J Med Microbiol, 1992 Oct, 37(4), 258 - 61 Treatment of experimental infections of mice with bacteriophages; Soothill JS; Bacteriophages for Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were tested in experimental infections of mice to investigate their potential for the treatment of infections of man . As few as 10(2) particles of an acinetobacter phage protected mice against 5 LD50 (1 x 10(8)) of a virulent strain of A . baumanii, and phage was demonstrated to have multiplied in the mice . A pseudomonas phage protected mice against 5 LD50 of a virulent strain of P . aeruginosa, with a PD50 of 1.2 x 10(7) particles . A staphylococcal phage failed to protect mice infected with a strain of S . aureus . These studies support the view that bacteriophages could be useful in the treatment of human infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Oct, 30(10), 2680 - 5 Ribotyping of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex; Gerner-Smidt P; The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex consists of four genotypically distinct but phenotypically very similar bacterial species or DNA groups: A . calcoaceticus (DNA group 1), A . baumannii (DNA group 2), unnamed DNA group 3 (P . J . M . Bouvet and P . A . D . Grimont, Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 36:228-240, 1986), and unnamed DNA group 13 (I . Tjernberg and J . Ursing, APMIS 97:595-605, 1989) . Because strains in this complex cause nosocomial outbreaks, it is important to be able to identify them as completely as possible . Ribotyping could provide such identification . Therefore, ribotyping was done on 70 strains in the A . calcoaceticus-A . baumannii complex with known DNA group affiliations by use of restriction enzymes EcoRI, ClaI, and SalI . A nonradioactive digoxigenin-11-dUTP-labeled Escherichia coli rRNA-derived probe was used . With any of the three restriction enzymes, banding patterns that were specific for each DNA group were seen . All 70 strains showed banding patterns that could identify them to the correct DNA group by use of any two of the three enzymes . In addition, banding patterns that could separate strains within any one DNA group were present . The discriminatory index of P . Hunter and M . Gaston (J . Clin . Microbiol . 26:2465-2466, 1988), applied to all strains with the combined results obtained with all three enzymes, revealed a value of 0.99 . For strains in each DNA group, the value varied from 0.93 to 0.98 . These results indicate the high discriminatory power of the system when used for epidemiological typing. Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1992 Oct-Dec, 34(4), 245 - 8 Bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin upon Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanni; Zemelman R et al.; The mechanisms of bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin (mechanisms A and B) upon cells of a strain of Escherichia coli and one strain of Acinetobacter baumannii were investigated under different conditions . The killing of E . coli cells by ciprofloxacin was significantly reduced by chloramphenicol, but this antibiotic showed almost no activity upon killing of A . baumannii cells by this quinolone . Similar results were obtained when rifampicin was added to ciprofloxacin . Bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin upon nondividing cells of E . coli was lower and that upon non-dividing cells of A . baumannii was not affected when compared with activity of ciprofloxacin upon dividing cells of both microorganisms . These results demonstrate that the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin upon A . baumannii is independent of protein and ARN synthesis, a fact which suggests that this quinolone exerts only bactericidal mechanism B upon A . baumannii . This finding might explain, at least in part, the lower susceptibility of this microorganism to ciprofloxacin. Minerva Urol Nefrol, 1992 Oct-Dec, 44(4), 239 - 44 {Urinary tract infections at the hospital and the ambulatory service: etiology and laboratory diagnosis}; De Stefano A et al.; An aetiology study was conducted into urinary tract infections (UTI) in order to compare hospital infections with those in outpatients identified from samples sent to the laboratory by general practitioners . Urine culture analysis was performed on 3,483 samples of which 740 came from hospital patients and 2,743 from outpatients . The diagnosis of UTI was based on new criteria: not only the assessment of bacterial proliferation but also clinical factors like sex, symptoms, sampling technique and urinary leucocyte count and the traditional threshold of 10 units forming colonies (UFC/ml) was ignored . In other words the following were all considered positive: all bacterial growths > or = 10(5) UFC/ml independent of other data, all those > or = 10(2) UFC/ml in symptomatic women, those > or = 10(3) UFC/ml in symptomatic men and those > or = 10(2) UFC/ml in catheterised patients . In cases supplied with incomplete anamnestic data bacterial proliferations in the 10(2)-10(5) UFC/ml range were considered positive if the leucocyte count was also significant . The frequency of the various micro-organisms isolated from the positive urine cultures of the two group was then assessed . The study revealed that among outpatients relatively innocuous bacterial like E . Coli, Klebsiella and Proteus accounted for over 75% of UTI cases, but less than 44% among hospital patients . By contrast, more "serious" bacteria like Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Serratia were identified in about 20% of hospital cases but only about 5% of outpatients . Finally a comparison was made between in- and outpatient multibacterial UTI which were found to be more common and more aetiologically heterogeneous in hospital patients than in outpatients. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1992 Sep 15, 75(2-3), 125 - 8 Esterase electrophoresis compared with biotyping for epidemiological typing of Acinetobacter baumannii strains; Pouedras P et al.; Forty-nine Acinetobacter baumannii strains belonging to three biotypes and isolated from four hospitals were differentiated by electrophoretic typing of their esterases . Six main kinds of esterases were distinguished by their spectra of hydrolytic activity toward seven synthetic substrates . The electrophoretic variations of these enzymes were used to define ten zymotypes among the three biotypes . Esterase electrophoresis appeared to be more sensitive than biotyping, and could represent an additional marker for epidemiological analysis. J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Sep, 138 ( Pt 9), 1963 - 72 Long-chain alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain HO1-N; Fox MG et al.; Three alcohol dehydrogenases have been identified in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus sp . strain HO1-N: an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme and two NADP(+)-dependent enzymes . One of the NADP(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases was partially purified and was specific for long-chain substrates . With tetradecanol as substrate an apparent Km value of 5.2 microM was calculated . This enzyme has a pI of 4.5 and a molecular mass of 144 kDa . All three alcohol dehydrogenases were constitutively expressed . Three aldehyde dehydrogenases were also identified: an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme, an NADP(+)-dependent enzyme and one which was nucleotide independent . The NAD(+)-dependent enzyme represented only 2% of the total activity and was not studied further . The NADP(+)-dependent enzyme was strongly induced by growth of cells on alkanes and was associated with hydrocarbon vesicles . With tetradecanal as substrate an apparent Km value of 0.2 microM was calculated . The nucleotide-independent aldehyde dehydrogenase could use either Wurster's Blue or phenazine methosulphate (PMS) as an artificial electron acceptor . This enzyme represents approximately 80% of the total long-chain aldehyde oxidizing activity within the cell when the enzymes were induced by growing the cells on hexadecane . It is particulate but can be solubilized using Triton X-100 . The enzyme has an apparent Km of 0.36 mM for decanal. Cesk Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol, 1992 Sep, 41(4), 223 - 32 {Bacterial contamination of arthropods in a health facility}; Sramova H et al.; At 55 sites of a health institution in July and September 1990 a total of 161 specimens of arthropods were detected, 30 outdoors and 131 on the premises of the health institution . On their bodies 116 bacterial strains were isolated, mostly Gram-negative rods (more than 85%), in particular spp . Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas . Gram-positive cocci accounted for cca 12%, in particular strains of S . haemolyticus and S . hominis . The greatest number of strains was detected on bodies of cockroaches, flies, Chironomus and Tenebrio . In about one third of strains the diffuse disk test revealed resistance to more than three antibiotics . The investigation was supplemented by microbiological examination of strains from a hospital environment (45 smears) and strains from biological material (82 specimens), from patients with nosocomial infections. J Bacteriol, 1992 Sep, 174(18), 5814 - 9 Cloning of an Erwinia herbicola gene necessary for gluconic acid production and enhanced mineral phosphate solubilization in Escherichia coli HB101: nucleotide sequence and probable involvement in biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone; Liu ST et al.; Escherichia coli is capable of synthesizing the apo-glucose dehydrogenase enzyme (GDH) but not the cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), which is essential for formation of the holoenzyme . Therefore, in the absence of exogenous PQQ, E . coli does not produce gluconic acid . Evidence is presented to show that the expression of an Erwinia herbicola gene in E . coli HB101(pMCG898) resulted in the production of gluconic acid, which, in turn, implied PQQ biosynthesis . Transposon mutagenesis showed that the essential gene or locus was within a 1.8-kb region of a 4.5-kb insert of the plasmid pMCG898 . This 1.8-kb region contained only one apparent open reading frame . In this paper, we present the nucleotide sequence of this open reading frame, a 1,134-bp DNA fragment coding for a protein with an M(r) of 42,160 . The deduced sequence of this protein had a high degree of homology with that of gene III (M(r), 43,600) of a PQQ synthase gene complex from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus previously identified by Goosen et al . (J . Bacteriol . 171:447-455, 1989) . In minicell analysis, pMCG898 encoded a protein with an M(r) of 41,000 . These data indicate that E . coli HB101(pMCG898) produced the GDH-PQQ holoenzyme, which, in turn, catalyzed the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid in the periplasmic space . As a result of the gluconic acid production, E . coli HB101(pMCG898) showed an enhanced mineral phosphate-solubilizing phenotype due to acid dissolution of the hydroxyapatite substrate. Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1992 Sep, 21(5), 660 - 3 Emergence of a multiply-resistant strain of Acinetobacter in a burns unit; Ang SW et al.; Multiply-resistant Acinetobacter has emerged as an important organism in the Burns Unit of the Singapore General Hospital . From November 1990 onwards, a strain that was resistant to all antibiotics except Polymyxin B emerged in the Burns Unit . We present two cases where the Acinetobacter isolated was resistant to all antibiotics including Polymyxin B . These cases serve as an important reminder to adhere to strict infection control procedures. J Korean Med Sci, 1992 Sep, 7(3), 241 - 51 Nosocomial pneumonia in medico-surgical intensive care unit; Chung KI et al.; Cases of hospital acquired pneumonia occurring during the 1st 12 months of Medico-Surgical ICU (Intensive care unit, MSICU) in operation were evaluated retrospectively to determine its incidence, common causative pathogens, outcome and radiological patterns with the new hospital setting providing a unique relatively aseptic environment . Among the 920 admitted patients, 73 episodes of nosocomial pneumonia on 63 patients were identified and the incidence rate was 7% . The most common pathogens were Pseudomonas . Staphylococcus, Serratia, and Enterobacter in the order of frequency of occurrence, and the gram-negative pathogens comprised 70% . Nosocomial pneumonia was more common after use of antibiotics due to such pathogens as Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, and Candida which caused poor outcome . Enterobacter had the greatest tendency to be related with poor outcome and Serratia the least . Overall mortality was 25% . Bronchopneumonia was the most common type of pneumonia caused by any pathogen except Acinetobacter which caused a mixed type of nosocomial pneumonia. Am J Infect Control, 1992 Aug, 20(4), 202 - 5 Microbial contamination of enteral feeding solution and its prevention; Oie S et al.; In an investigation of microbial contamination of enteral feeding solutions, all 22 residual solutions obtained immediately after administration were contaminated at concentrations of 10(3) to 10(6) viable counts/ml . Major contaminants were glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus . Contamination seemed to have been caused by frequent reuse of bag-type containers and the infusion tubes connected to the bags, neither of which can be washed or dried . Decontamination methods were evaluated by using polypropylene containers that can be washed and disinfected for administration . Few Serratia marcescens on the inside wall of the container were removed by rinsing with tap water, alone or in combination with detergent scrub . Tap water and detergent plus air-drying at 56 degrees C for 1 hour reduced Serratia marcescens only somewhat . Tap water and detergent plus immersion in 0.01% sodium hypochlorite for 1 hour or in water at 70 degrees C for 3 minutes eliminated all 10(11) cells of Serratia marcescens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Aug, 15(6), 537 - 43 Cefdinir (FK482), an orally administered cephalosporin in vitro activity comparison against recent clinical isolates from five medical centers and determination of MIC quality control guidelines; Gerlach EH et al.; Cefdinir, a new oral cephalosporin, was compared to cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefixime, and cefuroxime against greater than 5000 recent aerobic clinical isolates . This multicenter study revealed broad-spectrum cefdinir activity against all Enterobacteriaceae (MIC50s, 0.06-2 micrograms/ml) except Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia marcescens (MIC50s, greater than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml) . Oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci (MIC90s, 0.5-2 micrograms/ml), beta-hemolytic Streptococcus group B (MIC90, 0.06 micrograms/ml), and Acinetobacter lwoffii were also susceptible to cefdinir . The activity of cefdinir was similar to that of cefixime and cefuroxime against Gram-negative organisms and superior to all tested oral cephems when tested against Gram-positive cocci . None of the cephalosporins were active against oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp., enterococci, Pseudomonas spp., or Xanthomonas maltophilia . MIC quality control range guidelines were established for the strains recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards documents. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1992 Jul, 13(7), 394 - 8 Delayed detection of an increase in resistant Acinetobacter at a Detroit hospital; Johnson DR et al.; OBJECTIVE: To study an increase of antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and to assess reasons for the delayed detection of this increase . DESIGN: Review of medical, laboratory, and infection control records . Plasmid profile analysis of available A baumannii isolates . SETTING: A 340-bed trauma and intensive care hospital in Detroit, Michigan . RESULTS: The number of hospitalized patients with resistant A baumannii increased during late 1989 and early 1990: 4 in September, 10 in October, 12 in November, 18 in December, and 23 in January (chi square for trend = 14.6, p = .0001) . Forty-four (66%) of the 67 patients culture-positive for resistant A baumannii had respiratory tract colonization or infection . Of 11 resistant isolates, 6 had a similar plasmid profile and 5 had no plasmids . Under the hospital's targeted surveillance system, only positive cultures from blood or wounds were investigated; this largely respiratory increase of resistant A baumannii went unrecognized until January 1990 . CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance in A baumannii is an important concern . Such resistance is not necessarily plasmid mediated . Targeted surveillance for this and other agents of nosocomial infection should be used with caution, particularly in hospitals with many debilitated patients. Mol Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 6(13), 1747 - 54 Characterization of transformation-deficient mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Palmen R et al.; Three Acinetobacter calcoaceticus transformation-deficient mutants, obtained by insertional mutagenesis with the nptll gene, have been characterized physiologically . One mutant (AAC211) was found to be completely transformation deficient, while two others, AAC213 and AAC214, were severely impaired in transformation efficiency (100-1000 times lower than the wild type) . The latter applied to both chromosomal as well as plasmid DNA . Analysis of the chromosomal DNA fragments flanking the nptll gene in the mutants showed that mutants AAC213 and AAC214 had an insertion of the nptll gene in the same chromosomal region, but that they were the result of two independent mutational events, whereas the insertion in mutant AAC211 was at a different position . None of the three mutants showed phenotypic or genotypic characteristics typical of a RecA-deficient strain. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 30(7), 1722 - 7 Murine antibody responses distinguish Rochalimaea henselae from Rochalimaea quintana; Slater LN et al.; Rochalimaea henselae causes persistent bacteremia, bacillary angiomatosis, and parenchymal bacillary peliosis . Detection of a specific antibody response to R . henselae infection may represent an alternative to cultivation as a means of diagnosis . We assessed the specificity of induced murine antibodies for antigens from R . henselae and the closely related species R . quintana . Groups of CD-1 mice were inoculated with whole organisms of six strains of R . henselae and two of R . quintana . Pre- and postinoculation blood specimens were collected . Enzyme immunosorbent assays were performed by using as antigens preparations of immunogenic proteins from one isolate of R . henselae or from the R . quintana type strain . These demonstrated high specificity of R . henselae-induced antibodies for proteins of R . henselae and of R . quintana-induced antibodies for proteins of R . quintana . Protein preparations extracted from all of the strains were separated electrophoretically . After their transfer to membranes, immunoblots were performed by using 1:1,000 dilutions of all of the pre- and postinoculation sera in combination with proteins from all of the strains . Preinoculation sera had minimal reactivity . All of the R . henselae-induced immune sera reacted with numerous proteins of all of the R . henselae strains but cross-reacted minimally with proteins of R . quintana . Immune sera from R . quintana-inoculated mice had similar species specificity . An immunofluorescence assay was developed by using antiserum to one strain of R . henselae . A 1:1,000 dilution yielded fluorescence with all strains of R . henselae but with none of R . quintana, Bartonella bacilliformis, or Afipia felis . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus was also unreactive with a dilution of 1:500 . A 1:10 dilution yielded weak fluorescence with R . quintana but none with Staphylococcus epidermidis. Clin Ther, 1992 Jul-Aug, 14(4), 562 - 9 Comparative in vitro activity of Ro 09-1428, a novel cephalosporin with a catechol moiety; Qadri SM et al.; The in vitro activity of Ro 09-1428, a new parenteral cephalosporin, was compared with that of other beta-lactams and aminoglycosides in 1230 clinical isolates from 1028 consecutive patients . Using an agar dilution method, the drugs were tested against 625 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, 68 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 36 Xanthomonas maltophilia, 20 Aeromonas hydrophila, 54 Acinetobacter, 373 staphylococci, and 54 strains of enterococci . More than 98% of Enterobacteriaceae were susceptible to Ro 09-1428, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of less than 0.03 to 4.0 micrograms/ml . Ro 09-1428 also inhibited 99% and 72% of the clinical isolates of P aeruginosa and X maltophilia, respectively . All isolates of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were susceptible to this cephalosporin . However, only 46% of the 54 strains of enterococci exhibited in vitro susceptibility . Ro 09-1428 was found to be superior or comparable to most penicillins, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides against both gram-negative bacteria and MSSA. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1992 Jul, 277(2), 210 - 8 The clinical significance of Acinetobacter baumannii in blood cultures; Seifert H et al.; Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from blood cultures in 31 patients in 4 intensive care units at a large teaching hospital over a period of 6 months . In 23 of these patients, Acinetobacter was also isolated from tracheal aspirates . Catheter-related infection could be identified as the cause of bacteremia in 14 cases, whereas pneumonia was present in only 6 cases . All patients were seriously ill and 7 (24%) died of their infection. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1992 Jul, 4(5), 255 - 60 Susceptibility of isolates of Acinetobacter anitratus and Acinetobacter lwoffii to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum; Jankowski S et al.; The bactericidal activity of normal human serum against the Gram-negative coccobacilli Acinetobacter anitratus and Acinetobacter lwoffii was studied; 12% and 84%, respectively, of the tested strains appeared to be sensitive . Thus, serum resistance may be an important factor contributing to the pathogenic potential of A . anitratus strains . Three types of bactericidal action were shown . In the first, the strains were killed when the alternative complement pathway was activated . In the second, some strains required both the classical and alternative pathways . In the third variant, the strains needed either the alternative or classical activation pathway. J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 138 ( Pt 7), 1461 - 5 Purification and characterization of L-2,4-diaminobutyrate decarboxylase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Yamamoto S et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ATCC 23055 produces a large amount of 1,3-diaminopropane under normal growth conditions . The enzyme responsible, L-2,4-diaminobutyrate (DABA) decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.-), was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from this bacterium . The native enzyme had an M(r) of approximately 108,000, with a pI of 5.0, and was a dimer composed of identical or nearly identical subunits with apparent M(r) 53,000 . The enzyme showed hyperbolic kinetics with a Km of 1.59 mM for DABA and 14.6 microM for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a coenzyme . The pH optimum was in the range 8.5-8.75, and Ca2+ gave a much higher enzyme activity than Mg2+ as a cationic cofactor . N-gamma-Acetyl-DABA, 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, ornithine and lysine were inert as substrates . The enzyme was different in subunit structure, N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunoreactivity from the DABA decarboxylase of Vibrio alginolyticus previously described. J Appl Bacteriol, 1992 Jul, 73(1), 14 - 22 Co-existence of beta-lactamase and penicillin acylase in bacteria; detection and quantitative determination of enzyme activities; Baker WL; Twenty-six bacteria were examined for the presence of penicillin acylase and beta-lactamase . A copper reducing assay, which was sensitive in the analytical range 2-20 micrograms/ml, was used for determination of penicilloates and a fluorescamine assay was used to determine 6-aminopenicillanic acid concentrations when both substances were produced by the action of the enzymes on a single substrate . Seventeen bacteria contained beta-lactamases, six contained penicillin acylases and four contained both enzymes . Two bacteria contained a Type 1 penicillin acylase and four bacteria contained a Type II enzyme . No ampicillin acylases were detected . All beta-lactamases were constitutive enzymes in those organisms where both enzymes co-existed . Bacillus subtilis and B . cereus produced inducible and extracellular beta-lactamases . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ATCC 21288 produced a constitutive beta-lactamase which was detected extracellularly. Cent Afr J Med, 1992 Jul, 38(7), 290 - 3 Antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Hoslundia opposita; Gundidza GM et al.; The essential oil from the leaves of Hoslundia opposite was extracted by hydrodistillation . GC/MS analysis of the volatile oil showed that it contains largely the sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohols . The essential oil was tested against eight different bacterial species and one fungal species . The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the essential oil from Hoslundia opposite were determined by using seeded agar plates with wells into which was placed the oil, and flasks of yeast extract and sucrose broth for mycelial growth of Aspergillus niger . After incubation for 24 hours, the diameter of the inhibition zone was measured for the antibacterial tests and after seven days, the dry weight of the mycelia was measured and a percentage of inhibition calculated using controls where no samples were added . The results obtained showed that the essential oil from this plant has significant activity against Aspergillus niger, Acinetobacter calcoacetica, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Flavobacterium suaveolens . These were most affected by the volatile oil from Hoslundia opposita. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1992 Jul, 30(1), 73 - 87 A controlled trial of selective decontamination of the digestive tract in intensive care and its effect on nosocomial infection; Winter R et al.; Nosocomial infection is a major problem in intensive therapy units (ITUs) and a significant cause of mortality . Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) has been advocated as a means to reduce ITU morbidity and mortality . Ninety-one patients in a general ITU underwent SDD, consisting of topical polymyxin E, tobramycin and amphotericin B administered throughout the unit stay together with parenteral ceftazidime for the first three days, and were compared with 84 historical and 92 contemporaneous control patients who were treated conventionally . Twenty-seven historical and 32 contemporaneous control patients developed unit-acquired infections, in comparison with only three patients in the SDD group (P less than 0.01) . Mortality in the SDD group (36%) was not significantly different from that in the other two groups (historical control 40%, contemporaneous control 43%) . Screening specimens revealed a significantly higher rate of colonization with resistant Acinetobacter spp . in the contemporaneous control than in the other two groups of patients; infection caused by resistant bacteria did not occur . SDD did not lead to a significant reduction in the use of systemically-administered antibiotics when compared with either control group . SDD may be used selectively in an ITU without ill effects on those patients not receiving SDD; nevertheless, microbiological monitoring is needed to detect emergence of resistant bacteria in the unit. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jun, 30(6), 1462 - 8 Critical assessment of blood culture techniques: analysis of recovery of obligate and facultative anaerobes, strict aerobic bacteria, and fungi in aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles; Murray PR et al.; Recent reports have documented a decrease in anaerobic bacteremias and have questioned the need for routine anaerobic blood cultures . At the same time, we and others have noted an increase in fungal bloodstream infections . In this two-part study, we first compared recoveries of obligate anaerobic bacteria with those of fungi over a 13-year period and then examined the recoveries of all bacteria and fungi in aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles during a 12-month period . During the 13-year period, the number of patients with anaerobic bacteremia remained relatively constant (average, 39 patients per year), while the incidence of fungemia steadily increased, from 12 patients in 1978 to 117 patients in 1990 . Of the 1,090 anaerobic isolates, 55.1 and 90.2% were recovered in aerobic and anaerobic bottles, respectively, compared with 98.6 and 37.0% of the 2,582 fungi . During the 12-month period of evaluation, 2,980 bacteria and fungi were recovered in cultures collected from 1,555 patients . Overall, 21.1% more organisms were recovered in aerobic bottles than in anaerobic bottles, including significantly more Staphylococcus species; gram-positive aerobic bacilli; Escherichia, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Acinetobacter species; miscellaneous gram-negative bacilli; and yeasts . Only anaerobic gram-negative bacilli and non-spore-forming gram-positive bacilli were isolated more commonly in anaerobic bottles . These data support the concepts that bacteremia caused by obligate anaerobic bacteria is decreasing relative to sepsis caused by other bacteria and fungi and that the routine use of unvented anaerobic blood culture bottles reduces the recovery of common aerobic bloodstream pathogens. J Gen Microbiol, 1992 Jun, 138 ( Pt 6), 1197 - 202 Purification and characterization of an extracellular beta-lactamase produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Blechschmidt B et al.; A beta-lactamase was purified 430-fold from the culture supernatant of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex and affinity chromatography on phenylboronic-acid-agarose . The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by SDS-PAGE, and was characterized with respect to molecular mass (38 and 41 kDa by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and SDS-PAGE, respectively), pH optimum (pH 7.0), temperature optimum (45 degrees C) and isoelectric point (9.3) . The beta-lactamase showed mainly cephalosporinase activity . It was inhibited by cloxacillin, carbenicillin, penicillanic acid sulphone (sulbactam) and aztreonam . It was not inhibited by clavulanic acid up to a concentration of 0.25 mM . Neither EDTA nor p-chlormercuribenzoate, up to concentrations of 1 or 100 mM, respectively, affected activity . According to these characteristics, it is a typical CEP-N cephalosporinase. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1992 Jun, 29(6), 639 - 47 In-vitro activity of tosufloxacin, a new quinolone antibacterial agent; Cooper MA et al.; The in-vitro activity of tosufloxacin (A-61827) was compared with that of temafloxacin, ciprofloxacin and selected members of other groups of antimicrobial agents, against 684 recent distinct clinical isolates and strains with known mechanisms of resistance . Against members of the Enterobacteriaceae, ciprofloxacin was slightly more active than tosufloxacin, which was more active than temafloxacin . The MIC90 of tosufloxacin for all species of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp . was less than or equal to 1 mg/L . Tosufloxacin was slightly more active than temafloxacin, and four to eight fold more active than ciprofloxacin, against the Gram-positive species tested . The MIC90 of tosufloxacin for Staphylococcus aureus was 0.12 mg/L, and for Streptococcus pneumoniae was 0.5 mg/L . All strains of Neisseria spp., Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were inhibited by tosufloxacin at a concentration of less than or equal to 0.12 mg/L . Tosufloxacin was the most active quinolone against the anaerobic organisms tested . Cross resistance between quinolones was seen, but not between quinolones and other groups of antimicrobials . The protein binding of tosufloxacin across a range of concentrations averaged 60% . Human serum at a concentration of 70% decreased the bactericidal activity of tosufloxacin by about four-fold. J Chir (Paris), 1992 Jun-Jul, 129(6-7), 303 - 8 {Study of the efficacy and tolerance of imipenem-cilastatin used as monotherapy for the adjuvant treatment to surgery of peritonitis . Results of a French multicenter study including 257 patients}; Midy D et al.; The antibiotic treatment of peritonitis classically resorts to the association of two and even three molecules . In order to test the efficacy of a single-drug therapy with Tienam* imipenem/cilastatin) as an adjunctive treatment associated to surgery for perforation peritonitis, an open, non-comparative study of 257 patients was carried out in 28 departments . Imipenem is the first beta-lactam antibiotic of the carbapenem family . This antibiotic seems to be particularly useful for the treatment of mixed polymicrobial infections such as peritoneal infections, owing to its activity spectrum covering Gram-positive and Gram-negative, aerobic and anaerobic germs, including strands with multiple resistances (Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus and Bacteroides fragilis) . A total of 212 patients were assessed with a treatment averaging 7 days . The five most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli, streptococci, Bacteroides, Proteus and Klebsiella . The healing or improvement rate was 95.3% (202/212) . Seven cross-infections occurred during of after the treatment . Tolerance is good in 96% of all cases . Adverse effects were infrequent and mild: the hepatic and hematological alterations never required the interruption of the treatment and they were reversible; the treatment was interrupted in one patient only because of omental tremulation. J Clin Microbiol, 1992 Jun, 30(6), 1588 - 91 Use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for investigation of hospital outbreaks of Acinetobacter baumannii; Gouby A et al.; Genomic DNAs from taxonomically and epidemiologically well-defined strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were digested with restriction endonucleases that cleave with low frequency, and the fragments were separated by pulse-field gel electrophoresis . Restriction fragment length polymorphisms were observed . Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis can be used as an epidemiological tool to delineate outbreaks of nosocomial infections caused by A . baumannii. Mol Microbiol, 1992 May, 6(10), 1323 - 33 Outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria are permeable to steroid probes; Plesiat P et al.; The permeability of bacterial outer membranes was assayed by coupling the influx of highly hydrophobic probes, 3-oxosteroids, with their subsequent oxidation catalysed by 3-oxosteroid delta 1-dehydrogenase, expressed from a gene cloned from Pseudomonas testosteroni . In Salmonella typhimurium producing wild-type lipopolysaccharide, the permeability coefficients for uncharged steroids were 0.45 to 1 x 10(-5) cm s-1, and the diffusion appeared to occur mainly through the lipid bilayer domains of the outer membrane . These rates are one or two magnitudes lower than that expected for their diffusion through the usual biological membranes . The permeation rates were markedly increased (up to 100 times) when the lipopolysaccharide leaflet was perturbed either by adding deacylpolymyxin or by introducing mutations leading to the production of deep rough lipopolysaccharides . An amphiphilic, negatively charged probe, testosterone hemisuccinate, penetrated much more slowly than the uncharged steroids . Study of various Gram-negative species revealed that P . testosteroni, Pseudomonas acidovorans, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus showed higher outer membrane permeability to steroid probes and higher susceptibility to hydrophobic agents such as fusidic acid, novobiocin and crystal violet relative to S . typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Clin Infect Dis, 1992 May, 14(5), 1145 - 8 Infective endocarditis of a native valve due to Acinetobacter: case report and review; Gradon JD et al.; A case of community-acquired infective endocarditis of a native valve that was caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus is presented . The previously reported cases are reviewed, and therapy for this disorder is discussed . The presence of a transient maculopapular rash involving the palms and soles but sparing the face is suggested as a possible early clinical clue to the diagnosis . Native valve endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter species is an acute, aggressive illness that is more likely to be fatal than the prosthetic valve form; of the previously described patients, five of 15 with native valve endocarditis and one of six with prosthetic valve endocarditis died . In the appropriate clinical setting, we recommend therapy with an antimicrobial agent known to be active against Acinetobacter organisms when blood cultures are reported to yield oxidase-negative, gram-negative coccobacilli until the final identification of the microorganism is known. Indian J Pediatr, 1992 May-Jun, 59(3), 309 - 12 Citrobacter sepsis in infants; Sugandhi RP et al.; A study of blood cultures from 320 cases of neonatal sepsis showed 136 (42.5%) to be positive for bacterial growth; of these 82 (60.29%) isolates being gram negative bacilli . Citrobacter was the commonest gram negative bacilli isolated . Other commonly isolated gram negative organisms were Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Salmonella typhimurium, Acinetobacter and Escherichia coli . Antibiotics susceptibility pattern revealed the isolates to be resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo, 1992 May-Jun, 47(3), 131 - 7 {Patterns of antimicrobial resistance in gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients in intensive care units}; Motti EF et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentration test with 16 antibiotics was performed for 435 stains of Gram negative bacilli, isolated from patients in intensive care units of five large hospitals . The results were analysed as to provide in vitro sensitivity patterns, as well as cross resistance between the tested drugs . The most frequent species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E . coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter ssp., and Acinetobacter calcoaceticu, accounting for more than 80% of all isolates . Best figures were seen with ciprofloxacin and imipenem, with 805 of sensitive strains or more; third generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and aztreonam had overall sensitivity rates ranging from 58 to 73% . There was marked cross resistance between ceftazidime and other beta-lactam antibiotics, except for imipenem . These results bear implications regarding the establishment of empirical therapy in critical patients. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1992 Apr, 45(4), 505 - 20 RU 29 246, the active compound of the cephalosporin-prodrug-ester HR 916 . I . Antibacterial activity in vitro; Bauernfeind A et al.; The aminothiazolyl-cephalosporin RU 29 246 is the active metabolite of the prodrug-pivaloyl-oxyethyl-ester HR 916 . RU 29 246 in vitro activity includes a wide range of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens . Against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococci RU 29 246 (MIC90 of 0.25 approximately 2 micrograms/ml) was clearly more active than cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, cefixime and ceftibuten, but slightly less active than cefdinir . RU 29 246 inhibited hemolytic Streptococci of the serogroups A, B, C and G as well as penicillin-sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae at concentrations similar to cefdinir, cefpodoxime and cefuroxime (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.13 micrograms/ml), but less than the other oral cephalosporins investigated (cefixime, cefaclor and ceftibuten) . MIC90s of RU 29 246 against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Proteus mirabilis and Haemophilus influenzae were less than or equal to 0.5 micrograms/ml . Only RU 29 246 and cefdinir demonstrated moderate activity against Acinetobacter baumannii (MIC90 greater than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml) . Most strains of Pseudomonas spp., Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter spp., Hafnia alvei and Bacteroides spp . were resistant to RU 29 246 . RU 29 246 killed Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at a rate of 99% to 99.9% at concentrations of two times MIC . The pH value of the medium (range 5.5 to 8.5) and the inoculum size (range 10(5) to 10(7) cfu/ml) had no or only low influence on the antibacterial activity of RU 29 246 . RU 29 246 is a broad spectrum cephalosporin including in its activity both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and therefore--depending on the bioavailability of its prodrug--looks promising as to its therapeutic perspective. J Intern Med, 1992 Apr, 231(4), 371 - 4 Patients at risk for inappropriate antibiotic treatment of bacteraemia; Leibovici L et al.; In order to define patients at high risk for inappropriate antibiotic treatment of bacteraemia, we compared 682 bacteraemic patients, treated with an antibiotic drug to which the infecting micro-organism was susceptible, with 419 patients who were inappropriately treated . On a multivariate logistic regression analysis including only clinical variables, four factors were found to be both significantly and independently associated with inappropriate antibiotic treatment: hospital-acquired bacteraemia (odds-ratio (OR) of 1.9), antibiotic treatment in the month prior to the bacteraemia (OR 1.9), residence in a nursing home (OR 1.8), and the presence of a central line (OR 1.7) . A second model, including bacteriological data, showed four micro-organisms to be independently associated with inappropriate antibiotic treatment: Candida sp . (OR 14.2), Acinetobacter sp . (OR 5.0), Enterococcus sp . (OR 3.6) and Pseudomonas sp . (OR 2.2) . In this model, only two clinical features were included: hospital-acquired infection and previous antibiotic treatment . Special efforts should be made to improve empirical antibiotic treatment in the groups defined above, and to facilitate early laboratory diagnosis of the micro-organisms associated with inappropriate treatment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1992 Apr, 36(4), 879 - 82 In vitro activity of Ro 23-9424, a dual-action antibacterial agent, against bacterial isolates from cancer patients compared with those of other agents; Rolston KV et al.; The in vitro activity of Ro 23-9424 against bacterial isolates from patients with cancer was compared with those of fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, cefoperazone, and ceftazidime . Ro 23-9424 inhibited the majority of the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and all Aeromonas isolates at a concentration of less than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/ml . It was also active against Acinetobacter spp . and Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains . The MIC for 90% of isolates (MIC90) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 16.0 micrograms/ml . All group A and B streptococci were inhibited by less than or equal to 0.25 micrograms/ml, and 90% of group G streptococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae were inhibited by 1.0 micrograms/ml . All methicillin-susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 60% of methicillin-resistant strains were susceptible to 2.0 micrograms of Ro 23-9424 per ml, whereas the MIC90 for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus hominis isolates was 4.0 micrograms/ml . Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus spp . were less susceptible; MIC90s for them were 16.0 and 32.0 micrograms/ml . Ro 23-9424 has a broad antibacterial spectrum and potential utility for therapy of infections in cancer patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1992 Apr, 36(4), 860 - 6 In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of levofloxacin (l-ofloxacin), an optically active ofloxacin; Fu KP et al.; The antibacterial activity of levofloxacin was compared with those of ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and other antibiotics . In general, levofloxacin was equally active or up to fourfold more active than ofloxacin against all 801 organisms tested . Levofloxacin was twofold {corrected} more active than ciprofloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae and 2- to 4-fold more active than ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus, Xanthomonas maltophilia, and Bacteroides fragilis . Levofloxacin was two- to eightfold more active than ciprofloxacin against coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter spp., although these improvements in potency may not be clinically relevant . Levofloxacin inhibited 90% of streptococci when it was used at concentrations of 1 to 2 micrograms/ml . Levofloxacin was two- to fourfold less active than ciprofloxacin against most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Citrobacter, Proteus, Providencia, Salmonella, and Yersinia spp.; and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Both compounds were equally active against Pseudomonas cepacia . The in vitro DNA gyrase inhibitory activity of levofloxacin was as potent as that of ciprofloxacin, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.65 micrograms/ml against an E . coli enzyme . In vivo, oral treatment with levofloxacin was as efficacious or more efficacious than that with ciprofloxacin in systemic as well as pyelonephritis infections in mice . Levofloxacin achieved higher concentrations in the serum and tissue of mice than did ciprofloxacin . This study presents some potential advantages of the pure L isomer of ofloxacin over ciprofloxacin and other quinolones. J Hosp Infect, 1992 Apr, 20(4), 281 - 92 Epidemiological role of arthropods detectable in health facilities; Sramova H et al.; A total of 161 arthropod specimens were collected from 55 sites in a health care facility during July and September 1990 . Of the 116 bacterial isolates obtained from their body surfaces 6% were from parasites (mosquitoes), 59% from eusynanthropic arthropods (Tenebrionid beetles, flies, German cockroaches, wasps), 16% from hemisynanthropic arthropods (ants, spiders) and 19% from occasionally encountered insects (non-biting midges, moths, beetles) . Most (88%) of the isolated bacteria were Gram-negative rods of the species E . coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Proteus, Serratia, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . Gram-positive cocci accounted for 13% of isolates and were primarily represented by coagulase-negative staphylococci . The highest isolation rates were from body surfaces of flies, German cockroaches, non-biting midges (Chironomids) and Tenebrionid beetles . About one third of all isolates were resistant to more than three antimicrobials using a standard disc diffusion assay . The presence of multiple resistance to antibiotics was observed in two thirds of Enterobacter isolates, namely those of Enterobacter cloacae from the body surface of Germany cockroaches, in 13% of Citrobacter spp and in 8% of Klebsiella spp as well as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains . Strains of Morganella and Hafnia species were very infrequent but all of them shared resistance to the antibiotics tested . In contrast, strains of Serratia spp were relatively antibiotic-sensitive . The group of isolated Gram-positive organisms was represented by two strains of Staphylococcus hominis and one strain of Enterococcus sp, all of them were multiply-resistant to antimicrobials. J Chemother, 1992 Apr, 4(2), 72 - 7 Plasmid profiles of Acinetobacter and Enterobacter species of hospital origin: restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA and transformation of Escherichia coli by R plasmids; Spiliopoulou I et al.; A total of 37 multi-resistant strains (20 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and 17 Enterobacter cloacae) were isolated from patients of the Intensive Care Units . All the isolates were examined for resistance to a battery of antimicrobial agents by the disk diffusion method . Plasmid profiles and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA by EcoR1 revealed the spread of one A . calcoaceticus and two E . cloacae endemic strains . Transformation experiments on Escherichia coli competent cells by three plasmids established the presence of R plasmids in the multi-resistant isolates. J Burn Care Rehabil, 1992 Mar-Apr, 13(2 Pt 2), 281 - 6 Changing flora in burn and trauma units: experience in the United Kingdom; Frame JD et al.; Bacterial colonization of burned and devitalized tissue is inevitable . The types of organisms that are isolated from burn wounds depend on such factors as preexisting illness, types of topical antiseptics and antimicrobials used, microbial sampling techniques, and indigenous flora that inhibit the burn unit . Among organisms that are capable of producing disease, Staphylococcus aureus remains the most common isolate in the patient with burns . The decrease in the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was initiated by the advent of effective topical antiseptics, appears to have continued to the present . Acinetobacter is now a common organism in the burn unit; although the organism has developed resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, it infrequently causes serious problems . Comparisons between burn units with intensive-care capability that practice an aggressive approach to surgical management and burn units that continue to use a more traditional approach have revealed little difference with regard to incidence of or time to acquisition of potentially pathogenic bacteria . In a recent comparison that involved a unit of each type, marked reductions in the incidence of isolation of P . aeruginosa and Streptococcus group A organisms were observed over the course of 2 years in both of the units . Significant problems with viruses, yeasts, and fungi have not yet been encountered (or identified) in burn units; further study of the potential role of such organisms in infection in the patient with burns is required. East Afr Med J, 1992 Mar, 69(3), 130 - 4 Disk diffusion antimicrobial assays of agents used in respiratory tract infections in intubated patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Kenyatta National Hospital from November to December 1990; Nzomo MM et al.; Sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates from respiratory tract infections to benzylpenicillin, gentamicin and ceftazidime were studied . In a period covering 8 weeks from November to December 1990, tracheal aspirates from a total of 22 intubated patients aged 6-54 years were taken . The duration of stay of patients in the unit by the time of specimen collection ranged from 2-92 days . Respiratory tract infections by pathogenic organisms set in earliest on day 4 . Elevated temperatures (equal to or greater than 38 degrees C) and/or purulence in sputum were used as diagnostic indicators of respiratory tract infections . A total of 12 pathogenic organisms were obtained: Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Acinetobacter spp, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . None of the 12 pathogens isolated was sensitive to benzylpenicillin; 50% of organisms were sensitive to gentamicin and all were sensitive to ceftazidime. Res Microbiol, 1992 Mar-Apr, 143(3), 333 - 9 Degradation of non-phenolic beta-o-4 lignin substructure model compounds by Acinetobacter sp; Vasudevan N et al.; Acinetobacter sp . utilized non-phenolic beta-o-4-model compounds, 2-methoxy-4-formylphenoxyacetic acid and veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether (VGE) as sole carbon source . Vanillin, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid and catechol were detected in the 2-methoxy-4-formylphenoxyacetic acid amended culture . Veratryl alcohol, veratraldehyde, veratric acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechol and guaiacol were identified from veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether culture . Acinetobacter sp . produced catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase that cleaved catechol and protocatechuic acid, respectively. J Hosp Infect, 1992 Mar, 20(3), 185 - 92 Controlled trial of a Y-set dialysis delivery system to prevent peritonitis in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Dryden MS et al.; Peritonitis rates were compared in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) via either a Y-set dialysate delivery system or a standard system . Forty patients in each arm of the trial were matched for age (range 20-67 years, mean 49 years), and remained in the study for similar periods (range 3-36 months, mean 14.1 months) . The observation time was 564 patient-months for each arm of the trial . There were 22 episodes of peritonitis in nine out of 40 patients using the Y-set and 57 episodes in 21 out of 40 patients using the standard system (P = 0.005 Wilcoxon signed rank test for episodes, P = 0.02 McNemar's chi 2 test for patients) . Peritonitis rates were one episode per 25 patient-months in the Y-set group, and one episode per 9.7 patient-months in the standard group . In the Y-set group there were significantly fewer episodes caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter spp . There was no difference in the rate of episodes caused by Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, enterococci, corynebacteria, enterobacteria or pseudomonads . There was no difference in the incidence of catheter exit wound infections . The Y-set dialysis delivery system is effective in reducing peritonitis rates in CAPD patients caused by organisms derived from the commensal skin flora, principally coagulase-negative staphylococci, but does not reduce peritonitis caused by other organisms. Mol Gen Genet, 1992 Mar, 232(2), 284 - 94 Nucleotide sequence and structure of the Klebsiella pneumoniae pqq operon; Meulenberg JJ et al.; A 6940 bp Klebsiella pneumoniae chromosomal DNA fragment, containing genes involved in pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) biosynthesis, was sequenced . Six open reading frames, pqqA, pqqB, pqqC, pqqD, pqqE and pqqF were identified in the pqq operon, which coded for polypeptides of 2764 (23 amino acids), 33,464, 28,986, 10,436, 42,881 and 83,616 Da, respectively . The transcription startpoint was mapped by primer extension analysis, upstream of pqqA, and promoter boxes could be identified . The gene products of pqqB, pqqC, pqqE and pqqF were detected in maxi-cells and the molecular weights of the proteins corresponded with the molecular weights deduced from the nucleotide sequence . The gene products of pqqA, pqqB, pqqC, pqqD and pqqE show 49%-64% identity in amino acid sequence with those of pqqIV, pqqV, pqqI, pqqII and pqqIII respectively in the cloned pqq cluster of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The 84 kDa protein encoded by pqqF, which is not present in the cloned pqq cluster of A . calcoaceticus but which is essential for PQQ biosynthesis in K . pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, seems to belong to a family of proteases. Eur J Biochem, 1992 Feb 15, 204(1), 113 - 20 cis-diol dehydrogenases encoded by the TOL pWW0 plasmid xylL gene and the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus chromosomal benD gene are members of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase superfamily; Neidle E et al.; In the aerobic degradation of benzoate by bacteria, benzoate is first dihydroxylated by a ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase to form a cis-diol (1,2-dihydroxycyclohexa-3,4-diene carboxylate) which is subsequently transformed to a catechol by an NAD(+)-dependent cis-diol dehydrogenase . The structural gene for this dehydrogenase, encoded on TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida (xylL) and that encoded on the chromosome of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (benD), were sequenced . They encode polypeptides of about 28 kDa in size . These proteins are similar to each other, exhibiting 58% sequence identity . They are also similar to other proteins of at least 20 different functions, which are members of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family . The alignment of these proteins suggest two amino acids, lysine and tyrosine, as catalytically important residues. J Med Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 36(2), 83 - 8 Incidence of an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase, ACC(6')-1b, in amikacin-resistant clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli, as determined by DNA-DNA hybridisation and immunoblotting; Tran Van Nhieu G et al.; Seventy amikacin-resistant clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria belonging to nine genera were examined by immunoblotting and by DNA-DNA hybridisation for the presence of ACC(6')1b enzyme, previously called AAC(6')-4, or its encoding gene aacA1b . The organisms mostly had resistance profiles compatible with AAC(6') production and were from South and North America, the Far East and Europe . Polyclonal (rabbit) anti-AAC(6')-1b antisera and an intragenic aacA1b (aacA4) probe derived from the multiresistance plasmid pAZ007 were used . The aacA1b gene was found to be widespread . Positive hybridisation, and immunologically cross-reactive proteins, were observed in 44% of the isolates examined . They were present most frequently (greater than or equal to 70%) in isolates of Klebsiella, Escherichia and Enterobacter spp., but less often (less than or equal to 25%) in Serratia, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas spp . The strains that reacted with the probe produced enzymes that varied in their apparent mol . wts between c . 24,000 and 26,000 . The existence of multiple electrophoretic forms of amikacin-acetylating enzymes of the ACC(6')-1b type may be useful in epidemiological surveys of AAC(6')-mediated amikacin resistance. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Feb, 15(2 Suppl), 3S - 10S The current and future impact of antimicrobial resistance among nosocomial bacterial pathogens; Jones RN; The selection of drug-resistant microorganisms has generally been associated with the widespread use of antimicrobial agents . The emergence of these antimicrobial resistance has an undesirable impact that often severely limits the use of these drugs that could have otherwise been identified as "drugs of first choice." Among the most serious drug-resistance problems, the chromosomally mediated type -I beta-lactamase mechanism has become more common among the infecting Gram-negative bacteria . Type-I beta-lactamases are routinely identified in Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas spp., Providencia spp., Morganella spp., Serratia spp., and various nonfermenters, including Acinetobacter spp., and can be induced to high production when exposed to certain beta-lactam antibiotics (for example, ceftazidime or cefoxitin) . These organisms can also undergo spontaneous mutations to become high-level constitutive beta-lactamase producers, thus remaining resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics . This has been the most common event at our medical center since 1986 . Plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases and bacterial cell membrane protein alterations also confer resistance, resulting in clinically important challenges . At the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, beta-lactam-resistant Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, and Enterobacter were observed over a 2-year period, an event that correlated with the introduction of the "third-generation" cephalosporin ceftazidime to the formulary . As ceftazidime use increased from 1986 to 1988, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for not only ceftazidime but also some other "third-generation" cephems increased for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Similarly, susceptibility of Citrobacter spp . and Enterobacter spp . declined during this period for ceftazidime and, to a lesser extent, the unrelated broad-spectrum penicillin, piperacillin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Feb, 15(2 Suppl), 11S - 18S Focused microbiologic surveillance by specific hospital unit as a sensitive means of defining antimicrobial resistance problems; Stratton CW et al.; An annual summary of susceptibility patterns for the predominant clinical isolates from hospitalized patients can be of considerable assistance in selecting antimicrobial agents for sepsis of unclear etiology, as well as for guiding empiric therapy for other serious infections . Yearly summaries of the susceptibility patterns of the predominant clinical isolates from all patients hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) from July 1987 through June 1991 revealed only minor differences over time in susceptibility patterns . However, the clinical impression of physicians treating patients in various intensive care units (ICUs) was that there were serious resistance problems in some units . To better define the prevalence of clinical isolates and their susceptibility patterns for patients within ICUs at VUH, we utilized a "focused microbiologic surveillance" technique that addressed each unit separately . Both the predominant clinical isolates and their susceptibility patterns were determined and compared with those from the hospital as a whole . Because susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates by site of infection within these units were considered important, we also reviewed the summaries of susceptibility patterns for blood, sputum, and urine isolates from patients in ICUs and compared these with the summaries from each ICU and from the hospital . No major resistance problems were identified on a hospital-wide basis . In contrast, focused microbiologic surveillance by specific hospital ICU revealed important differences in the prevalence of pathogens among units and at different times . In 1987, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the single most common Gram-negative organism isolated in the neonatal unit, while Acinetobacter spp . were rarely isolated . By 1991, this trend was completely reversed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 58(2), 647 - 54 Construction of a 3-chlorobiphenyl-utilizing recombinant from an intergeneric mating; Adams RH et al.; Recombinant Pseudomonas sp . strain CB15, which grows on 3-chlorobiphenyl (3CB), was constructed from Pseudomonas sp . strain HF1, which grows on 3-chlorobenzoate, and from Acinetobacter sp . strain P6, which grows on biphenyl, by using a continuous amalgamated culture apparatus . DNA from strains CB15 and HF1 hybridized very strongly to each other, while hybridization between both parental strains, HF1 and P6, was negligible . However, DNA from the recombinant CB15 hybridized moderately to strongly with three specific fragments of parental strain P6 . Strains HF1 and P6 did not grow on 3CB, but recombinant strain CB15 mineralized this compound and released inorganic chloride . When growing on 3CB, strain CB15 accumulated brown products, one of which was identified as 3-chloro-5-(2'-hydroxy-3'-chlorophenyl)-1,2-benzoquinone by mass spectrometry . Emulsification and mechanical fragmentation greatly increased the rate of 3CB mineralization by strain CB15 . At least three methods of inhibition from catecholic intermediates may account for slow growth on 3CB . The meta fission of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (the nonchlorinated analog of the metabolic intermediate 3-chloro-2',3'-dihydroxybiphenyl) was affected by substrate inhibition (Vmax = 359 nmol.min-1.mg-1, Km = 114 microM, Kss {the inhibition constant} = 951 microM) and was also inhibited by 3-chlorocatechol . The ortho fission of 3-chlorocatechol, a degradation product, followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Vmax = 365 nmol.min-1.mg-1, Km = 1 microM), but the addition of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl inhibited the reaction (Ki = 0.87 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Singapore Med J, 1992 Feb, 33(1), 33 - 7 Outcome of very low birthweight neonates in a developing country: experience from a large Malaysian maternity hospital; Boo NY; Between January 1989 to April 1990 (16 months), a prospective observational study was carried out on 329 consecutive very low birthweight (VLBW) less than or equal to 1500 grams) Malaysian neonates born in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur before their first discharge from the hospital . The objectives of the study were to determine the common causes of early morbidity and mortality of this group of Malaysian neonates . The study shows that the incidence of Malaysian VLBW neonates was 9.9 per 1000 livebirths (95% confidence intervals 9.0 to 10.8) . The mean duration of stay in the hospital was 19.3 days (SD = 21.4) . One hundred and ninety-six (59.6 percent) of the VLBW neonates died . They accounted for 60 percent (196/334) of all neonatal deaths in the hospital during the study period . Mortality was significantly higher in neonates of birthweight less than 1000 grams (p less than 0.01) and of gestation of less than 33 weeks (p less than 0.001) . The three most common clinical problems were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (72.6 percent), septicemia (28.0 percent) and intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (21.9 percent) . Death occurred in 71.1 percent of the septicemic patients . The most common causative organisms of septicemia were multiresistant klebsiella (52.3 percent) and multiresistant acinetobacter (14.7 percent) . RDS (33.2 percent), septicemia (29.6%) and IVH (17.9 percent) were the three most common causes of death . Improvement in the nursing staff situation and basic neonatal care facilities in this hospital and prevention of premature delivery could help to decrease morbidity and mortality in this group of neonatesPIP: Data on 329 consecutive very low birth weight (VLBW) (=or 1500 g) neonates born at the Kuala Lumpur Maternity Hospital in Malaysia were analyzed between January 1989 and April 1990 to determine causes of morbidity and mortality so the hospital could pinpoint priority areas to improve outcome in the time period before the hospital would actually upgrade its facilities . 95.7% of these newborns were born prematurely . The incidence of VLBW newborns was 9.9/1000 live births . The stay in the hospital after birth ranged from 1-127 days (mean 19.3 days) . The mortality rate for the VLBW neonates was 59.6% (196) . VLBW deaths made up 60% of all neonatal deaths in this hospital . Mortality risk factors included a birth weight of at most 1000 g (p .001) and gestational age less than 33 weeks (p .01) . The 3 most frequent causes of death of the VLBW neonates included respiratory distress syndrome (33.2%), septicemia (29.6%), and intraventricular hemorrhage (17.9%) . 67% of the VLBW infants with septicemia acquired the infection through poor hospital practices, as indicated by the fact that the most common pathogens were multiresistant Klebsiella (52.3%) and multiresistant Acinetobacter (14.7%) . Overcrowding of the special care nursery and shortage of nurses contributed to these suboptimal practices . Further, 71,1% of the VLBW newborns with septicemia died and most of them (89.1%) weighed more than 1000 g at birth . These results indicated the need for this hospital to take steps to improve the staffing situation and to provide an adequate number of incubators and ventilators . Singapore Med J, 1992 Feb, 33(1), 21 - 3 Medical intensive care unit utilization in an acute teaching hospital; Fok AC et al.; To ascertain the profile of medical intensive care unit (MICU) utilization in the Singapore General Hospital, a prospective survey studying 162 consecutive patients admitted to MICU was conducted over a four-month-period spanning September through December 1990 . While there was no racial predilection, male admissions (n = 98) outnumbered female (n = 64) by a ratio of 3:2 . Male admissions averaged 56.7 +/- 1.9 years (mean +/- SEM) vs 56.4 +/- 2.69 years in female (p = 0.98) . Sepsis comprised 25.3% (n = 41) of admissions during this period of which chest infection (n = 26) made up 63% . The superinfection rate was 3% comprising colonization of endotracheal and peritoneal dialysis tubes by Candida and Acinetobacter . There was a surprisingly high number of culture negative infections . These amounted to 43.9% (n = 18) out of 41 admissions for sepsis as the primary indication and 57.1% of admissions in which sepsis was an accompaniment of the main indication . The mean duration of ICU stay was 7.17 +/- 1.5 days for sepsis vs 4.7 +/- 0.5 days for admissions other than sepsis . Although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.79) it corroborates the prevalent impression that patients with sepsis tend to require longer intensive care . The overall mortality was 37% (n = 60) . The mortality for septic patients (42.5%) is alarmingly high . This contrasts with a mortality rate of 34.7% for non-septic patients . The issue of culture negative sepsis needs to be addressed . As it stands, septic patients stay longer than non-septic ones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Clin Pathol, 1992 Feb, 45(2), 168 - 70 Evaluation of Mast-ID 15 system for identification of fresh clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter; Shakespeare AP et al.; AIMS: To assess the accuracy of the Mast-ID 15 system compared with API 20 E for the identification of stock and fresh clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp; to compare the accuracy of 19 pin and 36 pin multipoint inoculator heads . METHODS: One hundred frozen stock cultures of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp which had previously been identified by the API 20E were classified by the Mast-ID using 19 and 36 pin multipoint inoculator heads . Reproducibility was determined by testing 36 randomly selected organisms in duplicate . Four hundred and sixty nine consecutive fresh clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp were identified by the Mast-ID using a 36 pin multipoint inoculator and by the API 20E . Reproducibility for the fresh isolates was determined by testing 96 randomly selected strains in duplicate . RESULTS: The Mast-ID 15 identified 82% and 85% of frozen strains to species level and reproducibility was 80% and 86% using 19 and 36 pin inoculator heads, respectively . Of the 469 fresh clinical isolates, the Mast-ID identified 70% of strains to species level; 19% were not identified and 11% were identified incorrectly by comparison with the API 20E . The Mast-ID achieved a reproducibility level of 80% with the fresh clinical isolates . CONCLUSIONS: The use of a 36 pin multipoint inoculator head in preference to the standard 19 pin head for the Mast-ID was advantageous as it allowed greater numbers of strains to be identified at a reduced cost . Unfortunately, in our hands, the Mast-ID system was insufficiently accurate for routine use in the clinical laboratory . Modifications to some of the problematic tests may result in a sufficient increase in accuracy and reproducibility to make the system beneficial in the routine clinical laboratory. Anaesthesia, 1992 Feb, 47(2), 153 - 5 The occurrence of bacteraemia associated with the use of oral and nasopharyngeal airways; Ali MT et al.; In order to determine whether placement of oral or nasopharyngeal airways during anaesthesia induces a significant bacteraemia, 36 ASA grade 1 or 2 patients undergoing body surface surgery, in whom it was anticipated that spontaneous respiration would be maintained, were randomly allocated to one of two groups . One group was given oral airways and the other, nasopharyngeal . A series of blood samples, which were taken before and after airway insertion, were cultured aerobically and anaerobically . Nasal and oral swabs were taken at the same time . Single isolates of Corynebacterium species and Acinetobacter species, together with two isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis were grown from one culture bottle from 4 of the 36 patients studied . None of the oral or nasal swabs, or any of the subsequent or previous blood samples produced positive cultures for these organisms in these four patients . We believe that these results represent skin commensal contamination rather than bacteraemia in these four patients, and that bacteriological considerations should not influence decisions about the type of airway used during anaesthesia . However, prophylactic antibiotic therapy should still be provided for all high risk cases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Feb, 11(2), 181 - 8 Antibacterial activity of the investigational oral and parenteral cephalosporin BK-218; Johnson DM et al.; BK-218 is a novel cephalosporin with a dual route of administration and spectrum of activity most similar to that of second-generation cephalosporins . BK-218 was active against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis but strains resistant to penicillins had higher MICs . BK-218 had greater activity (8-fold) than cefuroxime or cefaclor against oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus spp . Moderate BK-218 activity was observed against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and commonly isolated Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli (MIC90, 1 mg/l), Klebsiella spp . (MIC90, 2 mg/l), and Proteus mirabilis (MIC90, 2 mg/l) . The following organisms were generally BK-218-resistant (MIC90, greater than 16 mg/l): Bacteroides fragilis, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Xanthomonas maltophilia, Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., indole-positive Proteus, Serratia spp., enterococci and oxacillin-resistant staphylococci. J Chemother, 1992 Feb, 4(1), 12 - 5 Comparative in vitro activity of sparfloxacin (AT 4140, RP 64206--SPFX) against 275 multiresistant clinical isolates; Giamarellou H et al.; The in-vitro activity of sparfloxacin was compared with that of pefloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, ceftazidime, gentamicin and amikacin against 275 multiresistant nosocomial clinical isolates . They consisted of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37), Enterobacter cloacae (42), Acinetobacter anitratus (60), Klebsiella pneumoniae (37) and Staphylococcus sp (99) . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) and geometric mean MICs for sparfloxacin were as follows (mg/l): P . aeruginosa 128-23.7, E . cloacae 1-0.13, A . anitratus 2-0.14, K . pneumoniae 1-0.08, MRSA 16-0.98, MSSA 0.12-0.03, MRSE 0.25-0.12 and MSSE 0.12-0.05 . It is concluded that sparfloxacin was the most potent agent against staphylococci and A . anitratus including strains resistant to the other quinolones while ciprofloxacin was the most potent agent against P . aeruginosa, E . cloacae and K . pneumoniae. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1992 Feb, 11(2), 188 - 94 In vitro evaluation of E-4695, a new fluoro-naphthyridine; Jones RN; Compound E-4695, a C-7 azetidinyl fluoro-naphthyridine, was compared to six structurally related quinolones and was generally two- to four-fold more active than ciprofloxacin . E-4695 was particularly active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90 0.06 mg/l), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MIC90 0.5 mg/l), Klebsiella spp . (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.015 mg/l), Serratia marcescens (MIC90 0.06 mg/l), Acinetobacter spp . (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.015 mg/l), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC90 0.5 mg/l), Xanthomonas maltophilia (MIC90 0.5 mg/l), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.001 mg/l) . This new quinolone-like drug requires further investigations to confirm these promising in vitro findings. J Bacteriol, 1992 Feb, 174(4), 1426 - 7 A 24-amino-acid polypeptide is essential for the biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone; Goosen N et al.; At least four genes are required for the biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone (PQQ) in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The DNA region where one of these genes was mapped codes for a polypeptide of only 24 amino acids . Here we show that indeed this small peptide is essential for PQQ synthesis . Site-directed mutagenesis shows that at least one glutamate and one tyrosine residue of the polypeptide are essential for its function. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1992 Jan 15, 182(1), 367 - 71 Phosphorylation of Acinetobacter isocitrate lyase; Hoyt JC et al.; During growth on succinate, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus contains two forms of the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase . Addition of acetate to a lag-phase culture grown on succinate causes a dramatic increase in activity of form II of isocitrate dehydrogenase and in isocitrate lyase . Form II of isocitrate dehydrogenase may be responsible for the partition of isocitrate between the TCA cycle and the glyoxylate by-pass . This report describes the phosphorylation of the enzyme isocitrate lyase from A . calcoaceticus . This phosphorylation may be a regulatory mechanism for the glyoxylate by-pass. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1992 Jan, 29(1), 41 - 8 Comparative in-vitro activity of new quinolones against clinical isolates and resistant mutants; Rohner P et al.; The in-vitro activity of five new fluoroquinolones, WIN 57273, sparfloxacin, fleroxacin, temafloxacin and ciprofloxacin was determined against 543 recent clinical isolates and eight quinolone resistant strains derived by mutation and their five parent strains . WIN 57273 was the most active compound against Gram-positive bacteria, sparfloxacin had a broad spectrum which was similar to that of ciprofloxacin . Ciprofloxacin showed the greatest activity against Gram-negative bacteria . Temafloxacin showing some activity against Gram-positive organisms and Acinetobacter spp . Fleroxacin was the least active compound studied . Compared to wild type parent strains, the mutated strains produced the following results . In Enterobacter cloacae OmpF deficiency increased the MICs of all quinolones by 8-32-fold . In Pseudomonas aeruginosa OmpF deficiency had a limited effect, Omp D2 deficiency combined with an increased lipopolysaccharide content produced greater resistance, i.e . 4-16-fold; mutations in gyrase were associated with variously increased MICs, depending on the strain and compound tested. J Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 174(1), 200 - 4 Genetic analysis of supraoperonic clustering by use of natural transformation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Averhoff B et al.; DNA within Escherichia coli colonies carrying cloned Acinetobacter calcoaceticus genes transforms mutant A . calocaceticus cells with high efficiency . Therefore, E . coli colonies containing such cloned genes can be identified by replica plating onto a lawn of A . calcoaceticus mutant cells . Transformation of A . calcoaceticus also facilitates gap repair and thus allows recovery of specified chromosomal segments in recombinant plasmids . These procedures were used to demonstrate the clustering of A . calcoaceticus genes required for utilization of p-hydroxybenzoate . Chromosomal linkage of the bacterial genes, contained in different operons separated by about 10 kbp of DNA, may have been selected on the basis of their physiological interdependence. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1992, 18(2), 37 - 46 In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of meropenem, a new carbapenem antibiotic; Harabe E et al.; The in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of meropenem were compared with those of imipenem, ceftazidime, flomoxef, cefuzonam and cefotiam . Meropenem showed a broad antibacterial spectrum against clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . Against Gram-negative bacteria, with the exception of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, meropenem exhibited the most potent activity among the drugs tested . It inhibited all 330 strains of Enterobacteriaceae at 0.78 mg/l . Meropenem was sensitive against several cephem-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae . Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, meropenem was four-fold more active than imipenem and eight-fold more active than ceftazidime, with an MIC90 of 0.78 mg/l . The therapeutic effect of meropenem on systemic infection in mice was ten to twenty-fold less than that of imipenem against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae . However, meropenem was as effective as imipenem on infections of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Meropenem was eliminated from mice plasma two-fold faster than imipenem, with a plasma half-life of 7.6 min . From the above results the authors concluded that meropenem is a promising drug for clinical use. Int J Food Microbiol, 1992 Jan-Feb, 15(1-2), 61 - 75 Isolation and characterization by conventional methods and genetic transformation of Psychrobacter and Acinetobacter from fresh and spoiled meat, milk and cheese; Gennari M et al.; Of 126 samples of fresh and spoiled meat and dairy products, 40% were positive for the presence of Moraxella-like bacteria and 64% of Acinetobacter; 279 and 466 strains, respectively, were isolated and a part of these were tested by biochemical methods and DNA transformation assays . In some cases, the Moraxellaceae in the samples examined reached considerable quantitative levels, but their percentage in the microflora was generally low . Moraxella-like bacteria were predominant in fresh meat, Acinetobacter in spoiled meat and milk . Most acinetobacters belonged to biotype lwoffii (sensu lato) and all 90 strains tested were positive for DNA transformation with an auxotrophic Acinetobacter . Moraxella-like bacteria were identified as Psychrobacter immobilis in 96% of 103 transformation assays . Moraxellaceae show lipolytic activity but they are considered of low incidence in food spoilage . Only 3.7% of acinetobacters from dairy sources was able to produce ropy milk . Unlike strains from clinical isolates, psychrobacters and acinetobacters isolated from food often do not grow at 37 degrees C. Arch Microbiol, 1992, 157(4), 355 - 60 Plasmid transformation of naturally competent Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in non-sterile soil extract and groundwater; Lorenz MG et al.; The natural transformation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD413 (trpE27) was characterized with respect to features that might be important for a possible gene transfer by extracellular DNA in natural environments . Transformation of competent cells with chromosomal DNA (marker trp+) occurred in aqueous solutions of single divalent cations . Uptake of DNA into the DNase I-resistant state but not the binding of DNA to cells was strongly stimulated by divalent cations . An increase of transformation of nearly 3 orders of magnitude was obtained as a response to the presence of 0.25 mM Ca2+ . With CaCl2 solutions the transformation frequencies approached the highest values obtained under standard broth conditions, followed by MnCl2 and MgCl2 . It is concluded that transformation requires divalent cations . DNA competition experiments showed that A . calcoaceticus does not discriminate between homologous and heterologous DNA . Furthermore, circular plasmid DNA competed with chromosomal DNA fragments and vice versa . The equally efficient transformation with plasmid pKT210 isolated from A . calcoaceticus or Escherichia coli indicated absence of DNA restriction in transformation . High efficiency plasmid transformation was obtained in samples of non-sterile natural groundwater and in non-sterile extracts of fresh and air-dried soil . Heat-treatment (10 min, 80 degrees C) of the non-sterile liquid samples increased transformation only in the dried soil extract, probably by inactivation of DNases . The results presented suggest that competent cells of A . calcoaceticus can take up free high molecular weight DNA including plasmids of any source in natural environments such as soil, sediment or groundwater. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1992 Jan, 36(1), 233 - 8 In vitro evaluation of Ro 09-1227, a novel catechol-substituted cephalosporin; Jones RN et al.; Ro 09-1227 is a novel 7-position catechol-substituted parenteral cephalosporin that also has a 3-position radical similar to previously described cephems . The Ro 09-1227 spectrum was slightly wider than that of ceftazidime against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae tested, principally because of greater activity against species producing Richmond-Sykes type I beta-lactamases . Ro 09-1227 was also more active than ceftazidime against some strains producing extended-spectrum plasmid-encoded beta-lactamases, such as TEM-3, -4, -5, -6, -7, and -9, SHV-2 and -3, and CAZ-2 . Most strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas maltophilia, and Acinetobacter spp . were also more susceptible to Ro 09-1227 than cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone, and ceftazidime . Haemophilus influenzae (MIC for 90% of strains tested {MIC90}, 0.5 micrograms/ml), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC90, 0.015 micrograms/ml), and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.5 micrograms/ml) were also Ro 09-1227 susceptible . Ro 09-1227 activity against important gram-positive cocci was most comparable to that of ceftazidime . Bacteroides fragilis (MIC90, greater than 32 micrograms/ml) and the enterococci (MIC90, greater than 32 micrograms/ml) were resistant to Ro 09-1227 . These in vitro results indicate that this catechol-substituted cephalosporin may be useful as an empiric agent, especially for some isolates resistant to currently available broad-spectrum cephalosporins. Eur J Epidemiol, 1992 Jan, 8(1), 9 - 14 Identification of an epidemic strain of Acinetobacter baumannii using electrophoretic typing methods; Matar GM et al.; Nosocomial infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii dramatically increased in a Lebanese medical center following an outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon in 1984 . The incidence of infection caused by this organism has remained high in this institution, thus requiring the implementation of a strain typing system to aid in infection control . Three methods were investigated for their utility in differentiating among a representative group of 36 nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii isolates obtained over a 10 month period from specimens of hospitalized patients . Isolates were typed by antibiogram analyses, plasmid fingerprinting, and total cell protein profiles . Only three distinct total cell protein profiles were detected, with one pattern accounting for 26 (72.2%) of the isolates . However, eight different plasmid profiles were observed, with 20 (55.5%) isolates having the same profile . Eleven distinct antibiograms were seen with the most prevalent pattern occurring in 21 isolates . Twenty of the 21 (95%) isolates with the common antibiogram also had the same plasmid profile and total protein profile (44.4% of total isolates) . The combination of these three typing methods was useful in tracing the spread of these organisms in the medical center . The data obtained suggest the distribution of a common strain among at least six wards of this hospital. Clin Infect Dis, 1992 Jan, 14(1), 83 - 91 Community-acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia in the Northern Territory of Australia; Anstey NM et al.; Eleven cases of blood culture-positive, community-acquired pneumonia due to the human commensal Acinetobacter baumannii were studied in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia during the 10-year period from March 1981 through February 1991 . Demographic risk factors included male gender, age of greater than 45 years, and Aboriginal ethnic background . Multiple clinical risk factors, including cigarette smoking, alcoholism, chronic obstructive airway disease, and diabetes mellitus, were noted in all cases and contributed to the high mortality (64%) . In all cases pneumonia was clinically fulminant . A fatal outcome was strongly associated with inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy . All tested isolates of Acinetobacter were sensitive to gentamicin and resistant to cefotaxime . The 34 previously reported cases of community-acquired acinetobacter pneumonia are reviewed, and appropriate therapeutic regimens are identified. Bratisl Lek Listy, 1992 Jan, 93(1), 32 - 6 {Antibiotic therapy of infections in patients on dialysis}; Hassan M et al.; The results obtained in treating infections in 53 patients involved in a chronic dialysis-transplantation program are reported . Higher susceptibility to infections and reduced immune functions were observed in dialyzed patients . The problem of the occurrence rate of individual infections was analyzed and infections of the respiratory system, particularly bronchopneumonia, were found to be predominant . No patient died of infection; in two patients the prescribed antibiotic of first choice had to be changed; positive clinical and laboratory effect was recorded in 51 of the 53 patients treated, and after change of the antibiotic in all the patients . Particular regimens of individual antibiotics in dialyzed patients are given along with the dialyzability of the drugs . The best results were obtained with ofloxacin and doxycycline of Czecho-Slovak make in monotherapy, in combined treatment gentamycin an amikacin with cefamezin or with cefotaxim proved to be most effective . Of the 45 pathogenic agents isolated, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp, and Acinetobacter lwoffi, which have a good sensitivity to antibiotics, had the highest occurrence rates . (Tab . 4, Ref . 6.). Arch Microbiol, 1992, 157(5), 451 - 6 Purification of a periplasmic insulin-cleaving proteinase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Fricke B et al.; Cells of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus contain a constitutive periplasmic metalloproteinase showing similar properties as the periplasmic metalloproteinase of Escherichia coli . The periplasmic proteinase of A . calcoaceticus was purified, starting from periplasm, by ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and chromatofocusing up to the homogeneity of the enzyme in SDS-electrophoresis with a yield of 6.7% and a purification factor of 417 . The enzyme has a molecular mass of 108,000 (gel filtration) or 112,000 (native electrophoresis), and consists of four identical subunits with a molecular mass of 27,000 (SDS-electrophoresis) . The purified enzyme degrades preferentially polypeptides such as glucagon and insulin . Larger proteins are accepted as substrates to a considerably lower extent . All tested synthetic substrates with trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase and thermolysin specificity were not cleaved . Therefore, the described enzyme was designated "insulin-cleaving proteinase" (ICP). Scand J Infect Dis, 1992, 24(3), 357 - 60 Septicemia in granulocytopenic patients: a shift in bacterial etiology; Johansson PJ et al.; 35 episodes of septicemia in 33 patients occurred among 269 consecutive patients with granulocytopenia (granulocyte cell count less than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l) during the 7-year period 1982-1988 . 59% of isolated bacteria were Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staph . epidermidis, Streptococcus species and Pneumococcus) and 41% Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter and Citrobacter) . Compared to the 7-year period 1975-1981, there was a decrease in the relative number of patients with Gram-negative septicemia . Thus, a shift from a predominating Gram-negative etiology in the 1975-1981 period to a predominating Gram-positive etiology in the 1982-1988 period was noted . In both periods the mortality rate was high in patients with Gram-negative septicemia, especially in patients with a Ps, aeruginosa infection. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992, (9-10), 37 - 41 {The use of a method for the electrophoretic typing by protein profiles of bacteria in the genus Acinetobacter for epidemiological diagnosis}; Kolosovskaia EN et al.; On the basis of data obtained by the biological characterization and electrophoretic typing of Acinetobacter sp . cultures by the spectra of membrane proteins epidemiological relationships, routes of transmission and specific features of the circulation of strains causing purulent inflammatory diseases have been determined. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992 Jan, (1), 14 - 5 {The pathogenicity factors of bacteria in the genus Acinetobacter}; Gabisoniia TG et al.; Eighty Acinetobacter strains, isolated in Togliatti from patients with purulent inflammatory diseases, were studied to determine their pathogenicity factors . Out of these 80 strains, 32.5% were found to have enterotoxigenic activity and 46.2%, adhesive activity . They were related to adhesins of the human type and to adhesins of the sheep, rabbit, swine and guinea pig types . But the most important phenomenon established in this study was the combination of different pathogenicity factors detected in Acinetobacter bacteria . Analysis of the combination of pathogenicity factors revealed that 7.5% of Acinetobacter strains had adhesive and enterotoxigenic activity, 15.3% of these strains combined adhesive and hemolytic activity and 1.2% of them were found to be enterotoxigenic and hemolytic . Only 5.0% of Acinetobacter strains were found to carry all there pathogenicity factors simultaneously. J Hosp Infect, 1992 Jan, 20(1), 43 - 50 Sepsis associated with transhepatic cholangiography; Sacks-Berg A et al.; A retrospective study was carried out of 74 elderly patients with obstructive jaundice undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and/or percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) in order to assess the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on the incidence of fever and sepsis complicating these procedures . Seventeen patients underwent PTC alone, while 57 had both PTC and PBD . Fifty-three patients had either primary or metastatic malignancy . In the other patients with benign disease, choledocholithiasis was the most common reason for undertaking these procedures . Prophylactic antibiotics were given in 80% of cholangiographies and 93% of biliary drainage procedures . There was an overall incidence of sepsis of 13.5% . Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter anitratus were the most common blood culture isolates in patients with malignant biliary obstruction . The incidence of fever was no different between patients who underwent PTC alone compared with those who had PTC and PBD . Of 24 patients who developed fever, two died secondary to sepsis . Although there was no difference in the rate of sepsis and febrile episodes between the two groups, the risk of septic episodes and mortality emphasizes the need for antibiotic prophylaxis and early therapy in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous biliary drainage procedures. Chemotherapy, 1992, 38(5), 308 - 18 The comparative activity of fleroxacin, three other quinolones and eight unrelated antimicrobial agents; McCarter YS et al.; The in vitro activity of fleroxacin, a new trifluorinated quinolone was evaluated against 432 bacterial isolates . Fleroxacin was 1- to 2-fold less active than ciprofloxacin and at least as active as ofloxacin and lomefloxacin against most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae . The MICs of fleroxacin for 90% of strains tested (MIC90) were < or = 0.25 micrograms/ml against all isolates of Enterobacteriaceae except Citrobacter freundii (MIC90, 4 micrograms/ml) and Serratia marcescens (MIC90, 2 micrograms/ml) . Fleroxacin was as active as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and lomefloxacin against Pseudomonas spp, (MIC90 for all quinolones tested were > 8 micrograms/ml) . Acinetobacter and Haemophilus influenzae were very susceptible to fleroxacin; however fleroxacin was 1-fold less active than lomefloxacin against Acinetobacter and at least 1-fold less active than ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin against H . influenzae . Methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin-susceptible strains of S . aureus were very susceptible to fleroxacin, with an MIC90 < or = 1 microgram/ml (range 0.5-1 microgram/ml) . Methicillin-resistant S . aureus and Staphylococcus spp . other than aureus and epidermidis were not susceptible to fleroxacin (MIC90 > 8 micrograms/ml) . In addition, fleroxacin as well as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and lomefloxacin were inactive against Enterococcus spp . (MIC90 > 8 micrograms/ml) . Streptococcus pneumoniae and S . pyogenes were resistant to both fleroxacin and lomefloxacin but were very susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin . These results suggest that fleroxacin represents a valid therapeutic option in the treatment of infections caused by most Enterobacteriaceae and some species of staphylococcus. Chemotherapy, 1992, 38(2), 99 - 106 In vitro activity of sparfloxacin (CI-978), a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone; Qadri SM et al.; The in vitro activity of sparfloxacin (CI-978, AT-4140), a new fluoroquinolone, was compared with ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and other commonly used antimicrobial agents against 650 strains of Enterobacteriaceae, 237 isolates of other gram-negative bacilli and 318 strains of gram-positive cocci . The MICs of sparfloxacin against 90% of the members of Enterobacteriaceae were between 0.12 and 0.5 microgram/ml . All the 48 isolates of notoriously drug-resistant Serratia marcescens were inhibited by less than 0.03-4.0 micrograms/ml of sparfloxacin . All the 90 isolates of Acinetobacter, 80 of the 88 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all the 28 isolates of Xanthomonas maltophilia were susceptible to sparfloxacin . The MIC90 for all the cocci tested ranged between 0.5 and 4.0 micrograms/ml of sparfloxacin . It inhibited 92% of enterococci as compared with 27% for ciprofloxacin and 22% for norfloxacin . It was better or comparable in activity to other fluoroquinolones and superior to penicillins, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides tested . There was cross-resistance between ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and sparfloxacin. Chemotherapy, 1992, 38(2), 92 - 8 Antibacterial activity of the new quinolone CI-960 (PD 127391) against clinical isolates at a major tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia; Qadri SM et al.; The antibacterial activity of the new fluoroquinolone CI-960 (PD 127391) was evaluated against 1,162 clinical isolates and compared with other quinolones and various commonly used antibiotics . CI-960 was highly effective against members of Enterobacteriaceae inhibiting 626 of the 629 isolates at a less than or equal to 0.03 to 0.12 microgram/ml concentration . All the 305 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomona maltophilia, and Acinetobacter were susceptible to CI-960 . It was the only effective drug against 10 multi-resistant isolates of pseudomonads and Acinetobacter . All staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, were inhibited by less than or equal to 0.03-0.5 microgram/ml of CI-960 . Like other drugs of its class, it had little activity against enterococci. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Jan, 58(1), 335 - 45 Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for citrate synthase from a thermotolerant Bacillus sp; Schendel FJ et al.; The structural gene coding for citrate synthase from the gram-positive soil isolate Bacillus sp . strain C4 (ATCC 55182) capable of secreting acetic acid at pH 5.0 to 7.0 in the presence of dolime has been cloned from a genomic library by complementation of an Escherichia coli auxotrophic mutant lacking citrate synthase . The nucleotide sequence of the entire 3.1-kb HindIII fragment has been determined, and one major open reading frame was found coding for citrate synthase (ctsA) . Citrate synthase from Bacillus sp . strain C4 was found to be a dimer (Mr, 84,500) with a subunit with an Mr of 42,000 . The N-terminal sequence was found to be identical with that predicted from the gene sequence . The kinetics were best fit to a bisubstrate enzyme with an ordered mechanism . Bacillus sp . strain C4 citrate synthase was not activated by potassium chloride and was not inhibited by NADH, ATP, ADP, or AMP at levels up to 1 mM . The predicted amino acid sequence was compared with that of the E . coli, Acinetobacter anitratum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rickettsia prowazekii, porcine heart, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes. Arch Inst Pasteur Alger, 1992, 58, 41 - 84 {Comparative activities in vitro of 4 quinolones (nalidixic acid, pefloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin) on 13 bacterial species}; Rahal K; Nalidixic acid and three fluoroquinolones were tested on 389 strains belonging to 13 bacterial species, all isolated in Algeria . Ofloxacin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin have the same activities on E . coli, Acinetobacter and S . aureus . Norfloxacin has the best activity on Proteus, Enterobacter, Shigella and Klebsiella . Norfloxacin and ofloxacin have the same activities on S . typhi, Salmonella and choleric Vibrio . Norfloxacin has the same activity than pefloxacin on P . aeruginosa . It is necessary to prescribe a quinolone in the right way and to consider the pharmacokinetic properties. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 1992, 44(1-2), 41 - 8 {Occurrence of species from Acinetobacter genus in clinical material and other sources}; Gospodarek E et al.; The analysis regarded 304 strains of Acinetobacter genus isolated from various diagnostic materials, objects from hospital environment and from non-hospital sources (soil, water, various animals) . Applying API ZONE system, five species were isolated: Acinetobacter juni, (18.42%), Acinetobacter baumanii (70.39%), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (5.59%), Acinetobacter lwoffii (4.6%) and Acinetobacter johnsonii (0.99%) . Most frequently isolated species were present in purulent materials and in samples from respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections . Over 47% Acinetobacter species strains were present in clinical material as single aerobic bacteria. Acta Leprol, 1992, 8(2), 103 - 4 Leprosy in HIV-positive and syphilitic young Paraguayan man; Graf von Ballestrem W et al.; In a borderline lepromatous patient a positive serology for syphilis and HIV 1 has been detected . The patient also had an urinary tract infection with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . In Paraguay up till now no leprosy cases infected with HIV have been reported. Am J Med, 1991 Dec 30, 91(6A), 19S - 23S In vitro activity of temafloxacin against gram-negative bacteria: an overview; Hardy DJ; The in vitro activities of temafloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin against gram-negative bacteria are compared . The 90% minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC90s) of temafloxacin for respiratory pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis, Bordetella pertussis, and Legionella pneumophila are less than or equal to 0.06 micrograms/mL . Temafloxacin is also active against bacterial agents of sexually transmitted diseases, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.015 micrograms/mL) and Chlamydia trachomatis (MIC90 0.25 micrograms/mL) . For strains of Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Aeromonas, and Acinetobacter, temafloxacin is generally inhibitory at less than or equal to 0.5 micrograms/mL . The MIC90 of temafloxacin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa is higher than that of ciprofloxacin, approximately 4 micrograms/mL versus 0.5 micrograms/mL . This activity, combined with its pharmacokinetic characteristics, should make temafloxacin an effective antimicrobial agent against infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Gene, 1991 Dec 20, 109(1), 63 - 9 Sequence and linkage analysis of the Coxiella burnetii citrate synthase-encoding gene; Heinzen RA et al.; The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the Coxiella burnetii citrate synthase-encoding gene (gltA), previously cloned in Escherichia coli, was determined . The nt sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 1290 bp capable of coding for a protein of 430 amino acids (aa) with a deduced Mr of 48,633 . Preceding an ATG start codon, a possible transcription start point (tsp) with homology to the E . coli promoter consensus was detected . A poly-purine-rich region occurred immediately upstream from the gltA reading frame and potentially serves as a ribosome-binding site . Additionally, a G + C-rich region of dyad symmetry 3' to the translational stop codon was found that could possibly function as a Rho-independent transcriptional termination signal . A large, nearly perfect, inverted repeat was identified upstream from the gltA tsp and was shown by Southern analysis to be present in multiple copies in the C . burnetii genome . The deduced aa sequence of C . burnetii GltA was optimally aligned with enzymes from various prokaryotic sources and one eukaryotic source (pig heart) . Using perfect aa identity, the C . burnetii enzyme demonstrated the greatest homology with GltA from Acinetobacter anitratum (65%) . Although only 26% aa identity was seen with the pig heart enzyme, many of the residues identified in ligand binding appear to be conserved . Sequencing studies of a region centered approx . 5.6 kb upstream from gltA revealed an ORF read with opposite polarity that encodes a peptide highly homologous to the C terminus of the flavoprotein subunit of E . coli succinate dehydrogenase . This report represents the first nt sequence analysis of a gene of known function from the obligate intracellular parasite, C . burnetii. J Bacteriol, 1991 Dec, 173(23), 7540 - 8 Potential DNA slippage structures acquired during evolutionary divergence of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus chromosomal benABC and Pseudomonas putida TOL pWW0 plasmid xylXYZ, genes encoding benzoate dioxygenases; Harayama S et al.; The xylXYZ DNA region is carried on the TOL pWW0 plasmid in Pseudomonas putida and encodes a benzoate dioxygenase with broad substrate specificity . The DNA sequence of the region is presented and compared with benABC, the chromosomal region encoding the benzoate dioxygenase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Corresponding genes from the two biological sources share common ancestry: comparison of aligned XylX-BenA, XylY-BenB, and XylZ-BenC amino acid sequences revealed respective identities of 58.3, 61.3, and 53% . The aligned genes have diverged to assume G+C contents that differ by 14.0 to 14.9% . Usage of the unusual arginine codons AGA and AGG appears to have been selected in the P . putida xylX gene as it diverged from the ancestor it shared with A . calcoaceticus benA . Homologous A . calcoaceticus and P . putida genes exhibit different patterns of DNA sequence repetition, and analysis of one such pattern suggests that mutations creating different DNA slippage structures made a significant contribution to the evolutionary divergence of xylX. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Dec, 28(6), 791 - 800 Mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Obara M et al.; Examination of 12 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus revealed that the strains expressed different constitutive levels of beta-lactamase . Mutants resistant to cefoxitin, cefoperazone or ceftazidime were selected from a strain producing a low level of beta-lactamase . All the mutants showed no change in expression of beta-lactamase, but produced penicillin-binding proteins with altered expression and/or affinity for beta-lactams . In addition, the outer membrane of the mutants showed decreased permeability (40-80% that of the parent strain) towards small hydrophilic solutes, together with diminished production of a 46.5 kDa porin protein . It was concluded that the enhanced resistance to beta-lactams in the A . calcoaceticus mutants was the result of interplay between the altered penicillin binding proteins and the reduced outer membrane permeability. Br J Audiol, 1991 Dec, 25(6), 427 - 8 A microbiological hazard in caloric testing; Baguley DM et al.; The use of caloric testing is widespread in hospital audiology departments . This paper describes contamination of the caloric water tanks with the organism Acinetobacter anitratus and the changes in practice instituted to eliminate this risk to patients. Am J Med, 1991 Nov, 91(5), 479 - 83 Association of contaminated gloves with transmission of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus in an intensive care unit; Patterson JE et al.; PURPOSE: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus is an important nosocomial pathogen that has been associated with environmental reservoirs . An increased isolation rate of A . anitratus in our intensive care units (ICUs), from 0.03% (two of 7,800) to 0.5% (seven of 1,300) (p less than 0.00003), prompted an investigation . PATIENTS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: Ten patients were admitted to the surgical ICU and nine to the medical ICU during the outbreak period (late December 1987 to January 1988) . Controls were all patients on the units who were not infected or colonized with the transmitted strain of A . anitratus . Three patients had A . anitratus pneumonia . A throat culture prevalence survey demonstrated three patients colonized with A . anitratus . Cases were placed in a cohort and symptomatic cases treated . An epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify reservoirs and modes of transmission . Latex gloves were being used for universal precautions without routine changing of gloves between patients . Environmental sources culture-positive for A . antitratus included a small volume medication nebulizer and gloves in use for patient care . Plasmid typing showed that plasmid profiles of isolates from two symptomatic patients, two colonized patients, the nebulizer, and the gloves were identical . Other A . anitratus ICU isolates had distinct plasmid profiles . All patients with the transmitted strain had been in the surgical ICU . The need for changing gloves between patients and contaminated body sites was reinforced . CONCLUSION: Gloves, used incorrectly for universal precautions, may potentially transmit A . anitratus. J Bacteriol, 1991 Nov, 173(21), 6844 - 8 Purification and characterization of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isocitrate lyase; Hoyt JC et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is capable of growing on acetate or compounds that are metabolized to acetate . During adaptation to growth on acetate, A . calcoaceticus B4 exhibits an increase in NADP(+)-isocitrate dehydrogenase and isocitrate lyase activities . In contrast, during adaptation to growth on acetate, Escherichia coli exhibits a decrease in NADP(+)-isocitrate dehydrogenase activity that is caused by reversible phosphorylation of specific serine residues on this enzyme . Also, in E . coli, isocitrate lyase is believed to be active only in the phosphorylated form . This phosphorylation of isocitrate lyase may regulate entry of isocitrate into the glyoxylate bypass . To understand the relationships between these two isocitrate-metabolizing enzymes and the metabolism of acetate in A . calcoaceticus B4 better, we have purified isocitrate lyase to homogeneity . Physical and kinetic characterization of the enzyme as well as the inhibitor specificity and divalent cation requirement have been examined. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1991 Nov-Dec, 14(6), 473 - 83 In vitro activity of RU29246 . The metabolite of a new HR916 cephalosporin ester; Jones RN et al.; Compound RU29246 (RU) is the active metabolite of an orally absorpted cephalosporin ester HR916 . The RU spectrum of activity includes the majority of Enterobacteriaceae species, Haemophilus influenzae, pathogenic Neisseria spp., Moraxella catarrhalis, Acinetobacter antiratus, staphylococci, and Streptococcus spp . Pseudomonas species and enterococci were routinely resistant to RU . The RU spectrum was most similar to cefixime against the Gram-negative bacilli and to cefuroxime against the Gram-positive organisms . RU was bactericidal and its mean inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were not greatly increased by high inoculum concentrations . Many strains producing various beta-lactamases generally remained susceptible to RU by MIC tests . However, isolates with extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases capable of hydrolyzing cefotaxime