverse relationship observed between these 2 proteins (r = 0.56, p = 0.04) and by in vitro mixing experiments showing fragmentation of IgA by purified neutrophil elastase . In addition, sucrose density gradient separation indicated IgA fragmentation to have occurred in vivo . These data suggest that, once adherence leads to airway colonization, the resulting inflammatory response may foster microbial growth by an elastase-dependent IgA cleavage and hence enhanced tracheal cell adherence.

J Surg Res, 1986 Feb, 40(2), 138 - 44
Active and passive immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ribosomal vaccines and antisera in the burned rat model; Lieberman MM et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ribosomal vaccines were tested for their ability to protect rats subjected to a 20% total body surface burn against the lethal effects of infection with homologous organisms . When administered prior to burning, the vaccines provided 100% protection . When administered postburning, the vaccine from one strain also provided 100% protection when the time interval between vaccination and infection was 3 days . When this time interval was reduced to 1 or 2 days, approximately 50% protection was obtained with the same vaccine . The vaccine from a second strain tested provided about 50% protection with a 3-day time interval . In addition, passive immunization using antiserum to a ribosomal vaccine was also demonstrated to be effective in protecting burned and infected rats, especially when multiple doses of antiserum were used . In this case, 80% protection was obtained (with no protection observed using multiple doses of normal serum) . Finally, a comparison of ribosomal and lipopolysaccharide vaccines and antisera was also performed.

J Clin Invest, 1986 Feb, 77(2), 491 - 5
Structural analysis and immunogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 2 high molecular weight polysaccharide; Pier GB et al.; We analyzed high molecular weight polysaccharide (PS) from the Fisher immunotype 2 (IT-2) strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for molecular composition and structure, then determined its immunogenicity in healthy adults . The PS was composed of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxygalactose (N-acetyl fucosamine) and glucose in a molar ratio of 2:1 . Structural analysis by carbon-13 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed that the high molecular weight PS was structurally identical to that of the O-specific side chain of the lipopolysaccharide . PS differed from this material in molecular size . Immunization of 19 adult volunteers with doses of 50-100 micrograms of PS resulted in significant rises (P less than 0.04-P less than 0.0001) in binding antibody levels and killing antibody titers 2 and 4 wk postimmunization . The only reaction to the vaccine was localized tenderness at the immunization site . Analysis of the immunoglobulin isotype response to the vaccine showed a rise in specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies . Heterologous responses to other P . aeruginosa PS antigens were not seen . The antibody levels attained by vaccination were comparable with those in acute-phase serum samples of patients who survived sepsis with IT-2 P . aeruginosa and were significantly higher (P less than 0.03) than specific antibody levels in bacteremic patients who died . These results confirm that PS is a high molecular weight, immunogenic form of the P . aeruginosa IT-2 serotype antigen, eliciting levels of type-specific antibody comparable with those seen among patients surviving an episode of P . aeruginosa sepsis.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 510 - 6
Gene amplification induces mucoid phenotype in rec-2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to kanamycin; Deretic V et al.; Gene amplification in the chromosome of rec-2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO2003 upon growth on kanamycin-supplemented media led to a stable mucoid phenotype . The chromosomal region controlling alginate biosynthesis was shown to be amplified four to six times as a direct tandem repeat of at least 16.8 kilobase pairs . This amplification was deduced from Southern DNA-DNA hybridization patterns of the chromosomal DNA digested with restriction endonucleases BglII and EcoRI and probed with a cloned DNA segment complementing the alg-22 mutation . The part of the amplified unit carrying the novel DNA joint was cloned . The EcoRI junction fragment was further subcloned and used to probe chromosomes of parental strain PAO2003 and mucoid variant VD2003M . As predicted, the EcoRI junction fragment hybridized to the two chromosomal fragments required to produce the novel junction . Though the mucoid phenotype caused by gene amplification was stable, nonmucoid revertants were obtained at a low frequency on tetracycline-containing media . Southern hybridization of chromosomal DNA from a nonmucoid revertant revealed a reduction in the copy number of amplified DNA . These results suggest a direct relationship between amplification of this chromosomal segment and the induction of mucoidy.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 448 - 52
Specialized transduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO by bacteriophage D3; Cavenagh MM et al.; D3, a temperate bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO, was found to specifically transduce the alleles met-49 and met-117 . Induction of established lysogens with UV light was necessary for the production of transducing lysates . Transduced cells were immune to superinfection by phage D3 and could give rise to high-frequency transducing lysates . Cotransduction of these two alleles could not be demonstrated . met-117 was mapped to 26 min on the PAO genetic map . Complementation studies using the generalized transducing phage F116L indicated that met-49 is an allele of met-9011 which maps at 55 min . The integrated D3 prophage was shown to be coinherited with met-117 and with met-49.

Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 687 - 9
In vivo identification of sialic acid as the ocular receptor for Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hazlett LD et al.; In vivo bacterial adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the immature ocular epithelium was mediated by a sialic (N-acetylneuraminic) acid (NANA) receptor . Saturation of binding sites on the bacterial surface by NANA prevented attachment of the organism to the epithelial cell membrane receptor . Additionally, a significant number of animals receiving NANA-treated organisms were protected from septicemia and death . In vivo protection studies showed excellent correlation with scanning electron microscopy, in that the number of adherent organisms at the corneal surface decreased dramatically in the presence of NANA . These studies exhibit a strong correlation with clinical cases of human infant ocular infection.

Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 675 - 86
Immunochemical and biochemical analysis of the polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine PEV; MacIntyre S et al.; The Pseudomonas aeruginosa polyvalent vaccine PEV and its 16 constituent monovalent extracts from International Antigenic Typing System serotypes 1 through 13 and 15 through 17 (J . J . Miler, J . F . Spilsbury, R . J . Jones, E . A . Roe, and E . J . L . Lowbury, J . Med . Microbiol . 10:19-27, 1977) were subjected to biochemical analysis and to detailed immunochemical analysis with rabbit anti-PEV immunoglobulins . The results of chemical analysis, of analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed in conjunction with silver staining, and of analysis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel-crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and Western blotting showed clearly that lipopolysaccharide was a major constituent of each monovalent extract and that it was probably the dominant antigen present in at least 15 of the 16 monovalent extracts . A 16.2-kilodalton protein, which was pronase resistant and nonsedimentable at 105,000 X g and which appeared to be biochemically and antigenically unrelated to pili, was a common although minor antigen for all extracts . Several other proteins, some of outer membrane origin, were also detected in unformalinized extracts, but these were also minor antigenic constituents of the vaccine . Neither pilin nor flagellin appeared to be major protein constituents of tested monovalent extracts, although anti-flagella antibodies could be demonstrated in rabbit anti-PEV by Western blotting . Preliminary analysis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of serum raised in volunteers to PEV also indicated the presence therein of antibodies to lipopolysaccharide antigens.

Biochem J, 1986 Feb 1, 233(3), 893 - 8
An investigation of the ligand-binding properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite reductase; Sutherland J et al.; The low-temperature e.p.r . and m.c.d . (magnetic-circular-dichroism) spectra of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite reductase, together with those of its partially and fully cyanide-bound derivatives, were investigated . The m.c.d . spectra in the range 600-2000 nm indicate that the native axial ligands to haem c are histidine and methionine, and furthermore that it is the methionine ligand that must be displaced before cyanide binding at this haem . The m.c.d . spectra in the range 1000-2000 nm contain no charge-transfer bands arising from low-spin ferric haem d1, a chlorin . New optical transitions in the region 700-850 nm were found for the cyanide adduct of haem d1 . The g-values of haem d1 in the native enzyme are 2.51, 2.43 and 1.71, suggesting co-ordination by two histidine ligands in the oxidized state . There is clear evidence in the e.p.r . data of an interaction between the c and d1 haem groups . This is not apparent in the optical spectra . The results are interpreted in terms of haem groups that are remote from each other, their interaction being mediated through protein conformational changes . The possible implications of this in relation to reduction processes catalysed by the enzyme are considered.

Genetika, 1986 Feb, 22(2), 209 - 18
{Two loci in the genome of the transposable phage B39 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa affecting the process of integration . I . Study of the properties of phages with the Pde- phenotype and mapping of the rms site}; Krylov VN et al.; Mutants and recombinants of transposable Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage B39 with a specific phenotype Pde- (pleiotropic developmental effect) were studied . Pde- phages produce clear minute plaques on lawns of P . aeruginosa PAO1 and fail to grow in cells of PAO1 harbouring Rms 163 (Inc P5) plasmid . Pde+ character is under control of the two loci in phage genome which were designated pdeX and pdeY . In hybrid phages the pdeX and pdeY loci originating from different transposable phages (pdeX from B39 and pdeY from PH132) do not accomplish their function and, as a result, the hybrid phages have the Pde- phenotype . The frequency of integration (f.o.i.) of Pde- phages into bacterial chromosome is lower than f.o.i . for Pde+ phages, as well as the frequency of stable lysogenization of infected bacteria; lytic development of the Pde- phages is also limited . The great difference among the transposable phages in their reaction to the presence of Rms163 plasmid is caused by some differences in the specific rms site in the phage genome . The site is located inside the interval 1.1-3.9 kb of the physical genome map, being closely linked to cI gene of phage B39 . The growth of Pde- phages in cells with Rms163 can be restored, due to additional mutations in phage genes affecting lysogenization.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 523 - 6
Lipopolysaccharide-free Escherichia coli OmpF and Pseudomonas aeruginosa protein P porins are functionally active in lipid bilayer membranes; Parr TR Jr et al.; Escherichia coli porin OmpF and Pseudomonas aeruginosa porin protein P were eluted from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels . The resultant porin preparations were found to be devoid of detectable lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining for LPS, direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with LPS-specific monoclonal antibodies, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid assays . The average conductances, ionic selectivities and incorporation rates of the electroeluted porins were identical to those of their conventionally purified counterparts . These data suggest that LPS is not required per se for porin function.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Feb, (2), 59 - 63
{Characteristics of the sources and routes of spread of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a trauma department}; Zueva LP et al.; In the study of the epidemic process of P . aeruginosa infection in a traumatological hospital the leading role of patients with hospital septic infections as the sources of infection has been epidemiologically proved . Contamination has been shown to occur mostly in the pus dressing room.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 625 - 30
Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK pilin gene in Escherichia coli; Finlay BB et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a piliated opportunistic pathogen . We have recently reported the cloning of the structural gene for the pilus protein, pilin, from P . aeruginosa PAK (B . L . Pasloske, B . B . Finlay, and W . Paranchych, FEBS Lett . 183:408-412, 1985), and in this paper we present evidence that this chimera (pBP001) expresses P . aeruginosa PAK pilin in Escherichia coli independent of a vector promoter . The strength of the promoter for the PAK pilin gene was assayed, and the cellular location of the pilin protein within E . coli was examined . This protein was present mainly in the inner membrane fraction both with and without its six-amino-acid leader sequence, but it was not assembled into pili.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 367 - 72
Cloning and expression of the pilin gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK in Escherichia coli; Strom MS et al.; Many strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possess pili which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the organism . This report presents the cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding the structural subunit of the pili of P . aeruginosa PAK . Total DNA from this strain was partially digested with Sau3A and inserted into the cloning vector pUC18 . Recombinant E . coli clones were screened with oligonucleotide probes prepared from the constant region of the previously published amino acid sequence of the mature pilin subunit . Several positive clones were identified, and restriction maps were generated . Each clone contained an identical 1.1-kilobase HindIII fragment which hybridized to the oligonucleotide probes . Western blot analysis showed that all of the clones expressed small amounts of the P . aeruginosa pilin subunit, which has a molecular mass of ca . 18,000 . This expression occurred independently of the orientation of the inserted DNA fragments in the cloning vector, indicating that synthesis was directed from an internal promoter . However, subclones containing the 1.1-kilobase HindIII fragment in a specific orientation produced an order of magnitude more of the pilin subunit . While the expressed pilin antigen was located in both the cytoplasmic and outer membrane fractions of E . coli, none appeared to be polymerized into a pilus structure.

J Trauma, 1986 Feb, 26(2), 118 - 22
Experimental studies of the pathogenesis of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: immunization using divalent flagella preparations; Holder IA et al.; Flagella preparations of the two antigenic types that make up all the flagella antigens in Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used, individually, to immunize mice . Mice thus immunized were protected when burned and infected with P . aeruginosa . Protection was specific for the flagella antigen of the challenge strain but independent of its somatic antigen . When both antigens were used, together, for immunization, protection was independent of both the flagella and somatic antigen of the challenge strain . These results suggest that a divalent P . aeruginosa 'vaccine' would be of considerable value for immunoprophylaxis in burn patients.

FEBS Lett, 1986 Jan 20, 195(1-2), 187 - 93
Genomic organization of rDNA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hartmann RK et al.; We have examined the number and organization of rRNA genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by hybridization of restriction nuclease digests of genomic DNA to 3'-32P-labelled 23 S, 16 S and 5 S rRNAs and corresponding labelled DNA from the rrnB operon of Escherichia coli . The immediate conclusion from these hybridization data is that there are 4 transcriptional units coding for rDNA in P . aeruginosa . We report here a putative model of the genomic organization of all 4 rDNA operons.

Eur J Biochem, 1986 Jan 15, 154(2), 437 - 43
X-ray crystallographic and biochemical characterization of single crystals formed by proteolytically modified human fibrinogen; Gollwitzer R et al.; Large single crystals (0.7 mm X 0.4 mm X 0.3 mm) of human fibrinogen, modified with a crude exoprotease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been obtained . The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121, with a = 9.5 +/- 0.1 nm, b = 11.1 +/- 0.1 nm, c = 44.0 +/- 0.4 nm . Their X-ray diffraction patterns extend to beyond 1.0 nm resolution . The asymmetric unit contains one fragment of 245 kDa molecular mass made up of an intact gamma chain, a slightly shortened beta chain and an N-terminal part (about one-third) of the alpha chain . In electron micrographs of rotary-shadowed samples the crystallized particles are very similar in size and shape to the well-known trinodular form of native fibrinogen . From the unit-cell dimensions and the intensity pattern a model is proposed in which the molecules consist of two halves related by a local twofold rotation axis, and are aligned with a displacement of multiples of 1/4 of their length giving a pseudohexagonal packing scheme.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1986 Jan 15, 101(1), 44 - 8
Ocular concentration of gentamicin after penetrating keratoplasty; Yau CW et al.; To determine if the storage of corneal tissue in a preserving medium containing gentamicin results in therapeutically effective concentrations of antibiotics in the ocular tissues after penetrating keratoplasty, we stored rabbit donor corneas in McCarey-Kaufman medium containing 100 micrograms of gentamicin per milliliter for three days before surgery . Gentamicin concentrations were determined by agar-diffusion bioassay in ocular tissues one, two, three, four, and six hours after surgery . On the average, the concentration of antibiotic one hour after surgery was 8.8 micrograms of gentamicin per gram of donor cornea, 6.25 micrograms of gentamicin per milliliter of iris, and 2.8 micrograms of gentamicin per milliliter of aqueous humor . The minimal inhibitory concentration for sensitive strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is 1.6 micrograms of gentamicin per milliliter of medium . Thus, gentamicin levels sufficient to inhibit the growth of sensitive bacteria were still present in the donor cornea three hours and in the iris two hours after penetrating keratoplasty . By six hours, only trace amounts of gentamicin were found in the donor cornea and aqueous humor . The presence of gentamicin in ocular tissues after penetrating keratoplasty appears to prolong the antibacterial effect of the preserving medium, and to provide tissue concentrations of antibiotic effective against intraoperative contamination.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Jan 14, 134(1), 106 - 12
The outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a barrier against the penetration of disaccharides; Yoneyama H et al.; The outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa acted as a barrier against the penetration of di- (Mr, 342), tri- (Mr, 504) and tetrasaccharides (Mr, 666), whereas the membrane allowed the penetration of pentose (Mr, 150) and methylhexoses (Mr, 194) into the periplasm . When the intact cells of P . aeruginosa were treated with 600 mosM saccharides of various sizes and observed under an electron microscope, saccharides of Mr larger than 342 caused the extensive shrinking of the outer membrane . Whereas the cells treated with the saccharides of Mr less than 194 or with sucrose in the presence of EDTA showed plasmolysis . Determination of the extent of saccharide penetration into the periplasm of the cells treated with 600 mosM sodium chloride or with 600 mosM saccharides of various sizes showed that only pentose and hexoses, so far examined, were penetrable but di-, tri- and tetrasaccharides were impenetrable.

Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1986 Jan, 65(1), 26 - 8
{Hyperbaric oxygenation--a sensible adjunctive therapy in malignant external otitis}; Pilgramm M et al.; This study shows the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation as an adjunctive therapy in malignant external otitis on the basis of three cases: one stage I, one stage II, two stages III (according to Ganz) . Due to the successes achieved, and basing on a comparative study of the literature, we can conclude, even without a control group, that hyperbaric oxygenation exercises a positive influence on the reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the external auditory canal, and on the symptoms of pain and regeneration of cerebral nerves injured with a broad-spectrum allergy to antibiotics, even the exclusive application of the hyperbaric oxygenation proved successful.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Jan-Feb, 5(1), 54 - 8
Home cleaning-disinfection procedure for tracheal suction catheters; Shabino CL et al.; The cost effectiveness of home care for pediatric tracheostomy patients has become a concern . One major cost component of this care is the tracheal suction catheter . This study was designed to assess the microbiologic effectiveness of a practical cleaning-disinfection procedure, consisting of hydrogen peroxide, 100 degrees C soapy water and 100 degrees C rinse water, which might permit reuse of tracheal suction catheters in the home setting . The procedure was found to be highly effective, completely eliminating bacterial growth from more than 90% of catheters seeded with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the laboratory . Further, studies with catheters used for suctioning patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit confirmed the eradication of all bacterial organisms.

Arkh Patol, 1986, 48(8), 57 - 63
{Ultrastructural analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa invasion into the blood capillaries of the subcutaneous fat}; Vtiurin BV et al.; Wound wall soft tissues from 14 male rats were studied electron-microscopically 5 hours after subcutaneous implantation of a gauze piece with 3 X 10(10) organisms of Ps . aeruginosa on it . In a special series of experiments done on 75 rats, 78% of the animals have demonstrated a generalized pseudomonal infection, i . e . sepsis . The bacterial invasion into the blood stream occurred on the microcirculatory level due to inadequacy of the phagocytic barrier caused by bacterial damage of micro and macrophages . Vascular wall component destruction and capillary haemostasis (stasis, thrombosis) appeared to predispose the microbial invasion into the vascular lumen . The bacteria entered the circulation by the microembolic mechanism.

Int Orthop, 1986, 10(3), 209 - 11
Septic separation of the symphysis pubis; Persson BM et al.; Symphysial osteomyelitis has been distinguished from osteitis pubis because of the more serious nature of the disease . We report a case in which there was a pelvic separation similar to that seen after trauma or pregnancy . The previously undescribed complications of bladder perforation and pelvic instability are also noted . There was no predisposing cause in this case, in contrast to the 40 previously reported . The causative organism was staphylococcus aureus, but pseudomonas aeruginosa and escherichia coli have also been found in other cases.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 2, S154 - 9
{Efficacy and tolerance of imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of surgical infections with and without bone involvement}; Voeckl J et al.; Imipenem/cilastatin in a doses of 1.5/day was used to treat 31 moderate to severe infections, predominantly soft tissue infections with bone involvement, in 30 surgical patients . A clinical success was achieved in 93% of the patients . In one patient with diabetic gangrene of the foot, imipenem/cilastatin treatment performed as a last resort was not able to prevent amputation . One patient died from his underlying disease while on therapy . All isolates except one Pseudomonas diminuta strain regarded as contaminant were initially sensitive to imipenem . Two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains developed resistance by the end of therapy . Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common aetiologic agents . Only few clinical and biochemical side-effects were observed: in two cases an allergic rash appeared following several days' treatment . Four patients developed thrombocytopenia, which, however, was completely reversible after the end of therapy.

Circ Shock, 1986, 19(4), 357 - 70
Comparative effect of circulating bacterial or nonbacterial particulates on plasma fibronectin: relationship to lung deposition of blood-borne foreign particles; Kiener JL et al.; Reticuloendothelial (RE) phagocytic function and plasma fibronectin are altered early after trauma and during septic shock . Since fibronectin-coated particles will tend to aggregate if not efficiently phagocytized, we hypothesized that elevated fibronectin levels during hepatic and/or splenic RE depression could potentiate the lung deposition of blood-borne foreign microparticles . To evaluate this concept, we measured plasma fibronectin, hepatic RE function, and tissue deposition of blood-borne colloids in rats after they were injected with nonbacterial and bacterial particulates . Rats were injected intravenously with gelatin-coated colloids (50 mg/100 gm) to simulate blood-borne collagenous tissue debris after trauma, or with live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1 X 10(9)/rat) to simulate bacterial entrance into the blood with sepsis, or with both to simulate sepsis after trauma . Phagocytic function was evaluated by liver and spleen uptake of gelatinized 125I RE test emulsion . Fibronectin was quantified by electroimmunoassay . There was an acute 60-80% decrease in plasma fibronectin 2 hr following either colloid or colloid coupled with bacterial infusion . Bacterial infusion alone elicited only a mild 20% decrease in fibronectin by 2 hr . By 24 hr, restoration of fibronectin levels was observed in all groups with hyperfibronectinemia observed in animals challenged with Pseudomonas . Following colloid alone, liver uptake of the RE test particle was acutely depressed at 2 hr in association with an acute depletion of fibronectin, but at 24 hr the RE depression persisted even with normalization of fibronectin . In contrast, with only bacteremia, the rebound elevation of fibronectin was associated with increased hepatic RE function . In rats given both colloid and Pseudomonas, the hyperfibronectinemia (60-100% above controls) at 24 hr coexisted with inadequate liver phagocytic uptake ability . This resulted in a significant 20-fold (P less than 0.05) increment in lung localization of the blood-borne test microparticles . Thus, hyperfibronectinemia without a parallel increase in liver phagocytic ingestive ability may actually enhance lung localization of blood-borne microparticles, which have a high affinity for fibronectin.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(4), 303 - 6
Experimental efficacy of apalcillin and cefpiramide compared with that of six other antipseudomonal agents in Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn infections; Fu KP et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of cefpiramide and apalcillin was evaluated and compared with that of six other antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics in an experimental mouse burn infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Both cefpiramide and apalcillin were as potent as cefsulodin and more potent than carbenicillin, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, piperacillin and gentamicin in protecting the infected mice from fatal bacteraemia and in eradicating Ps . aeruginosa from the infected site.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(2), 166 - 72
Therapeutic efficacy of cefpiramide and cefoperazone alone and in combination with gentamicin against pseudomonal infections in neutropenic mice; Fu KP et al.; Cefpiramide and cefoperazone alone and in combination with gentamicin were compared for therapeutic efficacy against pseudomonal infections in normal mice and in mice made neutropenic by administration of cyclophosphamide . Neutropenic mice were more susceptible to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa than normal mice . At all challenge doses, combination therapy with either cefpiramide-gentamicin or cefoperazone-gentamicin was more effective than that with a single agent . Therapy with the cefpiramide-gentamicin combination was significantly more active than that with the cefoperazone-gentamicin combination in protecting mice from fatal bacteremia . Pharmacokinetic studies in mice showed that cefpiramide attained a peak serum concentration of 12 micrograms/ml and a serum half-life of 40 min, which are higher than attained by cefoperazone with values of 4 micrograms/ml and 18 min . These factors may have caused the combined cefpiramide-gentamicin therapy to result in significantly improved survival rates in mice as well as in higher bactericidal titers than the cefoperazone-gentamicin combination . The results show that cefpiramide when combined with gentamicin is effective in treating serious infections with P . aeruginosa in neutropenic mice.

Yale J Biol Med, 1986 Jan-Feb, 59(1), 11 - 6
Synergism of azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin in combination with tobramycin against Klebsiella and Pseudomonas; Downs JT et al.; Fifty-three clinical isolates of Klebsiella and fifty-one clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, twenty-six of which were carbenicillin-(CARB) resistant, were tested for susceptibility to mezlocillin (MEZ), azlocillin (AZL), and piperacillin (PIP), both alone and in combination with tobramycin (TOB) using the microtiter broth diluent method and an inoculum density of 10(6) CFU/ml . The Klebsiella were highly resistant to TOB, MEZ, and PIP (MIC90: 8, greater than 256, greater than 128 micrograms/ml, respectively) . Synergy was demonstrated in 53 percent (PIP/TOB) and 51 percent (MEZ/TOB) . An indifferent response was observed in 47 percent (PIP/TOB) and 49 percent MEZ/TOB of the Klebsiella . PIP, MEZ, and AZL in combination with TOB showed synergism against CARB-resistant Pseudomonas in less than 10 percent of the strains tested . Synergy could be demonstrated against CARB-susceptible Pseudomonas with the combinations PIP/TOB, AZL/TOB, and MEZ/TOB in 12 percent, 12 percent, and 24 percent, respectively, of the twenty-five strains tested . Indifferent effects were observed in 84 percent, 88 percent, and 76 percent, respectively, of these same CARB-susceptible strains . These data suggest that there is no significant difference in the incidence of synergy with these new penicillins and tobramycin against either Pseudomonas or Klebsiella.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(5), 425 - 9
Ceftazidime in the treatment of serious Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis; Bragman S et al.; 28 patients with serious Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis were enrolled into a prospective open study using ceftazidime (CAZ) . 10 patients had rapidly fatal underlying pathology, including 5 neutropenic (neutrophils less than 1.0 X 10(9)/l) patients with malignancy . 9 patients including all those with neutropenia also received concomitant therapy with other active antipseudomonal antibiotics (mainly aminoglycosides) . All isolates were initially sensitive to CAZ . A favourable response was seen in 18/27 (67%) evaluable cases . Genitourinary infection and osteomyelitis responded well with 100% and 83% favourable responses respectively . Soft tissue and respiratory tract infection responded less well . Results with biliary sepsis were disappointing (all 3 failed therapy) . Of the 9 patients failing treatment 5 responded to alternative antibiotics (usually combination therapy of ureidopenicillin plus aminoglycoside) . 2 died primarily from underlying pathology and 2 as a direct result of Ps . aeruginosa sepsis . Toxicity was minimal . In the few cases observed other agents and underlying pathology possibly contributed . The most disturbing feature of the study was the emergence of multiple beta-lactam resistance in organisms whilst treated with CAZ . 5 cases occurred, 4 in the infected strain and 1 in a superinfecting strain, occurring in 4 patients within 10 days of starting therapy . 2 cases occurred in patients receiving concomitant aminoglycosides.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1986, 243(3), 167 - 9
Efficacy of perioperative ceftazidime in the surgical treatment of chronic otitis media due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Preliminary report of a prospective, controlled study; Lildholdt T et al.; A prospective open and controlled study of perioperative antibiotics was conducted in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) . Drug efficacy was found in a subgroup of 26 patients, who were characterized by preoperative aural drainage culturing Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Fourteen of these patients were randomized to receive ceftazidime (cephalosporin) for 5 days at the operation, while 12 had no antibiotic treatment . The occurrence of subsequent aural drainage was compared with the actual clinical and microbiological conditions of the ears 2 months after the operation; statistically significant differences were found in favor of the group treated with ceftazidime . Further studies must define the role of ceftazidime and other antibiotics in the management of patients with COM.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(2), 133 - 7
Immediate and prolonged clinical efficacy of ceftazidime versus ceftazidime plus tobramycin in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis; Stenvang Pedersen S et al.; 20 patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchopulmonary infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa entered a randomized cross-over study comparing ceftazidime (150 mg/kg body weight/24 h) plus tobramycin (10 mg/kg body weight/24 h) to ceftazidime alone (150 mg/kg body weight/24 h), both given intravenously for 2 weeks . 17 patients completed the study; both treatment regimens improved lung function and decreased the WBC count . No difference in clinical efficacy was found between the treatments . Pulmonary function returned to pre-treatment levels 3 months later with no difference between the treatments . No changes were seen in minimal inhibitory concentrations during treatment . None of the patients developed hypersensitivity or experienced serious adverse reactions to the drugs.

Microbiologica, 1986 Jan, 9(1), 71 - 9
More experience on the microagglutination test in the diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila infection; Temperanza AM et al.; The sensitivity of the indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) test in Legionella pneumophila infection is said to be maximal when a plyimmunoglobulin conjugate is used . However commercially available non-class-specific fluorescent antisera are not always sensitive enough to detect IgM antibodies as class-specific conjugates do . IFA test's drawback is its inability to detect early stages of infection . We routinely performed the microagglutination (MA) test in order to check the reliability of this test alone in screening diagnostic work for L . pneumophila group 1 infections . The 252 sera tested were from suspected or confirmed legionellosis cases . Five-hundred and thirty sera from healthy-people, 49 sera from patients with serologically confirmed chlamydia, coxiella and mycoplasma pneumonia, and ten sera from patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were used as controls . There was a good agreement between IFA and MA tests, the MA proving almost as specific as, and in some cases more sensitive than the IFA test . This was particularly evident in early stages of infection . For these reasons, together with its low cost and the ease to perform, it appears that the MA test can be a useful screening test for presumptive cases of legionellosis even on a single serum specimen.

Clin Pharm, 1986 Jan, 5(1), 24 - 33
Therapeutic considerations in using combinations of newer beta-lactam antibiotics; Barriere SL; The in vitro activity, pharmacokinetic interactions, and clinical efficacy of newer beta-lactam antibiotic combinations are reviewed . Combinations of beta-lactam antibiotics offer an antimicrobial spectrum similar to that of aminoglycoside-beta-lactam combinations without the renal or eighth cranial nerve toxicity of aminoglycosides . Synergistic activity with beta-lactam combinations is demonstrable in vitro against a wide variety of aerobic gram-negative bacilli, but the frequency, with which it is found is substantially less than for aminoglycoside-beta-lactam combinations . Also, in vitro antagonism can be demonstrated, particularly with combinations containing an agent capable of inducing beta lactamase . Substantial alterations in the pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime have been demonstrated by the concomitant administration of mezlocillin or azlocillin . In addition, the clearance of moxalactam has been shown to be reduced by concomitant administration of piperacillin, and the clearance of oxacillin is reduced by concomitant mezlocillin therapy . Dosage reductions of these drugs may be appropriate in certain situations . Several clinical trials comparing therapy with beta-lactam combinations versus aminoglycoside-containing regimens in neutropenic patients have shown no difference in overall efficacy between the two regimens, with the possible exception of infections in persistently granulocytopenic patients and perhaps in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections . beta-lactam combinations are generally less nephrotoxic, but potentially more costly when newer compounds are included, than amino-glycoside-containing regimens . These beta-lactam combinations should be reserved for use in patients at high risk for aminoglycoside toxicity.

J Infect Dis, 1986 Jan, 153(1), 90 - 7
Antibiotic therapy of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in normal and granulocytopenic mice: comparison of murine and human pharmacokinetics; Gerber AU et al.; An effort was made to elucidate the limits of drug-activity tests in small animals . Human plasma kinetics of gentamicin, netilmicin, ticarcillin, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone were approximated in normal and in granulocytopenic mice infected with various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the thigh muscle or intraperitoneally . The effect of such dosing on bacterial time-kill curves and on survival was compared with the effect of identical amounts of drug given as a single-bolus injection . With beta-lactams, a highly significant superiority of fractionated dosing (simulated human kinetics) over bolus injections (murine plasma kinetics) was demonstrated, whereas with aminoglycosides it was a single-bolus injection that tended to be more active . Thus, when tested in conventional small-animal models, aminoglycoside activity may be overestimated, whereas beta-lactam activity may be underestimated in respect to humans . These differences found in vivo most probably reflect the different pharmacodynamics between aminoglycosides and beta-lactam drugs (time-kill curves, dose-response curves, and postantibiotic effect) similar to those previously observed in vitro.

Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K, 1986, 105 ( Pt 6), 650 - 2
Penetration of ciprofloxacin into aqueous humor; Fern AI et al.; Ciprofloxacin is a potentially useful antibiotic in eye infection . A pilot study was performed on 25 patients undergoing routine cataract surgery to assess the penetration of the drug into aqueous humor after oral administration . The mean peak level of 0.56 mg/l achieved in aqueous is above the MIC for most gram negative organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 1, S87 - 8
{Ofloxacin in the conservative therapy of acute and chronic otitis media--a preliminary clinical report of experiences}; Lenarz T; After ascertaining the bacterial spectrum in 105 patients with Otitis media acutissima, Otitis media chronica mesotympanalis and Otitis media chronica epitympanalis, the efficacy of oral therapy with ofloxacin in five patients from each of these groups was assessed . The results are comparable with those following conventional local and intravenous antibiotic therapy . On the basis of these preliminary results, ofloxacin can be considered as a highly efficient oral substance which is effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two important pathogens in inflammatory ear infections.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1986 Jan-Jun, 79(1-6), 25 - 36
{Pseudomonas aeruginosa: immunotypes and drug resistance}; Benedettini G et al.; Serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Fisher's schema has been used to study the prevalence of particular immunotypes among strains of P . aeruginosa obtained from clinical specimens . About 78% of the isolates were serotypable and about 22% were not . Immunotypes 2 and 6 turned out to be the most prevalent, whereas immunotypes 5 and 7 were the least frequent . Immunotypes 2, 5, 6 and 7 did not vary significantly as far as frequency in the various sources is concerned, with the exception of immunotype 2, which was significantly less frequent in isolates from the expectorated sputum . In such isolates immunotype 3 was significantly more frequent than in other sources, whereas immunotype 4 was significantly more frequent in isolates from the feces . It was next investigated whether a correlation exists between antibiotic susceptibility and particular immunotypes . A high percentage of the non-typable strains and of those belonging to immunotypes 2 and 6 proved to be resistant to the antimicrobial agents tested.

Postgrad Med J, 1986, 62 Suppl 2, 75 - 7
Imipenem: the first thienamycin antibiotic; Williams RJ; Imipenem is a new beta-lactam which differs chemically from penicillins and cephalosporins but has a similar mode of action . It is a potent antibacterial agent with a broad spectrum of activity encompassing both aerobes and anaerobes . However, in vitro, it does not appear to offer a great improvement over other available agents for the treatment of infections caused by problem organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci . The results of clinical trials suggest that imipenem is efficacious and toxic side effects do not appear to be a problem.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(4), 345 - 9
Serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in Bulgaria using the Lányi-Bergan combined scheme; Pencheva P; Two hundred Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in hospitals in Bulgaria were serotyped according to the combined scheme of Lanyi and Bergan, supplemented by Akatova and Smirnova and Homma, using agglutinating O-antisera prepared in the National Institute of Hygiene, Budapest . The most frequently encountered serogroup is O2 (29%) followed by O11 (28.5%), O6, O3, O10 etc . The results were compared with those obtained by using Difco antisera prepared according to Liu et al., and showed 96.5% coincidence . The strains were phage typed according to the scheme of Meitert and tested for antibiotic resistance to aminoglycosides (gentamicin, carbenicillin, tobramycin and amikacin) . Phage groups 3 (3a and 3(3)) and 1 (1a) predominated . The strains exhibited sensitivity to amikacin (99%) and frequent resistance to gentamicin (45.8%, carbenicillin (40%) and tobramycin (28%) . Subdivision of the serogroups into phage and resisto-types contributes to analysis of nosocomial infections.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(3), 245 - 55
Immunochemical and immunological study of cell-wall proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanislavsky ES et al.; Crude aqueous extract was obtained from acetone-dried cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 868 (serogroup O2, Lanyi and Bergan's schema) and subjected to ultracentrifugation (105,000 g, 3 h); the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-containing precipitate was discarded and the supernatant containing water-soluble cell proteins was subjected to further fractionation . From a partially purified aqueous extract two fractions were obtained by step-wise precipitation with ammonium sulphate, namely, F1 (by 50% saturation), and F2 (by 80% saturation) . By gel and ion-exchange chromatography from both fractions 9 subfractions were isolated differing in molecular weight, protein content, and LPS contamination . Subfractions 4 and 7 were practically free from LPS, and gave one precipitation line with antisera for strain 868 . By immunoelectrophoresis subfraction 4 contained 2 cathodic and 1 anodic, whereas subfraction 7 mainly 1 anodic component . These subfractions were antigenically identical . With ELISA these subfractions were less active as compared to other subfractions, in particular to those of high molecular weight . The anti-subfraction 4 and anti-subfraction 7 sera were found to protect passively mice against intraperitoneal challenge by P . aeruginosa strain 8 (serogroup O2) . These data support the authors' opinion that subfraction SF-4 and SF-7 are protective protein antigens (mol wt about 40,000 and 30,000, respectively), that are localized in the outer membrane of P . aeruginosa cell envelope.

Braz J Med Biol Res, 1986, 19(2), 159 - 65
The use of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis of partially treated Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis: patient report; Bermudez LE; The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mouse anti-pseudomonas monoclonal antibodies to detect small numbers of pathogenic pseudomonas in the spinal fluid of a patient who had been treated with antibiotics for meningitis . Anti-605 monoclonal antibody against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAC 605, a rough mutant, showed sensitivity similar to that of anti-Fisher 1 monoclonal antibody in detecting P . aeruginosa Fisher 1 antigens in boiled spinal fluid drawn from a patient with a P . aeruginosa perispinal abscess and partially treated meningitis.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1986, 65(5), 374 - 9
{Bactericidal activity of beta-lactams and aminoglucosides: comparative evaluations}; Dos Santos C et al.; In this study we have evaluated the bactericidal activity kinetics of some cephalosporins, ureidopenicillins and aminoglycosides against 41 gram negative clinical isolates . Aminoglycosides, particularly gentamicin, showed the better bactericidal activity which appeared already at the second-third hour after the addition of the antibiotic . The bactericidal activity of cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefotetan was remarkable but it appeared only at the sixth-eight hour . This difference was statistically significant . Carbenicillin and piperacillin showed a low bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We noted a wide variability of the antibiotic bactericidal activity against the isolates of the same bacterial species . Therefore we can argue that in serious infections the determination of the antibiotic and serum bactericidal activity is necessary.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1986, 49, 31 - 7
In vivo significance of bacteriocins and bacteriocin receptors; Govan JR; Bacteriocins are protein or protein-complex antibiotics produced by a wide variety of bacterial species . By conventional definition, bacteriocins differ from most other antibiotics in that the producer strain is immune to the action of its own bacteriocin and the inhibitory activity of individual bacteriocins is directed only to bacteria which are closely related to the strains which produce them . Bacteriocin production is regulated by plasmid or chromosomal elements and bacteriocin activity is initiated by adsorption of bacteriocin to specific outer membrane receptors on susceptible cells . In Darwinian terms, production of bacteriocin by a bacterial strain, within a particular ecological niche, could be considered advantageous by ensuring elimination of other closely related, and thus competitive, bacteria . In contrast, conservation of bacteriocin receptors appears suicidal if their only function is to initiate cell death . The paper will illustrate the ubiquity of bacteriocins and discuss evidence for their in vivo function in terms of bacterial survival . Evidence will also be presented to indicate that bacteriocin receptors in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have important alternative physiological functions in outer-membrane mediated nutrient uptake, particularly with respect to bacterial iron metabolism.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 4, S245 - 7
Investigations on ofloxacin: antibacterial activity and influence on the immune system; Pulverer G et al.; The in vitro activity of ofloxacin was tested against freshly isolated strains, from clinical material, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and coagulase-negative staphylococci, including strains that were resistant to methicillin and/or novobiocin . 97% of the Pseudomonas strains were inhibited by ofloxacin concentrations in the range of 0.78 to 6.25 mg/l, with 55% of the strains being inhibited by concentrations up to 1.56 mg/l . All of the staphylococci strains, including those resistant to novobiocin and/or methicillin, were sensitive to ofloxacin in the range 0.19 to 1.56 mg/l . The influence of ofloxacin on cellular and humoral host immunity was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro . The influence of the compound on phagocytic activity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes was evaluated by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence . Ofloxacin did not influence cell-mediated immunity . It had no effect on chemotaxis . The use of sub-inhibitory concentrations of ofloxacin enhanced the phagocytic kill rate.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(11), 871 - 83
Study of in vitro selected resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cefoperazone, ceftazidime, azthreonam and imipenem; Van der Auwera P et al.; Ten strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were plated on agar containing cefoperazone, ceftazidime, azthreonam or imipenem alone and in combination with ampicillin or cefoxitin as inducers, and/or amikacin (MIC/4), according to Szybalsky . Regrowing colonies were randomly selected for MIC and MBC determinations . The numbers of regrowing colonies were occasionally increased by a beta-lactamase inducer, although amikacin significantly reduced it . Some 243 colonies were further studied . The most frequent phenotypes of resistance (195 mutants) were: resistance to cefoperazone, ceftazidime, azthreonam (99 regrowing colonies); resistance to cefoperazone, azthreonam (36); resistance to cefoperazone (17); resistance to cefoperazone, ceftazidime, azthreonam, imipenem (17) . A total of 28/31 R mutants retained their phenotype after 15 subcultures in antibiotic-free medium . The mutants R cefoperazone, ceftazidime, azthreonam were studied by quantitative beta-lactamase evaluation in agar with substrate and non-substrate antibiotics, substrate profile study spectrophotometrically, crypticity study by comparing beta-lactamase activity of intact and sonicated cells spectrophotometrically, isoelectric focusing of sonicate extracts and dialysis experiments for trapping evaluation . These mutants were characterized by a 240-fold increase in beta-lactamase production (Pi = 8.7) and unchanged permeability . beta-lactamase trapping was demonstrated but could not explain alone the phenotype of resistance . These studies suggest that mutants constitutive for beta-lactamase production were easily selected in vitro . Amikacin was able significantly to prevent their emergence.

Czech Med, 1986, 9(4), 206 - 9
In vivo effect of aminoglycoside on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in experiment; Uxova M et al.; In artificial pseudomonas infections undertaken on white mice the effectiveness of the aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin, amikacin) was compared . The most effective drugs on highly susceptible Ps . aeruginosa were amikacin and netilmicin . Moreover amikacin is probably capable of inhibiting pseudomonas toxin production . Therefore this preparation should be left in reserve for the treatment of serious pseudomonas processes.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1986, 52(6), 483 - 90
Reversible inhibition of flagella formation after specific inhibition of spermidine synthesis by dicyclohexylamine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Paulin L et al.; Dicyclohexylamine, which is an inhibitor of bacterial and mammalian spermidine synthase, greatly inhibited the synthesis of spermidine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The depletion of spermidine caused by dicyclohexylamine was accompanied by an inhibition of growth of bacteria . This inhibition was reversed by addition of 50 microM spermidine (but not putrescine or spermine) to growth medium . When its growth was inhibited Ps . aeruginosa also lost its motility . Electron microscopy showed a loss of flagella in spermidine-deficient bacteria: after 24 h 70% 85% of bacteria grown in the presence of dicyclohexylamine did not have flagella, whereas bacteria grown in the presence of dicyclohexylamine and spermidine had flagella . The loss of flagella was reversible, since after the inhibition of spermidine synthesis for 24 h, addition of 50 microM spermidine (but not putrescine or spermine) to the growth medium was able to restore the bacterial motility almost completely after a further 12 h growth period.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(2), 147 - 56
Serologic and protective cross-reactivity of antisera to Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular slime glycolipoprotein; Yushkova NA et al.; Antisera to extracellular slime glycolipoprotein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of different O serogroups (immunotypes) show cross reactivity in passive haemagglutination (PHA) and agar gel immunoprecipitation test; cross reactivity is more distinct in PHA . Antisera to glycolipoprotein also have marked cross activity in mouse passive protection test against intraperitoneal challenge with 24 P . aeruginosa strains of different O groups including the toxigenic strain PA-103 . On the basis of the results, glycolipoprotein producer P . aeruginosa strains may be selected in order to make a preparation for active and passive immunization against pseudomonas infection.

Vet Med Nauki, 1986, 23(8), 51 - 4
{Sensitivity of Ps . aeruginosa to disinfectant agents}; Korudzhiiski N et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from semen of bulls as well as from the surrounding milieu at Artificial Insemination Stations, were tested for susceptibility to disinfection agents, such as fesiasept, concentrate C4, and chloramine with 25% active chlorine and sodium hydroxide . The investigation was carried out in vitro under practical conditions too . The analysis of results led to the conclusion that in the case of environmental contamination with Ps . aeruginosa along with semen contamination most effective proved concentrate C4 in the form of 2.5 per cent water solution . The disinfection of lab glassware and equipment, instruments, towels, kerchiefs, cloths, and white overalls and aprons is to be carried out with 1.5 per cent water solution of chloramine.

Lasers Surg Med, 1986, 6(5), 445 - 8
Bactericidal effects of the neodymium:YAG laser: in vitro study; Schultz RJ et al.; The effects of laser energy on three bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied utilizing the neodymium:YAG laser . Cell suspensions of each strain were divided into four groups . In group I, suspensions from each strain were exposed to laser energy densities of 555-3,333 J/cm2 . In groups II and III, two artificial dyes, congo red or methylene blue, were added to the suspensions prior to lasing . In group IVa, no laser energy was used, and group IVb was used to measure the bactericidal thermal effects of the laser . It was concluded that: Low dosages of laser energy exceeding 1,667 J/cm2 resulted in a 2 to 8 log decline in the number of viable bacterial colonies in vitro . Compared to the other two bacterial strains, P aeruginosa was the most sensitive to YAG laser irradiation . Addition of methylene blue, a dark-colored dye, enhanced the bactericidal effects of the YAG laser as indicated by the significantly reduced viability of P aeruginosa after irradiation with 2,222 J/cm2.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1986, 141(6), 453 - 60
Immunomodifying activity of some amphiphilic compounds from pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains; Gil I et al.; Molecules of polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and peptidoglycane from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assayed as immunogens and immunomodifiers . The kinetics of humoral responses, phagocytic activity, splenic index variations, and immunomodulating ability of these molecules were studied . Their protective and immunomodifying effects were compared to those similarly produced by heat-killed bacteria suspensions . The influence of the nature and doses of these molecules as well as the intervals between their administration and the SRBC immunization were also studied . Results showed that higher IgM and IgG levels were produced by lower doses of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycane, respectively . Using these amphiphilic molecules at doses of 160 micrograms/mouse, a variable immunodepressive activity was observed . This dose-dependent effect which particularly altered the IgM synthesis, was also observed in phagocytic responses . The exopolysaccharide showed to be the most immunodepressive molecule, and this activity appeared to be dependent of dose and time of administration.

Vopr Onkol, 1986, 32(12), 33 - 7
{Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the etiology of infectious complications in cancer patients}; Smolianskaia AZ et al.; The occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in various pathologic materials and feces from patients with different cancer was compared . The rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated postoperative complications versus the frequency of intraoperative detection of the organism was studied . The sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibacterial drugs was assessed . Serotypes of 480 strains isolated from patients and environment were identified . It was inferred that exogenous contamination from the external environment accounts for the majority of cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated complications.

Microbios, 1986, 48(196-197), 159 - 63
Resistance to metals by Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates; Cervantes-Vega C et al.; The susceptibility of 326 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to four metals was determined by agar dilution tests . Metal resistance was shown by 36% of the total isolates . The frequencies of resistance to individual ions were: mercuric, 31%; tellurite, 12%; arsenate, 10%; and chromate, 3% . The most frequent pattern was that of resistance to mercuric ions alone followed by mercury resistance associated with either tellurite, arsenate, or both . Resistance to more than one metal was found in 44% of metal-resistant isolates . The resistance to antibiotics was more frequent among metal-resistant isolates that in metal-sensitive isolates.

Clin Ther, 1986, 8(6), 655 - 7
In vitro activity of piperacillin, ticarcillin, mezlocillin, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, aztreonam, ceftazidime, azlocillin, cefoperazone, and thienamycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Greenberg RN et al.; The in vitro susceptibility of 103 well-characterized strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to nine antimicrobial agents was assessed by means of the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay and the microtiter minimal inhibitory concentration assay . The antimicrobials, from the most to the least active against P aeruginosa, were thienamycin greater than ceftazidime greater than piperacillin greater than azlocillin greater than cefoperazone greater than aztreonam greater than ticarcillin greater than ticarcillin-clavulanic acid greater than mezlocillin . The resistance patterns of the antimicrobial agents suggest that P aeruginosa resistant to a penicillin, cephalosporin, or aztreonam may be susceptible to thienamycin.

Microbios, 1986, 47(192-193), 177 - 88
Microcalorimetric studies on the effects of media and environmental conditions on the growth of bacteria; Bunker JC et al.; A study has been made of the effects of media and oxygen tension on the power-time (p-t) traces exhibited by cells of Klebsiella aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The p-t traces were more complex in shape when the cells were grown in rich nutrient medium than when grown in chemically-defined glucose-limited medium . There was less waste heat and more biomass was produced during growth in nutrient broth . The oxygen tension had a profound effect on the shape of the p-t traces, and two strains of S . aureus, which differed in antibiotic susceptibility, exhibited different traces at the same oxygen tension . The thermal yield of the resistant strain was less than that of the sensitive strain . The choice of medium and the level of aeration, rather than the organism, determined the shape of the p-t trace . This has serious consequences for the proposed use of microcalorimetry as a rapid method for bacterial identification.

Eur J Nucl Med, 1986, 12(5-6), 277 - 9
In-111 Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a simple method of labeling live bacteria with a gamma-emitting radioisotope; Bettin K et al.; We describe a simple and reliable technique for labeling Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a readily available commercial preparation of indium-111 (111In) oxine . Labeling of a heavy bacterial suspension with 500 mu Ci of commercially prepared 111In-oxine resulted in a yield of 0.0004 mu Ci of cell-associated 111In per 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) . The label was 88% bacterially associated and did not effect viability of the organism . Radiolabeling a gram-negative organism with 111In-oxine provides a non-toxic, stable gamma-emitting bacterial tracer.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1986, 65(3), 237 - 41
{The cytopathic effect induced by strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing hemolysin, leukocidin and proteases in Hep-2 cells}; Zanetti S et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of infection in compromised hosts, including patients with burns, cancer and natural and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . Several exotoxins produced by P . aeruginosa, have been shown to contribute to the pathogenicity of the organism . Although their mode of action is known, little information is available about the interaction of these toxins with eukaryotic cells and the sequence of the pathological events . For these reasons, the early cytopathic effect (CPE) induced on Hep-2 cells infected by several P . aeruginosa strains was analyzed . Early cytotoxicity, (one h after infection) manifested by morphological evidence of cells death, followed exposure only to strains that produced one or more toxins such as leukocidin, haemolysins and proteases, and seems to be a multifactorial effect . In fact, each one of these virulence factors may induce CPE in late but not early stage.

Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(7), 621 - 8
Transformation by extracellular DNA produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Muto Y et al.; Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains are capable of producing extracellular DNA . Very closely linked chromosomal markers (leu+ and trp+) were co-transferred to P . aeruginosa PAO1819 (leu9001, trp9008) by the extracellular DNA produced by P . aeruginosa strains IFO3445 and PAO1 at a frequency of 10(-7) to 10(-8) . Treatment of the extracellular DNA with DNase, heating at 95 C or sonication completely destroyed its transforming ability . The R plasmid in the extracellular DNA produced by P . aeruginosa IFO3445 (RP4) or PAO2142 (RLb679) could be transferred to Escherichia coli ML4901 or P . aeruginosa PAO1819 . The resultant transformants showed identical resistance patterns in the respective donors, and the sizes of the DNAs of RLb679 and RP4 isolated from the transformants were the same as those in the respective donors . These results demonstrate that the extracellular DNA contains both chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA, and that it exhibits transforming ability . This implies that transformation by the extracellular DNA produced by P . aeruginosa may occur in nature and this seems to be of clinical importance in view of the spread of R plasmids among pathogens.

Folia Histochem Cytobiol, 1986, 24(2), 169 - 72
Detection of inhibitory inactive fraction of alpha-1-antitrypsin in human serum; Pajdak W et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase is not inhibited by human serum alpha-1-antitrypsin, it damages inhibitory activity of alpha-1-antitrypsin activity instead . A simple method, based on electrophoresis in urea containing polyacrylamide gel, is described for the separation of active part of the inhibitor from that inactivated by the bacterial enzyme.

Czech Med, 1986, 9(3), 170 - 6
Ceftriaxon in the treatment of severe bacterial infections; Stafova J et al.; The efficacy of ceftriaxon (Rocephin Roche) therapy has been studied by our team in two groups of patients . The first one consisted of 10 children suffering from a diffuse purulent appendical peritonitis brought about by a mixed aerobe and anaerobe microbial flora, the second one comprising 7 patients with severe infections caused by problematic aerobe pathogens . The clinical effect of the treatment was good in 16 out of the 17 cases, in one patient it could not be evaluated . Even though a high degree of sensitivity to Rocephin could be demonstrated bacteriologically by the disc method in all the aerobe germs present, the results of titration of the bactericide capacity of the sera during treatment indicate the need for laboratory monitoring of the course of therapy of severe infections due to pseudomonas aeruginosa . Parenteral administration of Rocephin was well tolerated and the laboratory alterations seemin the course of therapy of severe infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Parenteral administration of Recephin was well tolerated and the laboratory alterations seen in the postoperative ileus due to strangulation and adhesions--cannot be recommended.

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1986, 9(1), 89 - 93
Occurrence and aeruginocine typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in buffaloes and their environment; Kapur MP et al.; The occurrence and distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in buffaloes and their environment was studied . Environmental sources included milkers, milking utensils, watering troughs, animal shed floor, barn-yard soil and drains . Of the different body sites examined, the organism could only be isolated from 15% of the muzzle and 5% of the belly samples . The organism was widely prevalent in the animal environment and could be isolated from milking utensils (56.67%), watering troughs (44.00%), drains (36.37%), shed floor (4.00%), barnyard soil (3.33%), and milkers' throats (50.00%) and hands before and after milking (7.14 and 10.71%, respectively) . Aeruginocine typing revealed that of the 68 strains of P . aeruginosa, 65 (95.59%) were typable . Amongst the typable strains, 21 (32.30%) were classifiable and 44 (67.69%) unclassifiable . Unclassifiable pattern 23478- was most predominant and common to animals and environmental sources . Different aeruginocine types encountered were: A(2), B(4), F(1), L(1), P(4), 1(1), 8(1), 9(1), 11(3), 12(1), 14(1) and 17(1) . This is of significance as most of the types encountered have been reported from clinical specimens of animal and human origin.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1986, 52(4), 319 - 24
Antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Cervantes-Vega C et al.; Three hundred and twenty two clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected in Morelia, Mexico, were analyzed for in vitro susceptibility to five antibiotics by agar dilution tests . Antibiotic resistance was shown by 50% of total isolates . Frequencies of resistance were: streptomycin, 47%; gentamicin, 13%; tobramycin, 8%; and carbenicillin, 7%; no amikacin resistance was found . The more common resistance patterns were streptomycin, gentamicin-streptomycin, and tobramycin-gentamicin-streptomycin . Resistance to either tobramycin, gentamicin or carbenicillin was found mainly in pyocin type 10 isolates . The proportion of antibiotic resistant isolates ranged from 37 to 75% in four hospitals, and amounted 24% in three clinical laboratories.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1986, 141(3), 225 - 32
Antibacterial effect and toxicity of synthesized salicylanilide derivatives; Ghazi IM et al.; 5 nitro- and chloro-salicylanilide derivatives were synthesized by a simple condensation reaction between phenylsalicylate and the required nitroaniline derivative . The compounds were subjected to direct chlorination in CCl4 without any catalyst and were identified by microanalysis, m . p . and spectral studies . The antibacterial activity was investigated against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus . The prepared derivatives were evaluated for their acute toxicity on Swiss albino mice . The compounds 5,2'-dichloro-4'-nitrosalicylanilide and salicyl-3'-nitroanilide were the most active against the test organisms, but they showed fluctuating toxicity effect at the dose of 500 mg/kg . The structure-activity relationship and the toxicity tests verified the compound salicyl-4'-nitroanilide as a reasonable antibacterial agent against the four test organisms without any sign of toxicity symptoms up to the dose of 1000 mg/kg.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(1), 55 - 67
Immunological study of glycolipoprotein isolated from extracellular slime of different Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroups; Stanislavsky ES et al.; Glycolipoprotein (GLP) was isolated by water-phenol extraction and ultracentrifugation from crude extracellular slime (C-ES) of 14 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The yields of GLP obtained between different methods were 65.6 +/- 8.4% and 46.4 +/- 11.2% of the dry weight of all C-ES fractions . GLP stimulated active immunity in mice against challenge with different immunotypes (or serogroups) of P . aeruginosa . Phenol fractions (PFr) of different P . aeruginosa strains behaved similarly . As compared to the corresponding C-ES in active mouse protection test, the GLP of several strains was less active, whereas that of some other strains was more protective.

Gene, 1986, 42(3), 293 - 302
Nucleotide sequence analysis of the phosphomannose isomerase gene (pmi) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and comparison with the corresponding Escherichia coli gene manA; Darzins A et al.; Phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) has been proposed to catalyze the first step of the alginic acid biosynthetic pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The nucleotide sequence of the P . aeruginosa pmi gene contained on a 2.0-kb BamHI-SstI DNA fragment has been determined . The gene was defined by the start and stop codons and by in vitro disruption of an open reading frame of 1440 bp corresponding to a polypeptide product with a predicted Mr of 52 860 . This polypeptide displayed an apparent Mr of approx . 56 000 upon electrophoresis of a maxicell extract on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels . The codon utilization of the pmi gene was distinct in the wobble base preference and influenced by the high G + C content (66 mol%) of the P . aeruginosa DNA . Computer assisted matching analysis failed to demonstrate any significant homology at the nucleotide level between the P . aeruginosa pmi and Escherichia coli manA (pmi) genes . However, sequences homologous to the P . aeruginosa pmi gene were found in other Pseudomonas species, such as P . putida and P . mendocina, and in Azotobacter vinelandii, all capable of producing alginic acid.

Clin Invest Med, 1986, 9(2), 108 - 12
Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular enzymes in lung disease; Woods DE et al.; A variety of approaches have been employed in an attempt to assess the role of P . aeruginosa extracellular factors in lung infections due to this organism . Isogenic mutants, deficient in single virulence determinants, have been compared to parental strains in a variety of experimental animal models . Purified virulence factors have been instilled into the lungs of experimental animals in order to demonstrate comparable histopathological changes to those which occur during human infections . Serum antibody levels to various extracellular virulence factors have been measured in different patient populations, and inactivated virulence determinants have been tested for their ability to act as protective immunogens in animal model infections . The results from these studies suggest that P . aeruginosa extracellular factors including exotoxin A, proteases, hemolysins and exoenzyme S may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of P . aeruginosa lung infections.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Jan, 29(1), 99 - 103
Characterization of NPS-1, a novel plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase, from two Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates; Livermore DM et al.; A novel beta-lactamase, which had a pI of 6.5 and a molecular weight of 25,000, was observed in two Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates . The enzyme, designated NPS-1, was encoded by a plasmid of molecular weight 41 X 10(6) which also encoded resistance to streptomycin and sulfonamide . This plasmid, designated pMLH50, was freely transmissible to other P . aeruginosa strains, but not to Escherichia coli K-12 . The enzyme was purified partially and shown to have activity against both penicillins and cephalosporins . Vmax rates for oxacillin and carbenicillin were less than 50% of the Vmax for benzylpenicillin, and the Vmax for cephaloridine was only 3% of the Vmax for benzylpenicillin . Imipenem, aztreonam, and several antipseudomonal cephalosporins were stable to the enzyme . Hydrolysis of most substrates obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, but cefsulodin induced a reversible reduction in the activity of the enzyme . Transconjugants of the beta-lactamase-producing isolates in P . aeruginosa PU21 acquired beta-lactam resistances which mirrored the hydrolytic activity of the enzyme.

Zentralbl Mikrobiol, 1986, 141(2), 121 - 8
{Comparative study of the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water}; Ziegert E et al.; In this report we examined quantitatively (MPN-procedure) various methods of isolating Ps . aeruginosa from surface waters . When comparing different media (malachitgreen broth, Preuss-broth, selenite broth, asparagine broth, malachitgreen/acetamide broth) the enrichments in malachitgreen and asparagine showed the highest isolation frequencies after an 48 h incubation time . In heavily polluted river water the results can be improved by a second enrichment step in acetamide broth . Dependent on the river water pollution 0...11,000 Ps . aeruginosa/l were detected . In waste water up to 2.4 X 10(6) Ps . aeruginosa/l were isolated . The results emphasize the significance of water as a reservoir and a source of distribution of Ps . aeruginosa in the environment.

Microbios, 1986, 45(183), 93 - 104
The role of lipopolysaccharide as a receptor for some bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Temple GS et al.; Typing phages of the Colindale typing set for Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been tested for the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a receptor . Studies using the reference strains of the International Antigenic Typing Scheme for O-serotypes of P . aeruginosa supported earlier indications that none of the phages were O-specific . Studies of the adsorption of phages to LPS showed that typing phages 16, 44, F8, 68, 109, 352, and 1214 (as well as other phages 2 and H22) were LPS-specific, but were not consistently adsorbed by isolated LPS from all sensitive strains . Water-soluble fractions from LPS did not adsorb phages and did not inhibit their neutralization by whole LPS . No endoglycosidase activity against LPS was detected for any phage . The significance of these results for the roles of LPS in the adsorption process and phage sensitivity are discussed.

Microbios, 1986, 45(183), 81 - 91
Isolation and characterization of a lipopolysaccharide-specific bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Temple GS et al.; Phage H22 was isolated from sewage using Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 8505 (serotype 0:3) as the host . Although not O-specific, this phage was found to have lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a receptor . The broad host-range and lack of O-specificity of the phage suggested that its receptor site was in the core region of the LPS . Phage H22 had a Bradley type A structure . It was unaffected by chloroform and diethyl ether, and was stable between pH 5 and 8 and in the temperature range 0 to 60 degrees C . The adsorption rate constant was 14.6 X 10(-9) ml min-1 . The phage had a latent period of 43 min, with a rise time of 18 min and a burst size of 6 . The adsorption of phage to whole cells and LPS occurred over a broad pH range . Maximum adsorption occurred at 50 degrees C and pH 7.5 in the presence of 0.001 M Ca2+.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Jan, 132 ( Pt 1), 27 - 33
The permeability parameter of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa varies with the concentration of a test substrate, cephalosporin C; Hewinson RG et al.; The permeability parameter (C) for the movement of cephalosporin C across the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was measured using the widely accepted method of Zimmermann & Rosselet . In one experiment, the value of C varied continuously from 4.2 to 10.8 cm3 min-1 (mg dry wt cells)-1 over a range of concentrations of the test substrate, cephalosporin C, from 50 to 5 microM . Dependence of C on the concentration of test substrate was still observed when the effect of a possible electric potential difference across the outer membrane was corrected for . In quantitative studies of beta-lactam permeation the dependence of C on the concentration of beta-lactam should be taken into account.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(3), 255 - 9
Efficacy of apalcillin alone and in combination with four aminoglycoside antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hoffler U; The in vitro activity of apalcillin against 258 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was compared with that of 3 penicillins and 5 aminoglycosides using agar dilution tests . Apalcillin showed the highest activity of all the penicillins investigated, and of the aminoglycosides tested tobramycin and amikacin were most active . On testing the combined efficacy of apalcillin with aminoglycosides by the checkerboard technique, combinations with tobramycin or amikacin were less synergistic than combinations with gentamicin or netilmicin . Antagonistic or even only additive effects were found with none of the P . aeruginosa strains.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Jan, (1), 65 - 9
{Effect of a corpuscular polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and erythropoiesis}; Khorobrykh VV et al.; P . aeruginosa corpuscular polyvalent vaccine stimulates hematopoiesis in sublethally stimulated mice . The stimulating effect is dose-dependent . The most effective method of immunization is the intravenous injection of the vaccine . The degree to which the stimulation of hematopoiesis is manifested varies in different strains of mice . The stimulation of hematopoiesis is not linked with an increase in the content of erythropoietin . P . aeruginosa polyvalent corpuscular vaccine and monovaccine, prepared from P . aeruginosa strain 1313 and incorporated into the polyvalent vaccine, protect lethally irradiated mice in the postradiation survival test.

Mikrobiologiia, 1986 Jan-Feb, 55(1), 135 - 7
{Distribution of microorganisms lysing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in reservoirs and soil}; Lambina VA et al.; Various natural habitats were found to contain microorganisms producing lytic spots around their own colonies when grown on a lawn of viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells at 29 and 45 degrees C . The incidence of such microorganisms in water and soil was studied in quantitative terms . Contaminated waters with predominating Gram-negative heterotrophs and a high number of pseudomonades were shown to be an optimal source for the isolation of microorganisms causing the lysis of P . aeruginosa growing at 29 degrees C . Microorganisms responsible for the lysis of P . aeruginosa at 45 degrees C are abundant in the soil of mixed and foliage forests.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Jan, 39(1), 247 - 9
{Antibacterial activity of (+)-negamycin prepared by a new method}; Kono M et al.; Antibacterial activity of (+)-negamycin (NGM) prepared by a new method was investigated for some bacteria . The results demonstrated that this antibacterial activity of synthesized NGM was almost the same as compared to that of naturally obtained NGM, and was also effective to Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring multiple drug resistant plasmid kR102.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Jan, 23(1), 53 - 5
New method of preparing elastase toxoid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Morihara K et al.; A new method for the preparation of elastase toxoid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was developed . A chloroacetyl peptide derivative (CICH2CO-HOLeu-Ala-Gly-NH2; HOLeu, N-hydroxy-L-leucine), an active-site-directed irreversible inhibitor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase, was used to prepare elastase toxoid with or without pretreatment with Formalin and L-lysine . Elastase toxoid thus obtained appeared to be ideal, possessing negligible enzyme activity while retaining full antigenicity and immunogenicity.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(1), 55 - 63
Transductional analysis of the cysII region of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Schelenz HJ et al.; The close linkage between hisI and mutations of the cysII group in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was confirmed by mapping experiments with new mutants . All mutants of the cysII group were blocked in the cysteine biosynthesis before sulfite (this include the mutant cys-5605 which had previously been mapped by Mee and Lee, 1969) . Most of the sulfite requiring cys mutants belonged to this group . The farthest distance between two mutations of the cysII group was calculated by the Wu formula to be approximately 2.5 kbp . We, therefore, suggest that more than one gene of the cysteine pathway may be located within this region.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1986 Jan, 75(1), 128 - 38
Antimicrobial therapy of Pseudomonas pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis . A prospective evaluation of netilmicin plus azlocillin versus netilmicin plus ticarcillin; Schaad UB et al.; High-dose anti-Pseudomonas chemotherapy is mandatory in the treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbations in patients with advanced cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from their sputum . However, neither the regimen itself nor its objective evaluation have been optimized yet . In a prospective controlled evaluation 42 such exacerbations were treated for two weeks with netilmicin combined by randomisation with either azlocillin or ticarcillin . Other aspects of therapy were constant . The two therapy groups were comparable in all aspects . Both regimens produced similar improvements in clinical, radiological, laboratory, bacteriological and pulmonary function measurements . Concentrations of sputum bacteria were significantly reduced; transient eradication was documented in 29% and correlated with antibiotic susceptibility of the initially isolated Pseudomonas strains . The highly dosed antibiotics were well tolerated and emergence of resistance was rarely observed . It is concluded that both antibiotic combinations are beneficial and safe in cystic fibrosis . Monitoring of such intensive hospital treatment must include multiple parameters.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Jan, 17(1), 91 - 5
Effects of inoculum size on the activity of carboxy- and ureido-penicillins and effects of combinations of ureido-penicillins with aminoglycosides against resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Watanakunakorn C; Effects of inoculum size on the comparative activity of carbenicillin, ticarcillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin and azlocillin against 20 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa known to be relatively resistant to carbenicillin were studied by using 10(4), 10(5) and 10(6) cfu/ml . Inoculum size markedly affected the susceptibility of Ps . aeruginosa to these antibiotics . An increase in the inoculum size from 10(4) to 10(5) cfu/ml had more effects on the MIC of the ureido-penicillins than the carboxy-penicillins . Mezlocillin, piperacillin and azlocillin with gentamicin or tobramycin showed mainly indifference . Synergism or antagonism were demonstrated against a few strains.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Jan, 39(1), 90 - 100
Studies on monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotics . IV . Synthesis and antibacterial activity of (3S,4R)-3-{2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-(Z)-2-(O-substituted oxyimino)acetamido}-4-methyl-1- (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2-azetidinones; Yoshida C et al.; The synthesis and in vitro activity of the 3-(O-substituted oxyiminoacetamido)-2-azetidinones (IV) possessing a tetrazole moiety at N-1 position are described . The introduction of lipophilic functions into the oxyimino moiety gave in some good activity against staphylococci, but decreased activity against Gram-negative bacteria . In contrast, the introduction of hydrophilic functions such as carboxycyclobutane resulted in strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and no or very small activity against the staphylococci.

Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 37 - 42
Cloning of a gene involved in regulation of exotoxin A expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hedstrom RC et al.; We have cloned a gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that stimulates the expression of exotoxin A . A recombinant library of genomic DNA from strain PA103 constructed with a broad-host-range plasmid vector containing chromosomal insert fragments generated by Sau3A was used to transform the hypotoxigenic mutant strain PA103-29 . A recombinant plasmid, pFHK6, was isolated from a PA103-29 transformant which displayed increased toxin production . From pFHK6, which contained a 20-kilobase-pair chromosomal insert, a 3-kilobase-pair XhoI fragment was isolated and subcloned into the plasmid cloning vector pVK101 to give pFHK10 . In toxigenic P . aeruginosa strains containing pFHK10, toxin expression was increased 10-fold and high levels of iron in the culture medium only partially inhibited the overproduction . Expression studies suggested that pFHK10 did not contain the toxin structural gene . In addition, Southern analysis with the 3-kilobase-pair XhoI fragment suggested that the putative toxin regulatory gene is common among different strains of P . aeruginosa including previously reported nontoxigenic strains.

Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 254 - 62
Effect of ciliostatic factors from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on rabbit respiratory cilia; Hingley ST et al.; Heat-stable factors released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in culture supernatants inhibit functional cilia of rabbit tracheal epithelium . Chloroform extraction removed heat-stable factors from stationary-phase culture supernatants . The extracts contained at least seven components separable by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) . Cilioinhibitory components were identified as a phenazine derivative, pyo compounds (2-alkyl-4-hydroxyquinolines), and a rhamnolipid, also known as a hemolysin . Fluorescence and absorption spectra, relative migration on TLC, staining characteristics, and gas chromatography were the basis for identification . Inhibitory concentrations of each active component were established by quantitative measures of percent motility and beat frequency . Corresponding damage to ciliary ultrastructure was examined by electron microscopy . The pyo compounds produced ciliostasis at concentrations of 50 micrograms/ml, but without obvious ultrastructural lesions . The phenazine derivative also inhibited ciliary motility and caused some membrane disruption, although at substantially greater concentrations of 400 micrograms/ml . Limited exposure of tracheal explants to the rhamnolipid resulted in ciliostasis which was associated with altered ciliary membranes . More extensive exposure to rhamnolipid was associated with removal of dynein arms from axonemes . Pyocyanin at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml did not inhibit ciliary beating under our conditions . The data suggest that the pyo compounds are the most effective per weight ciliostatic factors released by P . aeruginosa and rhamnolipid is the most destructive of cilia ultrastructure . By interfering with normal ciliary function, these ciliostatic factors may enable P . aeruginosa to more easily colonize the respiratory tract.

Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 115 - 8
Specific cleavage of human type III and IV collagens by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase; Heck LW et al.; Purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase cleaved human type III and IV collagens with the formation of specific cleavage products . Furthermore, type I collagen appeared to be slowly cleaved by both P . aeruginosa elastase and alkaline protease . These cleavage fragments from type III and IV collagens were separated from the intact collagen chains by SDS polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis run under reducing conditions, and they were detected by their characteristic Coomassie blue staining pattern . The results of these studies suggest that the pathogenesis of tissue invasion and hemorrhagic tissue necrosis observed in P . aeruginosa infections may be related to the degradation of these collagen types by bacterial extracellular proteases.

Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 1 - 5
Association of alginate from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with two forms of heparin-binding lectin isolated from rat lung; Ceri H et al.; An endogenous heparin-binding lectin activity isolated from rat lung was separated into two distinct isolectin forms which showed subtle changes in carbohydrate specificity . The two lectin forms displayed different specificities toward alginic acid-purified cystic fibrosis isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa when assayed by inhibition of both hemagglutination and {3H}heparin binding . This ability of isolectin forms to show higher affinity toward alginic acid from certain P . aeruginosa strains may suggest that there is a selective mechanism in the colonization of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Jan, 29(1), 1 - 6
Effects of norfloxacin on DNA metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Benbrook DM et al.; Norfloxacin is a quinolone (pyridonecarboxylic acid derivative) effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections . We studied the effects of this drug on DNA metabolism in P . aeruginosa . Norfloxacin inhibits DNA replication immediately on its addition to a logarithmically growing culture of P . aeruginosa . It inhibits the ability of P . aeruginosa DNA gyrase to supercoil relaxed, closed circular DNA in vitro . At intermediate concentrations of the drug, inhibition of DNA replication in vivo is followed by secondary (recovery) synthesis . Both recovery synthesis and the bactericidal effects of norfloxacin are dependent on continued protein synthesis, suggesting that these are inducible functions . Neither norfloxacin nor nalidixic acid induces Weigle-reactivation (inducible DNA repair) or mutagenesis in P . aeruginosa.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1986 Jan, 332(1), 103 - 10
Interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytotoxin with plasma membranes from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells; Lutz F; Biologically active 125I-cytotoxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa binds to plasma membranes from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in a saturable manner . The Scatchard plot indicated a single binding site with a capacity of 260 pmoles/mg of membrane protein and a KD of 2 X 10(-8) M . Specific binding was dependent on temperature, pH and ionic strength . Thus constant levels of bound 125I-cytotoxin were attained either within 30 min at 30 degrees C or within 3 h at 4 degrees C . Binding was 30-fold higher at 4 degrees C vs 30 degrees C and 2-6-fold higher at pH 5.3 vs pH 8.3 . Binding was not effected by 50 mM sugar or sialic acid . 300 mM sucrose, however, instead of phosphate buffer, reduced binding by 50% . Pretreatment of plasma membranes with trypsin or papain led to a significant decrease in 125I-cytotoxin binding . A pretreatment with phospholipase C or D had no effect, whereas phospholipase A2 induced a decrease by 34% . The collected data suggest that the binding site for 125I-cytotoxin within the plasma membrane from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is a membrane protein . Correlation of 125I-cytotoxin binding and membrane action of the unlabelled cytotoxin can be observed through (a) increased lowering of the cellular K+ and Na+ gradient by decrease of medium pH, (b) decreased toxicity after substitution of ions by sugar, and (c) increased breakdown of cellular cationic gradient after temperature shift from 4 degrees C to 37 degrees C.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1986 Jan-Feb, 20(1), 181 - 4
{Restriction analysis of DNA from phage SM of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Kul'ba AM et al.; The DNA of temperate phage SM P . aeruginosa has one PvuII site, two BamHI sites, three HindIII sites and five EcoRI sites . Using these restrictases the physical map of the phage genome has been constructed . The DNA of phage SM has in their structure cohesive ends similar to cos-sites of phage lambda DNA . EcoRI-fragments with cohesive ends have molecular masses 2.9 and 4.9 MDa.

Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 1986, 6(5), 502 - 9
Rhamnolipid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa inactivates mammalian tracheal ciliary axonemes; Hastie AT et al.; Isolated ciliary axonemes from pig trachea were exposed to increasing concentrations of purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid . This is a defined ciliary system allowing observation of direct impairment of functional axonemes . Axonemal motility and ATPase activity were decreased in proportion to rhamnolipid concentrations . ATPase-associated proteins observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and dynein arms seen in ultra-structural cross sections progressively disappeared from axonemes with exposure to rhamnolipid . These four independent measures establish that the rhamnolipid removes the ATPase-containing outer dynein arms from the ciliary axoneme, thereby rendering the axoneme immotile.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(4), 364 - 73
In vivo efficacy of azlocillin and amikacin versus ciprofloxacin with and without amikacin in experimental right-sided endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Bayer AS et al.; The efficacy of azlocillin + amikacin was compared to ciprofloxacin (with and without amikacin) in 96 rabbits with right-sided endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Animals received either: no therapy (controls); amikacin (15 mg/kg/day) + azlocillin (400 mg/kg/day); ciprofloxacin (80 mg/kg/day) or amikacin + ciprofloxacin (above dosages) . All three antibiotic regimens were significantly more effective than no therapy in reducing mortality (p less than 0.0005), preventing pulmonary infarction (p less than 0.0005) and reducing mean vegetation titers of P . aeruginosa (p less than 0.0005) . Also, the three therapy regimens were equivalent in preventing bacteriologic relapse after discontinuing therapy . No development of antibiotic resistance in vivo was observed.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 1, S82 - 6
{A cross-over study on the effectiveness of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin administered orally}; Kurz CC et al.; Efficacy of Oral Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin . Cross-over Study . The efficacy of the 4-quinolones ciprofloxacin (CPX) and ofloxacin (OFX) was studied in a cross-over study . Twenty out-patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic colonization of the respiratory tract with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated for ten days with OFX, then another ten days with CPX, and vice versa . Drug concentrations in serum and sputum were assayed . The patients' clinical and laboratory parameters were monitored . The side-effects that appeared did not require interrupting treatment . The serum and sputum concentrations were found to be above the minimal inhibitory concentration . Although P . aeruginosa was not eliminated by the therapy, two-thirds of the patients showed improvement during the infection that could be observed clinically and in laboratory measurements . Oral treatment with OFX and CPX is efficacious.

J Immunol, 1986 Jan, 136(1), 299 - 303
In vitro T cell-mediated killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . III . The role of suppressor T cells in nonresponder mice; Powderly WG et al.; T lymphocytes from immune BALB/c mice can adoptively transfer protection against infection with the extracellular Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to nonimmune recipients, and in vitro, immune T cells are able to kill these bacteria . Earlier studies indicated that this killing is mediated by a bactericidal lymphokine . The current studies demonstrate that T cells from immunized CB.20 mice, a strain congenic with BALB/c, fail to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro . This nonresponsiveness is attributable to the activity of suppressor T cells of the Lyt-1-, 2,3+, I-J+ phenotype . CB.20 mice are known to differ from BALB/c mice only at a single locus, which includes the Igh-1 allotype CH genes . These results suggest a critical role for this locus or closely linked genes in the control of T cell killing of this extracellular bacterium.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1986 Jan-Jun, 79(1-6), 77 - 84
{Effect of sub-bacteriostatic doses of aztreonam on the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Chiarini F et al.; The effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of Aztreonam towards the adhesiveness of an uropathogenic strain of P . aeruginosa was tested . The filamentous forms, morphologically altered by the action of the antibiotic, were not capable of adhering to human uroepithelial cells . This phenomenon was due to an alteration of bacterial structures responsible for the adhesion and was not related to a steric hindrance caused by the antibiotic on either the bacterial structures or the cell receptors.

Clin Invest Med, 1986, 9(2), 113 - 8
Fimbriae (pili): molecular basis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence; Paranchych W et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces polar pili which promote the adherence of the organism to host mucosal surfaces and to blood-borne phagocytic cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Pseudomonas polar pili are flexible filaments of 52 A diameter and 2500 nm average length . They consist of a single type of protein subunit, pilin, of molecular weight 15,000, which is arranged in a helical mode of 5 subunits per turn and a pitch of 41 A . Purified whole pili, and anti-pilus antiserum both inhibited the interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with human buccal epithelial cells and PMNs, suggesting that Pseudomonas adherence to these mammalian cells is pilus mediated . No correlation was found between the level of cell surface fibronectin on human buccal endothelial cells and the adherence of Pseudomonas bacteria . Pseudomonas adherence to buccal endothelial cells obtained from patients with cystic fibrosis was somewhat less than that to buccal endothelial cells obtained from healthy individuals . Fibronectin levels on buccal endothelial cells from patients with cystic fibrosis were not significantly different than those found on buccal endothelial cells from healthy individuals . Studies with peptide fragments derived from purified pili showed that only one peptide encompassing 23 amino acid residues at the C-terminus of the pilus protein was able to inhibit in vitro adherence of P . aeruginosa PAK to human buccal cells . This peptide domain was tentatively assigned the receptor-binding function.

Arkh Patol, 1986, 48(12), 6 - 13
{RNA synthesis during neutrophil activation}; Sarkisov DS et al.; By means of electron-microscopic radioautography RNA synthesis in blood neutrophils of burn patients was studied . Activation by phagocytic subjects was found to increase overall level of RNA synthesis in blood neutrophils either by increasing the number of cells capable of synthesis, or increasing their number in line with the intensification of the process in each of these cells . Alteration of activation conditions influences the degree of RNA synthesis by both of these means . Wound neutrophils are activated cells with a high level of RNA synthesis and low compared to blood cells, level of protein synthesis and increased capability of adhesion as well . They contain in their numerous phagosomata tissue detritus more frequently than bacteria do . Wound neutrophils are subjected to rapid destruction; it is not possible to stimulate in them phagocytic activity by means of opsonized Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1986, 35(3-4), 161 - 4
The chromosome map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Holloway BW et al.; A revised chromosomal map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is presented and the role of a variety of mapping procedures is discussed.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Dec 16, 153(3), 559 - 64
The pH dependence of the electron self-exchange rate of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as studied by 1H-NMR; Groeneveld CM et al.; The electron self-exchange rate of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been measured by proton NMR as a function of temperature under various conditions of pH, buffer and ionic strength . The rate does not appear very sensitive to variations in the latter parameters . Qualitative thermodynamic compensation is observed for the entropy and enthalpy of activation, with a compensation temperature of 309 +/- 7 K, and an average exchange rate of 1.3 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 . The observed high entropy of activation contributes significantly to the high exchange rate . The data are analyzed by considering an encounter complex in which two azurin molecules associate along their hydrophobic patches . Copper-to-copper electron transfer over a distance of 1.5 nm in the complex is facilitated by the favourable disposition of the His-117 ligands.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1985 Dec 9, 13(23), 8441 - 61
Nucleotide sequence of the PaeR7 restriction/modification system and partial characterization of its protein products; Theriault G et al.; Bal31 deletion experiments on clones of the PaeR7 restriction-modification system from Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrate that it is arranged as an operon, with the methylase gene preceding the endonuclease gene . The DNA sequence of this operon agrees with in vitro transcription-translation assays which predict proteins of 532 amino acids, Mr = 59,260 daltons, and 246 amino acids, Mr = 27,280 daltons, coincident with the methylase and endonuclease genes, respectively . These predicted values coincide with the measured molecular weights of the purified, denatured PaeR7 endonuclease and methylase proteins . The first twenty amino acids from the amino-terminus of the purified endonuclease exactly match those predicted from the DNA sequence . Finally, potential regulatory mechanisms for the expression of phage restriction are described based on the properties of several PaeR7 subclones.

HNO, 1985 Dec, 33(12), 551 - 3
{Significance and problems of pseudomonas infection in ENT medicine}; Luckhaupt H et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is frequently cultured in chronic otitis media, in external otitis, and from infected radical mastoid cavities . Necrotizing external otitis is a typical infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Perichondritis of the external ear is sometimes due to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection . Some cases of chronic sinusitis and wound infections in patients with tracheostomy are caused by this organism . Antiseptic agents or astringents should be used for local treatment of Pseudomonas infected ears . If these fail local treatment with azlocillin for several days is a good alternative . Systemic antibiotic therapy is also available for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1985 Dec, 21(4), 469 - 82
{Microbiological study of 386 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in a 30-month span in the Isernia area with special reference to an antimicrobial assay carried out with the ABAC system on 214 of them}; Laurelli T et al.; 386 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in the "F . Veneziale" Hospital Laboratory and Public Health Laboratory in Isernia (Italy) from April 1982 to September 1984 were examined by serological typing according to Habs scheme . Susceptibility to 16 antibiotics was evaluated for 214 of them with the ABAC system . Strains from hospitalized patients were also considered for isolation site and hospital service . Among the 14 different serotypes isolated the O12 serotype ranked first accounting for 31.6% of all isolates . Only 25 strains were untypable (6.5%) . Tobramycin resulted the most effective antibiotic in inhibiting Ps . aeruginosa in vitro . No clear relationship was found between serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility patterns . Hospital strains showed marked antibiotic resistance compared to community strains from both patients and healthy carriers . Temporal analysis of antibiograms revealed an increasing incidence of resistant Ps . aeruginosa over time . The spread of antibiotic resistance, however, involved mainly hospital strains and was confined to aminoglycosides and anti-Pseudomonas beta-lactam agents.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1985 Dec, 93(6), 417 - 22
Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to tracheal epithelial cells of mink . Studies on bacterial hydrophobicity and elastase production; Elsheikh EL et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, producing variable elastase activity, were evaluated for adherence ability to mink tracheal epithelial cells . Attachment was studied in relation to surface hydrophobic properties of bacteria . Elastase production and bacterial hydrophobicity were measured during growth up to 48 hr . A high elastasolytic strain B1 adhered well; it exhibited a mean of 39.0 bacteria per epithelial cell . Adherence of the organisms was not correlated with the degree of hydrophobicity, since more hydrophobic strains do not adhere better . Bacterial surface becomes less hydrophobic during exponential growth-phase (up to 6 h) . Hydrophobicity then slightly increases up to 48 h . No correlation between elastase production and changes in surface hydrophobicity was found, since treatment of washed bacteria from either early exponential or later decline-growth phases with different concentrations of elastase did not markedly affect bacterial hydrophobicity . The results indicate that strains with high or active elastase production adhered better than low or inactive elastase-producing strains . Furthermore, bacterial surface hydrophobicity does not seem to play a major role in adherence.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Dec, 38(12), 3497 - 504
{Studies on sub-MIC activities of beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycoside antibiotics against clinically isolated strain}; Takahashi M et al.; Sub-MIC range of 8 kinds of beta-lactam antibiotics and 3 kinds of aminoglycoside antibiotics against strain of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical source were determined by nephlometic method, and following results were obtained . When 10 strains of S . aureus tested to ampicillin (ABPC), hetacillin (IPABPC), mecillinam (MPC), cephalexin (CEX), cefotaxime (CTX), latamoxef (LMOX), cefatrizine (CFT), cephapirin (CEPR), gentamicin (GM), dibekacin (DKB) and amikacin (AMK), ratio of MIC to MAC were 36.8, 53.6, 156.8, 29.6, 61.6, 34.4, 50.0, 111.2, 9.2, 20.0 and 13.6, respectively . When 10 strains of K . pneumoniae tested to MPC, CEX, CTX, LMOX, CFT, CEPR, GM, DKB and AMK, ratio of MIC to MAC were 409.6, 10.4, 34.4, 123.2, 39.2, 167.2, 5.2, 5.6 and 13.2, respectively . When 10 strains of P . aeruginosa tested against CTX, LMOX, GM, DKB and AMK, ratio of MIC to MAC were 16.8, 38.4, 6.8, 3.2 and 10.4, respectively.

Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 1985 Dec, 43(4), 384 - 90
{Malignant external otitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Report of 3 cases}; el-Kadum Noujaim J et al.; The cases of three patients aged over sixty, diabetic for a long time and having clinical, otological, neurological and microbiological findings of malignant external otitis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are registered . The first patient, a 62 years old woman, had important neurological alterations, such as proven P . aeruginosa meningitis and involvement of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th left cranial nerves . Although mortality and morbidity rates of cases with these characteristics are reported to be high, this patient survived . The second was a 64 years old male with the classical complaints of this condition consisting of persistent and intensive ear pain, serous purulent discharge and an emerging tumourous lesion in the left external ear canal . Good results were obtained with the surgical treatment administered along with an antimicrobial plan which remained incomplete because the patient has requested his discharge from the hospital . In less than one month, he was again hospitalized already presenting neurological manifestations (paralysis of the 6th cranial nerve) following a fatal course in a few days . The third was also a male patient, 70 years old, whose initial complaints occurred after a month a butterfly penetrated his right ear during his sleep . In spite of the presence of neurological troubles (facial paralysis and stupor) he survived with a prolonged antibiotic therapy . After a literature revision on this pathology, considerations are made concerning its pathogeny, clinical findings, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Dec, 4(6), 424 - 8
Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to beta-lactam antibiotics; Philippon A; Since the discovery of carbenicillin in 1970, several groups of beta-lactam agents with remarkable activity against P . aeruginosa are actually available among penicillins such as ticarcillin, azlocillin, piperacillin, apalcillin and among cephalosporins: cefoperazone, cefsulodin as well as new structures including monobactams (aztreonam) and carbapenems with imipenem . An attempt to establish hierarchy in terms of weight for weight activity, particularly against susceptible isolates is made . The most active antimicrobial agents are: imipenem, apalcillin, ceftazidime, cefsulodin, piperacillin and azlocillin . The bactericidal activity is reported for virtually all of them but more accurate techniques such as time-killing curves are needed to make comparisons, because some discrepancies were reported . Nevertheless, among several factors affecting their inhibitory and bactericidal activities, some of them appeared predominant: inoculum effect and beta-lactamases . The different behavior of beta-lactam antibiotics may be in relation with other mechanisms such as impermeability . A few surveys on the resistance mechanism indicated that impermeability can be prevalent, instead beta-lactamases . But in any case, the enzyme distribution showed carbenicillinases (PSE-1, PSE-4) and OXA were observed with a high prevalence among ticarcillin-resistant isolates and more recently cephalosporinases . These drugs acted synergistically with all of the aminoglycosides in vitro against P . aeruginosa isolates and also in animal models of infection . If the synergism appeared to play a major role in the therapy of P . aeruginosa infections, these new beta-lactam antibiotics offer the possibility of other approaches to combination therapy.

Am J Med Sci, 1985 Dec, 290(6), 223 - 7
Antibiotic resistance patterns during aminoglycoside restriction; Young EJ et al.; When amikacin first became available its use was restricted to prevent the emergence of resistant strains of gram-negative bacilli to this new agent . Gentamicin was the aminoglycoside most widely used at this time, and the incidence of gentamicin-resistant bacteria was 14%, while only 2.4% were resistant to amikacin . For a period of 15 months gentamicin use was restricted, and amikacin was used almost exclusively . Amikacin use was associated with a fall in the incidence of gentamicin-resistant bacteria to 9.2% (p less than .00005), while amikacin resistance remained unchanged at 2.2% (NS) . During a period of 21 months after all aminoglycoside restrictions were lifted, gentamicin use again increased, and was accompanied by a return of gentamicin resistance to the baseline level of 15.3% . During this period, amikacin resistance also increased to 4.0% (p less than .0000001) but was due primarily to an increase in resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated gram-negative bacillus during all three periods, and it remained sensitive to both antibiotics regardless of the drug in use . In contrast, P . aeruginosa showed a high level of resistance to gentamicin, which fell when this antibiotic was restricted, only to return to a high level with reinstitution of gentamicin . While there was also an increase in amikacin resistant strains of P . aeruginosa with unrestricted aminoglycoside use, there was no apparent shift in the pattern of aminoglycoside modifying enzymes among a small random selection of amikacin-resistant bacteria . Impaired uptake of antibiotic was the predominant mechanism responsible for P . aeruginosa resistance among strains that did not produce aminoglycoside acetyltransferase (AAC)(6').

Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 630 - 5
Characterization of the insertion of Pseudomonas exotoxin A into membranes; Zalman LS et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PTx) is an extremely potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, similar to diphtheria toxin in its mode of action . It is synthesized in precursor form and secreted as an Mr 66,583 protein lacking a 25-amino acid leader sequence . While the primary sequence and the nature of the enzyme activity that leads to inactivation of elongation factor 2 are known, the mechanism of PTx internalization remains obscure . To elucidate the entry pathway, we examined PTx-membrane interactions using vesicle targets of defined lipid composition . Insertion was monitored with an intramembranous photoreactive probe; pore formation was determined from liposomal swelling rates . Our results show that the efficiency of PTx binding to vesicles increases dramatically with decreasing pH . In general, the insertion efficiency correlated with the binding efficiency . At pH 4, we noted a slight decrease in binding below the melting point (23 degrees C) of the target vesicles . Not only was PTx able to insert into frozen bilayers, but the efficiency of penetration at 0 degrees C was actually somewhat higher than expected based on binding efficiency . Liposome swelling assays analyzed by the Renkin equations indicated that PTx-liposomes made at pH 4 were permeable to solutes up to 2.8 nm in diameter . Pores of a similar size were found when the liposomes were made at pH 7, but the efficiency of pore formation at this pH was very low . Chymotrypsin fragmentation profiles of PTx depended on incubation conditions, e.g., pH, presence of NAD, reducing agents, and membranes . Liposomes containing PTx cleaved at pH 4 displayed up to 40-fold more pore activity than liposomes containing uncleaved PTx or PTx cleaved at pH 7 . Pore activity at pH 7 was negligible . Addition of reducing agents caused a 50 to 60% increase in pore activity . Cleaved toxin was active in target membrane insertion even at 0 degrees C, and all of the major fragments were photolabeled.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Dec, 28(6), 781 - 5
Efficacy of amikacin and ceftazidime in experimental aortic valve endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Bayer AS et al.; The in vivo efficacies of amikacin, ceftazidime, and their combination were evaluated in experimental aortic valve endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Eighty catheterized rabbits were infected with a P . aeruginosa strain susceptible to both amikacin and ceftazidime and then received no therapy (controls), amikacin (15 mg/kg per day), ceftazidime (100 mg/kg per day), or amikacin-ceftazidime . Amikacin-ceftazidime significantly lowered vegetation titers of P . aeruginosa at day 7 of therapy versus other regimens (P less than 0.0005) . However, by day 14 of therapy, vegetation titers in animals receiving amikacin or ceftazidime regimens or both were not different from those of untreated controls; this was associated with in vivo development of amikacin resistance in most infected vegetations (79%), a phenomenon not seen at day 7 of therapy . Amikacin resistance was unstable in vivo, being undetectable in vegetations examined 5 days after treatment with amikacin had been completed . In contrast, ceftazidime resistance (first noted at day 7 of therapy in 12% of vegetations) persisted after termination of treatment with this agent . These in vivo observations on loss of amikacin resistance and persistence of ceftazidime resistance were mirrored during in vitro passage studies of amikacin- or ceftazidime-resistant P . aeruginosa strains isolated from cardiac vegetations . Amikacin resistance was no longer detectable by passage 5 in antibiotic-free media; however, ceftazidime resistance was stable despite 15 such passages . In vivo development of aminoglycoside-beta-lactam resistances was associated with poor bacteriologic efficacy in this model.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Dec, 28(6), 735 - 9
Comparative activities of piperacillin, ceftazidime, and amikacin, alone and in all possible combinations, against experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in neutropenic rats; Johnson DE et al.; This study compared the efficacy of therapy with the double beta-lactam combination of ceftazidime plus piperacillin with that of single-agent therapy with ceftazidime, piperacillin, or amikacin alone and with that of two aminoglycoside-beta-lactam combinations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa peritonitis and bacteremia in neutropenic rats . Rats made severely granulocytopenic with cyclophosphamide became bacteremic secondary to peritonitis which was induced by intraperitoneal challenge with P . aeruginosa . Antibiotic therapy with single agents (amikacin, 20 mg/kg of body weight, intramuscularly; ceftazidime, 20 mg/kg of body weight, subcutaneously; piperacillin, 200 mg/kg of body weight, intramuscularly) or with the various combinations of agents was begun 2 h after bacterial challenge and was continued every 6 to 8 h for 62 h . Therapeutic efficacy was judged on the basis of survival 72 h after bacterial challenge, rate of mortality, incidence of bacteremia, and the emergence of resistant organisms . Based on these criteria, therapy with the double beta-lactam combination had no advantage over single-agent therapy and was in all cases clearly inferior to beta-lactam-aminoglycoside combinations.

Radiat Res, 1985 Dec, 104(3), 395 - 405
Effect of Pseudomonas contamination or antibiotic decontamination of the GI tract on acute radiation lethality after neutron or gamma irradiation; Geraci JP et al.; The influence of antibiotic decontamination of Pseudomonas contamination of the GI tract prior to whole-body neutron or gamma irradiation was studied . It was observed that for fission neutron doses greater than 5.5 Gy, cyclotron-produced neutron doses greater than 6.7 Gy, and 137Cs gamma-ray doses greater than 14.4 Gy, the median survival time of untreated rats was relatively constant at 4.2 to 4.5 days, indicating death was due to intestinal injury . Within the dose range of 3.5 to 5.5 Gy of fission neutrons, 4.9 to 6.7 Gy of cyclotron-produced neutrons, and 9.6 to 14.4 Gy of gamma rays, median survival time of these animals was inversely related to dose and varied from 12 to 4.6 days . This change in survival time with dose reflects a transition in the mechanisms of acute radiation death from pure hematopoietic, to a combination of intestinal and hematopoietic, to pure intestinal death . Decontamination of the GI tract with antibiotics prior to irradiation increased median survival time 1 to 5 days in this transitional dose range . Contamination of the intestinal flora with Pseudomonas aeruginosa prior to irradiation reduced median survival time 1 to 5 days in the same radiation dose range . Pseudomonas-contaminated animals irradiated within this transitional dose range had maximum concentrations of total bacteria and Pseudomonas in their livers at the time of death . However, liver bacteria concentration was usually higher in gamma-irradiated animals, due to a smaller contribution of hematopoietic injury in neutron-irradiated animals . The effects of both decontamination of the GI tract and Pseudomonas contamination of the GI tract were negligible in the range of doses in which median survival time was dose independent, i.e., in the pure "intestinal death" dose range . Finally, despite the marked changes in survival time produced by decontamination or Pseudomonas contamination in the "transitional dose range," these treatments had little effect on ultimate survival after irradiation as measured by the LD50/5 day and the LD50/30 day end points . The implications of these results with respect to treatment of acute radiation injury after whole-body irradiation are discussed.

Radiat Res, 1985 Dec, 104(3), 346 - 57
Possible association of mucous blanket integrity with postirradiation colonization resistance; Walker RI et al.; Radiation-induced infections can be associated with changes in colonization potential of the intestine . Since the mucous blanket, which overlays the epithelium, is a major mucosal structure and is heavily colonized by microorganisms, we examined the status of the mucus after radiation and evaluated susceptibility to intestinal challenge with bacteria . A downward shift (2.5 X 10(8) cells/g to 5.3 X 10(5)) of total facultatively anaerobic bacteria of the ileum of C3HeB/FeJ mice was detected by 3 days post exposure to 10 Gy 60Co . Numbers of flora returned to normal by 11 days after radiation . Scanning electron microscopy was used to show that the loss of bacteria could be associated with major disruptions of the continuity of the mucous blanket . The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhered to mouse mucous films used in in vitro assays . When irradiated mice were challenged orally with 1 X 10(5) P . aeruginosa on days 1, 2, or 3 after irradiation, a progressive increase in susceptibility was seen, but no animals died before Day 4 postirradiation . Sensitivity to subcutaneous (sc) challenge with Pseudomonas also increased by Day 3 and was probably due largely to the profound neutropenia observed . Immunoglobulin G (Gamimmune), which protected burned mice infected with Pseudomonas, was ineffectual in treatment of 7 or 10 Gy irradiated mice challenged either orally or sc with the organism . The ileal mucosal barrier was compromised after radiation in ways which could facilitate epithelial colonization, an event which combined with other immunological and physiological decrements in this model can compromise the effectiveness of therapeutic modalities.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Dec, 28(6), 761 - 5
Antibacterial activity of phosphanilic acid, alone and in combination with trimethoprim; Misiek M et al.; We explored the antibacterial activity of phosphanilic acid (P), an analog of sulfanilic acid, alone and in combination with trimethoprim (T; TP, 1:5) with sulfamethoxazole (S) and co-trimoxazole, the combination of this sulfonamide with trimethoprim (TS, 1:5) as the reference . P resembled S in spectrum but, in addition, had significant activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The overall frequency and degree of synergism with TP were lower than with co-trimoxazole . P, like S, was strongly affected by changes in inoculum size and was not bactericidal . P was well absorbed parenterally but not orally in mice . Despite low (but prolonged) blood levels, P, given orally to mice, was effective in treating infections caused by P . aeruginosa . However, against most experimental infections the therapeutic effectiveness of P, as well as that of TP, administered either intramuscularly or orally was unimpressive . Based on in vivo data, the therapeutic application of P or TP would appear to be limited.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Dec, 164(3), 1256 - 61
Binding of polycationic antibiotics and polyamines to lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Peterson AA et al.; Polycations, such as aminoglycoside and peptide antibiotics, and naturally occurring polyamines were found to bind to the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and alter its packing arrangement . Binding of cations was measured by the displacement of a cationic spin probe from lipopolysaccharide into the aqueous environment upon addition of competitive cations . The level of probe displacement was dependent on the concentration and charge of the competing cation, with the more highly charged cations being more effective at displacing probe . The relative affinity of several antibiotics for lipopolysaccharide correlated with their ability to increase outer membrane permeability, while the relative affinity of several polyamines correlated with their ability to stabilize the outer membrane . Probe mobility within the lipopolysaccharide head group was shown to be decreased by cationic antibiotics and unaltered or increased by polyamines . We propose that antibiotic permeability and disruption of outer membrane integrity by polycationic antibiotics results from binding of the antibiotic to anionic groups on lipopolysaccharide with a consequent change in the conformation of lipopolysaccharide aggregate structure.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Dec, 16(6), 713 - 7
In-vitro study of the activity of ciprofloxacin alone and in combination against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with multiple antibiotic resistance; Davies GS et al.; Ciprofloxacin appears to have useful activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We have studied its in-vitro activity against ten strains of Ps . aeruginosa with multiple antibiotic resistance . We have confirmed that ciprofloxacin is very active against Ps . aeruginosa with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 0.7 mg/l . Killing curves show ciprofloxacin to be rapidly bactericidal with no regrowth after 24 h . Checkerboard studies with ciprofloxacin in combination with gentamicin, azlocillin and ceftazidime show no consistent interaction . These studies suggest that ciprofloxacin should prove a useful antibiotic in treating infections caused by multiresistant Ps . aeruginosa.

J Hosp Infect, 1985 Dec, 6(4), 379 - 88
Disinfection of gastrointestinal fibrescopes: an evaluation of the Pauldrach Endocleaner, and various chemical agents; Felmingham D et al.; The Pauldrach Endocleaner was evaluated for the disinfection of gastrointestinal fibrescopes, and found to be a convenient, relatively inexpensive machine for use in endoscopy clinics . An experimental procedure was designed, for use with the endocleaner, which allowed application of an inoculum of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a Fujinon OX52 endoscope and its subsequent quantitation before and after disinfection procedures . Using aldehyde based disinfectants ('Cidex', 'Kohrsolin' and 'Gigasept') it was possible to achieve a 99.999% reduction in the recovery of viable Ps . aeruginosa with a minimum exposure time of 20 min 'Dettox ABC' and buffered hypochlorite (100 ppm) were less effective achieving an approximately 99% reduction with a minimum exposure time of 30 min . Following apparently adequate disinfection and irrespective of the disinfectant used, the endoscope was found to be heavily contaminated with Ps . aeruginosa when examined after overnight storage at room temperature thus emphasising the need for meticulous disinfection of instruments prior to use in a day's list.

J Hosp Infect, 1985 Dec, 6(4), 369 - 78
Gastrointestinal colonization and septicaemia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa due to contaminated thymol mouthwash in immunocompromised patients; Stephenson JR et al.; An outbreak of septicaemia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa amongst adult men with haematological malignancy involved eight patients on the same ward during a period of 5 weeks . The strains isolated from blood cultures from seven patients were indistinguishable by conventional typing methods . Thymol mouthwash which had been made up and distributed in communal jugs was found to be contaminated with the epidemic strain and was the likely source for this outbreak . A high rate of gastrointestinal colonization with the epidemic strain was found in the patients receiving the contaminated mouthwash . Only those patients with prolonged severe leucopenia developed septicaemia . Communal medications are an unnecessary hazard, particularly in oncology wards.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Dec, 152(6), 1290 - 9
A new common polysaccharide antigen of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa detected with a monoclonal antibody; Sawada S et al.; A monoclonal antibody, E87, that binds to various serotype strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was produced by a hybridoma cell line prepared by fusion of mouse plasmacytoma P3-X63-Ag8-U1 with spleen cells of mice immunized with P . aeruginosa strain IFO3080 (serotype M) . E87 bound to approximately 80% of the tested strains of various serotypes of P . aeruginosa . The antigen recognized with E87 was found in the lipopolysaccharide and was eluted in void volume fractions of Sephadex G50 column chromatography after acetic acid treatment . This antigen was eluted in the fraction containing substances of lower molecular weight than the O side chain by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography, and this fraction was found to be the peak fraction of hexose . This antigen was not separated from the O side chain by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography of untreated lipopolysaccharide . Colorimetric analyses and thin-layer chromatography showed that this antigen consisted mainly of rhamnose and ribose (molar ratio, 10:1).

Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 728 - 33
Antibacterial resistance, macrophage influx, and activation induced by bacterial rRNA with dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide; Gonggrijp R et al.; Intraperitoneally injected rRNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa combined with dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) increased nonspecifically the resistance of mice against an intraperitoneal challenge with extracellular (P . aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and intracellular (Listeria monocytogenes) bacteria . This study concerns the mechanism underlying the nonspecific resistance . RNA with DDA (RNA-DDA) induced a cell influx and activated peritoneal macrophages (M phi) as judged by the decreased 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphodiesterase activities in M phi lysates, the enhanced O2- release, and the increased antitumor activity in comparison with unstimulated M phi . RNA without DDA did not enhance the resistance and did not influence the peritoneal cell numbers or M phi properties . DDA without RNA enhanced the resistance of mice only slightly; it induced a cell influx, yielding elicited M phi as judged by the decreased 5'-nucleotidase activity and increased alkaline phosphodiesterase activity, the slightly enhanced O2- release, and the absence of increased antitumor activity . Both RNA-DDA and DDA M phi showed an enhanced capacity to ingest and kill L . monocytogenes in vitro, DDA M phi being slightly less effective than RNA-DDA M phi with respect to killing . We conclude that the enhanced killing capacity of M phi for L . monocytogenes is characteristic of both elicited DDA M phi and activated RNA-DDA M phi . The relationship between nonspecific resistance, peritoneal cell numbers, and antibacterial M phi activity is discussed . In addition, it is shown that RNA and DDA retain their activity when they are injected apart, suggesting that they activate M phi by sequential action.

Am J Med, 1985 Nov 29, 79(5B), 81 - 3
Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in the treatment of pneumonia and other serious infections; Brittain DC et al.; Clavulanic acid is a potent inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamases, and ticarcillin is a potent antipseudomonal penicillin . The combination of ticarcillin disodium and clavulanate potassium provides an excellent spectrum of activity against the majority of bacterial pathogens responsible for serious infections in both normal and abnormal hosts . Eighteen courses of therapy were administered to 16 patients; 35 percent of the patients were in poor or critical condition, and all but one had severe underlying disease . Thirteen separate episodes of pneumonia were treated, of which nine were in patients with cystic fibrosis, and 11 involved Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Of the 13 cases of pneumonia, 11 showed clinical cure or improvement, whereas only three showed bacteriologic cure . Of the four nonpulmonary cases, three showed clinical improvement or cure, and one showed a bacteriologic cure . In two patients, phlebitis developed at the site of intravenous infusion . The combination of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid is safe and effective therapy for pneumonia in anatomically compromised hosts.

Am J Med, 1985 Nov 29, 79(5B), 126 - 9
Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid versus moxalactam in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections; Rao B et al.; A formulation of 3.0 g of ticarcillin and 0.1 g of clavulanic acid was evaluated in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, and its efficacy was compared with that of moxalactam in a randomized open study . Thirty-three patients received 3.1 g of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid every six hours via intravenous infusion, and 36 patients received 2.0 g of moxalactam every eight hours via intravenous infusion . Diagnostic categories included intramuscular abscesses, cellulitis, skin ulcers, gangrene, and perirectal abscesses . The average age of the patients and the duration of therapy were similar in both groups . Overall, 45 aerobic and 25 anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid-treated patients; 58 aerobic and 24 anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the moxalactam-treated patients . Thirty of 33 patients in the ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid-treated group had a satisfactory response; a skin rash developed in one patient; therapy failed in one patient with Staphylococcus aureus infection; and one patient died as a result of a bleeding peptic ulcer . In the moxalactam-treated group, 32 of 36 patients had a satisfactory response; a skin rash developed in one patient; therapy failed in a patient with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; and two patients were unevaluable . Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid as a single agent was found to be as effective as moxalactam in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1985 Nov 7, 820(2), 173 - 82
Properties of the leak permeability induced by a cytotoxic protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PACT) in rat erythrocytes and black lipid membranes; Weiner RN et al.; A cytotoxic protein, isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PACT), was tested on red blood cells of rats and on black lipid membranes for changes of membrane permeability . In rat erythrocytes PACT induces lysis indicative of the formation of a leak permeable to monovalent ions . The dose response curve for the PACT-induced hemolysis demonstrates that the rate of lysis as well as the fraction of lytic cells increases with increasing toxin concentration . Furthermore, the leak pathway discriminates hydrophilic non-electrolytes according to their molecular weight . The findings indicate formation by PACT of a pore with an apparent radius of about 1.2 nm . In pure lipid membranes PACT forms hydrophilic pathways with moderate selectivity for small cations over small anions . The presence of cholesterol is a prerequisite for the occurrence of these PACT-induced permeability changes.

Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir, 1985 Nov, 17(6), 326 - 30
{Hyperbaric oxygenation in burns}; Kaiser W et al.; Standardised third degree burn injuries were produced in guinea pigs and a standardized pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model was used . Therapy with oxygen under high pressure (OHP) was initiated for not experimentally infected burn wounds and for wounds contaminated with a constant number of bacteria from a certain pseudomonas aeruginosa strain . The healing process was documented by wound area determination, histological examination, and bacteriological evaluation . Not treated uninfected wounds showed better results than the ones that were treated with OHP . Infected burn wounds also healed better when they were not treated than the wounds in which OHP therapy was initiated with some delay . The immediate and consistent application of OHP therapy led to a significantly improved healing of burn wounds infected with pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Mikrobiologiia, 1985 Nov-Dec, 54(6), 944 - 7
{Oxidation of n-alkanes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain carrying the plasmid pBS251}; Andreeva AL et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO8 cannot use n-alkanes or their respective alcohols as a sole carbon source . However, it can grow on n-alkanes when plasmid pBS251 is transferred into its cells . The hybrid plasmid pBS251 is a plasmid RP4 containing genes which control the capability to grow on n-alkanes of the C6-C12 series . Studies of n-alkane oxidation by P . aeruginosa PAO8 carrying pBS251 have shown that this plasmid controls the inducible alkane and alcohol oxidizing activities; the subsequent steps of n-alkane oxidation controlled by chromosomal genes are constitutive.

Mikrobiologiia, 1985 Nov-Dec, 54(6), 876 - 82
{Effect of limitation of bacterial growth with carbon, sulfur and iron on the synthesis of cytochromes, development of cyanide-resistant respiration and super-synthesis of metabolites}; Medentsev AG et al.; The work is concerned with the effect produced by limiting the growth of various bacteria with carbon, sulfur and iron on cytochrome synthesis, development of cyanide-resistant respiration and oversynthesis of metabolites . The cessation of bacterial growth due to the exhaustion of a carbon source was shown to be accompanied with the development of cyanide-resistant respiration though the oversynthesis of metabolites did not occur . If the growth was limited by a sulfur or iron source, the concentration of cytochromes a, b and c fell down as compared with that when the growth was limited by a carbon source, and metabolites were produced and accumulated in the medium . In that case, the respiration of virtually all the bacteria was inhibited by cyanide to a great extent . As was demonstrated for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the development of cyanide-resistant respiration was inhibited when metabolites accumulated and then the respiration became completely resistant to cyanide as soon as the oversynthesis ceased . Apparently, whatever limits the bacterial growth, the process of oversynthesis inhibits cyanide-resistant oxidase.

Biophys Chem, 1985 Nov, 23(1-2), 79 - 89
The environment of the tryptophan residue in Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and its fluorescence properties; Turoverov KK et al.; Special analysis of the tryptophan residue localization in the structure of the macromolecule of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin made it possible to prove many explanations in the existing literature of the extraordinary fluorescence properties of this protein, to choose between various contradictory conclusions and in some cases even to make new interpretations of the known experimental data . It has been revealed that the microenvironment of the tryptophan residue is in principle formed by non-polar hydrocarbon groups . The density of the microenvironment is not very high and there are cavities around the ring . The conformation of the side chain of the tryptophan residue is unstrained . These results have been analysed in connection with available data on the unique short-wave fluorescence spectrum position and the existence of the high-frequency indole ring mobility with significant amplitude . Judging by the distance between tryptophan and tyrosine residues and their mutual orientation, the conclusion was made that there is no energy transfer from Tyr 72 to tryptophan and that the efficiency of the energy transfer from Tyr 108 to tryptophan is about 0.5 . The mechanism of the dramatic increase in fluorescence efficiency when the copper atom is removed has been discussed with due regard to the fact that the 'blue' copper centre is displaced from the indole ring by more than 10 A.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Nov, (11), 69 - 72
{Effect of bacterial antigens on the functional capacity of immunocompetent cells}; Savitskaia KI et al.; The study of some characteristics of the immune status of healthy donors has revealed that the quantitative characteristics of T-, B- and O-cells directly correlate with the total content of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood . Essential differences in the values of the characteristics indicating the natural resistance of the body (C'H50, IgM, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index) in the donors with a lower or higher (in comparison with the average value) level of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood . In healthy donors no essential changes in the capacity of T- and B-lymphocytes for rosette formation after their incubation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been detected.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Nov, (11), 18 - 23
{Protective protein antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Edvabnaia LS et al.; Partially purified water extract was obtained from the initial water extract by ultracentrifugation . Nine protein fractions differing in molecular weight, homogeneity and the content of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were obtained by stepwise precipitation with ammonium sulfate and subsequent fractionation in columns packed with Sephadex G-100 and DEAE cellulose . Two protein fractions with a molecular weight of 30000 and 40000 daltons were practically free of LPS . These fractions were homogeneous as shown by analytical centrifugation and formed a single precipitation line with P . aeruginosa antiserum; both fractions were found to be antigenically identical . In the enzyme immunoassay these two fractions proved to be least active in comparison with the other protein fractions, but when used for the immunization of rabbits, they induced the formation of specific protective (for mice) antibodies . Both antisera were equally active in the experiments of the passive protection of mice . The isolated LPS-free proteins are supposed to be the proteins of the outer membrane of P . aeruginosa cell wall and have the properties of protective antigens.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Nov, (11), 14 - 8
{Distribution of phage-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains}; Blokhina IN et al.; The sensitivity of a number of P . aeruginosa clinical strains to virulent bacteriophages has been studied . Phage-resistant strains have been found to constitute a considerable proportion among the tested P . aeruginosa strains . The strains under study fall into 19 groups differing in their sensitivity to the bacteriophages used in this investigation . The strains belonging to some groups are phenotypically identical to experimentally obtained P . aeruginosa phage-resistant mutants PAO . The use of bacteriophage mutants has made it possible to demonstrate that in most cases the resistance of P . aeruginosa natural strains to type phi k phages is due to disturbances in their adsorption, whereas their resistance to type phi m and phi mn phages is, seemingly, not linked with disturbances in their capacity for adsorption on the cell membranes of the bacteria.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Nov, 16(5), 629 - 35
Imipenem/cilastatin treatment of multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis; Pedersen SS et al.; Ten patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic broncho-pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection received 45 mg imipenem/cilastatin per kg body weight/day, intravenously for two weeks . The treatment was safe with only minor side effects and clinical parameters improved considerably during therapy . In all patients resistance of Ps . aeruginosa to imipenem developed in the second week of treatment; in seven patients the therapy selected for a resistant strain and in three resistance developed in the original strain . The resistance persisted after cessation of treatment and thus the clinical usefulness of imipenem/cilastatin as monotherapy in CF-patients with Ps . aeruginosa seems to be limited.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Nov, 16(5), 605 - 13
Comparison of the antibacterial activity of azlocillin and ticarcillin in vitro and in irradiated neutropenic mice; van der Voet GB et al.; The antibacterial efficacy of azlocillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was quantitatively assessed in short-term growth curves in vitro and in a short-term thigh muscle infection in granulocytopenic mice . Ticarcillin was used as the reference drug . The antibacterial effect in vitro was expressed as the difference between the logarithms of the numbers of cfu in the presence and absence of antibiotics (log ratio) . The log ratio-time curves could be described by a concentration-dependent parameter, i.e., the inhibition constant (i) . According to a standard parallel line bio-assay, based on values of i, azlocillin was 3.80 times more active than ticarcillin (coefficient of variation 27%) . Tobramycin in a concentration of 0.19 mg/l, which is not effective in itself, potentiated both drugs by a factor of 3.85 (coefficient of variation 26%) . In the in vivo model ticarcillin showed a dose-dependent antibacterial effect, whereas the effect of azlocillin was limited and not dose dependent . The effect of tobramycin in a dose of 4 mg/kg was additive for both penicillins . The results obtained in vivo were less favourable for azlocillin than would be predicted on the basis of the in-vitro results.

Genetika, 1985 Nov, 21(11), 1782 - 6
{Control of lysogeny and a genetic map of the temperate phage SM of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Gorelyshev AS et al.; 76 mutants with impaired ability to lysogenize host cells were isolated in SM phage after mutagenesis using several chemical mutagens . By means of complementation test, these mutants were distributed into two groups, cI and cII . The mutants of the cI group were similar phenotypically to the cI mutants of phage lambda defective in synthesis of repressor . The mutants of the cII group establish and support the lysogenic state in infected cells with very low frequency . Temperature-sensitive mutants belonging to 13 complementation groups and nonlysogenizing mutants of the cI and cII groups were used in genetic mapping of SM phage . Mutual positions of markers and relative distances between them were determined by the method of two-factorial crosses . The greatest distance equal to 20 units of recombination was determined between ts 88 marker and one of early genes marked with ts 105 mutation . The genes cI and cII are closely linked to each other and also to ts 105 marker and are situated at one end of the genetic map.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1985 Nov, 42(5), 855 - 63
Lipid emulsions and reticuloendothelial system function in healthy and burned guinea pigs; Sobrado J et al.; The effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) regimens containing various quantities of long-chain triglyceride (LCT) and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) emulsions on bacterial clearance and organ sequestration was evaluated in healthy and burned guinea pigs . In healthy guinea pigs, increasing the LCT component of TPN to 75% or greater of the nonprotein calories resulted in hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, a significant reduction in the sequestration of intravenously administered Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the liver and spleen, and a markedly increased clearance of bacteria into the lung . In burned guinea pigs, replacement of LCT with MCT emulsions at 75% of the nonprotein caloric intake reduced the sequestration of bacteria in the lung and restored to normal hepatic and splenic uptake . These results suggest that LCT emulsions at 75% of nonprotein calories result in reticuloendothelial system overload and increased bacterial sequestration in the lungs in normal and burned animals . In contrast, administration of MCT emulsions to the burned animal is less likely to result in increased pulmonary sequestration and decreased hepatic or splenic reticuloendothelial system function.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 22(5), 819 - 21
Microdilution aminoglycoside susceptibility testing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli: correlation between MICs of clinical isolates and quality control organisms; Larson TA et al.; The monthly variation in geometric mean MICs (GMICs) of amikacin, tobramycin, and gentamicin for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa laboratory controls and clinical isolates was followed for 30 months . For 19 months, MICs were determined by using Micro-Media system (MMS; Micro-Media Systems, Inc., Potomac, Md.) microdilution panels, and for the other 11 months, MicroScan (MS; American Scientific Products, McGaw Park, Ill.) MIC test panels were used . The aminoglycoside GMICs for control E . coli and P . aeruginosa were significantly lower with the MS system than with the MMS system . A significant correlation was observed between the GMICs for controls and clinical isolates more frequently with the MMS system than with the MS system . Differences are believed to be related to the criteria used in the selection of quality control strains.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 544 - 9
Regulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemotaxis by the nitrogen source; Craven R et al.; The regulation of amino acid chemotaxis by nitrogen was investigated in the gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The quantitative capillary tube technique was used to measure chemotactic responses of bacteria to spatial gradients of amino acids and other attractants . Chemotaxis toward serine, arginine, and alpha-aminoisobutyrate was sharply dependent on the form in which nitrogen was presented to the bacteria . Bacteria grown on mineral salts-succinate with potassium nitrate gave responses to amino acids that were 2 to 3 times those of cells grown on ammonium sulfate and 10 to 20 times those of cells grown in mineral salts-succinate with Casamino Acids as the nitrogen source . A combination of ammonium sulfate and glutamate was as effective as Casamino Acids in depressing serine taxis . The threshold concentration for alpha-aminoisobutyrate taxis was consistently lower in nitrate-grown bacteria than in ammonia-grown bacteria . Responsiveness to sodium succinate, however, was not subject to regulation by nitrogen, and glucose chemotaxis was inhibited, rather than enhanced, in nitrate-grown bacteria . These results indicate that chemotaxis of P . aeruginosa toward amino acids is subject to regulation by nitrogen and that this regulation probably is expressed at the level of the chemoreceptors or transducers.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 516 - 24
Clustering of mutations affecting alginic acid biosynthesis in mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Darzins A et al.; A 10-kilobase DNA fragment previously shown to contain the phosphomannose isomerase gene (pmi) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to construct a pBR325-based hybrid that can be propagated in P . aeruginosa only by the formation of a chromosomal-plasmid cointegrate . This plasmid, designated pAD4008, was inserted into the P . aeruginosa chromosome by recombination at a site of homology between the cloned P . aeruginosa DNA and the chromosome . Mobilization of pAD4008 into P . aeruginosa PAO and 8830 and selection for the stable acquisition of tetracycline resistance resulted in specific and predictable changes in the pattern of endonuclease restriction sites in the phosphomannose isomerase gene region of the chromosomes . Chromosomal DNA from the tetracycline-resistant transformants was used to clone the drug resistance determinant with Bg/II or XbaI, thereby allowing the "walking" of the P . aeruginosa chromosome in the vicinity of the pmi gene . Analysis of overlapping tetracycline-resistant clones indicated the presence of sequences homologous to the DNA insert of plasmid pAD2, a recombinant clone of P . aeruginosa origin previously shown to complement several alginate-negative mutants . Restriction mapping, subcloning, and complementation analysis of a 30-kilobase DNA region demonstrated the tight clustering of several genetic loci involved in alginate biosynthesis . Furthermore, the tetracycline resistance determinant in PAO strain transformed by pAD4008 was mapped on the chromosome by plasmid FP2-mediated conjugation and was found to be located near 45 min.

Infect Immun, 1985 Nov, 50(2), 577 - 82
Flagella and motility alterations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from patients with cystic fibrosis: relationship to patient clinical condition; Luzar MA et al.; Selected physiological parameters of 31 classic and rough Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from respiratory tract cultures of patients with cystic fibrosis were examined . An association of a patient's clinical condition (good or poor) with strain physiology was made . Rough strains from patients in poor clinical condition demonstrated severe alterations in motility when compared with M-2, a highly motile and chemotactic burn strain . Of the 10 rough strains from patients in poor clinical condition, 70% lacked flagella, as determined by electron microscopy . The remaining few flagellated strains from this group exhibited weak motility both in soft agar and by the capillary assay . Their chemotactic response to three amino acids, when compared with that of strain M-2, was reduced approximately 30 to 90% . Classic strains from patients in poor clinical condition were less chemotactic than those from patients in good clinical condition . A majority of classic and rough strains from patients in good clinical condition were comparable to M-2 in both chemotaxis and motility . Changes in other physiological characteristics indicated by reduced growth rates, or auxotrophy, were seldom observed in the cystic fibrosis strains studied . The data suggest that host-selective pressures, associated primarily with patients with cystic fibrosis that are in poor clinical condition, result in the loss of factors related to invasiveness such as motility and chemotaxis . We propose that these results may reflect that there is a more general alteration in the cell envelope of cystic fibrosis strains.

Infect Immun, 1985 Nov, 50(2), 572 - 6
Avirulence and altered physiological properties of cystic fibrosis strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Luzar MA et al.; Twenty Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis in good and poor clinical condition were typed by the American Scientific (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) Typing Scheme . Only five strains were agglutinated with a single typing serum . Ten strains were agglutinated with more than one serum, and five were not agglutinated with any serum, suggesting some type of lipopolysaccharide alteration in the majority of these strains . Of the strains from patients in good clinical condition, 72% demonstrated proteolytic activity, while 60% of the strains from patients in poor clinical condition demonstrated no proteolytic activity . Twenty-three cystic fibrosis strains of P . aeruginosa examined demonstrated reduced bacteremic virulence when compared with a virulent burn strain with a 50% lethal dose (LD50) of 1.5 X 10(1) CFU in an invasive burned mouse model . Ninety-two percent of the strains tested were avirulent at doses of 10(3) to 10(5) CFU . The LD50s were determined for 10 selected strains which exhibited specific important morphological and physiological deficiencies . Five of the strains tested gave LD50s greater than 10(6) CFU . Reduced virulence of these strains was associated with loss of two or more physiological characteristics associated with virulence . The cystic fibrosis strains of P . aeruginosa which morphologically and physiologically resembled the virulent burn strain were the most virulent (LD50s of 10(2) to 10(4) . Results suggest that some degree of virulence is associated only with classic strains prevalent in early infections . The data suggest that a selection transition occurs in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis that favors P . aeruginosa avirulence . The avirulent state may be caused by alterations in the cell envelope, including associated factors such as motility and chemotaxis and protease production.

Infect Immun, 1985 Nov, 50(2), 483 - 7
Actinlike material in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Berk RS et al.; Actinlike material was obtained from disrupted Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells by a modification of the method of Hancock and Nikaido (J . Bacteriol . 136:381-390) for isolating outer membrane vesicles . Pelleted membranes were dissolved in Laemmli sample buffer and electrophoresed in parallel lanes with purified rabbit skeletal muscle actin . The bacterial preparation migrated similarly to rabbit skeletal muscle actin . A doublet band was detectable by affinity-purified antiactin antibody in a passive transfer immunoblot . Molecular weight of the actinlike protein doublet was 60,000 to 63,000 as determined by linear regression analysis of Bio-Rad low-molecular-weight standards run on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Transmission electron microscopy of the actinlike material in high salt concentrations revealed 10- to 14-nm filaments of various lengths . Despite its ability to form filaments and to react with a polyclonal rabbit antiactin antibody, the bacterial filaments did not bind the S-1 fragment of heavy meromyosin.

Infect Immun, 1985 Nov, 50(2), 388 - 91
Replication rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the murine lung; Sordelli DO et al.; Using a method recently developed at our laboratory, we determined the initial rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa replication in the lung under different experimental conditions . Mice were exposed to aerosols containing mixtures of a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of P . aeruginosa and its parental wild type (wt) . The changes in the ratio of ts:wt were determined by quantitatively culturing homogenates of lungs from animals sacrificed over different time periods . The doubling time (DT) was calculated as the reciprocal of the slope of the linear portion of the curve generated by plotting n = (log {r0/rt})/log 2 against time where r is the ratio of ts:wt at a given time . The DTs measured in both outbred ICR mice and F1 hybrids (DBA/2J X B10.D2/nSnJ) were 32 and 30 min, respectively . These DTs were higher than that determined in the peritoneal cavities of ICR mice (20 min) . The DT in the lungs of ICR mice rendered granulocytopenic by treatment with cyclophosphamide was 16 min . Experiments performed with inocula of different sizes showed that DTs tended to be higher in animals aerosolized with low doses of the ts-wt mixture.

Am J Epidemiol, 1985 Nov, 122(5), 915 - 7
Duration of whirlpool-spa use as a risk factor for Pseudomonas dermatitis; Hudson PJ et al.; Pseudomonas dermatitis occurred among 16 of 49 whirlpool-spa bathers in a Vermont hotel during a weekend in November 1983 . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, serotype 0:4, was isolated from a patient and the whirlpool-spa water . Since duration of whirlpool-spa use had been previously postulated as a risk factor for dermatitis, a historical cohort study was designed to test this hypothesis . Each bather was carefully interviewed about the duration in minutes of whirlpool-spa and swimming pool exposure on the weekend . Total duration of whirlpool-spa use was significantly associated with rash illness both on contingency and logistic regression analysis . Females were also found to be at increased risk, after controlling for the study hypothesis . Duration of whirlpool-spa use was an important determinant of risk for Pseudomonas dermatitis in this outbreak.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Nov, 152(5), 965 - 70
Characterization of a human monoclonal antibody to lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 5: a possible candidate as an immunotherapeutic agent for infections with P . aeruginosa; Sawada S et al.; A human monoclonal antibody, P3D9 (IgG2, lambda type), that bound to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Homma serotype 5 cells with high specificity was produced by cell fusion between a human tonsillar lymphocyte and a mouse plasmacytoma cell, P3-X63-Ag8-U1 (P3U1) . The yield of P3D9 secreted into the culture supernatant from the mouse-human hybridoma was 2-10 micrograms/ml, and this hybridoma cell line has been stably producing this antibody for six months . Antibody P3D9 alone did not cause agglutination of serotype 5 cells, but the cells were agglutinated after addition of goat antibody to human IgG . Antibody P3D9 was proven to have protective activity against infection with P . aeruginosa, and the 50% protective dose estimated for experimental peritoneal infection with P . aeruginosa was 2.4 micrograms per mouse.

J Infect, 1985 Nov, 11(3), 205 - 15
Ceftazidime as first-line therapy for fever in acute leukaemia; Donnelly JP et al.; Fifty patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia were treated by random allocation with either ceftazidime alone or a combination of piperacillin, netilmicin and cefotaxime for 65 febrile neutropenic episodes . Nineteen of 33 patient episodes (58%) responded to ceftazidime alone compared with 21 of 32 episodes (66%) treated with the combination . There was one infective death in a patient given the combination; rates of documented superinfection were low . The treatment groups appeared identical in terms of patient demography, underlying disease and other risk factors, though patients with a clinical site of infection responded more slowly than those without . Bacteraemia per se did not appear to influence outcome . Bactericidal serum concentrations greater than or equal to 8 X the minimum bactericidal concentration were predictive of a rapid response (within 4 days) to antibiotics . Furthermore, serum from patients treated with ceftazidime maintained adequate cidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa for longer than that obtained from patients treated with the three-drug combination . Ceftazidime was shown to be a safe and effective alternative to the three-drug combination for the initial management of febrile neutropenic episodes in leukaemic patients.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Nov-Dec, 7 Suppl 4, S729 - 33
Overall clinical experience with aztreonam in the treatment of intraabdominal infections; Henry SA; Response to aztreonam (1-2 g administered intravenously three or four times daily) was evaluated in a multiclinic study of 113 patients with intraabdominal infections due to gram-negative aerobic organisms . Appropriate therapy with an antibiotic (usually clindamycin) active against gram-positive and/or anaerobic organisms was administered concomitantly for mixed-pathogen infections . A favorable clinical response and microbiologic cure occurred in 90% of the patients treated . All of the 13 patients with infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa responded clinically, and 11 of the 13 patients experienced microbiologic cure . In a comparative study, 59 patients were treated with aztreonam and 56 were treated with tobramycin (3-5 mg/kg per day); 95% of the patients in the aztreonam group and 81% of those in the tobramycin group experienced microbiologic cure.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Nov-Dec, 7 Suppl 4, S724 - 8
Aztreonam plus clindamycin vs . tobramycin plus clindamycin for the treatment of intraabdominal infections; Birolini D et al.; Sixty-six patients with acute intraabdominal infections due to gram-negative aerobic organisms were treated with aztreonam plus clindamycin or with tobramycin plus clindamycin in a multicenter, comparative, randomized study . The patients had undergone a variety of surgical procedures; most of them had peritonitis . Thirty-three of the 36 patients in the aztreonam group and 26 of the 30 patients in the tobramycin group had satisfactory clinical responses . Only one gram-negative aerobic pathogen, a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, persisted after treatment; the patient involved was in the tobramycin group . The incidences of adverse reactions, superinfections, and abnormal laboratory values were low in each treatment group . The difference between the efficacies of the two regimens was not statistically significant . This study suggests that aztreonam may be a useful alternative to the aminoglycosides in the treatment of gram-negative intraabdominal infections.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Nov-Dec, 7 Suppl 4, S669 - 74
Treatment of lower respiratory tract infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis; Scully BE et al.; Twelve patients who underwent 26 episodes of lower respiratory tract infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with aztreonam . Infectious episodes were severe in 11 patients, moderate in 10 patients, and mild in five patients . In 85% of the episodes, significant clinical improvement occurred, but in four severe episodes, the clinical response was unsatisfactory . The mean interval between initiation of treatment and improvement was seven days . Aztreonam was as clinically effective in the treatment of infections due to organisms susceptible to penicillins active against Pseudomonas as it was in the treatment of infections due to organisms resistant to these agents . P . aeruginosa was not permanently eradicated from the sputum of any of the patients treated with aztreonam . It did not cause any major adverse effects, and the only laboratory abnormality found was an increase in alkaline phosphatase, which occurred during 12 (46%) courses of therapy . Levels of alkaline phosphatase returned to normal after conclusion of treatment . Aztreonam was shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of lower respiratory infections due to P . aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Nov-Dec, 7 Suppl 4, S656 - 65
Pneumonia caused by gram-negative bacilli: an overview; Levison ME et al.; Colonization of the oropharynx by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enteric gram-negative bacilli in acutely ill or debilitated patients, alcoholics, diabetics, and persons with chronic bronchitis may lead to pneumonia . Although gram staining of sputum may provide immediate etiologic clues, the diagnosis is proven only by isolation of the pathogen from blood or pleural fluid or by various invasive techniques since expectorated specimens from highly susceptible patients are often contaminated with aerobic gram-negative bacilli colonizing the oropharynx . However, restricting the definition of cases to those involving empyema or bacteremia results in an underestimation of incidence . Combination therapy with a beta-lactam antibiotic plus an aminoglycoside is commonly recommended for gram-negative bacillary pneumonia because (1) the patients involved are usually debilitated and immunocompromised; (2) mortality is high; and (3) the spectrum of antibacterial activity is increased, emergence of resistance may be retarded, and synergistic activity may result . For example, a third-generation cephem antibiotic plus an aminoglycoside can be used for initial treatment of community-acquired gram-negative bacillary pneumonia, and piperacillin or azlocillin plus amikacin can be used for initial treatment of nosocomial infection in which P . aeruginosa or some other antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacillus is more likely to be involved.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Nov, 28(5), 684 - 8
In vitro antibacterial activity of Sch 34343 and its stability to beta-lactamases and renal dehydropeptidase 1; Matsuda K et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activity of Sch 34343 against 1,328 strains of clinical isolates was compared with those of imipenem and ceftazidime . Sch 34343 had a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but was inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas maltophilia . Sch 34343 was quite stable to hydrolysis by beta-lactamases, including both penicillinases and cephalosporinases . However, Sch 34343 was slightly hydrolyzed by a new type of beta-lactamase (oxyiminocephalosporin beta-lactamase), as was imipenem . Sch 34343 was slightly hydrolyzed by renal dehydropeptidase 1 but was somewhat more stable than other carbapenems.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 571 - 7
Comparative studies of the amino acid and nucleotide sequences of pilin derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK and PAO; Sastry PA et al.; The entire amino acid sequence for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO pilin was determined through peptide sequencing and from the complete nucleotide sequence encoding the pilin gene . The precursor PAO pilin is 149 amino acids in length which includes a 6-amino-acid positively charged leader sequence . Comparison of the amino acid sequences of pilin produced by P . aeruginosa PAO and PAK reveals a region of high homology corresponding to the leader peptide and residues 1 to 54 of the mature pilin . The amino acid sequence of the peptide encompassing the major antigenic determinant of PAK differs greatly from that of the equivalent region in PAO . The C-terminal regions of these proteins are semiconserved . Few major differences were found when the predicted secondary structures for PAO and PAK pilins were compared . Major nucleotide sequence variation between the equivalent restriction fragments from PAO and PAK occurred within the areas coding for the peptides containing the immunodominant site for PAK pilin and the C termini.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1985 Nov, 24(11), 660 - 3
Eczema herpeticum of the child . An unusual manifestation of herpes simplex virus infection; Ingrand D et al.; Two children aged 7 months with eczema herpeticum received treatment consisting of intravenous acyclovir and human plasma with a high titer of herpes simplex virus antibodies . One recovered following two recurrences, but the other died rapidly, suffering both septicemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and herpetic encephalitis . In both cases, the virus involved was a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) . The various isolates obtained before, during and after treatment remained equally sensitive to acyclovir . These observations highlight three points: the unpredictable and sometimes dramatic development of eczema herpeticum in the young child; the urgency of early diagnosis and treatment; the role of environment in viral contamination.

Cell Immunol, 1985 Oct 15, 95(2), 265 - 75
Induction of an immune response in athymic nude mice to thymus-dependent antigens by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A; Holt PS et al.; Exposure of spleen cells from athymic nude mice to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A induces these cells to respond to the thymus-dependent (TD) antigen sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) . The response induced by toxin is dose dependent, antigen specific, and not due to polyclonal B-cell activation . Enhancement of the anti-SRBC response can be observed when toxin addition precedes antigen stimulation by 24-48 hr, which decreases when toxin administration follows antigen stimulation . A significant response is also observed when toxin and antigen are added simultaneously . A significant anti-SRBC response can be observed out to Day 10 postantigen and toxin stimulation after attaining a peak response at Day 5 . Cultures exposed to toxin in the presence or absence of antigen exhibited a higher cell number and relative number of B cells as compared to control cultures . Exposure of T-cell depleted B cells from euthymic +/nu mice to toxin plus antigen does not result in an anti-SRBC response indicating that exotoxin A alone is not sufficient to induce B-cell responsiveness to T-dependent antigens and that other cells and/or factors are involved in the toxin-induced responsiveness of nude mice to T-dependent antigens.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Oct, 38(10), 2827 - 37
{Clinical studies on aztreonam following intravenous drip infusion}; Yoshimoto M et al.; Aztreonam (AZT), a new synthetic monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, which is resistant to beta-lactamase and has a strong and specific activity against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The patients of 13 cases with localized peritonitis due to acute appendicitis, 3 cases with panperitonitis (1 case with perforative appendicitis, 1 with acute cholecystitis and 1 with pancreatic necrosis) and 4 cases with skin and soft tissue infection (anal fistula and abdominal abscess etc.) were treated by AZT . AZT was administered in a dose of 1 g twice a day by intravenous drip infusion using 100 ml-volume bottle preparation with saline for 4 to 10 days . Clinical efficacy was rated excellent in 2 cases, good in 16 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 1 case (efficacy rate 90.0%) . Adverse effects were small skin rash in 1 case, and increased GOT and GPT in 1 case . No adverse effect was recognized in other cases . Therefore, AZT appears to be very useful drug when used for chemotherapy of infectious diseases in surgery.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1985 Oct, 38(10), 1371 - 86
Syntheses and biological activities of new penem derivatives with side chains derived from 4-hydroxyproline; Emmer G et al.; New penem derivatives with various substituted, enantiomerically pure pyrrolidine-thio side chains at the C-2 position were synthesized and their chemotherapeutic potentials assessed in comparison with Sch 29482 . The following criteria were used for preliminary evaluation: Antibacterial activity in vitro, beta-lactamase inhibition and apparent hydrolysis rates by crude murine and human kidney enzyme preparations . The most active compounds, 16e, 16f and 18 exhibit properties typical of this substance class with a tendency towards greater antibacterial potency in comparison with Sch 29482, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . No clear-cut structure-activity relationships could be found with respect to beta-lactamase inhibition and stability against degrading renal enzymes.

Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1985 Oct, 19(10), 757 - 61
Evaluation of high-dose tobramycin-carbenicillin therapy in pseudomonal infections in cystic fibrosis; Fraser GL et al.; Fourteen episodes of acute pseudomonal pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis were treated with high-dose tobramycin (10.1-17.1 mg/kg/d) and carbenicillin (600 mg/kg/d) . The Sawchuck-Zaske method of dosing tobramycin was used and resulted in good agreement between the desired and measured peak (8.1 +/- 0.5 vs . 8.2 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml) and trough (0.5 +/- 0.2 vs . 1.0 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml) concentrations . Ninety-three percent of cases improved clinically . Forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity increased significantly (39.3 +/- 24.8, p less than 0.001 and 24.1 +/- 22.8 percent, p less than 0.05, respectively) after treatment . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was eradicated from the sputa of 69 percent of the cases, with recolonization occurring within three months . Significant nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity were not seen . Liver enzymes, however, were elevated in 29 percent of those treated . Combination high-dose carbenicillin and tobramycin satisfies the treatment goals of bacteriological and clinical cure with a minimal degree of toxicity.

Isr J Med Sci, 1985 Oct, 21(10), 798 - 803
Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from different medical institutions; Nitzan Y et al.; Patients screened for antibiotic resistance at three different medical institutions yielded 1,597 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Most of the isolates were sensitive to amikacin (92.8%), tobramycin (70.6%), gentamicin (59.1%) neomycin (89.4%), azlocillin (84.6%), mezlocillin (83.9%), piperacillin (85.7%), cefsulodin (83.8%) and colistin (98.5%); only 43.8% were sensitive to carbenicillin . In a rehabilitation hospital the frequency of isolates resistant to most of these antibiotics was twice as high than in the two other institutions . The frequency of phenotypes resistant to the combination of carbenicillin and gentamicin was twice as high in the rehabilitation hospital isolates (47.3%) than in the general hospital isolates (28.5%) . The frequency of isolates resistant to the combination of aminoglycosides and the new beta-lactam antibiotics is relatively lower than in the former combinations . Serogroup 11 is predominant in the isolates from all three institutions (44%) . In carbenicillin- and gentamicin-resistant isolates, 61% were of serogroup 11 . On the other hand, in the carbenicillin- and gentamicin-sensitive isolates, serogroup 11 accounted for only 27.2%.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1985 Oct, 133(10), 718 - 25
{Pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis: pathogenesis and therapy}; Gotz M; Infections of airways and lung in patients with cystic fibrosis determine quality of life and prognosis . Despite overall improvement of management of infections the underlying causes leading to infection early in life remain an enigma . As a consequence of infection various morphologic alterations arise . The most prominent are development of bronchiectases afflicting more than 70% of patients at age two . The spectrum of bacterial involvement has undergone significant changes . In contrast to earlier reports Pseudomonas aeruginosa at present is the most commonly encountered pathogen . Mucoid forms are typical for cystic fibrosis and are rarely seen in other conditions . Pseudomonas cannot be eradicated once it is established . Antipseudomonas chemotherapy leads to a diminution of bacteria from 10(8)/ml sputum to 10(6) at best . However, clinical results are convincing . Thus regular antispeudomonas treatment has been advocated by one CF-centre . Apart from conventional chemotherapy alternative approaches of treatment such as vaccination or immunoregulation need to be explored in greater detail.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Oct, 131 ( Pt 10), 2701 - 4
IncP-1 R plasmids decrease the serum resistance and the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wretlind B et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 was compared to PAO1 strains containing an IncP-1 R plasmid (RP1, R68, or R68.45) in an experimental mouse burn infection model . All R plasmids tested caused a 10- to 400-fold increase in mean lethal dose (LD50) . The decrease in virulence produced by plasmids R68 and R68.45 was significantly greater than the decrease caused by the closely related plasmid RP1 . All plasmids also led to an increased sensitivity of strain PAO1 to human serum bactericidal activity . Virulence and serum resistance of strain PAO1 were restored by curing of the entire plasmid R68.45 but not by deletions in the plasmid's transfer gene regions.

Infect Control, 1985 Oct, 6(10), 407 - 12
Characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from whirlpools and bathers; Highsmith AK et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequently isolated microorganism from whirlpool water and lesions associated with outbreaks of dermatitis and folliculitis related to whirlpool exposure . Strains were selected from 19 outbreaks of P . aeruginosa infections (1977 to 1983) associated with whirlpool use; they were examined to determine if the strains possessed unique virulence factors or characteristics that might aid in their selection in the environment . P . aeruginosa, 011, was the predominant serotype isolated from whirlpool water as well as from bathers with dermatitis or folliculitis, followed by serotypes 09, 04, and 03 . Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were similar for all strains . Strains of P . aeruginosa from bathers and water demonstrated statistically significant differences in extracellular enzyme production compared with control strains . P . aeruginosa, serotypes 09 and 011, were found to be sensitive to low levels of chlorine . These data suggest that, if adequate levels of free available chlorine are maintained, P . aeruginosa should have little opportunity to persist in whirlpools . A bather's risk of P . aeruginosa dermatitis or folliculitis appears to be affected primarily by three factors: immersion in water colonized by P . aeruginosa, skin hydration with altered skin flora, and toxic reactions to extracellular enzyme or exotoxins produced by P . aeruginosa . Although a single virulence factor was not identified from the results of this study, there are some indications that the enzymes produced by these microorganisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease associated with whirlpool use.

Infect Control, 1985 Oct, 6(10), 402 - 6
Host factors in whirlpool-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa skin disease; Solomon SL; Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis is the most common recognizable infectious disease occurring after use of whirlpools and hot tubs . The factors that affect the host's susceptibility to whirlpool-related infection are the anatomic and physiologic defenses of normal skin, the microecology of the skin surface, factors intrinsic to the individual host, and behavioral factors . The structural components of the skin maintain an environment at the skin surface that makes human skin an inhospitable habitat for microflora . However, natural and experimental models of P . aeruginosa skin infection suggest that immersion in whirlpools may negate many of the body's normal host defenses, especially the very low humidity at the skin surface . Transient colonization of skin with P . aeruginosa may lead to elaboration of toxins in vivo, resulting in the characteristic dermatitis.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1985 Oct, 132(4), 761 - 5
Aminoglycoside penetration, inactivation, and efficacy in cystic fibrosis sputum; Mendelman PM et al.; We studied sputum tobramycin concentrations after intravenous administration in 10 cystic fibrosis patients . Tobramycin concentrations were determined by a bioassay and a radioenzymatic assay (REA) . The bacterial density of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum was examined serially during therapy . Bioactivity of tobramycin in the sputum was low and increased little during treatment . In contrast, tobramycin content (as assayed by REA) showed a progressive accumulation of the drug to high concentrations: a mean of 82 micrograms/g sputum after 3 wk of therapy in 4 patients . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was eradicated from the sputum in 3 of 4 patients receiving antibiotic therapy for 3 wk . Eradication correlated with tobramycin sputum concentrations measured by REA, which were 20-fold greater than the apparent tobramycin inhibitory concentration . A bactericidal effect of aminoglycosides in the presence of sputum in vitro could only be reliably produced with concentrations 25-fold the MIC . We conclude that tobramycin penetrates cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum and accumulates over time . Although CF sputum antagonized the bioactivity of aminoglycosides, 3 wk of intravenous therapy combined with an antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotic may be effective in eradication of P . aeruginosa from sputum of certain CF patients.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Oct, 152(4), 769 - 74
Occult aminoglycoside resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: epidemiology and implications for therapy and control; Olson B et al.; The epidemiology of aminoglycoside-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated in an intensive care unit (ICU) with serial surveillance cultures of throat and rectum . Bacterial population analysis performed by replica plating of primary isolation plates onto gentamicin-containing agar revealed the presence of resistant subpopulations in the initial isolates from 41 (71%) of 58 consecutive assessable patients; these isolates were stably resistant and proportionately less susceptible to other aminoglycosides . An increase in resistant subpopulations occurred during the ICU stay in 34% of 38 colonized patients cultured serially as opposed to none of 23 followed after ICU discharge (P = .0008) . Isolates of P . aeruginosa from patients who received aminoglycosides in the ICU were more likely to show an increase in resistance than were isolates from other patients (55% vs . 11%; P = .005); decreasing resistance after ICU discharge followed discontinuation of antibiotic administration . ICU mortality was higher in patients with increasingly resistant subpopulations (69% vs . 16%; P = .0004) . The difficulty in treating infections with P . aeruginosa and in controlling drug resistance likely relates to the common carriage of clinically undetected resistant subpopulations that emerge during therapy.

Infect Immun, 1985 Oct, 50(1), 336 - 7
Contribution of hydrophobicity to hemagglutination reactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Garber N et al.; Several strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited the ability to hemagglutinate erythrocytes . Hydrophobic bond-breaking agents, but not sugars and saccharides, were effective inhibitors of hemagglutination . The results suggest the involvement of hydrophobic bonds in hemagglutination reactions of P . aeruginosa.

Infect Immun, 1985 Oct, 50(1), 324 - 7
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibody responses to a temperature-sensitive mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Sordelli DO et al.; The serum immunoglobulin G and M responses induced by immunization of mice with temperature-sensitive mutant A/10/25 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . These antibody responses were immunotype specific, and the immunoglobulin G antibody level, although low, was still significant by day 52 after vaccination.

J Virol, 1985 Oct, 56(1), 268 - 76
Nucleotide sequence of the genome of Pf3, an IncP-1 plasmid-specific filamentous bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Luiten RG et al.; The circular, single-stranded DNA genome of the Pf3 bacteriophage was sequenced in its entirety by each of two methods, the M13-dideoxy chain termination method and the chemical degradation method . It consists of 5,833 nucleotides . With respect to both the DNA and the protein sequences, there is virtually no homology between Pf3 and the phages Ff (M13, f1, and fd) and IKe . However, similarities between these phages were noted with respect to their overall genome organizations . The gene for the single-stranded DNA-binding protein is followed by the gene for the major coat protein and then by a transcription termination signal . Open reading frames for seven other proteins were predicted, and their sizes and order show a fair correspondence to the sizes and order of the genes of the Ff phages and IKe . In addition, several regions have the potential to form stem and loop structures similar to those in the intergenic region of the Ff phage genome, but in Pf3 some are within open reading frames . Evolutionary relationships between Pf3 and the Ff phages and IKe are thus apparent through the correspondence of overall gene order rather than through primary sequence homologies.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1985 Oct, 24(10), 566 - 70
Clinical presentation and management of Pseudomonas osteomyelitis; Elliott SJ et al.; To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis in children, the records of 144 hospitalized patients under 19 years of age were reviewed; 104 fulfilled the study criteria for the diagnosis of acute or chronic osteomyelitis . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from 10.6 percent of the children and was the second most common pathogen isolated . In comparison to children with staphylococcal infections, patients with pseudomonal osteomyelitis were significantly older, gave an antecedent history of penetrating trauma, and lacked clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic illness . The data collected in this study suggest that osteomyelitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a distinct entity with clinical features differing from those of Staphylococcus aureus . Management should be directed at adequate surgical debridement followed by 10 to 21 days of antimicrobial therapy.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1985 Oct, 187(4), 287 - 9
{Necrotizing pseudomonas infection of the eyelids and lacrimal ducts with orbital involvement in a newborn infant}; Huber-Spitzy V et al.; A newborn boy presented with severe, bilateral, necrotic blepharitis and dacryocystitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The possible etiology of this infection would be a transient neutropenia and a chemical blepharoconjunctivitis caused by Crede's prophylaxis . The relentless course of the necrosis could only be stopped by maximum-dose topical and systemic antibiotic therapy; the visual function of the right eye, however, was lost owing to a keratititis e lagophthalmo.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Oct, 16(4), 499 - 507
Empirical use of imipenem as the sole antibiotic in the treatment of serious infections; Freimer EH et al.; Seventy-three patients with eighty-five infections were treated with imipenem as the sole antimicrobial agent . Some of these infections were caused by pseudomonads and enterococci resistant to other cephalosporins . The vast majority of the Gram-positive and the Gram-negative bacteria that were isolated had a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of less than 1 mg/l, and all MICs for initial isolates were below the levels of imipenem that were achieved in plasma and other body fluids with a dose of 500 mg every 6 h . The outcomes of 67 infectious episodes were satisfactory, four outcomes were failures and 14 were not evaluable . During the two years of this study, only a few strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged which were resistant to imipenem.

Infect Control, 1985 Oct, 6(10), 398 - 401
Pool-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa dermatitis and other bathing-associated infections; Jacobson JA; The growing popularity of heated pools, especially whirlpools and hot tubs, has been accompanied by increasingly frequent outbreaks of an illness produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The illness usually includes folliculitis, pruritic skin rash, and/or otitis externa and occasionally mastitis and systemic symptoms . Although usually self-limited, rare severe cases have been described . Motel and hotel whirlpools are most often implicated as the source of outbreaks . The relative importance of pool conditions and the bacteriology of P . aeruginosa in the pathogenesis of this illness remain to be elucidated . Implementing CDC Guidelines for public spas and hot tubs seem the most reasonable way of reducing the risk of large outbreaks . Prevention of cases arising from home hot tubs or whirlpools will be very difficult and may depend on extensive public education or the development of simple, inexpensive and effective disinfection systems.

Infect Control, 1985 Oct, 6(10), 394 - 7
Whirlpool operation and the prevention of infection; Davis BJ; Disease outbreaks involving public whirlpools have been reported frequently since their use has become popular in recent years . Because public whirlpools are often used by persons who have only transient contact, infections resulting from their use are difficult to identify, and published reports probably represent only a small portion of a larger public health problem . Most published outbreaks have reported Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination of the whirlpool as a result of failure to operate the pool according to recommended practices . Maintaining the microbiologic quality of whirlpool water and preventing infection absolutely require regular operation and maintenance, including monitoring and record keeping by qualified personnel.

Genetika, 1985 Oct, 21(10), 1634 - 42
{Phage-transposon interaction: the cip locus of prophage D3112 responsible for the inhibition of integration and transposition of related phage B39 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Gerasimov VA et al.; Bacterial cells lysogenic for D3112, a transposable Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage restrict the growth of a related heteroimmune B39 phage . The lysogens are divided into two different types PAO(D3112) . In the lysogens of the type I the efficiency of B39 growth only decreases slightly, the lysogens of the type II restricting completely the growth of this phage (e.o.p . is less than 10(-7) . As shown by the results of Southern hybridization experiments, lysogens of the type I are monolysogens, while those of the type II are double or polylysogens . Restriction of B39 in PAO(D3112) is caused by expression of a locus in the D3112 genome . The locus has been termed as cip (control of interaction of phages) . The cip locus was mapped at the interval 1.3-2.45 kb of the D3112 physical map using different deletion derivatives of D3112 . Expression of cip only takes place in the prophage state and not during the phage lytic development . When expressed, cip affects the early steps in the growth of B39 lowering the level of integration and transposition processes; the effect is not dependent on the way of initiation of the lytic cycle (through prophage induction or infection).

J Infect Dis, 1985 Oct, 152(4), 716 - 21
The role of exoenzyme S in infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Nicas TI et al.; To define the contribution of exoenzyme S to the pathogenesis of infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we have compared the ability of an exoenzyme S-deficient mutant, 388 exs1::Tn1, and that of its exoenzyme S-producing parent to colonize and disseminate in burned mice infected with this organism . Both the exoenzyme S-deficient mutant and the parent strain proliferated in burned skin, but only the parent strain was able to effectively disseminate to blood and other tissues . The reduced ability of the mutant to disseminate was not due to alterations in serum sensitivity, lipopolysaccharide composition, or motility . The exoenzyme S-deficient mutant was able to disseminate in the presence of the exoenzyme S-producing parent . Antibody to purified exoenzyme S was able to greatly reduce dissemination of the exoenzyme S-producing parent strain but did not prevent colonization in the burned skin . These data suggest that exoenzyme S does not contribute to the initial colonization but does contribute to the establishment of disseminated infection.

Med J Aust, 1985 Sep 16, 143(6), 230 - 2
Survival of cystic fibrosis patients in South Australia . Evidence that cystic fibrosis centre care leads to better survival; Hill DJ et al.; Life tables were calculated for 205 South Australians with cystic fibrosis . An improvement in survival was noted between 1948 and 1982 . Ninety-three per cent of patients who were diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis after 1973 were alive at 14 years of age, compared with 40% of those who were diagnosed between 1948 and 1973 . A Cystic Fibrosis Clinic was established in 1973 and much of this improvement is attributed to the care provided by this centre . Deaths from meconium ileus fell from 58% of infants with this complication between 1948 and 1973 to only 8% between 1973 and 1983, in spite of the increasing incidence of patients who were chronically colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (currently 68% of patients) . These figures are similar to those from Victoria and from other cystic fibrosis centres in North America . The improvement in survival means that adults now comprise a quarter of the patients with cystic fibrosis in South Australia, and that adult institutions need to be aware of these patients and their needs.

Biochem J, 1985 Sep 15, 230(3), 797 - 805
Cytochrome c-551 and azurin oxidation catalysed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome oxidase . A steady-state kinetic study; Tordi MG et al.; The kinetics of oxidation of azurin and cytochrome c-551 catalysed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome oxidase were re-investigated, and the steady-state parameters were evaluated by parametric and non-parametric methods . At low concentrations of substrates (e.g . less than or equal to 50 microM) the values obtained for Km and catalytic-centre activity are respectively 15 +/- 3 microM and 77 +/- 6 min-1 for azurin and 2.15 +/- 0.23 microM and 66 +/- 2 min-1 for cytochrome c-551, in general accord with previous reports assigning to cytochrome c-551 the higher affinity for the enzyme and to azurin a slightly higher catalytic rate . However, when the cytochrome c-551 concentration was extended well beyond the value of Km, the initial velocity increased, and eventually almost doubled at a substrate concentration greater than or equal to 100 microM . This result suggests a 'half-hearted' behaviour, since at relatively low cytochrome c-551 concentrations only one of the two identical binding sites of the dimeric enzyme seems to be catalytically active, possibly because of unfavourable interactions influencing the stability of the Michaelis-Menten complex at the second site . When reduced azurin and cytochrome c-551 are simultaneously exposed to Ps . aeruginosa cytochrome oxidase, the observed steady-state oxidation kinetics are complex, as expected in view of the rapid electron transfer between cytochrome c-551 and azurin in the free state . In spite of this complexity, it seems likely that a mechanism involving a simple competition between the two substrates for the same active site on the enzyme is operative . Addition of a chemically modified and redox inactive form of azurin (Hg-azurin) had no effect on the initial rate of oxidation of either azurin and cytochrome c-551, but clearly altered the time course of the overall process by removing, at least partially, the product inhibition . The results lead to the following conclusions: (i) reduced azurin and cytochrome c-551 bind at the same site on the enzyme, and thus compete; (ii) Hg-azurin binds at a regulatory site, competing with the product rather than the substrate; (iii) the two binding sites on the dimeric enzyme, though intrinsically equivalent, display unfavourable interactions . Since water is the product of the reduction of oxygen, point (iii) has important implications for the reaction mechanism.

FEBS Lett, 1985 Sep 9, 189(1), 33 - 6
Action of a cytotoxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on human leukemic cell lines . Increase in cell permeability to Ca2+ and Mn2+ and lack of stimulation of inositol lipid turnover; Sasaki T et al.; Quin2 loaded human leukemic, JURKAT and K562 cells, were exposed to various doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytotoxin . This cytotoxin induced an increase in quin2 fluorescence indicating an increase in the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration . The rate of the fluorescence increase and the lag time before the response were dependent on the doses of the cytotoxin . Addition of MnCl2 to the cytotoxin-treated cells induced a decrease in the quin2 fluorescence at rates dependent on the doses of the cytotoxin . The cytotoxin did not stimulate the inositol lipid turnover in JURKAT cells, which was determined by the accumulation of {3H}inositol phosphates in myo-{2-3H}inositol-prelabeled cells in the presence of LiCl . These results indicate that the cytotoxin increases cell permeability to both Ca2+ and Mn2+ by direct breakdown of the permeability barrier of the plasma membrane.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1985 Sep, 26(9), 1262 - 6
The complement system and host defense against Pseudomonas endophthalmitis; Aizuss DH et al.; The authors examined the role of the complement system in host defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis . Guinea pigs received intravitreal injections of P . aeruginosa, and comparisons were made between bacterial counts from the vitreous of control guinea pigs and experimental guinea pigs that underwent systemic decomplementation with cobra venom factor . In group 1 (intravitreal injection of 42 organisms), bacterial counts were significantly higher in the vitreous of decomplemented guinea pigs versus control guinea pigs at days 1, 2, and 3 after intravitreal injection but not at day 7 when complement levels returned to normal . In group 2 (intravitreal injection of 102 organisms), bacterial counts were significantly higher in the vitreous of experimental guinea pigs versus control guinea pigs only at day 1 with no statistically significant differences thereafter . In group 3 (intravitreal injection of 150 bacteria), there were no significant differences in bacterial counts in the vitreous of experimental versus control guinea pigs . Our results in group 1 suggest that partially decomplemented guinea pigs show impaired host defense to P . aeruginosa and that this defense is restored as complement levels return to normal . Intravitreal injection of higher numbers of P . aeruginosa as in a group 3 overwhelms and obscures any beneficial effect of the complement system on host defense.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1985 Sep, (9), 3 - 6
{The effect of R-plasmids on the reproduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage SM}; Gorelyshev AS et al.; The inheritance of plasmids Rms163 and R74 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO hs been shown to effect the reproduction of a temperature bacteriophage SM . The decrease in plating efficiency of bacteriophage on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO (rms163) lawn is explained by the high degree of cell lysogenization by bacteriophage . Plasmid R74 inhibits bacteriophage SM propagation ultimately, evidently due to interruption of definite stages in vegetative development of bacteriophage by the products of plasmid specific genes.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Sep, 38(9), 2594 - 602
{Laboratory and clinical studies on SM-4300 in the pediatric field}; Takashima T et al.; The authors have carried out the laboratory and clinical studies of SM-4300 and obtained the following results . Serum level of IgG before and after administration of SM-4300 was observed in a case with agammaglobulinemia . The serum level reached the peak at 30 minutes after administration of SM-4300 and the half-life was about 25 days . SM-4300 enhanced the opsonic activity of human neutrophils to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro . In substitution therapy against agammaglobulinemia, the clinical effect of SM-4300 was observed . Four patients with severe infections were treated with SM-4300 and antibiotics and evaluated . Clinical effects of SM-4300 in combination therapy with antibiotics were excellent in 2 cases, good in 1 case and poor in 1 case . The subjective and objective clinical side effects and abnormal laboratory findings were not noted.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Sep, 38(9), 2565 - 70
{Clinical studies of SM-4300 in children}; Nagamatsu I et al.; In vitro experiment with phagocytic and bactericidal activity of human neutrophils, SM-4300 augmented opsonic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . After a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight SM-4300 to a child with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI), serum IgG concentration/time curve was similar to that after PEG-Ig administration . In combination therapies with SM-4300 and antibiotics in 8 children with bacterial infections, beneficial efficacy of SM-4300 was observed . There was no adverse reaction in 16 times injections to 9 children with bacterial infections and 5 times to a child with CVI.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Sep, 38(9), 2542 - 6
{Clinical studies on SM-4300, a new intravenous human gamma-globulin}; Nakatomi M et al.; With the recent development of new potential antibiotics, it has become easier to treat patients with common bacterial infections . However, we find it difficult to handle severe infections due to opportunistic pathogens, developed in the so-called immunocompromised patients . SM-4300 is a newly developed intravenous human gamma-globulin, which is said to be intact without conventional enzyme-treatment and sulfonization . SM-4300 is also free from large molecules of aggregated gamma-globulin . SM-4300 was administered in combination with antibiotics to 2 patients of severe respiratory infections, having refractory underlying diseases . Case No . 1 was a 65-year-old female with bronchopneumonia, who had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, chronic congestive heart failure and tricuspid insufficiency for several years . During her hospitalization because of these diseases, she developed cough with slight sputum and exertional dyspnea accompanied by high body temperature of 38 degrees C on January 1983 . Chest X-ray revealed infiltration in the right lung field which was compatible with bronchopneumonia . SM-4300 of 5 g was added intravenously on 5th day after 4 day-cefotiam treatment with no improvement . High body temperature subsided and laboratory data became normal around 3 days after single SM-4300 injection . Case No . 2 was a 68-year-old male patient of chronic bronchitis with chronic pulmonary emphysema and bronchial asthma . Around the end of May 1983, he complained of dyspnea on exertion and had mucopurulent sputum, more than 100 ml daily, from which Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in large number . He was afebrile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 50(3), 562 - 7
Partial purification and characterization of a polymannuronic acid depolymerase produced by a mucoid strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a patient with cystic fibrosis; Dunne WM Jr et al.; An exopolysaccharide depolymerase was isolated from a mucoid strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of cystic fibrosis origin . Purified preparations of the depolymerase showed maximum activity against the unacetylated polymannuronic acid exopolysaccharide from the same strain and little activity against commercially prepared alginic acid . The evidence suggests that the enzyme is either periplasmic in location or associated with the outer cell membrane and is released extracellularly, in the absence of cell lysis, after a reduction of the culture magnesium (Mg2+) concentration below 3.0 mM . The depolymerase is also released after the addition of sublethal concentrations of EDTA to cultures containing 3.0 mM Mg2+ . A survey of additional mucoid P . aeruginosa isolates recovered from patients with cystic fibrosis showed that nearly 60% demonstrated similar depolymerase activity while none of the nonmucoid revertants of the parent strains produced detectable depolymerase activity.

Vaccine, 1985 Sep, 3(3), 316 - 24
Vaccines against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: 2 . Clinico-immunological investigations; Krokhina MA et al.; A new multicomponent Pseudomonas vaccine 'pyoimmunogen' has been developed . It was tested for safety and immunogenicity by immunization of volunteer donors and burned patients . Immune plasma obtained from volunteers was used for treatment of severe forms of P . aeruginosa infections . Pyoimmunogen was shown to be of low toxicity for apparently healthy humans and to induce specific antibody formation . In 16 out of 20 burned patients it had a beneficial effect on the course of the disease and the period of hospitalization was shortened . As a result of complex treatment involving the use of anti-P . aeruginosa plasma 51 out of 60 patients recovered.

Undersea Biomed Res, 1985 Sep, 12(3), 307 - 13
In vitro efficacy of Otic Domeboro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Dibb WL; The in vitro activity of prophylactic ear drops (Otic Domeboro) which are widely used by saturation divers against external otitis has been assessed . Four strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 reference strain and 3 clinical isolates from cases of external otitis were employed . Two of the clinical isolates were from saturation divers who were using Otic Domeboro . Otic Domeboro solution was bactericidal even when diluted 1:2 in serum or broth . There were no significant differences between strains . There was no measurable inoculum effect . Survival kinetic analysis showed 60% killing at 5 min and 99.9% killing at about 2 h . Otic Domeboro is an effective anti-P . aeruginosa agent . There was no evidence of increased resistance among strains isolated from divers . The rate of killing in relation to usual prophylactic recommendations suggests that frequent dripping may be more effective . The therapeutic use of Otic Domeboro in saturation diving should be evaluated to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotic drops.

Clin Pharm, 1985 Sep-Oct, 4(5), 555 - 65
Therapeutic management of cystic fibrosis; Kuhn RJ et al.; The therapeutic management of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is reviewed . CF is an autosomal-recessive genetic disease that affects all exocrine glands . Drug therapy is directed toward the relief of symptoms and prevention of complications . Chronic respiratory tract infections and pancreatic insufficiency are the major manifestations . The replacement of pancreatic enzymes is best achieved with microencapsulated preparations . The dose of enzymes is increased until a maximum effect on decreasing steatorrhea is observed . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common pathogens in respiratory infections, which usually require 2-3 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy . Because patients with CF often have rapid clearance of both penicillins and aminoglycosides and altered apparent distribution volumes of aminoglycosides, individualized dosing is required . The role of prophylactic antibiotic therapy is controversial, since prolonged exposure to antimicrobials may hasten the development of mucoid strains . Aerosolized antibiotics have not been consistently useful in treating these patients, and there is no convincing evidence to support their long-term use . There are also no clear data to support the use of oral or aerosolized mucolytic agents . The inability to deliver the drug to the site of action plus the time and expense of inhalation equipment may only complicate the drug therapy while producing little benefit . Bronchodilators can be useful in improving pulmonary function . Vitamin supplementation with both the fat- and water-soluble vitamins is important in the treatment of CF . Iron supplementation may also be necessary . Until the basic defect in CF is discovered, the use of antibiotics and replacement of pancreatic enzymes will continue to be the mainstay of therapy.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 22(3), 465 - 6
In vitro susceptibility of Pseudomonas species to carbenicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; Hill SF et al.; We compared susceptibility tests of 47 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and 40 Pseudomonas species to carbenicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole by the MS-2 and Sceptor systems and agar dilution . The major and very major errors encountered in these tests in the MS-2 and Sceptor systems raise doubts about the accuracy of these methods for testing P . aeruginosa and confirm that they should not be used for testing the susceptibility of Pseudomonas species to the two drugs tested.

Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 770 - 4
Electrophoretic separation and molecular weight characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa H-antigen flagellins; Allison JS et al.; We found that preparations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagellar antigens protected against P . aeruginosa challenge in a burned-mouse model . To determine the extent of similarity among known flagellar antigen types, we compared flagellins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . A majority of our laboratory strains and clinical isolates, including PAO strains and their derivative mutants RM46 and PJ108, as well as virulent strains M-2 and 1244, had flagellins of 53,000 Mr . These flagellins had the same Mrs as those of type b-standard strains 170001 and 15084 . The heterogeneous group of a-type H-antigen flagellins were of smaller molecular weights, ranging from 52,000 Mr for standard strain 5939 (a0, a3) to 45,000 Mr for standard strain 170018 (a0, a3, a4) . Standard strains 5933 (a0, a1, a2) and 5940 (a0, a2) had intermediate Mrs of 51,000 and 47,000, respectively . Differences in Mr of 1,000 to 2,000 could be resolved by coelectrophoresis . A series of 26 unknown strains were categorized . Correlations among typing by molecular weight, cross-agglutination reactions with O-adsorbed H antisera, and previous results for H-serum typing are reported.

Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 557 - 62
Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzymes in lung infections of patients with cystic fibrosis; Doring G et al.; We investigated the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzymes in cystic fibrosis lung infection in the presence and absence of specific serum antibodies . In sputa of 21 cystic fibrosis patients, concentrations of P . aeruginosa proteases and exotoxin A were determined by sensitive radioimmunoassays . In all sputa, detection of exoenzymes was negative (less than or equal to 10 ng) . Positive serum antibody titers to bacterial exoenzymes were found in the majority of patients . Purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparations from the sera of two patients revealing specific antibody titers to the bacterial proteases neutralized these enzymes at ratios of 1,000:1 to 5,600:1 (wt/wt) . Above the neutralizing capacity of IgG, proteases caused cleavage of IgG; below that level, no enzymatic activity was observed . In vitro incubation of P . aeruginosa elastase, alkaline protease, or exotoxin A with elastase derived from polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed that polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase: (i) was cleaved by bacterial elastase, (ii) was not inactivated by alkaline protease, and (iii) inactivated exotoxin A . The results suggest that soon after the onset of P . aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients, bacterial proteases, but not exotoxin A, become important virulence factors . The results also suggest that exoenzymes do not directly contribute to lung damage after immune response to bacterial antigens has begun.

Virology, 1985 Sep, 145(2), 260 - 72
The precursor complex of Pf3 bacteriophage; Casadevall A et al.; Filamentous bacteriophage infections give rise to intracellular filamentous precursor complexes composed of a circular single-stranded DNA molecule and on the order of 10(3) copies of a viral-encoded, single-stranded DNA binding protein . A protocol was developed for the purification of the precursor complex from Pf3 phage-infected Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells, and existing protocols for Ff and Pf1 complexes were amended by the introduction of a molecular sieving column step . The Pf3 precursor complex has an average contour length of 500 nm, which is shorter than that of the mature Pf3 virus . M/L (mass/length) values were obtained from turbidity measurements, from scanning-transmission electron microscopy, and from the total particle mass divided by its length . The average M/L obtained was 19,300 Da/nm which is close to that of the Pf3 virion . The complex has a nucleotide/subunit ratio of 6.0 . The protein component of the precursor complex has less than 10% alpha-helicity, whereas the protein component of the virus is greater than 90% alpha-helical . The DNA structure in the precursors is very different from that in the virus, so that during virus assembly the DNA structure must change dramatically . The results for the Pf3 system, together with the available information for the Ff and Pf1 filamentous virus systems, indicate that different DNA-protein interactions and packing arrangements are involved in performing equivalent functions.

Pediatr Pulmonol, 1985 Sep-Oct, 1(5), 249 - 55
The role of piperacillin therapy in pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis: a controlled study; Macfarlane PI et al.; Piperacillin was evaluated as an antipseudomonas antibiotic in a double-blind controlled trial involving 18 pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis . Standard antibiotic treatment (flucloxacillin plus tobramycin) was compared with standard treatment plus intravenous piperacillin administered according to two regimens . No added benefit from piperacillin was demonstrable on the basis of improvement in symptoms, physical signs, weight gain, pulmonary function tests, radiologic signs, or sputum Pseudomonas bacterial counts . Some patients experienced sensitivity reactions to piperacillin . In vitro, piperacillin was a potent antibiotic against all beta-lactamase-producing mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; however, in spite of the fact that adequate serum antibiotic concentrations were achieved, sputum bacterial counts did not correlate with either the clinical status or the use of piperacillin therapy.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Sep-Oct, 7(5), 604 - 12
Review of Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis with special emphasis on treatment with ceftazidime; Fong IW et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis is a rare disease and the optimal antibiotic therapy for this condition is not well established . Results of therapy using various regimens reported since 1960 are reviewed . Ceftazidime, an investigational cephalosporin with potent antipseudomonal activity, has been used to treat P . aeruginosa meningitis in Europe and North America . The results in 24 patients are analyzed here . Most patients had failed to respond to other regimens before commencing therapy with ceftazidime . Nineteen (79.2%) of these patients were cured, and only three (12.5%) were considered therapeutic failures . Hence, ceftazidime is a useful agent in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis and may be superior to other cephalosporins on the market for the treatment of pseudomonas meningitis . Since development of resistance is a concern, however, it may be prudent to use a concomitant parenteral aminoglycoside with ceftazidime for the first week in the treatment of P . aeruginosa meningitis.

Plasmid, 1985 Sep, 14(2), 118 - 25
Specific-purpose broad-host-range vectors; Tsygankov YD et al.; Several plasmid derivatives of broad-host-range Inc P4 plasmid RSF1010 were constructed and characterized . Vector pAYC30 was constructed by insertion in vivo into the genome of RSF1010 the Hgr transposon Tn501, originating from the plasmid pVS1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Plasmids with inserts of PstI or SacI fragments may be selected by inactivation of genes sul and aph, respectively . The cloning at unique site SalGI leads to the appearance of HgCl2--sensitive transformants . Versatile cloning vector pAYC1 consists of two replicons, RSF1010 and plasmid pMZ7, a derivative of R6K . The constructed plasmid is 16.9 kb in length and determines resistance to five drugs . Two promoter-probe broad-host-range vectors, pAYC36 and pAYC37, were obtained by replacing a small segment from the DNA sequence of the aph gene promoter of previously described plasmid pAYC32 with the polylinker from plasmid pUC19 . Therefore, vector plasmids retained the intact gene aph (Smr); however, they have Sms phenotype because of the insertional inactivation of the promoter . The genetic structure of promoter-probe vectors allows one to select clones, containing hybrid plasmids with an active promoter for gene aph expression.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Sep, 28(3), 428 - 32
Comparison of ciprofloxacin with azlocillin plus tobramycin in the therapy of experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis; Strunk RW et al.; The efficacy of ciprofloxacin (Bay o 9867), a promising new quinolone, was compared with the efficacy of azlocillin plus tobramycin in rabbits with experimentally induced Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis . The MBCs of ciprofloxacin, azlocillin, and tobramycin against the test strain were 0.5, 8, and 4 micrograms/ml respectively . Ciprofloxacin at a concentration of 50 mg/kg or azlocillin at a concentration of 200 mg/kg in combination with tobramycin at a concentration of 5 mg/kg was administered intramuscularly at 8-h intervals for 4 days . Both regimens produced median peak serum bactericidal titers of 1:8 . The concentrations of ciprofloxacin, azlocillin, and tobramycin in serum, 1.8 +/- 0.7, 154 +/- 48, and 9.1 +/- 2.4 micrograms/ml (mean +/- standard deviation), respectively, closely approximated concentrations found in humans after accepted dosages . At the end of treatment, the titers of P . aeruginosa were 3.0 +/- 1.6 log10 CFU/g of vegetation (mean +/- standard deviation) for recipients of ciprofloxacin and 3.2 +/- 1.3 log10 CFU/g of vegetation for recipients of azlocillin plus tobramycin . These values compared with control titers of 7.3 +/- 1.6 CFU/g . These data indicate that at the doses used, ciprofloxacin was as effective as azlocillin plus tobramycin in the treatment of P . aeruginosa endocarditis in rabbits . Since the latter drug combination has proven efficacy, ciprofloxacin deserves further evaluation in the therapy of systemic infections in animal models and in humans.

Bioorg Khim, 1985 Sep, 11(9), 1265 - 9
{Antigenic bacterial polysaccharides . 14 . Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of a lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Lányi)}; Knirel' IuA et al.; The lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa O12 (Lanyi classification) gave on mild acid hydrolysis an O-specific polysaccharide built of D-ribose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine . The disaccharide structure----4)-alpha-GalNAcp-(1----2)-beta-Ribf-(1----for the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established by nondestructive way involving full interpretation of its 1H- and 13C-NMR-spectra, using homonuclear and selective heteronuclear 13C{1H} double resonances.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1985 Sep, 132(3), 524 - 8
Evidence that Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase does not inactivate the bronchial inhibitor in the presence of leukocyte elastase . Studies with cystic fibrosis sputum and with pure proteins; Tournier JM et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase has recently been shown to inactivate bronchial inhibitor, the major leukoproteinase inhibitor of the bronchial tree . To test if this in vitro finding is relevant to pathology, we have measured the leukocyte elastase inhibitory capacity and the immunoreactive levels of bronchial inhibitor in the acidified and neutralized sputum specimens from 15 patients with cystic fibrosis, 11 of whom were infected by P . aeruginosa and 10 of whom exhibited free bacterial elastase activity . The percentage of functionally active bronchial inhibitor in these acid-treated sputum specimens (i.e., concentration of active inhibitor/concentration of immunoreactive inhibitor X 100) was found to be 125 +/- 17% . It was positively correlated with the free leukocyte elastase concentration (r = 0.77, p less than 0.001) but not with the free bacterial elastase concentration (r = 0.46, p greater than 0.05) . Therefore, in an in vivo situation, P . aeruginosa elastase does not necessarily inactivate the bronchial inhibitor . Experiments using pure proteins show that the inactivation process does not take place when leukocyte and P . aeruginosa elastase are added simultaneously to the inhibitor . This suggests that the bronchial inhibitor reacts preferentially with leukocyte elastase and that in its complexed form it is shielded from the inactivating action of P . aeruginosa elastase . In addition, the inhibitor recovered from the acid-induced dissociation of the leukocyte elastase-inhibitor complexes, exhibits a substantially higher specific activity than does the native molecule . This explains why the average functional activity of the bronchial inhibitor is significantly higher than 100% in sputum samples from patients with cystic fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Biol Chem, 1985 Aug 25, 260(18), 10023 - 6
Solubilization and reconstitution of sodium-dependent transport system for branched-chain amino acids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Uratani Y; The sodium-dependent transport system for branched-chain amino acids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was solubilized with n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and reconstituted into liposomes by a detergent-Sephadex G-50 gel filtration procedure . The reconstituted proteoliposomes exhibited Na+-dependent counterflow and Na+-gradient-driven transport of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine . The leucine counterflow was specifically inhibited by only branched-chain amino acids and the uphill transport of two species of amino acids among the three was induced by counterflow of the other substrate . These results show that the transport system for branched-chain amino acids was reconstituted into liposomes from P . aeruginosa cells and strongly suggest that three branched-chain amino acids are transported by a common carrier system.

Biochem J, 1985 Aug 15, 230(1), 227 - 37
Redox-linked spin-state changes in the di-haem cytochrome c-551 peroxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Foote N et al.; Magnetic-c.d., e.p.r . and optical-absorption spectra are reported for the half-reduced form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 peroxidase, a di-haem protein, and its fluoride derivative . Comparison of this enzyme species with oxidized peroxidase shows the occurrence of spin-state changes at both haem sites . The high-potential haem changes its state from partially high-spin to low-spin upon reduction . This is linked to a structural alteration at the ferric low-potential haem group, causing it to change from low-spin to high-spin . Low-temperature spectra demonstrate photolysis of an endogenous ligand of the high-potential haem . In addition, an inactive form of enzyme is examined in which the structural change at the ferric low-potential haem does not occur on reduction of the high-potential haem.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 83 - 8
Single-agent therapy for infections in neutropenic cancer patients; Fainstein V et al.; The initial therapy of febrile neutropenic cancer patients is an evolving, interesting, and important area of medical research . The introduction of carbenicillin provided the clinician with an antibiotic that had significant activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Prior to the availability of this drug, neutropenic patients with bacteremia due to this organism did no better with antibiotic therapy than without it . Since then, several agents including carboxy- and ureidopenicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems have appeared on the scene and strengthened our therapeutic armamentarium . Since some of them have an expanded spectrum of activity, they have been widely utilized for combination therapy . More recently, several clinical trials have addressed the feasibility of using them alone as initial empiric therapy in these patients . Some of the studies have achieved good results, especially when treating gram-negative infections, although these results should be interpreted with caution, since the studies were usually conducted under controlled conditions . These trials have, however, not been as successful when treating gram-positive organisms, which have again become an important cause of infection in these patients; in some of them, a specific antibiotic against these organisms had to be added . How will this approach utilizing newer antibiotics compare against a more conventional regimen of two synergistic agents? Hopefully, this will be better investigated and defined in the near future.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 32 - 6
Use of ceftazidime in the treatment of nosocomial lower respiratory infections; Trenholme GM et al.; Patients with hospital-acquired lower respiratory infections pose both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges . Such infections are commonly seen in critically ill patients . When nosocomial pneumonia is suspected, treatment is generally initiated with broad-spectrum antibiotics before culture results become available . The usual therapeutic regimen includes an aminoglycoside with or without a beta-lactam agent . In a clinical efficacy study of a single agent, ceftazidime, in the treatment of 20 adults with hospital-acquired lower respiratory infection, 18 patients showed clinical improvement with ceftazidime therapy and pathogens were eradicated in 11 . Therapeutic failures occurred in two patients who received empiric therapy prior to the isolation of pathogens resistant to ceftazidime . The median minimal inhibitory concentration of ceftazidime for the isolated pathogens was 0.78 micrograms/ml . Of the 15 patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 14 showed a favorable clinical response . Therapy-limiting side effects occurred in two patients and bacillary resistance developed in one patient . The efficacy and safety of ceftazidime in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonias were comparable to results previously demonstrated for amikacin, cefotaxime, and imipenem in studies conducted at our institution . In studies reported in the literature, 44 of 51 patients (86 percent) with nosocomial pneumonia who were treated with ceftazidime had a favorable clinical response to therapy . The patients included in these studies were neither neutropenic nor commonly bacteremic, and none had cystic fibrosis . Ceftazidime appears to be a useful agent in the treatment of selected patients with nosocomial pneumonias, including those due to P . aeruginosa.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 104 - 9
Can the third-generation cephalosporins eliminate the need for antimicrobial combinations?
Moellering RC Jr.
Antimicrobial combinations have been widely utilized since the beginning of the chemotherapeutic era . This is true despite the fact that the use of such combinations has a number of potential disadvantages, including (1) antibiotic antagonism; (2) an increased incidence of toxicity; (3) the emergence of multi-resistant organisms; (4) promotion of a false sense of security; and (5) increased expense . The reasons generally given for the use of such combinations include (1) antimicrobial synergism, (2) suppression of antimicrobial resistance, (3) decreased toxicity, and (4) broader coverage . Although there are clearly some situations in which synergistic combinations have been shown to be useful (such as in the treatment of enterococcal endocarditis and severe Pseudomonas infections), the use of combination therapy to reduce the emergence of resistance (excluding the treatment of mycobacterial infections and of infections in which rifampin is used) or to reduce toxicity has not met with widespread success . Indeed, most combinations are used simply to broaden the spectrum of antimicrobial coverage . The development of new penicillins and cephalosporins with broader spectra of activity has raised the distinct possibility that these drugs could be used as single agents for the treatment of most serious infections . Although comparative studies performed to date suggest that the new broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins may be useful as single agents in the treatment of infections in a variety of clinical situations in which combinations are now commonly employed, additional studies enrolling greater numbers of patients are necessary to determine whether these agents can replace combination therapy . The use of single-drug therapy in the management of febrile episodes and documented infections in neutropenic patients remains problematic because of the greater likelihood of infections with organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in which case combination therapy is often required . Earlier studies have clearly documented that combinations of antibiotics that are synergistic are more effective in treating bacteremias and other serious infections in neutropenic patients than are combinations that have failed to demonstrate synergism . Because of the increased activity of some of the newer drugs, such as ceftazidime, against P . aeruginosa it is possible that such agents could be used as monotherapy for patients with severe neutropenia . This possibility is an attractive one, but it should be studied carefully to make certain that it will not be associated with significant failure due to the emergence of resistant organisms.

Burns Incl Therm Inj, 1985 Aug, 11(6), 393 - 403
Identification and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates from burned patients; Hansbrough JF et al.; We retrieved bacterial blood isolates from 397 adult burned patients admitted over a 7-year period . Sixty-two patients (15.6 per cent) developed true-positive bacterial blood cultures (judged non-contaminants), and of these 30 (48.4 per cent) expired . Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24 isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (19) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (19) were the most frequent isolates . In vitro susceptibilities of 149 isolates were determined to 12 antibiotics (gentamicin, amikacin, ticarcillin, piperacillin, mezlocillin, azlocillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, thienamycin and ticarcillin-clavulinic acid) using agar diffusion assay . Thienamycin proved the most active agent (97 per cent of isolates susceptible) . Cefoperazone was the most active cephalosporin (95 per cent susceptible) . Twenty-eight organisms demonstrated multiple drug resistance; patients with such organisms had a 71 per cent mortality . Thienamycin was the most active agent against such isolates (27/28 susceptible) . Susceptibilities of all 149 isolates to combinations of antibiotics were calculated, assuming no synergism or antagonism; some combinations of third-generation cephalosporins with the newer penicillins may prove to be as effective as combinations including aminoglycosides.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1985 Aug, 132(2), 358 - 61
Dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during lung infection in hamsters . Role of oxygen-induced lung injury; Johanson WG Jr et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inoculated into the lungs of normal and oxygen-exposed hamsters . Air-breathing animals developed focal bronchopneumonias but viable organisms were not recovered from the lungs after 3 days; bacteremia was not detected but P . aeruginosa was isolated from the livers of 3 of 12 animals with positive lung cultures . Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection shortened the survival time of oxygen-breathing hamsters, and organisms persisted in the lungs during oxygen exposure . Focal bronchopneumonias were uncommon in animals inoculated after 4 days of oxygen exposure; the predominant histopathologic finding was accentuation of diffuse alveolar damage and increased numbers of scattered neutrophils . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the livers of 15 of 18 oxygen-exposed animals in which lung colony counts exceeded 10(3)/lung; only 8 of these animals had demonstrable bacteremia . The concentration of elongation factor-2 in the livers and lungs of oxygen-exposed animals was reduced as colony counts of P . aeruginosa increased in the lungs of infected animals, suggesting exotoxin A activity in these organisms . These findings suggest that bacterial superinfection of injured lungs may account for both worsening lung function and impaired function of other organs.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1985 Aug, 6(2), 119 - 23
Effective use of streptokinase for peritoneal catheter failure; Wiegmann TB et al.; The fibrinolytic enzyme streptokinase (streptase) was infused into the peritoneal catheter in 19 episodes of catheter failure in 16 patients . Intraabdominal bleeding prior to infusion was seen in seven of these episodes . Fibrin strands and clots were present in four additional successful cases . Streptokinase successfully relieved the obstruction in 13 episodes in 11 patients . The procedure failed in two cases of omental ingrowth and in another with catheter malposition . Streptokinase infusion also failed in two patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one patient with Staphylococcus epidermidis peritonitis . Intraperitoneal streptokinase infusion is simple and free of side effects . Its use should be considered in peritoneal catheter failure, particularly in cases where bleeding or fibrin accumulation may play a role.

Can J Microbiol, 1985 Aug, 31(8), 686 - 92
Comparative study of membrane filtration and enrichment media for the isolation and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from sewage, surface water, and swimming pools; Havelaar AH et al.; The recovery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on several selective culture media was tested using raw sewage and secondary sewage effluent samples as well as spiked chlorinated imitation swimming water and samples from whirlpools . mPA-medium B gave good recovery of both vital and chlorine-injured P . aeruginosa and selectivity was greater than 90% when analysing whirlpool samples . It is therefore the medium recommended for examination of chlorinated swimming pools . When analysing sewage polluted water with the mPA-B medium, reduced selectivity was noted from low verification rates and from overgrowth by competitive flora . A modified medium (mPA-D; addition of cetrimide, omission of sulphapyridine and actidione) was more selective and sufficiently recovered noninjured cells . Chlorine-injured cells were completely inhibited, however . C-390 (9-chloro-9-(4-diethylaminophenyl)-10-phenylacridan) was confirmed to be highly selective for P . aeruginosa when used in spread plates at a concentration of 30 micrograms/mL; P . aeruginosa was slightly inhibited . However, the medium could not be used with conventional membrane filtration techniques, because cellulose ester filters interfered with the selective action of C-390 . Selectivity could be improved by using Gelman Tuffryn (polysulphone) filters and increasing the C-390 concentration to 120 micrograms/mL . At this concentration, however, the medium was strongly inhibitory to P . aeruginosa; resuscitation only partially improved recovery . Two other membrane filtration media were tested . Both cetrimide - nalidixic acid agar and Drake's medium No . 19 were inhibitory to chlorine-injured cells . Several types of membrane filters were tested and there was little difference between them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Aug, (8), 80 - 4
{Production and study of the properties of a polyvalent corpuscular Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine . IV . The effect of immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine on the immune status of volunteer donors}; Titova TI et al.; The influence of immunization with P . aeruginosa vaccine on the immune status of volunteer donors has been studied . Immunization with P . aeruginosa vaccine in doses of 0.5-0.5-1.0 ml at intervals of 7 days has been found to lead to the 13-fold increase of the titer of specific antibodies, lasting for 3-4 months, which ensures the possibility of obtaining anti-P . aeruginosa hyperimmune plasma with standard titers . The injection of P . aeruginosa vaccine to donors leads to the activation of humoral immunity simultaneously with the increase of the absolute and relative number of rosette-forming B-lymphocytes without essential changes in the amount of rosette-forming T-lymphocytes.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Aug, (8), 3 - 7
{Biological characteristics of bacteria during the Cytos-2 Soviet-French space experiment}; Zaloguev SN et al.; The experiment "Cytos-2" made it possible to reveal a certain increase in the antibiotic resistance of bacteria constituting the opportunistic pathogenic microflora of man (Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to oxacillin, erythromycin, colistin and kanamycin under the conditions of space flight . The electron-microscopic study of the postflight staphylococcal cultures revealed the thickening of the cell membrane in staphylococci . The conditions of the experiment did not affect the stability of the biochemical characteristics of P . aeruginosa cultures, as well as their virulence, immunogenic properties and type specificity.

Eur J Respir Dis, 1985 Aug, 67(2), 103 - 11
Cystic fibrosis--a review of 26 adolescent and adult patients; Berkin KE et al.; Twenty-six patients, mean age 20.5 years (range 11-33 years) at last assessment or death, attended an adult cystic fibrosis clinic between 1975 and 1983 . Twenty-one presented in infancy, and 5 later (3-17 years) . Most morbidity was due to recurrent respiratory infection and 5 of the 7 deaths were from respiratory failure . Cor pulmonale occurred in 4 patients, pneumothorax in 3 and severe haemoptysis necessitating lobectomy in 2 . Declining spirometric values and persistent isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from sputum samples were associated with a poor prognosis . Minor gastrointestinal symptoms were common (19 patients) . Four patients developed intestinal obstruction . Six patients had abnormal liver function tests and one patient died from hepatic cirrhosis . Diabetes was diagnosed in 3 patients and 9 patients experienced joint pains . The prognosis and quality of life for patients with cystic fibrosis appear to be improving, and all but 2 of the patients attending the clinic are at school, university or are employed.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Aug, 4(4), 284 - 8
Comparative in vitro activity of eight antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and infrequently isolated gram-negative bacilli; Chiaradia V et al.; Seventy-eight Gram-negative non-fermentative bacilli have been tested against eight antimicrobial agents (wide spectrum penicillins, newer generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides) . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of each compound were determined by microdilution technique . Ceftazidime showed higher antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1985 Aug, 38(8), 1083 - 7
Evaluation of antibacterial activity in experimental meningo-encephalitis in mice; Campanile F et al.; Mice infected intracerebrally (ic) or intraperitoneally (ip) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated subcutaneously with graded doses of five antibiotics all of which displayed anti-pseudomonal activity in vitro . The analysis of MIC, ED50 in the ip infection model (ED50-ip) and that in the ic system (ED50-ic) for each agent showed: gentamicin, the most active agent in vitro, was also active in vivo, with an ED50-ic nearly six-fold higher than ED50-ip; ceftazidime, considerably active both in vitro and in vivo, showed comparable values of ED50 in the two systems; ceftriaxone, also active in vitro, showed limited activity in vivo, its two ED50 values being similar; aztreonam, moderately active both in vitro and in vivo, showed comparable activity in the two infection models; carbenicillin, the least active agent in vitro, gave poor results in vivo, with an ED50-ic 2.6-fold higher than ED50-ip.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Aug, 152(2), 351 - 5
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: evidence for the involvement of lipopolysaccharide in determining outer membrane permeability to carbenicillin and gentamicin; Shearer BG et al.; The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in determining the permeability of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to carbenicillin and gentamicin was investigated . The susceptibility of P . aeruginosa isolates to smooth LPS-specific phages and to pyocin R1 gave indirect evidence of an altered LPS structure in strains resistant to carbenicillin, gentamicin, or both . Some secondary mutation, however, also appeared to be required for acquisition of the antibiotic-resistant phenotype . Phage- and pyocin-resistant variants demonstrating both wild-type and mutant responses to the drugs were subsequently isolated . Four-, eight-, and 16-fold increases in resistance to carbenicillin, supersusceptible responses to gentamicin, or both, were associated with a number of the LPS-altered mutants . The results supported the hypothesis that a primary mutation involving LPS, in combination with some undefined secondary mutation, determines the permeability of the outer membrane to carbenicillin and to gentamicin.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Aug, 22(2), 229 - 37
Interaction between limulus amoebocyte lysate and soluble antigens from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus studied by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis; Baek L et al.; To investigate the interaction of Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) with gram-negative bacteria, soluble antigens from sonicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied by various crossed-immunoelectrophoresis methods before and after reaction with LAL . Of 64 possible, at least 7 antigens were affected, as indicated by precipitin pattern, after the reaction with LAL . The precipitates corresponding to lipopolysaccharide and Pseudomonas "common antigen" disappeared . This reaction was inhibited when LAL was pretreated with lipopolysaccharide or by heating . Several of the reacting antigens have been shown to cross-react with many other strains of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria . Soluble antigens from a protein A-deficient strain of Staphylococcus aureus were also studied . LAL reacted with at least four of these antigens, including the teichoic acid complex . It is concluded that LAL is highly reactive with lipopolysaccharide, but it can react with other antigens from gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well . It is suggested that LAL interacts with biologically important antigens from the bacterial membrane . It is proposed that the reactivity and specificity of LAL for various microbial antigens can be studied by immunoelectrophoretic techniques.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1985 Aug, 103(8), 1221 - 5
The interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the corneal epithelium . An electron microscopic study; Stern GA et al.; The interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the rabbit corneal epithelium during the first hour after inoculation was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy . Fifteen minutes after inoculation, adherent bacteria were found on damaged or exposed basal epithelial cells at the edge of an epithelial defect, and this adherence was the result of an interaction between the bacterial and epithelial cell membranes . Thirty minutes after inoculation, the adherent bacteria began to penetrate the epithelial cells by the formation of "pockets" surrounding the organisms, and after an additional 15 minutes the bacteria further penetrated the cells as the pockets began to fill in with cellular material . One hour after inoculation, only rare bacteria were seen on the cell surfaces or within the margins of the epithelial defect . Transmission electron microscopy, however, revealed many intracellular bacteria or bacteria that had migrated between the basal epithelium and corneal stroma . Therefore, it appears that the initiating events in Pseudomonas corneal ulceration involve adherence to the damaged or exposed basal epithelial cells by an interaction between the bacterial and cellular membranes, after which the organisms are engulfed by the epithelial cell and reach the corneal stroma by a process of transcellular migration.

Am J Dis Child, 1985 Aug, 139(8), 836 - 9
Edetate sodium aerosol in Pseudomonas lung infection in cystic fibrosis; Brown J et al.; In vitro and animal experimental data suggest the combination of edetate sodium (EDTA) by aerosol plus oral antimicrobials might be effective in the treatment of chronic Pseudomonas infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) . For six months we studied the effects of edetate sodium administered by ultrasonic nebulizer to ten children with CF and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study . The children had evidence of mild to moderate disease at entry in the study, with a mean (+/- SD) forced expiratory volume in the first second of 85% (+/- 18%) of the predicted value and a mean (+/- SD) Shwachman-Kulczycki score of 83 (+/- 7)/100 . Each child was on a three-month regimen of aerosolized edetate sodium plus oral tetracycline twice daily followed by three months of placebo aerosol plus tetracycline or vice versa . Progress was assessed by measurement of pulmonary function, physical examination, and sputum cultures at four weekly intervals, plus chest roentgenograms on entry and after each of the three-month treatment periods . Daily symptoms were assessed using a diary card system . Two patients could not complete the study, one because of severe respiratory relapse, the other because of antibiotic side effects . Of the remaining eight patients, none showed any improvement in pulmonary function, weight gain, or growth acceleration, and none was rendered free of Pseudomonas lung infection . Daily symptom scores and chest roentgenograms were unaltered by edetate sodium . We conclude that the combination of aerosol edetate sodium plus oral tetracycline over a three-month period does not modify the clinical course nor the pulmonary flora in patients with CF with chronic Pseudomonas lung infection.

Infect Immun, 1985 Aug, 49(2), 424 - 7
Quantitative determination of bacterial replication in vivo; Morris Hooke A et al.; A new methodology which permits the quantitative measurement of absolute bacterial replication in vivo is proposed . Mice were inoculated with mixtures of temperature-sensitive mutants and parental wild types, and the changes in the ratios of the two strains were measured . The number of wild-type generations was calculated from the declining ratios over time with the formula n = log (r0/rt)/log 2; n is the number of generations, and r0 and rt are the ratio of temperature-sensitive mutants to the parental wild type at time zero and at the times sampled throughout the experiment . The replication rate was determined by regression analysis . A mathematical argument for the formula is presented . Using this technique, we determined the mean generation times of Escherichia coli (33 min) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20 min) in the peritoneal cavities of mice, in the face of host clearance mechanisms during the first stages of infection.

Infect Immun, 1985 Aug, 49(2), 383 - 8
Suppression of cellular immunity to Listeria monocytogenes by activated macrophages: mediation by prostaglandins; Petit JC et al.; We previously demonstrated the suppression of cell-mediated immunity to Listeria monocytogenes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced, macrophage-like cells . The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanism for this suppression . P . aeruginosa supernatant was shown to activate macrophages by the criteria of increased bactericidal capacities and increased attachment to glass surfaces . Acquired cellular resistance to L . monocytogenes could also be inhibited by macrophages from L . monocytogenes-pretreated mice . The depression of acquired immunity by P . aeruginosa- or L . monocytogenes-activated macrophages did not appear to be due to a reduction of antigenic stimulus after nonspecific macrophage activation . In contrast, our findings suggest that suppression is mediated by activated macrophages through a prostaglandin-dependent mechanism . In vivo administration of aspirin blocked the immunosuppressive effect of P . aeruginosa- or L . monocytogenes-activated cells . Moreover, the suppressive activity of supernatants of macrophages from Listeria-infected mice was reversed when indomethacin was present during supernatant generation . Finally, prostaglandin E1 treatment in vivo profoundly inhibited the induction of cell-mediated immunity to L . monocytogenes . The possible role and mechanism of prostaglandin in suppressing cellular immunity to intracellular bacteria are discussed.

Infect Immun, 1985 Aug, 49(2), 265 - 9
Effect of chemotactins released by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the murine respiratory tract; Sordelli DO et al.; Staphylococcus aureus, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant A/10/25, and the P . aeruginosa parental wild type were aerosolized to C5-deficient mice, and the total number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) recovered by lung lavage was determined 4 h after aerosol exposure . S . aureus induced a slight but significant recruitment of PMN, as compared with the effect of a saline aerosol . Both wild-type P . aeruginosa and the ts mutant induced a significant PMN recruitment of a magnitude ca . 180 times higher than that produced by S . aureus . Gentamicin-killed ts P . aeruginosa induced a PMN recruitment of a magnitude similar to that produced by live ts P . aeruginosa . Thorough washing of the bacteria, however, removed ca . 90% of the chemotactic activity . Exposure of the animals to a ts P . aeruginosa culture supernatant aerosol induced significant PMN recruitment into the lower airways . The same culture supernatants were chemotactic for mouse PMN in a dose-dependent fashion when tested in vitro in the absence of serum . Culture supernatants of S . aureus exhibited weak chemotactic activity in vitro and did not induce PMN recruitment in the lungs when aerosolized to DBA/2J mice . The results suggest that chemotactins released by P . aeruginosa may be an important virulence factor and play a significant role in lung tissue damage.

Crit Care Med, 1985 Aug, 13(8), 664 - 7
Comparison of arterial and venous blood samples for the diagnosis of bacteremia in critically ill patients; Vaisanen IT et al.; We compared the blood culture results obtained either by venipuncture or through an arterial catheter in 51 critically ill patients with 217 clinically suspected episodes of bacteremia . During each episode, three blood culture samples, two arterial and one venous, were drawn within 1 h . One or more cultures were positive in 42 (19%) of the episodes, but there were great discrepancies between the results obtained by the two methods . In only eight cases did both methods give the same microorganism . In eight other episodes, the two arterial cultures were positive while the venous sample was negative, probably indicating a continuous contamination of the catheter system . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the two most common microbes . The frequency of positive arterial catheter blood cultures did not increase with the length of catheter use . We conclude that an arterial catheter is not a reliable sampling site for blood cultures and does not replace the conventional venipuncture method.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Aug, 4(4), 289 - 92
Ceftazidime in the therapy of pseudomonal meningitis; Marone P et al.; In this study we report about the efficacy and tolerability of ceftazidime in the treatment of 10 cases of pseudomonal meningitis (nine Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one Pseudomonas cepacia) . The 10 patients had a pseudomonal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) complicating neurosurgical procedures or developed on a preexisting immunodepressing condition; four patients were of pediatric age . All isolates were sensitive to ceftazidime with MICs ranging from 0.39 to 3.12 micrograms/ml . Ceftazidime was given intravenously at the dosage of 100-150 mg/kg/day . In seven cases amikacin was associated by intralumbar or intraventricular instillation . The duration of ceftazidime treatment ranged from 9 to 49 days with a mean of 22.2 . Eight cases out of ten were cured bacteriologically and clinically, while the remaining two were cured after treatment with other antibiotics . Concentrations of ceftazidime in serum and in lumbar and/or ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained in four cases; the mean concentration in lumbar CSF was 12.2 micrograms/ml and in ventricular 3.3 micrograms/ml . The study demonstrated that ceftazidime is effective in the treatment of Pseudomonal meningitis.

Surgery, 1985 Aug, 98(2), 283 - 90
Efficacy of type-specific and cross-reactive murine monoclonal antibodies directed against endotoxin during experimental sepsis; Dunn DL et al.; To study the role of antibodies in promoting survival during gram-negative bacterial sepsis, we have developed several murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) . One MAb (5B10) reacted in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with only a single organism (Escherichia coli 0111:B4), while the other (8A1) reacted to all gram-negative whole-cell and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens examined . Either 5B10 MAb, 8A1 MAb, or sterile saline solution was administered intravenously to outbred male Swiss-Webster mice immediately before one of three challenges: (1) viable bacteria intravenously, (2) viable bacteria with hemoglobin intraperitoneally, or (3) intravenous actinomycin D plus LPS . 5B10 MAb provided significant protection against either an E . coli 0111:B4 bacterial or LPS challenge but not against any other organism or type of LPS . 8A1 MAb provided protection against several challenge bacteria (intravenously or intraperitoneally) and against all types of LPS studied except Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS . A higher dose (2 mg) of cross-reactive antibody (8A1 MAb) was required to produce protection when compared with the type-specific protection produced with 5B10 MAb (0.1 mg) . Although ideal antibody therapy would consist of directing a specific MAb against a single microorganism, the acute nature of the disease process and time required to prepare reagents may preclude the use of type-specific MAbs . We believe that the cross-reactive and cross-protective capacity of 8A1 MAb or a similar MAb may be useful in averting the lethal effects of clinical gram-negative bacterial sepsis and warrants testing in the clinical setting.

Eur J Respir Dis, 1985 Aug, 67(2), 118 - 27
Ibuprofen modifies the inflammatory response of the murine lung to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Sordelli DO et al.; In chronic P . aeruginosa infection, lung tissue damage is induced by either the microorganism or the inflammatory response . We investigated, in an animal model, whether a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, reduced lung inflammation produced by P . aeruginosa . Lung lavages, pulmonary clearance of P . aeruginosa and lung pathology were studied in CD-1 mice injected with sodium ibuprofenate . A single dose of the drug, injected immediately after 30 min exposure to the P . aeruginosa aerosol, decreased the recruitment of granulocytes into airways in a dose-dependent manner . Pretreatment with 2 doses of the drug 18 and 6 h before the P . aeruginosa challenge was even more effective . The kinetics of changes in prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 concentrations in lung lavage fluids after P . aeruginosa aerosol were also modified by ibuprofen . Moreover, ibuprofen treatment did not impair lung clearance of the challenge microorganisms, and the animals had less inflammation of the lungs.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Aug, 4(4), 278 - 83
Ofloxacin: antibacterial activity, induction of resistance and killing curves; Husson MO et al.; The antibacterial activity of ofloxacin was compared to that of nalidixic acid, norfloxacin and against various strains . This new quinolone was about 100 times more active than nalidixic acid, and pipemidic acid and generally 2 to 4 fold more active than norfloxacin and pefloxacin except against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The increase of resistance to ofloxacin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin seems to plateau, usually at about 16 times the initial MIC . The bactericidal activity of ofloxacin also appeared quickly and more rapidly than that of norfloxacin.

Infect Immun, 1985 Aug, 49(2), 281 - 5
Opsonophagocytic killing activity of rabbit antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucoid exopolysaccharide; Ames P et al.; We used an in vitro opsonophagocytic killing assay to measure the functional activity of antibody directed at the mucoid exopolysaccharide (MEP) antigen expressed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients . Rabbit antibodies raised to purified MEP were able to mediate phagocytic killing in the presence of human peripheral blood leukocytes and a low level (final concentration, 0.3%) of fresh normal human serum as a complement source . No bacterial killing was observed when peripheral blood leukocytes, antiserum, or complement was omitted . Specificity of the antibody for the MEP antigen was shown by adsorption and inhibition assays . Affinity-purified antibody to MEP also mediate phagocytic killing . These data indicate that antiphagocytic properties attributable to MEP can be overcome by specific antibody.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1985 Aug 1, 240(2), 689 - 97
1H NMR spectroscopy of cytochrome cd1 derivatives; Timkovich R et al.; Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra are reported for cytochrome cd1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 19429) in several forms including complexes of the ferricytochrome with cyanide, azide, and fluoride, a quasi-apo form in which the noncovalently associated heme d1 has been removed but the covalently bound heme c is retained, and the reduced state of both native and the quasi-apo forms . Comparisons are made to the previously reported spectrum of ferricytochrome cd1 . The following points are made . The spectra of the azide and fluoride complexes and the ferric quasi-apo form show perturbation of resonances assignable to the site of heme d1, and leave relatively unperturbed resonances assignable to the site of heme c . The heme d1 associated resonances are at 46.0, 35.4, 23.3, 17.5, -2.9, and 16 ppm, and the heme c associated resonances are at 42.0, 33.7, 15.0, 13.9, -7.5, -14, and -33 ppm in native ferricytochrome cd1 . The similarity of the hyperfine resonances of the ferric quasi-apo from to the heme c resonances of intact ferricytochrome cd1 is evidence that removal of heme d1 leaves the heme c binding site relatively unaltered . Linewidths and relaxation times suggest that the relaxation times of the unpaired electron spins of the ferric hemes c and d1 are on the same order of magnitude . Although it is paramagnetic, ferrocytochrome cd1 does not demonstrate an experimentally detectable hyperfine shifted spectrum under present conditions . Possible reasons for this are discussed . The presence of a narrow resonance at -2.8 ppm in both ferrocytochrome cd1 and the reduced state of the quasi-apo form suggests that methionine may be a ligand to heme c.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 163(2), 568 - 72
Molecular cloning and characterization of the recA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Kokjohn TA et al.; The recA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO has been isolated and introduced into Escherichia coli K-12 . Resistance to killing by UV irradiation was restored in several RecA-E . coli K-12 hosts by the P . aeruginosa gene, as was resistance to methyl methanesulfonate . Recombination proficiency was also restored, as measured by HfrH-mediated conjugation and by the ability to propagate Fec-phage lambda derivatives . The cloned P . aeruginosa recA gene restored both spontaneous and mitomycin C-stimulated induction of lambda prophage in lysogens of a recA strain of E . coli K-12.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Aug 1, 150(3), 551 - 7
Somatic antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chains of P . aeruginosa O11 (Lányi) lipopolysaccharides; Knirel YA et al.; Lipopolysaccharides were isolated from the phenol layer on aqueous phenol extraction of cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O11 (Lanyi classification), strains 170021 and 170040 . On mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharides, with the subsequent gel-filtration on Sephadex G-50, neutral O-specific polysaccharides made up of 6-deoxysugars alone were obtained . Two 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-galactose (LFucNAc), 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (DQuiNAc) and L-rhamnose (LRha) residues were found to be the components of the strain 170021 polysaccharide repeating units; those of strain 170040 contained the same monosaccharides, but, instead of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose residue, that of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (DFucNAc) was present . On the basis of the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data, methylation analysis and three successive Smith degradations the following structures were determined for the polysaccharide repeating units: strain 170021----2) LRha(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)DQuiNAc(beta 1----; strain 170040,----2)LRha(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc-(alpha 1----3)LFucNAc(alpha 1----3)DFucNAc(beta 1----; differing from one another by configuration of C-4 of 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-hexopyranose only.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Aug 1, 150(3), 541 - 50
Somatic antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chains of lipopolysaccharides of P . aeruginosa serogroup O4 (Lányi) and related serotype O6 (Habs) and immunotype 1 (Fisher); Knirel YA et al.; Acidic O-specific polysaccharides were isolated on mild acidic degradation of lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotypes O4a,b, O4a,c, O4a,d (Lanyi classification) and serologically related to them serotype O6 (Habs classification) and immunotype 1 (Fisher classification) . The polysaccharides had identical monosaccharide composition and were built up of L-rhamnose, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose,2-formamido-2-deoxy-D-galacturonic acid and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactouronamide residues . The latter two derivatives of D-galactosaminuronic acid were found in nature for the first time . All the polysaccharides, but Lanyi serotype O4a,c, contained O-acetyl groups . The polysaccharides were readily de-O-acetylated with aqueous triethylamine and de-N-formylated with dilute hydrochloric acid . De-N-formylated polysaccharide of serotype O4a,c was selectively cleaved with nitrous acid upon 2-amino-2-deoxygalacturonic acid residues to form a tetrasaccharide with a 2,5-anhydrotaluronic acid residue on the reducing end . The tetrasaccharide represented a modified repeating unit of the polysaccharide . Solvolysis of all intact polysaccharides with hydrogen fluoride selectively split the glycosidic linkages of 6-deoxy sugars to give the same trisaccharide, including both derivatives of galactosaminuronic acid and having 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxyglucose on the reducing end . Structural investigation of the oligosaccharides obtained together with methylation analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data revealed the following structures of the O-specific polysaccharides: (Formula: see text) An independent confirmation of the structures of the repeating units was obtained as the result of full interpretation of the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the intact and modified polymers . Spectral data analysis revealed a number of regularities in the effects of glycosidation connecting their values with the anomeric and absolute configuration of pyranose residues . The data on the structures of the O-specific polysaccharides indicated that each of the five P . aeruginosa strains under study should be considered as an individual O-serotype within one O-serogroup.

J Mol Biol, 1985 Jul 20, 184(2), 279 - 95
Crystal structure of Azotobacter cytochrome c5 at 2.5 A resolution; Carter DC et al.; The crystal structure of cytochrome c5 from Azotobacter vinelandii has been solved and refined to an R value of 0.29 at 2.5 A resolution . The structure of the oxidized protein was solved using a monoclinic crystal form . The structure was solved by multiple isomorphous replacements, re-fit to a solvent-leveled multiple isomorphous replacement map, and refined by restrained least squares . The structure reveals monomers associated about the crystallographic 2-fold axis by hydrophobic contacts at the "exposed heme edge" . The overall conformation for the monomer is similar to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 . However, relative to a common heme conformation, c5 and c551 differ by an average of 6.8 A over 82 alpha-carbon positions and the propionates of c5 are much more exposed to solvent . The shortest heme--heme contact at the "dimer" interface is 6.3 A (Fe to Fe 16.4 A) . Alignment of c5 and c551 shows that the two cytochromes, in spite of sequence differences, have remarkably similar charge distributions . A disulfide stacks on a tyrosine between the N- and C-terminal helices.

J Immunol Methods, 1985 Jul 16, 81(1), 43 - 53
A quantitative method for assessing the third complement factor (C3) attached to the surface of opsonized Pseudomonas aeruginosa: interrelationship between C3 fixation, phagocytosis and complement consumption; Engels W et al.; A direct enzyme-linked immunoassay is described for the determination of C3 that becomes attached to the surface of bacteria upon incubation in serum . The assay uses horseradish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit antiserum specific for human C3 . In this study various Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were opsonized under different conditions and the amount of C3 fixed to the bacterial surface was measured directly . The extent of C3 fixation was compared with the percentage of phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and with the complement consumption in the fluid phase . It was demonstrated that C3 fixation closely correlated with the percentage of phagocytosis but not with complement consumption . The method can be performed with relatively simple equipment and could be used in routine laboratories in order to determine the extent of opsonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria and to detect opsonic defects in the sera of patients.

Am J Med, 1985 Jul 15, 79(1A), 21 - 7
Use of aminoglycosides in immunocompromised patients; Young LS; For much of the last decade, combination therapy with aminoglycosides has been accepted as the therapeutic approach of choice in immunocompromised hosts . Improved clinical results have also correlated with the presence of synergistic interactions between the aminoglycoside and beta-lactam components of a regimen . Differences between the aminoglycosides and beta-lactam agents remain a subject of controversy . Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center suggest that amikacin interacts more frequently in a synergistic manner with beta-lactams than do alternative aminoglycosides . Amikacin has been used experimentally and (following licensure) without reservation at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center since 1973 . Almost 100 blood isolates of both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae collected during the last 12 years have been retested, and no evidence of increased aminoglycoside resistance was found . A relatively new development is interest in empiric therapeutic regimens that employ two beta-lactam agents . In a large, recently completed study, less satisfactory results were observed in P . aeruginosa infections treated with the "double beta-lactam" than in those treated with the regimen containing amikacin; furthermore, nephrotoxicity and eighth nerve damage occurred no more commonly in the group receiving amikacin than in recipients of the double beta-lactam regimen.

Am J Med, 1985 Jul 15, 79(1A), 8 - 16
Combinations of antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Baltch AL et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa continues to cause serious infections, especially bacteremias, in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients . During the past 10 years, bacteremia due to this organism has increased in frequency in many institutions, and mortality rates in patients with rapidly fatal disease remain as high as 85 percent despite antibiotic therapy . Available data do not allow firm conclusions regarding the in vivo predictive value of in vitro synergy testing for P . aeruginosa, but in vitro demonstration of synergy appears important in selecting therapy for patients with P . aeruginosa infections . Combinations of aminoglycosides (amikacin or tobramycin) with highly active antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics are most likely to be associated with in vitro synergy . Experimental studies in animals models support the use of combination therapy for local and bacteremic infections . Similarly, the retrospective and prospective studies in humans suggest better survival with combinations of antimicrobials, usually including aminoglycosides and beta-lactams, in immunocompromised hosts . At present, the use of newer penicillins, piperacillin, azlocillin, or selected antipseudomonal cephalosporins, in combination with amikacin or tobramycin, appears to be the preferable antimicrobial therapy for serious P . aeruginosa infections.

Am J Otol, 1985 Jul, 6(4), 353 - 8
Prognostic implications of therapy for necrotizing external otitis; Corey JP et al.; Necrotizing external otitis is a slowly progressive infection of the ear canal and basal skull caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Treatment with aminoglycoside and antipseudomonal penicillin antibiotics significantly reduces extension of infection, decreases the severity of the associated cranial nerve injury, and limits disease-related mortality . Combined antimicrobial and surgical treatment appears to be more efficacious than antibiotics alone when evaluated for comparable stages of the disease . However, invasive surgical procedures may promote the spread of infection, particularly in the absence of appropriate antibiotic therapy . A high index of suspicion for the syndrome should be aroused when external otitis is present for longer than two weeks, especially after local debridement and topical antibiotic treatment . Aggressive use of systemic antibiotic therapy in diabetic patients, who are at greatest risk, should reduce disease extension and lessen the need for multiple surgical procedures.

Arch Intern Med, 1985 Jul, 145(7), 1204 - 7
Acute interstitial nephritis associated with mezlocillin, nafcillin, and gentamicin treatment for Pseudomonas infection; Cushner HM et al.; Two patients developed acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) following treatment with mezlocillin sodium . Diagnosis was made by renal biopsy . Gallium 67 citrate scanning was abnormal in both . All patients were receiving multiple-drug therapy, but AIN has either not been described with the other drugs, or the temporal relationship between the AIN and termination of other drug therapy makes a causative relationship unlikely . All were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A role for the infecting organism or drug synergism in contributing to the renal disease cannot be excluded.

Am J Dis Child, 1985 Jul, 139(7), 669 - 71
Cystic fibrosis survival rates . The influences of allergy and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wilmott RW et al.; Allergy and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection are two factors that possibly affect the clinical severity of cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease, although the role of allergy is controversial . We have examined the effects of these factors on actuarial survival rates in 117 children with cystic fibrosis who were skin tested in 1974 and classified as allergic (A+) or nonallergic (A-) by their reactions to 12 prick tests with common environmental allergens . Patients were also classified according to whether or not they had chronic pulmonary infection with PA in 1974 (PA-positive or PA-negative) . Survival rates in A+ patients were not significantly different from those in the A- group (percent survival to age 16 years, 67% vs 80%), whereas the PA+ group had significantly worse survival rates than the PA- group (percent survival to age 16 years, 53% vs 84%) . There was no significant interaction between allergic skin reactions and either age at onset of chronic PA infection or subsequent duration of survival.

Pediatr Dermatol, 1985 Jul, 2(4), 322 - 3
Is eczema herpeticum associated with the use of hot tubs?
Cox GF, Levy ML, Wolf JE Jr.
Cutaneous bacterial infections, most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been clearly linked to use of hot tubs . A 10-year-old female with atopic eczema developed eczema herpeticum after hot tub use with a friend who had "fever blisters"; herpes simplex virus was recovered from cutaneous vesicles . Since herpesvirus has been shown to survive in the hot tub environment, herpes simplex should be considered as another potential cause of disease in the spa setting.

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