Acinetobacter

APMIS, 1990 Apr, 98(4), 320 - 6
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter strains identified by DNA-DNA hybridization; Tjernberg I; The in vitro activity of 21 antimicrobial agents against 143 Acinetobacter strains (belonging to 12 different DNA hybridization groups) was studied . Of the antibiotics tested, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, doxycycline and imipenem had the lowest MICs . For most antibiotics there was a considerable overlap of the MICs between the DNA groups; however, some differences in antimicrobial susceptibility between DNA groups were found . Strains of DNA groups 2 (A . baumannii) and 13 (unnamed) were most resistant, and strains of DNA groups 8 (A . lwoffii) and 5 (A . junii) less resistant . Many DNA groups contain both saccharolytic and non-saccharolytic strains but in the present study no differences in antimicrobial susceptibility were found between strains of a particular DNA group with regard to this property.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Apr, 68(4), 335 - 44
The aerobic psychotrophic populations on meat and meat contact surfaces in a meat production system and on meat stored at chill temperatures; Nortje GL et al.; At a city abattoir, a wholesaler and 10 different supermarkets, surface microbiological samples were taken of carcasses, hands and apron fronts of members of staff and equipment (mincers and saws) . In addition, minced meat, packaged and displayed in chilled cabinets, was also sampled . Carcasses, personnel surfaces and equipment were monitored by a modified agar sausage technique . From each of the highest dilution psychotrophic plate counts, five colonies were selected randomly, isolated and identified (1265 in total) . Microbes developing on chilled meat were also isolated from other surfaces in the production chain . On chilled meat (51%) and at the abattoir (36%) pseudomonads were the predominant organisms followed by the Gram-positive cocci on chilled meat and by Acinetobacter, Moraxella and Alcaligenes spp . at the abattoir . At the wholesaler Gram-positive cocci (32%) predominated, followed by Alcaligenes, Moraxella and Alcaligenes spp . Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Neisseriaceae and related genera, Gram-positive cocci, species from the coryneform groups of bacteria and yeasts were identified from all the surfaces monitored . Identification with the API NE20 was unsatisfactory . Enterbacteriaceae, lactobacilli and endospore-forming bacteria were identified occasionally, but their significance as contaminating organisms seems low . No Salmonella spp . were identified.

Int J Biol Macromol, 1990 Apr, 12(2), 145 - 52
Production of exopolysaccharides by Acinetobacter strains in a controlled fed-batch fermentation process using soap stock oil (SSO) as carbon source; Shabtai Y; The production of two extracellular capsular heteropolysaccharides by two different Acinetobacter strains has been studied in separate controlled fermentation processes with a view to their industrial applications as specific dispersing agents . The first, emulsan, is an extracellular polyanionic amphipathic heteropolysaccharide (MW 10(6) D) made by A . calcoaceticus RAG-1 . It forms and stabilizes oil in water emulsions . The other, biodispersan (PS-A2), is another extracellular zwitterionic heteropolysaccharide (MW 51 kD) made by A . calcoaceticus A2 . This polysaccharide disperses big solid limestone granules forming micron-size water suspension . Both polysaccharides are synthesized within the cells, exported to their outer surface to form an extracellular cell-associated capsule and released subsequently into the growth medium . The polymers were produced in a computer-controlled fed-batch intensively aerated fermentation process . A commercially available and cheap fatty acids mixture (soap stock oil) served as the carbon source, and was fed in coordination with the required nitrogen . The coordinated feed of carbon and nitrogen was operated on the basis of two metabolic correlations: The first correlation related the cell protein produced and the ammonium nitrogen consumed with the outcoming coeffients of 24 and 21 mM NH3/g protein for the emulsan and the biodispersan fermentations respectively . The second correlation linked the consumption of the fatty acids with that of the nitrogen source dictating the appropriate C/N ratio of the feed into the operating fermentor . These ratios were 7.7 g C/g N for the emulsan fermentation and 8.5 gC/g N in the case of the biodispersan production process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Apr, 15(3), 219 - 27
The survival of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus inoculated on fingertips and on formica; Musa EK et al.; When inoculated on the fingers of three volunteers, strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus survived better than strains of var . lwoffii; 60 min after an inoculum of 10(4) cfu/finger, washings yielded between 2.6 x 10(1) (for a sporadic strain of var . lwoffii) and 7.2 x 10(2) cfu/finger (for an epidemic strain of var . anitratus) . All five test strains survived better on formica than on skin, and from an inoculum of 10(4) cfu, between 6.4 x 10(2) and 2.2 x 10(3) cfu/finger were recoverable 60 min later . After inoculation of formica sheets, both strains of var . lwoffii could still be recovered in low numbers 24 h later, and two of the three strains of var . anitratus 60 h later . These findings suggest the presence of hitherto unrecognized antibacterial activity of skin against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and suggest that outbreaks may be sustained by hand transmission . The ability of these organisms to survive desiccation on formica supports the proposal that transmission by air, dust or fomites may hitherto have been underestimated for this species.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Apr, 15(3), 203 - 17
Enteral hyperalimentation as a source of nosocomial infection; Thurn J et al.; Microbial growth in enteral nutrition solutions (ENS) has frequently been documented . To determine the relation of this contamination to nosocomial infection, we prospectively studied 24 intensive care unit patients who received enteral feeding . Cultures of solutions were obtained while refrigerated and during administration as well as pharyngeal and rectal cultures from patients at the start of enteral nutrition and serially during administration . Most patients (10/16, 62.5%) receiving solutions mixed on the ward and 3/14 (21.4%) receiving solutions prepared elsewhere appeared to become colonized (0.05 less than P less than 0.10) by organisms initially isolated from feeds . By antibiotic susceptibility and plasmid analysis, eight patients were found to be colonized by 11 organisms identical to those which were first isolated from ENS . Two of these patients had ENS-associated pneumonias caused by Acinetobacter baumannii . Solutions often contained multiple Gram-negative bacilli similar to those recovered from nurses' hands and blenders, in numbers up to 1 x 10(8) ml-1 . We conclude that ENS may be an important source of nosocomial infection . Uniform microbial criteria for ENS should be developed and methods to limit contamination should be utilized.

Am J Med, 1990 Mar 23, 88(3C), 7S - 11S; discussion 38S-42S
Aztreonam susceptibility testing . A retrospective analysis; Parry MF; Aztreonam is a structurally and immunologically unique beta-lactam antibiotic with activity exclusively against aerobic gram-negative micro-organisms . Between 1983 and 1988, its antimicrobial spectrum was evaluated against more than 5,800 fresh clinical isolates at a 300-bed community teaching hospital . Only 1.1 percent of Enterobacteriaceae isolates were resistant to aztreonam over the five-year study period, an incidence similar to that observed with aminoglycoside antibiotics . Aztreonam was found to be more active than third-generation cephalosporins and comparable with mezlocillin against Enterobacter spp., Morganella, and Citrobacter freundii . Although aztreonam was somewhat less active against nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, overall more than 90 percent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were susceptible . Ceftazidime was the most active beta-lactam tested against nonfermenters . Against aerobic gram-positive cocci, aztreonam possessed no clinically useful activity . No significant change in susceptibility to aztreonam was observed over the five-year study period for Enterobacteriaceae . For third-generation cephalosporins, however, a trend toward increased resistance was noted, particularly for Enterobacter spp . and C . freundii . A 50 percent increase in resistance to aztreonam was observed over the five-year study period for nonfermenters, particularly P . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter anitratus . Similar increases in resistance were seen with other beta-lactams and gentamicin . Based on its potent in vitro activity, aztreonam appears to be a useful agent and a desirable alternative to aminoglycoside antibiotics for the treatment of pure aerobic gram-negative bacillary infections, or as a component in combination therapy against mixed infections.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1990 Mar 15, 196(6), 902 - 6
Bacterial flora of the vagina and uterus of healthy cats; Clemetson LL et al.; Bacterial culturing was conducted on samples from the reproductive tracts of 53 clinically healthy female cats . Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 52 of 53 vaginal swab samples and from 2 of 29 uterine swab samples . Anaerobic bacteria were detected in 4 of 30 vaginal and 1 of 29 uterine cultures . The aerobic bacteria included species of Acinetobacter, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Escherichia, Haemophilus, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus . Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus canis, and E coli were the most common organisms and were isolated from 56%, 52%, and 44% of the vaginal samples, respectively . Anaerobes isolated from vaginal samples included 3 species of Bacteroides and 2 isolates of Peptococcus . The single uterine anaerobe isolate was a Lactobacillus sp . The number of bacterial species isolated from each vaginal culture ranged from 1 to 8 (mean, 3) . The number of colony forming units tended to vary inversely with the number of bacterial species detected in each sample.

Presse Med, 1990 Mar 3, 19(8), 357 - 61
{Epidemiology of Acinetobacter and resistance to antibiotics at hospitals . A 5-year evaluation}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; The growing number of Acinetobacter strains in hospitals and the rapid increase of their resistance to antibiotics have prompted us to undertake a long-term epidemiological study of this resistance at the Bichat hospital, Paris . Between 1971 and 1984, the resistance of Acinetobacter to antibiotics had already progressed, with only some antibiotics (imipenem, ceftazidime, tobramycin and amikacin) remaining active . During the following 5 years (1984-1988) a study of 1056 strains demonstrated a further increase of resistance and showed how serious the problem was in intensive care units . During the last few years, there has been a considerable increase in the proportion of multiresistant strains, reaching 84 per cent with beta-lactam antibiotics and 64 per cent with aminoglycosides . At present, in most cases the only effective treatment is imipenem, and no antibiotic is active in 5.5 per cent of the cases . Studies of lysotypes, enzymes and phenotypic resistance of bacterial strains completed the epidemiological approach, showing the presence of dominant lysotypes . Two predominant lysotypes are associated with multiresistance of Acinetobacter strains responsible for nosocomial infections.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Mar-Apr, 13(2), 79 - 91
In vitro studies of ciprofloxacin and survey of resistance patterns in current isolates; Fernandes CJ et al.; We studied the activity of ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics against both routine and multiresistant (multi-R) clinical isolates . Ciprofloxacin inhibited more than 98% of most species of Enterobacteriaceae at a concentration of 2 micrograms/ml . Only Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and to a much lesser degree, Providencia and Serratia, were resistant . Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were susceptible . Only 1% of staphylococci were resistant; the test panel included 1200 MRSA . For most species of streptococci, the MIC90 was 1 microgram/ml; for enterococci, it was 2 micrograms/ml . We also surveyed resistance in our current isolates . Resistance to ciprofloxacin has increased in A . calcoaceticus and Providencia, and in Streptococcus pneumoniae and group B streptococci . Ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates tended to show increased resistance to other antibiotics, including aminoglycosides and, later, cephalosporins.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Mar, 34(3), 494 - 5
Cross resistance to ciprofloxacin and other antimicrobial agents among clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus; Shalit I et al.; Using an agar dilution assay, for 66 of 104 (63.5%) clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus, the MIC of ciprofloxacin was greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/ml . Cross resistance was demonstrable to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (P less than 0.001), amikacin (P less than 0.01), cefotaxime (P less than 0.001), azlocillin (P less than 0.001), ceftazidime (P less than 0.001), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (P less than 0.001), and minocycline (P less than 0.05) . The mean MIC of ciprofloxacin for drug-susceptible isolates was consistently lower than that for resistant isolates; however, these differences were significant only for amikacin (P = 0.036).

Gene, 1990 Mar 1, 87(1), 45 - 51
Analysis and nucleotide sequence of an origin of DNA replication in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and its use for Escherichia coli shuttle plasmids; Hunger M et al.; A shuttle plasmid for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Escherichia coli has been constructed from a cryptic A . calcoaceticus lwoffi plasmid and pBR322 . It is transformed to A . calcoaceticus BD413 by natural competency, yielding about 10(6) transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA . The ApR and TcR genes of pBR322 are functional in A . calcoaceticus . A gene bank was constructed from chromosomal A . calcoaceticus DNA and the shuttle plasmid . Direct transformation to A . calcoaceticus yielded about 95% recombinants, indicating a sixfold enrichment of recombinant plasmids compared to E . coli . One clone complementing a trpE mutation carried a 20-kb insertion and transformed with a 30-fold higher efficiency when compared to the vector . A deletion analysis of the shuttle plasmid indicates that 2.2 kb is necessary for autonomous replication and stable maintenance in A . calcoaceticus . No rearrangements of the DNA or loss of plasmids are found in that organism, even in the absence of selective pressure, when this sequence is present . A further insertional inactivation analysis creating lacZ transcriptional fusions suggests that the origin of replication (ori) is contained within about 1350 bp . Analysis of beta-galactosidase production in A . calcoaceticus indicates that only a weak promoter activity is directed out of one end of this ori . Its sequence contains A + T-rich regions, an 18-bp element with nearly perfect palindromic symmetry and eleven repeats of the consensus sequence, AAAAAATAT, eight of which are clustered within 360 bp . However, no open reading frames or significant homologies to other ori were found.

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei), 1990 Mar, 45(3), 181 - 5
{Clinical evaluation of fosfomycin}; Lan CK; A total of 15 patients with a variety of infectious disease were treated with fosfomycin in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaoshiung . The drug was administered by iv drip infusion in doses of 204g per day for 5-28 days . The clinical response was satisfactory in 6 (100%) of 6 patients with urinary tract infection, 8 (80%) of 10 with septicemia and 1 with pneumonia . Overall, fosfomycin was effective in 13 (86%) of all patients treated . Except for 1 isolate of the pathogen, B . fragilis, and another 1 isolate of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, all the other 16 pathogens isolated, including Escherichia coli, Aeromonas, Klebsiella . Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were successfully eradicated . Only 1 case developed skin rash . So fosfomycin is a useful agent and gram (-) organisms including oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Mar, 172(3), 1267 - 70
Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase inhibitor in cell extracts of Pseudomonas carboxydovorans; Do YS et al.; Extracts of heterotrophically grown cells of Pseudomonas carboxydovorans were found to contain an inhibitor of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CO-DH) . The inhibitor activity was not detected in CO-autotrophically grown cells . The inhibitor was extremely stable to heat treatment based on the extent of inhibition of CO-DH activity . The extent of inhibition was proportional to the amount of cell extract added to the reaction mixture . The inhibition was independent of a prior incubation period of the extracts with CO-DH . The inhibitor was precipitable with ammonium sulfate, phenol, and trichloroacetic acid . It was passed through benzoylated dialysis tubing and Amicon ultrafiltration membrane YM2 . Denaturing and nondenturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of CO-DH inactivated by inhibitor revealed that the mobilities of native enzyme and subunits were identical to those of active CO-DH . The inhibitor-treated CO-DH retained its original antigenic sites and exhibited enzyme activity upon activity staining . The CO-DH inhibitor of P . carboxydovorans was also active on CO-DHs from Pseudomonas carboxydohydrogena, Acinetobacter sp . strain JC1, and Pseudomonas carboxydoflava.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 Mar, 32(6), 686 - 9
Expression of an Erwinia sp . gene encoding diphenyl ether cleavage in Escherichia coli and an isolated Acinetobacter strain PE7; Liaw HJ et al.; An Acinetobacter strain PE7 with the ability to grow on salicyclic acid and to degrade diphenyl ethers was isolated from a petroleum waste pit in Louisiana . A cloned Erwinia sp . dpe gene encoding diphenyl ether cleavage was introduced into PE7 in order to enhance its degradative ability . A broad-host-range expression plasmid, pDPE2388, was constructed by inserting an SspI-HpaI fragment from a dpe gene-containing plasmid, pDPE7321, into the kanamycin resistance gene of plasmid pKT230 . The DNA fragment contained the dpe gene flanked between sp6 and T7 promoters . Transconjugants of pDPE2388 plasmid into PE7 were isolated . Expression of the dpe gene in Escherichia coli or PE7 displayed a degradative ability to cleave the following diphenyl ethers: 4-chlorodiphenyl ether, 4-nitrodiphenyl ether, and 4-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Feb, 25(2), 221 - 6
The in-vitro activity of ceftibuten against 475 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli, compared with cefuroxime and cefadroxil; Bragman SG et al.; The in-vitro activity of ceftibuten was compared with cefuroxime and cefadroxil against 475 clinically-significant, epidemiologically-distinct isolates of Gram-negative bacilli: 170 from blood, 212 from urine and 93 from a supplementary collection of multiply-resistant strains known to have resistance plasmids, to have caused sporadic or epidemic nosocomial infection, or both . Ceftibuten MICs ranged from 0.003 to greater than 32 mg/l, with a modal MIC of 0.01 mg/l: 95% of all isolates had ceftibuten MIC values of less than or equal to 8 mg/l, the sensitivity breakpoint suggested by the manufacturer . Ninety per cent of isolates had MICs of less than or equal to 1 mg/l and 49% had MICs of less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l . All isolates of Klebsiella, Serratia, Proteus and Providencia spp., and Morganella morganii had MIC values of 8 mg/l or less . Only two of 124 isolates of Escherichia coli tested, and only one of 23 Citrobacter spp., had MICs of greater than 8 mg/l (16, 16 and greater than 32 mg/l respectively) . Resistance MIC greater than 16 mg/l) was more frequent among Enterobacter and Acinetobacter spp . Thirteen of 52 Enterobacter spp., and seven of 18 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus had MICs of at least 32 mg/l . MIC ranges, modal MICs and MIC90s indicated that ceftibuten was, with the exception of only two strains, consistently more active in-vitro than cefuroxime, which was in turn more active than cefadroxil.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 68(2), 123 - 32
Changes in bacterial populations during red tides caused by Mesodinium rubrum and Gymnodinium catenatum in North West Coast of Spain; Romalde JL et al.; Heterotrophic bacterial communities associated with four red tides caused by Mesodinium rubrum and Gymnodinium catenatum in two Galician Rias (North West Spain) were examined . Three of these were produced by the Mesodinium rubrum and the causative organism of a toxic bloom was Gymnodinium catenatum . In early stages of all the blooms, the diversity decreased but the total marine bacterial counts increased by one or two logs . Vibrio numbers were also incremented by two logs in two blooms of M . rubrum, while in the other bloom of this organism and in the red tide caused by G . catenatum a decrease in number of these bacteria was observed . A total of 116 bacterial strains were identified at the genus level and grouped into 12 phena . During the decomposition processes of two blooms of M . rubrum a zooplanktonic-type bacterial succession was observed (Vibrio, pseudomonads and Moraxella-Acinetobacter) . On the other hand, during decomposition of the other red tide of M . rubrum and the bloom of G . catenatum, a typical phytoplanktonic-type succession occurred, as Pseudomonas and Moraxella groups became dominant for all the process . These results support the conflicting taxonomical position of M . rubrum . After the blooms, the changes in the community point towards the restablishment of the normal bacterial flora of the estuary (increase in diversity and decreases of bacterial numbers) . Only the Vibrio strains, isolated from the non-toxic first and second red tides, displayed cytotoxic activities . A relationship among bacterial cytotoxicity and toxic effects of blooms cannot therefore be established.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 956 - 66
DNA sequences of genes encoding Acinetobacter calcoaceticus protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase: evidence indicating shuffling of genes and of DNA sequences within genes during their evolutionary divergence; Hartnett C et al.; The DNA sequence of a 2,391-base-pair HindIII restriction fragment of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus DNA containing the pcaCHG genes is reported . The DNA sequence reveals that A . calcoaceticus pca genes, encoding enzymes required for protocatechuate metabolism, are arranged in a single transcriptional unit, pcaEFDBCHG, whereas homologous genes are arranged differently in Pseudomonas putida . The pcaG and pcaH genes represent separate reading frames respectively encoding the alpha and beta subunits of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.1.3); previously a single designation, pcaA, had been used to represent DNA encoding this enzyme . The alpha and beta protein subunits appear to share common ancestry with each other and with catechol 1,2-dioxygenases from A . calcoaceticus and P . putida . Marked conservation of amino acid sequence is observed in a region containing two histidyl residues and two tyrosyl residues that appear to ligate iron within each oxygenase . In some regions within the aligned oxygenase sequences, DNA sequences appear to be conserved at a level beyond the extent that might have been demanded by selection at the level of protein . In other regions, divergence of DNA sequences appears to have been achieved by substitution of DNA sequence from one genetic segment into another . The results are interpreted to be the consequence of sequence exchange by gene conversion between slipped strands of DNA during evolutionary divergence; mismatch repair between slipped strands may contribute to the maintenance of DNA sequence in divergent genes.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 170 - 6
Species, biotype, and bacteriophage type determinations compared with cell envelope protein profiles for typing Acinetobacter strains; Bouvet PJ et al.; Species, biotypes, and phage types were determined for 120 Acinetobacter strains from clinical or environmental sources or from culture collections . These characteristics were compared with cell envelope protein profiles obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in previous studies . A considerable heterogeneity of species and types was observed by use of the various methods, in particular among strains from different sources . Acinetobacter baumannii was the most commonly found species in isolates from clinical sources, followed by Acinetobacter species 3 . Nine biotypes were observed among A . baumannii strains . Further differentiation within most species and biotypes was achieved by protein profile typing and, to some extent, phage typing . Of 120 strains, 49 (41%) were not typeable by phages . Consistent results for the various classification methods were obtained for strains from common sources . Biotyping seemed an appropriate method for the screening of strains, whereas protein profile and phage typing could serve as additional methods to establish the identity or nonidentity of strains . Results of this study suggest that the combination of the typing methods is useful in epidemiological studies.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Feb, 15(2), 177 - 82
An outbreak of Acinetobacter respiratory tract infection resulting from incomplete disinfection of ventilatory equipment; Cefai C et al.; An outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter anitratus respiratory tract infection occurred over a 30-day-period in six patients admitted to an intensive care unit . Standard precautions failed to curtail the outbreak, which was finally attributed to ineffective disinfection of reusable ventilator tubing.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(1), 73 - 6
Concerning the sensitivity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Jedlickova Z et al.; The strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, var . anitratus (A . c . a.) were isolated in the nosocomial environment as an opportune pathogen . The therapy of choice may be determined after in vitro tests . Our results show following therapeutical possibilities: beta-lactam antibiotics--cephalosporins of IIIrd generation (cefotaxime), also combinations of antimicrobials have shown good results: amoxycillin or ticarcillin with clavulanic acid . Best synergistic effect was found in combination ticarcillin-amikacin.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 14 - 22
{Evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium in the treatment of respiratory tract infections}; Shimokata K et al.; Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) was administered to 55 patients with respiratory tract infections (RTI) . A clinical evaluation of IPM/CS was carried out in 51 patients, 28 with pneumonia, 4 with pulmonary abscess, 1 with pyothorax, 6 with bronchitis, 9 with bronchiectasis, 1 with diffuse panbronchiolitis and 2 with RTI with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the clinical efficacy rate was 78.4% . Causative organisms were isolated in 23 strains out of 20 patients, such as Staphylococcus aureus 4 strains, Staphylococcus epidermidis 1 strain, Streptococcus pneumoniae 1 strain, Branhamella catarrhalis 1 strain, Haemophilus influenzae 2 strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae 4 strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6 strains, Pseudomonas sp . 1 strain, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 1 strain, Acinetobacter sp . 1 strain and glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative rod 1 strain . An eradication rate of 70.6% was obtained . An overall eradication rate of main causative organisms in RTI including S . aureus, S . pneumoniae, H . influenzae and K . pneumoniae was 75.0% . Clinical adverse effects were observed in 5 patients, and these were eruption in 2, itching in 1, vomiting in 1 and drug fever in 1 . Abnormalities in laboratory test results were observed in 8 patients . These disappeared or returned to normal values after completion or discontinuation of IPM/CS administration . IPM/CS appears to be a useful antibiotic for the treatment of RTI, especially severe infections.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1990 Jan, 64(1), 66 - 75
{Studies on respiratory infections in primary care clinic (II) . Distribution and antibiotic sensitivity to 45 agents of bacteria isolated from patients with respiratory infections visiting a doctor in private practice}; Watanabe A et al.; The bacteriology of the isolates from the sputum or the throat swab of patients with respiratory infections visiting a doctor in private practice in Sendai city during the period from March in 1988 to February in 1989 was documented, and their sensitivity to 45 antimicrobial agents was determined . Of the 568 patients, 514 cases had acute pharyngitis, 8 cases each had acute tonsillitis and acute bronchitis, 7 cases were acute pneumonia, 6 cases had herpangina, 18 cases had hand-foot-mouth disease with the signs of respiratory infections, 5 cases had varicella with the signs of respiratory infections and 2 cases were mumps with the signs of respiratory infections . Three hundred strains of potential (greater than or equal to 10(7) CFU/ml) pathogens were recovered from 293 of the 568 cases, which consisted of 124 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 58 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 45 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 26 strains of Branhamella catarrhalis, 25 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, 9 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 13 strains of other species, not including non-fermentile gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Staphylococcus aureus and other strains were documented simultaneously in 6 out of 7 cases in which multi-organisms were recovered . Many strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from young patients throughout the year . On the other hand many strains of Branhamella catarrhalis were isolated from elderly patients in winter . The sensitivity of 45 antimicrobial agents of 231 of 300 strains was determined by sensitivity disks (EIKEN, Japan) . No strain of the Haemophilus influenzae in this study was resistant to ampicillin . None of the Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes was resistant to ampicillin or cefazolin . None of the Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to cloxacillin, cefazolin, gentamicin or ofloxacin . We conclude from the above results that antibiotic-resistant strains are found presumably only in a very few cases in primary care clinic.

Mol Biol Evol, 1990 Jan, 7(1), 74 - 81
An evolutionary comparison of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus trpF with trpF genes of several organisms; Ross CM et al.; The deduced amino acid sequence of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus N-(5'-phosphoribosyl) anthranilate isomerase (PRAI), which is coded by trpF, was compared with TrpF of Caulobacter crescentus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, and Aspergillus nidulans . Sixty percent of identical or similar amino acids were located in alpha/beta TIM (triose-phosphate isomerase) barrels and in residues important in substrate binding and catalysis . In addition, the analysis of trpF genes presented here supports a model by which fusion between separate trpC and trpF genes arose in some cases by in-frame deletions.

Br J Dermatol, 1990 Jan, 122(1), 23 - 8
The effect of bacterial products on human fibroblast and keratinocyte detachment and viability; Taylor D et al.; An in vitro model has been developed to study the effect of soluble bacterial products on the viability and detachment of skin cell types utilized cultured grafts . Microbial products prepared from clinical isolates of bacterial species which most commonly colonize burn lesions showed marked variation in their ability to detach and kill both keratinocytes and fibroblasts . All three isolates of Acinetobacter spp . tested were effective in causing detachment and death of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, whereas Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter spp . tested had little, or no, effect on detachment or viability for either skin cell type . Four Staphylococcus aureus isolates elicited variable strain-dependent results with regard to detachment and viability . One isolate possessed activity specific for keratinocyte detachment and death . These results indicate the possible undesirable effects such bacterial species may have on graft success in colonized burn wounds.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1990, 112(14), 921 - 3
{Acinetobacter as a problem pathogen in patients with long-term tocolysis}; Brezinka C et al.; A hospital outbreak of Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus in a ward with patients with intravenous tokolysis is reported . Within 2 months 9 pregnant women who had tokolysis for premature labour developed septic fever that only subsisted after the administration of tokolysis was stopped . In 7 cases blood culture was positive for Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus . This endemic outbreak was responsible for premature deliveries in four cases, leading top post partum death of two infants . Source identification was inconclusive, no further outbreaks have occurred since the reported endemic occurrence . Dangers of nosocomial infections in patients with intravenous tokolysis are discussed.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1990, 171 Suppl, 19 - 23
How and why aztreonam works; Rittenbury MS; Aztreonam is the first monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic (monobactam) to be tested clinically . Its synthetic structure determines specific areas of activity, including enhanced activity against Pseudomonas species, exceptional activity against gram-negative bacteria, stability to beta-lactamases and lack of activity against gram-positive bacteria--all of which can be directly related to its chemical composition . Aztreonam has a high affinity for the protein-binding protein 3 (PBP-3) of aerobic gram-negative bacteria . Most of these organisms are inhibited and killed at low concentrations of the drug . Aztreonam binds poorly to PBP sites of the aerobic gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria and consequently has relatively poor inhibitory effects against these bacteria . In vitro, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values against almost all of the Enterobacteriaceae and against Neisseria and Haemophilus strains are typically below 1 microgram per milliliter . MIC values against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of 8 micrograms per milliliter are comparable with those of other antipseudomonal beta-lactams and the acylureidopenicillins . As combination therapy with amino-glycosides, aztreonam acts in synergy against P . aeruginosa, Acinetobacter and gentamicin-resistant gram-negative rods . Aztreonam is widely distributed in the body tissues and fluids, and the average elimination half-life is 1.7 hours . Intramuscular dosing results in peak serum levels in approximately one hour, while intravenous dosing results in peak levels within five minutes . After a 2 gram dose given intravenously, MIC90 values for most of the Enterobacteriaceae are exceeded for eight hours, and those for P . aeruginosa, for almost six hours . The steady-state volume of distribution is approximately 0.18 liter per kilogram . Concentrations above the MIC90 for most gram-negative bacteria are also present within bone, prostate and cerebrospinal fluid . Between 60 and 70 per cent of the drug is excreted unchanged in the urine, resulting in concentrations approximating 3,000 micrograms per milliliter two hours after a 1 gram dose given intravenously . Serum clearance of aztreonam is directly proportional to creatinine clearance . Dosage adjustment must, therefore, be made in the presence of reduced clearance . Dosing varies between 0.5 and 2.0 grams every six to 12 hours, depending on the severity of the infection . The characteristics of aztreonam suggest that it is a useful nonnephrotoxic drug for treatment of aerobic gram-negative infection.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1990, 68, 64 - 9
Clinical experience with parenteral and oral ofloxacin in severe infections; Kanellakopoulou K et al.; This study included 107 patients who were given ofloxacin at daily doses of 400-800 mg for 10 days to 12 months for treatment of a variety of infections . 77 patients were given ofloxacin orally and 30 received it intravenously . Infections treated were bronchopneumonia (29), chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation (15), chronic osteomyelitis with exacerbation (20), soft tissue infections (13), complicated urinary tract infections (7), chronic prostatis with exacerbation (7), malignant external otitis (4), or other infections (12) . Pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (39), Acinetobacter spp . (9), various Enterobacteriaceae (30), Haemophilus influenzae (26), pneumococci (1) and Staphylococcus aureus (4) . MICs of ofloxacin ranged from less than 0.06-2 mg/l . Clinically, 69% of the patients were cured, 18% improved and 13% failed to respond . Bacteriologically, pathogens were eradicated in 70%, persisted in 16% and relapsed in 14% . Resistance during therapy developed almost exclusively in P . aeruginosa strains (17.9%) . The following adverse reactions were reported: gastrointestinal disturbances (6), rash plus facial oedema (1), abnormal liver function tests (5) and leukopenia (1) . It is concluded that ofloxacin is suitable for treatment of a variety of infections, ranging from serious life threatening infections in ICU patients to chronic ones that require prolonged therapy.

Chemotherapy, 1990, 36(4), 259 - 67
In vitro activity of cefepime, a new parenteral cephalosporin, against recent European blood isolates and in comparison with piperacillin/tazobactam; Dornbusch K et al.; Cefepime, a new parenteral cephalosporin with broad antibacterial spectrum and stability to the hydrolysis to many bacterial beta-lactamases, was tested against recent blood culture isolates (369 strains of gram-negative bacilli and 131 strains of staphylococci) collected in 29 European laboratories by the microdilution method in Mueller-Hinton broth . Cefepime was very active against the gram-negative bacilli (MIC50 less than or equal to 0.016-0.064 mg/l; MIC90 0.064-4 mg/l) and less active against Pseudomonas (MIC50 4 mg/l; MIC90 greater than 16 mg/l) or Acinetobacter (MIC50 and MIC90 greater than 16 mg/l) . The staphylococci were also inhibited (MIC50 8 mg/l; MIC90 16 mg/l) . Cefepime was very active against bacteria producing different plasmid-encoded beta-lactamases (MIC 0.016-0.5 mg/l) . Piperacillin was not active against the latter strains (MIC from 2 to greater than 64 mg/l), but the presence of the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam restored the activity of piperacillin . The bactericidal activity of cefepime and piperacillin/tazobactam against beta-lactamase-producing strains was confirmed by the killing curve technique.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1990 Jan-Mar, 35(1), 59 - 64
{The advantages of agglutination and precipitation tests used in the serological diagnosis of meningitis due to H . influenza type B}; Mihancea N et al.; During the period January 1985-July 1988, 532 purulent CSF taken from patients with meningitis, aged between 3 weeks and 91 years, were studied by microscopic examination, cultivation and for H . influenzae type B (HITB) also by coagglutination (COA), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and double immunodiffusion (DID) in agarose gel . Positive CSFs were taken from the patients aged 1 month-24 years old, of which 76% from children under 5 years old, and 42% from children under one year . 65.9% of the patients were males; the disease was more frequent in the first and last 4 months of the year, with the highest incidence in April . 12 bacterial spectra were found: N . meningitidis--62.97%, Str . pneumoniae--9.77%, H . influenzae type B--8.27%, and also Salmonella, E . coli, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Alcaligenes, Proteus and Enterobacter in 4.70; the rest of 14.28% had indefinite etiology . H . influenzae was evidenced in CSF by microscopic examination in 3.38%, by cultivation in 3.94%, and the soluble antigen of HITB by COA in 8.27%, by CIE in 8.08% and by DID in 7.33% . The sensibility order of the tests was: COA, CIE, DID, cultivation and microscopic examination . The COA and CIE techniques are recommended for the current use in examination of the purulent CSF due to their simplicity, rapidity, sensibility, specificity and possibility of establishing the diagnosis when the bacteriologic techniques are negative.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1990, 37(3), 319 - 23
Complex typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in an intensive care unit {a note}; Barcs I et al.; A total of 2637 Gram-negative facultatively pathogenic bacteria were isolated in the Laszlo Central Hospital for Infectious Diseases during a 5-year-period from clinical samples of patients of the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit; 28 further strains were cultured from hospital personnel and fomites . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella and Acinetobacter spp . were most frequently isolated . Complex typing (determination of O serogroup, phage pattern, pyocin type, antibiogram and plasmid pattern) of P . aeruginosa strains showed the predominance of serogroup O11 (62%), but the isolates differed from each other by other characteristics . Conjugation experiments showed no common resistance plasmids in the tested population.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(3), 289 - 98
Analysis of factors which determine the existence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in a saprophytic phase; Litvin VYu et al.; Data are presented on the effects of a variety of abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the existence and changes in the numbers of Y . pseudotuberculosis . Experiments with sterile soil showed that Y . pseudotuberculosis populations were resistant over a wide range of major abiotic factors: temperature (0-30 degrees C), humidity (15-50%), pH (5.9-9.0) . Although exerting some effect on the duration of different growth phases, the above abiotic factors did not influence, within the tested range, the general nature of populational dynamics of the microbe . Comparative experiments carried out in sterile and natural soil specimens using an RNA-polymerase mutant warranted the conclusion that the numbers of Y . pseudotuberculosis in soil (water) are largely controlled by the biotic components of ecosystems, including microflora and microfauna . Y . pseudotuberculosis was shown to exist in the environment (vegetable storehouses and substrate of rodent nests) in association with bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae as well as the genera Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas . Endosymbiotic relationships are described between Y . pseudotuberculosis and the free-living infusorian Tetrahymena pyriformis which sustains microbial populations in the soil (water).

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1990, 34(1), 77 - 80
The antimicrobial activity of Fleroxacin RO 23-6240, a third generation fluoroquinolone derivative, tested in vitro; Laznickova T et al.; The broad antimicrobial spectrum of Fleroxacin RO 23-6240 was tested on a panel of bacterial and several mycobacterial species . Staph . aureus strains, gramnegative bacteria E . coli, Kl . pneumoniae, Salmonella spp . were found to be rather susceptible to the tested preparation in vitro . The same was true of those species which are known to feature strong natural resistance, e.g . Ps . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . As regards mycobacteria, complete susceptibility was recorded for 10 M . tuberculosis strains, 17 M . kansasii strains and 4 strains of M . fortuitum . Only two of the eleven tested strains of the complex M . avium-intracellulare were found to be susceptible and one M . chelonae strain tested proved resistant . Due to their broad spectrum and strong bactericidal effects, chinolone preparations can be anticipated to assume an everincreasing significance in the future.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1990 Jan, 43(1), 23 - 30
{Clinical evaluation of therapy for aspiration pneumonia with imipenem/cilastatin sodium}; Kikuchi N et al.; In an open, prospective, multicenter trial the clinical efficacy of imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) for the treatment of 14 cases with aspiration pneumonia was investigated . The mean age was 75.4 years old . Diseases of central nervous system were present in 11 cases, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and diabetes mellitus in 2 cases each respectively . Seven cases were community-acquired and another seven were hospital-acquired . Six cases were moderate and 8 cases were severe . Causative organisms were determined in 9 cases (64.3%), multiple causative organisms were isolated in 3 cases . Isolated organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3), Escherichia coli (1), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1) . Detection of anaerobes was not attempted . Clinical effects of IPM/CS were excellent in 3, good in 8, fair in 2, poor in 1, the efficacy rate was thus 78.6% . P . aeruginosa was isolated from 2 out of 3 cases in which therapy with IPM/CS failed . Monotherapy with IPM/CS appears to be highly effective for cases of aspiration pneumonia, but the disease due to IPM-resistant P . aeruginosa is an exception.

Haematol Blood Transfus, 1990, 33, 525 - 30
Prevention of infection in acute leukemia; Maschmeyer G et al.; In a randomized study comparing cotrimoxazole plus colistin with ciprofloxacin, each in combination with nonabsorbable antimycotics, the incidence of major infections in terms of septicemias and pneumonias as well as of minor infections and episodes of unexplained fever (FUO) was higher in patients treated with ciprofloxacin . In cases of microbiologically documented infections, gram-positive cocci dominated by far . In surveillance cultures of oral washings and of feces, gram-negative enterobacteria were only rarely detected; however, large numbers of cultures were positive for Acinetobacter species . There were four cases of documented Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients not receiving cotrimoxazole . The incidence of documented mycotic infections as well as the detection of fungi in surveillance cultures was similar in both treatment groups . A decrease in the number of adverse events, especially of allergic reactions, could not be achieved by the administration of ciprofloxacin . In conclusion, cotrimoxazole plus colistin in combination with nonabsorbable antimycotics remains the standard regimen for prevention of infection in patients with acute leukemia undergoing aggressive remission induction therapy . A detailed analysis of study II will be prepared for publication.

Medicina (B Aires), 1990, 50(2), 102 - 6
{Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis . Microbiological and clinical evaluation}; Predari SC et al.; In 1976, Popovich et al . described a technique of peritoneal dialysis using bottled dialysate . Later Oreopoulos et al . modified the technique by using plastic bags . But peritonitis still is a major and potentially serious complication of peritoneal dialysis . We have evaluated a) microbiologic diagnostic methods for infectious peritonitis, b) incidence of etiologic agents, and c) the evolution during antimicrobial treatment . Eighteen patients with chronic renal failure of diverse causes were followed from initiation of the CAPD program since January 1981 until June 1988 . There were 80 episodes of infectious peritonitis during 17 patient-years of dialysis with an overall incidence of peritonitis of 4.7 episodes/patient-year . The total volume centrifuged technique and culture of sediment showed a sensibility of 85% in 73 episodes where cultures were obtained . The 59.1% of episodes of peritonitis were caused by gram negative bacilli; 11.6% were due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Gram positive cocci accounted for 37.3% . These results are different from those found in other countries because most of our patients had received antimicrobial agents which probably changed their body flora, some did not have manual ability, others were of bad hygienic habits and finally, all of them had frequent contact with hospital environment . The species most frequently isolated were coagulase negative staphylococci (12.8%), probably from patients' skin flora . (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1990, 16(11), 549 - 56
CTX and its desacetyl derivative (des-CTX): interaction with some representative beta-lactamases and their related pattern of resistance to newer selected clinical isolates; Amicosante G et al.; In this study the kinetic features of cefotaxime (CTX) and desacetyl-cefotaxime towards several representative beta-lactamases were investigated . Desacetyl-CTX was more stable to hydrolysis in comparison with cefotaxime for all the investigated enzymes . However, a cephalosporinase produced in Acinetobacter was progressively inactivated by both CTX and des-CTX . After prolonged incubation, dialysis partially restored the enzyme activity . Finally, both compounds were tested against selected resistant strains . It is concluded that des-CTX, because of either poor hydrolysis or prolonged half-life in body fluids, could contribute in vivo to the good antimicrobial properties of cefotaxime.

Infection, 1990, 18 Suppl 3, S155 - 67
{Antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of eleven oral cephalosporins}; Bauernfeind A et al.; Oral cephalosporins (cefixime, cefdinir, cefetamet, ceftibuten, cefpodoxime, loracarbef, cefprozil, cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefadroxil and BAY 3522) were compared by their antibacterial profile including stability against new beta-lactamases . Both activity and antibacterial spectrum of compounds structurally related to third generation parenteral cephalosporins (of the oximino class) were superior to established compounds . Activity against staphylococci was found to be highest for cefdinir, cefprozil and BAY 3522 . Cefetamet, ceftibuten and cefixime demonstrate no clinically meaningful antistaphylococcal activity while the other compounds investigated demonstrate intermediate activity . The antibacterial spectrum was broadest for cefdinir and cefpodoxime . New oral cephalosporins are equally inactive as established compounds against Enterobacter spp., Morganella, Listeria, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp., methicillin-resistant staphylococci, Enterococcus spp., penicillin-resistant pneumococci and anaerobes . New extended broad-spectrum betalactamases (TEM-3, TEM-5, TEM-6, TEM-7, SHV-2, SHV-3, SHV-4, SHV-5, CMY-1, CMY-2, and CTX-M) are active against the majority of oral cephalosporins . Ceftibuten, cefetamet, cefixime and cefdinir were stable against some of these enzymes even to a higher extent than parenteral cephalosporins . New oral cephalosporins should improve the therapeutic perspectives of oral cephalosporins due to their higher activity against pathogens marginally susceptible to established compounds (higher multiplicity of maximum plasma concentrations over MICs of the pathogens) and furthermore by including in their spectrum organisms resistant to established absorbable cephalosporins (e.g . Proteus spp., Providencia spp., Citrobacter spp., and Serratia spp.).

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1990, 49(5), 339 - 45
{A membrane-bound alanine aminopeptidase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . 3 . Inhibition of the enzyme.}; Jahreis G et al.; The alanine aminopeptidase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is inhibited by SH-reagents like p-hydroxymercuribenzote, Ellman's reagent, N-bromosuccinimide, and metal chelating agents like 1,10-phenanthroline . The AAP is competitively inhibited by L-amino acids such as leucine, phenylalanine, and valine having hydrophobic side chains . Bacitracin (Ki = 2.0.10(-6) mol/l) inhibits AAP stronger than puromycin (Ki = 8.0.10(-6) mol/l) . In contrast, the Aeromonas aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.10) is stronger inhibited by bestatin (Ki = 1.8.10(-8) mol/l) than the membrane-bound AAP from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . However, the binding of bestatin by both membrane-bound enzymes . Acinetobacter-AAP and microsomal aminopeptidase M (EC 3.4.11.2), with Ki values of 8.10(-6) mol/l is in the same range.

J Hosp Infect, 1990 Jan, 15(1), 83 - 93
Nosocomial outbreaks due to amikacin-resistant tobramycin-sensitive Acinetobacter species: correlation with amikacin usage; Buisson Y et al.; Fifty-seven patients in the Val-de-Grace hospital were infected or colonized with amikacin-resistant, tobramycin-sensitive Acinetobacter spp . between January 1985 and December 1987 . This resistance phenotype was attributed to the recently described 3'-O-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (APH(3')-VI), on the basis of substrate profile and DNA-DNA hybridization, and was mainly encountered in various biotypes of A . baumannii isolated from patients . It was also encountered in saprophytic A . johnsonii isolates from the hands of 11 healthy workers among the medical staff, which provided evidence for the dissemination of an epidemic gene among different biotypes and species of Acinetobacter . A retrospective epidemiological survey showed a significant correlation between amikacin consumption and case incidence in the wards where cross-infection had occurred.

SAAS Bull Biochem Biotechnol, 1990 Jan, 3, 27 - 31
Natural transformation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Shanley MS et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is a metabolically versatile microorganism that is naturally competent for DNA uptake and incorporation . We have exploited the natural state of competency for studies involving the cloning, organization and expression of genes encoding catabolic enzymes . A . calcoaceticus is able to take up, at high efficiency, genetically engineered DNA, incorporate the DNA and stably maintain and express the DNA . Sequence analysis of cloned A . calcoaceticus DNA reveals a great deal of internal repetition and secondary structure, but no specific sequences associated with uptake appear to be present . Uptake and transformation occurs in solid and liquid medium, at a wide range of DNA concentrations and with little restriction barrier to the source of the transforming DNA.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 Jan, 32(4), 414 - 7
Biotransformation of alkyl and aryl carbonates . Microbial degradation; Andreoni V et al.; An enriched mixed culture was successfully grown on model alkyl and aryl carbonates . These compounds were degraded by microorganisms at different rates . P-Chlorophenyl-2-octyl carbonate and p-nitrobenzyl-2-octyl carbonate were metabolized through the formation of p-chlorophenol and p-nitrobenzyl alcohol respectively . A strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated from the mixed culture utilized phenyl-2-octyl carbonate by an intracellular hydrolase to phenol and 2-octanol which were further metabolized.

Am J Med, 1989 Dec 29, 87(6C), 57S - 60S
A comparative evaluation of oral ofloxacin versus intravenous cefotaxime therapy for serious skin and skin structure infections; Gentry LO et al.; In a single-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, 100 successive patients were enrolled with serious skin and soft-tissue infections, whose illnesses had precipitated an initial hospital admission or an extension of inpatient care . There were 93 evaluable patients who received either ofloxacin, 400 mg orally every 12 hours plus an intravenously administered placebo every eight hours, or cefotaxime, 2.0 g intravenously every eight hours plus an orally administered placebo every 12 hours . The average length of therapy was 12 days . Both patient groups had similar demographics and underlying conditions . Wound infection was the most common diagnosis, followed by abscess, cellulitis, and trophic ulcer . Multiple pathogens were commonly isolated from infected sites (1.4 pathogens/patient) . The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Proteus/Providencia spp., and Enterobacter spp . Persistence of the initial pathogen at the end of therapy was observed in 22.5 percent of the cefotaxime-treated group, but in only 10 percent of the ofloxacin-treated group . There was one clinical failure in the cefotaxime group, caused by a susceptible strain of Enterobacter cloacae, and there was one clinical failure in the ofloxacin group, in which the patient had an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus wound infection and subsequently developed a P . aeruginosa superinfection . Adverse experiences, including rash, insomnia, and nausea, occurred in 16 percent of the patients in each group . It was concluded that oral ofloxacin is as safe and efficacious as parenteral cefotaxime in the treatment of serious skin and skin structure infections.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1989 Dec, 272(2), 231 - 41
A comparative assay of epidemiological markers for Acinetobacter strains isolated in a hospital; Giammanco A et al.; A comparative assay for epidemiological evaluation of three different Acinetobacter typing procedures, i.e . biotyping, phage-typing, and the analysis of the bacterial envelope protein profiles, was carried out using sixty-four multiresistant Acinetobacter strains isolated from clinical specimens . The antibiotic susceptibility of the strains was also considered . After geno-species identification, biotyping allowed the recognition of a relatively large and long-lasting presence, at an Intensive Therapy Unit, of two A . baumannii biotypes . Phage-typing and the analysis of the susceptibility to antibiotics allowed for the differentiation of strains belonging to different geno-species and biotypes, and in some cases also to the same biotypes . On the contrary, the analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cell-envelope proteins failed to show any diversity not only within, but also between some of the biotypes of A . baumannii, the most prevalent species of the genus in the hospital environment.

Electrophoresis, 1989 Dec, 10(12), 848 - 52
Lipopolysaccharide-protein interactions: determination of dissociation constants by affinity electrophoresis; Borneleit P et al.; An affinity electrophoresis system is described to allow determination of dissociation constants of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-protein complexes . The LPS ligand is incorporated into polyacrylamide gels by addition to the polyacrylamide-N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide polymerization mixture . Quantitative evaluation revealed formation of immobile protein-ligand complexes . The method was applied both to R- and S-form LPS from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . For a heat-modifiable outer membrane protein with Mr 18,000 from strain 69V the dissociation constant was determined to be 0.5 mM (EDTA-salt extracted R-LPS) and 0.3 mM (phenol-chloroform-petrolether extracted R-LPS) . In comparison, for another A . calcoaceticus strain, CCM 5593, a higher dissociation constant of 1.0 mM (phenol-chloroform-petrolether extracted R-LPS) -indicative of lower affinity - was obtained . When S-LPS from A . calcoaceticus 69V was incorporated into the affinity gels, a dissociation constant of 0.02 mM was determined which indicates much stronger interactions than those exerted by R-LPS forms.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 27(12), 2713 - 6
Acinetobacter baumannii serotyping for delineation of outbreaks of nosocomial cross-infection; Traub WH; A total of 152 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii from 152 patients were identified by carbon source utilization tests and examined serologically . Polyclonal rabbit immune sera against A . baumannii strains were used in checkerboard tube agglutination tests, and 20 serovars were identified . One (serovar 19) cross-reacted with genospecies 3 (serovar 3), a closely related member of the genus Acinetobacter . Several outbreaks of nosocomial cross-infection caused by serovars 4 and 10 were delineated.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 Dec, 55(12), 3247 - 9
Isolation of microorganisms capable of degrading isoquinoline under aerobic conditions; Aislabie J et al.; Isoquinoline-degrading microbial cultures were isolated from oil- and creosote-contaminated soils . The establishment of initial enrichment cultures required the use of emulsified isoquinoline . Once growth on isoquinoline was established, isoquinoline emulsification was no longer required for utilization of isoquinoline as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen by these cultures . An isoquinoline-degrading Acinetobacter strain was isolated from one of the enrichment cultures . The degradation of isoquinoline was accompanied by the accumulation of a red cell-associated pigment and of 1-hydroxyisoquinoline, which was further degraded to unknown intermediary ring-cleavage products and carbon dioxide.

Am J Med, 1989 Nov 30, 87(5A), 191S - 194S
Intravenous ciprofloxacin or ceftazidime in selected infections . A prospective, randomized, controlled study; Villavicencio J et al.; In a prospective, randomized, controlled study, the effectiveness and safety of intravenous ciprofloxacin was compared with those of ceftazidime in the treatment of tissue infections . A total of 52 patients received intravenous ciprofloxacin 200 mg twice daily (26 patients) or ceftazidime 1 to 2 g every eight to 12 hours (26 patients) . This was followed, respectively, by oral ciprofloxacin or another suitable drug when improvement was seen . Informed consent was obtained from all patients . Cultures and laboratory determinations were performed initially and repeated periodically as indicated . Both groups were comparable in age, sex, number of infected sites, and instance of nosocomial infections (27 total) . Severe infections occurred in six ciprofloxacin and 12 ceftazidime patients (p = 0.056) . There were 13 patients in the ciprofloxacin group and six in the ceftazidime group with accompanying diseases (p = 0.032) . Patients were treated with ciprofloxacin or ceftazidime for infections of the urinary tract (eight and two patients, respectively), skin or soft tissues (15 and 17 patients), pelvis (one and zero patients), lower respiratory tract (one and one patients), intra-abdominal (zero and three patients), and bacteremia (three and five patients) . Two patients in each group had two sites of infection . Causative organisms were as follows: 15 gram-positive cocci (90 percent minimal inhibitory concentration: ciprofloxacin, 0.5; ceftazidime, 16.0 micrograms/ml) and 55 gram-negative rods (44 Enterobacteriaceae, nine Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 90 percent minimal inhibitory concentration: ciprofloxacin, 0.25; ceftazidime, 8.0 micrograms/ml) . Resistance emerged in one patient treated with ciprofloxacin (Acinetobacter sp.) and 12 treated with ceftazidime (four Enterococcus, two Staphylococcus aureus, six other) . Intravenous treatment was longer with ceftazidime (11.5 days versus 5.6 days for the ciprofloxacin group, p less than 0.0005), but the total duration of therapy was similar (12.9 versus 14.1 days, p value not significant) . Resolution or improvement occurred in 23 ciprofloxacin and 26 ceftazidime sites of infection (p value not significant) . Death occurred in two ceftazidime-treated patients (due to bacterial infection) and one ciprofloxacin-treated patient (at the induction of anesthesia) . Adverse experiences were more common in the ceftazidime group as compared with the ciprofloxacin group (22 versus 15 patients, p = 0.026) . Ciprofloxacin eradicated 25 of 31 causative organisms, whereas ceftazidime eradicated 30 of 41 (p value not significant) . Intravenous ciprofloxacin was at least as effective as ceftazidime . Patients treated with ciprofloxacin may need added coverage for anaerobes, but the drug's excellent activity against nosocomial pathogens and its availability in oral form allow for an early change to oral therapy without compromising effectiveness coupled with added savings and convenience.

Can J Microbiol, 1989 Nov, 35(11), 1065 - 7
Bacterial colonization of domestic reverse-osmosis water filtration units; Payment P; We have analyzed the bacterial content of water from the reservoirs of 300 reverse-osmosis units installed in households . The heterotrophic plate counts on R2A medium (20 and 35 degrees C) ranged from 0 to 10(7) colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/mL) . Most reservoirs contained water with bacterial counts between 10(4) and 10(5) cfu/mL . The bacteria identified were Pseudomonas (not aeruginosa), Alcaligenes or Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, and Chromobacterium . This report emphasizes the importance of bacterial colonization by heterotrophic bacteria in water reservoirs from domestic reverse-osmosis units.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Nov, 24(5), 689 - 98
Mechanisms of gentamicin resistance in gram-negative bacilli in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Moaz A et al.; A survey was undertaken of the prevalence and mechanisms of gentamicin resistance in Gram-negative bacilli in Riyadh . Gentamicin resistance, as assessed by the Stokes method, occurred in less than 2% of isolates of Escherichia coli, about 10-25% of most other enterobacteria, about 40% of Acinetobacter spp . and about 25% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This finding of relatively low rates of gentamicin in Enterobacteriaceae was surprising in view of the unregulated use of antibiotics until recent years . AAD(2'') was by far the most commonly detected aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme in the enterobacteria . However Providencia spp . always produced AAC(2') and there was an association between Serratia spp and AAC(6') . Enzymes were less frequently detected in Acinetobacter spp . and Pseudomonas spp . AAD(2'') was also the most common enzyme in Pseudomonas spp . but was never found in Acinetobacter spp . Non-enzymatic resistance played an insignificant role in the resistance of Enterobacteriaceae in Riyadh, but may be more important in Pseudomonas spp.

Biochem J, 1989 Nov 1, 263(3), 913 - 9
Purification and characterization of benzaldehyde dehydrogenase I from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Chalmers RM et al.; Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase I was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose and f.p.l.c . gel-filtration chromatography . The enzyme was homogeneous and completely free from the isofunctional enzyme benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II, as judged by denaturing and non-denaturing polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis . The subunit Mr value was 56,000 (determined by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis) . Estimations of the native Mr value by gel-filtration chromatography gave values of 141,000 with a f.p.l.c . Superose 6 column, but 219,000 with Sephacryl S300 . Chemical cross-linking of the enzyme subunits indicated that the enzyme is tetrameric . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase I was activated more than 100-fold by K+, Rb+ and NH4+, and the apparent Km for K+ was 11.2 mM . The pH optimum in the presence of K+ was 9.5 and the pI of the enzyme was 5.55 . The apparent Km values for benzaldehyde and NAD+ were 0.69 microM and 96 microM respectively, and the maximum velocity was approx . 110 mumol/min per mg of protein . Various substituted benzaldehydes were oxidized at significant rates, and NADP+ was also used as cofactor, although much less effectively than NAD+ . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase I had an NAD+-activated esterase activity with 4-nitrophenol acetate as substrate, and the dehydrogenase activity was inhibited by a range of thiol-blocking reagents . The absorption spectrum indicated that there was no bound cofactor or prosthetic group . Some of the properties of the enzyme are compared with those of other aldehyde dehydrogenases, specifically the very similar isofunctional enzyme benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II from the same organism.

J Hosp Infect, 1989 Nov, 14(4), 363 - 8
An outbreak of acinetobacter septicaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit; Ng PC et al.; We describe an outbreak of Gram-negative septicaemia due to a rare, non-fermenting, aerobic organism, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . lwoffi . The outbreak occurred on a neonatal unit and was confined to babies who were receiving parenteral nutrition . Seven babies developed septicaemia within 24 hours . The source of the outbreak was never firmly established, but contamination of the parenteral nutrition fluid was considered most likely . All 7 babies recovered uneventfully after a week's course of intravenous ceftazidime . Thrombocytopenia was an unexpected feature of this infection.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 481 - 8
Comparative in vitro activity of piperacillin combined with the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam (YTR 830); Eliopoulos GM et al.; Combination with tazobactam substantially enhanced the activity of piperacillin against routine isolates of staphylococci, various Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter anitratus, and Bacteroides fragilis . Tazobactam enhanced the activity of piperacillin more than fourfold against Pseudomonas aeruginosa spp . harboring eight of 12 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Nov, 33(11), 1980 - 8
In vitro activity of AT-4140 against clinical bacterial isolates; Kojima T et al.; The activity of AT-4140, a new fluoroquinolone, was evaluated against a wide range of clinical bacterial isolates and compared with those of existing analogs . AT-4140 had a broad spectrum and a potent activity against gram-positive and -negative bacteria, including Legionella spp . and Bacteroides fragilis . The activity of AT-4140 against gram-positive and -negative cocci, including Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, was higher than those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin . Its activity against gram-negative rods was generally comparable to that of ciprofloxacin . Some isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC of methicillin, greater than or equal to 12.5 micrograms/ml) were resistant to existing quinolones, but many of them were still susceptible to AT-4140 at concentrations below 0.39 micrograms/ml . The MICs of AT-4140, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin for 90% of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S . aureus were 0.2, 12.5, 6.25, and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively . AT-4140 was bactericidal for each of 20 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations near the MICs . AT-4140 inhibited the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase from E . coli.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Oct, 171(10), 5410 - 21
Characterization of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus catM, a repressor gene homologous in sequence to transcriptional activator genes; Neidle EL et al.; Two structural genes needed for catechol degradation, catA and catB, encode the respective enzymes catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.1) and muconate cycloisomerase (EC 5.5.1.1) . Catechol is an intermediate in benzoate degradation, and the catA and catB genes are clustered within a 17-kilobase-pair (kbp) region of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus chromosomal DNA containing all of the structural genes required for the conversion of benzoate to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates . catA and catB were transcribed in the same direction and were separated by 3.8 kbp of DNA . The 3.8-kbp sequence revealed that directly downstream from catA and potentially transcribed in the same direction were two open reading frames encoding polypeptides of 48 and 36 kilodaltons (kDa) . Genetic disruption of these open reading frames did not discernably alter either catechol metabolism or its regulation . A third open reading frame, beginning 123 bp upstream from catB and transcribed divergently from this gene, was designated catM . This gene was found to encode a 28-kDa trans-acting repressor protein that, in the absence of cis,cis-muconate, prevented expression of the cat structural genes . Constitutive expression of the genes was caused by a mutation substituting Arg-156 with His-156 in the catM-encoded repressor . The repressor protein proved to be a member of a diverse family of procaryotic regulatory proteins which, with rare exception, are transcriptional activators . Repression mediated by catM was not the sole transcriptional control exercised over catA in A . calcoaceticus . Expression of catA was elicited by either benzoate or cis,cis-muconate in a genetic background from which catM had been deleted . This induction required DNA in a segment lying 1 kbp upstream from the catA gene . It is likely that an additional gene, lying outside the region containing the structural genes necessary for benzoate metabolism, contributes to this control.

Electrophoresis, 1989 Oct, 10(10), 680 - 5
Characterization of bacterial genospecies by computer-assisted statistical analysis of enzyme electrophoretic data; Picard B et al.; A computer-assisted statistical treatment of the electrophoretic data obtained from the analysis of two dehydrogenases and 27 kinds of esterases produced by strains belonging to the taxonomically complex genus Acinetobacter is described . The 12 genospecies were clearly separated from each other by correspondence analysis . For each genospecies the distances of the strains from their barycenter were computed and typical isolates suitable for use as reference strains were determined . This approach is suitable for the systematic study of other procaryotic or eucaryotic organisms.

J Med Assoc Thai, 1989 Oct, 72(10), 577 - 82
Hygienic status of food handlers; Dumavibhat B et al.; The study demonstrated bacterial species on hands and nails of food-handlers before and after hand-washing . Those were Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Diphtheroid, Aeromonas hydrophila, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Proteus mirabilis, Serratia spp., Citrobacter freundii . Before hand washing, each food-handler harboured one to eight bacterial species . After hand-washing (eight with water from plastic boxes, 97 from pipe water, 57 out of 97 (58.8%) used soap or detergent with water), disappearance of one to four bacterial strains from hands and nails were found in 47.6 per cent of food-handlers . Cultures of water used for washing from eight plastic boxes yielded Staph . spp., Strep . spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, Kleb.pneumoniae, Acinetobacter anitratus, Enterobacter cloacae . From pipe water, Diphtheroid in 4, 4.1 per cent Micrococcus in 1, 1.03 per cent were shown . Comparing bacterial species found in food-handlers with long nails and short nails, 4-8 more species were revealed in the former than the latter for 35.7 per cent . After hand-washing, there was recontamination of bacterial species in 17 food-handlers . This was probably due to dirty napkins or dresses during hand-drying or from water in plastic boxes.

J Hosp Infect, 1989 Oct, 14(3), 233 - 43
Epidemic iatrogenic Acinetobacter spp . meningitis following administration of intrathecal methotrexate; Kelkar R et al.; We report the first outbreak of Acinetobacter species meningitis in a group of children with acute leukaemia following the administration of intrathecal chemotherapy . Eight of twenty patients receiving methotrexate injections on a single day developed signs and symptoms of meningitis within 18 h of treatment, and cases were clustered by time of administration . A cohort study comparing case and non-case patients did not identify any specific host factor associated with meningitis . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five patients; three patients died . Our investigation determined that the methotrexate was extrinsically contaminated by reused needles, used for reconstitution and administration, which had been inadequately sterilized . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus was isolated from an autoclaved needle and a vial of methotrexate used for chemotherapy; these and the clinical isolates had similar antibiograms . After introduction of single-use disposable needles no subsequent cases occurred.

Res Microbiol, 1989 Oct, 140(8), 531 - 40
Glucose dehydrogenase activity in Acinetobacter species; Bouvet PJ et al.; A study of D-glucose oxidation by Acinetobacter species was carried out . Glucose-oxidizing strains were found distributed among almost all Acinetobacter species . 14C-glucose oxidation kinetics by non-proliferating cells with separation of oxidation products (14C-gluconate) by DEAE-cellulose paper chromatography was studied . Inhibition of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) activity by 11 carbohydrates (mono- and disaccharides) and determination of the kinetic parameters showed that glucose oxidation was due to the action of membrane-bound GDH (inactive in vivo on disaccharides) . On the basis of GDH inhibition patterns obtained, two groups were individualized . The first group of strains (identified as A . calcoaceticus, A . baumannii, A . lwoffii, A . johnsonii and Acinetobacter species 3, 9, 10 and 11) showed a greater affinity for glucose than the second group (A . haemolyticus, A . junii and Acinetobacter species 6 and 12) . Restoration of GDH activity after addition of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) was studied in 187 strains previously found unable to oxidize glucose . GDH activity of 150 out of 166 strains identified as A . baumannii, A . johnsonii, A . lwoffii and Acinetobacter species 11 and 12 was restored . Eighteen of 21 strains identified as A . haemolyticus and Acinetobacter species 6 were unable to produce acid from glucose after addition of PQQ . Our results confirm that the former taxonomic scheme for the genus Acinetobacter (2 species differing only by glucose oxidation) is untenable and that, accordingly, identification of Acinetobacter strains at the species level must be performed using more modern methods, i.e . carbon source utilization tests.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Oct, 171(10), 5542 - 50
Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene for NADH-sensitive citrate synthase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Donald LJ et al.; The structural gene for the allosteric citrate synthase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been cloned from a genomic library by using the Escherichia coli citrate synthase gene as a hybridization probe under conditions of reduced stringency . Subcloning of portions of the original 10-kilobase-pair (kbp) clone led to isolation of the structural gene, with its promoter, within a 2,083-bp length of DNA flanked by sites for KpnI and BamHI . The nucleotide sequence of this fragment is presented; the inferred amino acid sequence was 70 and 76% identical, respectively, with the citrate synthase sequences from E . coli and Acinetobacter anitratum, two other gram-negative bacteria . DEAE-cellulose chromatography of P . aeruginosa citrate synthase from an E . coli host harboring the cloned P . aeruginosa gene gave three peaks of activity . All three enzyme peaks had subunit molecular weights of 48,000; the proteins were identical by immunological criteria and very similar in kinetics of substrate saturation and NADH inhibition . Because the cloned gene contained only one open reading frame large enough to encode a polypeptide of such a size, the three peaks must represent different forms of the same protein . A portion of the cloned P . aeruginosa gene was used as a hybridization probe under stringent conditions to identify highly homologous sequences in genomic DNA of a second strain classified as P . aeruginosa and isolates of P . putida, P . stutzeri, and P . alcaligenes . When crude extracts of each of these four isolates were mixed with antiserum raised against purified P . aeruginosa citrate synthase, however, only the P . alcaligenes extract cross-reacted.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Sep, 33(9), 1617 - 9
Antimicrobial drug susceptibility of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter species (A . baumannii, A . haemolyticus, genospecies 3, and genospecies 6); Traub WH et al.; A total of 144 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter species, i.e., A . baumannii (n = 60), genospecies 3 (n = 48), A . haemolyticus (n = 12), and genospecies 6 (n = 24), were examined comparatively with the agar dilution method of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for susceptibility to 25 antimicrobial drugs . Only minor species differences were noted.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Sep, 24 Suppl A, 47 - 55
In-vitro activity of meropenem against clinical isolates obtained in Canada; Clarke AM et al.; The in-vitro activity of meropenem, a new parenteral carbapenem, was compared with that of imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, piperacillin, gentamicin and, where appropriate, other antibiotics against recent clinical isolates and characterized beta-lactamase producers . MICs were determined by a standard agar dilution procedure and two inocula (10(4) and 10(6) cfu) were used throughout . Meropenem inhibited 90% of isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, indole-positive Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens and Providencia stuartii at less than or equal to 0.25 mg/l and was four- to 16-fold more active than imipenem against these species . Against the enteric pathogens Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Yersinia enterocolitica and Campylobacter jejuni, meropenem was four- to eight-fold more active than imipenem, inhibiting all isolates at less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l . Meropenem was also more active than imipenem against Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90 0.06 mg/l) but had similar activity against the Bacteroides fragilis group (MIC90 0.25 mg/l), against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC90 2 mg/l) and against streptococci . Imipenem was four-fold more active than meropenem against Acinetobacter spp . and two- to eight-fold more active against all species of staphylococci tested . Both meropenem and imipenem were inactive against Ps . (Xanthomonas) maltophilia.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Sep, 24 Suppl A, 239 - 50
Bactericidal activity of meropenem and interactions with other antibiotics; Ferrara A et al.; MICs of meropenem for selected clinical isolates of bacteria were determined . Killing curves were performed on strains of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staph . aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staph, epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii and Acinetobacter spp . A reduction of greater than or equal to 3 x log10 in viable cells was observed at 4 and 6 h of exposure to 4 and 8 x MIC, and this was usually maintained at 24 h (with a few exceptions for methicillin-resistant Staph, epidermidis and Ent . cloacae) . At the MIC and twice the MIC regrowth tended to occur at 24 h although this varied from strain to strain . The interaction with other antibiotics was determined by the chequerboard technique . Usually an additive or synergistic effect was observed when meropenem or imipenem was used in combination with an aminoglycoside against Gram-negative species, while in a few cases antagonism occurred in combination with beta-lactams . Against Staph, aureus, MRSA and Staph, epidermidis synergism was usually obtained with combinations with teicoplanin or vancomycin and either synergism or addition with combinations with rifampicin, co-trimoxazole or ciprofloxacin.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1989 Sep, 10(9), 402 - 7
The inanimate environment of an intensive care unit as a potential source of nosocomial bacteria: evidence for long survival of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Getchell-White SI et al.; Environmental surface and personnel hand impression cultures were obtained during 13 sampling periods in the University of Virginia Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to document potential reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens . In 78 environmental cultures Staphylococcus aureus was found eight times and gram-negative bacilli ten times . The patient chart cover was the most commonly contaminated surface . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was found in five of ten cultures positive for gram-negative bacilli . Thirty of 59 hand cultures were positive for S aureus and gram-negative bacilli; nurses and residents had both, respiratory therapists only gram-negative bacilli, and A calcoaceticus was the most commonly isolated bacterium of potentially nosocomial significance (14/30) . Laboratory investigation of bacterial survival revealed that gram-negative bacilli survived on a dry formica surface from a few hours up to three days but Acinetobacter survived up to 13 days . Since A calcoaceticus has been implicated in many nosocomial infections, its long survival on a dry surface may be an additional factor in its transmission in hospitals and suggests that more attention be paid to environmental surfaces as a source of significant nosocomial pathogens.

Crit Care Med, 1989 Sep, 17(9), 882 - 5
Incidence and etiology of pneumonia acquired during mechanical ventilation; Jimenez P et al.; A total of 77 consecutive patients submitted to mechanical ventilation (MV) for greater than 48 h in a respiratory ICU (RICU) were studied to investigate the incidence, etiology, and consequences of ventilator-associated pneumonia . Eighteen (23%) patients developed a bacterial pneumonia after 5.6 +/- 1.0 days (mean +/- SEM; range 2 to 17) of MV . Three additional cases were demonstrated at autopsy, raising the incidence to 27% . Overall, the mean duration of MV increased from 9.7 +/- 0.9 to 32.2 +/- 5.1 days (p less than .0001) when pneumonia developed . A longer period of hospital stay before RICU admission and the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significant characteristics of patients with pneumonia when compared to patients without nosocomial pulmonary infection . One or more etiological agents were identified in 14 patients from the pneumonia group by means of a highly specific technique (protected brush catheter, transthoracic needle aspiration, pleural fluid, and/or blood cultures) . The predominant pathogens isolated were Gram-negative bacilli (Acinetobacter sp . and Pseudomonas sp.) . Half of the cases were polymicrobial . Compared to other series, our results may reflect with more accuracy the actual incidence of nosocomial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients, since we used highly accurate techniques along with autopsy findings which allowed us to confirm or discard the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

Res Microbiol, 1989 Sep, 140(7), 447 - 54
Acetylaminofluorene-labelled ribosomal RNA for use in molecular epidemiology and taxonomy; Grimont F et al.; The use of acetylaminofluorene-labelled 16 + 23S rRNA (from Escherichia coli) is described for determining rRNA-gene-restriction patterns . The labelled probe allowed molecular fingerprinting of bacteria belonging to diverse phylogenetic branches (Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Brucella, Leptospira, Cytophaga, Campylobacter, Methylophaga) . The labelled probe can be stored frozen (-20 degrees C) for at least a year and can endure vacuum dessication, ethanol precipitation or lyophilization.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Sep, 24 Suppl A, 57 - 72
In-vitro activity of meropenem against clinical isolates in a multicentre study in Italy; Schito GC et al.; A multicentre in-vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the susceptibility of bacterial pathogens isolated in different Italian hospitals to meropenem . A total of 1399 aerobic and 452 anaerobic strains was analysed . Comparative agents were imipenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, piperacillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin, plus vancomycin when appropriate . The MIC ranges (mg/l) of meropenem were: 0.015-2 for Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Morganella morganii and Providencia spp.; less than 0.008-1 for Escherichia coli; 0.016-32 for Serratia spp.; 0.03-2 for Enterobacter spp . and Citrobacter spp.; 0.03- greater than 128 for Acinetobacter anitratus; 0.03-32 for Pseudomonas spp.; less than 0.008-0.5 for Haemophilus spp . and Neisseria spp.; 0.015-64 for Staphylococcus spp.; 0.06- greater than 128 for Enterococcus spp.; less than 0.008-0.25 for Streptococcus spp.; 0.016-8 for Fusobacterium spp.; 0.03-8 for Bacteroides spp.; less than 0.06-0.5 for anaerobic Gram-positive cocci; 0.08-2 for Clostridium spp . Meropenem exhibited superior antibacterial activity against the aerobic and anaerobic strains tested when compared to the other beta-lactam drugs . The new carbapenem was as active as ciprofloxacin and more active than imipenem and the aminoglycosides against Enterobacteriaceae and Ps . aeruginosa . It was also more active than ciprofloxacin against most strains of Gram-positive cocci . Meropenem was slightly less potent than imipenem against staphylococci and enterococci, with the exception of oxacillin-susceptible Staph . aureus against which meropenem and imipenem exhibited similar antibacterial activity.

Gene, 1989 Sep 1, 81(1), 55 - 64
Firefly luciferase as a reporter enzyme for measuring gene expression in vegetative and symbiotic Rhizobium meliloti and other gram-negative bacteria; Palomares AJ et al.; A DNA segment carrying a cDNA copy of the luciferase gene (luc) of the North American firefly Photinus pyralis, fused to the lambda PR promoter and expressed in Escherichia coli {de Wet et al., Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 82 (1985) 7870-7873}, was inserted into a broad-host-range plasmid vector and established in a variety of Gram-negative bacteria . Luciferase activity, expressed from the lambda PR promoter, was detected in both intact cells and extracts prepared from cells of strains of Rhizobium meliloti, R . phaseoli, R . fredii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Azotobacter vinelandii . The highest levels of activity, determined by measurements of both intact cells and extracts, were observed for P . aeruginosa and the three species of Rhizobium examined . Expression of luciferase activity also was relatively high in R . meliloti bacteroids of mature alfalfa nodules . This activity was readily detectable in intact nodules using x-ray film or in extracts prepared from purified bacteroids.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Sep, 27(9), 2057 - 61
Use of low-frequency-cleavage restriction endonucleases for DNA analysis in epidemiological investigations of nosocomial bacterial infections; Allardet-Servent A et al.; Epidemiological investigations of bacterial infections are generally based on multiple phenotypic markers that are often difficult to verify . A more general and reliable method is genomic DNA analysis by restriction endonucleases . However, the commonly used endonucleases produce too many fragments for correct separation by agarose electrophoresis . In contrast, simple electrophoretic patterns are obtained after genomic DNA digestion by low-frequency-cleavage restriction endonucleases and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, making it easier to compare numerous strains from the same species . This technique was used to investigate an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus outbreak in a urologic department and bronchial colonization of artificially ventilated patients by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an intensive care unit . The method allowed a clear distinction between epidemic and self-contaminating strains in these different epidemiological situations.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Sep-Oct, 12(5), 441 - 3
Antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of MDL 19,592, an oral cephalosporin; Yu KW et al.; We compared the in vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of MDL 19,592, an orally absorbed cephalosporin, with that of cephalexin and cefaclor . It inhabited Staphylococcus aureus at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml, Streptococcus pyogenes at 0.25 microgram/ml, sero groups B, C and G streptococci at 1 microgram/ml, and Streptococcus pneumoniae at 2 micrograms/ml . It was slightly more active than cefaclor and cephalexin . MDL 19,592 did not significantly inhibit Enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp . strains (MIC greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) . MDL 19,592 was not hydrolyzed by the plasmid beta-lactamases TEM-1 and SHV-1 of Klebsiella but was hydrolyzed by the TEM-3, Staphylococcus aureus beta-lactamase, and the chromosomal-mediated Enterobacter cloacae P99 enzymes.

Zhonghua Zheng Xing Shao Shang Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1989 Sep, 5(3), 199 - 200, 238-9
{Analysis of microbiological flora in the blood and wounds of burn patients}; Li GH; 1266 strains of bacteria and fungi from wound surface and 321 strains from blood specimens were compared from 1980 to 1987 . The results showed that Gram-negative bacilli were obviously more than Gram-positive cocci . Staph . aureus and Ps . aeruginosa remained the most important agents of infective complications . E . coli and E . aerogenes increased steadily and Proteus decreased gradually in burn infection . The ratios of various species of bacteria from wound surface were roughly proportional to that from blood specimens . This paper suggests that prevention and treatment of infection caused by Staph . aureus and Ps . aeruginosa are highly important, control of infection resulted from E . coli and E . aerogenes must be emphasized, and Acinetobacter and Fungi infection must be further studied . The care of burned wounds is very important for prevention and treatment of septicemia . Factors resulting in change of germ flora are also discussed in this paper.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Sep, 8(9), 832 - 7
Bacteremia and fungemia in the immunocompromised patient; Kiehn TE; Considerable changes have occurred during the 1980s in the clinical nature and diagnosis of bacteremia and fungemia in the immunocompromised patient . Cancer patients with prolonged neutropenia, many with indwelling catheters, and AIDS patients with both T-cell and B-cell deficiencies have changed the spectrum of organisms causing septicemia . There has been a shift to infection with gram-positive bacteria, including mycobacteria, and water-borne organisms, including Acinetobacter spp . and Pseudomonas spp . New blood culture systems, including a lysis-centrifugation system and radiometric methods utilizing resin broth media, remove antagonistic antimicrobial agents, and the lysis-centrifugation system routinely provides quantitation of organisms from the blood . Quantitation has been used to identify sources of infection, to differentiate contamination from true infection, and to monitor the course of antibiotic treatment.

Ann Ig, 1989 Sep-Oct, 1(5), 1145 - 56
{Control of infection in the odontostomatologic field . Possibility of decontamination of critical surfaces}; Sebastiani Annicchiarico L et al.; After a brief description of the sources and procedures of transmission of infections in the odontostomatological field, the Authors illustrate the degree of contamination of a range of surfaces presented by odontological instruments . This is followed by a description of the possibility of a disinfecting treatment using two products one based on iodoform and the other on quaternary ammonium . Prior to this disinfection treatment, the surfaces examined presented a level of microbial contamination (according to the Griffiths scale) for the most part defined as "acceptable with certain reservations" or as "unacceptable", with the almost constant finding of Staphylococci (S . Haemolyticus, aureus, hominis and cohnii) and very frequently of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, as well as various types of Pseudomonas (Ps . cepacea, maltophilia, and aeruginosa) . The disinfection treatment carried out on these same surfaces had a positive effect, leading to a reduction in microbial findings of at least 98% both using energetic disinfectants based on iodoform products, and also milder disinfectants based on quaternary ammonium . Accordingly since both substances used almost constantly reduced the microbial presence despite the different disinfecting action involved, the Authors conclude that not only the use of specific substances but even the mere action of mechanical cleaning may play a fundamental role in the decontamination of surfaces.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1989 Aug, 67(2), 157 - 63
A novel method for the identification and distinction of the beta-lactamases of the genus Acinetobacter; Hood J et al.; The characterization of the chromosomal beta-lactamases of Acinetobacter has proved difficult because of the poor focusing of these enzymes in conventional isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels . We describe a novel isoelectric focusing method, which employs an agarose gel incorporating a detergent with sorbitol and urea, to examine the beta-lactamases produced by eight clinical strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; we have identified four different beta-lactamases . The molecular masses of each of the beta-lactamases was estimated and most of them ranged from 600,000 to greater than 1,000,000 . These are the largest beta-lactamases so far described and their size is likely to be one reason for their poor solubility in conventional polyacrylamide systems.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Aug, 33(8), 1167 - 73
In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of AT-4140, a new broad-spectrum quinolone; Nakamura S et al.; AT-4140, 5-amino-1-cyclopropyl-6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-7-(cis-3,5- dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid, showed broad and potent antibacterial activity . Its MICs for 90% of the strains tested were 0.1 to 0.78 micrograms/ml against gram-positive organisms, such as members of the genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus, and 0.0125 to 1.56 micrograms/ml against gram-negative organisms, such as members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and the genera Pseudomonas, Branhamella, Campylobacter, Haemophilus, and Neisseria . Its MICs were 0.025 to 0.78 micrograms/ml against glucose nonfermenters, such as members of the genera Xanthomonas, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Moraxella, Flavobacterium, and Brucella; 0.2 to 0.78 micrograms/ml against anaerobes, such as Clostridium perfringens and Bacteroides fragilis; 0.0125 to 0.05 micrograms/ml against Legionella spp.; 0.0125 to 0.2 micrograms/ml against Mycoplasma spp.; 0.031 to 0.063 micrograms/ml against Chlamydia spp.; and 0.1 to 0.3 micrograms/ml against Mycobacterium spp . The potencies of AT-4140 against gram-negative organisms were comparable to those of ciprofloxacin and higher than those of ofloxacin, enoxacin, and norfloxacin . The potencies of AT-4140 against gram-positive organisms, glucose nonfermenters, anaerobes, Mycoplasma spp., Chlamydia spp., and Mycobacterium spp . were generally higher than those of the quinolones with which AT-4140 was compared . AT-4140 showed good oral efficacy against systemic infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice . Its efficacy was better when a daily dose was given once than when it was given in two doses . Good efficacies of the orally administered drug were also observed in pulmonary, dermal, and urinary tract infection models in mice . The in vivo efficacies of AT-4140 were equal to or better than those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, and norfloxacin.

J Clin Pathol, 1989 Aug, 42(8), 853 - 7
Use of protein profiles to identify Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a respiratory care unit; Dijkshoorn L et al.; The presence of acinetobacters in a respiratory care unit was prospectively studied because of an increase in the number of isolations of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Cell envelope protein electrophoresis was used to distinguish strains . Eleven protein patterns were observed in isolates from patients and their environment . One pattern (pattern 1) was seen in several patients and environmental samples . Another pattern (pattern 2) was identified repeatedly in samples from skin and mucous membranes of patients in the same ward . After thorough cleaning was undertaken throughout the unit, the pattern 1 strain was no longer cultivated from clinical samples . It is concluded that cell envelope protein electrophoresis is a useful method for tracing epidemic strains of A calcoaceticus.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1989 Aug, 14(2), 101 - 4
Acinetobacter peritonitis during chronic peritoneal dialysis; Galvao C et al.; Among gram-negative bacilli isolated during peritonitis in chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD), Pseudomonas species are most common but Acinetobacter species are nearly as frequent . A survey of more than 450 patient-years' experience with CPD revealed 23 episodes of Acinetobacter peritonitis (AP), making this the second most common form of gram-negative peritonitis . Concomitant break in sterile technique and exit-site/tunnel infection were infrequent . AP appeared as the first peritonitis episode in five cases and as the second in six cases, and the duration of CPD at the time of AP ranged from less than 1 to greater than 56 months . However, AP was noted to appear shortly after treatment of another peritonitis episode or shortly after CPD access placement, within 2 months in 11 cases (47%) and within 3 months in 14 cases (61%) . Treatment with intraperitoneal antibiotics succeeded in 21 cases (91%) without CPD interruption or catheter removal, with tobramycin or gentamicin alone in 16 cases, and with combined aminoglycoside and penicillin or cephalosporin in six cases . In two cases intraperitoneal antibiotics alone were insufficient therapy: one case with concomitant tunnel infection and dialysate leak and one case with bacteremia while receiving corticosteroids . The time-dependent incidence of AP suggests opportunistic infection during a vulnerable period in the first 2 to 3 months following another peritonitis episode, but AP also appears amenable to intraperitoneal antibiotic therapy alone without interruption of the CPD routine in the majority of cases.

Biochemistry, 1989 Jul 25, 28(15), 6276 - 80
Quinoprotein D-glucose dehydrogenase of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus respiratory chain: membrane-bound and soluble forms are different molecular species; Matsushita K et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is known to contain soluble and membrane-bound quinoprotein D-glucose dehydrogenases, while other oxidative bacteria contain the membrane-bound enzyme exclusively . The two forms of glucose dehydrogenase were believed to be the same enzyme or interconvertible forms . Previously, Matsushita et al . {(1988) FEMS Microbiol . Lett 55, 53-58} showed that the two enzymes are different with respect to enzymatic and immunological properties, as well as molecular weight . In the present study, we purified both enzymes and compared their kinetics, reactivity with ubiquinone homologues, and immunological properties in detail . The purified membrane-bound enzyme had a molecular weight of 83,000, while the soluble form was 55,000 . The purified enzymes exhibited totally different enzymatic properties, particularly with respect to reactivity toward ubiquinone homologues . The soluble enzyme reacted with short-chain homologues only, whereas the membrane-bound enzyme reacted with long-chain homologues including ubiquinone 9, the native ubiquinone of the A . calcoaceticus . Furthermore, the two enzymes were distinguished immunochemically; the membrane-bound enzyme did not cross-react with antibody raised against the soluble enzyme, nor did the soluble enzyme cross-react with antibody against the membrane-bound enzyme . Thus, each glucose dehydrogenase is a molecularly distinct entity, and the membrane-bound enzyme only is coupled to the respiratory chain via ubiquinone.

Biochem J, 1989 Jul 15, 261(2), 415 - 21
Reversible thermal inactivation of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Ca2+ ions are necessary for re-activation; Geiger O et al.; The soluble form of the homogeneous quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is reversibly inactivated at temperatures above 35 degrees C . An equilibrium is established between active and denatured enzyme, this depending on the protein concentration and the inactivation temperature used . Upon thermal inactivation the enzyme dissociates into the prosthetic group pyrroloquinoline quinone and the apo form of glucose dehydrogenase . After inactivation at 50 degrees C active enzyme is re-formed again at 25 degrees C . Ca2+ ions are necessary for the re-activation process . The velocity of re-activation depends on the protein concentration, the concentration of the prosthetic group pyrroloquinoline quinone and the Ca2+ concentration . The apo form of glucose dehydrogenase can be isolated, and in the presence of pyrroloquinoline quinone and Ca2+ active holoenzyme is formed . Even though native glucose dehydrogenase is not inactivated in the presence of EDTA or trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-NNN'NH-tetra-acetic acid, Ca2+ stabilizes the enzyme against thermal inactivation . Two Ca2+ ions are found per subunit of glucose dehydrogenase . The data suggest that pyrroloquinoline quinone is bound at the active site via a Ca2+ bridge . Mn2+ and Cd2+ can replace Ca2+ in the re-activation mixture.

Trop Gastroenterol, 1989 Jul-Sep, 10(3), 158 - 66
Etiology of acute childhood diarrhoea in Calcutta; Chatterjee BD et al.; Of the 152 cases of acute diarrhoea, 124 (81.5%) revealed potential pathogens . Altogether 27 (21.2%) out of 127 strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Proteus and Acinetobacter produced enterotoxin . Single pathogenic bacteria (40 cases 26.3%), parasite (6; 6%), rota virus (6; 6%), toxigenic bacteria (19; 12.5%) and mixed agents (37; 24.24.3%) were recorded in 108 cases (71.0%) . Another 14 (9.2%) cases exclusively revealed moderate to heavy growth of suspected enteric pathogens like K . pneumoniae, Proteus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, anaerogenic E . coli and Citrobacter and 2 (1.3%) had high counts of T' . hominis . Of the known pathogens, the preponderance of A . hydrophila (24.4%), rota virus (15.7%) and Aeromonas hydrophila (14.0%) in 1-4 y, Vibrio cholerae (45.6%) and Trichuris trichiura (13.0%) in 4-14 y age group is highlighted . Other pathogenic bacteria were non-01 V . cholerae (3.2%), V . parahaemolyticus (2.6%), V . fluvialis (0.6), Plesiomonas shigelloides (3.9%), Salmonella (2.6%), Shigella (1.9%), EPEC (1.9%), EEC (5.2%) and Campylobacter jejuni (3.9%) and the parasites were Entamoeba histolytica (2.6%) and Giardia intestinalis (2.6) . Comparative study of age matched controls with those of diarrhoea suggested the pathogenic role of E . histolytica and T . hominis.

Kyobu Geka, 1989 Jul, 42(7), 525 - 8
{Three cases of traumatic lung cyst}; Suzuki T et al.; There are few reports of nonpenetrating blunt chest trauma causing traumatic lung cyst . Three young male cases of traumatic lung cysts from motor vehicle accident were reported . Two of them, 25 and 17 years old male, had benign clinical courses by conservative management . But in another case of 25-year-old male, lung abscess followed infection of lung cyst occurred despite antibiotic therapy . A left lower lobectomy and a partial resection of left upper lobe was performed 46 days after the injury . Culture of the contents of the abscess confirmed Acinetobacter . His subsequent recovery was uneventful and he was discharged one month after the operation.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Jul, 33(7), 1072 - 7
In vitro activities of a dual-action antibacterial agent, Ro 23-9424, and comparative agents; Beskid G et al.; The in vitro activity of the dual-action antibacterial agent Ro 23-9424 was compared with those of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, fleroxacin, imipenem, and amikacin against 358 aerobes and anaerobes . The MIC ranges, MICs for 50 and 90% of the strains (MIC50s and MIC90s), and percentage of strains susceptible for each agent at the recommended susceptible MIC breakpoint were determined for each genus . The MIC90s (micrograms per milliliter) of the agents against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were as follows: ciprofloxacin, 0.063; Ro 23-9424, fleroxacin, and imipenem, 0.5; ceftazidime, 2; amikacin, 4; and cefotaxime, 16 . The MIC90s (micrograms per milliliter) against Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp . were as follows: ciprofloxacin, 2; ceftazidime and imipenem, 8; Ro 23-9424, 16; fleroxacin, 32; amikacin, 64; and cefotaxime, 128 . Against gram-positive bacteria, excluding the enterococci, the MIC90s (micrograms per milliliter) were as follows: ciprofloxacin, 1; imipenem, 4; Ro 23-9424 and fleroxacin, 8; amikacin, 64; and ceftazidime and cefotaxime, greater than 128 . Against gram-positive bacteria, including the enterococci, the MIC90s changed only for the following agents: Ro 23-9424, 16 micrograms/ml; and amikacin, 128 micrograms/ml . Strains of Branhamella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were 100% susceptible to Ro 23-9424, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, and fleroxacin, while the other three agents showed somewhat less activity only against N . gonorrhoeae . Against anaerobes, imipenem was the most effective agent, while the activities of the other six agents were variable.

Infection, 1989 Jul-Aug, 17(4), 272 - 4
In vitro activity of sulbactam plus ampicillin against hospital isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter species; Frank U et al.; The antimicrobial susceptibility of 54 recent clinical isolates of coagulase-negative slime- and non-slime-producing staphylococci and 52 Acinetobacter spp . to sulbactam, ampicillin and the combination of both drugs with a 1:1 ratio was studied by means of an agar dilution test . The coagulase-negative staphylococci showed resistance against sulbactam alone, whereas ampicillin as a single agent was nearly as active as sulbactam plus ampicillin (mode of MIC and MBC 0.03 and 4 mg/l vs . 1 mg/l; geometric mean of MIC and MBC 0.38 and 0.56 vs . 0.26 and 0.38 mg/l, respectively) . Among slime-producing or non-slime-producing strains, there was no difference in the susceptibility against ampicillin alone compared to the sulbactam/ampicillin combination, with the exception of the higher MBC (mode: 4 mg/l) for slime-producing strains . Both ampicillin and the sulbactam/ampicillin combination were more active against non-slime-producing than slime-producing strains with modes of MIC and MBC of 0.03 vs . 1 or 4 mg/l . Acinetobacter spp . were susceptible to sulbactam alone (mode of MIC and MBC 1 mg/l; geometric mean of MIC and MBC 1.51 and 2.98, respectively), but resistant to ampicillin . However, the sulbactam/ampicillin combination was highly active against Acinetobacter spp . (mode of MIC and MBC 0.5 and 2 mg/l; geometric mean of MIC and MBC 0.74 and 2.08 mg/l, respectively).

APMIS, 1989 Jul, 97(7), 595 - 605
Clinical strains of Acinetobacter classified by DNA-DNA hybridization; Tjernberg I et al.; A collection of Acinetobacter strains consisting of 168 consecutive clinical strains and 30 type and reference strains was studied by DNA-DNA hybridization and a few phenotypic tests . The field strains could be allotted to 13 DNA groups . By means of reference strains ten of these could be identified with groups described by Bouvet & Grimont (1986), while three groups were new; they were given the numbers 13-15 . The type strain of A . radioresistens--recently described by Nishimura et al . (1988)--was shown to be a member of DNA group 12, which comprised 31 clinical isolates . Of the 19 strains of A . junii, eight showed hemolytic activity on sheep and human blood agar and an additional four strains on human blood agar only . Strains of this species have previously been regarded as non-hemolytic . Reciprocal DNA pairing data for the reference strains of the DNA groups were treated by UPGMA clustering . The reference strains for A . calcoaceticus, A . baumannii and for DNA groups 3 and 13 formed a cluster with about 70% relatedness within the cluster . Other DNA groups joined at levels below 60%.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jul-Aug, 12(4 Suppl), 179S - 183S
Intravenous sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of pediatric infections; Lee CY et al.; A total of 82 patients involving 83 episodes of proven or presumed bacterial infection were treated with sulbactam/ampicillin . These included 36 cases of soft tissue infection or abscess, four cases of joint or bone infection, 20 cases of respiratory tract infection (17 cases of pneumonia, two of otitis media, and one of tonsillitis), 15 urinary tract infections, three cases of enterocolitis, one case of infective endocarditis, two cases of septicemia, and two of peritonitis . The causative pathogen was isolated in 48 cases (49 infections) . These pathogens included Staphylococcus aureus 13 cases, Staphylococcus epidermidis one, Streptococcus pyogenes two, Streptococcus pneumoniae two, Viridans group streptococcus two, peptostreptococcus one, Haemophilus influenzae one, Escherichia coli 12, Enterobacter cloacae three, Proteus mirabilis one, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus one, Salmonella spp . two, Shigella sonnei one, Bacteroides fragilis one, and polymicrobial infections of various combinations in five cases . No bacterial pathogens were isolated in 34 infections, 14 cases of pneumonia and 15 soft tissue infections . Sulbactam/ampicillin was given by intravenous bolus in a dosage range of 75-450 mg/kg/day in four divided doses for variable periods of time depending on the type and severity of the infection . Of a total of 83 episodes of infections, 80 (96.4%) cases were either cured or improved . Bacteriologic eradication also occurred in 46 (93.9%) of 49 infections . Side effects were diarrhea in two patients, acute hemolytic anemia in one patient, and transient elevations in SGOT and leukopenia in one patient . Side effects disappeared upon completion of treatment . Sulbactam/ampicillin is a safe and effective antibiotic for the treatment of common pediatric infections.

Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi, 1989 Jul-Aug, 30(4), 225 - 32
Urinary tract infections in children; Chiu NC et al.; From January 1981 to December 1987, 346 children with urinary tract infections, proved by urine culture, were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital . The ratio of male to female was 3.0 in children below 2 years, and 0.8 in children above 2 years, of age . The urine specimens were collected from suprapubic punctures in 281 cases (81.2%) . Fever was the most common clinical manifestation . In children below two years old, other common symptoms and signs were body weight loss or poor gain, feeding problems, diarrhea, irritability, jaundice, and abdominal distension . In older children, urinary frequency, dysuria, enuresis, loin and abdominal pain were frequently found . Hematuria and edema were occasionally noted in all age groups . Microscopic examination of 329 centrifuged urine specimens revealed: 256 cases (77.8%) had more than 5 leukocytes per high power field, 233 cases (70.8%) had more than 10 leukocytes . Three hundred and seventy positive urine cultures were obtained from these patients . E . coli was isolated in 273 cases (73.6%), followed by Klebsiella spp., 34 cases (9.2%); Proteus spp., 27 cases (7.3%); Enterococcus, 21 cases (5.7%); Enterobacter spp., 9 cases (2.4%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 8 cases (2.2%); Citrobacter spp., 7 cases (1.9%); Morganella morganii, 6 cases (1.6%); Acinetobacter spp., 6 cases (1.6%); etc . Candida albicans was isolated from three patients . Two organisms were isolated in 26 cultures; 3 organisms, in 3, and 4 in 1.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jul-Aug, 12(4 Suppl), 209S - 214S
In vitro assessment of sulbactam plus cefoperazone in the treatment of bacteria isolated from cancer patients; Bodey GP et al.; Cefoperazone is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin that has been used extensively to treat infections in cancer patients . A recent survey demonstrated only a 6% resistance to this drug among Gram-negative bacteria . The combination of cefoperazone plus sulbactam was studied in vitro against consecutive isolates causing bacteremia in cancer patients as well as those selected for resistance to cefoperazone . Both a fixed ratio of sulbactam/cefoperazone (2:1 w/w) and selected concentrations of sulbactam (2, 4, 8, and 16 micrograms/ml) were studied . Sulbactam was shown to increase the susceptibility of various unselected Gram-negative bacilli; this effect increased with larger concentrations of sulbactam . The addition of sulbactam at optimum concentration levels made 29 of 65 cefoperazone-resistant Gram-negative bacilli susceptible . This effect was seen most markedly for Acinetobacter spp.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jul-Aug, 12(4 Suppl), 165S - 169S
In vitro activity of sulbactam in combination with various beta-lactam antibiotics; Klastersky J et al.; Forty-three strains (beta-lactamase positive and negative) from the species of Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumanii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied for synergy between sulbactam and several beta-lactam antibiotics . Using a checkerboard method, synergy was observed with 10 to 55% of the beta-lactamase negative strains . Synergy was more frequent with the strains producing beta-lactamase . Using the killing curve method, synergy was also observed between sulbactam and beta-lactam antibiotics against some beta-lactamase negative strains . In addition, the regrowth of a resistant subpopulation was prevented by sulbactam.

J Hosp Infect, 1989 Jul, 14(1), 23 - 8
Frequency of plasmids in strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Gerner-Smidt P; Plasmids were found in 75 out of 93 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The strains harboured up to 20 plasmids each, with two-thirds containing two or more . Most plasmids were smaller than 15 Md . Strains of A . Iwoffi contained more plasmids than A . anitratus . Plasmid analysis may be an easy and valuable tool in the epidemiology of A . calcoaceticus, especially in conjunction with other typing methods.

J Hosp Infect, 1989 Jul, 14(1), 15 - 22
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus septicaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit: epidemiology and control; Sakata H et al.; Nineteen neonates with septicaemia caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus were treated in a neonatal intensive care unit between October, 1983 and March, 1986 . The ages of the patients at the onset of septicaemia ranged from 4 to 22 days (mean 9.7 days) . Their birth weights ranged from 1000 g to 3350 g (mean 1790 g) and were less than 2000 g in 14 patients . Antibiotics had been administered to 17 of the 19 neonates before the onset of septicaemia, and all mature infants had received prior antibiotic therapy, intubation or had suffered from a convulsion . Acinetobacter anitratus strains were isolated from pharyngeal swabs and/or faeces from 35 (79.5%) out of 44 infants of less than 2000 g . These strains were also isolated from the hands of staff members, and from equipment such as sinks and baths in the unit . It was likely that nosocomial infection via the hands of the staff occurred . Encouraging frequent hand-washing, strict antibiotic use, and cohorting of colonized infants resulted in a reduction of colonization and no further cases of septicaemia were reported.

Infect Immun, 1989 Jul, 57(7), 2021 - 7
Purification and antimicrobial properties of three defensins from rat neutrophils; Eisenhauer PB et al.; Three cysteine-rich cationic peptides, designated RatNP-1, RatNP-3, and RatNP-4, were purified from an acid extract of rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils, sequenced, and tested for antimicrobial activity . The peptides ranged from 29 to 32 amino acids in length (Mr, 3,252 to 3,825), and each contained all eight invariantly conserved "framework" residues that are characteristic of defensins . Each of the peptides killed Escherichia coli ML-35, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HON-1, Staphylococcus aureus 502A, and Candida albicans 820 in vitro . RatNP-1, the most cationic rat defensin, was also the most potent . With this report, a total of 13 distinct defensins have been characterized in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of four mammalian species . The existence of the defensin system in rats should facilitate investigations of the in vivo role of defensins in experimental infections.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jul, 8(7), 639 - 43
Dactimicin, a new aminoglycoside: in vitro activity, post-antibiotic effect and interaction with other antibiotics; Paglia P et al.; The in vitro activity of the new aminoglycoside dactimicin in comparison to amikacin was tested alone and in combination with piperacillin, mezlocillin and ceftazidime against freshly isolated clinical pathogens . Dactimicin was more active than amikacin against Enterobacter cloacae, Providencia rettgeri and Salmonella spp., and less active than amikacin against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter anitratus . Using the checkerboard technique, the combination of either dactimicin or amikacin with the other drugs was shown to result in synergistic interaction against most of the 23 strains tested . Dactimicin-ceftazidime and amikacin-ceftazidime were the most effective combinations, demonstrating synergism against 91% and 95% of the isolates respectively . Antagonism was not encountered . Using the time-kill method, synergism was seen in most cases, indifference rarely being seen; antagonism was not observed . Dactimicin induced a post-antibiotic effect which ranged from 1 h for Enterobacter cloacae to 2.4 h for Escherichia coli . An average post-antibiotic effect of 0.6 h was also seen when dactimicin was combined with piperacillin, mezlocillin and ceftazidime . The findings indicate that dactimicin compares favorably in vitro with amikacin and suggest that clinical trials with this drug alone or in combination are warranted.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jul, 8(7), 624 - 6
In vitro activity of cefoperazone-sulbactam combinations against cefoperazone-resistant clinical bacterial isolates; Eliopoulos GM et al.; From July 1987 to January 1988, 452 cefoperazone-resistant bacterial isolates were identified among strains subjected to routine susceptibility testing in a clinical microbiology laboratory . The 452 isolates were tested for susceptibility to cefoperazone, sulbactam, and a 2:1 combination of these drugs by agar dilution techniques . The greatest benefit of the cefoperazone-sulbactam combination was noted against Bacteroides spp . and Acinetobacter spp . The combination demonstrated clinically significant synergism against approximately 20% of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1989 Jun, 37(5 Pt 2), 612 - 6
{In vitro effect of antibiotics against hospital strains of Acinetobacter baumanii}; Hercouet H et al.; A total of 142 Acinetobacter baumanii strains isolated from hospital patients were biotyped according to the scheme of Bouvet and Grimont . Most of the strains belonged to biotype 9 and were highly resistant to antibiotics including cephalosporins and amikacin . Imipenem and ticarcillin were the only drugs having a bactericidal activity against A . baumanii . The combination imipenem-netilmicin and ticarcillin-netilmicin were more rapidly bactericidal than imipenem or ticarcillin alone . No resistant strain to imipenem was isolated.

Aust N Z J Med, 1989 Jun, 19(3), 259 - 60
Community-acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia; Gottlieb T et al.; We describe the first case report of community-acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia in Australia . Well recognised risk factors for this entity (alcoholism, diabetes mellitus and chronic lung disease) were present in our patient . His pneumonia ran a fulminant course, with death occurring within 24 hours of presentation to hospital . Whilst rare, this infection is being described with increasing frequency, particularly in developing countries including Papua New Guinea.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 Jun, 55(6), 1531 - 6
New method to study bacterial adhesion to meat; Piette JP et al.; A new method was developed for the study of bacterial adhesion to meat surfaces . Thin slices of meat (40 microns thick) were inserted into a specially designed observation chamber . The meat slices were then exposed to a bacterial suspension (ca . 10(6) CFU.ml-1) to initiate adhesion (20 min of contact time) and subsequently rinsed to eliminate nonadherent bacteria . Because of the special chamber design, the disruptive force exerted on the bacteria during rinsing (shear stress) was uniform over the whole surface of the meat slices, was constant, and could be varied from 0 to 0.08 N.m-2 . After being rinsed, the meat slices were stained with basic fuschin and observed under light microscopy to determine the number and distribution of adherent bacteria . This new method was used to study the adhesion of Acinetobacter strain LD2, a Lactobacillus sp., and Pseudomonas fluorescens to slices of beef fat and tendon . At 25 degrees C, most (greater than or equal to 99.9%) of the cells of the Lactobacillus sp . deposited on the meat were washed off the surface during rinsing (0.05 N.m-2), whereas a large number (ca . 10(5) CFU.cm-2) of Acinetobacter strain LD2 and P . fluorescens cells remained adherent . The extent of adhesion was similar on fat and tendon, and adherent bacteria were distributed evenly over the whole surface of the slices . This preliminary study indicates that the combined use of thin slices of meat and of the observation chamber provides us with the means to more accurately study bacterial adhesion to meat surfaces.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Jun, 33(6), 906 - 14
In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of BMY 40062, a new fluoronaphthyridone; Fung-Tomc J et al.; The in vitro and in vivo activities of a new naphthyridone, BMY 40062, were compared with those of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin . BMY 40062 showed about threefold more activity than ciprofloxacin showed and four- to eightfold more activity than ofloxacin showed against staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci . BMY 40062 showed generally twofold less activity than ciprofloxacin showed against most species of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp . but twofold more activity than ofloxacin showed against these organisms . BMY 40062 and ofloxacin were more active than ciprofloxacin against Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium difficile . The antiureaplasmal and antichlamydial activities of BMY 40062 were similar to those of the tetracyclines and were 4- and 16-fold, respectively, higher than those of ciprofloxacin . The in vitro activities of BMY 40062 were influenced by pH and magnesium, although these factors appeared to affect the activity of BMY 40062 against P . aeruginosa to a lesser extent than those of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin . BMY 40062 was found to be bactericidal, and cross-resistance with other fluoroquinolones was observed . In mouse protection tests, the efficacy of BMY 40062 reflected its in vitro potency . BMY 40062 exhibited longer half-life, higher maximum concentration in serum, greater area under the curve, and better bioavailability in mice after oral dosing than ciprofloxacin . Compared with ofloxacin, BMY 40062 had a lower maximum concentration in serum but a much longer half-life in mice . BMY 40062 was more effective than ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in penetrating mouse macrophages and killing macrophage-associated Staphylococcus aureus.

Mol Gen Genet, 1989 Jun, 217(2-3), 430 - 6
Cloning, characterization and DNA sequencing of the gene encoding the Mr 50,000 quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Cleton-Jansen AM et al.; Recently we described the cloning of the gene coding for a Mr 87,000 glucose dehydrogenase (GDH-A) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . In this report we describe the cloning of a gene coding for a second GDH (GDH-B) with a Mr of 50,000 from the same organism . This gene was isolated using a 20-mer synthetic oligonucleotide, derived from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified GDH-B as a probe to screen a genomic bank . From the DNA sequence of the gdhB gene, a protein can be derived of Mr 52,772 with a 24 amino acid signal peptide which is removed, resulting in the mature protein with a Mr 50,231 . In vitro transcription-translation of the gdhB clone shows the mature and the precursor protein . The derived amino acid sequence has no obvious homology with GDH-A of A . calcoaceticus . We show that disaccharides are specific GDH-B substrates and that 2-deoxyglucose is specific for GDH-A.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Jun, 42(6), 1257 - 70
{Susceptibility of clinical isolates to aztreonam}; Nagasawa Z et al.; In vitro antibacterial activities of 9 antibiotics including aztreonam (AZT) against clinically isolated Gram-negative bacteria were determined using MIC-2000 plus system . Bacteria were isolated from clinical materials in Saga Medical School during a period from May 1987 to March 1988 . Summarized results were as follows: 1 . AZT showed excellent antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus sp . and Haemophilus influenzae, and MIC80 values of AZT against these organisms were lower than 0.20 microgram/ml . 2 . Antibacterial activities of AZT were superior to cephem antibiotics compared against Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens . 3 . The MIC50 and MIC80 of AZT against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 12.5 micrograms/ml and 25 micrograms/ml, respectively . 4 . AZT did not show any antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter sp . and Xanthomonas maltophilia.

Res Microbiol, 1989 May-Jun, 140(4-5), 291 - 9
Delineation of new proteolytic genomic species in the genus Acinetobacter; Bouvet PJ et al.; Twenty-seven proteolytic Acinetobacter strains differing phenotypically from the 12 previously described Acinetobacter species were studied by DNA/DNA hybridization using the S1 nuclease method to assess their relatedness . Five DNA groups (genomic species 13 to 17) containing 20 strains were delineated . Seven strains remained ungrouped . Within species, the level of DNA relatedness to the reference strains ranged from 64 to 99%, with delta Tm values below 3.5 degrees C . DNA group 13 was 31 to 42% related to group 14 . DNA group 15 was 59 to 69% related to group 16, with delta Tm values between 4.5 and 6 degrees C . DNA group 17 was 51 to 61% related to DNA groups 15 and 16 with delta Tm values between 5.5 and 7.5 degrees C . The seven ungrouped strains were 28 to 60% related to the five newly delineated genomic species with delta Tm between 6.5 and 13.5 degrees C . Reference strains of the five genomic species were 5 to 22% related to the type or reference strains of the 12 Acinetobacter genomic species previously described . Biochemically, DNA groups 13 to 17 and ungrouped strains could not be separated unambiguously and therefore are not named.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 May-Jun, 12(3), 221 - 33
Lomefloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone . Studies on in vitro antimicrobial spectrum, potency, and development of resistance; Aldridge KE et al.; Lomefloxacin (NY-198; SC-47111), a potent new difluoroquinolone, was studied to compare its in vitro activity with that of other antimicrobials against 2194 clinical isolates . Lomefloxacin showed excellent inhibitory and bactericidal activity against strains of Enterobacteriaceae and inhibited greater than 99% of the isolates at a concentration of 4 micrograms/ml or less . Lomefloxacin exhibited good-to-moderate activity against strains of Acinetobacter (MIC90 4 micrograms/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC90 8 micrograms/ml), but poor activity for Pseudomonas cepacia (MIC90 greater than 16 micrograms/ml) . Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates, both oxacillin-susceptible and -resistant strains, were susceptible (MIC90 1 micrograms/ml) to lomefloxacin and the other fluoroquinolones . Strains of Haemophilus influenzae, (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.13 micrograms/ml) Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.03 micrograms/ml), and Branhamella catarrhalis (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.03 micrograms/ml) were highly susceptible to lomefloxacin . Streptococcal isolates, especially viridans streptococci, were considerably less susceptible to the fluoroquinolones . Overall, lomefloxacin had comparable activity to norfloxacin, fleroxacin, and ofloxacin, and against many facultative anaerobes lomefloxacin was more active than imipenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin . Development of resistance to lomefloxacin by spontaneous mutation was low and comparable to that of other fluoroquinolones . Growth in subinhibitory concentrations resulted in increased resistance to fluoroquinolones for selected test strains.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 May, 50(1-2), 45 - 50
Novel carbenicillin-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase (CARB-5) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus; Paul G et al.; A strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus highly resistant to ticarcillin but susceptible to ticarcillin in combination with clavulanic acid (2 mg/l) was found to produce a constitutive beta-lactamase . This enzyme was periplasmic with a characteristic substrate profile of a carbenicillin-hydrolyzing enzyme . Enzyme inhibition was detected with antiserum (anti-CARB-3), pCMB, cloxacillin, clavulanic acid and sulbactam . This novel enzyme with a molecular mass of 28,000 resembles other plasmid-mediated carbenicillinases (CARB) but differs in its apparent isoelectric point estimated as 6.3 and has been designated CARB-5 on this basis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 May, 55(5), 1286 - 8
Characteristics and restriction analysis of the 4-chlorobiphenyl catabolic plasmid, pSS50; Hooper SW et al.; The plasmid pSS50 is a 53-kilobase self-transmissible plasmid of broad host range that has been isolated from several Alcaligenes and Acinetobacter species . This plasmid has previously been shown to mediate the mineralization of 4-chlorobiphenyl to carbon dioxide and water . Physical characterization of this plasmid by restriction analysis indicates that most hexanucleotide cleavage sites are clustered in a 5-kilobase region, leaving large regions without restriction sites . The paucity of restriction sites is not due to DNA methylation.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 May, 27(5), 1086 - 9
Laboratory investigation of hospital outbreak caused by two different multiresistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus strains; Vila J et al.; During a 7-month period, from December 1986 to June 1987, multiresistant strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus were isolated from 25 patients in a respiratory intensive care unit . The biochemical characteristics defined two groups of strains, group 1 (14 strains) and group 2 (11 strains) . Both groups had the same biochemical characteristics, but group 2 strains could assimilate adipate and phenyl acetate . Moreover, of 16 antibiotics tested only netilmicin and imipenem had some inhibitory activity for group 1 strains; group 2 strains were susceptible to mezlocillin, piperacillin, and ticarcillin . Plasmid profiles of the groups were also different . The results of a laboratory investigation (biochemical characteristics, antibiotic susceptibility, and plasmid isolation) identified two different A . calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus strains as the causes of the outbreak.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 May, 56(1), 73 - 9
Cloning of the genes encoding the two different glucose dehydrogenases from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Cleton-Jansen AM et al.; Glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) is a PQQ dependent bacterial enzyme which converts aldoses to their corresponding acids . A . calcoaceticus contains two different PQQ dependent glucose dehydrogenases designated GDH-A which is active in vivo and GDH-B of which only in vitro activity can be shown . We cloned the genes coding for the two GDH enzymes . The DNA sequences of both gdh genes were determined . There is no obvious homology between gdhA and gdhB . Both GDH enzymes oxidize D-glucose in vitro but disaccharides are specific GDH-B substrates and 2-deoxyglucose is specifically oxidized by GDH-A.

Z Gesamte Hyg, 1989 May, 35(5), 253 - 5
{The effect of thiocyanate on bacterial plasmids using the plasmid screening test}; Kramer A et al.; A plasmid screening test (alkaline lysis and agarose gel electrophoresis) was used to assess the effect of thiocyanate on the plasmid replication on two bacterial strains with plasmids of different size, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . At concentrations physiologic for mammals (5-50 mg SCN-/l) no effect on the replication of extrachromosomal DNA was noted . This reaffirms the concept that a physiologic anion may be responsible for biological regulatory processes but will not affect the synthesis of extrachromosomal DNA when applied in vitro in physiologic concentrations.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1989 May, 8(2), 155 - 64
Factors influencing the detachment of a polymer-associated Acinetobacter sp . from stainless steel; Lewis SJ et al.; The role of an extracellular polymer secreted by an Acinetobacter sp . attached to stainless steel was investigated . Parameters expected to influence polymer conformation, viz . temperature, pH, ionic strength and the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions, were altered and the resulting detached bacteria enumerated . Increasing both the temperature and pH resulted in increased numbers of bacteria detached . The effects of increasing the concentration of sodium chloride up to 100 mM and magnesium or calcium chloride up to 30 mM were small and, although statistically significant, were considered unlikely to have had major influence on the association of the bacteria with the stainless steel surfaces . Treatments including ultraviolet irradiation of surface-associated bacteria always resulted in removal of greater numbers of bacteria when compared to treatments where irradiation was not employed . The results indicate that an adhesive extracellular acidic polysaccharide may mediate the attachment of the Acinetobacter sp . to stainless steel.

Srp Arh Celok Lek, 1989 May-Jun, 117(5-6), 319 - 24
{Acinetobacter calcoaceticus as a cause of infection in wounds and burns}; Pavlica R et al.; Over the period from January 1985 to July 1986 2038 samples of the patients with open wounds and burns, treated in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, were tested . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was found in 152 samples (7.45%) . The sensitivity to standard hemotherapeutics for Gram-negative bacteria was assessed . Results indicated that Acinetobacter calcoaceticus showed a high resistance to all hemotherapeutics used in this investigation . Even if it was a opportunistic pathogen bacterium its clinical importance was great because in some conditions this bacterium could cause long-lasting and hard infectious treatment.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 May, 56(1), 85 - 91
Genes involved in the biosynthesis of PQQ from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Goosen N et al.; From a gene bank of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus genome a plasmid was isolated that complements four different classes of PQQ- mutants . Subclones of this plasmid revealed that the four corresponding PQQ genes are located on a fragment of 5 kilobases . The nucleotide sequence of this 5 kb fragment was determined and by means of Tn5 insertion mutants the reading frames of the PQQ genes could be identified . Three of the PQQ genes code for proteins of Mr 29700 (gene I), Mr 10800 (gene II) and Mr 43600 (gene III) respectively . In the DNA region where gene IV was mapped however the largest possible reading frame encodes for a polypeptide of only 24 amino acids . A possible role for this small polypeptide will be discussed . Finally we show that expression of the four PQQ genes in Acinetobacter 1woffi and Escherichia coli lead to the synthesis of the coenzyme in these organisms.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 May, 56(1), 63 - 72
Quinoprotein D-glucose dehydrogenases in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41: purification and characterization of the membrane-bound enzyme distinct from the soluble enzyme; Matsushita K et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is known to contain soluble and membrane-bound quinoprotein D-glucose dehydrogenases while other oxidative bacteria such as Pseudomonas or Gluconobacter contain only membrane-bound enzyme . The two different forms were believed to be the same enzyme or interconvertible . Present results show that the two different forms of glucose dehydrogenase are distinct from each other in their enzymatic and immunological properties as well as in their molecular size . The soluble and membrane-bound glucose dehydrogenases were separated after French press-disruption by repeated ultracentrifugation, and then purified to nearly homogeneous state . The soluble enzyme was a polypeptide of 55 Kdaltons, while the membrane-bound enzyme was a polypeptide of 83 Kdaltons which is mainly monomeric in detergent solution . Both enzymes showed different enzymatic properties including substrate specificity, optimum pH, kinetics for glucose, and reactivity for ubiquinone-homologues . Furthermore, the two enzymes could be distinguished immunochemically; the membrane-bound enzyme is cross-reactive with an antibody raised against membrane-bound enzyme purified from Pseudomonas but not with antibody elicited against the soluble enzyme, while the soluble enzyme is not cross-reactive with the antibody of membrane-bound enzyme . Data also suggest that the membrane-bound enzyme functions by linking to the respiratory chain via ubiquinone though the function of the soluble enzyme remains unclear.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 May, 56(1), 51 - 61
Physiological significance and bioenergetic aspects of glucose dehydrogenase; Neijssel OM et al.; The regulation of the PQQ-linked glucose dehydrogenase in different organisms is reviewed . It is concluded that this enzyme functions as an auxiliary energy-generating mechanism, because it is maximally synthesized under conditions of energy stress . It is now definitively established that the oxidation of glucose to gluconate generates metabolically useful energy . The magnitude of the contribution of the oxidation of glucose to gluconate via this enzyme to the growth yield of organisms such as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is not yet clear.

Mikrobiologiia, 1989 May-Jun, 58(3), 448 - 51
{Hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of microorganisms under various culturing conditions}; Nikovskaia GN et al.; The index of hydrophobicity and the hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of seven microbial cultures were determined by studying their adhesion to n-hexadecane . The index of hydrophobicity was shown to be a stable characteristic of a culture grown in media with different carbon sources . As was found for Escherichia coli K-12 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus K-9 whose hydrophobicity indicates were quite different, the character of cell hydration was virtually independent of the growth phase and did not change upon either submerged or superficial cultivation.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 May-Jun, 12(3 Suppl), 1S - 6S
Lomefloxacin (SC 47111 or NY-198), a new difluorinated quinolone: comparison of the in vitro activity with other broad spectrum antimicrobials against Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter spp, Aeromonas spp, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Aldridge KE et al.; Using a broth microdilution method, we compared the in vitro activity of lomefloxacin to other broad spectrum antimicrobials against clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter spp, Aeromonas spp, and P . aeruginosa . Against the Enterobacteriaceae and A . hydrophila, lomefloxacin showed excellent activity with MIC50 values ranging from 0.12-0.5 micrograms/ml and MIC90 values ranging from 0.12-1.0 micrograms/ml . By comparison, lomefloxacin had superior activity to nalidixic acid and difloxacin, comparable activity to norfloxacin and fleroxacin, and slightly less activity than ciprofloxacin . Lomefloxacin was also more active than imipenem, ceftazidime, aztreonam, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid (T-CA), and gentamicin . Lomefloxacin was less active (MIC90, 4 micrograms/ml) against Acinetobacter strains than Enterobacteriaceae strains . Against these same Acinetobacter strains, lomefloxacin was 8- to 64-fold more active than ceftazidime, aztreonam, T-CA, and gentamicin but slightly less active than imipenem . Lomefloxacin was 2- to 8-fold more active than fleroxacin, difloxacin, and nalidixic acid against strains of P . aeruginosa . However, lomefloxacin was less active than ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin . Lomefloxacin had comparable activity to imipenem but was 2- to 16-fold more active than ceftazidime, aztreonam, T-CA, and gentamicin . Thus, lomefloxacin demonstrated comparable activity to other fluorinated quinolones in that it possesses high active against clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae and had good-to-moderate activity against most strains of Acinetobacter and P . aeruginosa.

J Pak Med Assoc, 1989 May, 39(5), 129 - 31
Urinary tract infection; Farooqui BJ et al.; Over two years, 9892 mid-stream urine samples from patients attending the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi were cultured . Significant bacterial growth was seen in 23.5% samples . Further identification of these organisms revealed 40% of E . coli, 16% Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 11% Klebsiella aerogenes, 5.0% Enterobacter sp., 13% Proteus sp., 4.0% Serratia liquifaciens, 1.0% Acinetobacter sp., 3.0% Citrobacter sp., 4.0% Enterococci, 0.5% Staphylococcus aureus . Results of sensitivity tests performed with antibiotics Ampicillin, Cotrimoxazole, Nitrofurantoin, Nalidixic acid, Gentamicin, Amikacin, Pipemedic acid, Cefotaxime, Azactam and Carbenicillin did not reveal any distinct pattern.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 May, 27(5), 1115 - 8
Isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against alkaline phosphatase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Husson MO et al.; Monoclonal antibodies against the alkaline phosphatase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were produced from spleen cells of BALB/c mice primed with purified alkaline phosphatase of P . aeruginosa ATCC 10145 and SP20/Ag-14 myeloma cells . The eight stable clones established produced antibodies that reacted by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and indirect immunofluorescence assays with all bacterial strains of P . aeruginosa, including the 17 serotypes and two nontypable strains . Three of the clones cross-reacted only with some Pseudomonas species of the rRNA homology group I defined by N . J . Palleroni (in N . R . Krieg and J . G . Holt, ed., Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 8th ed., p . 140-218, 1984) . The other clones also interacted with other species, including Pseudomonas acidovorans and Xanthomonas maltophilia . Because other species of the genera Aeromonas and Acinetobacter and species of the family Enterobacteriaceae were not detected by these monoclonal antibodies, the antibodies could be used as reagents for routine detection of P . aeruginosa in clinical specimens . Interactions of the antibodies with other Pseudomonas species such as P . fluorescens and P . stutzeri are not important, since these species are susceptible to the same antipseudomonal agents.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 May, 7(5), 261 - 5
{Evaluation of the treatment with oral ciprofloxacin: experience with 24 patients}; Parras F et al.; We have evaluated the clinical effectiveness and possible side effects of oral ciprofloxacin therapy in 24 patients (11 females and 13 males) . Two episodes from overall 25 infections were excluded of clinical and microbiological evaluation but were assessed regarding possible side effects . In most patients, the clinical condition was stable at the beginning of therapy . Only 3 patients had nonfatal diseases . Seventeen episodes were urinary tract infections (four of them with concomitant bacteremia), four chronic osteomyelitis, and two severe soft tissue infections; 21 episodes were monomicrobial, and two polymicrobial . The isolated organisms were mostly aerobic gram negative bacilli or facultative anaerobes: E . coli (9), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), Proteus mirabilis (5), Serratia marcescens (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1), Pseudomonas stutzeri (1), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1) . There were only two gram positive isolates: Staphylococcus aureus (1) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (1) . The overall clinical response rate was 91% . Gastrointestinal tolerance was excellent . Colonization by Candida or Enterococcus developed in 3 cases (13%), and only one of them developed superinfection . Four patients developed several nervous system abnormalities, two increased transaminase activity and one drug exanthema . Ciprofloxacin appears as an effective drug for the monotherapy of several bacterial infections, including severe enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas infections.

Ann Ig, 1989 May-Aug, 1(3-4), 569 - 76
{Evaluation of the effectiveness of disinfectants used in several Neapolitan hospitals}; D'Errico MM et al.; Among the various and complex aspects concerning the etiology of nosocomial infections, a relevant role is played by the indiscriminate and incorrect use of disinfectants: they may change paradoxically from devices used for nosocomial infection prevention into carriers of infections . Critical situations are: a) inadequate cleaning of the container; b) inaccurate concentrations set up; c) use of unsterilized water as a diluent; d) introduction of gauze or cotton flocks into the container; e) disinfectant contact with inactivating substances such as soaps, detergents, and organic substances; f) solution stability; etc. . Therefore, in the light of the experience we acquired in the field of nosocomial infections, we believed interesting to carry out a study in order to detect contamination of disinfectants used in various hospitals in Naples as well as their usage . In the period from January to May 1988, 243 disinfecting solutions routinely used in surgical departments of the 2nd School of Medicine and of three large neapolitan hospitals were tested for microbiological contamination . The analysis was carried out according to Kelsey and Maurer . 13 disinfectants were contaminated . The bacterial count exceeded the value of 5000 col/ml in 6 cases, while for he other disinfectants there were levels between 2500 and 4500 col/ml . 64% of the microorganisms isolated belonged to Pseudomonas spp . (cepacia, aeruginosa, fluorescens, maltophilia), while Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were found in 21% and 15% of specimens respectively . A major consideration arising out from our study is the little attention played to health problems related to disinfection by hospital staff, together with a lack of knowledge about the proper way of using disinfectants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Orv Hetil, 1989 Apr 2, 130(14), 725 - 9
{Antibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated at a hospital intensive care unit}; Balazs K et al.; The antibiotic sensitivity of Gram-negative facultatively pathogenic bacteria isolated between 1982-1986 in the respiratory intensive care unit of the 3rd department of pediatry of the "Laszlo" Hospital (Budapest) has been studied . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Acinetobacter lwoffii were most frequently isolated both from the clinical samples (total 56.9%) and in samples obtained from hospital-hygienic check-examinations . 70-100% of the individual species was resistant to antibiotics used in Hungary . The gentamicin and tobramycin resistance of P . aeruginosa and A . lwoffii showed significant rate of increase . Favourable in vitro results were obtained only with ceftriaxon, ceftazidime, netilmicin and amikacin.

Electrophoresis, 1989 Apr, 10(4), 234 - 7
Interactions between lipopolysaccharide and outer membrane proteins of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus studied by an affinity electrophoresis system; Borneleit P et al.; R-Form lipopolysaccharides of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus could be incorporated into polyacrylamide gels in an immobile form by adding it directly to the acrylamide-N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide polymerization mixture . The separation of A . calcoaceticus 69 V outer membrane proteins in these affinity gels demonstrated a specific interaction with the lipopolysaccharide ligand for one of the proteins . This protein is heat-modifiable and has an Mr of about 18,000 . By incorporation of varying concentrations of lipopolysaccharide, a dissociation constant of the protein-lipopolysaccharide complex of 0.5 mM could be determined . In comparison, for another A . calcoaceticus strain, CCM 5593, a higher dissociation constant (1.0 mM)--indicative of lower affinity--was obtained.

Epidemiol Infect, 1989 Apr, 102(2), 231 - 8
Sink flora in a long-stay hospital is determined by the patients' oral and rectal flora; Van Saene HK et al.; Sinks in a new long-stay hospital (LSH) were cultured weekly during 4 consecutive months to evaluate the microbial profile before and after occupancy of the hospital . From the elderly patients admitted to the patient care rooms oral and rectal specimens were collected to examine the contribution of the patients' flora to the sink contamination . Isolates were typed biochemically, serologically and by susceptibility pattern . Before occupancy Gram-negative bacilli were not isolated . Once the elderly patients, who were highly colonized on admission, occupied their rooms identical strains gradually contaminated the sinks . Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species were the major correlating strains . The mean concentration of the correlating isolates was higher in throat and intestines compared to the mean concentration of the non-correlating strains . These strains seem to have a greater chance to be shed and then transferred via the hands of personnel to sinks . This report shows that the major route of environmental contamination is from patient carriers to sinks, and not the reverse way.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Apr, 33(4), 562 - 5
Multicenter in vitro evaluation of SM-7338, a new carbapenem; Jones RN et al.; A new carbapenem, SM-7338, was compared with imipenem, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime at five medical centers . Nearly 6,000 strains were tested by reference methods of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, and SM-7338 inhibited the largest percentage of gram-negative bacilli . Its spectrum included all members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (99.7% were susceptible to less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml), Pseudomonas spp . (but not Xanthomonas maltophilia), and Acinetobacter spp . The potency and spectrum of SM-7338 against the gram-positive organisms were less than those of imipenem and superior to those of ceftazidime . Only the enterococci and some oxacillin-resistant staphylococci were less susceptible to SM-7338 (MICs for 90% of isolates, greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml) . Organisms resistant to ceftazidime were generally susceptible to SM-7338 and imipenem (76%) . However, for one-third of the imipenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MICs, greater than 8 micrograms/ml), SM-7338 MICs were less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml . Some endemic differences in patterns of SM-7338 activity against selected gram-negative species were found among some medical centers.

J Chemother, 1989 Apr, 1(2), 80 - 3
Ofloxacin: in vitro activity against recently isolated gram-negative bacterial strains; Chiaradia V et al.; The activity of ofloxacin was determined against 117 Enterobacteriaceae, 13 Acinetobacter var, anitratus, 124 Pseudomonas aeruginosa in comparison with other antibiotics . Its activity was very high: against Enterobacteriaceae the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)50 was 0.125 micrograms/ml, the MIC90 1 micrograms/ml, and the geometric mean (GM) was 0.4 micrograms/ml against Acinetobacter var . anitratus the MIC50 1 micrograms/ml, MIC90 4 micrograms/ml, GM 1.7 micrograms/ml . Unlike other authors we found that the activity of ofloxacin was influenced by the selection of P . aeruginosa resistant to carbenicillin and gentamicin.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 Apr, 55(4), 887 - 92
Bacterial dehalogenation of chlorobenzoates and coculture biodegradation of 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl; Adriaens P et al.; Acinetobacter sp . strain 4CB1 was isolated from a polychlorobiphenyl-contaminated soil sample by using 4-chlorobenzoate as a sole source of carbon and energy . Resting cells of Acinetobacter sp . strain 4CB1 hydrolytically dehalogenated 4-chlorobenzoate under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, but 4-hydroxybenzoate accumulated only under anaerobic conditions . Cell extracts of Acinetobacter sp . strain 4CB1 oxidized 4-hydroxybenzoate by an NADH-dependent monooxygenase to form protocatechuate, which was subsequently oxidized by both ortho- and meta-protocatechuate dioxygenase reactions . When grown on biphenyl, Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 cometabolized 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl primarily to 4-chlorobenzoate; however, when this strain was grown in a coculture with Acinetobacter sp . strain 4CB1, 4-chlorobenzoate did not accumulate but was converted to inorganic chloride . When resting cells of Acinetobacter sp . strain 4CB1 were incubated anaerobically with 3,4-dichlorobenzoate, they accumulated 4-carboxy-1,2-benzoquinone as a final product . Since 3,4-dichlorobenzoate is a product that is formed from the cometabolism of 3,4-dichloro-substituted tetrachlorobiphenyls by Acinetobacter sp . strain P6, the coculture has a potential application for dehalogenation and mineralization of specific polychlorobiphenyl congeners.

Gene, 1989 Mar 15, 76(1), 145 - 52
Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of an esterase-coding gene from the oil-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1; Reddy PG et al.; A putative esterase gene (est) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 has been cloned into Escherichia coli . Esterase-positive clones exhibited high levels of esterase activity even in intact cells . In addition, expression of the est gene conferred on E . coli the ability to grow on simple triglycerides such as triacetin (TAC) . The original esterase-positive plasmid pRA17 carried a 2.2-kb insert from a partial MboI digest of RAG-1 DNA, which gave a single band with RAG-1 DNA following Southern hybridization . By subcloning and sequencing the est gene was found to contain a sequence of 870 bp which could be translated to yield a protein of Mr 32,700 . In support of the sequencing results was the finding that when pRA17 was expressed in minicells, a unique peptide of Mr 32,500 was identified . This peptide was not found in minicells transformed with esterase-negative plasmids, such as pRA176, which contained a Tn5 insertion in the est gene . The fact that the production of active esterase depended on the orientation of the est gene within the vector suggested that transcription proceeded from the tet promoter in pBR322.

S Afr Med J, 1989 Mar 4, 75(5), 220 - 2
Aminoglycoside-O-phosphotransferase (APH (3'')) activity in a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Elisha BG et al.; An isolate of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus containing an aminoglycoside-aminocyclitol antibiotic-modifying enzyme, which phosphorylates streptomycin at the 3" position, is described . The enzyme, APH(3"), was identified on the basis of its substrate specificity; in particular, its ability to phosphorylate streptomycin but not streptidine.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1989 Mar, 36(2), 157 - 8
Isolation of Acinetobacter lwoffi from hens with septicemia; Kaya O et al.; Acinetobacter lwoffi was isolated from the lungs of two hens . The isolate was sensitive to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline but resistant to penicillin and nitrofurantoin.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Mar, 23 Suppl C, 103 - 8
In-vitro interactions of FCE 22101 with aminoglycosides against gram-negative rods; Said AA et al.; Agar dilution MICs of FCE 22101 were measured for 894 consecutively-isolated Gram-negative rods from clinical specimens (413 Escherichia coli, 104 Klebsiella spp., 54 Enterobacter spp., 19 Citrobacter spp., 131 Proteus spp., 43 Acinetobacter spp., 9 Serratia spp., 3 Providencia spp., 4 Yersinia spp., 3 Hafnia spp . and 111 Pseudomonas spp.) . Excluding Pseudomonas spp., 98% of these isolates were susceptible to 8 mg/l FCE 22101 . Resistance (MIC greater than 8 mg/l) varied from 11% in Serratia spp . to 0% in Citrobacter spp . Interactions between FCE 22101 and gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin were tested by the chequerboard method for 150 of the isolates . The geometric mean sigma FICs were 0.80 for FCE + gentamicin, 0.78 for FCE + tobramycin and 0.79 for FCE + amikacin . Synergy, defined at FIC index (sigma FIC) less than 0.5, for at least one combination, was found in only 16/150 (11%) of the isolates . Most other isolates showed an additive response (sigma FIC = greater than 0.5-1) . No antagonism was detected . No significant difference was observed between the various species tested, except that sigma FIC values were lower (geometric mean sigma FIC = 0.61-0.68) for non-fermentative species than for fermentative species (geometric mean sigma FIC = 0.83-0.86) . Likewise, geometric sigma FIC values were lower (0.67-0.69) for isolates resistant to FCE and/or aminoglycosides than for those susceptible to both components (sigma FIC 0.85-0.88).

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Mar, 23(3), 441 - 51
A seven year survey of antibiotic susceptibility and its relationship with usage; Courcol RJ et al.; Bacterial susceptibilities to 14 antibiotics of 7385 clinical isolates, belonging to six species of Gram-negative bacilli, were analysed during seven years (1980-86) . The recovery of Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa increased while their sensitivity to antibiotics decreased significantly, especially to aminoglycosides and tetracycline . There were significant correlations between increase in antibiotic use and decrease in susceptibility . There was a striking relationship between third-generation cephalosporin use and increasing number of isolates of the species mentioned above.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Mar, 49(1), 75 - 9
Multiple forms of carboxylesterase activity in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Sherwani MK et al.; A carboxylesterase activity (E.C.3.1.1) was found in all four strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus tested . The activity was present in both 2 X 10(4) gav h-1 supernatant and bacterial wall-membrane fractions . The activity in the supernatant was in two molecular weight forms, the predominant form with a Mr of about 10(3) K and a minor form Mr approximately 600 K . The activity was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride . SDS-PAGE showed that in A . calcoaceticus NCIB 8250 the activity was composed of three components of Mr 43, 40 and 38 K . The individual components showed different activities with 1- or 2-naphthyl esters . Of the other strains used, one showed a nearly identical pattern of component activities, while the other two showed only two component activities.

Clin Ther, 1989 Mar-Apr, 11(2), 186 - 204
Ceftazidime and cefotaxime--the clinician's choice; Puthucheary SD et al.; A review of two third-generation cephalosporins, ceftazidime and cefotaxime, is presented . Ceftazidime, often used as a single agent, has shown greater activity than cefotaxime against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas species, Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter sp, and Enterobacter sp . It has been effective as monotherapy in the treatment of peritonitis, gynecologic infections, chronic bronchitis, and infections in patients with leukemia and granulocytopenia, as has cefotaxime when in combination with an aminoglycoside . Cefotaxime has shown good activity against most aerobic gram-negative bacilli and against Staphylococcus . It has been used in respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and septicemia . In contrast to first-generation and most second-generation cephalosporins, third-generation cephalosporins have proven useful in some types of meningitis . Ceftazidime and cefotaxime successfully penetrate into the cerebrospinal fluid and cures of bacterial meningitis have been reported with both drugs . Both ceftazidime and cefotaxime have been successfully used in children, infants, and neonates, as well as adults . Safety profiles of ceftazidime compare favorably with those of other third-generation cephalosporins.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Mar, 27(3), 427 - 30
Effect of agitation and terminal subcultures on yield and speed of detection of the Oxoid Signal blood culture system versus the BACTEC radiometric system; Weinstein MP et al.; In an initial evaluation, we found the Oxoid Signal blood culture system inferior to the BACTEC radiometric system for detection of some microorganisms causing septicemia (M . P . Weinstein, S . Mirrett, and L . B . Reller, J . Clin . Microbiol . 26:962-964, 1988) . To determine whether modified processing of the Oxoid Signal blood culture system could improve its yield and speed of detecting positive cultures relative to the BACTEC radiometric system, we agitated all Oxoid bottles during the first 24 to 48 h of incubation and performed aerobic and anaerobic subcultures of all Oxoid bottles negative after 7 days of incubation . These modifications improved the overall performance of the Oxoid system, particularly with regard to the yield of streptococci, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and Haemophilus, Neisseria, and Acinetobacter spp . The speed of detecting positive cultures also was improved, especially within the first 24 h of incubation . However, the BACTEC system still detected more positive cultures (P less than 0.005), especially of obligate aerobes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P less than 0.05) and yeasts (P less than 0.005) . The BACTEC system also detected positive cultures earlier than the Oxoid system (e.g., at 24 h of incubation, 70.5% of BACTEC positive cultures detected versus 62.1% of Oxoid positive cultures detected) . Further modifications of the Oxoid system which might include a revised medium, additional processing modifications, altered headspace atmosphere, or a complementary second broth medium should be considered, since the system is attractive in concept and is easy to use in the clinical laboratory.

Zhonghua Min Guo Xiao Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi, 1989 Mar-Apr, 30(2), 87 - 93
A clinical evaluation of sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of pediatric infections; Huang LM et al.; We have treated 42 episodes of pediatric infections with sulbactam/ampicillin since 1987 . Included were 9 cellulitis, 9 urinary tract infections, 5 cervical lymphadenitis, 4 meningitis, 2 thoracic empyema, 2 osteomyelitis, 2 sepsis, 1 furuncle, 1 perianal abscess, 1 dental abscess, 1 peritonsillitis, 1 salmonellosis, 1 shigellosis, 1 peritonitis, 1 suppurative thyroiditis, 1 infective endocarditis . Responsible pathogens were Escherichia coli in 8, Staphylococcus aureus in 6, Hemophilus influenzae in 2, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 3, Streptococcus viridans in 2, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1, Bacteroides fragilis in 1, Salmonella D1 in 1, Shigella sonnei in 1, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 1, Enterobacter agglomerans in 1, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in 1, Enterobacter cloacae in 1, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus in 1, and polymicrobial infection in 4 cases . Thirty-nine out of 41 (95%) clinically evaluable patients cured and all (34/34) bacteriologically evaluable patients eradicated their pathogens after treatment with sulbactam/ampicillin . Side reactions were seen in five patients; one maculopapular skin rash, one hemolytic anemia, two diarrhea, and one liver function impairment plus leukopenia . All these reactions were transient and did not require interruption of therapy . These results indicate that sulbactam/ampicillin is safe and effective in the treatment of common pediatric infections beyond the neonatal period.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 Mar, 7(3), 144 - 6
{Evaluation of Sen-SIR, a new microsystem for the identification and determination of bacterial sensitivity}; Garcia-Rodriguez JA et al.; The use of semiautomatic methods for identification and study of bacterial sensitivity to antimicrobials is increasingly widespread in clinical Microbiology . In the present study, the evaluation of a new micromethod (Sen-SIR, BBL) for the identification and determination of bacterial sensitivity is reported . 115 clinical isolates of enterobacteria, 10 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and 57 gram positive cocci, previously identified as belonging to the geni Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were evaluated . In gram negative organisms, the concordance with classical identification methods was 98.4% . In gram positive organisms, the concordance was lower only for the differentiation between group D streptococci and enterococci . The observed sensitivities were similar to those seen with the disk method, except basically for Morganella morganii and Proteus vulgaris . This method is quick, simple and reliable; thus, it can represent an alternative to classical identification methods.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1989 Feb, 10(2), 54 - 9
Epidemic bloodstream infections associated with pressure transducers: a persistent problem; Beck-Sague CM et al.; Twenty-four outbreaks of nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI) were investigated by the Centers for Disease Control from Jan 1, 1977 to Dec 31, 1987 . Intravascular pressure monitoring devices (transducers) were the most commonly identified source of bacterial and fungal BSI outbreaks and were implicated as the source of infection in eight (33%) outbreaks . These included outbreaks caused by Candida parapsilosis (2), Serratia marcescens (2), Klebsiella oxytoca (1), Pseudomonas cepacia (1), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1), and one polymicrobial bacteremia outbreak due to Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, and Enterobacter species . In all eight outbreaks, reusable transducers improperly disinfected or fitted with domes that had been improperly sterilized served as reservoirs for the organism . Compared with nosocomial BSI outbreaks not related to transducers, those in which transducers were implicated as a reservoir involved a larger mean number of patients (24 v 9; P = 0.007), and were significantly more likely to involve intensive care unit patients (23/24 v 3/9; P = 0.025) and to have a longer mean duration (11 v 3 months; P = 0.007) . These findings show that the characteristics of transducer- and non-transducer-related BSI outbreaks differ, and that centers using intravascular pressure monitoring devices must be aware of and implement recommended infection control strategies for care and maintenance of these devices.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1989 Feb, 22(1), 46 - 58
{The ratios and kinds of clinical bacteria isolated in Taiwan's large-size hospitals}; Tsai WC et al.; The prevalence of clinical bacteria, as isolated from Linko Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital (2,300 beds) in the period January 1985 to December 1986 and from Taipei Veterans General Hospital (2,300 beds) during the period January 1986 to December 1986, was analyzed with the following findings: (i) The isolation ratio of anaerobic and aerobic or facultative bactria during the period of investigation were 7.8% (5,513/70,799) and 92.2% (65,286/70,799), respectively . (ii) Of the total aerobic or facultative isolates from the two hospitals, 32.9% (21,510/65,286) were Gram positive cocci and bacilli, 67.1% (43,776/65,286) were Gram negative cocci and bacilli . (iii) Of these Gram-negative bacilli, 65.2% (28,490/43,675) were Enterobacteriaceae were Enterobacteriaceae and glucose fermentative Gram negative bacilli, 32.0% (13,984/43,675) were glucose nonfermentative Gram negative bacilli, and 2.7% (1,200/43,675) were fastidious Gram negative bacilli . (iv) The more common species among the members of Enterobacteriaceae were Escherichia coli 35.7% (10,163/28,490), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 18.2% (5,186/28,490) . The other common species included Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii and Proteus vulgaris . The frequencies of Salmonella species and Shigella species in these two large hospitals were up to 1.6% (456/28,490) and 0.5% (149/28,490), respectively . The most common isolate among other glucose fermentative Gram negative bacilli was Aeromonas hydrophila 3.0% (843/28,490) . The finding of 0.1% (11/28,490) Vibrio alginolyticus was considered as clinically significant in Taiwan . (v) Of these glucose nonfermentative Gram negative bacilli, 69.4% (9,704/13,984) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 18.9% (2,637/13,984) Acinetobacter species, 10.8% (1,516/13,984) Pseudomonas species . (vi) The most common bacteria among fastidious Gram negative bacilli was Haemophilus influenzae, 96.2% (1,154/1,200) . (vii) Of these Gram negative cocci, 59.4% (60/101) was Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 6.9% (7/101) N . meningitidis . (viii) The more common isolates of Gram positive bacilli included Bacillus species and Corynebacterium species (diphtheroids) . (ix) Of these Gram positive cocci, the isolation rates of Staphylococcus species and Streptococcus species were 54.6% (10,838/19,827) and 45.4% (9,002/19,847), respectively . The most common isolate among Gram positive cocci was Staphylococcus aureus, 30.2% (5,994/19,847); the next, enterococcus, 24.9% (4,936/19,847); then S . epidermidis, 22.2% (4,390/19,847) . The less common isolates were Streptococcus pyogenes 1.1% (212/19,847) and S . pneumoniae, 1.7% (329/19,847).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Rev Clin Esp, 1989 Feb, 184(2), 65 - 8
{Analysis of the bacteriologic data obtained with a double-lumen distally-plugged telescopic catheter in the diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates in patients on low mechanical ventilation}; Sanchez Nieto JM et al.; In order to assess the bacteriology of bronchial secretion samples, 40 patients in the intensive care unit who had developed fever and pulmonary infiltrates during mechanical ventilation have been studied . In each patient bronchial secretion samples were obtained by a double lumen distally-plugged telescopic catheter (DTC) inserted under direct view through the fiber bronchoscope (FB) as well as from simple bronchial aspiration (SBA) done simultaneously . A week later DTC and SBA were repeated . A statistically significant difference was found between the positive cultures obtained by SBA and those obtained by DTC (p less than 0.005) . However, in 9 samples (14.27%) other microorganisms were isolated with DTC which were not detected by SBA and a lower number of colonizing microorganisms were found by DTC (p less than 0.05) . The isolation of microorganisms by DTC allowed more precise management and moreover, a better clinical course was observed in those patients in whom chemotherapy was based on the data given by DTC . The relationship between the cultures obtained by DTC and the previous antibiotic treatment was statistically significant, finding a greater number of positive cultures when they were taken 2 hours after the last doses of the antibiotic . This relationship was not found in the cultures obtained with SBA . The most frequently isolated microorganisms were diverse types of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . No complication caused by the techniques arose.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Feb, 171(2), 958 - 64
Purification and some properties of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter sp . strain JC1 DSM 3803; Kim KS et al.; A brown carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from CO-autotrophically grown cells of Acinetobacter sp . strain JC1, which is unstable outside the cells, was purified 80-fold in seven steps to better than 95% homogeneity, with a yield of 44% in the presence of the stabilizing agents iodoacetamide (1 mM) and ammonium sulfate (100 mM) . The final specific activity was 474 mumol of acceptor reduced per min per mg of protein as determined by an assay based on the CO-dependent reduction of thionin . Methyl viologen, NAD(P), flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, and ferricyanide were not reduced by the enzyme, but methylene blue, thionin, and dichlorophenolindophenol were reduced . The molecular weight of the native enzyme was determined to be 380,000 . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis revealed at least three nonidentical subunits of molecular weights 16,000 (alpha), 34,000 (beta), and 85,000 (gamma) . The purified enzyme contained particulate hydrogenase-like activity . Selenium did not stimulate carbon monoxide dehydrogenase activity . The isoelectic point of the native enzyme was found to be 5.8; the Km of CO was 150 microM . The enzyme was rapidly inactivated by methanol . One mole of native enzyme was found to contain 2 mol of each of flavin adenine dinucleotide and molybdenum and 8 mol each of nonheme iron and labile sulfide, which indicated that the enzyme was a molybdenum-containing iron-sulfur flavoprotein . The ratio of densities of each subunit after electrophoresis (alpha:beta:gamma = 1:2:6) and the number of each cofactor in the native enzyme suggest a alpha 2 beta 2 gamma 2 structure of the enzyme . The carbon monoxide dehydrogenase of Acinetobacter sp . strain JC1 was found to have no immunological relationship with enzymes of Pseudomonas carboxydohydrogena and Pseudomonas carboxydovorans.

Presse Med, 1989 Jan 28, 18(3), 107 - 10
{Nosocomial infections caused by Acinetobacter . Epidemiology and therapeutic difficulties}; Muller-Serieys C et al.; Nosocomial infections due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus are not easy to treat particularly in intensive-care and surgical units . Our study included 33 cases of nosocomial infections which developed during 1987 in the surgical intensive care unit and in the urology department . Acinetobacter was isolated from various types of nosocomial infections: urinary tract infections (43 per cent); septicaemia (15 per cent); surgical infections (27 per cent) and respiratory tract infections (15 per cent) . Forty eight per cent of the patients received an antibiotic therapy and 52 per cent had no specific treatment . The following beta-lactam antibiotics were studied: ticarcilline, mezlocilline, cefotaxime and ceftazidime, and 83 per cent of the strains were TICRMEZRCTXR (phenotype IV) . All the strains except one were imipenem susceptible . The study of aminoglycoside resistance in Acinetobacter showed that 91 per cent of the strains were gentamicin resistant (GENR); 25.5 per cent were gentamicin, and amikacin resistant and tobramycin susceptible (GENR AMKR TOBS, phenotype IV), and 45 per cent were GENR TOBR AMKR (phenotype V) . Acinetobacter strains were resistant and 63 per cent pefloxacin resistant . Co-trimoxazole resistant strains represented 65 per cent of the strains . Should major antibiotics be used to treat nosocomial infections due to multiresistant Acinetobacter strains? Are prophylaxis, aseptic and surgical procedures sufficient to control these infections?

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1989, 47(1), 41 - 4
{Identification and determination of sensitivity to antibiotics of 31 clinical strains of Acinetobacter other than A . baumannii}; Freney J et al.; Precise identification and determination of MICs of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter identified to other species than the hospital species A . baumannii were carried out . On 260 Acinetobacter strains isolated in an hospital over a 6 months period, 31 strains (12 p . cent) were identified to species other than A . baumannii . Among these 31 strains, A . Iwoffii sensu stricto (16 strains) and A . haemolyticus (6 strains) were mostly recovered . Eight glucose oxidizing strains were identified to A . haemolyticus (6 strains), Acinetobacter genospecies 3 (2 strains), and A . Iwoffii sensu stricto (1 strain) . Antibiotic susceptibilities of these strains were greater than those commonly observed with A . baumannii strains.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Jan, 27(1), 91 - 5
Epidemiology of pharyngeal colonization of infants with aerobic gram-negative rod bacteria; Baltimore RS et al.; By using a selective medium, pharyngeal colonization with gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteria was determined in a cohort of 49 normal infants monitored from birth to 6 months of age . Culture swabs were diluted in 1 ml of saline for quantitation . The prevalence of GNR in the first 72 h of life was 8% and rose to 29% during the first month, 52% at 2.5 months, 67% at 4.5 months, and 62% at 6 to 7 months . Colonization was with substantial numbers of organisms, generally greater than 100 colonies per ml and frequently greater than 1,000 colonies per ml . The most common species were Klebsiella species, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, and Acinetobacter anitratus . Fewer infants who were breast fed rather than formula fed at the time of culture harbored GNR (26 versus 45%, P less than 0.05) . The point prevalence of pharyngeal GNR colonization in our special care nursery was 12 of 47 (26%), which was found to be similar to that of age-matched normal infants . GNR carriage in normal infants does not appear to be a residual of organisms acquired at birth, and interpretations of GNR carriage in ill or hospitalized infants should be evaluated by comparison with these data in healthy infants.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1989 Jan, 39(1), 94 - 100
Studies on the synergism of sulbactam and beta-lactam antibiotics under in vitro conditions and in healthy volunteers after intravenous administration . Antibacterial activity in vitro, compatibility and pharmacokinetics of the drugs in combination; Wildfeuer A et al.; Sulbactam, a new beta-lactam inhibitor, increased the in vitro activity of cefotaxime, mezlocillin and piperacillin against 803 clinical bacterial isolates . The synergism of sulbactam and these antibiotics was particular marked against 467 beta-lactamase positive strains, both aerobic and anaerobic . In the presence of sulbactam the mean minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antibiotics against beta-lactamase positive bacteria were greatly reduced: with cefotaxime by 58%, with mezlocillin by 64% and with piperacillin by 70% . Sulbactam alone at low concentrations inhibited the growth of only a few strains (Neisseria spp., Acinetobacter spp.) . The inhibitor proved to be very stable in infusion media under a variety of conditions and was compatible in vitro with 14 different beta-lactam antibiotics . The pharmacokinetics profiles of sulbactam and the antibiotics cefotaxime, mezlocillin and piperacillin were similar after infusion to healthy volunteers . The relevant pharmacokinetic parameters of the single substances were essentially unchanged when administered in combination . The general similarity between the pharmacokinetics of sulbactam and of the beta-lactam antibiotics appears to be an essential precondition for the therapeutic success of such a synergistic combination . Thus the physicochemical and pharmacological properties of sulbactam apparently permit flexible dosage in combination with different penicillins or cephalosporins and sulbactam can be administered as non-fixed combination in the clinical treatment of bacterial infections.

Chemotherapy, 1989, 35(2), 95 - 104
Susceptibility of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus to antimicrobial drugs, alone and combined, with and without defibrinated human blood; Traub WH et al.; Twenty-five clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were examined for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial drugs . In terms of inhibitory and bactericidal activities, imipenem and polymyxin B were most active, followed by amikacin and ceftazidime . Four isolates were resistant against fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin) . The isolates varied in susceptibility to aztreonam, cefotaxime, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, mezlocillin, netilmicin and piperacillin . Fresh defibrinated human blood from 3 donors revealed similar killing kinetics against 8 selected isolates . In time-kill curve experiments, human blood enhanced the activity of amikacin more than that of ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and imipenem against A . calcoaceticus . The combinations of amikacin + imipenem and amikacin + ceftazidime in the presence of human blood were effective against this microorganism . Human blood combined with ciprofloxacin + imipenem was more effective than blood with added ceftazidime + ciprofloxacin.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989, 15(3), 109 - 12
Susceptibility of clinical isolates to dactimicin and gentamicin; Bergan T; Dactimicin is a new aminoglycoside and its in vitro activity has been compared with that of gentamicin against 100 recent clinical isolates . The minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar dilution . Dactimicin was generally one two-fold dilution step less active or as equally active as gentamicin against enterobacteria and pseudomonas . Dactimicin was several times more active than gentamicin against Acinetobacter and staphylococci . Both compounds share poor activity against enterococci and have a variable effect on other streptococci . They are highly active against serogroup A streptococci and pneumococci.

Rev Argent Microbiol, 1989 Jan-Mar, 21(1), 25 - 30
{Nosocomial infections at the University Hospital of Caracas}; Pitteloud JJ et al.; Over a period of one year at the University Hospital of Caracas, a program of epidemiological surveillance was carried out on nosocomial infections . A total of 1556 cases were identified in 913 hospitalized patients . The incidence of nosocomial infections was 74 cases per 1000 hospital discharges . Cutaneous, surgical wound, lower respiratory and urinary tract infections were the most frequently identified . The Intensive Care Unit, the Neonatal Pediatric Service and the three Medicine Services recorded more than 50% of the cases . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated microorganism, followed by Escherichia coli and by Staphylococcus aureus . Most of the isolated agents were Gram negative bacteria, which present serious problems of resistance to the antimicrobics, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989, 55(1), 67 - 82
Influence of environmental parameters on polyphosphate accumulation in Acinetobacter sp; van Groenestijn JW et al.; The regulation of and the optimum conditions for polyphosphate accumulation in Acinetobacter sp . were determined . Acinetobacter strain 210A accumulated polyphosphate in the presence of an intra- or extracellular energy source . The accumulation of polyphosphate during endogenous respiration was stimulated by streptomycin and inhibited by KCN . The highest amount of polyphosphate was found in cells in which energy supply was not limited, namely at low growth rates under sulphur limitation, and in the stationary phase of growth when either the nitrogen or the sulphur source was depleted . The phosphorus accumulation was not affected by the pH between 6.5 and 9 . There was a pronounced effect of the temperature on phosphorus accumulation but is varied from strain to strain . Acinetobacter strain 210A accumulated more phosphate at low temperatures, strain B8 showed an optimum accumulation at 27.5 degrees C, while strain P accumulated phosphorus independently of the temperature . The optimum temperature for growth of Acinetobacter strains tested ranged from 25 to 33 degrees C, and the optimum pH was between 6 and 9.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989, 55(1), 53 - 65
Effects of growth rate and oxygen tension on glucose dehydrogenase activity in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41; van Schie BJ et al.; The regulation of the synthesis of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.17) has been studied in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41, an organism able to oxidize glucose to gluconic acid, but unable to grow on both compounds . Glucose dehydrogenase was synthesized constitutively in both batch and carbon-limited chemostat cultures on a variety of substrates . In acetate-limited chemostat cultures glucose dehydrogenase levels and the glucose-oxidizing capacity of whole cells were dependent on the growth rate . They strongly increased at low growth rates at which the maintenance requirement of the cells had a pronounced effect on biomass yield . Cultures grown on a mixture of acetate and glucose in carbon and energy-limited chemostat cultures oxidized glucose quantitatively to gluconic acid . However, during oxygen-limited growth on this mixture glucose was not oxidized and only very low levels of glucose dehydrogenase were detected in cell-free extracts . After introduction of excess oxygen, however, cultures or washed cell suspensions almost instantaneously gained the capacity to oxidize glucose at a high rate, by an as yet unknown mechanism.

Microbios, 1989, 58(235), 95 - 100
Studies on the microflora associated with xenic cultures of Entamoeba gingivalis; Gannon JT et al.; The microflora associated with xenic stock cultures (ATCC 30927) of Entamoeba gingivalis, the major protozoan of the human oral cavity, were isolated and identified as Citrobacter diversus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Acinetobacter anitratus and Pseudomonas maltophilia . In studies to determine whether the bacterial isolates were able to utilize rice starch as a sole carbon source, Y . enterocolitica exhibited excellent growth in rice starch minimal medium and TYSGM-9 medium (with rice starch), but growth was weak in TYSGM-9 medium (without rice starch) . C . diversus, A . anitratus and P . maltophilia exhibited poor growth in rice starch minimal medium, but they produced excellent growth in TYSGM-9 medium with or without rice starch . In order to determine the effect of the rice starch hydrolysis on Entamoeba growth, the filtrate from each isolate grown in rice starch minimal medium was added to an E . gingivalis culture grown in TYSGM-9 medium . The filtrate from a Y . enterocolitica culture grown in rice starch minimal medium enhanced E . gingivalis growth, but the filtrates from cultures of C . diversus, A . anitratus and P . maltophilia suppressed E . gingivalis growth . This supported the concept that Y . enterocolitica is capable of metabolizing rice starch into intermediate products, which in turn can be utilized by the amoeba.

Intensive Care Med, 1989, 15(3), 166 - 70
Control of an epidemic spread of a multi-resistant strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a hospital; Crombach WH et al.; The spread of a multi-resistant glucose-acidifying Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain in a community hospital was studied . After admission of a colonized patient to the hospital the strain was found in clinical specimens from ICU patients and subsequently from several of these patients after transfer to medical wards . Environmental specimens from the ICU and medical wards were analysed in order to investigate the mode of spread of the strain . Isolates of A . calcoaceticus were screened by their antibiotic resistance pattern . In addition, the cell envelope protein electrophoretic profiles were used as epidemiological markers . The multi-resistant acinetobacters all had the same protein profile . To prevent spread of the epidemic strain strict hygienic measures were enforced, e.g . scrupulous cleaning of the room after discharge of any colonized patient and increased attention to the hand hygiene of the medical and nursing staff . Furthermore, the use of antibiotics was restricted . Although this strain was only eradicated with difficulty in the affected patients, it did not spread throughout the hospital . Colonization of patients with the multi-resistant micro-organism was predominantly localized to the ICU.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1989, 48(9), 661 - 71
Characterization of a periplasmic insulin-cleaving metalloproteinase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Fricke B et al.; In Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a Gram-negative bacterial species, a soluble insulin-degrading proteinase, located in the periplasm as well as in the cytosol, could be established . The periplasmic and cytosolic enzymes agree in their inhibition pattern, pH-optimum and molecular weight . The insulin-degrading enzyme of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus resembles the corresponding proteinases of Escherichia coli . It is a metalloproteinase with a pH-optimum in the neutral range and can be reactivated by divalent ions after EDTA-inhibition, but it is not entirely identical with any of the described proteinases of Escherichia coli in its inhibitory behaviour.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1989, 48(8), 517 - 28
{Identification and localization of exopeptidase activities bound to membranes of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.}; Jahreis G et al.; After gel filtration the supernatant of Triton X-100 treated membrane sediments of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus shows activities for alanyl aminopeptidase, leucyl aminopeptidase, glutamyl aminopeptidase, prolyl aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase My, gamma-glutamyl arylamidase, dipeptidylpeptidase IV and prolyl carboxypeptidase . The intracellular localization of the enzymes was analyzed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the DNase/RNase pretreated membrane sediments . Most of the exopeptidases are located in the inner membrane fractions (band L) . Only gamma-glutamyl arylamidase is located with its main activity in the cytoplasmic membrane (band M) . Only small exopeptidase activities could be found in the outer membrane (band H).

Dermatol Monatsschr, 1989, 175(11), 665 - 80
{Bacterial skin flora, host defense and skin infections}; Haustein UF; Resident skin flora consists of coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci, aerobic and anaerobic coryneform organisms (i.e . propionibacterium acnes) as well as gram-negative rods (i.e . acinetobacter) . Their growth is favoured by increased temperature and humidity and modified by body location, age, sex and chronic diseases (i.e . diabetes mellitus) . Occupation, hospitalization, soaps and disinfectants as well as medications exert promoting and inhibiting influences, too . In addition, environment gains significant importance due to trauma and implants as well as contact with animals, infected persons and carriers . Whereas bacteria attach by adhesins and succeed other bacteria by factors of pathogeneity such as exotoxins, exoenzymes, bacteriocins and various interference mechanisms, skin exerts its resistance and defense by means of the intact horny layer, proliferation and desquamation, lipids and fatty acids as well as sweat, in addition, by means of IgA and the specific skin immune system with complex interactions between Langerhans-, TH-, TS- and cytotoxic T-cells, interleukins and cytokines . Furthermore the non-specific defense system (complement, NK-cells, granulocytes, mononuclear phagocytic system, inflammation) is involved . Finally, skin infections caused by resident bacterial flora are briefly discussed.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1989, 47(4), 207 - 12
{Evaluation of a new semi-automatic method of identifying enterobacteriaceae, M.I.S.-Enterobacteriaceae}; Scheftel JM et al.; M.I.S.-Enterobacteriaceae is a new kit for identifying Enterobacteriaceae using a microplate consisting of 21 biochemical characters with automated reading and interpretation . The validity of this method was studied by the identification of 350 strains of enterobacteria belonging to 44 species and comparison with the classical method of identification in test-tubes . Results showed a diagnosis accuracy of 96 p . cent at the species level and 97.7 p . cent at the genus level . Diagnosis accuracy reached 100 p . cent for those bacterial species isolated routinely: Proteus, Providencia, Morganella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter . Accuracy was 97 p . cent for E . coli, 95 p . cent for Serratia marcescens and 94 p . cent for C . freundii . For several less frequently isolated species such as Salmonella, Hafnia, Shigella and Yersinia, diagnosis accuracy was 100 p . cent . This identification system for enterobacteria can however also be used for identification of Aeromonas genus and for Pseudomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii non fermenting Gram-negative bacilli with oxidase negative reaction.

Chemotherapy, 1989, 35 Suppl 1, 15 - 24
Therapeutic efficacy of the combination of aztreonam with cefotaxime in the treatment of severe nosocomial pneumonia . Comparative study against amikacin combined with cefotaxime; Torres A et al.; The combination aztreonam + cefotaxime (AZ + CE) was compared to amikacin + cefotaxime (AM + CE) in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia acquired at the intensive-care unit . This study included a total of 33 patients fulfilling criteria for nosocomial pneumonia . 16 of them were randomly allocated to the AZ + CE group and 17 to the AM + CE group . The empirical treatment was effective for 78% of AZ + CE cases and 92% of AM + CE cases (p = NS) . Clinical care was observed in 77% of cases (10 out of 13 evaluable) in the AZ group and in 75% of the group treated with AM (12 cases out of 16 evaluable; p = NS) . In the evaluable cases, treatment failure was associated with injections due to the following organisms: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1) in the AZ group and A . calcoaceticus (1) in the AM group . Superinfections were observed only in the AM group P . aeruginosa . A . calcoaceticus, Streptococcus viridans, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Serratia marcescens . Both the peak and through serum concentrations of AZ and AM were maintained within normal ranges . Finally, an impairment of renal tubular function was observed in the group of patients treated with AM, as measured by urinary levels of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase sequentially during the treatment . These changes in renal functions alterations mentioned were not observed in the AZ group . It is concluded that the AZ + CE combination is an effective empirical and active antibiotic treatment against severe nosocomial pneumonia . Aztreonam has no renal toxicity, which is an advantage to take into account in patients with altered renal function.

Ann Pediatr (Paris), 1989 Jan, 36(1), 13 - 9
{The new penicillins in the treatment of children}; Borderon JC; The new penicillins developed over the last few years have helped improve our therapeutic armamentarium against enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, beta-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria, Acinetobacter and anaerobes . However, they are of no benefit in the treatment of infections caused by staphylococci, streptococci and Listeria . These new molecules have little toxicity and represent a breakthrough in the development of drugs with improved pharmacokinetic properties and resistance to bacterial beta-lactamases . However, none has escaped the development of resistant bacteria that may cause clinical failures; this event is to be expected as resistant strains have been recovered from stools.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1989 Jan, 37(1), 39 - 42
{Enterobacter, Serratia, Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas septicemias}; Billiau V et al.; During 1985 and 1986, 48 bacteremias due to Enterobacter spp, Acinetobacter spp, Serratia spp or Pseudomonas spp were collected by the SES Group . The mortality rate of those infections due to multiresistant organisms appeared high (27.9%) . Among all factors influencing the prognosis, the following, age over 75 years, hospital-acquired infections, occurrence of shock and single antimicrobial therapy, are those associated with a high fatality rate . Given that clinical signs are not specific, nosocomial bacteremias should be treated by antimicrobial agents having wide spectrum, rapid onset of action and most often in combination.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989, 15(10), 455 - 63
Antimicrobial activity of dactimicin in vitro compared with that of dibekacin, netilmicin, sisomicin and micronomicin; Inouye S et al.; Antimicrobial activity of dactimicin, a pseudo-disaccharide aminoglycoside antibiotic, was compared with those of dibekacin, netilmicin, sisomicin and micronomicin using clinical isolates of four Gram-positive and sixteen Gram-negative bacteria . Dactimicin was more active than the reference amino-glycosides against Serratia marcescens, especially gentamicin-resistant Serratia sp., Proteus vulgaris, P . rettgeri and Klebsiella oxytoca, but less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P . mirabilis . Dactimicin was equally active as the references excepting netilmicin against Gram-positive bacteria and some Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, K . pneumoniae, Morganella morganii, Haemophilus influenzae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogens, E . cloacae, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Campylobacter jejunii . Dactimicin was active against resistant strains possessing various aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes including AAC(3)-1, by which dactimicin was acetylated.

Geogr Med Suppl, 1989, 5, 145 - 52
A contribution to the situation of antibiotic resistance in Abeokuta (Ogunstate) and Minna (Nigerstate) in Nigeria; Sixl W et al.; After testing various chemotherapeutics the following conclusions could be drawn: Pseudomonas was sensitive only to gentamicin . Gentamicin, aminopenicilline + calvulanacid and cefoxitin were 100% effective against E . coli . Gentamicin also proved effective against Enterobacter (83%) . Cefoxitin, aminopenicillin + clavulanacid, gentamicin and trimethoprim + sulfonamide were effective against Klebsiella . Concerning Proteus sp., cefoxitin showed best results (100%) . Acinetobacter was 100% inhibited by gentamicin . Gentamicin was most effective (93% sensitivity) against Staph . aureus . Trimethoprim + sulfonamide and erythromycine showed resistance rate of 17%, cefalosporine and isoxazolylpenicilline a rate of 21% . Aminopenicillin and aminopenicilline + calvulanacid were most suitable against Enterococcus (100%).

Geogr Med Suppl, 1989, 5, 135 - 44
The germ-spectrum problem and antibiotic-resistance in Bida and Minna hospitals--Nigeria; Sixl W et al.; In the present paper the occurrence of different species of Pseudomonas, of Acinetobacter calcoaceticum var . anitratum and Aeromonas hydrophila in hospitals is described . The possible human pathogenic significance is discussed.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989, 15(8), 349 - 53
Antibacterial activity of norfloxacin against 1700 relatively resistant clinical isolates; Qadri SM et al.; A total of 1724 clinical isolates from patients with different infections were tested in vitro to determine their susceptibility to norfloxacin . Antibacterial activity of norfloxacin was compared with other drugs that were commonly used in the hospital . Of the 919 strains of Enterobacteriaceae tested, all except four isolates of Enterobacter, two of Serratia and one of Proteus were susceptible to norfloxacin . Ninety-five percent of the 199 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also inhibited by this quinolone . Brucella melitensis (81 strains) was completely susceptible to norfloxacin . All the 250 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were also sensitive to norfloxacin . Pseudomonads other than P.aeruginosa, Acinetobacter/Alcaligenes and group D streptococci were less sensitive to norfloxacin, with 56%, 57% and 20% respectively being inhibited by this antimicrobial agent.

J Postgrad Med, 1989 Jan, 35(1), 14 - 6
Nosocomial infections due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Zaer F et al.; Fifty four isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were studied in a period of 6 months . Maximum isolates were from burns cases and environmental sampling from burns ward also grew the same organism, indicating their role as nosocomial pathogen . Acinetobacter may initially be mistaken for Neisseria species . As the organisms show multidrug resistance to commonly used antibiotics their correct identification is important.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1989, 48(9), 625 - 31
{A membrane-bound alanine aminopeptidase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . 2 . Substrate specificity of the enzyme}; Jahreis G et al.; The substrate specificity of the membrane-bound alanine aminopeptidase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was investigated with a series of substituted amides of alpha-amino acids . In contrast to mammalian AAP forms, the rate of hydrolysis of the AAP from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is higher using 4-nitranilide than 2-naphthylamide substrates . The enzyme affinity is very high for alanine substrates and decreases in the series of the amide substituents, from methyl coumarylamides, 4-nitranilides, 4-methoxynaphthylamides to the 2-naphthylamides . The alanine aminopeptidase shows its highest affinity to Ala-MCA (Km = 77 mumol(s)/1).

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1989, 48(9), 617 - 24
{A membrane-bound alanine aminopeptidase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . 1 . Isolation and purification of the enzyme}; Jahreis G et al.; The alanine aminopeptidase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was found to be bound to the inner membranes only . The enzyme was solubilized by Triton X-100 and purified approximately 480-fold by gel filtration and affinity chromatography on alanine methyl ketone-AH-Sepharose 4B . The purified alanine aminopeptidase has a molecular mass of 212 kDa, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The enzyme selectively catalyses the hydrolysis of N-terminal alanine residues of peptides . The enzyme is inhibited by p-hydroxy-mercuribenzoate, 1,10-phenanthroline, and puromycin, but was activated by CO2(+)-ions.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1989, 48(4), 243 - 54
Purification of cytochrome P-450 from n-hexadecane-grown Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Muller R et al.; A convenient procedure for the purification of cytochrome P-450 from an n-alkane-assimilating strain of the bacterial species Acinetobacter calcoaceticus has been elaborated . The cytochrome P-450 of n-hexadecane-grown cells was found to be distributed in cell-free extracts among particulate and soluble subcellular fractions . For isolation, cytochrome P-450 was extracted from particulate fractions by addition of Triton X-100 to the buffer . Subsequently, purification to an apparently homogeneous state was achieved by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sepharose CL-6B and hydroxylapatite cellulose . A Mr of 52,000, an isoelectric point of 4.7 and the amino acid composition were determined . The Soret bands of absolute absorption spectra showed maxima at 417 nm for the oxidized form, at 408 nm for the reduced form and at 448 nm for the carbon monoxide compound of the reduced cytochrome . Difference spectra with octylamine showed maxima at 432 nm and minima at 410 nm indicating the predominance of the low-spin state . Conversion to the high-spin state could not be obtained . The isolated cytochrome P-450 was stable in the presence of Triton X-100 under neutral pH conditions . Removal of the detergent or change of the pH to values higher than 8.0 or lower than 6.0 resulted in the destruction of the cytochrome P-450.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989, 55(1), 39 - 52
Selection of glucose-assimilating variants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41 in chemostat culture; van Schie BJ et al.; Glucose metabolism has been studied in two strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Strain LMD 82.3, was able to grow on glucose and possessed glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.17) . Glucose oxidation by whole cells was stimulated by PQQ, the prosthetic group of glucose dehydrogenase . PQQ not only increased the rate of glucose oxidation and gluconic acid production but also shortened the lag phase for growth on glucose . Strain LMD 79.41 also possessed glucose dehydrogenase but was unable to grow on glucose . Batch cultures and carbon-limited chemostat cultures growing on acetate in the presence of glucose oxidized the sugar to gluconic acid, which was not further metabolized . However, after prolonged cultivation on mixtures of acetate and glucose, carbon-limited chemostat cultures suddenly acquired the capacity to utilize gluconate . This phenomenon was accompanied by the appearance of gluconate kinase and a repression of isocitrate lyase synthesis . In contrast to the starter culture, cells from chemostats which had been fully adapted to gluconate utilization, were able to utilize glucose as a sole carbon and energy source in liquid and solid media.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Jan, 171(1), 447 - 55
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus genes involved in biosynthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone: nucleotide sequence and expression in Escherichia coli K-12; Goosen N et al.; Synthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone (PQQ) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus requires the products of at least four different genes . In this paper we present the nucleotide sequence of a 5,085-base-pair DNA fragment containing these four genes . Within the DNA fragment three reading frames are present, coding for proteins of Mr 10,800, 29,700, and 43,600 and corresponding to three of the PQQ genes . In the DNA region where the fourth PQQ gene was mapped the largest possible reading frame encodes for a polypeptide of only 24 amino acids . Still, the expression of this region is essential for the biosynthesis of PQQ . A possible role for this DNA region is discussed . Sandwiched between two PQQ genes an additional reading frame is present, coding for a protein of Mr 33,600 . This gene, which is probably transcribed in the same operon as three of the PQQ genes, seems not required for PQQ synthesis . Expression of the PQQ genes in Acinetobacter lwoffi and Escherichia coli K-12 led to the synthesis of the coenzyme in these organisms.

Chemotherapy, 1989, 35(5), 360 - 2
In vitro activity of fleroxacin and 6 other antimicrobials against Acinetobacter anitratus; Kropec A et al.; The in vitro activity of the 4-quinolone compound fleroxacin (Ro-23-6240) was compared with that of enoxacin, ofloxacin, cefepime (BMY-28142), ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and tobramycin against a total of 30 recent clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratum . Susceptibility testing (MIC50/MIC90) was performed by a microtiter broth dilution method and the combination effect of ceftriaxone plus tobramycin was studied by checkerboard titration in microtiter trays . Fleroxacin inhibited most A . calcoaceticus subsp . anitratum at 1 microgram/ml and was as active as enoxacin or tobramycin but slightly less active than ofloxacin (MIC50 = 0.25 microgram/ml; MIC90 = 2.5 microgram/ml) or cefepime (BMY-28142: MIC50 = 0.25 microgram/ml; MIC90 = 1 microgram/ml) . Ceftazidime and ceftriaxone were inactive (MIC90 = 8 micrograms/ml and 32 micrograms/ml, respectively) . The combination of ceftriaxone plus tobramycin was synergistic in 16.7%, additive in 60%, and indifferent in 23.3%.

Chin J Biotechnol, 1989, 5(4), 231 - 40
A bacterial lipopolysaccharide emulsifier; Shi YP et al.; When Acinetobacter sp . was grown in a variety of carbon sources such as alcohols, vegetable oils or hydrocarbons, exolipopolysaccharide was produced . Discussed in this report are the optimal conditions for the production of this exolipopolysaccharide, including different carbon sources, nitrogen sources, divalent magnesium ion, and the addition of antibiotics . The content of the exolipopolysaccharide was assayed by emulsification turbidimetry . The investigation indicated that this exolipopolysaccharide exhibited a good emulsifying ability and emulsion stabilizing activity . It is a polymeric bioemulsifier.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 Jan, 7(1), 23 - 8
{Evaluation of ciprofloxacin for the treatment of severe bacterial infections}; Lopez JC et al.; The results of efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin administered by parenteral and oral route in the treatment of severe infections-particularly, osteomyelitis and bacteremia-due to gram-negative bacilli are studied in the present work . The group consisted of 34 patients, there were 25 men and 9 women, whose age ranged from 5 to 84 years . Two patients were excluded from the study and did not enter in the efficacy analysis, although they accounted for the evaluation of incidence of side effects . Ten patients presented osteomyelitis, 16 patients had bacteremia (one of them, with endocarditis), and six patients suffered from other types of infection (one of them had meningitis) . All patients recovered or presented clinical improvement with the treatment, except three of them, which accounted for a response rate of 90.6% . In 28 of the 32 evaluable cases, microbiologic eradication was achieved (eradication rate, 87.5%) . Infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa persisted or recurred in three patients with chronic osteomyelitis; in two of them, the strain become resistant to ciprofloxacin, and in the third patient, the results of cultures persisted positive along the whole course, thus, the eradication of the microorganism was not achieved . One woman presented bacteremia due to Acinetobacter which persisted despite antibiotic therapy . Side effects were mild and obliged to withdraw the treatment in two cases (dizziness) . Ciprofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone that is easily administered by parenteral and oral route . In the present study, it has revealed as safe and highly efficacious, even in particularly severe or resistant bacterial infections.

Lab Delo . 1989;(4):58.
{Study of clinical strains of microorganisms in a scanning electron microscope}; Gladshtein AI et al.; The authors present an available method for preparing bacterial cells for examination in a scanning electron microscope . The method has been tried with clinical strains of S . aureus, P . aeruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus v . anitratus . Morphologic features of various types of microorganisms are described.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1988 Dec, (12), 16 - 23
{Study of the horizontal transfer of mercury resistance genes in natural populations of bacteria using antibodies to mercury reductases}; Bogdanova ES et al.; Mercury resistant soil and intestinal bacteria were isolated from different mercury deposit areas of the USSR . Mercury reductases from all gram negative bacteria studied (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Enterobacterial species) with a single exception (Flavobacterium sp.) were immunologically cross reactive . Two immunological types of mercury reductases were found among gram positive bacteria (Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Coryneform species) . Further subdivisions were done by "spur" formation tests . Despite considerable diversity of mercury reductases revealed in this study, we found several strains which belonged to distant genera but contained immunologically indistinguishable enzymes . This suggested that the horizontal spread of the corresponding genes occurred in these genera in relatively recent time.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Dec, 11(4), 195 - 200
Comparative in vitro activity of lomefloxacin and other antimicrobials against 597 microorganisms causing bacteremia; Weinstein MP; The in vitro activity of lomefloxacin, a new fluorinated quinolone antimicrobial, was compared to that of enoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, imipenem, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and tobramycin against 597 microorganisms isolated from bacteremic patients at a university hospital . Overall, lomefloxacin had activity similar to that of enoxacin and norfloxacin but less than that of ofloxacin . Lomefloxacin had excellent activity against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Haemophilus influenzae, and good activity against staphylococci, including oxacillin-resistant strains, as well as many strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . maltophilia, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus anitratus ssp anitratus.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 26(12), 2526 - 30
Comparative evaluation of the oxoid signal and Roche Septi-Chek blood culture systems; Murray PR et al.; The Oxoid Signal blood culture system (Oxoid USA, Inc., Columbia, Md.) was compared with the Roche Septi-Chek system (Roche Diagnostics, Div . Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J.), with the latter consisting of a tryptic soy broth (R-TSB) bottle with an attached agar slide unit and a Columbia broth bottle . A total of 5,034 cultures with equal volumes of blood in each bottle were processed . Overall, more organisms were recovered in the R-TSB bottle than in the Signal bottle, with significantly more aerobic organisms (Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and yeasts) recovered in the R-TSB bottles and anaerobes and viridans group streptococci recovered in Signal bottles . Approximately equivalent numbers of organisms were recovered in the Signal and Columbia broth bottles . The times of detection were essentially identical with the three blood culture broth systems . During the study, 30.6% of the Signal bottles had a positive indicator of growth, of which 1,103 (71.7%) were false-positive cultures . Additionally, nonviable organisms resembling streptococci were observed in 13.7% of the Signal bottles that were Gram stained and in unioculated blood culture bottles . With appropriate modifications of the preparation of the media, the latter problem can be eliminated.

Biofactors, 1988 Dec, 1(4), 297 - 302
A search for intermediates in the bacterial biosynthesis of PQQ; van Kleef MA et al.; Studies on the biosynthesis of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) were performed with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PQQ- -mutants belonging to genetically different complementation groups . All mutants were unable to grow on L-arabinose, the conversion of this substrate by the organism only occurring via membrane-bound quinoprotein (PQQ-containing) glucose dehydrogenase . In general, the same observation and conclusion applied to shikimate and quinate, requiring active quinoprotein quinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.--), although some mutants appeared to be leaky with respect to PQQ biosynthesis under this condition . A number of mutants were unable to grow on anthranilate and accumulated this compound when the growth medium was supplemented with L-kynurenine . Combined with other observations, it strongly suggests that these are deletion mutants, missing a gene for synthesis of anthranilate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.12.1) as well as nearby located genes for the biosynthesis of PQQ . Supplementation of the growth media with amino acids did not result in stimulation of PQQ biosynthesis . Also cross-feeding experiments, using normal and permeabilized cells with extensive variation in combination and conditions, resulted in neither stimulation nor reconstitution of PQQ synthesis . Under conditions optimal for PQQ production in the wild-type strain, as well as under stress conditions using a limiting amount of added cofactor, excretion of intermediates by PQQ- -mutants could not be detected . Similar results were obtained with PQQ- -mutants from Methylobacterium organophilum and Pseudomonas aureofaciens . A tentative explanation, accounting for the absence of detectable intermediates in the biosynthetic route, is given.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Nov, 22(5), 597 - 604
Distribution of beta-lactamases and phenotype analysis in clinical strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Joly-Guillo ML et al.; One hundred clinical strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated from 1981 to 1986 were screened for enzymatic resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics . Fourteen beta-lactam antibiotics were tested and four phenotypes were defined on the basis of enzymatic resistance and of susceptibility to the following beta-lactams: ticarcillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime . The resistance of A . calcoaceticus to beta-lactam antibiotics was predominantly due to beta-lactamases, which were produced by 81% of the strains . In most (71%) of the beta-lactamase producing strains, a penicillinase of the TEM type was observed; in 9% of the strains, all isolated since 1985, a CARB-type penicillinase with a pI 6.3 was observed . The presence of a cephalosporinase type enzyme was detected in acinetobacter strains isolated since 1981 and its incidence increased in 1986 . Multiple beta-lactamases (penicillinase plus cephalosporinase) were observed in 32% of the strains.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Nov, 134 ( Pt 11), 2933 - 41
Occurrence, transfer and mobilization in epilithic strains of Acinetobacter of mercury-resistance plasmids capable of transformation; Rochelle PA et al.; A 7.8 kb plasmid (pQM17) encoding mercury resistance was isolated from two epilithic strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The plasmid had a broad host range when mobilized by RP1, transferring into Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . putida, P . fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Chromobacterium sp . with frequencies ranging from 5.3 x 10(-9) to 4.6 x 10(-4) per recipient . The plasmid could be transferred into A . calcoaceticus BD413 using intact cells of donor and recipient bacteria (i.e . natural transformation) and there was a broad temperature optimum (14-37 degrees C) for transformation . Transformation was as efficient in liquid matings as on plates but there was no effect of pH in the range 5.6-7.9 . Maximum transformation frequencies were obtained after 24 h on agar plates containing 3.5-10 g C 1-1 with donor to recipient ratios ranging from 6 to 415.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Nov, 11(3), 159 - 62
Antimicrobial activity of MDL 19,592: an oral cephalosporin; Jones RN et al.; MDL 19,592, a semisynthetic oral cephalosporin, has an antimicrobial spectrum principally directed against Gram-positive cocci (MIC50, 0.25-4 micrograms/ml), Branhamella catarrhalis (MIC50, 1-2 micrograms/ml), and pathogenic Neisseria spp . such as meningococci (MIC50, 4 micrograms/ml) . Enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, Pseudomonas spp., Corynebacterium jeikeium, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains had MDL 19,592 MIC50 of greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml . Although MDL 19,592 generally had a spectrum most similar to cefadroxil, it could not be represented by the cephalothin susceptibility test because of low predictive values and MIC correlations.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 269(4), 460 - 7
Growth dependent enzymatic profiles of some gram-negative nonfermentative bacteria of clinical significance; Kamper P et al.; A total of 734 strains of gram-negative nonfermentative bacteria (46 species and biochemically defined groups) of the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Bordetella, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Agrobacterium, and Flavobacterium were investigated for their ability to hydrolyze 25 different chromogenic substrates . All tests were carried out in growth-stimulating media . Results were read photometrically and evaluated automatically following a 24-h incubation . Many of the 46 different species and biochemical groups exhibited uniform patterns of enzyme production . Some of the enzyme tests may serve as additional valuable tools for differential diagnosis of the organisms investigated . In combination with other biochemical tests, qualitative enzyme demonstration tests can facilitate the identification of gram-negative nonfermentative bacteria.

Am J Med, 1988 Nov, 85(5), 624 - 31
Multiple intensive care unit outbreak of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus respiratory infection and colonization associated with contaminated, reusable ventilator circuits and resuscitation bags; Hartstein AI et al.; PURPOSE: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus (A . anitratus) can cause nosocomially and community acquired pneumonia . Source identification of the organism is often difficult . An outbreak of respiratory infection and colonization with A . anitratus affecting 93 ventilated patients in all six of a hospital's intensive care units (ICUs) over 10 months is described . PATIENTS AND METHODS: In April 1984, the infection control staff started to review positive culture results from all patients in all ICUs . At this point, information on significant isolates was recorded by patient, site, date, genus and species, and antimicrobial susceptibility . During the month of August 1984, an increased number of A . anitratus isolates from sputum began to be detected . Information was expanded to include the date of hospital admission, ICU admission, intubation, and extubation; the dates and types of all surgical procedures; the results and dates of all prior sputum cultures; and the use of nebulized bronchodilator medications . Monthly numbers of cases were compared for four months prior to the outbreak, during the outbreak, and for seven months after the outbreak . Plasmid DNA from isolates was prepared, electrophoresed, and visualized . Isolates were designated according to the molecular weights of visualized plasmids . RESULTS: Barrier precautions and improved staff handwashing did not diminish the frequency of new cases . When pasteurized, reusable ventilator circuits and resuscitation bags were cultured for the possibility of low-level contamination, 18 percent were positive for A . anitratus . Terminal ethylene oxide sterilization of these devices was associated with prompt control of the outbreak . Plasmid DNA analysis of isolates from patients involved in the outbreak, contaminated devices, and the hands of personnel responsible for device disinfection revealed two predominant plasmid profiles . After outbreak control, isolates with these profiles were found much less frequently in patient specimens . CONCLUSION: Contaminated, reusable ventilator support equipment may be a leading cause for the extent of A . anitratus in the sputum of intubated patients . This problem is potentially correctable by the use of terminal etyhlene oxide sterilization of reusable ventilator circuits and resuscitation bags.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1988 Nov, 21(4), 236 - 42
Antibiogram, biotyping and plasmid profile analysis of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus; Teng LJ et al.; Antibiogram, biotyping, and plasmid profile analysis were studied on 115 isolates (40 nosocomial and 75 community strains) of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus isolated from clinical specimens . By disk diffusion method, we found 14 antimicrobial susceptibility patterns . Among them, the gentamicin-resistant patterns were recovered more frequently from nosocomial origin than from community-acquired origin . Fifteen patterns of biocodes were found by using GNI card of AutoMicrobic System (Vitek System) . By using rapid alkaline extraction method and agarose gel electrophoresis, 102 isolates (88.7%) contained plasmids, and 72 distinct profiles were found . No particular plasmid profile correlates with specific antibiogram or biotype . However, multiple isolates with identical antibiogram and biotype recovered from the same patient were usually of identical plasmid profile . In view of the heterogeneity of the plasmid patterns that were found, the combined use of antibiogram, biotyping, and plasmid profile analysis could be satisfactory for epidemiological investigation.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Nov, 134 ( Pt 11), 2877 - 87
Cloning and expression of pca genes from Pseudomonas putida in Escherichia coli; Hughes EJ et al.; Beta-Ketoadipate elicits expression of five structural pca genes encoding enzymes that catalyse consecutive reactions in the utilization of protocatechuate by Pseudomonas putida . Three derivatives of P . putida PRS2000 were obtained, each carrying a single copy of Tn5 DNA inserted into a separate region of the genome and preventing expression of different sets of pca genes . Selection of Tn5 in or near the pca genes in these derivatives was used to clone four structural pca genes and to enable their expression as inserts in pUC19 carried in Escherichia coli . Three of the genes were clustered as components of an apparent operon in the order pcaBDC . This observation indicates that rearrangement of the closely linked genes accompanied divergence of their evolutionary homologues, which are known to appear in the order pcaDBC in the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus pcaEFDBCA gene cluster . Additional evidence for genetic reorganization during evolutionary divergence emerged from the demonstration that the P . putida pcaE gene lies more than 15 kilobase pairs (kbp) away from the pcaBDC operon . An additional P . putida gene, pcaR, was shown to be required for expression of the pca structural genes in response to beta-ketoadipate . The regulatory pcaR gene is located about 15 kbp upstream from the pcaBDC operon.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Nov, 12(4), 273 - 87
A study of the value of electrophoretic and other techniques for typing Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Alexander M et al.; Forty-four isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus collected during hospital outbreaks were studied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), plasmid analysis, antibiograms and biochemical tests to determine their degree of similarity . Reproducibility tests were also carried out on the PAGE and biochemical techniques to determine their validity when used to compare bacteria of the same type isolated intermittently . PAGE data was analysed densitometrically and isolates compared using a similarity matrix . All methods were able to subdivide the isolates, but results did not always correlate well between methods . Reproducibility data indicated that careful attention to technique is required when organisms are examined by PAGE sequentially . Results suggest that no single biotyping technique is likely to be adequate and that electrophoretic, biochemical and antibiogram data may complement one another and other epidemiological data in the typing of these organisms.

Presse Med, 1988 Oct 26, 17(37), 1878 - 82
{Structure-activity relationship of ceftazidime . Consequences on the bacterial spectrum}; Bergogne-Berezin E; The structure-activity relationships of antibiotics are currently known, especially for cephalosporins . Ceftazidime, which is a new semi-synthetic drug, possesses as side chains an aminothiazole ring and a propylcarboxy moiety at position 7, and at position 3 a pyridine group similar to that of cephaloridine: these structural modifications of the cephalosporin nucleus confer upon ceftazidime increased affinity for penicillin-binding-proteins of Gram negative bacilli, a high stability to beta-lactamases and an enlarged spectrum of antibacterial activity including Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . The presence at position 3 of a pyridine group is responsible for a rapid intrabacterial penetration of ceftazidime and for favourable pharmacokinetic properties.

Biochem J, 1988 Oct 15, 255(2), 653 - 61
Benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Substrate specificities and inhibition studies; MacKintosh RW et al.; The apparent Km and maximum velocity values of benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were determined for a range of alcohols and aldehydes and the corresponding turnover numbers and specificity constants were calculated . Benzyl alcohol was the most effective alcohol substrate for benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase . Perillyl alcohol was the second most effective substrate, and was the only non-aromatic alcohol oxidized . The other substrates of benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase were all aromatic in nature, with para-substituted derivatives of benzyl alcohol being better substrates than other derivatives . Coniferyl alcohol and cinnamyl alcohol were also substrates . Benzaldehyde was much the most effective substrate for benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II . Benzaldehydes with a single small substituent group in the meta or para position were better substrates than any other benzaldehyde derivatives . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II could also oxidize the aliphatic aldehydes hexan-1-al and octan-1-al, although poorly . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II was substrate-inhibited by benzaldehyde when the assay concentration exceeded approx . 10 microM . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II, but not benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, exhibited esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate . Both benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II were inhibited by the thiol-blocking reagents iodoacetate, iodoacetamide, 4-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide . Benzyl alcohol or benzaldehyde respectively protected against these inhibitions . NAD+ also gave some protection . Neither benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase nor benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II was inhibited by the metal-ion-chelating agents EDTA, 2,2'-bipyridyl, pyrazole or 2-phenanthroline . Neither enzyme was inhibited by a range of plausible metabolic inhibitors such as mandelate, phenylglyoxylate, benzoate, succinate, acetyl-CoA, ATP or ADP . Benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II was sensitive to inhibition by several aromatic aldehydes; in particular, ortho-substituted benzaldehydes such as 2-bromo-, 2-chloro- and 2-fluoro-benzaldehydes were potent inhibitors of the enzyme.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Oct, 170(10), 4874 - 80
DNA sequence of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus catechol 1,2-dioxygenase I structural gene catA: evidence for evolutionary divergence of intradiol dioxygenases by acquisition of DNA sequence repetitions; Neidle EL et al.; The DNA sequence of a 1.6-kilobase-pair SalI-KpnI Acinetobacter calcoaceticus restriction fragment carrying catA, the structural gene for catechol 1,2-dioxygenase I, was determined . The 933-nucleotide gene encodes a protein product with a deduced molecular weight of 34,351 . The similarly sized Pseudomonas clcA gene encodes catechol 1,2-dioxygenase II, an enzyme with relatively broad substrate specificity and relatively low catalytic efficiency . Comparison of the catA and clcA sequences demonstrated their common ancestry and suggested that acquisitions of direct and inverted sequence repetitions of 6 to 10 base pairs were frequent events in their evolutionary divergence . The catechol 1,2-dioxygenases proved to be evolutionarily homologous with the alpha and beta subunits of Pseudomonas protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, and analysis of conserved residues in the intradiol dioxygenases revealed conserved histidyl and tyrosyl residues that are probably involved in the ligation of ferric ion in their active sites.

Chemioterapia, 1988 Oct, 7(5), 283 - 6
In vitro evaluation of ceftibuten (7432-S, SCH 39720), a novel orally administered cephalosporin; Jones RN et al.; 7432-S (SCH 39720) was the most active beta-lactam tested against the Enterobacteriaceae, inhibiting 92% of strains at less than or equal to 8.0 micrograms/ml compared to 82%, 65% and 39% of strains inhibited by cefixime, cefuroxime and cefaclor, respectively . 7432-S was also very effective against Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90, less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml), Branhamella catarrhalis (MIC90, 4.0 micrograms/ml) and Neisseria meningitidis (MIC90, less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml) . Serogroup B streptococci and the penicillin-resistant pneumococci were generally less susceptible to 7432-S and comparison cephems than Streptococcus pyogenes or penicillin-susceptible S . pneumoniae isolates . Pseudomonas spp., enterococci, Acinetobacter spp . and Staphylococcus spp . were routinely resistant to 7432-S (MIC50s, greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml).

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Oct, 22 Suppl D, 25 - 9
In-vitro activity of fleroxacin; Georgopoulos A et al.; Fleroxacin is a new synthetic fluorinated quinolone antimicrobial agent . The in-vitro activity of fleroxacin and five comparative quinolones against 541 clinical isolates was studied . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) of fleroxacin were less than or equal to 2.0 mg/l for Enterobacteriaceae, less than or equal to 8.0 mg/l for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 1.0 mg/l for Acinetobacter calcoaceficis and 8 mg/l for streptococci . The activity of fleroxacin was comparable with that of ofloxacin, pefloxacin and norfloxacin, but less than that of ciprofloxacin . All quinolones showed little difference between MIC and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs).

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Oct, 7(5), 684 - 6
Comparative in vitro activity of the new difluoro-quinolone temafloxacin (A-62254) against bacterial isolates from cancer patients; Rolston KV et al.; The in vitro activity of temafloxacin, a new difluoro quinolone agent, against 725 bacterial isolates representing 32 species was evaluated in comparison with that of ciprofloxacin . Temafloxacin inhibited the majority of Enterobacteriaceae isolates at a concentration of less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml . It was also extremely active against Acinetobacter spp . and Aeromonas hydrophila . Its activity was 2-8 fold less than that of ciprofloxacin against most gram-negative isolates . Methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus spp . and group JK corynebacteria were inhibited at concentrations equal to that of ciprofloxacin.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Sep 21, 956(2), 103 - 9
Inactivation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus acetate kinase by diethylpyrocarbonate; Kim YS et al.; Acetate kinase purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was inhibited by diethylpyrocarbonate with a second-order rate constant of 620 M-1.min-1 at pH 7.4 at 30 degrees C and showed a concomitant increase in absorbance at 240 nm due to the formation of N-carbethoxyhistidyl derivative . Activity could be restored by hydroxylamine and the pH curve of inactivation indicates the involvement of a residue with a pKa of 6.64 . Complete inactivation of acetate kinase required the modification of seven residues per molecule of enzyme . Statistical analysis showed that among the seven modifiable residues, only one is essential for activity . 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), p-chloromercuryphenylsulfonate, N-ethylmaleimide and phenylglyoxal did not affect the enzyme activity . These results suggest that the inactivation is due to the modification of one histidine residue . The substrates, acetate and ATP, protected the enzyme against inactivation, indicating that the modified histidine residue is located at or near the active site.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Sep, 32(9), 1450 - 5
In vitro activities of PD 117,596 and reference antibiotics against 448 clinical bacterial strains; Smith RP et al.; The in vitro activity of PD 117,596, a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was tested against 448 bacterial isolates (15 genera) by agar dilution (inoculum, 10(4) CFU per spot) . The activity of PD 117,596 was compared with that of 15 antibiotics against 327 gram-negative strains and with that of 8 other antibiotics against 121 gram-positive strains . PD 117,596 demonstrated the best activity against Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Acinetobacter spp., Serratia marcescens, and Branhamella catarrhalis (MICs for 90% of the isolates {MIC90S}, 0.008 to 0.25 microgram/ml) . PD 117,596 (MIC90, 0.25 microgram/ml) was at least twofold more active than ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas spp . PD 117,596 and ciprofloxacin were similar in activity against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Haemophilus influenzae, H . parainfluenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Legionella pneumophila, and Campylobacter jejuni (MIC90, 0.002 to 0.125 microgram/ml) . PD 117,596 was more active than ciprofloxacin against streptococcal groups A, B, C, and G, S . pneumoniae, and enterococci (MIC90S, 0.06 to 0.125 microgram/ml) . Against Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant isolates, PD 117,596 (MIC90S, 0.03 to 0.06 microgram/ml) was 4- to 16-fold more active than ciprofloxacin and was most active against Corynebacterium spp . PD 117,596 appears to be the most active fluoroquinolone to date, with excellent activity against gram-positive bacteria and enhanced activity against gram-negative aerobic-facultative bacteria.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Sep, 22(3), 307 - 13
Comparative in-vitro activity of tigemonam, a new monobactam; Rylander M et al.; The in-vitro activity against Gram-negative aerobic bacterial pathogens of a new oral monobactam, tigemonam, was compared with those of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefaclor, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole and gentamicin, by an agar-dilution method . Tigemonam inhibited 90% of strains tested of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Salmonella spp., Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella catarrhalis at concentrations of 0.25 mg/l or below . The MIC90 for Enterobacter spp . was 16 mg/l and for Citrobacter 4 mg/l . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to tigemonam but susceptible to aztreonam . In comparison with the other oral antibiotics tested, tigemonam was generally more active . Tigemonam showed minimal inoculum dependence, between 10(2) and 10(6) cfu per spot . It is concluded that tigemonam is a candidate for clinical trials in patients with infections caused by Gram-negative aerobes other than pseudomonas and acinetobacter.

J UOEH, 1988 Sep 1, 10(3), 297 - 303
{Susceptibility of gram-negative bacterial isolates to six beta-lactam and two aminoglycoside antibiotics at our university hospital}; Tanabe T et al.; Susceptibilities of Gram-negative bacterial strains isolated at the University Hospital in 1987 to six beta-Lactam antibiotics (azthreonam cefmetazole, ceftizoxime, latamoxef, aminobenzyl-penicillin and piperacillin) and two aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin and amikacin) were examined by agar dilution and the agar diffusion method . Results obtained from both methods correlated well in most of the strains . Most of the strains belonging to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were sensitive to the beta-lactam antibiotics except aminobenzyl-penicillin and piperacillin . They were also sensitive to aminoglycoside antibiotics . Most strains of Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens were sensitive to azthreonam, latamoxef and aminoglycosides, but were less sensitive to other beta-lactams . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was generally resistant to beta-lactams except ceftizoxime, but was sensitive to aminoglycosides . More than half of the strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to azthreonam, piperacillin and aminoglycoside antibiotics and only latamoxef was active in Pseudomonas maltophilia.

Eur J Biochem, 1988 Sep 1, 176(1), 69 - 79
Chorismate mutase:prephenate dehydratase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Purification, properties and immunological cross-reactivity; Ahmad S et al.; The bifunctional P protein (chorismate mutase: prephenate dehydratase) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus has been purified . It was homogeneous in polyacrylamide gels and was more than 95% pure on the basis of the immunostaining of purified P protein with the antibodies raised against the P protein . The native enzyme is a homodimer (Mr = 91,000) composed of 45-kDa subunits . A twofold increase in the native molecular mass of the P protein occurred in the presence of L-phenylalanine (inhibitor of both activities) or L-tyrosine (activator of the dehydratase activity) during gel filtration . Chorismate mutase activity followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 0.55 mM for chorismate . L-Phenylalanine was a relatively poor non-competitive inhibitor of the mutase activity . The chorismate mutase activity was also competitively inhibited by prephenate (reaction product) . Substrate-saturation curves for the dehydratase activity were sigmoidal showing positive cooperativity among the prephenate-binding sites . L-Tyrosine activated prephenate dehydratase strongly but did not abolish positive cooperativity with respect to prephenate . L-Phenylalanine inhibited the dehydratase activity, and the substrate-saturation curves became increasingly sigmoidal as phenylalanine concentrations were increased with happ values changing from 2.0 (no phenylalanine) to 4.0 (0.08 mM L-phenylalanine) . A sigmoidal inhibition curve of the dehydratase activity by L-phenylalanine gave Hill plots having a slope of -2.9 . Higher ionic strength increased the dehydratase activity by reducing the positive cooperative binding of prephenate, and the sigmoidal substrate-saturation curves were changed to near-hyperbolic form . The happ values decreased with increase in ionic strength . Antibodies raised against the purified P protein showed cross-reactivity with the P proteins from near phylogenetic relatives of A . calcoaceticus . At a greater phylogenetic distance, cross-reaction was superior with P protein from Neisseria gonorrhoeae than with that from the more closely related Escherichia coli.

Genetika, 1988 Sep, 24(9), 1539 - 49
{Nucleotide sequences of mercury resistance determinants in bacteria isolated from mercury mines: detection of a family of recombinant mercury transposons in plasmids from Acinetobacter species}; Lomovskaia OL et al.; Partial nucleotide sequences were determined for mer operons located on large and small plasmids previously described in Acinetobacter spp . isolated from different mercury mines of the USSR . Inspection of the sequences shows that: 1 . All Acinetobacter mer operons studied belong to a family of transposons homologous to transposons found in clinical isolates . 2 . The transposons located on the small plasmids originated by recombinations between the transposons from the large plasmids and Tn501, a transposon found in a Pseudomonas hospital strain isolated in Australia . The left arm of each hybrid transposon was donated by a transposon of a large Acinetobacter plasmid and the right arm - by the Tn501.

Mol Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 2(5), 615 - 25
Nucleotide sequence of Acinetobacter baumannii aphA-6 gene: evolutionary and functional implications of sequence homologies with nucleotide-binding proteins, kinases and other aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes; Martin P et al.; A new kanamycin-resistance gene, detected in Acinetobacter baumannii and designated aphA-6, was sequenced . It specifies a 30319 Dalton 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (APH(3'} that mediates resistance to kanamycin and structurally related aminoglycosides, including amikacin . Pairwise comparisons of the six types of APH(3') so far detected in human pathogens (types I, II, III and VI) and in amino-glycoside-producing microorganisms (types IV and V), confirm that APH(3') enzymes have diverged from a common ancestor . Three highly retained motifs (1: V--HGD----N; 2: G--D-GR/K-G and 3: D--K/R--Y/F---LDE) located in the C-terminal part of the enzymes were defined . Screening of protein sequence data bases fore each of these motifs revealed that motifs 1 and 2 are both found in nucleotide-binding phosphotransferases associated with a variety of biological processes, namely adenylate kinase, viral oncogenic protein kinases, elongation factors, Na+/K+-transporting ATPase, myosin and antibiotic-modifying enzymes . Motif 2 probably corresponds to the MgATP binding site, while motifs 3 and 1 could be involved in the splitting of the phosphodiester bond and in the phosphate transfer, respectively . Moreover, an additional motif, almost invariably centrally located, was found in all aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes . The occurrence of this motif, possibly a recombination site which would have allowed the association of units of separate functions, is compatible with a modular concept for the structure of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes.

Biochem J, 1988 Aug 15, 254(1), 131 - 8
Cytochrome b-562 from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D . 79.41 . Its characteristics and role as electron acceptor for quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase; Dokter P et al.; A soluble cytochrome b was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D . 79.41 . On the basis of the alpha-band maximum of a reduced preparation, measured at 25 degrees C, it is designated as cytochrome b-562 . This cytochrome is a basic monomeric protein (pI 10.2; Mr 18,000), containing one protohaem group per molecule . The reduced form, at 25 degrees C, showed absorption bands at 428, 532 and 562 nm . At 77 K the alpha-band shifted to 560 nm (with a shoulder at 558 nm) . The reduced cytochrome did not react with CO . Cytochrome b-562 is most probably (loosely) attached to the outside of the cytoplasmic membrane, since substantial amounts of it, equimolar to quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), were present in the culture medium when cells were grown in the presence of low concentrations of Triton X-100 . The midpoint potential at pH 7.0 was found to be +170 mV, a value that was lowered to +145 mV by the presence of GDH . Since the GDH was shown to have a midpoint potential of +50 mV, cytochrome b-562 could function as the natural primary electron acceptor . Arguments to substantiate this view and to propose a role of ubiquinone-9 as electron acceptor for cytochrome b-562 are presented.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Aug, 22(2), 143 - 54
In-vitro and in-vivo activities of T-3262, a new pyridone carboxylic acid; Takahata M et al.; T-3262{p-toluenesulfonic acid salt of dl-7-(3-amino-1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-6-fluoro-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-1, 8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid monohydrate} is a new pyridone carboxylic acid with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . The activity of T-3262 against most Enterobacteriaceae was comparable with that of ciprofloxacin except Proteus spp . and Providencia rettgeri and exceeded that of ofloxacin and norfloxacin . The activity of T-3262 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable with that of ciprofloxacin, and T-3262 was more active than the other new quinolones against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Branhamella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae, and also against staphylococci, streptococci, and Bacteroides fragilis . The protective effects of a single oral dose of T-3262 on systemic infection in mice were greater than norfloxacin . T-3262 was as effective as ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against systemic infections in an animal model with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and more active against Ps . aeruginosa infections . T-3262 showed excellent activity against staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Aug, 22(2), 135 - 41
The in-vitro activity of PD127,391, a new quinolone; King A et al.; MICs of PD127,391 a new 4-quinolone, and of CI934 and ciprofloxacin, two previously reported 4-quinolones, were determined for common clinical bacterial isolates by an agar-dilution method . PD127,391 was the most active drug against Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp (MICs less than 0.12 mg/l) and as active as ciprofloxacin against Aeromonas spp . (MICs less than 0.008 mg/l) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs less than 1 mg/l) . It was more active than ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas spp . including Ps . maltophilia (MICs less than 0.25 mg/l) . All three drugs had high activity, with PD129,391 again the best, against Haemophilus influenzae Brahmamella catarrhalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . PD127,391 was much more active than the other drugs against Campylobacter coli/jejuni (PD127,391 MICs less than 0.03 mg/l) and Gardnerella vaginalis (PD127,391 MICs less than 0.25 mg/l) . PD127,391 inhibited all staphylococci at less than 0.06 mg/l and streptococci at less than 0.5 mg/l, thus being more active than CI934 or ciprofloxacin . PD127,391 was much more active against anaerobic cocci, Bacteroides spp . and clostridia (including Clostridium difficile) (MICs less than 1 mg/l) than was CI934 (MICs less than 16 mg/l) or ciprofloxacin (MICs less than 64 mg/l) . No bacterium that we examined required more than 1 mg/l of PD127,391 for inhibition, and there was no cross resistance with unrelated antibiotics.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Aug, 186(5-6), 468 - 77
Differentiation of some gram-negative glucose nonfermenting bacteria using miniaturized carbon sources assimilation tests; Kampfer P et al.; In water and soil the gram-negative nonfermenting bacteria play an important role in the biological mineralization process . To improve the methods for species differentiation of these heterogenous bacterial group, a total of 481 reference strains of gram-negative glucose nonfermenting bacteria belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Bordetella, Agrobacterium, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium and some CDC groups have been investigated for their ability to utilize 42 different carbon substrates with the help of a standardized and automated micromethod . Most species showed a typical pattern of carbon utilization and hence could be differentiated from each other within their genera . As already has been demonstrated by more clinical significant Pseudomonas species, this method proves to be a useful alternative to existing methods of differentiation, especially with representatives of the families Pseudomonadaceae and Alcaligenaceae.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Aug, 7(4), 485 - 9
Endemic Acinetobacter anitratus in a surgical intensive care unit: mechanical ventilators as reservoir; Vandenbroucke-Grauls CM et al.; Colonization and infection with an endemic multiresistant strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety anitratus had been observed in the surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital since 1982 . An outbreak of infection with this endemic, multiresistant Acinetobacter anitratus strain occurred between January and September, 1984 . After initial attempts at identification of environmental reservoirs had been unsuccessful, risk factors for the acquisition of Acinetobacter anitratus were investigated by comparing the epidemiological characteristics of patients who became colonized or infected with those of control patients without colonization . The results of this case-control study and of the ensuing specific cultures indicated that ventilators in use in the unit were the reservoirs of Acinetobacter anitratus, resulting in frequent nosocomial respiratory tract infections . After modification of the mechanical ventilators, colonization and infection rates with Acinetobacter anitratus decreased . Since January 1985, no new cases of colonization or infection with this endemic strain of Acinetobacter anitratus have been recorded.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Aug, 54(8), 1940 - 5
Cometabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls: enhanced transformation of Aroclor 1254 by growing bacterial cells; Kohler HP et al.; Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 and a soil isolate, Arthrobacter sp . strain B1B, were tested for their ability to transform Aroclor 1254 as washed resting cells and as growing cells with biphenyl as the substrate . Growing cells were far superior to resting-cell suspensions in terms of total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) transformation, transformation of specific PCB congeners, and diversity of congeners that were attacked . Growing cells of Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 and Arthrobacter sp . strain B1B transformed 32 and 23% of the {14C}Aroclor 1254, respectively, whereas resting cells of the same respective cultures transformed only 17 and 8% . Transformation was significantly greater with resting cells in only 2 of 39 cases in which congeners were transformed by both growing and resting cells of both cultures . The components of 19 and 12 capillary gas-chromatographic peaks of Aroclor 1254 were transformed by biphenyl-grown resting cells of Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 and Arthrobacter sp . strain B1B, respectively, whereas the components of an additional 6 and 7 peaks were attacked by growing cells of the same respective cultures . Biphenyl oxidation by resting cells of both cultures decreased with time to less than 8% in 28 h . In addition to the normal 2,3-dioxygenase attack on PCBs, Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 also attacked congeners lacking an open 2,3-position . The ability of Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 to transform the components of 25 of the 40 largest peaks of Aroclor 1254 makes it one of the most versatile PCB-transforming organisms yet reported.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1988 Aug, 34(8), 1503 - 14
{Microorganisms isolated from urinary tract infection and their beta-lactamase production and evaluation of clinical efficacy of sulperazone}; Kawamura J et al.; Clinical survey of microorganisms isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) was carried out at the four major hospitals in Mie Prefecture from May to July, 1987, and production of beta-lactamase of the microorganisms was determined by the acidimetric method, "beta-checker" . Among the total of 460 strains isolated from urine samples, 135 of gram positive cocci and 325 of gram negative rods were contained . Sixty percent of the gram negative rods and 14% of gram positive cocci produced beta-lactamase . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E . coli and Serratia marcescens were representative organisms which produced beta-lactamase . Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter species produced beta-lactamase at a higher rate but those were not so frequently isolated . In the sensitivity test to Sulperazone, the representative organisms isolated from urine, as a whole, had a sensitivity of 74% and E . coli, Klebsiella, S . epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were highly sensitive, while Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens showed low sensitivity . The clinical efficacy of Sulperazone was evaluated in 26 patients with complicated UTI . Overall effectiveness rate and eradication rate of beta-lactamase production organisms were 73.1 and 63%, respectively . Sulperazone is concluded to be a useful antibiotic for treating complicated UTI induced by beta-lactamase production organisms from the point of microbiology and safety.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1988 Jul, 9(7), 302 - 8
Nosocomial respiratory tract colonization and infection with aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus: epidemiologic characteristics and clinical significance; Peacock JE Jr et al.; During the period July 1983 through December 1984, aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus (ACA) were isolated from 98 patients in a university hospital . Eighty-seven percent of patients (85/98) acquired aminoglycoside-resistant ACA in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 92% (90/98) of all initial isolates were from sputum . ICU patients with respiratory colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA were compared with matched ICU controls with other gram-negative rods in sputum . Compared with controls, the duration of ICU stay prior to colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA was significantly longer for cases (14.7 days v 5.9 days, P = 0.002) . Although exposures to devices and procedures were not significantly different for the two groups, cases received respiratory therapy significantly longer than did controls (14.7 days v 6.6 days, P = 0.006) . Prior to isolation of aminoglycoside-resistant ACA in sputum, cases received more cephalosporins than did controls (1.9 v 1.2, P = 0.018); aminoglycoside usage in the two groups was comparable but cases tended to have received aminoglycoside for longer durations before colonization/infection than had controls (9.0 days v 6.1 days, P = 0.08) . Following sputum isolation of ACA, 6 of 22 cases developed ACA bacteremia compared with bacteremia in 2 of 22 controls . We conclude that factors predisposing to colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA were extended ICU care, prolonged respiratory therapy, and prior therapy with cephalosporins and aminoglycoside . In addition, ACA may be a more common cause of secondary bacteremia than previously appreciated.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 134 ( Pt 7), 1983 - 92
Effect of hexadecane-induced vesiculation on the outer membrane of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Borneleit P et al.; Lipopolysaccharide-rich vesicles were released from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69V during growth on hexadecane . Vesicle formation occurred over the whole surface of the cell as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy . In contrast, the surface of acetate-grown cells, for which little lipopolysaccharide was found in the growth medium, appeared smooth . The overall chemical composition as well as the protein and phospholipid composition of the outer membranes of both cell types was very similar . In the vesicles all outer membrane proteins were found with the exception of an Mr 10,000 polypeptide corresponding to Braun's lipoprotein . Compared with the outer membrane, the vesicles contained more phosphatidylethanolamine . Hexadecane-grown cells were susceptible to exogenously added phospholipase . Nevertheless the barrier function towards lysozyme was retained.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Jul, 65(1), 7 - 21
A numerical taxonomic study of non-motile non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria from foods; Shaw BG et al.; A numerical taxonomic study using 155 unit characters was performed on 63 strains of Gram-negative non-motile non-fermentative bacteria isolated from proteinaceous foods . Similar bacteria from other sources and several Pseudomonas strains from meat were included for reference purposes . Three clusters were observed at 76% S which contained all the food strains . Cluster 1 was composed entirely of Acinetobacter strains including 17 isolated from foods that were provisionally identified with Acinetobacter johnsonii . Cluster 2 contained 22 strains identified as Psychrobacter immobilis, of which 20 were from food . Cluster 3 contained all the Pseudomonas reference strains and 26 non-motile strains isolated from meat . These were shown to be non-motile variants of Pseudomonas fragi . A simple identification scheme, based on five tests, is presented for the distinction of the three types of bacteria.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Jul, 32(7), 1090 - 3
Antibacterial activity of HRE 664, a new parenteral penem; Cullmann W et al.; The antibacterial activity of the new penem compound HRE 664 was evaluated in 451 clinical isolates, including ampicillin-resistant members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter spp., Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and beta-hemolytic streptococci, and compared with those of piperacillin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, imipenem, and the penem compound Sch 34343 . The new agent HRE 664 exhibited antibacterial activity comparable to that of the penem Sch 34343 and imipenem . The MICs of the new agent HRE 664 for 90% of the strains tested ranged from 1 to 4 micrograms/ml against Enterobacteriaceae and were 0.06 micrograms/ml for Staphylococcus aureus and 0.125 micrograms/ml for beta-hemolytic streptococci.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Jul, 170(7), 3158 - 63
Cosmid cloning of five Zymomonas trp genes by complementation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida trp mutants; Eddy CK et al.; A library of Zymomonas mobilis genomic DNA was constructed in the broad-host-range cosmid pLAFR1 . The library was mobilized into a variety of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida trp mutants by using the helper plasmid pRK2013 . Five Z . mobilis trp genes were identified by the ability to complement the trp mutants . The trpF, trpB, and trpA genes were on one cosmid, while the trpD and trpC genes were on two separate cosmids . The organization of the Z . mobilis trp genes seems to be similar to the organization found in Rhizobium spp., Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Pseudomonas acidovorans . The trpF, trpB, and trpA genes appeared to be linked, but they were not closely associated with trpD or trpC genes.

J Biol Chem, 1988 Jun 25, 263(18), 8583 - 91
Structures of amidohydrolases . Amino acid sequence of a glutaminase-asparaginase from Acinetobacter glutaminasificans and preliminary crystallographic data for an asparaginase from Erwinia chrysanthemi; Tanaka S et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of a glutaminase-asparaginase from Acinetobacter glutaminasificans, for which a preliminary tertiary structure is available from crystallographic analysis, has been determined by automated Edman degradation of fragments produced by chemical and proteolytic cleavages . The protein consists of 331 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 35,500 . The pattern of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions is typical of a globular protein . A new crystal form of an Erwinia chrysanthemi 1125 asparaginase is reported . The space group is monoclinic C2, with unit cell parameters of: a = 107.8, b = 91.7, c = 129.2 A and beta = 91.7 degrees . A Vm of 2.25 A3/dalton was calculated for one tetramer of 35,100-dalton subunits per asymmetric unit . X-ray intensity data have been obtained to 2.2 A resolution . The point group symmetry of the Er . chrysanthemi tetramer is 222 from self-rotation function calculations . The relative orientations of an A . glutaminasificans glutaminase-asparaginase model and the Er . chrysanthemi asparaginase tetramer have been determined with the cross-rotation function, and translation function calculations have revealed a plausible location for the asparaginase tetramer in the crystal.

Am J Vet Res, 1988 Jun, 49(6), 773 - 7
Prevalence of ocular microorganisms in hospitalized and stabled horses; Moore CP et al.; Microorganisms from normal eyes of hospitalized and stabled horses were identified, and the frequency of isolation was compared between the 2 groups . Using standard techniques, swab specimens from both eyes of 22 hospitalized horses and both eyes of 18 stabled horses were cultured for aerobic bacteria and fungi . Ninety-six aerobic bacteria and 57 fungi were isolated . The predominant bacterial isolates were gram-positive organisms, most of which belonged to the genera Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptomyces . Gram-negative organisms comprised less than one-fourth of the bacterial isolates, with the genera Neisseria, Moraxella, and Acinetobacter being the most commonly isolated . Environmental fungi Cladosporium and Alternaria accounted for half of all fungal isolates . In only 5 horses were fungi isolated without accompanying isolation of bacteria . The frequency of isolation of fungi was higher (P less than 0.01) in stabled horses . For bacteria, the frequency of isolation was higher (P less than 0.08) in male horses . Results of susceptibility testing were recorded as the percentage of all isolates susceptible to a given antimicrobic drug . Bacterial isolates were highly susceptible (greater than or equal to 90%) to neomycin, polymixin B, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol . Overall, filamentous fungi had highest susceptibility to natamycin (97%) . Miconazole was highly efficacious (100% susceptibility) against Fusarium and Aspergillus.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Jun, 6(4), 341 - 7
Changes in aerobic microflora of skin and gills of Mediterranean sardines (Sardina pilchardus) during storage in ice; Gennari M et al.; Sardines from the Adriatic Sea were examined fresh and after 4 and 8 days of storage in ice . A total of 1500 strains isolated were identified from the gills and the surface of the fish . Pseudomonadaceae, Neisseriaceae, Flavobacterium/Cytophaga, Enterobacteriaceae, coryneform bacteria and Micrococcaceae were the most common bacteria in fresh fish . During storage the pseudomonads (mainly the non-fluorescent strains) increased and became the dominating microflora; the Neisseriaceae (Moraxella, Psychrobacter and Acinetobacter) showed a distinct increase during the first 4 days in ice; the percentage of the other bacterial groups clearly decreased . On the gills the quantitative changes in the microflora were less pronounced than on the surface.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Jun, 36(5 Pt 2), 762 - 7
{In vitro antibacterial activity of cefpirome in combination with 4 aminoglycosides and 2 fluoroquinolones}; Le Noc P et al.; Combinations of cefpirome with aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin, amikacin) and of cefpirome with fluorinated quinolones (pefloxacin, ofloxacin) were tested against 20 Enterobacteriaceae, 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 6 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, 6 group D Streptococci and 6 Staphylococcus aureus strains, susceptible, intermediate or resistant with a low level to these different compounds . Activity of combinations was evaluated using a broth microdilution checkerboard method and FIC indices determination . Combinations of cefpirome with aminoglycosides demonstrated a synergistic effect in 79.5% of cases, but a strong synergy (FIC less than or equal to 0.62) was observed in only 46% of cases . The higher rate of strong synergy concerned Enterobacteriaceae (50% of cases) and group D Streptococci (58.3%) . Combination of cefpirome with gentamicin was the most active against Enterobacteriaceae and with a lower degree against P . aeruginosa, A . calcoaceticus and S . aureus . Combination of cefpirome with netilmicin was the best association against group D Streptococci . Combinations of cefpirome with fluorinated quinolones demonstrated frequently and additive (40.9%) or indifferent (36.3%) effect . When a synergistic effect was proved, it was always weak (FIC = 0.75) . Combinations of two fluorinated quinolones with cefpirome gave similar results . No combination was antagonist . This study is a primary estimation of activity of cefpirome combined with other agents . It will be necessary to confirm these results against strains resistant with high level, especially against cefpirome, strains not discovered in clinical isolates at present.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Jun, 36(5 Pt 2), 665 - 70
{Evolution of bacterial resistance to five aminoglycosides . A study of 3,354 strains isolated in a hospital milieu}; Fourche J et al.; The authors studied the susceptibility to 5 aminoglycosides (amikacin, dibekacin, gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin) of 3,354 strains isolated at the Centre Hospitalier Sud in Bordeaux during 1987 . The results are compared to those obtained in 1984 on 2,818 strains . Amikacin remains the most active aminoside against the Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter; against Pseudomonas, tobramycin has become the best one at that time, as well as netilmicin against Staphylococcus aureus . Evolution: no significative increase of Enterobacteriaceae resistance to aminoglycosides was observed during the last 3 years except for Providencia and Serratia . For Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, percentage of resistant strains is respectively two-fold and three-fold higher . Although resistance increased in that species, netilmicin and amikacin showed a still good activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Jun, 36(5 Pt 2), 660 - 4
{In vitro antibacterial activity of apalcillin on aerobic bacteria and the regression curve}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of apalcillin (APL) were evaluated by agar dilution on 1,201 bacterial strains isolated simultaneously in four university hospitals; agar diffusion tests (disks APL: 75 micrograms) were performed on these strains to establish relationship between MIC and zone diameters . For Enterobacteriaceae naturally non beta-lactamase-producing (E . coli and P . mirabilis), mode MIC was 0.5 microgram/ml; some acquired penicillinase-producing strains were only inhibited by concentrations greater than or equal to 16 . Chromosomal penicillinase producing Klebsiella were inhibited by 2 to 8 micrograms/ml but APL was inactive on acquired penicillinase-producing strains . For chromosomal cephalosporinase-producing species (Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Serratia, indole + Proteus and Providencia) two populations of strains were observed: one sensitive and the second resistant to carboxypenicillins: on the first population, mode MIC of APL was 1 to 4 micrograms/ml; on the second MIC were generally greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml . P . aeruginosa strains sensitive to carboxypenicillins were inhibited by 1 and 2 micrograms/ml; this activity was diminished on strains resistant to these antibiotics (MIC APL 8-32) . MIC of Acinetobacter varied to 0.25 to greater than 128 with a majority of strains inhibited by 4 to 64 micrograms/ml . APL was active against non penicillinase producing Staphylococci; mode MIC was 2 micrograms/ml for Enterococci . Correlation coefficient of regression curve was 0.87 . For critical concentrations less than or equal to 8 and greater than 64 micrograms/ml, critical diameters could be greater than or equal to 19 and less than 12 mm.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Jun, 21(6), 745 - 53
Ceftazidime combined with mecillinam: serum bactericidal titres compared with in-vitro synergy against gram-negative bacilli; Van der Auwera P et al.; In a study of the possible interaction between mecillinam and ceftazidime against Gram-negative bacilli, ten volunteers received on separate days: ceftazidime 20 mg/kg iv in 15 min, mecillinam 10 mg/kg iv in 15 min, or the combination . Blood samples were obtained before and 1 and 6 h after the end of the infusion . Ten strains each of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella spp . and Yersinia spp . and nine strains each of Acinetobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected . Most of the strains were resistant to ampicillin and cefazolin . Serum levels of ceftazidime and mecillinam were measured by bioassay . Serum bacteriostatic (SBS) and bactericidal (SBA) titration was done in microtitre plates in cation supplemented Mueller-Hinton broth and 50% human serum . Chequerboard titration was also studied to assess in-vitro synergy between ceftazidime and mecillinam in Mueller-Hinton broth with or without 50% serum . The mean serum concentrations (SD) were for mecillinam: 6.1 (1.7) at 1 h, and less than 0.3 at 6 h and for ceftazidime: 36.3 (5.5) at 1 h and less than 5 at 6 h . Identical concentrations were measured for the combination . By chequerboard titration, no synergy occurred for Acinetobacter spp . and Ps . aeruginosa, whereas it was observed in 37/60 (FIC) and 33/60 (FBC) of the strains of other species in Mueller-Hinton; from the strains showing synergy, 28/37 (FIC) and 30/33 (FBC) showed also synergy in Mueller-Hinton with 50% human serum . In SBS and SBA, on the other hand, the combination of mecillinam with ceftazidime showed an additive effect against most Enterobacteriaceae tested, synergy being shown for only 10-35% of tests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am J Surg, 1988 May 31, 155(5A), 16 - 23
Cefotetan: a review of the microbiologic properties and antimicrobial spectrum; Jones RN; Cefotetan (formerly ICI 156834 and YM09330) is a 7-methoxy cephalosporin possessing some advantageous antimicrobial spectrum, safety, and pharmacokinetic characteristics compared with other so-called second-generation cephalosporins . The published literature was reviewed and the cefotetan quantitative susceptibility testing data from nearly 31,000 isolates was tabulated . Against 15,769 enteric bacilli, cefotetan was observed to have a potency and spectrum more closely resembling a third-generation cephalosporin and markedly superior to cefoxitin . The mean of all MIC 90s reported for the Enterobacteriaceae ranged from 0.06 to 13 micrograms/ml except for citrobacter species, E . cloacae, Enterobacter species, and C . freundii . The mean MIC 50 for all 22 recorded species was in the susceptible range . Cefotetan was very effective against B . catarrhalis, H . influenzae, and pathogenic Neisseria species . However, cefotetan and cefoxitin were not active against Pseudomonas species, Acinetobacter species, and some rarely isolated species . Cefotetan was moderately active against the staphylococci (mean MIC 50, 7.6 to 26 micrograms/ml) and streptococci (mean MIC 50, 0.9 to 6.6 micrograms/ml) . The coagulase-negative staphylococcus species generally had higher cefotetan and cefoxitin minimum inhibitory concentrations compared with the S . aureus isolates . Oxacillin-resistant staphylococci were resistant to cefotetan . The enterococci, JK group diphtheroids, Corynebacterium species, and L . monocytogenes isolates were resistant . A review of 4,751 strict anaerobes showed cefotetan to have a very comparable activity and spectrum to cefoxitin . The 1,291 B . fragilis strains had a mean MIC 50 and MIC 90 of 5.4 and 23 micrograms/ml, respectively . These values were slightly superior to cefoxitin when tested in parallel . More elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations were observed for other B . fragilis group species for cefoxitin and cefotetan . The mean cefotetan MIC 90 for all other anaerobic bacteria except the Eubacterium species and Lactobacillus species predict favorable clinical efficacy . The beta-lactamase stability of cefotetan is very similar to that of other 7-methoxy cephalosporins . Cefotetan also inhibits Type Ia cephalosporinases with high enzyme affinity and is an inducer of these beta-lactamases, although cefotetan is not rapidly hydrolyzed . Synergy between cefotetan and numerous other antibiotics has been reported, but antagonism has also been occasionally observed.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 May-Jun, 10(3), 636 - 9
Community-acquired acinetobacter pneumonia in adults in Papua New Guinea; Barnes DJ et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, an aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus, is a rare cause of community-acquired pneumonia . It most commonly causes nosocomial infections, particularly in elderly debilitated patients who have undergone surgery, instrumentation, and antibiotic therapy . In a study of acute pneumonia in adults, five cases of community-acquired acinetobacter pneumonia were observed over an 11-month period . Other than chronic pulmonary disease (two patients), no serious underlying diseases existed in these patients . Lobar consolidation was the predominant radiologic pattern . The mortality rate was 40%, and mortality was directly related to therapy with inappropriate antibiotics . The reason for this relatively high prevalence of community-acquired acinetobacter pneumonia in the population studied is not known . Possible explanations include the high prevalence of chronic pulmonary disease, indiscriminate use of penicillin, and an unknown immunodeficiency state.

Mol Biol Evol, 1988 May, 5(3), 282 - 97
The phylogenetic origin of the bifunctional tyrosine-pathway protein in the enteric lineage of bacteria; Ahmad S et al.; Because bifunctional enzymes are distinctive and highly conserved products of relatively infrequent gene-fusion events, they are particularly useful markers to identify clusters of organisms at different hierarchical levels of a phylogenetic tree . Within the subdivision of gram-negative bacteria known as superfamily B, there are two distinctive types of tyrosine-pathway dehydrogenases: (1) a broad-specificity dehydrogenase (recently termed cyclohexadienyl dehydrogenase {CDH}) that can utilize either prephenate or L-arogenate as alternative substrates and (2) a bifunctional CDH that also posseses chorismate mutase activity . (T-proteins) . The bifunctional T-protein, thought to be encoded by fused ancestral genes for chorismate mutase and CDH, was found to be present in enteric bacteria (Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Serratia, Morganella, Cedecea, Kluyvera, Hafnia, Edwardsiella, Yersinia, and Proteus) and in Aeromonas and Alteromonas . Outside of the latter "enteric lineage," the T-protein is absent in other major superfamily-B genera, such as Pseudomonas (rRNA homology group I), Xanthomonas, Acinetobacter, and Oceanospirillum . Hence, the T-protein must have evolved after the divergence of the enteric and Oceanospirillum lineages . 3-Deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase-phe, an early-pathway isozyme sensitive to feedback inhibition by L-phenylalanine, has been found in each member of the enteric lineage examined . The absence of both the T-protein and DAHP synthase-phe elsewhere in superfamily B indicates the emergence of these character states at approximately the same evolutionary time.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 May, 26(5), 962 - 4
Comparative evaluation of Oxoid Signal and BACTEC radiometric blood culture systems for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia; Weinstein MP et al.; The Oxoid Signal (Oxoid U.S.A., Inc., Columbia, Md.) blood culture system is a newly described, innovative method for visually detecting growth of microorganisms (D . Sawney, S . Hinder, D . Swaine, and E.Y . Bridson, J . Clin . Pathol . 39:1259-1263, 1986) . We did 5,999 paired comparisons of equal volumes (10 ml) of blood in the Oxoid Signal and BACTEC (Johnson Laboratories, Towson, Md.) radiometric blood culture systems at two university hospitals that use identical methods of obtaining and processing specimens . Overall, more microorganisms were detected in the BACTEC system (P less than 0.001), in particular, streptococci (P less than 0.01), fungi (P less than 0.001), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods, especially Acinetobacter species (P less than 0.001) . Trends favoring the BACTEC system for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus species, and Neisseria species were noted . There were no differences in the yield of staphylococci, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and anaerobic bacteria . When both systems detected sepsis, the BACTEC did so earlier (P less than 0.001) . This advantage was most notable at 24 h (70% of BACTEC positives detected versus 48% of Oxoid positives) . The proportion of positives detected after 48 h, however, was similar (BACTEC, 84%; Oxoid, 78%) . Revisions in the Oxoid Signal system itself or in the processing of Oxoid bottles appear to be necessary to improve its performance in detecting certain microorganism groups, especially fungi.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 May-Jun, 10(3), 516 - 27
Ciprofloxacin: in vitro activity, mechanism of action, and resistance; Sanders CC; Ciprofloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone that is highly active against many diverse microorganisms . At concentrations of less than 1 microgram/mL it is active against most gram-negative bacteria, including Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, Neisseria, and other Pasteurellaceae, Vibrionaceae, and various species of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . Most staphylococci, including strains resistant to methicillin, are also susceptible to ciprofloxacin . Streptococci are not highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, and obligate anaerobes are generally resistant to this and other quinolones . Ciprofloxacin, like other quinolones, inhibits DNA gyrase, but its bactericidal effects are not completely reversible by inhibitors of protein or RNA synthesis . Thus, unlike many other quinolones, ciprofloxacin may have multiple lethal effects . Resistance is less readily selected in vitro by ciprofloxacin than by nalidixic acid, and single-step mutants usually remain susceptible to clinically achievable concentrations . Resistance mediated by mutations in genes altering DNA gyrase and expression of outer membrane proteins has been described for ciprofloxacin and other quinolones . The antimicrobial spectrum and potency of ciprofloxacin, coupled with its rapid bactericidal effects, make this fluoroquinolone a promising new antimicrobial agent.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 May, 36(5), 435 - 8
{Comparative activity of habekacin and 4 other aminoglycosides against gram-negative bacilli . Evolution of resistance}; Reynaud AE et al.; The activity of 5 aminoglycosides compounds (habekacin, amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin) was studied by an agar dilution method, against 235 strains of Enterobacteriaceae and 146 other Gram negative bacilli . 79 to 98% of susceptible strains were observed, according to the aminoglycoside compound . Habekacin and amikacin were the most effective, specially against the more frequently resistant bacteria: Enterobacter, Serratia, Hafnia, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In comparison with a previous study, no evolution was observed in the resistance to aminoglycosides.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 May, 32(5), 693 - 701
In vitro evaluation of E1040, a new cephalosporin with potent antipseudomonal activity; Watanabe N et al.; E1040 is a new parenteral cephalosporin with a broad antibacterial spectrum and potent antipseudomonal activity . The compound was four- to eightfold more active than ceftazidime and cefsulodin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC of E1040 for 90% of strains tested {MIC90}, 3.13 micrograms/ml) . E1040 also showed a potent activity against other glucose-nonfermentative rods, including Acinetobacter species . The activities of E1040 against most species of the family Enterobacteriaceae were roughly comparable to the activities of ceftazidime and cefmenoxime and exceeded that of cefotiam . Against Citrobacter freundii (MIC90, 0.78 micrograms/ml), Enterobacter cloacae (MIC90, 3.13 micrograms/ml), and Enterobacter aerogenes (MIC90, 0.2 micrograms/ml), E1040 was 16- to 256-fold more active than ceftazidime and cefmenoxime . The activities of E1040 against gram-positive cocci and anaerobes were comparable to those of ceftazidime, but the compound was less active than cefmenoxime . E1040 was at least as resistant as ceftazidime and cefmenoxime to hydrolysis by various beta-lactamases and showed high affinities for penicillin-binding protein 3 of both Escherichia coli and P . aeruginosa.

Arch Microbiol, 1988 May, 150(1), 32 - 6
Bacterial NAD(P)-independent quinate dehydrogenase is a quinoprotein; van Kleef MA et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41 produced significant amounts of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone (PQQ) in its culture medium when grown on quinic acid or shikimic acid . Studies with LMD 79.41 and PQQ- -mutants of this strain demonstrated that this organism contains an NAD(P)-independent quinate dehydrogenase (QDH) (EC 1.1.99.-), catalyzing the first degradation step of these compounds, and that the enzyme contains PQQ as a cofactor, i.e . is a quinoprotein . Synthesis of QDH was induced by protocatechuate and the enzyme appeared to be particle-bound . Acinetobacter Iwoffi RAG-1 produced a quinoprotein QDH apoenzyme since growth on quinic acid only occurred in the presence of PQQ . The results obtained with the PQQ- -mutants of strain LMD 79.41 also provided some insight into the regulation of PQQ biosynthesis and assemblage of quinoprotein enzymes in the periplasmic space . Since two species of Pseudomonas also contained a quinoprotein QDH, it is assumed that bacterial NAD(P)-independent quinate dehydrogenase is a quinoprotein.

J Bacteriol, 1988 May, 170(5), 2121 - 5
Cloning of the gene encoding quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: evidence for the presence of a second enzyme; Cleton-Jansen AM et al.; We cloned the gene coding for the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . This clone complements gdh mutations in A . calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli . The gene codes for a protein with an Mr of 83,000 . Evidence is presented for the presence of two different glucose dehydrogenase enzymes in A . calcoaceticus: a protein with an Mr of 83,000 and a dimer of two identical subunits with an Mr of 50,000.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Apr, 32(4), 443 - 9
Antimicrobial activity and disk diffusion susceptibility testing of U-76,253A (R-3746), the active metabolite of the new cephalosporin ester, U-76,252 (CS-807); Jones RN et al.; Compound U-76,253A (R-3746), the active metabolite sodium salt of the prodrug ester U-76,252 (CS-807), was demonstrated to be active against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae with 82 and 85% of strains inhibited by less than or equal to 2.0 and less than or equal to 4.0 micrograms/ml, respectively . In addition, U-76,253A inhibited all strains of Branhamella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, pathogenic Neisseria spp., oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and pneumococci at less than or equal to 4.0 micrograms/ml . Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., enterococci, and oxacillin-resistant staphylococci were resistant to U-76,253A . This U-76,253A antimicrobial activity and spectrum was generally superior to that of comparison orally administered cephems (cefaclor, cefuroxime, and cefixime) and the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination . Tests with beta-lactamase-producing isolates indicated that U-76,253A was bactericidal and that its MICs were only influenced by high inoculum concentrations (10(7) CFU/ml) against type Ia and IVc enzyme-producing strains . Preliminary disk diffusion interpretive zone criteria were calculated for 10- and 30-micrograms U-76,253A disks and several possible susceptible MIC breakpoints . The absolute interpretive agreement between MICs and zone diameters ranged from 87.8 to 95.6% . Final selection of interpretive criteria awaits further U-76,252 pharmacokinetic information.

Chemioterapia, 1988 Apr, 7(2), 75 - 8
Comparative in vitro activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate (augmentin), ceftazidime and ceftriaxone against hospital strains of gram-negative and -positive bacteria; Abd-Elalim Eltahawy AT et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activities of amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin), ceftazidime and ceftriaxone were compared against 330 gram-negative and gram-positive strains isolated from clinical specimens received at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Saudi Arabia . The antibacterial susceptibility was determinated by Stokes method and by the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) using an agar dilution method . Ceftazidime and ceftriaxone were the most active antibiotics, inhibiting 90% of the tested strains by obtainable serum concentrations . Augmentin, on the other hand, had much lower activity against most of the strains tested . Ceftazidime's activity was superior to that of ceftriaxone especially against Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter diversus, indole positive Proteus, Providencia stuartii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Ceftriaxone had better activity against Serratia orderefera, Morganella morganii and Staphylococcus aureus . Beta-lactamase stable cephalosporins are therefore a potential replacement for aminoglycosides in the antimicrobial therapy of serious Gram-negative infections and alternative agents in the treatment of some Gram-positive infections.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Apr, 9(4), 213 - 7
Synergistic interactions of ciprofloxacin and extended spectrum beta-lactams or aminoglycosides against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ss . anitratus; Chow AW et al.; The susceptibility of 54 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ss . anitratus to 16 antimicrobial agents was determined in vitro with inoculum of 10(4) and 10(6) cfu by a standard agar dilution method . The most active agents were imipenem, SCH 34343, ciprofloxacin, difloxacin (A-56619), and A-56620 . Only imipenem and Abbott quinolones (A-56619 and A-56620) remained active when tested with the heavier inoculum . Except for ticarcillin and ceftazidime, which showed only moderate activity, the extended-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins, as well as aztreonam and aminoglycosides, were inactive against these highly resistant strains . Nine isolates were selected for combination studies of ciprofloxacin with seven beta-lactams and three aminoglycosides using a checkerboard agar dilution technique . Synergistic or additive interactions at clinically achievable concentrations were more common with amikacin (eight isolates), tobramycin (seven), ceftazidime (six), cefoperazone (six), and aztreonam (six), than with other agents, including mezlocillin (four), piperacillin (three), gentamicin (two), and cefsulodin (two) . Antagonism was rare, only occurring with mezlocillin in a single strain . These data suggest that combinations of ciprofloxacin with these agents may be useful for some nosocomial multidrug resistant A . calcoaceticus ss . anitratus infections.

J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 134 ( Pt 4), 967 - 74
Comparison of mandelate dehydrogenases from various strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: similarity of natural and 'evolved' forms; Fewson CA et al.; In previous work it had been shown that Acinetobacter calcoaceticus wild-type strain NCIB 8250 had only an L-mandelate deydrogenase but it could give rise to mutants that contained an evolved D-mandelate dehydrogenase; conversely, wild-type strain EBF 65/65 had only a D-mandelate dehydrogenase but gave rise to mutants that possessed an evolved L-mandelate dehydrogenase . Several other wild-type strains of A . calcoaceticus have now been shown to grow on both enantiomers of mandelate . In every case the L-mandelate dehydrogenases were found to be much more heat-stable and insensitive to inhibition by p-chloromercuribenzoate than were the D-mandelate dehydrogenases when measured in bacterial extracts . All the D-mandelate dehydrogenases in the wild-type strains were inactivated to about the same extent by an antiserum that had been raised in a rabbit against an evolved D-mandelate dehydrogenase . An evolved D-mandelate deydrogenase (from a mutant strain derived from strain NCIB 8250) and an original D-mandelate dehydrogenase (from a mutant strain derived from strain EBF 65/65) were purified to homogeneity by the same procedure and were indistinguishable as judged by immunological cross-reactivity of the native and the sodium-dodecyl-sulphate-denatured enzymes, solubility in cholate, net charge at pH 7.5, pI value, salting-out properties, Mr value, apparent K(m) value for D-mandelate, heat-stability and sensitivity to p-chloromercuribenzoate . The most likely explanation for the appearance of evolved mandelate dehydrogenases in strains of A . calcoaceticus is that cryptic genes become expressed.

J Hosp Infect, 1988 Apr, 11(3), 226 - 43
Hand disinfection: a comparison of various agents in laboratory and ward studies; Ayliffe GA et al.; The efficacy of 14 handwashing or disinfectant preparations was compared in laboratory tests on staff volunteers . The test organism, Escherichia coli, was applied to the fingertips and log reductions (LR) were measured following treatment with the test agent and control preparations (70% isopropanol and non-medicated bar soap) . Alcoholic preparations, particularly n-propanol and isopropanol were the most effective showing LRs of 3.1-3.8 . Chlorhexidine (LR 2.9) and povidone-iodine detergent preparations were significantly more effective than non-medicated soap (LR 2.1), but triclosan products were not . In addition the residual effect of several of these formulations was assessed after 10 applications by comparing the survival of E . coli on the fingertips over a 32-min period . This number of handwashes compares favourably with those recorded during an 8 h nursing shift . Chlorhexidine-detergent consistently showed the best residual activity . Alcoholic formulations showed little or no residual effect . The survival studies show that on the whole gram-positive organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans) survive better on the skin than Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) . However, it would seem that GNB which are considered to be residents (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Enterobacter spp.) survive much better than many other GNB (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E . coli and Proteus vulgaris) . The Klebsiella species varied in survival times . Random sampling of ward staff hands showed that contamination with S . aureus and GNB was greater in dermatological and general wards than in an isolation unit, where handwashing or disinfection was carried out after every patient contact . No cross-infection occurred in the isolation ward during periods of study in which 70% alcohol, chlorhexidine-detergent and non-medicated soap were used.

Biochem J, 1988 Mar 15, 250(3), 743 - 51
Benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Purification and preliminary characterization; MacKintosh RW et al.; A quick, reliable, purification procedure was developed for purifying both benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II from a single batch of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus N.C.I.B . 8250 . The procedure involved disruption of the bacteria in the French pressure cell and preparation of a high-speed supernatant, followed by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose CL-6B and Matrex Gel Red A, and finally gel filtration through a Superose 12 fast-protein-liquid-chromatography column . The enzymes co-purified as far as the Blue Sepharose CL-6B step were separated on the Matrex Gel Red A column . The final preparations of benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II gave single bands on electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions or on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis . The enzymes are tetramers, as judged by comparison of their subunit (benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, 39,700; benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II, 55,000) and native (benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase, 155,000; benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II, 222,500) Mr values, estimated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and gel filtration respectively . The optimum pH values for the oxidation reactions were 9.2 for benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and 9.5 for benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II . The pH optimum for the reduction reaction for benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase was 8.9 . The equilibrium constant for oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase was determined to be 3.08 x 10(-11) M; the ready reversibility of the reaction catalysed by benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase necessitated the development of an assay procedure in which hydrazine was used to trap the benzaldehyde formed by the NAD+-dependent oxidation of benzyl alcohol . The oxidation reaction catalysed by benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II was essentially irreversible . The maximum velocities for the oxidation reactions catalysed by benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II were 231 and 76 mumol/min per mg of protein respectively; the maximum velocity of the reduction reaction of benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase was 366 mumol/min per mg of protein . The pI values were 5.0 for benzyl alcohol dehydrogenase and 4.6 for benzaldehyde dehydrogenase II . Neither enzyme activity was affected when assayed in the presence of a range of salts . Absorption spectra of the two enzymes showed no evidence that they contain any cofactors such as cytochrome, flavin, or pyrroloquinoline quinone . The kinetic coefficients of the purified enzymes with benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, NAD+ and NADH are also presented.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Mar, (3), 18 - 21
{Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter in the marine environment and in hydrobiontic mollusks}; Puchenkova SG; The study of Acinetobacter bacteria in sea water and in aquatic molluscs of the southern climatic zone has revealed ecological differences in the species A . calcoaceticus and A . lwoffi and the appearance of the ecological niche for Acinetobacter in molluscs.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 26(3), 484 - 92
Cultural and chemical characterization of CDC groups EO-2, M-5, and M-6, Moraxella (Moraxella) species, Oligella urethralis, Acinetobacter species, and Psychrobacter immobilis; Moss CW et al.; We determined phenotypic characteristics, cellular fatty acid composition, and isoprenoid quinone content of representative strains of CDC groups EO-2, M-5, and M-6, Moraxella (Moraxella) species, Oligella urethralis, Acinetobacter species, and Psychrobacter immobilis . All organisms contained ubiquinone with eight isoprene units as the major isoprenolog, but distinct differences were observed in fatty acid composition . Twenty-eight of the original collection of CDC group EO-2 strains were further identified as P . immobilis, EO-2, or EO-3 by distinctive cellular fatty acid profiles, cellular morphology, and pigment production . The cellular fatty acid compositions of M-5 and M-6 were similar but were clearly different from those of other organisms . The genus Acinetobacter was differentiated from other organisms in the study by small amounts of 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid (2-OH-12:0), and P . immobilis was differentiated by small amounts of decanoic acid (10:0) and a branched-chain 17-carbon acid (i-17:0) . All Moraxella species were distinguished by small amounts of decanoic acid (10:0) and the absence of i-17:0 . M . bovis, M . nonliquefaciens, and some strains of M . lacunata formed a single fatty acid group, while M . osloensis, M . phenylpyruvica, M . atlantae, and other strains of M . lacunata (M . lacunata II) had species-specific fatty acid profiles . O . urethralis differed from Moraxella species by the presence of large amounts (49%) of cis-vaccenic acid (18:1 omega 7c), small amounts (1%) of 3-hydroxyhexadecanoate (3-OH-16:0), and the absence of 10:0 and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (3-OH-12:0) . The combined use of chemical data and a small number of conventional tests permitted rapid identification and differentiation of these organisms from each other and from related organisms.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Mar, 36(3), 245 - 9
{Phenotypes of resistance to antibiotics of Acinetobacter baumannii . Impact on therapeutic orientation}; Ygout JF et al.; By studying the sensitivity to antibiotics of 74 Acinetobacter baumannii strains, four phenotype groups were distinguished . The resistance of one of them (11% of the strains) to imipenem, argues against the therapeutic attitudes that now prevail . From studies on the kinetics of bactericidal activity of antibiotics and there association we propose what should be done in the laboratory to provide help to the physician for the antibiotic choice.

Infect Immun, 1988 Mar, 56(3), 552 - 6
Antimicrobial mechanisms against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus of rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule extract; Loeffelholz MJ et al.; The antimicrobial mechanisms of rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule extract and isolated extract fractions against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were examined . Crude granule extract and a fraction containing low-molecular-weight cationic peptides (peak D) reduced the viability of A . calcoaceticus and inhibited the uptake of radiolabeled macromolecule precursors by cells . The inhibitory activity observed with peak D was not as great as that of crude granule extract containing equivalent amounts of peak D protein . Crude extract also inhibited incorporation of uracil into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material, while no isolated fraction, including peak D, had any substantial effect on incorporation . The antimicrobial activities of crude granule extract were more sensitive to boiling than those of isolated peak D . Preincubation of A . calcoaceticus with either crude granule extract or a fraction (peak B) possessing proteolytic activity but lacking any antimicrobial activity caused cells to become sensitive to a subinhibitory concentration of actinomycin D, suggesting that granule extract and peak B increase the outer membrane permeability of A . calcoaceticus . The antimicrobial granule extract fraction, peak D, did not affect outer membrane permeability . These results suggest that rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule extract reduces the viability of A . calcoaceticus by inhibiting the transport and incorporation of macromolecule precursors and that either whole granule extract is required for complete antimicrobial activity or an unidentified component is responsible for antimicrobial activity in addition to peak D . The granule extract activity that increases outer membrane permeability does not appear to be directly responsible for the observed decrease in viability.

J Clin Pharmacol, 1988 Feb, 28(2), 113 - 9
The new monobactams: chemistry and biology; Sykes RB et al.; The discovery of the monobactams led to the successful development of aztreonam as the first of this novel class of beta-lactam antibiotics to enter the clinical field . Continued structural modification on the monobactam nucleus has resulted in two additional compounds from this class that show interesting biologic properties . The first, SQ 83,360, is like aztreonam in exhibiting high activity against members of the Enterobacteriaceae but has the added characteristic of being exceptionally active against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Also, significant gains are made with SQ 83,360 in activity against Pseudomonas spp . and Acinetobacter . The second compound, tigemonam, is also like aztreonam, having good activity against Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and showing good beta-lactam stability . Tigemonam differs from aztreonam in being well absorbed orally by experimental laboratory animals.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 781 - 9
Acinetobacter cyclohexanone monooxygenase: gene cloning and sequence determination; Chen YC et al.; The gene coding for cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter sp . strain NCIB 9871 was isolated by immunological screening methods . We located and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene . The structural gene is 1,626 nucleotides long and codes for a polypeptide of 542 amino acids; 389 nucleotides 5' and 108 nucleotides 3' of the coding region are also reported . The complete amino acid sequence of the enzyme was derived by translation of the nucleotide sequence . From a comparison of the amino acid sequence with consensus sequences of nucleotide-binding folds, we identified a potential flavin-binding site at the NH2 terminus of the enzyme (residues 6 to 18) and a potential nicotinamide-binding site extending from residue 176 to residue 208 of the protein . An overproduction system for the gene to facilitate genetic manipulations was also constructed by using the tac promoter vector pKK223-3 in Escherichia coli.

Minerva Med, 1988 Feb, 79(2), 133 - 6
{Frequency of in vitro sensitivity to netilmicin and ceftizoxime on selected highly resistant flora in surgical intensive therapy}; Pessione E et al.; The in vitro sensitivity of 132 gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains to Netilmycin and Ceftizoxime was assessed in order to update the statistics on the a priori efficacy of the antibacterial drugs . The flora studied were carefully selected as an extreme case of resistance to the standard antibiotics . Netilmycin was found to be effective against Staphylococci, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter, Ceftizoxime against Serratia, Acinetobacter, Proteus and Klebsiella . Both drugs were equally effective against E . coli and Citrobacter.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 7(1), 58 - 63
In vitro activity of temafloxacin, a new difluoro quinolone antimicrobial agent; Chin NX et al.; Temafloxacin, a new difluoro quinolone, inhibited the majority of Enterobacteriaceae at less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . It was 4-8-fold less active than ciprofloxacin and 2-fold less active than ofloxacin . Cefotaxime and imipenem-resistant isolates such as Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp . were inhibited . Temafloxacin inhibited Neisseria, Branhamella, and Haemophilus species at less than 0.25 microgram/ml . Methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Clostridium spp . were inhibited at concentrations less or equal to that of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin.

Foot Ankle, 1988 Feb, 8(4), 216 - 22
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus foot infection secondary to high-pressure injection injury: a case report; Dietz JW Jr et al.; Injection injuries are surgical emergencies occurring most often in the hand and frequently associated with widespread tissue necrosis and infection . This report presents a case of high-pressure injection injury of the foot associated with extensor hallucis longus laceration and infection with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variant anitratus . This injury occurred with a high-pressure "water-blaster" tool used to remove paint from pavement . Similar injuries in the foot have not been reported . A . calcoaceticus is a widely distributed normal flora of low virulence, often waterborne, which is rarely found in orthopaedic infections in young healthy patients . Clinical features of high-pressure injection injuries, principles of treatment, and the characteristics of A . calcoaceticus are reviewed.

J Biol Chem, 1988 Jan 5, 263(1), 150 - 6
Preliminary crystal structure of Acinetobacter glutaminasificans glutaminase-asparaginase; Ammon HL et al.; The preliminary structure of a glutaminase-asparaginase from Acinetobacter glutaminasificans is reported . The structure was determined at 3.0-A resolution with a combination of phase information from multiple isomorphous replacement at 4-5-A resolution and phase improvement and extension by two density modification techniques . The electron density map was fitted by a polypeptide chain that was initially polyalanine . This was subsequently replaced by a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence in agreement with the sizes and shapes of the side chain electron densities . The crystallographic R factor is 0.300 following restrained least squares refinement with data to 2.9-A resolution . The A . glutaminasificans glutaminase-asparaginase subunit folds into two domains: the aminoterminal domain contains a five-stranded beta sheet surrounded by five alpha helices, while the carboxyl-terminal domain contains three alpha helices and less regular structure . The connectivity is not fully determined at present, due in part to the lack of a complete amino acid sequence . The A . glutaminasificans glutaminase-asparaginase structure has been used successfully to determine the relative orientations of the molecules in crystals of Pseudomonas 7A glutaminase-asparaginase, in crystals of Vibrio succinogenes asparaginase, and in a new crystal form of Escherichia coli asparaginase (space group 1222, one subunit per asymmetric unit).

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(3), 213 - 8
Elimination of mercury, cadmium and antibiotic resistance from Acinetobacter lwoffi and Micrococcus sp . at high temperature; Bhattacharyya G et al.; Resistance determinants for HgCl2 and CdCl2 were eliminated along with a number of antibiotic resistance factors from Acinetobacter lwoffi and Micrococcus sp . at 44 degrees C . These organisms were orginally resistant to HgCl2, merbromin, CdCl2, Pb(NO3)2, benzylpenicillin, erythromycin, carbenicillin, tetracycline and sulfadiazine . Four different types of mutants from A . lwoffi (type I to IV) and one type of mutant from Micrococcus sp . (type V) were obtained, depending on the loss of particular resistance factors for HgCl2, merbromin, CdCl2 and antibiotics . In general, frequency of elimination of all the missing markers was very low (in the range of 10(-3) per bacterium) . However, the missing determinants did not revert spontaneously.

Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 2, 29 - 34
Cefotaxime combined with selective decontamination in long term intensive care unit patients . Virtual absence of emergence of resistance; van Saene HK et al.; Emergence of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents was studied during a period of 30 months of continuous use of parenteral cefotaxime combined with oral non-absorbable polymyxin E and tobramycin (selective decontamination) in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) . No increase in drug-resistance micro-organisms was found . Colonisation of the oropharyngeal cavity or intestine or both by strains resistant to polymyxin E occurred in 8% of patients (invariably Proteus and Morganella species) . Tobramycin-resistant strains (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species) were found in 4% of patients . Intestinal colonisation with cefotaxime-resistant bacilli (e.g . Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species) occurred in 10% of patients, but in most patients these strains were eliminated by therapy with the topical antibiotics within one week . The control of emergence of resistance has major implications for the antibiotic policy in the ICU: firstly, the number of different antimicrobials used is sharply reduced since the switching of antibiotics to treat suprainfections is seldom necessary; secondly, it is possible to use a third generation cephalosporin such as cefotaxime for systemic prophylaxis, without risk of induction of resistance.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Jan, 9(1), 59 - 63
Antimicrobial activity of U-76,252 (CS-807), a new orally administered cephalosporin ester, including recommendations for MIC quality control; Jones RN et al.; U-76,253A (R-3746), the active metabolite of the new cephalosporin ester, U-76,252 (CS-807), was tested against 4,742 fresh clinical isolates from four large medical centers . U-76,253A was very active against nearly all species of Enterobacteriaceae (87.7% inhibited at less than or equal to 4.0 micrograms/ml) . Staphylococcus spp., and the streptococci . The U-76,253A spectrum was superior to the comparison orally administered cephalosporins (cephalexin, cephradine, cefaclor) . Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and the enterococci were resistant to U-76,253A and the other tested drugs . Broth microdilution MIC quality control (QC) limits were established for U-76,253A in a multilaboratory investigation using a minimum of 125 MIC determinations per organism . The following MIC QC ranges were recommended; Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) = 0.25-1.0 micrograms/ml, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) = 2.0-4.0 micrograms/ml and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) = greater than 32 micrograms/ml.

J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 26(1), 13 - 7
Criteria for disk susceptibility tests and quality control guidelines for the cefoperazone-sulbactam combination; Barry AL et al.; For in vitro susceptibility tests with cefoperazone and sulbactam (a beta-lactamase inhibitor), 75/30-micrograms disks may be used with the interpretive zone size breakpoints that are currently used for 75-micrograms cefoperazone disks . For dilution tests, a 2:1 ratio of cefoperazone to sulbactam is recommended . For quality control purposes, MIC limits that are used to monitor cefoperazone tests were also applied to tests with the combination of drugs . For gram-negative control strains, zone size limits were calculated to be 1 mm smaller than those used for cefoperazone disks . To monitor the sulbactam portion of the combination, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus ATCC 43498 was selected; zones with 75/30-micrograms disks were 26 to 32 mm in diameter, and broth microdilution MICs ranged from 1.0/0.5 to 8.0/4.0 micrograms/ml . With cefoperazone alone, MICs for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus were 16 to 64 micrograms/ml and zones ranged from 14 to 18 mm in diameter . For anaerobic dilution tests, only Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29741 is recommended for cefoperazone-sulbactam; MICs ranged from 8.0/4.0 to 32/16 micrograms/ml.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Jan, 32(1), 84 - 91
Tigemonam, an oral monobactam; Chin NX et al.; Tigemonam is an orally administered monobactam . At less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml it inhibited the majority of strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter diversus, Proteus spp., Providencia spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Serratia marcescens, and Yersinia enterocolitica . At less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml it inhibited Haemophilus spp., Neisseria spp., and Branhamella catarrhalis . It did not inhibit Pseudomonas spp . or Acinetobacter spp . Tigemonam was more active than cephalexin and amoxicillin-clavulanate and inhibited many members of the family Enterobacteriaceae resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin . Some Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii strains resistant to aminothiazole iminomethoxy cephalosporins and aztreonam were resistant to tigemonam . The MIC for 90% of hemolytic streptococci of groups A, B, and C and for Streptococcus pneumoniae was 16 micrograms/ml, but the MIC for 90% of enterococci, Listeria spp., Bacteroides spp., and viridans group streptococci was greater than 64 micrograms/ml . Tigemonam was not hydrolyzed by the common plasmid beta-lactamases such as TEM-1 and SHV-1 or by the chromosomal beta-lactamases of Enterobacter, Morganella, Pseudomonas, and Bacteroides spp . Tigemonam inhibited beta-lactamases of E . cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but did not induce beta-lactamases . The growth medium had a minimal effect on the in vitro activity of tigemonam, and there was a close agreement between the MICs and MBCs.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jan-Feb, 10 Suppl 1, S70 - 6
Comparative activity of the 4-quinolones; Phillips I et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the 4-quinolones ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, difloxacin, A-56620, and CI-934 are consistent world-wide, with allowances for differences in acquired resistance . MICs of these drugs for Enterobacteriaceae correlate with those of nalidixic acid, but resistance to the quinolones is rare if a breakpoint of greater than 2 mg/L is accepted . Most intestinal pathogens are sensitive . Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other Pseudomonas species except Pseudomonas maltophilia are usually sensitive . Ciprofloxacin is generally the most active of the 4-quinolones against these organisms . All of the new agents have antistaphylococcal activity, but that of norfloxacin and ofloxacin is borderline . Against streptococci, including enterococci and pneumococci, the drugs' activity is moderate or poor . Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella catarrhalis are very sensitive . Gonococci and meningococci are also highly sensitive to the new agents, but activity against Chlamydia trachomatis and the mycoplasmas is borderline . The organisms associated with nonspecific vaginal infection are not very sensitive . Anaerobes except Bacteroides ureolyticus and Clostridium perfringens are mostly resistant.

Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 7, 17 - 26
In vitro evaluations of aminopenicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations; Jones RN; Sulbactam/ampicillin (Unasyn) possesses the antimicrobial activity of each drug plus the synergistic action and qualities of sulbactam used as a beta-lactamase inhibitor . The combination has a spectrum of activity against many Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus species, Branhamella catarrhalis, pathogenic Neisseria species, Acinetobacter anitratus, some pseudomonads, nearly all anaerobes (including Bacteroides), Staphylococcus species, streptococci, and the enterococci . Sulbactam/ampicillin was found to be bactericidal, and its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) affected only by high inoculum concentrations (greater than 10(6) CFU/ml) . Fixed ratio in vitro susceptibility tests appear to be preferred, since they best approximate clinical formulations and drug pharmacokinetics . The ratio of 1:1 has been studied, but other ratios such as 1:2 (sulbactam/ampicillin) should be evaluated to promote greater test accuracy . Separate interpretive criteria for most Gram-negative bacteria, Haemophilus, and staphylococci appear unnecessary for some tests.

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34(3), 202 - 15
Comparable evaluation of orally active beta-lactam compounds in ampicillin-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative rods: role of beta-lactamases on resistance; Cullmann W et al.; The antibacterial activity of the recently developed cephems cefixime and cefetamet-pivoxyl was evaluated in 408 gram-positive and gram-negative rods, all isolated recently from clinical specimens, and compared to that of other orally active agents such as ampicillin, amoxycillin + clavulanic acid, cefaclor, cefuroxime-axetil and to ceftriaxone . With regard to ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae ceftriaxone proved to be the most active agent, followed by cefixime and cefetamet, whereas cefuroxime was less active . Cefaclor and amoxycillin + claculanic acid were active against ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus ssp . isolates . All beta-lactam compounds exhibited poor activity against Acinetobacter anitratus isolates, but were highly active against Haemophilus influenzae with the exception of cefaclor . Both cefixime and cefetamet were poorly active against Staphylococcus aureus, but highly active against beta-hemolytic streptococci . Moreover, both compounds remained unaffected by the production of plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases such as the TEM or OXA enzymes . Resistance to both agents was observed in Enterobacteriaceae that produced large amounts of chromosomally mediated enzymes; their affinity to the class I enzyme from Enterobacter cloacae was somewhat lower than that of other third-generation cephalosporins . However, in contrast with these agents breakdown of cefixime and cefetamet by a class IIIa enzyme form Proteus vulgaris was marginal . In methicillin-resistant S . aureus isolates there was a complete cross-resistance between all beta-lactam compounds included in this study.

Intensive Care Med, 1988, 14(5), 575 - 7
Bacteremia following cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Gaussorgues P et al.; After out of hospital CPR thirty three resuscitated patients were studied for bacteremic complications . Thirteen patients (39%) had two or more positive blood cultures during the twelve hours following CPR . Source of superinfection was a central venous catheter in one case (staphylococcus) . The twelve other bacteremic patients had fetid diarrhea a few hours after admission . The same organism were found in blood and faeces (streptococcus D, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, acinetobacter, enterobacter) . Mesenteric ischemia caused by a low cardiac output may explain the diarrhea and the intestinal origin of the septicemia . All patients (12 cases) with diarrhoea and bacteremia died . Patients who recovered without neurologic sequelae (4 cases) had never been septic and never had diarrhea.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1988, 14(6), 385 - 91
Gaps and perspectives of new fluoroquinolones; Neuman M et al.; The gaps in the present piperazinyl-substituted fluoroquinolones include: (a) gaps in their antibacterial spectrum, varying from one fluoroquinolone to another for streptococci-pneumococci-enterococci (SPE), some Gram-negative and Gram-positive anaerobes, Nocardia, Pseudomonas maltophilia, Ureaplasma urealyticum, slow-growing mycobacteria; (b) a pH dependence of their antibacterial activity (low activity at acidic pH for piperazinyl-substituted fluoroquinolones); (c) a rapid development of bacterial resistance for some bacteria (staphylococci, pseudomonas) in prolonged treatment of cystic fibrosis, intensive care units; (d) some gaps in the pharmacokinetic parameters such as incomplete oral bioavailability, short half-life, intensive biotransformation, unwanted interactions with other antibiotics or other drugs . The prospects for fluoroquinolones are trying to eliminate these gaps . The 7-piperazinyl or pyrrolidinyl, 1-cyclopropylfluoroquinolones have improved activity on SPE, anaerobes and pseudomonas-acinetobacter . Two categories can be distinguished: (i) with increased activity on SPE, but keeping also the activity on pseudomonas (A-62824, A-62254, A-65846, A-60969, AT-3295, AT-3765); (ii) with increased activity on SPE but with a loss of activity on pseudomonas (CI-934, PD-117558, S-25932) . The pharmacokinetic parameters are modified by the N-methylation of the piperazine ring (bioavailability), modification of the hydrophilic or lipophilic character, conditioning half-life, metabolic biotransformation, diffusibility into the spinal fluid, crossing the blood-brain barrier, tubular reabsorption and neuropsychic adverse effects.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(6), 363 - 70
Taxonomic studies of Acinetobacter species based on the electrophoretic analysis of enzymes; Nishimura Y et al.; Thirty six strains of Acinetobacter, 22 strains from the culture collections and 14 isolates from soil and cotton samples, were examined for the presence of twelve enzymes using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . A numerical analysis was carried out on the basis of similarity values obtained from the electrophoretic mobilities of the enzymes . The strains used were divided into four clusters (Z-1, Z-2, Z-3 and Z-4), and cluster Z-1 was further divided into three subclusters (Z-1a, Z-1b and Z-1c) . The type strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus IAM 12087 (ATCC 23055) and Acinetobacter lwoffii ATCC 15309 were found to belong to subcluster Z-1a and cluster Z-4, respectively . The radiation-resistant strain FO-1, a new type of acinetobacters, was included in cluster Z-3 . Superoxide dismutase showed clearly distinguishable mobilities among four clusters, and was concluded to be useful in grouping acinetobacters.

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34(6), 448 - 54
In vitro activity of fleroxacin (Ro23-6240), a new fluorinated 4-quinolone against isolates from cancer patients; Rolston K et al.; The in vitro activity of Fleroxacin (Ro23-6240; AM 833), a new fluorinated 4-quinolone, was compared to that of ciprofloxacin, enoxacin and A-56620, against 747 isolates from cancer patients . Fleroxacin inhibited more than 90% of Enterobacteriacea isolates at a concentration of less than or equal to 0.25 micrograms/ml . It was also extremely active against Aeromonas hydrophila and Haemophilus influenzae isolates with MIC90 values of 0.12 and 0.06 micrograms/ml, respectively . The MIC90 for Acinetobacter spp . was 1.0 micrograms/ml, for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens 4.0 micrograms/ml, and for other Pseudomonas spp., 8.0 micrograms/ml . Staphylococcus aureus isolates including methicillin-resistant strains were inhibited by less than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml . The MIC90 for three different species of coagulase-negative Staphylococci was 1.0 microgram/ml . Streptococcal species required 8-16 micrograms/ml for inhibition . Fleroxacin was also active against group JK-diphtheroids and Bacillus cereus . The overall activity of fleroxacin was similar to that of enoxacin and less than that of A-56620 and ciprofloxacin.

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34(5), 401 - 10
In vitro studies of fleroxacin (Ro 23-6240), a new trifluorinated quinolone derivative; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activity of fleroxacin (Ro 23-6240) against 441 bacterial isolates was compared with those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, amoxycillin, cefadroxil, cefuroxime and tobramycin . An agar dilution method was used for the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . Ciprofloxacin showed the highest activity against the Enterobacteriaceae, 95% of the isolates were inhibited by 0.06 mg/l, but fleroxacin and ofloxacin were also highly active (MIC 90% = 0.5 and 0.25 mg/l, respectively) . Ciprofloxacin was the most active agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 90% = 0.12 mg/l), whereas the activities of fleroxacin and ofloxacin were more variable . Tobramycin was highly active against P . aeruginosa, 75% of the isolates were inhibited by 0.5 mg/l or less . The quinolones and tobramycin exhibited high activity against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, the great majority of the isolates being susceptible to 0.5 mg/l or less of any agent . All the quinolones showed high activity against Staphylococcus aureus, but fleroxacin was less active against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus than were the other derivatives . The pneumococcal and streptococcal isolates were markedly less susceptible to fleroxacin than to the other quinolones tested (MIC range 4-32 mg/l) . All isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were inhibited by the lowest concentration of the quinolones employed in the study (0.03 mg/l) . Cefuroxime was also highly active against N . gonorrhoeae, whether the strains were beta-lactamase-producing or not, but was somewhat less active against H . influenzae . The quinolones displayed moderate and similar activity against Bacteroides fragilis isolates (MIC range 1-16 mg/l) . The MICs of fleroxacin against gram-negative rods were generally 4-16 times higher at pH 8.8 than those obtained at pH 5.8 and 7.3 . The activity against gram-positive cocci was not markedly influenced by changes in pH.

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