J Infect Dis, 1977 Feb, 135(2), 308 - 12 Rectal colonization with group B streptococcus: relation to vaginal colonization of pregnant women; Badri MS et al.; Anorectal carriage as a possible primary source of vaginal colonization by group B Streptococcus was investigated . The study was performed during two separate periods and included 789 pregnant women and 422 neonates . Specimens from multiple sites were obtained for culture from all women and infants and were streaked onto blood agar plates containing 8 mug of gentamicin sulfate/ml and 15 mug of nalidixic acid/ml, which allow selective growth of streptococci . Cultures positive for group B streptococci were obtained from 162 (20.5%) of the pregnant women and from 50 (11.8%) of the neonates . Rectal cultures were positive for streptococci in 142 (17.9%) of the women, and vaginal cultures gave positive results in 81 (10.2%) . The higher incidence of positive results in rectal as opposed to vaginal cultures (ratio of 2:1) was encountered during all phases of the study . This finding suggests that the gastrointestinal tract may be the primary site of colonization by group B Streptococcus and that vaginal colonization may represent contamination from this source. J Infect Dis, 1977 Feb, 135(2), 267 - 74 Postnatal development of binding of streptococci and lipoteichoic acid by oral mucosal cells of humans; Ofek I et al.; The colonization of mucosal cells in the oral cavity of newborn infants was studied at various intervals after birth in an attempt to define the nature of the epithelial binding sites for group A streptococci and their lipoteichoic acid (LTA) . Stained smears of buccal mucosal cells showed that the average number of naturally acquired bacteria/cell was zero to one in infants less than one day old, one to four in infants one day old, and 11-19 in infants two days old . Samples of the same mucosal cells were incubated with group A streptococci, and the average number of streptococci bound per cell was 10-31 in infants less than one day old, 33-62 in one-day-old infants, and 75-100 in two-day-old infants . Experiments that were repeated with group B streptococci type III produced similar results . LTA, the substance that mediates the binding of streptococci to epithelial cells, was similarly bound by fewer buccal mucosal cells obtained within 6 hr of birth than cells obtained during the next 48 hr . Streptococcal and LTA binding reached adult levels between 48 and 72 hr after birth . No difference was shown in the streptococcal binding capacity of oral epithelial cell obtained from mothers at term and cells obtained from other normal adults . Preincubation of adult buccal cells with amniotic fluid did not decrease streptococcal binding . These studies demonstrated a scant capacity of the oral mucosal cells of neonates to bind LTA and streptococci and suggest that LTA-binding sites are developed or unmasked during the first few days after birth. Am J Clin Pathol, 1977 Feb, 67(2), 190 - 5 Postmortem bacteriology and pneumonia in a mentally retarded population; Polednak AP; Postmortem pathologic and bacteriologic reports were analyzed for 237 deaths occurring at a large institution for the mentally retarded from 1958 to 1973 . Bronchopneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, and lipid pneumonia were frequently reported at autopsy, and in a total of 146 cases (61.6%) at least one type of pneumonia was reported . Postmortem bacteriologic cultures in a smaller group revealed high recovery rates of staphylococci (coagulase-positive), hemolytic streptococci, and gram-negative bacilli in throat and lung cultures . Enteric aerobic gram-negative bacilli were particularly frequent along with yeast (Candida albicans) . The institutionalized retarded appear similar to other hospitalized populations, in that a large proportion of hospital-acquired respiratory infections is related to aerobic gram-negative bacilli . The high frequency of aspiration and its sequelae in this population is unusual, however, and post-mortem bacteriologic findings appear consistent with those of antemortem studies of cases of aspiration pneumonia. Johns Hopkins Med J, 1977 Feb, 140(2), 37 - 46 Neonatal sepsis at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1969-1975: bacterial isolates and clinical correlates; Crosson FJ Jr et al.; The experience with neonatal sepsis at The Johns Hopkins Hospital during 1969-1975 was reviewed . Major pathogens included Escherichia coli, group B streptococcus, other streptococci, and Klebsiella . Nineteen percent of coliform isolates were kanamycin-resistant . The frequency of recovery of E . coli was increased in early-onset sepsis, and the frequency of recovery of Klebsiella was increased in late-onset sepsis . The mortality rate was 23% . The frequency of recovery of E . coli was increased in fatal cases, and mortality was highly correlated with the presence of gastrointestinal catastrophe . Ampicillin and gentamicin are the initial antibiotics of choice for neonatal sepsis at this institution; a penicillinase-resistant penicillin should be added when Staphylococcus aureus involvement is likely, and addition of chloramphenicol or clindamycin should be considered for infants at increased risk for Bacteroides fragilis sepsis. Aust N Z J Med, 1977 Feb, 7(1), 32 - 5 Bacteraemia following oesophageal dilatation and oesophago-gastroscopy; Stephenson PM et al.; Significant, but asymptomatic, bacteraemia after oesophageal dilatation with Hurst's bougies for oesophageal stricture or spasm was detected in six of 11 patients . No bacteraemia was identified in ten volunteers without oesophageal pathology, who underwent passage of the same dilators . After oesophago-gastroscopy significant bacteraemia was identified in one of ten patients examined . The predominant bacterial isolates were streptococci ("Streptococcus viridans" and non-haemolytic Streptococcus sp.) . All the strains were sensitive in vitro to penicillin, amplicillin and cephalosporins . Any of these antibiotics are considered suitable for prophylactic use prior to performing oesophageal dilatation and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in "at risk" patients . The risk of bacteraemia is much lower after endoscopy than oesophageal dilatation for stricture or oesophageal spasm . Mucosal trauma is concluded as the site of entry of pharyngeal commensals leading to bacteraemia; and the incidence of bacteraemia appears related to the degree of trauma to the oesophagus. J Dent Res, 1977 Feb, 56(2), 157 - 65 Competitive binding among oral strptococci to hydroxyapatite; Liljemark WF et al.; The relative affinity of various oral streptococci for hydroxyapatite (HA) differed widely . Streptococcus mutans affinity for dextran-coated HA was the highest of all the streptococci to any HA coating . S salivarius had the lowest affinity, and S sanguis affnity was higher then S miteor for saliva-coated HA . Competition for binding sites on saliva-dextran-coated, dextran-coated HA . Hhwever, competition between this pair was not for the same binding site but for closely associated sites. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Feb, 237(1), 35 - 43 Typing of Group A streptococci from an urban area (Köln) in West Germany; Lutticken R et al.; Two-hundred and twenty strains of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) from the urban area of Koln, West Germany have been typed by M precipitin and T agglutination tests . Determination of streptococcal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide glycohydrolase (NADase) production and the serum opacity reaction (SOR) have also been performed . 65.5% of the isolates could be typed by the M precipitin reaction . 92.1% of the remaining strains could be identified by their T protein antigens and could be further subdivided according to their NADase/SOR pattern . Most of the M typable strains originated from upper respiratory tract infections (including scarlet fever), whereas the majority of the M nontypable streptocci had been isolated from skin, wound, and other non-respiratory sites. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Feb, (2), 27 - 32 {Relationship between the virulence of a culture and the presence of common (non-type-specific) antigens in strains of group A streptococcus of different types}; Akimova VV et al.; In studying common (nontypespecific) antigens sensitivity to trypsin there was shown their wide distribution among the cultures of streptococcus, group A, belonging to different types and containing M-proteins . The antigen No . 1, identical to one of the antigens of the thermostable fraction was found in the cultures, irrespective of the degree of their virulence . The antigen No . 2 was characteristic of only virulent cultures obtained after the increase of the virulence and forming matt-form colonies . Both of the antigens were referred to the category of R-antigens . The presence of the nonspecific antigens in the hydrochloric extracts should be taken into consideration in typing streptococci of group A and determination of M-antigens. J Immunol, 1977 Feb, 118(2), 673 - 8 Antigenic specificity of opsonophagocytic antibodies in rabbit anti-sera to group B streptococci; Baltimore RS et al.; An opsonophagocytic assay has been developed which requires human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, immune serum, and complement for optimal killing of Group B streptococci . Only with all three of these components was killing of greater than 1.0 log10 of the initial inoculum achieved, using rabbit antisera directed to homologous strains of each of the five known serotypes of Group B streptococci . Titers of specific antisera which opsonized the strains and resulted in greater than 1 log 10 reduction of colony-forming units, ranged from 1:100 (serotype Ib) to 1:3200 (serotype Ia) . Cross-reactions between serotype-specific sera and heterologous strains were seen in certain instances . Type Ic strain and serotype Ic antiserum demonstrated cross-reactions with types Ia and Ib which were explainable by known shared antigens among these types . The only other cross-reaction which resulted in greater than 1 log 10 reduction in colony-forming units was when unabsorbed antiserum to strain Ia was used to opsonize a strain of serotype III . Opsonization of 10 serotype III strains was demonstrated with a single type III antiserum . Killing of nine of these strains required polymorphonuclear leukocytes, complement, and antiserum, but one strain, D136C, the reference strain, could be killed (greater than 1 log 10 reduction in colony-forming units) without either complement or specific antiserum . Inhibition studies were performed utilizing large m.w . polysaccharide antigens extracted from each serotype . These antigens inhibited opsonization of homologous strains by homologous antisera with 50% inhibition points ranging between 0.5 and 4 mug. Br Med J, 1977 Jan 15, 1(6054), 131 - 3 Tetracycline resistance in pneumococci and group A streptococci . Report of an ad-hoc study group on antibiotic resistance; Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in African children; Streptococcal infection remains almost the sole cause of the clinical syndrome of acute glomerulonephritis in African children . Evidence for this is in elevated levels of antistreptolysin "O" (ASO) titre in 93% of 28 patients and growth of Group Abeta haemolytic streptococci from the skin and throat in 32% . Spread of infection from the skin, where lesions were present in all patients, to the throat would account for positive cultures at both sites and the frequent and vigorous antistreptolysin "O" responses . Clinical recovery occurred in most within seven days and in all within 60 days of admission . IgG and IgA, but not IgM, were increased in patients; C4 was normal in the majority and low in seven out of 24 (29%), C3 was diminished in 26 out of 28 (93%) and the mean level of C3 PA was lower than in controls . Total haemolytic complement paralleled C3 values; C3 breakdown products were not detected in any patient . Renal biopsies in seven out of 28 patients showed typical histological changes of diffuse exudative proliferative glomerulonephritis on light microscopy and fibrinogen and C3 on immunofluorescent staining . These findings suggest that events leading to glomerular damage in acute post-streptococcal nephritis in African children involve activation of both classical and alternative pathways of complement proteins and also confirm the well recognized and predictable nature of the disease, irrespective of geographical distribution. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1977, 71(3), 204 - 9 Endemic pyoderma in Ghana: a survey in rural villages; Belcher DW et al.; The prevalence and characteristics of pyoderma in a randomly sampled rural population in Ghana has been studied . Findings are compared with studies reported in recent literature which describe pyoderma in other countries . In the present study, conducted in 1975 as part of the Danfa Project's Village Health Survey, pyoderma was diagnosed in 19.4% of villagers examined . Peak rates occurred in the five to nine-year-old age group, and pyoderma was more prevalent among males and unskilled labourers and farmers than among those engaged in more sedentary occupations . Non-bullous impetigo was most common (72% of lesions) and, in contrast to other studies, non-group A-streptococci predominated in these lesions (82% of streptococcal lesions were Group G, 18% Group C) . Current knowledge of transmission and control of pyoderma is discussed. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1977 Jan, 11(1), 99 - 104 {A case of pulmonary moniliasis following the misuse of antibiotics}; Yazicioglu A et al.; Our patient is a 30 year old, married female, with one daughter . She has been coughing about 200-250 cc purulent, blood stained sputum per day for the last three years . In the microscopic examination of sputum, abundant leukocytes, a small quantity of red blood cells and epithelia were found . Elastic fibres were absent . In cultures C . albicans and beta hemolytic streptococci were isolated . Coughing, sputum, and scattered moist rales at the bases (see the chest x-rays) were found clinically . Other systems were normal . An amelioration began on the third day of mycostatin treatment . There was complete healing by the tenth day of the treatment. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1977 Jan, 11(1), 117 - 9 {Results of bacitracin sensitivity tests on 250 beta hemolytic streptococcal strains}; Berkman E et al.; On blood agar plates prepared from tryptose blood agar base (Difco) containing 5% defibrinated sheep blood cultures were done . After overnight incubation plates were examined and beta hemolytic streptococci tested with Taxo A (Difco) disks . 234 of them came out sensitive. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 33(1), 38 - 42 End products and fermentation balances for lactic streptococci grown aerobically on low concentrations of glucose; Brown WV et al.; Maximum acetate produced aerobically by Streptococcus diacetilactis and Streptococcus cremoris was 14% of 1 to 7 mumol of glucose/ml in a partially defined medium that contained lipoic acid . Y (glucose) values were 35.3 (S . diacetilactis) and 31.4 (S . cremoris) with low concentrations (1 to 7 mumol/ml) of glucose in the medium and 21 (S . diacetilactis) with higher concentrations (6 to 15 mumol/ml) . Y (adenosine 5'-triphosphate) values for the bacteria, determined by taking into account the end products produced, were 15.6 and 13.9 for S . diacetilactis and S . cremoris, respectively, in the partially defined medium containing 1 to 7 mumol of glucose/ml and higher (21.5 and 18.9, respectively) in a complex medium that contained 2 mumol of glucose/ml . Addition of citrate in addition to glucose did not result in higher molar growth yields. Cornell Vet, 1977 Jan, 67(1), 81 - 91 Detection of antibody to the antiphagocytic factor produced by group E streptococci; Wessman GE et al.; Tests for opsonic activity, long chain formation, and precipitins were investigated for ability to detect antibodies to the antiphagocytic factor of group E streptococci . Rabbits, hyperimmunized to serum-grown group E streptococci developed antibodies to the antiphagocytic factor detectable after 2 weeks by the opsonic activity and long chain tests and at 4 to 6 weeks by a precipitin test in which a slide micro double diffusion method was used . Antiphagocytic factor antibodies were dected in swine serums 2 weeks after the swine were experimentally infected, and the antibodies persisted at the end of the experiment at 20 weeks . Demonstration of the antibodies in swine serum was made with the opsonic activity or long chains tests but not with the precipitin test. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc, 1977, 89, 36 - 48 The species of viridans streptococci associated with microbial endocarditis: incidence and antimicrobial susceptibility; Roberts RB et al.; Streptococcal endocarditis has been well recognized for decades and over the years investigators at The New York Hospital have defined many of the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities currently employed in patients with this disease . In this study, speciation of the viridans streptococci has provided new insights into the relative frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these organisms . Indeed, recent studies also suggest that S . milleri endocarditis is associated with a high incidence of suppurative complications and that patients with S . bovis endocarditis may have a significant incidence of underlying but asymptomatic lower gastrointestinal malignancies . Further studies correlating viridans streptococcal species with other clinical and laboratory parameters of endocarditis should provide additional insights into this disease. Zentralbl Gynakol, 1977, 99(23), 1409 - 12 {Demonstration of an agglutination-like nature of haptoglobins against streptococci with T4-antigen through the examination of umbilical cord sera}; Prokop O et al.; The determinability of haptoglobin types is correlated with the titers of agglutination against streptococci carrying the T4 antigen . If the haptoglobin types in cord-sera cannot be determined (as a result of the physiological binding of haptoglobins) the agglutination reaction fails or the titers are greatly diminished . The dimorphism, which was found in sera of adults, can be demonstrated in cord sera, too, if they can be typed . It is concluded that the observed reaction between Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1 sera with T4-streptococci is caused by the haptoglobin itself. Microbios, 1977, 19(75), 45 - 54 Trimethoprim-resistant bacteria: cross-resistance patterns; Grey D et al.; One hundred and eighty one strains (clinically isolated) of trimethoprim-resistant bacteria were tested for sensitivity to proguanil, pyrimethamine, methotrexate and methasquin . All these agents had less intrinsic antibacterial activity than trimethoprim, and there was marked cross-resistance between trimethoprim on the one hand and pyrimethamine and methasquin on the other . Methotrexate was of very low activity against Gram-negative bacilli, but was highly inhibitory for streptococci . Proguanil had approximately the same activity for all the organisms tested, and appears not to act as an anti-folate agent. Acta Biol Med Ger, 1977, 36(2), K11 - 2 {Human haptoglobin type and G-streptococci: a safe and unexpected relation}; Prokop O et al.; By testing 167 human sera a surprising dimorphism could be found . All sera of the haptoglobin type hp 1-1 belong to the group with an anti-G streptococci titer in the range of 1:0 to 1:10 whereas sera of the types hp 2-1 and hp 2-2 do have titers in the range between 1:200 and 1:3200 or more . All tests are carried out in the double blind technique. South Med J, 1977 Jan, 70(1), 41 - 2 Penicillin V therapy for streptococcal pharyngitis: comparison of dosage schedules; Spitzer TQ et al.; Two dosage regimens of penicillin V were compared in 327 patients with mild to moderately severe streptococcal pharyngitis . Patients fulfilling study criteria were randomly assigned to a b.i.d . or a t.i.d . dosage schedule . Those in the b.i.d . group were given 500 mg twice daily; those in the t.i.d . group were given 250 mg three times daily . Duration of therapy was ten days for both groups . Cure was based on prompt symptomatic improvement, subsidence of clinical signs, and negative throat cultures for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci . Both dosage schedules yielded similar cure rates, indicating that with penicillin V, a b.i.d . regimen is as effective as a t.i.d . regimen in treating streptococcal pharyngitis. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 33(1), 184 - 91 Incidence and properties of temperate bacteriophages induced from lactic streptococci; Huggins AR et al.; Sixty-three strains of lactic streptococci isolated from commercial lactic streptococcal starter cultures were examined for lysogeny by treatment with ultraviolet light or mitomycin C . After treatment with the inducing agent, all strains, whether or not they lysed, were examined for evidence of phage release by electron microscopy . Thirty-eight strains yielded intact phages or phage particles of varying morphology . All the temperate phages had isometric heads and noncontractile tails; some had collars and structurally distinctive baseplates . Indicator host strains were found for phages induced from seven different strains . Three strains that released phages spontaneously yielded titers of 10(3) to 10(4) plaque-forming units per ml . When strains that spontaneously released phages were grown in mixed culture with indicator strains, increased phage titers of 10(6) to 10(7) plaque-forming units per ml were observed . These findings indicate that lysogenic lactic streptococcal strains may serve as a reservoir for phages that attack sensitive strains in mixed- or multiple-strain lactic starter cultures. Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Jan, 49(1), 35 - 7 Effect of amniotic fluid on bacterial growth; Evans HE et al.; The bacteriostatic effect of amniotic fluid was studied using four pathogenic organisms which are encountered in the perinatal period, E . coli, S . aureus, L . monocytogenes, and Group B beta hemolytic streptococci . Amniotic fluid inhibited the growth of all four organisms, with a wide degree of individual variation among specimens . The greatest degree of inhibition was noted for L . monocytogenes and the least for E . coli . The time in gestation in which the amniotic fluid sample was obtained did not appear to be related to its bacteriostatic capacity . The ability of amniotic fluid to inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic organisms may be significant in prevention of perinatal infection. Zentralbl Gynakol, 1977, 99(23), 1446 - 51 {Role of B streptococci in perinatal medicine}; Gunther E et al.; Vaginal swabs from 1140 women were investigated for presence of group B-streptococci . In nonpregnant women the carriage rate was 3.3% . During the pregnancy the highest colonisation rate was in the second trimenon . The serotypes were distributed approxmiately the same in both groups of patients, with the exception of types III and R . All strains were sensitive against ampicillin and lincomycin, in 6 cases we found a reduced sensitivity against penicillin . These results are compared with those from other authors and discussed in regard to sepsis and meningitis of the newborn. Vet Med Nauki, 1977, 14(7), 75 - 82 {Comparative studies of methods for the bacteriological diagnosis of mastitis in cows}; Todorov D et al.; Comparative studies were carried out on some methods and nutrient media used for the isolation and identification of mastitis causative agents . Milk from normal andmastitis-affected udder quarters was aseptically sampled and treated under various conditions . Individual samples were simultaneously seeded in different media . The following conclusions were drawn: 1 . Milk samples for the diagnosis of mastitis of a subclinical character can be taken at the beginning and at the end of milking . 2 . Direct seedings of milk have equal diagnostic value as those of the sediment . With the former the process of bacteriologic treatment of the samples is shortened in time, and the isolation and differentiation of the mastitis agents is rendered feasible . 3 . At the present etiologic structure of the subclinical types of mastitis in this country most suitable has proved the blood agar medium in which almost all mastitis causative agents can be demonstrated . 4 . Kartashova's medium and the TKT-medium possess a pronounced selectivity with special reference to streptococci and have higher diagnostic value for farms where streptococcus mastitis is prevailing. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1977, 53(2), 132 - 6 Depletion of IgG in rabbit sera by absorption with some group A streptococci; Christensen P et al.; Streptococci group A, type M 1 or M 56 were capable to deplete IgG in normal rabbit sera during absorption by means of a surface Fc receptor . One absorption with 8.0 mg (dry weight) M 1 streptococci or two absorptions with 71 mg M 56 streptococci removed all IgG in 0.2 ml rabbit serum diluted 1:10 (containing 1.5 mg IgG/ml) . Antibodies to egg albumin and antibodies to sheep red cells were not demonstrable after absorption of 0.2 ml serum diluted 1:10 with 16.0 mg M 1 streptococci . These results are discussed in relation to some reports on immunologic cross-reactions between streptococci and mammalian tissues. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 1977 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 157 - 74 Alterations in bacterial defense mechanisms of the lung induced by inhalation of cadmium; Gardner DE et al.; Exposure to an aerosol of CdCl2 has a marked proclivity to reduce the ability of the lung to defined itself against microbial insults . A significant enhancement of mortality was observed in mice exposed to CdCl2 concentrations ranging from 80 to 1600 mug/m3 prior to being challenged with viable streptococci . The increase in percent mortality above control varied from 15% at the lowest CdCl2 concentration to approximately 70% at the highest concentration . In order to determine the various mechanistic factors which may explain the observed effect of reduced host resistance to infection, a variety of pulmonary defense systems was studied . There was a significant decrease in the total number of alveolar macrophages recoverable from rat lungs immediately after completion of the exposure regimen . The number of macrophages returned to normal (about 5.5 million) within 24 hours after cessation of the exposure . However, total polymorphonuclear leucocytes increased 1.5 million immediately after completion of the exposure and 13 million within 24 hours after cessation of the exposure . Lymphocyte numbers were not affected by these exposure levels . Data concerning clearance of streptococci from the lung following CdCl2 exposure closely correlated with the observed mortality pattern. Scand J Infect Dis, 1977, 9(1), 19 - 22 Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci as an important cause of perinatal mortality; Berg T et al.; Bacteriological and pathological examinations of all 73 stillborn infants and 96 infants dying soon after delivery in Vasteras, Sweden during the period 1971-1974 are reported . 35 infants had a severe infection . Beta-hemolytic streptococci group B were isolated in 7 cases from different organs . Intrauterine death occurred in 2 cases; 4 liveborn infants showed early signs of respiratory distress, apneic episodes and cyanosis; 1 infant showed signs of intrauterine asphyxia and was severely asphyctic at birth . Thus, infection with group B streptococci occurred in 20% of the infants who succumbed to infections during this period. Scott Med J, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 13 - 5 Group B streptococcal endocarditis; Reid TM; A retrospective study of group B streptococcal endocarditis during 1965-74 in Aberdeen General Hospitals revealed that group B streptococci how principally affect patients in the older age groups with or without a history of antecedent heart disease . Despite recent reports of increased group G infections in obstetric and perinatal practice there were no cases of post-puerperal endocarditis . Although aortic valve involvement would appear to be increasing, group B streptococci still show a marked predilection for the mitral valve. Infect Immun, 1977 Jan, 15(1), 295 - 9 Repetitive counterelectrophoresis on agar gel for the immunological identification of esterases produced by strains of Lancefield's group A, B, and C streptococci; Hayano S et al.; A method, repetitive counterelectrophoresis (RCE), was devised for detecting specific antibody to streptococcal esterase (STE) . Reference antisera were prepared by immunizing rabbits with STE of streptococcal strains as follows: SS379 (group A, type 40), 69882 (group A, type 49), and H36B (group B, type Ib) . Some human sera, derived from patients with scarlet fever, were also used as references . By this method, we have confirmed the immunological specificity of the STE produced by strains SS379 (STE-AI), 69882 (STE-AII), H36B (STE-B), and Austin (STE-C, group C) and have shown that the STE produced by strain 10706 (group C) is immunologically identical with STE-AI . Each STE presented a distinct colored line with the respective homologous antibody upon development of enzyme activity except for STE-AII, which formed a round spot with the homologous antibody . Horse activating factor (Hayano and Tanaka, 1973) formed a round spot with each STE . The factor in serum that reacted specifically with STE seemed to correspond to gamma globulin. Infect Immun, 1977 Jan, 15(1), 104 - 8 Homologous and heterologous protection of mice with group A streptococcal M protein vaccines; Wittner MK et al.; Purified streptococcal M proteins precipitated with alum (APM) were used to immunize mice . A trivalent vaccine of serotypes 1, 3, and 12 protected mice against challenges by homologous live streptococci and also conferred protection against serotypes 6 and 14 but not against a strain of group B streptococci . Monovalent APM vaccines afforded homologous protection and restricted heterologous protection . The extent of heterologous protection was a function of serotype combinations and was also dose dependent . Rabbit antisera exhibiting strong opsonic activities were active in vitro and in passive mouse protection only for homologous serotypes . Mouse antisera did not passively transfer protection and were not bactericidal in vitro . It was concluded that homologous and heterologous active mouse protection was most likely a result of shared antigenic determinants of the various M proteins although protection of mice could not be measured as a function of circulating anti-M antibodies. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac, 1977, 78(4), 283 - 6 {Streptococci isolated from the blood after tooth extraction . Their role in subacute bacterial endocarditis}; Hatzifotiadis D et al.; A classification, according to the Lancefield's method, of the streptocoques isolated in the blood, after teeth extractions, as well as a determination of their sensibility to the antibiotics, are attempted in this study . It concerns to 23 adults, well supported, to whom multiple extractions, under general anesthesia have been done . We studied both biochemical and serological reactions, and a test for the antibiotic resistance is realised . We insiste in the contrindiction of streptomycine and sulfanilamides in the treatment or the prevention of bacteremia of dental origine. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 30 - 9 Plaque, caries, periodontal diseases, and acculturation among Yanomamö Indians, Venezuela; Donnelly CJ et al.; The number of DM and d teeth and surfaces was recorded for 220 Yanomamo Indians from three groups of villages with different degrees of contact with Western culture . Specimens of plaque were taken from the teeth, transported in a holding solution, cultured, and examined for specific oral streptococci . In addition, the periodontal health and oral hygiene of one group of villagers were assessed using the Russell PI and the Greene & Vermillions OHIS . Caries experience among the Yanomamo was shown to be positively associated with exposure to Western culture . S . mutans was recovered with about the same frequency from specimens taken from the teeth of Indians living at all three village locations . However, the presence of S . mutans alone did not account for the disparity in dental caries scores . The examinees had abundant and persistent accumulations of soft deposits on their teeth accompanied by markedly inflamed gingival tissues . However, periodontal pockets and loss of appreciable amounts of bone did not appear as early in life nor were they as severe as reported for some other populations which practice little oral hygiene . Those disparities in the distribution of plaque-induced oral diseases between Western populations and the Yanomamo warrant further study. Arch Ophtalmol (Paris), 1977, 37(11), 715 - 22 {Aetiological aspects of uveitis (author's transl)}; Cernea P et al.; An analysis of the probable aetiology of 222 cases of uveitis . In order of frequency the aetiology was: infectious focis 31%, rheumatism 28%, tuberculosis 7.6%, streptococci 4%, viral 3.6%, rickettsia 1.3%, syphilis, brucellosis in 0.5% . In 22.1% of cases the aetiology was not established . In young subjects the majority consisted of bacterial and viral infections particularly streptococcal . In adults the most frequent aetiology was rheumatic and in the elderly foci of infection. Acta Biol Med Ger, 1977, 36(10), 1499 - 501 {The question of the validity of haptoglobin/G-streptococci relations in nonhuman sera}; Prokop O et al.; The relationship between haptoglobin type and the agglutinability of some group G streptococci, which was observed in humans, could also be demonstrated in animal sera . In humans the haptoglobin type Hp 1-1 is correlated with a lacking or very low agglutinability . Sera of 10 rhesus monkeys showed Hp-type 1-1 and agglutinated the streptococci only to dilutions of the serum up to 1:4 . The sera of 48 pigs contained an Hp 1-1 like type and a streptococcus agglutination titer of max . 1:10 . Seven ahaptoglobinaemic sera gave the same values . Fifty examined sera of rabbits showed also an Hp 1-1 like pattern and did not agglutinate or in undiluted state only. J Dent Res, 1977 Jan, 56(1), 57 - 69 Extracellular dextran hydrolase from Streptococcus mutans strain 6715; Ellis DW et al.; Streptococcus mutans strain 6715 was shown to produce an extracellular dextramase with endohydrolytic alpha-(1 leads to 6)-glucan-6-glucanohydrolase activity . The enzyme degraded soluble polymers produced by some oral streptococci but did not disperse the streptococcal plaques tested . Enzyme levels in the culture supernatant were elevated in sucrose and sucrose plus glucose cultures but remained at basal levels in glucose and dextran plus glucose cultures. J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 445 - 56 Ultrastructural, physiological, and cytochemical characterization of cores in group D streptococci; Coleman SE et al.; Cores are large, rod-shaped structures that have been found almost exclusively in group D streptococci, measure 0.1 to 0.16 mum in diameter, and extend the width or length of cells . This study has shown that cores are produced in the cells at a reproducible point in early stationary growth after extensive mesosomal formation and after the pH has dropped below 6.5 . When cells containing cores were introduced into a fresh medium with a pH above 6.5, the structures disappeared within 5 min . The structures were not found in young, logarithmically growing cells but formed in these cells upon autolysis or treatment with penicillin . Cores that were forming or disintegrating appeared to have a lamellar substructure . When chloramphenicol was added to the medium before the culture reached stationary phase, no cores were found in the cells . Cytochemical studies indicated that cores contain protein and are not composed of cell wall material or other polysaccharides that contain 1,2-glycol groups. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Dec 15, 126(8), 1023 - 6 Incidence, technique of isolation, and treatment of group B streptococci in obstetric patients; Gordon JS et al.; A prospective study was performed to determine the incidence of group B streptococci cultured from the cervix in a series of obstetric clinic patients at St . Margaret's Hospital . Cultures were taken during each trimester and planted to both a blood agar plate and a selective broth medium . Of a total of 812 cultures, 18 were positive, an over-all incidence of 2.2 per cent . During the first, second, and third trimesters, 2.2 per cent, 2.5 per cent, and 1.9 per cent of cultures were positive, respectively . Women with positive cultures were treated with a 10 day course of oral penicillin or a suitable alternative; four of 16 had persistent positive cultures at the end of the first treatment period, three of these four responded to a second course of antibiotics, and the remaining patient responded after a third treatment course . The total number of positive cultures by selective broth was 24, compared to nine in blood agar, indicating a 2.7-fold increase in pickup by the selective broth. Am J Cardiol, 1976 Dec, 38(7), 929 - 33 Intramuscular clindamycin for therapy of infective endocarditis . Report of 23 cases and review of the literature; Burch KH et al.; Twenty-three patients with infective endocarditis received intramuscular clindamycin (Cleocin) for treatment . Thirteen had acute Staphylococcus (S.) aureus endocarditis but none had involvement of the aortic valve . Eleven of these 13 infections were heroin-related and involved the tricuspid valve.Twenty-one patients were successfully treated.Two patients with heroin-related S . aureus infection failed to respond to intramuscularly administered clindamycin, but responded to retreatment with methicillin . There have been 34 reported cases of endocarditis treated with clindamycin . Although 80 percent of all cases due to staphylococci responded favorably, almost all were heroin-related tricuspid valve infections . In addition 91 percent of cases due to aerobic streptococci responded but, surpisingly, treatment failed in three of four cases of anaerobic endocarditis . Although clindamycin can be useful in streptococcal endocarditis and in some cases of heroin-related S . aureus tricuspid endocarditis, caution should be exercised in its use . It is "less" bactericidal than the penicillins or cephalosporins, and organisms have become resistant during treatment . Furthermore, patients with anaerobic endocarditis have not responded well, and data are not available to recommend administration of clindamycin for acute S . aureus infections engrafted on the aortic or mitral valve. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Dec, 84B(6), 437 - 40 Haemagglutination of twitching Streptococcus sanguis; Henriksen SD et al.; Among 86, mostly twitching, polarly fimbriated strains of Streptococcus sanguis, 55 agglutinated guinea pig erythrocytes (GPE) after cultivation in Todd-Hewitt broth (TH), and 21 strains agglutinated GPE only after growth in TH with 10% horse serum (THS) . Two of the positive strains were non-twitching and unfimbriated . Ten strains failed to haemagglutinate . Among 5 twitching strains belonging to the 10043 group, 3 agglutinated GPE after growth in TH and 2 only after growth in THS . Among 35 non-twitching strains of alpha-haemolytic streptococci, only 6 agglutinated GPE after growth in TH, and among 8 negative strains which were tested after growth in THS, only 1 agglutinated GPE . Tests using 6 different kinds of erythrocytes (guinea pig, rabbit, sheep, horse, chicken, human) revealed that differences between these were slight only . The results do not indicate that there is an absolute association between twitching and haemagglutination in S . sanguis . The haemagglutination of S . sanguis was not mannose-sensitive. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Dec, 84B(6), 433 - 6 Transforamtion of twitching strains of Streptococcus sanguis; Henriksen SD et al.; Ninety-five strains of S . sanguis, 90 of which were twitching, were screened for competence in transformation with DNA from the "Challis" strain . Seventy-two strains, 68 of sero-group H and 4 of the provisional group 10043, were competent . Fourteen of the competent strains and all strains which appeared to be incompetent were tested with DNA from 3 other strains . The 14 competent strains were transformed by all the 3 DNAs . One of the apparently incompetent strains was transformed by autologous DNA only . Among 8 reference strains (including ATCC 10577, Type II of Washburn et al.) 5 were competent . Three of these did not show spreading or twitching . Among 16 non-spreading strains of alphahaemolytic streptococci which did not possess either the H or the 10043 group antigen, only one showed competence . The results indicate that twitching mobility is not a prerequisite for competence. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Dec, 84B(6), 428 - 32 Further studies of twitching Streptococcus sanguis isolated from the human throat . Isolation of strains with a new antigen; Henriksen SD et al.; alpha-haemolytic streptococci, classified as Streptococcus sanguis, with spreading growth due to twitching mobility were isolated from 41% of 121 swab cultures from the human pharynx . Sixty-five out of 70 isolates with spreading growth belonged to Lancefield's group H, while 5 isolates constituted a new serological entity . None of 159 non-spreading alpha-haemolytic streptococci isolated from the same cultures possessed either of these antigens . An examination of strains of types I, II and I/II described by Washburn et al., in the group H antisera employed in the present study indicated that type I and type I/II differ from one another in the degree of cross-reactivity with anti-type II serum . (The type II antigen was not demonstrated in any of the isolated strains) . We support the opinion that type II should not be considered as S . sanguis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1976 Dec, 42(6), 801 - 9 Proteolytic activity of Streptococcus mutans (GS-5); Rosengren L et al.; The potential proteolytic ability of cariogenic streptococci was assessed in a strain of Streptococcus mutans (GS-5) . Blood-borne S . mutans from rats infected by mouth with GS-5 were cultured, and sterile rat tail tendons were placed on these cultured bacterial colonies . The collagenolytic ability of these organisms was examined under the scanning electron microscope and by testing for reduced tensile strength of the collagen fibers . These experiments showed that GS-5 cariogenic streptococcus can be conditioned to produce significant collagenolytic activity. Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Dec, 48(6), 670 - 7 A study of complications in preterm deliveries after prolonged premature rupture of the membranes; Christensen KK et al.; The risk of infection for mother and baby after spontaneous rupture of the membranes was evaluated in a prospective study of 24 patients with ruptured membranes before the 36th week of pregnancy . The mean length of pregnancy after rupture was 10 days and 2 hours . Only patients harboring Group B streptococci or E . coli in the urogenital tract were treated with antibiotics (during delivery) . With the exception of 1 woman, all patients harbored one or more pathogens in the urogenital tract . Four mothers were infected but all recovered . One of 26 infants died from infection . The study did not confirm any association between prolonged rupture of the membranes and the frequency of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, nor did it contradict attempts to actively prolong pregnancy after rupture of the membranes. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Dec, 29(12), 1085 - 7 Grouping of beta-haemolytic streptococci with group-specific antibodies absorbed to staphylococcal protein A; Tebbutt GM et al.; A total of 245 isolates of beta-haemolytic streptococci was grouped by the counter current immunoelectrophoresis method and by co-agglutination with antibody-coated staphylococci . Co-agglutination was found to be simple and accurate, and many commercially available grouping sera were suitable for use in this test, though some of them had to be absorbed to remove cross-reactions. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1976 Dec, 83(12), 960 - 6 Perinatal infections by group B beta-haemolytic streptococci; Becroft DM et al.; Since 1970 there has been an increase in isolations of Group B beta-haemolytic streptococci from infants and mothers at the National Women's Hospital and the organism has become the major cause of fatal perinatal infection . Forty-three of 60 stillborn and liveborn infants with postmortem isolations of Group B streptococci had pneumonia and of these a minority also had meningitis and/or septicaemia . Amnionitis was found in 15 of 20 placentae examined from these patients and an ascending infection from the maternal genital tract, often through intact membranes, was considered likely in the majority . However, a review of the prenatal histories of 33 infants showed that only a minority had premonitory features such as prolonged rupture of membranes, prolonged labour or maternal fever . Thirteen of 26 liveborn infants had a birth weight less than 2500 g . The majority presented within one hour of birth with respiratory distress or apnoea and died within 48 hours of birth . Early diagnosis of Group B infection is possible if bacteriological and radiological evidence is sought in infants of low birth weight, with low Apgar scores and with early onset of respiratory distress syndrome or apnoea in addition to those having the more usual indications of intrauterine infection . Group B streptococci were carried vaginally in 9 per cent of women attending an antenatal clinic and this high carrier rate is considered to preclude prophylactic treatment. Am J Epidemiol, 1976 Dec, 104(6), 652 - 66 The dynamics of streptococcal infections in a defined population of children: serotypes associated with skin and respiratory infections; Anthony BF et al.; Serial observations including cultures of the upper respiratory tract and of infected skin lesions and streptococcal antibody determinations were made over a two-year period in a semi-closed population of children between 10 months and 15 years of age . There was a high prevalence of group A streptococci in nose and throat cultures and of skin lesions containing these organisms . Almost 90% of the study population developed streptococcal impetigo during the study period . A slightly higher proportion of males than females developed skin infection but there was no relationship to age . Impetigo was observed throughout the calendar year, exceeding 12% of child-visits in one winter month, but was generally more common in the summer and fall . Conversely, group A streptococci were more often isolated from nose and throat cultures in the winter months . The increase in recovery of streptococci from nose and throat cultures lagged behind the increase in streptococcal impetigo and continued into the winter months, when the prevalence of impetigo had declined . Calculation of ratios for individual streptococcal serotypes isolated from different body sites revealed a clear cut distinction between "respiratory" and "impetigo" serotypes, with respect to both prevalence and acquisition rates . Respiratory serotypes were more commonly isolated in the winter and impetigo serotypes in the summer and fall . Significant antibody responses to extracellular antigens of the streptococcus were documented for pharyngeal acquisitions of both impetigo and respiratory serotypes and for skin lesions associated with impetigo serotypes . Group A streptococcal serotypes may be divided into three categories on the basis of their human pathogenicity for body sites: some with the potential for respiratory infection, others with the potential for skin infection and a few unusual serotypes with the potential for infecting both sites. J Clin Invest, 1976 Dec, 58(6), 1379 - 87 Assessment of group B streptococcal opsonins in human and rabbit serum by neutrophil chemiluminescence; Hemming VG et al.; The factors important in host defense against group B streptococci are not well understood . The role of antibody and complement in the prevention of serious infection by these organisms is not known because, to date, a reliable measure of functional opsonic activity has not been developed . Recently, it has been shown that neutrophils produce a chemiluminescence after ingestion of particulate matter, and that this event can be detected and quantitated in a liquid scintillation system . We have adapted the chemiluminescence procedure to examine rabbit hyperimmune and human serum for the presence of group B streptococcal opsonins . Group B streptococci of types Ia, II, and III that were opsonized in homologous but not heterologous type serum produced a peak in chemiluminescence when added to normal human neutrophils . Such activity was correlated, in each instance, with ingestion of bacteria by neutrophils and deposition of immunoglobulin and C3 on the bacterial surface as detected by indirect immunofluorescence . With this assay, we have examined sera from colonized and diseased patients for the presence of opsonins to types Ia, II, and III group B streptococci . Maternal sera often contained type-specific opsonins which resided in the IgG fraction and which crossed the placenta to appear in paired cord specimens . 63% of patients colonized with group B streptococci had serum opsonins to their colonizing type of organism . In contrast, none of the 15 patients with sepsis or meningitis had opsonins directed against their infecting strain . These data suggest that the lack of type-specific opsonins to group B streptococci may be one of the important factors in determining host susceptibility to systemic infection with strains of this group. J Am Dent Assoc, 1976 Nov, 93(5), 1001 - 5 Antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis in patients with a prosthetic heart valve; Santinga JT et al.; A review of the types of organisms and their sensitivities to antibiotics, as well as the source of infection, was carried out for 11 patients who had late onset infective endocarditis and a prosthetic heart valve . Candida organisms were isolated from two patients . In nine patients with late onset bacterial endocarditis, the organisms isolated were five streptococci and four staphylococci . Their sensitivities to antibiotics were penicillin, five of eight; erythromycin, eight of eight; and cephalothin, six of seven . Two patients with endocarditis had ulcerations beneath their dentures, and one had undergond a prior dental procedure . Of 52 healthy patients with prosthetic valves who were interviewed, only 18 had visited a dentist during the previous year, and six did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis . It is concluded that patients with prosthetic heart valves do not practice good oral hygiene and, if they do visit the dentist, some may not receive antibiotics for endocarditis prevention . An antibiotic regimen for endocarditis is presented that is consistent with the organisms found in the oral cavity and those found in patients with endocarditis who have a prosthetic valve. J Exp Med, 1976 Nov 2, 144(5), 1164 - 74 Genetics of the idotype of BALB/c myeloma S117: multiple chromosomal loci for Vh genes encoding specificity for group A streptococcal carbohydrate; Berek C et al.; A small proportion of the antibodies to Group A streptococcal carbohydrate (A-CHO) elicited in BALB/c mice by immunization with Group A streptococci, has idiotypic determinants in common with the BALB/c myeloma protein S117 which has specificity for N-acetyl-glucosamine, the major antigenic determinant of A-CHO . The expression of these idiotypic determinants is under the control of a gene which is linked to the Ig-1a+ allotype locus in strain BALB/c and in other strains carrying the same Ig-1 haplotype . This gene (S117+) segregates in breeding experiments as if it were an allele to the gene A5A+ which controls the expression of the A5A idiotype in association with antibodies to A-CHO in strain A/J and which is linked to the Ig-1e allotype locus . Another possible allele, linked to the Ig-1c allotype locus, controls the expression of both S117 and A5A cross-reactive determinants (S117cr, A5Acr) . The distribution of these idiotypic determinants in various lines that carry recombinant Ig-1 haplotypes suggests that the A5A and S117 loci are nonallelic and map at different positions in the Ig-1 region . The data suggest complex pseudollelic relationships between different Ig-1 haplotypes that allow the expression of the same genes in allelic and in nonallelic fashion. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Nov, 236(2-3), 235 - 44 Susceptibility of viridans streptococci of 27 antimicrobial agents; Jeljaszewicz J et al.; One hundred and eighty strains of viridans Streptococci (Str . mitis, Str . salivarius, Str . MG, Str . SBE, Str . bovis, Str . equinus and Str . uberis) were isolated from mouth and upper respiratory tract secretions of humans at random in different parts of Poland . These strains were tested for susceptibility to 27 antimicrobial agents . Analysis of results was performed with special reference to bacterial endocarditis, which is caused mostly by these microorganisms . At low minimal inhibitory concentrations, most effective antibiotics appeared amoxycillin, clindamycin, azidocillin, cephaloridine, ampicillin, erythromycin and penicillin G . Susceptibility to other penicillins and cephalosporins was much less pronounced . Small part of strains was highly susceptible to tetracyclines, whereas all other antimicrobial agents were practically ineffective. J Immunol, 1976 Nov, 117(5 Pt 1), 1711 - 5 Carrier-dependent selectin of antibody clones and classes during the immune response; Kolb H; The selection of antibody clones and antibody classes during the immune response to the hapten oligo-D-alanine was found to be carrier dependent . When the hapten was coupled to a T-independent antigen (streptococci) a restricted immune response of IgM and IgG antibodies was induced . When the hapten was coupled to a T-dependent antigen (ovalbumin) a heterogenous response of only IgG antibodies was found . The carrier had an effect on the affinity of IgG but not of IgM antibodies . Clonal pattern and class distribution were fixed early in the immune response . Second and third immunizations with a heterologous carrier elicited the same clonal pattern and class distribution in the secondary response as that found with the original carrier. Am J Vet Res, 1976 Nov, 37(11), 1275 - 9 Nonlactating-cow therapy with a formulation of penicillin and novobiocin: therapeutic and prophylactic effects; Schultze WD et al.; An experimental product incorporating 500,000 IU of procaine penicillin G and 600 mg of sodium novobiocin in 2% aluminum monostearate-peanut oil gel (10-ml dose) was used to treat all quarters of 56 cows which were infected in at least 1 quarter at time of final mild-out at end of lactation . Treatment was withheld from 89 cows uninfected in all quarters . Quarter infection was determined by bacteriologic culturing of milk samples collected at the last regular milking, at intervals up to final milk-out (7 or 12 days later), at calving, and 1 week later . Clearance rates against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae, and coliform bacteria in treated quarters were 83, 94, 88, and 71%, respectively . Subtraction of the spontaneous clearance rate of about 50% in untreated quarters resulted in values of 35 to 45% for drug efficacy against existing staphylococcal and streptococcal infections . Prophylactic efficacy was examined . In cows entering the true nonlactating period with 1 or more quarters infected, new infection rates across the period aming quarters uninfected at the beginning were 36.0% among untreated cows and 6.3% among treated cows (P less than 0.005) . The comparable rates for cows entering the nonlactating period uninfected in all quarters were 5.7 and 0% . Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci, which comprised 38.5% of new period infections among untreated cows, were completely lacking among treated cows (P less than 0.025) . Within the treated group of cows, 83.1% of infected quarters were cleared, and new infection rate in the non-lactating period was 50% less than the rate among untreated cows . Because the frequency of intramammary infection in this herd was quite low at "drying-off" (10.5% of quarters), the net effect on herd health of selective therapy of cows infected at end of lactation was a reduction in total quarter infection from 19.8 to 13.6%. Am J Dis Child, 1976 Nov, 130(11), 1231 - 3 Pneumonia in the neonate associated with group B streptococcal septicemia; Hemming VG et al.; Fifteen newborns referred to the University of Utah Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 1971 and 1974 had septicemia and bronchopneumonia caused by streptococci of Lancefield group B . Eight of these infants could not be distinguished from others with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome . All eight died and at autopsy were found to have bronchopneumonia . At autopsy, five of the ten subjects had bilateral pleural effusions . Eight of these early onset infections were caused by type III strains, three by type II strains, and four by Ia strains . The three survivors were infected by Ia organisms; two of these patients received antimicrobial therapy within one hour of birth and the other was treated at 20 hours of age . Among the 12 patients who died, six received no antibiotics and five were treated 12 or more hours after delivery . Earlier recognition may lead to more efficacious therapy of this most fulminant infection of the newborn. J Pediatr, 1976 Nov, 89(5), 792 - 6 A prolonged nursery epidemic associated with a newly recognized type of group A streptococcus; Nelson JD et al.; During a six-month period 69 infants in a newborn nursery were colonized with group A streptococci . Fifty-one had omphalitis, two infected circumcision wounds, and one each had meningitis, primary peritonitis, and conjunctivitis . Thirteen infants were asymptomatically colonized . Control of the epidemic was difficult . Benzathine penicillin prophylaxis to all infants suppressed active infection but did not eradicate asymptomatic colonization of the umbilical cord . Triple dye treatment of the umbilical cord plus benzathine penicillin prophylaxis eradicated the infection from the nursery . The epidemic streptococcus was a newly recognized ""skin strain,'' provisional type strain 5656-S, not previously known to cause epidemic disease or serious systemic infections. Infect Immun, 1976 Nov, 14(5), 1256 - 8 Limulus amebocyte lysate reaction with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin; Brunson KW et al.; Three immunologically distinct pyrogenic exotoxins derived from group A streptococci were found to cause coagulation of limulus amebocyte lysate . These exotoxins were shown to be several thousand times less active for lysate coagulation than gram-negative endotoxin. Infect Immun, 1976 Oct, 14(4), 903 - 10 Selective adsorption of heterophile polyglycerophosphate antigen from antigen extracts of Streptococcus mutans and other gram-positive bacteria; Hamada S et al.; Hot saline extracts of Streptococcus mutans have been shown to contain antigenic substances which occasionally react nonspecifically with some antisera against whole cells of various serological groups and types of streptococci . Chromatography of the extract of S . mutans strain MT703 (serotype e) on a diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 column gave two principal antigens . One antigen was eluted without adsorption to the resin and was identified as the serotype-specific polysaccharide . The other antigen, which contained a large quantity of phosphorus, was absorbed to and released from the resin by gradient elution . It was reactive against the antisera specific for polyglycerophosphate (PGP) from group A Streptococcus pyogenes and/or S . mutans strain Ingbritt (type c) . The PGP antigen was further purified by gel filtration with Sephadex G-75 . Two peaks, PGP-1, and PGP-2, were obtained . Each possessed the same antigenic specificity to anti-PGP serum as shown by immunodiffusion . Chemical analyses revealed that the molar ratio of phosphorus to glycerol in both was about 1:1, although the protein content between the two was significantly different . PGP antigen was found to be widely distributed in hot saline extracts from various gram-positive bacteria, with a few exceptions . However, all gram-negative bacteria examined were free of PGP . The PGP in the hot saline extracts of various gram-positive bacteria possessed an essentially identical antigenic specificity . The addition of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 resin to hot saline extracts successfully removed the cross-reacting PGP antigen . After adsorption of the extract from S . mutans, the supernatant contained only type-specific polysaccharide antigen, except type b, in which both type b-specific polysaccharide and PGP antigens were absorbed with the resin . This simple procedure should be useful for the removal of the PGP-type teichoic acid from antigen extracts of bacteria that contain uncharged polysaccharides. Gann, 1976 Oct, 67(5), 661 - 7 Isolation and fractionation of cell-free extract from streptolysin-S-forming streptococci; Shoin S; A series of procedures have been developed for obtaining a partially purified fractions possessing anticancer activity using live streptolysin S-forming streptococci (Su strain) harvested from their yeast extract-culture fluid . These procedures consist principally of (1) preparing cell-free extract (CFE) from homogenized streptococci, (2) streptomycin-treatment of CFE (S-CFE) to remove nucleic acids, and (3) stepwise fractionations of S-CFE with 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 1.0 saturated solutions of ammonium sulfate, each fraction being dialyzed against distilled water followed by lyophilization . The 60-F product, which was precipitated by the 0.6-saturated solution, was found to be the most potent among six products obtained and to be about 4 times more effective than the original CFE in depriving the invasiveness of Ehrlich carcinoma cells in mice . Data on physical and biochemical properties of 60-F product are also presented. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Oct, (10), 77 - 9 {In vitro obtaining stable L forms of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci type 1 and 12}; Zheverzheeva IV et al.; Stable L-forms of hemolytic streptococcus of group A of the 1st and 12th types were obtained in vitro under the effect of penicillin . L-form strains were passaged over 40 times and failed to reverse to the initial . Stability of the obtained L-cultures of the 1st and 12th types was confirmed by electron microscopy which showed the absence of cell wall in them . Morphology of the colonies on hard nutrient medium showed some difference in the L-form strains of the 1st and 12th type . Phage contrast microscopy demonstrated in the culture of the 12th type a relatively greater number of granular structures; as to the L-form cultures of the 1st type, it was mainly represented by the globular elements . Submicroscopic characteristic of the L-form of streptococcus was revealed on the ultra-thin sections of both L-form strains. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 32(4), 494 - 7 Determinants of the developing oral flora in normal newborns; Long SS et al.; The ability of Streptococcus species to selectively adhere to the oral epithelial cells of newborns was studied in vitro . On day 1 of life, mucosal cells from normal infants demonstrated selective attraction for the natural distribution of streptococci that would soon colonize these surfaces . Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus mitis adhered well in vitro to scraped cells from cheek and tongue surfaces . Streptococcus mutans, on the other hand, exhibited feeble or no adherence to cheek or tongue cells . Adherence of Escherichia coli to oral epithelial cells was also studied . The ability of strains of E . coli to adhere to cheek and tongue cells correlated solely with the presence of cell surface substances, probably pili . These observations, made on infants at the critical moment of their developing flora, strengthen the hypothesis that the ability of bacteria to adhere to surfaces is an important determinant of their ecological place in the oral microflora. Am J Vet Res, 1976 Oct, 37(10), 1185 - 8 Antibiograms of streptococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections; McDonald JS et al.; A total of 455 streptococcal cultures from bovine intramammary infection in 72 herds were studied to determine their sensitivity to 17 antimicrobial agents . More than 90% of the cultures were sensitive to carbenicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and penicillin . Gentamicin, neomycin, nitrofurazone, polymyxin, and streptomycin were ineffective in the in vitro inhibition of streptococci. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 4(4), 379 - 80 Improved medium for detecting pigment production by group B streptococci; Merritt K et al.; The production of pigment which can be used for presumptive identification of group B streptococci is sometimes weak and difficult to observe in Columbia agar stab cultures . A medium which is whiter and affords better visibility of this pigment is described. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 4(4), 319 - 21 Absence of wide-zone, alpha-hemolytic streptococci in children with pharyngitis; Saitz EW et al.; Wide-zone, alpha-hemolytic streptococci are potential sources of false-positive throat cultures since they can be misinterpreted as beta-hemolytic streptococci . However, quantitative information regarding their occurrence in sick children was not available . Throat swabs from 312 children with pharyngitis were processed conventionally and also with pour-plate methods and examination of the positive cultures under magnification . One-third of all cultures were positive for beta-hemolytic streptococci . There were no significant differences in the number of positive cultures among or between the different methods . Wide-zone, alpha-streptococci were found in none of the cultures . Therefore, they are unlikely to be a common cause of false-positive cultures in children with pharyngitis. Am J Med, 1976 Oct, 61(4), 498 - 503 Serious infections in adults due to group B streptococci . Clinical and serotypic characterization; Bayer AS et al.; Serious infections in adults due to group B streptococci have been infrequently reported . We describe 24 such patients . Bacteremic pyelonephritis, pneumonitis and endometritis were the most common clinical syndromes observed . Group B streptococci infections tended to occur in patients with underlying illnesses, particularly genitourinary disorders and diabetes mellitus . Mortality was surprisingly low (8 per cent) . Type III was the serotype most commonly isolated, and there was no significant correlation of different serotypes with specific organ-system involvement . Group B streptococcal isolates from these patients were uniformly sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and clindamycin; all were highly resistant to kanamycin . Eighty-seven per cent were resistant to tetracycline . Although consistently sensitive to penicillin, the minimal inhibitory concentrations were significantly higher for group B than group A streptococci (p less than 0.0005). J Pediatr, 1976 Oct, 89(4), 576 - 9 Bacitracin differentiation for presumptive identification of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci: comparison of primary and purified plate testing; Murray PR et al.; The detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci by bacitracin susceptibility was examined, with the presumptive identification on primary blood agar plates compared with that on pure subcultured plates . A total of 638 group A streptococcus isolates was recovered from 4,632 throat swab specimens . Only about half of these isolates were identifiable on the primary plate, compared with 96% identifiable on pure subcultured plates . The unreliable results with bacitracin disk testing on primary plates were due to (1) too few colonies present in the vicinity of the disk or (2) colonies overgrown by oropharyngeal flora. Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1976 Oct, 55(10), 816 - 23 {Penicillin levels in tonsillar tissue and serum after intramuscular and oral application (author's transl)}; Chilla R et al.; Penicillin levels were determined in both serum and tonsillar tissue 1-2 h (29 patients) and 3-4 h (16 patients) after intramuscular application of Penicillin-G resp . oral doses of Penicillin-V . All tonsils were found to contain different amounts of Penicillin . Concentrations of antibiotic in the tonsillar tissues are dependent on the respective serum levels . The serum-tonsil-difference of the Penicillin levels increases significantly in adults . The efficiency of oral and intramuscular Penicillin application and the occasionally described failure of oral Penicillin medication are discussed with regard to the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for group A streptococci. N Z Med J, 1976 Sep 8, 84(571), 183 - 6 Sensitivity of 941 beta haemolytic streptococci to antibacterial drugs; Faoagali JL et al.; Nine hundred and forty-one strains of beta haemolytic streptococci were Lancefield grouped and their antibiotic sensitivities tested by the agar plate diluting technique to penicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, tetracycline and sulphafurazole . All the strains tested were sensitive to two units per ml or less of penicillin . This MIC is higher than that reported in other surveys and indicates increasing resistance of these organisms to penicillin . All the strains tested were sensitive to two mug/ml or less of erythromycin . Fifty percent of all strains were resistant to tetracycline and sulphafurazole. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac, 1976 Sep, 77(6), 849 - 56 {Bacteremia following tooth extractions}; Timosca S et al.; A study was made of the incidence and nature of bacteremia occuring after extractions in a group of 189 patients hospitalised in the maxillo-facial surfery department of Iassy . The figure of 65.5% positive blood cultures demonstrates the particular role of dental extraction in the pathogenesis of bacterial endocarditis . Antibiotic sensitivity studies of streptococci, the bacteria isolated most frequently, showed their remarkable sensitivity to penicillin and erythromycin (95.9%) and their remarkable resistance to streptomycin (83.8%) . This would indicate penicillin to be the antibiotic of choice in the treatment of post-extraction bacteraemia, replaced by erythromycin in individuals allergic to penicillin . Study of the relationship between the incidence of bacteraemia and the number of teeth extracted indicates the possibility of grouping several extractions at the same session, thereby reducing the period of administration of antibiotics as a "cover" . As far as the type of anaesthesia, local or general, was concerned, the higher level of post-extractional bacteraemia in patients who had received a general anaesthetic suggests that loco-regional anaesthesia should be the method of choice. Antibiotiki, 1976 Sep, 21(9), 805 - 8 {Characteristics of the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme}; Bukharin OV et al.; The antibacterial effect of lysozyme manufactured in the USSR was studied with respect to 1496 pathogenic strains of different microbial species . It was found that the percentage of the organisms sensitive to lysozyme among the total number of the microbes tested was not high and ranged within 1.5-3 except streptococci (21.7 per cent) . Significant differences in the minimum bacteriostatic concentration (from 0.0006 to 10 mg/ml) with respect to both different microbial species and organisms belonging to the same microbial species were found . By the level of the antibacterial activity the Soviet lysozyme was not inferior to the Italian preparation . With respect to streptococci the Soviet lysozyme was more active. Jpn Heart J, 1976 Sep, 17(5), 592 - 8 Group A streptococcal infections as related to rheumatic fever; Kawakita S et al.; Beta-hemolytic streptococci were recovered frequently, particularly from the throats of children, and the same type of group A strains was isolated from both throats and tonsils . A significant antibody response to streptolysin O was observed in 44.8 to 43.5 % of the children whom group A streptococci were recovered . It is considered that these children had the definite evidence of acute streptococcal infections, and administration of josamycin, penicillin G, and benzyl penicillin V benzathine decreases the frequency of recovery of beta-hemolytic streptococci and prevents rheumatic fever. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1976 Sep, 47(3), 201 - 3 Laboratory and field control of clinical mastitis in dairy cows around Bulawayo; Bryson RW et al.; The organisms responsible for clinical mastitis in dairly herds around Bulawayo were identified and their antibiotic sensitivity was determined . Streptococci, staphylococci and coliforms were responsible for 37%, 28% and 29,5% of cases respectively . Antibiotic resistance increased over the 3 year period . The high incidence of coliform mastitis is discussed, as is the effect of dry cow therapy on peri-natal mastitis and the nature of the scheme of control . The laboratory is considered an essential adjunct to other control methods. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Sep, 4(3), 232 - 8 Method for phage typing group A type 49 streptococci; Skjold SA et al.; A method of phage subtyping group A type 49 streptococci is described . The method is similar to that used for phage typing staphylococci, except that lysates obtained by induction with mitomycin C rather than propagated stock phages were used . Five type 49 strains were used as phage donors . Seventy-two strains of type 49 streptococci isolated from 10 worldwide sources were examined by this method . Among these strains, five distinct subtypes (I through V) could be distinguished on the basis of their lytic patterns . Only a few of the type 49 strains could not be classified into one of these phage subtypes (6% using 100 X routine test dilution) . Strains from a single source were generally homogeneous with respect to their phage subtype . The method proved useful in discriminating between type 49 strains isolated from different geographical sources and from the same place in different years . Studies in progress suggest that it may be useful for subtyping other strains of special epidemiological interest, such as strains of other serological types associated with nephritis. Prostaglandins, 1976 Sep, 12(3), 403 - 13 Mechanism of steroid action in inflammation: inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and release; Floman Y et al.; Acute arthritis was induced by injection of cell-free extract of group A Streptococci into the knee joints of mature male rats . Slices of control and inflamed synovia were incubated for 30 to 240 minutes and the rate of prostaglandin E (PGE) released into the medium was measured by radioimmunoassay . PGE release from inflamed synovia was 5-8 fold higher than that in normal tissue . Incubation of inflamed synovia with corticosterone acetate, dexamethasone or prednisone (100 mug/ml) for one or four hours reduced PGE release by 33% and 55% respectively . Lower concentrations of corticosterone (10 - 30 mug/ml) were ineffective . Aldosterone and progesterone (100 mug/ml) had no effect on PGE release throughout the incubation period . Chloroquine (10 mug/ml) inhibited PGE release from inflamed synovia by 50% . Indomethacin (1 mug/ml) abolished PGE release by 90% . Corticosterone, dexamethasone and prednisone reduced PGE content of inflamed synovia by approximately 45% during a 4-h incubation period . Aldosterone and progesterone were ineffective, while indomethacin reduced PGE content by 70% . The suppressive action of corticosterone on PGE release was prevented by addition to the medium of arachidonic acid (2 mug/ml) . By contrast, the inhibitory action of indomethacin was not affected by provision of exogenous substrate . We suggest that glucocorticosteroids reduce PGE release by limiting the availability of the substrate for prostaglandin biosynthesis, and this may well explain some of their anti-inflammatory properties. Am J Vet Res, 1976 Sep, 37(9), 1115 - 7 Esculin hydrolysis by Streptococcus dysgalactiae; McDonald JS et al.; In a mastitis control program based on eradication of intramammary infection, it is important to differentiate streptococci . According to earlier reports, Streptococcus dysgalactiae was unable to hydrolyze esculin . Preliminary data from the present study indicated that under optimal conditions, some strains of S dysgalactiae were capable of esculin hydrolysis . In a study of 45 strains of S dysgalactiae, 55.5% were able to hydrolyze esculin . In the past, these organisms would probably have been identified as Streptococcus uberis . Streptococcus dysgalactiae is more sensitive to antibiotics than S uberis, and the infection is easier to eradicate from infected glands. Pediatrics, 1976 Sep, 58(3), 354 - 61 A sequential study of various modes of skin and umbilical care and the incidence of staphylococcal colonization and infection in the neonate; Johnson JD et al.; The rates of colonization and infection of newborns with coagulase-positive staphylococci were studied during five sequential periods using various modes of skin care in the nursery . Colonization and infection were low during the baseline period when total body bathing with 3% hexachlorophene was employed (period 1), but increased dramatically (80% colonization, 9.5% infection) when hexachlorophene was discontinued and replaced by Ivory Soap baths (period 2) . Reinstitution of hexachlorophene (period 3) reduced both colonization and infection, but not to the low levels seen during period 1 . A second Ivory Soap period (period 4) resulted in a return to high colonization (77%) and infection (11.5%) rates . During period 5, daily Ivory Soap baths were continued and bacitracin ointment was applied to the umbilical area at least three times daily . Colonization was reduced to 10% and infection to 3.0% . Bacitracin could not be detected in serum in 15 infants studied . Colonization with gram-negative enteric bacilli was highest while using hexachlorophene or Ivory-bacitracin, but no increase in gram-negative infections was seen . Colonization of newborns with non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococci was not influenced predictably with various modes of skin care . The local application of bacitracin is a safe and effective method of controlling staphylococcal colonization and disease for infants in nurseries. Scand J Dent Res, 1976 Sep, 84(5), 308 - 19 Effect of toothbrushing with chlorhexidine gel on salivary microflora, oral hygiene, and caries; Emilson CG et al.; The effect of daily toothbrushing with 0.5% chlorhexidine-containing gel for 12 months was evaluated in a double-blind study in 37 dental students . The active gel did not markedly influence plaque formation, gingival conditions, or caries as compared with placebo gel treatment . Salivary bacterial counts were performed on subgroups of six subjects using chlorhexidine gel and on six using placebo gel . No differences in the effect of treatment on the microorganisms studied in the two subgroups could be detected except for S . sanguis . The percentage of this species decrease in the placebo group and increased in the chlorhexidine group . The difference became significant after 2 weeks . A tendency to a greater reduction of S . mutans noted in the chlorhexidine group was most marked in individuals who had high initial counts of this species . The proportion of S . sanguis, which could grow on chlorhexidinei-containing mitis salivarius medium, increased and after 12 months of chlorhexidine treatment averaged 34% of cultivable S . sanguis compared with 0.002% prior to treatment . The number of less sensitive S . sanguis decreased in the 12 months following termination of treatment . There was no observed tendency for the selection or proliferation of other streptococci, gram-negative rods, yeasts, or staphylococci. Am J Dis Child, 1976 Sep, 130(9), 1003 - 4 Group B streptococcal meningitis associated with otitis media; Ellis SS et al.; A full-term infant of an appropriate size for gestational age was found to have meningitis due to Lancefield group B beta-hemolytic streptococci at 8 weeks of age . On admission, the baby had bulging tympanic membranes Lancefield group B beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from aspirate of the middle ear, supporting the importance of otitis media in the pathogenesis of late-onset Lancefield group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal meningitis. Pediatrics, 1976 Sep, 58(3), 346 - 53 Nosocomial transmission of group B streptococci; Aber RC et al.; Group B streptococci are an important cause of infant septicemia and meningitis . A prospective study of group B streptococcal colonization in a 300-bed community hospital disclosed rates of 29% of 297 third-trimester women, 37% of 242 newborn infants, and 45% of 22 hospital personnel . Colonized parturients were more frequently black and anemic on admission for delivery . Infant colonization was statistically associated with a positive maternal genital culture, low birthweight, and prematurity . Nosocomial transmission of group B streptococci was strongly suggested by observations that 41% of colonized infants were born to culture-negative women and such infants became colonized later in their hospital stay than did colonized infants born to colonized women . Furthermore, hospital personnel working in the labor-delivery and nursery areas had a significantly higher prevalence of the organism than did personnel from other areas . Clearly, more information is needed about the epidemiology of group B streptococcal disease before appropriate and rational control measures can be recommended. Ann Sclavo, 1976 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 733 - 42 {Quantitative study and typization of aerobic bacteria in the conjunctival sacs of healthy eyes}; Linoli O et al.; We carried out a qualitative and quantitative bacteriological research into the conjunctives of 220 subjects in good health mostly women (180) exempt from recent or previous eyes diseases . In order to gather conjunctival bacteria we employed with a few variations Hadley's et al . (1973 {12}) method . Among the calculated bacterial flora we found as the most numerous ones Staphylococcus epidermidis (mean valor 1960/ml), then Streptococci (480/ml), Micrococci (465/ml), Diphteroides (360/ml), Enterococci (77/ml) and numerous (700/ml) Gram-positives Cocci like Sarcina, Micrococcus tetragenes, Diplococcus, and very rarely bacterial genera Gram-negatives or Iphomycetes, also numerically inferior as regards the researches of other Authors, because owen study is carried by into eyes exempt from diseases. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Sep, 96(1), 87 - 94 Autolysis in strains of viridans streptococci; Sund ML et al.; Seven strains of viridans streptococci of the species Streptococcus sanguis, S . mutans and S . mitis were investigated for autolysis . The effect of pH, salt concentration and temperature on the autolytic process was studied in Na2HPO4/NaH2PO4 buffer . Whole cells and walls of all strains autolysed most rapidly at pH values above 7 . Autolysis of whole cells of S . sanguis and one strain of S . mitis (ATCC15909) was maximal in 0-05 TO 0-2 M buffer, while the two S . mutans strains and S . mitis ATCC15912 showed maximal autolysis in 0-5 and 1-0 M buffers . Cultures harvested in the stationary phase of growth possessed only slightly decreased autolytic activity compared with those from the exponential phase . Whole cells autolysed more rapidly at 37 degrees C Than at 45 degrees C and 10 degrees C . Autolysis of isolated walls of three strains of S . mitis (ATCC903, ATCC15909 and ATCC15912) was maximal at pH 7-0 AND 7-5 and in 1-0 M buffers . Streptococcus mitis ATCC15909 also showed maximal lysis in 0-01 M and 0-5 M buffers . An endopeptidase action of the autolytic system of S . mitis ATCC15912 was indicated by the progressive release of soluble amino groups during autolysis of the walls . No release of reducing groups was observed . Several free amino acids were released during autolysis of these walls, alanine, lysine and glutamic acid being in greatest quanitity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1976 Sep, 73(9), 3293 - 7 Suppression of lytic effect of beta lactams on Escherichia coli and other bacteria; Goodell EW et al.; Growth of E . coli at pH 5 protected the bacteria against the lytic effect of beta lactam antibiotics typically observed when the cells are grown at pH 7 or 7.5, i.e., the pH values routinely used in laboratory experiments . In contrast, the typical effects of beta lactam antibiotics on cellular shape and elongation and cell division appeared to be similar in cultures grown under neutral and acid pH conditions . The pH-dependent antibiotic tolerance can also be demonstrated with pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci, and Bacillus subtilis . We suggest that the mechanism of the pH-dependent antibiotic tolerance may involve either the production of a more stable plasma membrane or the suppression of the activity of a murein hydrolase(s) that catalyzes the antibiotic-induced lysis; at least a fraction of these enzyme molecules may be localized at the cell surface and be accessible to experimental manipulation. JAMA, 1976 Aug 30, 236(9), 1039 - 41 Epidemic streptococcal sore throat following a community picnic; McCormick JB et al.; Following a picnic, nearly half of the persons who attended became ill . Sixty-three of 139 throat cultures were positive for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci . Forty-seven of the positive cultures were available for typing, 34 of which harbored the epidemic strain, group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus type T-3/13/B3264 . This contrasted with two of 204 controls who had not attended, but harbored the epidemic strain . Food preferences and illness rates implicated the potato salad, and from it the epidemic strain was isolated . The attack rate and case-to-infection ratio among those who attended the picnic was significantly greater for persons over 10 years of age . Prompt institution of chemoprophylaxis could possibly have prevented at least 50% of the cases. Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1976 Aug 15, 31(16), 653 - 60 {Diagnosis of rheumatic fever}; Seidel K et al.; In a survey the frequent possibilities of the diagnostics of rheumatic fever are described . The rheumatic fever is a general disease on immunological basis caused by an infection with beta-haemolysing streptococci of group A . The disease appears as visceral form (carditis rheumatica, chorea minor) or as peripheral manifestation (acute polyarthritis, erythema anulare, subcutaneous nodules, purpura rheumatica) . The diagnostics is essentially based on clinical, physical, biochemical and immunoserological findings on the basis of modified criteria after Jones . Immunological methods for the demonstration of circulating antibodies gain an increasing diagnostic significance. Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1976 Aug 15, 31(16), 630 - 40 {Serodiagnosis of rheumatic disorders}; Kohler W; For the serological diagnostics of the diseases caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (A-streptococci) and secondary diseases (rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis) in the first place the anti-streptolysin reaction is at disposal . In the judgment age is to be taken into consideration and the proportion of the inhibitor in the serum is to be removed by absorption with dextran sulphate . Reliable evidence is to be expected only by the course of the titre . If possible, the antistreptolysin reaction should be supplemented by a second reaction, for which purpose the anti-desoxyribonuclease B-reaction is to be recommended . For supporting the diagnostics of the rheumatoid arthritis at least 2 reactions should be performed, i . e . a haemagglutination test (e . g . after Podliachouk-Harboe) and a particle agglutination test (latex fixation reaction) . By means of them the rheumatoid factors (above all antibodies of the IgM-class against gamma-globulin) are proved . The haemagglutinations connect a high specifity with a more insignificant sensitivity, in the particle agglutinations the reverse is the case . Apart from the serological tests mentioned here other proved reactions are mentioned . Besides, data on the valuation of the results and their diagnostic importance are in this paper. Chir Ital, 1976 Aug, 28(4), 341 - 55 {Bacteriological studies on the bile in different conditions of surgical interest}; Sianesi M et al.; A bacteriological study was carried out on bile taken, during the course of surgery, from 235 patients suffering from a wide variety of diseases, both benign and malignant, concerning the bile ways . The investigation, initially directed to the aerobic bile flora, was afterwards extended to include germs growing in strict anaerobiosis . The highest incidence of bactibilia was found in repeat operations for post-operative stenosis of the hepatocholedochus, followed by neoplasias of the gall-bladder or main bile duct, and calculosis of the gall-bladder . For germs growing in compulsory anaerobiosis the responses to the cultural test were all negative, while in two cases microaerophilic streptococci were isolated . Finally the results of the antibiograms made on the isolated microbial species are reported. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Aug, 235(4), 373 - 5 Camp-phenomenon in staphylococci; Brzin B; Most strains of Staphylococcus aureus and some strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis show Camp phenomenon which differs slightly from that observed in Streptococci group B . - Positive Camp test in staphylococci might be an additional indication of their pathogenicity. J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134(2), 189 - 92 Studies on opacity factor production by pharyngeal isolates of group A streptococci; Bergner-Rabinowitz S et al.; Production of opacity factor (OF) by 841 pharyngeal isolates of group A streptococci from schoolchildren in Casper, Wyoming was studied along with T- and M-typing of the streptococcal strains . The majority (89%) of M-typable strains were OF-negative in contrast to M-nontypable isolates, 45% of which were OF-positive . There was no apparent relation between the production of OF by the M-nontypable isolates and the type of infection (symptomatic vs . asymptomatic), degree of positivity of initial culture, antistreptolysin O response, and failure to eradicate the organisms by treatment with antibiotics . However, seasonal shifts in the prevalence of M-nontypable OF-positive strains provided evidence of change in streptococcal ecology, such a shift would not have been detected by T-typing alone . Thus, OF production is an additional epidemiologic marker that is helpful in differentiating M-nontypable group A strains that bear common T-antigens. Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 408 - 15 Occurrence and distribution of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in oral streptococci; Chassy BM et al.; Specific growth rates, growth yields, and the level and cellular distribution of three sucrose-metabolizing enzyme activities were determined for seven oral streptococci (Streptococcus mutans strains E49, BHT, 10449, SL-1, and LM-7, S . sanguis 10558, and S . salivarius 25975) . Cultures were grown in a fermentor at pH 6 with either 20 mM glucose or 10 mM sucrose.Generation times varied between 21 and 70 min . Whereas some strains grew 10 to 50% more slowly with sucrose than with glucose, others did not . Growth was always logarithmic, and the growth yields were similar . Glcosyl transferase (EC 2.4.1.5) was largely extracellular; in sucrose cultures it was appreciably lower, but no major shift to a cell-associated form was found . In glucose cultures, the activity varied between 4 and 140 IU per 6-liter culture . The glucan formed was mostly or exclusively water insoluble . Glcosyl transferase was stimulated weakly (60% or less) by various dextrans . Fructosyl transferase (EC 2.4.1.10) was primarily extracellular (except in glucose cultures of S . salivarius) and varied between 0 and 337 IU/culture . In S . salivarius, the extracellular fructosyl transferase was induced by sucrose . In all S . Mutans cultures, the total fructosyl transferase activity was lower after growth with sucrose . All strains had extra- and intracellular invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) activity . Total levels varied between 210 and 3,500 IU/culture . Less extracellular activity was present in sucrose cultures . Only S . salivarius had appreciable activity in the cellular particulate fraction . Invertase activity was significantly higher than the combined glucosyl and fructosyl transferase activities in all cultures. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 22(8), 1072 - 82 Characterization of group A streptococcal M-proteins purified by two methods; Straus DC et al.; Ten different group A streptococcal M-protein preparations purified by trichloroacetic acid precipitation and three M-protein preparations purified by cellulose chromatography were examined by SDS and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and analyzed for amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acids . Fingerprinting (both tryptic and chymotryptic) was performed on the cellulose purified preparations of M1, M12, and M29 proteins which showed these proteins to be structurally related . Trypsin produced mas with 37 to 42 peptides, whereas chymotrypsin digestion resulted in 8 to 12 peptides, depending on the M-type . Sequencing was performed on the M12 protein and tentative identification of nine N-terminal amino acids made . Molecular weights of the cellulose and TCA-purified M-proteins were determined by SDS gel electrophoresis and chromatography on G-200 Sephadex, with comparable results, indicating followed the patterns established for M-proteins, with high concentrations of lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and leucine . All 10 proteins had L-alanine as their N-terminal amino acid . Evidence for a one way cross-reaction between type 1 and type 29 streptococci was also found. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Aug, 29(8), 740 - 5 Infection with minute-colony-forming beta-haemolytic streptococci; Poole PM et al.; One hundred and thirty-one strains of minute-colony-forming beta-haemolytic streptococci were isolated during the course of routine investigations in clinical bacteriology . Each strain was examined for the presence of polysaccharide antigens of Lancefield's groups A, C, G, and F and characterized in detail as to biochemical and cultural features . On the results of these tests it is concluded that the strains should be placed in the species Streptococcus milleri . The clinical details relevant to the various strains are summarized according to the site of isolation, and their pathological significance is discussed. Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 579 - 85 Two previously undescribed extracellular streptococcal antigens detectable with naturally occurring human antibodies; Kiefer D et al.; Two streptococcal extracellular antigens (X and Y), which are detectable with naturally occurring human antibodies, have been isolated and shown to represent entities distinct from previously described streptococcal enzymes, toxins, and antigens . They are each synthesized by both group C and group A streptococci and appear to be proteins . Both antigens were found to be nonhemolytic and nontoxic for human leucocytes as well as for isolated beating newborn rat heart cells in tissue culture . In addition to being distinct from known streptococcal enzymes, they were also shown to be devoid of several other enzymatic activities. J Med Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 9(3), 275 - 302 Streptococci and aerococci associated with systemic infection in man; Parker MT et al.; A collection of 820 isolates of streptococci and aerococci from human blood or internal organs was classified by means of a set of cultural and biochemical tests . Of these, 719 (712 streptococci and 7 aerococci) were from patients believed to be suffering from a systemic infection: endocarditis 317; a purulent lesion in an internal organ ("purulent disease") 152; bacteriaemia 250 . The endocarditis streptococci included members of all recognisable taxa, but only certain of these were common: Streptococcus sanguis, 16-4%; dextran-positive and usually mannitol-fermenting strains of S . bovis (S . bovis I), 15-1%; S . mutans, 14-2%; S . mitior, 13-2% . Streptococci of the "alpha-haemolytic" taxa (S . sanguis, S . mitior and related strains) formed only 44-8% of the total . When the percentage frequency of streptococcal taxa among the endocarditis and "non-endocarditis" isolates was compared, the dextran-forming taxa (S . mutans, S . bovis I, S . sanguis, and dextran-positive streptococci otherwise resembling S . mitior) all had higher "endocarditis : non-endocarditis" ratios than did any of the non-dextran-producing taxa . Endocarditis increased in frequency with age, and showed an excess of males over females up to the age of 65 years . In young patients (less than 35 years), "alpha-haemolytic" streptococci predominated; with increasing age, the proportion of other streptococci increased progressively but the absolute numbers of isolations of "alpha-haemolytic" streptococci did not fall . Infections with S . mutans were prominent in the age-group 35-54 years and with S . bovis I at ages greater than or equal to 55 years . A history of previous heart disease was more often obtained in endocarditis due to "alpha-haemolytic" streptococci than in other streptococcal endocarditis . The streptococcus most often isolated from purulent lesions in internal organs was S . milleri (29-3%) . It was associated with brain abscess, meningitis, pleural empyema and a variety of intra-abdominal abscesses . The only common predisposing factor in endocarditis was previous heart damage . In other systemic streptococcal diseases, other general or local predisposing causes could be observed, mainly in infections with the "pyogenic" groupable streptococci, the enterococci and S . milleri. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Aug, 29(8), 736 - 9 Presumptive identification and antibiotic susceptibility of group B streptococci; Jokipii AM et al.; The comparative performance of three presumptive identification tests for group B haemolytic streptococci was investigated, using 371 different clinical isolates of group B streptococci . Hippurate was hydrolysed by 96-1%, the CAMP reaction was positive in 95-0%, and pigment was produced by 97-3% . A combination of any two tests would have detected over 99-8% . On bile esculin agar 99-0% were able to grow, but non hydrolysed esculin; 5-1% were susceptible to bacitracin . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of five antibiotics for 279 group B streptococci were determined . All were susceptible to penicillin G, ampicillin, cephalothin, and erythromycin, while 80% were resistant to tetracycline . The MIC distributions were independent of the results of any identification test. Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Aug, 48(2), 167 - 9 Polymicrobial bacteremia in obstetric patients; Monif GR et al.; Thirteen cases of polymicrobial bacteremia occurring in obstetric patients are reported . The most commonly occurring combination involved the Bacteriodeaceae, anaerobic streptococci, and Hemophilus vaginalis . In 3 cases the spectrum of bacterial isolates obtained from the intravascular compartment changed significantly. J Pediatr, 1976 Aug, 89(2), 194 - 8 Antibiotic-killing kinetics of group B streptococci; Schauf V et al.; Group B streptococci are uniformly susceptible to penicillin or ampicillin . Nevertheless, morbidity and mortality in newborn infants infected with group B streptococci is a major clinical problem . Bacteriologic determinants in the outcome of this infection were studied . Streptococcal killing kinetics were studied for ampicillin alone and in combination with gentamicin . In all cases killing was accelerated by the combination . The practice of discontinuing administration of the aminoglycoside antibiotic when group B streptococcal infection is confirmed should be re-evaluated. Immun Infekt, 1976 Aug, 4(4), 190 - 5 {Comparison of value of four immunological methods (AST, ADNase B, AHy, ANADase) by A-streptococcal infections and their significance in the routine diagnostic (author's transl)}; Tiesler E et al.; In the sera of approximately 600 patients of all age groups, who were on clinical suspicion of an A-streptococcal infection, AST, ADNase B, AHy and ANADase were determined . The ANADase alone detects 90% of the acute A-streptococcal infections, the AHy and the ADNase B 80% and the ASO 50% . In skin infections superinfected by A-streptococci, the AHy is positive in 85%, the ANADase in 80%, the ADNase B in 75% and the AST in 40% of the cases . The most frequent A-streptococcal infection, Angina tonsillaris, is determined in the best manner possible through the combination ADNase B + ANADase + AHy . According to the statistical evaluation, the ADNase B and the ANADase are the most reliable tests . The age group of the 4 to 15 year-olds reaches for ASO, ADNase B and AHy a percentage of highly increased titers twice as high in comparison with the adult group . In no case does one test determine 100% of the collective; therefore, a combination of several antibody reactions is desirable for the diagnosis . Increased titers should be checked every four weeks, also normal titers with patients, who continue on the clinical suspicion of having an A-streptococcal infection, because their blood sample may have been taken before the immune reaction occurred. Z Immunitatsforsch Immunobiol, 1976 Aug, 151(1), 430 - 41 {Studies on the mechanism of L-agglutination (author's transl)}; Von Fragstein S et al.; The mechanism of L-agglutination (LA) was studied by fractionating human sera by means of Sephadex G 200 gel filtration . LA was found to be mediated by 2 factors: the rheumatoid factor (RF) as a macroglobulin, occuring only in sera from patients with rhematoid arthritis, and an IgG globulin, found also in normal sera, probably a highly prevalent incomplete streptococcal antibody . RF-containing IgM fractions, by themselves devoid of LA activity, can be rendered positive not only by IgG from the same serum, but also by IgG from normal sera or by commercial human IgG . After absorption of sera containing the RF with streptococci LA disappears; by addition of normal serum, IgG from normal serum or human IgG LA titers were attained similar to those of the respective native serum . A treatment of RF-containing sera with mercaptoethanol leads to a largely parallel disapperance of LA and latex fixation . Three substrains of Streptococcus pyogenes SF 130 (type) 1), Varying in their endowment with type-specific antigens, reacted similarly in LA. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Aug, 235(4), 376 - 85 Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Diplococcus pneumoniae to antibiotics . Comparison of patterns in Poland and Federal Republic of Germany; Jeljaszewicz J et al.; One hundred and eighty five strains of Gram-positive cocci were tested for susceptibility to 16 antibiotics, including some newer drugs, by agar dilution technique . Of these, 100 strains (50 each isolated in Poland and Germany) were Staphylococcus aureus, 55 Streptococcus pyogenes, and 30 Diplococcus pneumoniae . Previous investigations of streptococci and pneumococci isolated in Poland and Federal Republic of Grmany, revealed no differences in antibiotic-susceptibility patterns in both countries, which was not the case with staphylococci . Present study demonstrates further evidence for existence of differences in antibiotic-sensitivity of staphylococci, depending of their geographical origin, and presents actual state of susceptibility to antibiotics of Streptococcus pyogenes and Diplococcus pneumoniae. JAMA, 1976 Jul 19, 236(3), 263 - 5 Bacteremic infections due to clindamycin-resistant streptococci; Drapkin MS et al.; We have recently observed four patients with bacteremic infections due to group A streptococci that were highly resistant to clindamycin and only moderately susceptible to erythromycin . Two of the infections developed while the patients were receiving clindamycin . The organisms were not beta-hemolytic under standard conditions nor were they M or T typable . We urge that all streptococci isolated from patients with serious infections be grouped serologically and be tested for antibiotic susceptibilities, especially if therapy with antibiotics other than penicillin is to be considered. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1976 Jul 15, 101(14), 787 - 95 Comparative in vitro studies of a number of anti-mastitis antibiotics; Van Os JL et al.; In vitro activities of penicillin, ampicillin, dihydrostreptomycin, nafcillin, cloxacillin and commercially available combinations of these antibiotics against a variety of Gram-positive mastitis-causing micro-organisms were examined . As a rule, penicillin proved to be more active against penicillin-sensitive strains of micro-organisms than ampicillin and nafcillin and far more so than cloxacillin . In combination with di-hydrostreptomycin, which in itself showed hardly any activiy, the acti