Acinetobacter

Chemotherapy, 1988, 34(1), 40 - 5
Susceptibility of 310 nonfermentative gram-negative bacteria to aztreonam, carumonam, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and fleroxacin; Appelbaum PC et al.; The susceptibility of 310 mainly clinically isolated Gram-negative nonfermenters to aztreonam, carumonam, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and fleroxacin was determined by agar dilution . All 3 quinolones were very active, with MIC90 ranges (micrograms/ml) against all organisms ranging between 0.25 and 8 for ciprofloxacin, and 0.25 and 16.0 for ofloxacin and fleroxacin, respectively . Aztreonam and carumonam showed less activity than the quinolones on a weight-for-weight basis, with MIC90 values ranging from 4 to 32 for both drugs; only Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biotypes haemolyticus and alcaligenes were uniformly susceptible to both monobactams . The broad-spectrum activity of the 3 quinolones suggests potential use in therapy of infections caused by nonfermenters; monobactams should be reserved for infections caused by P . aeruginosa and possibly Acinetobacter spp.

Arch Microbiol, 1988, 150(5), 432 - 7
Flow cytometric screening and isolation of Escherichia coli clones which express surface antigens of the oil-degrading microorganism Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1; Minas W et al.; Flow cytometry (FCM) in conjunction with immunocytochemical-labeling was used to analyze and screen a population of Escherichia coli clones containing a genomic library from the oil-degrading microorganism Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 surface antigens . Reconstruction experiments using mixed populations indicated that RAG-1 cells could be clearly distinguished at a ratio of one RAG-1 cell to 500 Escherichia coli cells . Using this technique two clones, WM143 and WM191, were isolated and shown by restriction endonuclease cleavage and Southern hybridization to contain plasmids carrying inserts of RAG-1 DNA of 9.4 and 9.8 kb respectively.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1988, 139(5), 324 - 30
{The role of infection in the precipitation of periarteritis nodosa}; Smail A et al.; Circulating immune complexes are thought to play an essential part in the pathogenesis of necrosing angiitis . This theory also allows a role to be attributed to certain infectious agents (viral, bacterial, parasitic) in the development of periarteritis nodosa (PAN) . An infectious syndrome was found in all our 9 patients, aged 26 to 69 years, with histologically confirmed PAN: previous infection (over 15 days before hospital admission): otitis, hepatitis B, tonsillitis, ascaris (Case n.7), pulmonary tuberculosis, brucellosis, seropositivity for Chlamydia trachomatis (Case n.9), paratyphoid (Case n.5), seropositivity for Yersiniosis pseudo-tuberculosis (Case n.2), seropositivity for Chlamydia trachomatis (Cases 3 and 4), seropositivity for toxoplasmosis (Cases 4 and 6), seropositivity for rubella (Case n.8) . Recent infection (less than 15 days before hospital admission): staphylococcus aureus septicaemia (Case n.1); Group A betahemolytic streptococcal urinary infection (Case n.2); Group A betahemolytic streptococcal otitis media; pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella septicaemia; enterococcal cystitis (Case n.4); progressive pulmonary tuberculosis (Case n.6), acinetobacter pneumonia (Case n.9) . The HBs antigen was only found in one patient (Case n.6), who had an active hepatitis.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1988, 14(6), 379 - 83
Structure-activity relationships in quinolone antibacterials: design, synthesis and biological activities of novel isothiazoloquinolones; Chu DT et al.; Over the past years it was found that modification of the 3-carboxylic acid group of quinolones generally produced compounds with a substantial decrease in antibacterial activity . The 3-carboxylic acid moiety together with the 4-carbonyl function are believed to be the most structurally critical sites for this class of compounds to DNA gyrase . The authors have designed and synthesized a series of quinolone analogues in which the 3-carboxylic acid group has been modified . These compounds, 2,3,4,9-tetrahydroisothiazolo{5,4-b}quinoline-3,4-diones, possess biological activities far superior to their parent counterparts . For example, the MICs (microgram/ml) for A-62824 (ciprofloxacin 3-carboxylic acid modified analogue) and ciprofloxacin against some organisms are as follows: S . aureus ATCC 6538P (0.02, 0.2); S . epidermidis 3519 (0.05, 0.2); E . coli Juhl (0.005, 0.01); P . aeruginosa A5007 (0.05, 0.1) and Acinetobacter sp . CMX 699 (0.05, 0.78) . This investigation has produced the first successful modification of the 3-carboxylic acid group of quinolones resulting in a series of extremely potent antibacterials . The design and synthesis as well as the biological activities of these new derivatives are described.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Jan, 32(1), 15 - 9
Transferable amikacin resistance in Acinetobacter spp . due to a new type of 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase; Lambert T et al.; Acinetobacter baumannii BM2580 resistant to kanamycin and structurally related antibiotics, including amikacin, was isolated from a clinical specimen . A phosphocellulose paper-binding assay and DNA annealing studies indicated that resistance to aminoglycosides in BM2580 was due to synthesis of a new type of 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase . The gene conferring resistance to kanamycin-amikacin in this strain was carried by a 63-kilobase plasmid, pIP1841, self-transferable to A . baumannii, A . haemolyticus, and A . lwoffii but not to Escherichia coli . The aminoglycoside resistance gene of pIP1841 was cloned in E . coli, where it was expressed.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Dec 25, 262(36), 17327 - 35
Isolation and characterization of a prokaryotic sulfurtransferase; Aird BA et al.; A sulfurtransferase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from the prokaryote Acinetobacter calcoaceticus lwoffi by conventional protein fractionation techniques . Steady-state kinetic studies of the enzyme revealed that its formal mechanism varies with the acceptor substrate employed . With inorganic thiosulfate as the sulfane sulfur-donor substrate and cyanide anion as the acceptor, the enzyme was shown to catalyze the reaction by a double displacement mechanism like that of mammalian rhodanese (thiosulfate:cyanide sulfurtransferase, EC 2.8.1.1) . In contrast, with a thiol as the acceptor substrate at relatively high concentrations, the reaction proceeds by a single displacement mechanism, reminiscent of catalysis by another sulfur-transferase, thiosulfate reductase, glutathione-dependent (EC 2.8.1.3) . When dithiothreitol is the acceptor substrate, the enzyme cycles through both the single and double displacement pathways, with the flux through each depending differentially on the concentration of dithiothreitol employed . In view of both the relaxed acceptor substrate specificity and the corresponding variability of formal mechanism, the more general name of sulfane sulfurtransferase is proposed for this bacterial enzyme.

Biochem J, 1987 Dec 15, 248(3), 871 - 6
Purification and properties of L-mandelate dehydrogenase and comparison with other membrane-bound dehydrogenases from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Hoey ME et al.; L-Mandelate dehydrogenase was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by Triton X-100 extraction from a 'wall + membrane' fraction, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and gel filtration followed by further ion-exchange chromatography . The purified enzyme was partially characterized with respect to its subunit Mr (44,000), pH optimum (7.5), pI value (4.2), substrate specificity and susceptibility to various potential inhibitors including thiol-blocking reagents . FMN was identified as the non-covalently bound cofactor . The properties of L-mandelate dehydrogenase are compared with those of D-mandelate dehydrogenase, D-lactate dehydrogenase and L-lactate dehydrogenase from A . calcoaceticus.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1987 Dec, 3(4), 347 - 55
Hospital acquired infections surveillance and control in intensive care services . Results of an incidence study; Costantini M et al.; Hospital acquired infections (HAI) continue to constitute a major health problem for hospital patients . Such a problem is particularly relevant in Intensive Care Wards . Here infections appear to be directly or indirectly related to the patients' death, and the patients, of course, represent a selected group of the most susceptible hosts in the whole hospital due to their immunosuppressed states, underlying diseases and the numerous and highly invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to which they are submitted . This paper reports the results of a one-year surveillance incidence study carried out in four Intensive Care Wards at Padua Hospital by means of a daily visits to the wards and careful collection of the patients' data in a computerized sheet . Two-hundred-thirty-one of the 859 patients considered developed one or more HAI (HAI percentage 26.9%) for a total of 382 HAIs (Infections ratio 44.5%) . Nosocomial pneumonias were the most frequent infections detected, whereas urinary tract infections, bacteremias and wound infections were less common in such patients . The study also confirmed the importance of invasive procedures and surgical operations in the predisposition to HAIs . In particular, the importance of the urinary catheter and of tracheal intubation was outlined . In addition, HAI appeared to be related to the duration of hospitalization and to the severity of the patients' illness . HAIs (especially nosocomial pneumonias) were also closely related to the patients' death . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S . aureus, Acinetobacter and Streptococcus D were the most frequently isolated agents in the infected patients . Gram-negative agents accounted for 57% of all agents isolated and were particularly frequent in both pneumonias and urinary tract infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 33(12), 1120 - 5
Bacterial flora in bottled uncarbonated mineral drinking water; Gonzalez C et al.; A quantitative study of bacterial populations in mineral water was carried out . Samples were stored at 6 and 20 degrees C, and the colony counts were determined on tryptone agar plates incubated at 22 and 37 degrees C . Samples were collected from the spring source in sterile glass flasks and from the bottling factory in conventional plastic and glass containers . In both cases, the initial population (10(1)-10(2) cfu/mL water) increased to 10(5)-10(6) cfu/mL after 3 days storage as determined from plate counts incubated at 22 degrees C . The levels reached by this population were similar to those of samples of mineral water obtained at the market stage . Results from plate counts incubated at 37 degrees C showed that populations in samples collected at the bottling factory reached 10(2)-10(3) cfu/mL . No growth was observed in water collected from spring source . Bacterial multiplication was not stopped even when water was stored at 6 degrees C . Caulobacter was the genus found most frequently in both types of samples, followed by Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas fluorescens were frequently found in only two springs, and Pseudomonas putida, Arthrobacter, Aeromonas hydrophilia, and Corynebacterium were isolated less frequently . Janthinobacterium was recovered only once from a single spring . A giant bacterium closely resembling Hyphomicrobium and a budding one similar to Pasteuria were recovered from all samples of a single spring and from some of the commercial samples.

Infect Control, 1987 Dec, 8(12), 512 - 5
Protein fingerprinting for the determination of relatedness in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus isolated from patients in a surgical intensive care unit; Mortensen JE et al.; The use of protein fingerprinting for the establishment of relatedness among isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus, isolated from patients in a surgical intensive care unit was examined . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the cellular proteins from whole cell lysates of 14 intensive care unit A calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus isolates and 11 control strains . Antimicrobial susceptibilities and plasmid profiles were also determined for all isolates . All intensive care unit A calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus isolates exhibited identical cellular protein fingerprints, no detectable plasmids, and minimum inhibitory concentrations within +/- 1 log2 dilution of the mode value for each of the antimicrobial agents tested . The other clinical isolates demonstrated a range of antimicrobial susceptibilities, various numbers and sizes of plasmids, and distinctly different protein fingerprints . These data indicate that protein fingerprinting may be useful as an epidemiologic tool in A calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus outbreaks and this method deserves further study.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Dec, 99(3), 659 - 67
Typing of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains isolated from hospital patients by cell envelope protein profiles; Dijkshoorn L et al.; The usefulness of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of cell envelope proteins for classifying strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was studied using 129 isolates from 16 in-patients in a teaching hospital . In 11 patients, all of the isolates from each patient exhibited the same pattern irrespective of the body site or time of isolation . The patterns of the isolates from four other patients were indistinguishable, with the exception of one isolate per patient . In the isolates from one patient five patterns were observed . In several cases isolates from different patients exhibited the same pattern . The relative frequency of some of these patterns was low . Epidemiological data were compatible with the assumption that the concurrent presence of bacteria of these patterns in the patients was the result of cross-infection . For one pattern, which was seen in seven patients, cross-infection could not be substantiated . On the basis of analysis of electrophoretic patterns in combination with epidemiological data on a number of strains it is concluded that cell-envelope protein profiles appear to be a useful aid in studying the dissemination of Acinetobacter in the hospital environment.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Dec, 95(6), 337 - 46
In vitro activity of ceftazidime, cefotaxime and gentamicin against 11,521 clinical isolates of bacteria; Steinbakk M et al.; The in vitro activity of ceftazidime has been compared with those of another third-generation cephalosporin, cefotaxime, and the aminocyclitol aminoglycoside, gentamicin . A total of 11,521 clinical isolates of aerobic bacteria were employed, and an agar diffusion method was used for sensitivity testing . The MIC-values were calculated from regression lines . The mean inhibition zones for ceftazidime against Gram-positive organisms were significantly less than those against Gram-negative isolates (23 mm vs . 33 mm, p less than 0.0001) . Cefotaxime inhibited 74.0%, gentamicin 66.3% and ceftazidime 20.4% of the Gram-positive isolates at a concentration of less than or equal to 2 mg/ml . Ceftazidime and cefotaxime were equally active against fermentative Gram-negative rods, inhibiting 92.7% of each of these isolates at 2 mg/l . Against Ps . aeruginosa, ceftazidime (MIC90 2.2 mg/l) was found to be almost as active as gentamicin (MIC90 1.2 mg/l), and far more active than cefotaxime (MIC90 434 mg/l) . Gentamicin was the most active agent against Acinetobacter sp . (MIC90 6.0 mg/l), followed by ceftazidime (MIC90 18 mg/l) and cefotaxime (MIC90 83 mg/l).

J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5496 - 503
Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus genes for benzoate degradation; Neidle EL et al.; The catabolic genes necessary for the conversion of benzoate to catechol have been cloned from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus into Escherichia coli . The cloned genes, benABCD, encoded both a benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase system, composed of NADH-cytochrome c reductase and terminal oxygenase components, and a cis-diol dehydrogenase . The dioxygenase system appears to be encoded by three genes, benABC, whose products, 53-, 19-, and 38-kilodalton proteins, correspond in size to those of components in other bacterial dioxygenases . The cloned dioxygenase system is expressed at high level in E . coli, enabling the conversion of benzoate to a cis-diol, 2-hydro-1,2-dihydroxybenzoate, at a rate comparable to that of fully induced A . calcoaceticus cultures . A cis-diol dehydrogenase, the product of the A . calcoaceticus benD gene, when present in E . coli enables this organism to convert the cis-diol intermediate to catechol . The dehydrogenase has been partially purified and is a dimer with two identical 31-kilodalton subunits . The ben genes are clustered on the A . calcoaceticus chromosome with independently regulated genes needed for the dissimilation of catechol . In a 16-kilobase-pair region of the chromosome there are 10 genes for benzoate catabolism, organized in no fewer than three transcriptional units . This kind of arrangement, termed supraoperonic clustering, has been observed previously in pseudomonads.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 25(11), 2071 - 4
Evaluation of Quantum II microbiology system for identification of gram-negative bacteria of veterinary origin; Jones RL et al.; The ability of a rapid, semiautomated bacterial identification system, the Quantum II microbiology system (Abbott Laboratories, Irving, Tex.), to accurately identify gram-negative bacteria from veterinary sources was evaluated . A total of 378 isolates were tested, including 298 organisms in the family Enterobacteriaceae and strains representing Acinetobacter sp., Aeromonas sp., Flavobacterium sp., Pasteurella multocida, Plesiomonas sp., and Pseudomonas spp . Of these isolates, 333 (88.1%) were correctly identified, 20 (5.3%) were not identified, 10 (2.6%) were incorrectly identified at the genus level, and 15 (4.0%) were incorrectly identified at the species level . The Quantum II system correctly identified 268 (89.9%) of the isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and 65 (81.3%) of the nonenteric isolates . P . multocida was not identified correctly, and some nonenteric gram-negative bacteria of clinical significance in veterinary medicine are not included in the data base . The Quantum II system provided an accurate identification system for isolates of Enterobacteriaceae but had limited usefulness for the identification of other gram-negative bacteria of clinical significance in veterinary medicine.

Urology, 1987 Nov, 30(5), 441 - 3
Urologic manifestations of AIDS; Kaplan MS et al.; A retrospective analysis of 60 patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) seen between 1981-1985 was performed to determine the genitourinary manifestations of this disease . Twenty-two per cent were found to have significant proteinuria, while 7 per cent had nephrotic syndrome which was associated with an extremely rapid demise . Renal insufficiency occurred in 27 per cent and renal biopsy results, when abnormal, revealed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis . Pyuria was found in 52 per cent of patients, and urinary tract infections occurred in 20 per cent . Atypical pathogens including Candida, Salmonella, Acinetobacter calcoaticus, and cytomegalovirus were encountered.

Biochem Cell Biol, 1987 Nov, 65(11), 930 - 8
Expression and base sequence of the citrate synthase gene of Acinetobacter anitratum; Donald LJ et al.; The sequence of 1895 base pairs of Acinetobacter anitratum genomic DNA, containing the structural gene for the allosteric citrate synthase of that Gram-negative bacterium, is presented . The sequence contains an open reading frame of 424 codons, the 5' end of which is the same as the N-terminal sequence of A . anitratum citrate synthase, less the initiator methionine . The inferred amino acid sequence of the enzyme is about 70% identical with that of citrate synthase from Escherichia coli, which like the A . anitratum enzyme is sensitive to allosteric inhibition by NADH . There is also a more distant homology with the nonallosteric citrate synthases of pig heart and yeast . The gene contains sequences that strongly resemble those found in E . coli promoters, an E . coli type of ribosomal binding site, and a hyphenated dyad sequence at the 3' end of the gene which resembles the rho-independent terminators found in some E . coli genes . The plasmid clone containing the A . anitratum citrate synthase gene pLJD1, originally isolated because it hybridized with the cloned E . coli citrate synthase gene under conditions of reduced stringency, produces large amounts of A . anitratum citrate synthase in an E . coli host which lacks citrate synthase . This work completes proof of the hypothesis that the three major kinds of citrate synthases are formed of similar subunits, although their functional properties are different.

J Hosp Infect, 1987 Nov, 10(3), 265 - 72
Endemic occurrence of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus in an intensive care unit; Gerner-Smidt P; One strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus caused colonization of 111 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) during a 2-year period . All patients were intubated and had received antibiotic therapy prior to colonization . Morbidity due to the organism was about 1% . The colonization rate showed a decreasing trend during the study period, but no seasonal variation . The strain was found in the air in a low concentration and on the hands of 8-13% of the members of the staff . No chronic carriers were found.

Biochemistry, 1987 Oct 20, 26(21), 6644 - 8
Effect of plasmid RP1 on phase changes in inner and outer membranes and lipopolysaccharide from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: a Fourier transform infrared study; Loeffelholz MJ et al.; The successful transfer of the resistance plasmid RP1 into the Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus resulted in increased resistance of this microorganism to the antibiotics kanamycin and tetracycline . Microorganisms harboring the RP1 plasmid showed altered fatty acid composition in the lipopolysaccharide fraction and increased outer membrane permeability compared to organisms without the plasmid . Thermotropic gel to liquid crystal lipid phase changes were detected in both inner and outer membranes and purified lipopolysaccharide by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy . The phase transition temperatures observed in the outer membranes and isolated lipopolysaccharide of the plasmid-containing cells were significantly higher than those of the plasmid-free organisms, while little difference was observed for the inner membranes . The plasmid-induced decrease in outer membrane fluidity may play a mediating role in the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and susceptibility to host immune cells in Gram-negative microorganisms.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1987 Oct 16, 112(42), 1615 - 8
{Clinical experience with bacterial contamination of Port-A-Cath systems in tumor patients}; Fuchs R et al.; In 33 cancer patients with subcutaneously implanted Port-A-Cath systems (Pharmacia) who developed bacteremia with rigor and high fever, aerobic and anaerobic cultures were prepared from aspirated chamber blood . Organisms were isolated from 19 patients of whom 10 had fever, but none life-threatening . In seven patients the fever was caused by infected chamber blood, while in three it was impossible to prove whether it was due to chamber contamination or the underlying disease . Almost all of the causative organisms were skin saprophytes, most frequently Staph . epidermidis, Acinetobacter Iwoffi and apathogenic Corynebacteria . The pathway of infection was probably exogenous (iatrogenic) inoculation . Removal of the catheter system was not necessary . Since strict hygienic measures were instituted when using the system no further chamber contamination has occurred.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Oct, 6(10), 958 - 62
In vitro activity of a new broad spectrum, beta-lactamase-stable oral cephalosporin, cefixime; Neu HC; Cefixime is a new orally absorbed iminomethoxy, aminothiazolyl cephalosporin . It inhibits the majority, 90%, of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Branhamella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at concentrations less than or equal to 0.25 micrograms/ml . It inhibits 90% of the other members of the Enterobacteriaceae at concentrations less than 1 microgram/ml, with the exception of some strains of Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter freundii and Morganella morganii, Cefixime does not inhibit enterococci, Listeria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, Bacteroides spp . or staphylococci . In general, cefixime has in vitro activity superior to cephalexin, cephradine, cefadroxil and cefaclor against all bacteria with the exception of staphylococci . Cefixime is not destroyed by most of the common plasmid and chromosomal beta-lactamases and its activity is not reduced by serum, blood or urine . Cefixime overall has excellent in vitro activity against the commonly encountered respiratory and urinary tract pathogens.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Oct, 6(10), 954 - 7
Cefixime: spectrum of antibacterial activity against 16,016 clinical isolates; Barry AL et al.; The spectrum of antibacterial activity of cefixime was defined by reviewing data from two multicenter studies and three independent studies that we performed within the past 3 years . Microdilution tests were performed with 16,016 bacterial isolates . An isolate was considered susceptible to cefixime if the minimal inhibitory concentration was less than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml and resistant if the minimal inhibitory concentration was greater than or equal to 4.0 micrograms/ml . Cefixime was effective against the Enterobacteriaceae (87.7% susceptible to 1.0 microgram/ml) as well as against pathogenic Neisseria spp . (including penicillin-resistant gonococci), Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains), penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae and other Streptococcus species (minimal concentration inhibiting 90% of organisms less than or equal to 0.25 micrograms/ml) . Species resistant to cefixime included penicillin-resistant pneumococci, Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Listeria spp., Acinetobacter spp . and Pseudomonas spp.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1987 Oct, 37(10), 1116 - 9
{In vitro comparison of the beta lactamase-inhibitory action of clavulanic acid and sulbactam in ampicillin-resistant enterobacteria}; Grimm H; Comparative in vitro Studies of the beta-Lactamase Inhibitory Effects of Clavulanic Acid and Sulbactam on Ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteria . Clavulanic acid and sulbactam alone are infective against Pseudomonas and enterococci . Staphylococci and enterobacteriaceae are inhibited by high concentrations not attainable under clinical conditions . Strains of Acinetobacter, especially A . lwoffii are susceptible to clavulanic acid and highly susceptible to sulbactam . The sulbactam-ampicillin combination is superior to clavulanic acid-ampicillin against C . freundii, Enterobacter spp . and M . morganii . The latter combination is superior against Klebsiella spp . and E . coli . Antagonistic effects are more frequent with the clavulanic acid combination (Enterobacter spp . and C . freundii) but are rarely observed with the sulbactam combination (Providencia spp . and P . rettgeri).

J R Army Med Corps, 1987 Oct, 133(3), 156 - 8
Hospital acquired native valve endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and treated with imipenem/cilastin; Cumberland NS et al.; A case of hospital acquired endocarditis due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a severely burned patient is presented . Both aortic and mitral native valves were affected and the organism was resistant to most antimicrobial agents.

Pharmazie, 1987 Oct, 42(10), 687 - 8
{Antibacterial activity of species of the genus Allium}; Didry N et al.; Garlic, onion and shallot were tested for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . The MIC of aqueous and petroleum ether extracts were determined . Garlic showed the greater activity; the combination garlic-antibiotic is synergistic against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and leads to indifference against anaerobic bacteria . The active constituent is not probably allicin alone.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1168 - 73
Evaluation of Mast-ID 15 system for identifying Enterobacteriaceae, some Vibrionaceae, and Acinetobacter; Holmes B et al.; Six hundred and twenty one strains (555 Enterobacteriaceae, 46 Vibrionaceae, and 20 Acinetobacter) were examined in the Mast system . The results were consulted in the code book supplied by the manufacturer and those not listed were processed through the manufacturer's full database held on an Apricot microcomputer in our laboratory . The proportion of strains correctly identified was 88%, with 9% not identified, and 3% incorrectly identified.

Drugs, 1987 Oct, 34(4), 411 - 37
Ceforanide . A review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and clinical efficacy; Campoli-Richards DM et al.; Ceforanide is a 'second generation' cephalosporin administered intravenously or intramuscularly . It is similar to cefamandole and cefonicid in its in vitro superiority to 'first generation' cephalosporins against several species of Enterobacteriaceae as well as its activity against Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains . Its activity against Staphylococcus aureus is less than that of cefamandole, cefuroxime and first generation cephalosporins . The in vitro activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae is excellent . Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Serratia species, and Bacteroides fragilis are resistant, as are many strains of Proteus and Providencia species . The elimination half-life is relatively long, although shorter than that of cefonicid, and in most clinical trials ceforanide has been administered twice daily . It appeared to be comparable in therapeutic efficacy to procaine penicillin and cephazolin in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia, to cephazolin in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections due to S . aureus or beta-haemolytic streptococci and to cefapirin in S . aureus endocarditis in parenteral drug abusers . Also, it was comparable in efficacy to cephalothin in the prophylaxis of infection in patients undergoing open heart surgery or vaginal hysterectomy, and to cephazolin in patients undergoing cholecystectomy . Thus, ceforanide is an alternative to first and certain other second generation cephalosporins in several important therapeutic and prophylactic situations . It has no advantage over other cephalosporins with regard to spectrum of antibacterial activity, but has a longer half-life than other second generation cephalosporins, except cefonicid, and can be administered according to a twice daily dosage schedule.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 53(9), 2269 - 70
Drag reduction by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4; Sar N et al.; The encapsulated bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 at a density of 3.6 X 10(9) cells per ml reduced the friction of turbulent water in a narrow pipe by 55% . This drag reduction was due to the tightly bound polysaccharide capsules (0.4 mg per ml) of culture . Capsule-deficient mutants of BD4 failed to reduce drag . The cell-bound polysaccharide demonstrated a threefold-higher drag-reducing activity than the polymer which was free in solution.

J Emerg Med, 1987 Sep-Oct, 5(5), 363 - 6
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus infection following a dog bite; Auerbach PS et al.; A frequent complication of dog bite wounds is bacterial infection . The choice of antibiotics is based upon the most likely organisms . Failure to achieve wound healing suggests that an uncommon organism(s) is present and should lead the clinician to culture the wound . A case of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus infection following a dog bite is described.

Mol Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 1(2), 219 - 27
pWW174: a large plasmid from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus encoding benzene catabolism by the beta-ketoadipate pathway; Winstanley C et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RJE74 contains a large transmissible catabolic plasmid, pWW174, of about 200 kb, which encodes its ability to grow on benzene (Bzn+) . pWW174 was unstable in Acinetobacter hosts and was lost at high frequency in the absence of selection for Bzn+ . The catabolic pathway appeared to be via benzene cis-glycol, catechol and the beta-ketoadipate (ortho) pathway . pWW174 encodes a catechol 1,2-oxygenase which is significantly more thermolabile than the chromosomally determined enzyme . pWW174 was able to complement all cat mutants (catechol to central metabolites) of A . calcoaceticus ADP1 (BD413) tested . Two regions of the plasmid were cloned, one carrying catA, the gene for catechol 1,2-oxygenase, and another carrying catBCDE, the subsequent four enzymes of the beta-ketoadipate pathway: these two regions appeared to be separated by at least 10 kbp . Hybridization indicated homology between the plasmid cat genes and the corresponding chromosomal genes of ADP1.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1987 Sep-Oct, 138(5), 569 - 78
Identification and biotyping of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter; Bouvet PJ et al.; A total of 343 Acinetobacter strains, most isolated from hospital patients, were identified using a 16-test system (acid production from glucose, gelatin hydrolysis and utilization of 14 carbon sources) associated with tests for growth at 37, 41 and 44 degrees C . Of 299 nosocomial isolates, 253 were identified as A . baumannii, 20 as Acinetobacter genospecies 3, 8 as A . haemolyticus, 8 as A . lwoffii, 4 as A . johnsonii and 6 as other (presently) unnamed species . A biotyping system based on the utilization of levulinate, citraconate, L-phenylalanine, phenylacetate, 4-hydroxybenzoate and L-tartrate allowed recognition of 17 biotypes among 247 A . baumannii isolates . This biotyping system should be useful in epidemiological studies of Acinetobacter strains.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1987 Sep, 3(3), 243 - 6
Computerized colonization-surveillance based on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns; Courcol RJ et al.; In order to estimate the occurrence of hospital-acquired colonizations, a specific program based on antimicrobial susceptibility tests was developed for the early recognition of clusters of colonized patients . This program allowed: (a) estimation of the endemic level of nosocomial colonization every three days within an intensive care unit; (b) detection of outbreak of hospital-acquired infections; (c) distinction between primary and secondary infections according to the dates of admission and collection; (d) provision of the latest profiles of susceptibility to antimicrobials for the 5 pathogens studied (Staphylococcus aureus, S . epidermidis, Serratia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp.) . This study reported the experience of a two-year trial in colonization surveillance.

Infect Immun, 1987 Sep, 55(9), 2296 - 9
Outer membrane permeability of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus mediates susceptibility to rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule contents; Loeffelholz MJ et al.; Growth of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus on specific alkanes altered the outer membrane permeability of the organism, as indicated by a change in sensitivity to the antibiotic actinomycin D . As the carbon length of the alkane energy source decreased, outer membrane permeability and susceptibility to actinomycin D increased . Concomitant with the increase in outer membrane permeability, A . calcoaceticus became more susceptible to the oxygen-independent antimicrobial activity of extracted contents from rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules . Individual fractions of granule extract possessed no antimicrobial activity against A . calcoaceticus . The alkane-induced change in outer membrane permeability was not associated with alterations of lipopolysaccharide O antigen . An outer membrane permeability mechanism, independent of changes in lipopolysaccharide content, mediating susceptibility to the oxygen-independent antimicrobial activity of rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule contents is suggested.

J Hosp Infect, 1987 Sep, 10(2), 145 - 51
Biotyping of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus using the API 2ONE system; Towner KJ et al.; The API 2ONE system for the identification of non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli enables the discrimination of a possible 209 different biotypes of Acinetobacter spp . and consequently has potential for use as an Acinetobacter spp . typing system . A total of 122 separate strains of Acinetobacter spp . isolated in Nottingham hospitals over a 4 year period from a wide variety of clinical specimens, divided into 31 different biotypes which were stable over a 1 year storage period . Two biotypes predominated, one of which was a multiply resistant strain of A . calcoaceticus variant anitratus . The API 2ONE system was found to be a rapid method for biotyping strains of Acinetobacter spp . and was helpful in monitoring cross-infection and spread of particular strains of Acinetobacter spp . in the hospital environment.

Am J Med Sci, 1987 Aug, 294(2), 117 - 9
Chronic Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus pneumonia; Suchyta MR et al.; Gram-negative bacteria most often affect the lung in an acute, suppurative process; however, these organisms may also produce chronic pneumonia . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus has not been reported previously as a cause of chronic pneumonia . We present a patient with fatal, chronic community-acquired Acinetobacter pneumonia with chest wall invasion at autopsy.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 25(8), 1373 - 5
Controlled evaluation of modified radiometric blood culture medium supplemented with gelatin for detection of bacteremia and fungemia; Weinstein MP et al.; Although the addition of 1.2% gelatin to broth blood culture media containing sodium polyanetholesulfonate has been shown to enhance detection of certain bacteria, including Neisseria meningitidis, N . gonorrhoeae, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Gardnerella vaginalis, the effect of such supplementation on the detection of other microorganisms causing bacteremia and fungemia is not known . Therefore, we studied BACTEC 6B medium with and without gelatin in 6,833 paired comparisons to examine the effects of supplementation on both the yield and the speed of detection of sepsis . More aerobic and facultative bacteria grew in the 6B than in the 6B-gelatin medium (P less than 0.001), especially staphylococci (P less than 0.01), Escherichia coli (P less than 0.01), other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (P less than 0.05), and Acinetobacter spp . (P less than 0.05) . When microorganisms grew in both bottles, they did so earlier in 6B than in 6B-gelatin (P less than 0.001) . We conclude that the 6B medium in its present formulation is superior to 6B medium supplemented with 1.2% gelatin.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Aug, 169(8), 3833 - 5
Degradation of substituted mandelic acids by meta fission reactions; Sze IS et al.; A strain of Acinetobacter lwoffii degraded 4-hydroxymandelic and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acids to their corresponding benzoates, which were then hydroxylated by specific monooxygenases to yield, respectively, protocatechuic and 3-O-methylgallic acids; these were substrates for meta fission dioxygenases . The product formed from 3-O-methylgallate underwent slow spontaneous cyclization at pH 7 to release methanol.

Z Urol Nephrol, 1987 Aug, 80(8), 491 - 4
{Bacteriologic studies of bicarbonate dialysate and suitable initial solutions}; Wachtel D et al.; Dialysates for the haemodialysis are produced unsterile and usually contain bacteria . Own investigations of bicarbonate dialysate and adequate initial solutions comprised sterility tests, determinations of the germ count and germ tolerance experiments . Only the "acid concentrate" was sterile . In the other solutions Corynebacteria, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas bacteria dominated as typical water germs . In the fresh reverse osmosis water and the bicarbonate dialysate as well as in the recently produced 35-mmolar and 1-molar NaHCO3-solution the germ count was in each case about 10(5)/l and did not change itself essentially at room temperature within 6 hours . The "acid concentrate" and at a lower level also the 1-molar NaHCO3-concentrate have an antibacterial effect . The reverse osmosis water is the main contamination source for the bicarbonate dialysate, the application of which within 6 hours seems worth being used on account of the low germ count.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 53(8), 1918 - 23
Involvement of a plasmid in growth on and dispersion of crude oil by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RA57; Rusansky S et al.; A crude-oil-degrading Acinetobacter species, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RA57, was isolated by standard enrichment culture techniques on the basis of its ability to utilize the oily sludge found in the vicinity of a local gas station . Strain RA57 was found to contain four plasmids: pSR1 (5.1 kilobases {kb}), pSR2 (5.4 kb), pSR3 (10.5 kb), and pSR4 (20 kb) . Both supercoiled and open circular forms of the first three plasmids were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis . Restriction endonuclease analysis of pSR4 demonstrated that the plasmid contained a circular map . Colonies were isolated at random after growth in the presence of acridine orange and found to fall into two categories: (i) those which had lost the ability to grow on and disperse crude oil in liquid culture and concurrently were cured of pSR4 and (ii) those which retained the ability to both grow on and disperse crude oil and which contained pSR4 . Strains from the first class continued to grow on hydrocarbon vapors, indicating that the defect associated with the curing of pSR4 was related to the physical interaction of the cells with the hydrocarbon substrate, rather than to its metabolism . No differences in either adherence to hydrocarbons or production of extracellular emulsifying activity were found between the two classes of mutants . In growth experiments on crude oil in mixed culture with strains which either contained or lacked pSR4, no sparing of the growth defect was observed . The results are consistent with the possibility that pSR4 encodes a factor(s) which is tightly associated with the cell surface.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jul, 169(7), 3175 - 80
Influence of the catBCE sequence on the phenotypic reversion of a pcaE mutation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Doten RC et al.; Isofunctional beta-ketoadipate:succinyl coenzyme A transferases I and II are encoded by the pcaE and catE genes, respectively, of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The genes are under separate transcriptional control and genetically unlinked . Mutations in the pcaE gene result in a p-hydroxybenzoate-negative (POB-) phenotype, whereas catE mutations cause a benzoate-negative (Ben-) phenotype . A . calcoaceticus ADP125 carries the pcaE3125 mutation and gave rise to POB+ revertants with a frequency of 10(-4) . A 5.0-kilobase-pair (kb) EcoRI restriction fragment containing the catBCDE genes possesses two SalI restriction sites separated by 1.5 kb . Removal of the DNA between the SalI sites created a deletion removing the terminal 35 base pairs of the catB gene, the 300-base-pair catC gene, and about 1.1 kb of the 1.2-kb catE gene . Transformation of strain ADP125 with the modified EcoRI fragment lacking the SalI segment produced natural transformants containing this designed deletion with a frequency of 20% . The frequency of POB+ phenotypic reversion of the pcaE3125 mutation in these transformants was more than 300-fold lower than the frequency of phenotypic reversion observed in genetic backgrounds containing the catBCE segment . Alleles created by pcaE phenotypic reversion in a wild-type cat genetic background were unlinked to the cat gene cluster, and revertant transferases were expressed inducibly with the pca genes . Alterations in the restriction pattern of the pca gene cluster in several revertants were observed, indicating that multiple sequence changes have occurred in the pca genes during reversion . Growth of the phenotypic revertants under nonselective conditions resulted in loss of either the POB+ phenotype or both the POB+ and Ben+ phenotypes at high frequency . Southern hybridizations revealed that loss of the POB+ of Ben+ phenotype was due to deletion of the entire pca or cat gene cluster, a loss of at least 16 kb in some strains . Revertants isolated in a catBCE deletion background were stable . These results suggest that enhanced phenotypic reversion of pcaE3125 in wild-type cat background is due to repair of the mutation by recombination between the catBCE and pcaE3125 sequences . Genetic instability of the phenotypic revertants may be attributed to deletion of pca and cat sequences by recombination between regions of homology created as a consequence of pcaE repair.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jul, 169(7), 3168 - 74
Cloning and genetic organization of the pca gene cluster from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Doten RC et al.; The beta-ketoadipate pathway of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus comprises two parallel metabolic branches . One branch, mediated by six enzymes encoded by the cat genes, converts catechol to succinate and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA); the other branch, catalyzed by products of the pca genes, converts protocatechuate to succinate and acetyl-CoA by six metabolic reactions analogous or identical to those of the catechol sequence . We used the expression plasmid pUC18 to construct expression libraries of DNA from an A . calcoaceticus mutant strain from which the cat genes had been deleted . Immunological screening with antiserum to the pcaE gene product, beta-ketoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase I, resulted in the isolation of a cloned 11-kilobase-pair (kbp) fragment which inducibly expressed all six pca genes under control of the lac promoter on pUC18 . The induced Escherichia coli cells formed the six pca gene products at levels 10- to 30-fold higher than found in fully induced A . calcoaceticus cultures, although protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (the iron-containing product of the pcaA gene) from the recombinant strain possessed a relatively low turnover number . An E . coli culture expressing the cloned pca genes quantitatively converted protocatechuate to beta-ketoadipate; failure of the organism to metabolize the latter compound can be most readily ascribed to relatively low pool levels of succinyl-CoA, a required substrate for beta-ketoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase, in E . coli . The gene order and direction of transcription were determined to be pcACBDFE by identification of enzymes expressed in subclones, by using natural transformation to identify subclones carrying DNA corresponding to dysfunctional alleles in mutant A . calcoaceticus strains, and by restriction mapping of both the 11-kbp fragment and derivatives of the 11-kbp fragment containing Tn5 in the pcaA, pcaB, pcaD, and pcaE genes . The fragment containing the pca gene hybridized strongly and specifically to a previously cloned fragment containing A . calcoaceticus cat genes.

J Hosp Infect, 1987 Jul, 10(1), 40 - 6
The effectiveness of ethanol gauze for hand disinfection in surgical wards; Takahashi S et al.; The effectiveness of ethanol gauze in removing transient bacteria on the hands was investigated in a surgical ward during clinical nursing rounds . Two nurses with similar duties were selected as subjects for each round; one disinfected her hands with ethanol gauze when moving between patients while the other immersed her hands in 0.05% aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate when aware of contaminating her hands . Hand samples were taken after preliminary disinfection before the round, and again after the round on 37 occasions . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in nurses using ethanol gauze, except in one nurse where S . aureus was isolated from both the pre- and postround hand culture . Both organisms were detected on four occasions from the postround hand cultures in the chlorhexidine group . Acinetobacter anitratus was not removed by pre-round disinfection, and was found on five and 11 occasions from the postround hand cultures in the ethanol gauze and chlorhexidine groups, respectively.

J Med Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 23(4), 313 - 9
Cell envelope protein profiles of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains isolated in hospitals; Dijkshoorn L et al.; The cell envelope protein patterns of 78 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, mainly isolated in hospitals, were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) . The patterns were stable and reproducible . Comparison of the protein profiles made possible differentiation between two groups of strains . The patterns of the first group could be classified on the basis of concordance . Some profiles appeared to be associated with the epidemiological origin of the strains . The second group consisted of strains with unique patterns which could not be classified . Comparison of SDS-PAGE patterns appears to be a suitable method for the relative classification of A . calcoaceticus strains of nosocomial origin.

Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1365 - 8
Defensins mediate the microbicidal activity of human neutrophil granule extract against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Greenwald GI et al.; An acid extract of human neutrophil granules was fractionated on a Sephadex G-100 column and tested for microbicidal activity against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HO-1 as described previously (M.C . Modrzakowski and C . M . Paranavitana, Infect . Immun . 32:668-674, 1981) . The low-molecular-weight protein fraction, peak D, accounted for about 30% of the protein and nearly all of the activity of the crude extract against strain HO-1 . Peak D protein proved to be a mixture of the three human defensin peptides HNP1, HNP2, and HNP3 . Purified defensins reproduced the microbicidal activity of peak D . The data suggest that defensins could play a major role in the killing of A . calcoaceticus by human neutrophils.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Jun, 31(6), 854 - 9
In vitro and in vivo activity of NY-198, a new difluorinated quinolone; Hirose T et al.; NY-198 {1-ethyl-6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-7-(3-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-oxo-3- quinolinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride} is a new difluorinated quinolone characterized by the presence of a C-methyl group at the 3 position of the piperazine moiety . It has a broad antibacterial spectrum . The in vitro antibacterial activity of NY-198 was almost the same as those of ofloxacin and norfloxacin, but far exceeded that of pipemidic acid . NY-198 was more active than norfloxacin against Pseudomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and anaerobic microorganisms . Cross resistance was not observed between NY-198 and various antibiotics including methicillin, gentamicin, and ampicillin . NY-198 had bactericidal activity at the MIC or slightly higher than the MIC . It showed excellent antibacterial activity against various systemic infections in mice . After oral administration, NY-198 was two times more active than or as active as ofloxacin and two to four times more active than norfloxacin.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Jun, 35(5 Pt 2), 759 - 67
{In vitro antibacterial activity of 2 new quinolones: A 56619 (difloxacin) and A 56620 . Comparison with pefloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of two new quinolones, A 56619 (difloxacin) and A 56620 were evaluated by agar dilution for 511 bacterial strains, in comparison with pefloxacin (PEF), ofloxacin (OFL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) . For Enterobacteriaceae, A 56620 (MIC 50 and 90 p . 100: 0,12 and 2 micrograms/ml) was less active than CIP (0,03 and 1) and more active than OFL (0,12 and 4) whereas A 56619 (1 and 16) appeared slightly inferior to PEF (0,25 and 8); the same range of activity was observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa: CIP: 0,12-0,5; A 56620: 0,5-2; OFL and PEF: 1-4; A 56619: 1-8 . For the majority of Acinetobacter (mode MIC: 0,5-1), Haemophilus (0,008-0,016), Meningococci (less than or equal to 0,008), Gonococci (0,06 a 0,25) and Legionella (0,12), activity of the two new compounds appeared very similar to those of the three other quinolones . A 56619 and A 56620 had a good activity (mode MIC: 0,25-0,5 micrograms/ml), similar to those of the three other quinolones, on Staphylococci sensitive strains whereas they were inactive on resistant strains . For Streptococci, A 56620 is about two times superior to A 56619; its activity is similar to that of PEF for Enterococci (mode MIC: 4) and to that of CIP on Streptococci A and Pneumococci (mode MIC: 0,5-1) . For anaerobes, the two compounds had about the same activity similar to that of OFL and CIP (C . perfringens: 0,25-0,5 and B . fragilis: 4 micrograms/ml).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1987 Jun, 184(3-4), 304 - 20
{Epidemiologic studies of the microbial colonization of severely burned patients}; Winkler M et al.; Bacteria isolated between 1/1/1983 and 12/31/1984 from the burns of 122 patients in a burns unit at the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum were studied . Grampositive bacteria were predominant in colonizing the burn wounds (62.5% of all strains isolated) . In the patients with more than 40% of total body surface area (TBSA) burn, isolation of Staph aureus was most frequent . The exogenous colonization rate with Staph . aureus was 86% . Coagulase negative Staphylococci were identified in 89.6% of all patients (71.4% of the patients with more than 40% TBSA burn) . There was a constant decline in detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the second half of 1983 . Microbial sensitivity testing was performed in 834 cases . Gramnegative strains of bacteria resistant to Ampicillin, Mezlocillin, Piperacillin and Ticarcillin were found in 10 up to 97% of the tested strains . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . antitratus and Enterobacter cloacae usually displayed a wide resistant pattern . Some strains were resistant as to 16 antibiotics . The incidence of multiresistant Staph . aureus was studied . The time course of multiresistance was paralleled by the incidence of a 6-fold resistance to Benzylpenicillin, Oxacillin, Tetracyclin(T), Gentamycin(G), Erythromycin(E), and Sulfadiacin(S) . The probability of simultaneous resistance to 2 of the 4 antibiotics (T, G, E, S) ranged between 0.7 and 0.98 . 98 out of 336 Staph . aureus isolates showed a simultaneous resistance to T, G, E and S (29%).

Arch Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 148(1), 57 - 62
Adhesion of bacteria from mixed cell suspension to solid surfaces; McEldowney S et al.; The attachment of four species of bacteria to solid surfaces was investigated to determine whether the attachment of one species of bacterium could be influenced by the presence of other attaching or attached species . Three types of experiment were done: attachment of bacteria from suspensions containing two species (termed "simultaneous attachment") was compared to attachment of each species in pure culture, the attachment of one species of bacterium to surfaces already colonized by a second species (termed "sequential attachment") was compared to attachment of the bacteria to clean, uncolonized surfaces, and bacteria were allowed to attach to a surface already colonized by a second strain, and their effect on the stabilization of adhesion of the initial colonizing strain was determined . The bacteria were Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a Staphylococcus sp., a coryneform (isolates from a canning factory), and Staphylococcus aureus . The surfaces were tin plate, glass, and nylon . The attachment of each species was either increased, decreased or not affected by the simultaneous or sequential attachment of another species . The results depended upon the species combination, the surface composition, and the sequence of attachment . The detachment of a primary colonizing species was either increased, decreased or not affected by the subsequent attachment of a second species, depending on the species combination and surface . The results demonstrate that bacterial attachment to a surface can be influenced by the composition of the attaching population and can differ considerably from the attachment of the component species in pure culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anal Biochem, 1987 May 15, 163(1), 107 - 11
A simple spectrophotometric assay for arogenate dehydratase; Ahmad S et al.; A simple spectrophotometric assay for arogenate dehydratase, the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of L-phenylalanine from L-arogenate, is presented . The method couples the arogenate dehydratase reaction with that of an aromatic aminotransferase partially purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . In the presence of 2-ketoglutarate, phenylpyruvate formation is measured at 320 nm at basic pH . The method was compared with two other methods already in use in our laboratory for arogenate dehydratase . The new method is simple, quick, fairly sensitive, and especially suitable for the screening of a large number of samples.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 May, (5), 40 - 4
{Characteristics of gram-negative microflora on environmental objects in puerperal wards and their resistance to antibacterial preparations and disinfectants}; Ioirish AN et al.; The species composition of gram-negative opportunistic bacteria isolated from different objects at three puerperal wards of a maternity clinic was studied . Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter were found to have a fairly wide circulation . The objects most contaminated by these bacteria were determined . The study showed that up to 33.3% of the isolated hospital strains of gram-negative bacteria were characterized by multiple resistance to antibiotics used in medical practice and to sulfathiazole . The strains showed the highest sensitivity to gentamicin and kanamycin . Most of the hospital strains were sensitive to chloramine and nirtan, but 4-13% of Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains showed enhanced resistance to 0.1% chloramine solution.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 May, 25(5), 955 - 7
Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . lwoffi; Weinberger I et al.; Acinetobacter spp . are uncommon etiologic agents of prosthetic valve endocarditis . Two patients with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . lwoffi prosthetic valve endocarditis are described . The patients were successfully treated with antibiotics (cefotaxime sodium and gentamicin sulfate); thus, we suggest medical treatment rather than early valve replacement in this particular type of infection.

Ann Allergy, 1987 May, 58(5), 379 - 84
Treatment of combined immunodeficiency with thymic extract (Thymostimulin); Lin CY et al.; A 14-day-old Chinese male baby was admitted with extensive skin lesions . A wound culture grew Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter anitratus, Enterobacter cloacae, and Candida albicans and a blood culture grew group A beta-Streptococcus hemolyticus . The patient's lymphocyte counts were low and his lymphocytes were unable to produce IgG and IgA in vitro . The immunoglobulin-bearing cell studies also failed to demonstrate IgG and IgA bearing cells . Active Tac+ T cells, total T cells, and T cell subsets were at very low levels . Lymphoproliferative response to mitogens was also poor . Migration inhibitory factor production to Candida antigen was also decreased . The initial lymph node biopsy demonstrated no follicular formation and extensive depletion of lymphocytes in both thymic-dependent and thymic-independent areas . After Thymostimulin (a specific bovine thymic extract, TP-1) treatment, the second lymph node biopsy demonstrated germinal centers containing IgA-bearing cells and IgM-bearing cells and, subsequently, cortical and medullary differentiation . Serum IgG, IgA, and IgM became detectable at low levels and IgG-, IgA-, and IgM-bearing lymphocytes appeared in the peripheral blood . This also correlated with in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis . Active Tac+ T cells, total T cells, T cell subsets and lymphoproliferative response to mitogens increased gradually after thymostimulin therapy . This investigation demonstrated the therapeutic effectiveness of Thymostimulin in combined immunodeficiency both histologically and immunologically and the successful reconstitution of B cell function that did not require continued therapy.

Mutat Res, 1987 May, 183(3), 219 - 24
UV-inducible DNA repair in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Berenstein D; Bacterial mutation frequency after UV irradiation and phage mutation frequency under conditions of W-reactivation were determined in A . calcoaceticus . With the exception of streptomycin resistance, there was no increase in the frequency of the assayed markers above the background level . The increased survival of phage during W-reactivation was not followed by an increase in the frequency of mutation from turbid to clear plaque formers among phage survivors . The findings suggested that the UV-inducible repair pathway in A . calcoaceticus was error free . Post-irradiation incubation of UV-treated culture before phage infection resulted in a further increase of W-reactivation . As chloramphenicol inhibited this response, it was concluded that de novo protein synthesis was involved in the UV-inducible repair pathway in A . calcoaceticus.

Crit Care Med, 1987 May, 15(5), 495 - 8
Nosocomial infections in a respiratory intensive care unit; Potgieter PD et al.; A total of 250 consecutive admissions to an open-plan respiratory ICU were analyzed prospectively to identify the incidence of secondary hospital-acquired infections and possible predisposing factors . Despite preventative measures and a restricted antibiotic policy, 23.6% of patients developed secondary infections . Patients admitted after multiple trauma were the only diagnostic category of patients who showed a significantly increased incidence of secondary infections . The length of hospitalization and number of patients who had intubations or tracheostomies was higher in the group with secondary infection; the causal relationship was difficult to establish . Patients who were not intubated or tracheostomized did not develop secondary infection . Prior administration of antibiotics did not appear to influence the incidence of secondary infection . There was a significant increase in secondary infections in patients with a higher therapeutic intervention scoring system score . The predominant pathogens cultured were highly resistant Gram-negative organisms, particularly Acinetobacter sp . and Pseudomonas sp . Staphylococcus aureus was the most common Gram-positive pathogen . The ICU course was probably prolonged by the complication of nosocomial infection, which may have contributed to the deaths.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 652 - 5
{Treatment of peritonitis in kidney failure patients under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis by pefloxacine . Results and pharmacokinetics}; Denis F et al.; Pefloxacin was used as monotherapy in 15 cases of peritonitis occurring in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . Antibiotic administration was made intravenously on day 1 (800 mg) and from day 2 to day 4 (400 mg/day), then orally during 10 days (400 mg/day) . The dosage of 400 mg gave a mean serum concentration peak (11.2 mg/l) and valley (5.4 mg/l) on the second day and a mean dialysate level of 5 mg/l . The last mean serum concentration (J14) were 5.5 mg/l (peak) and 2.5 mg/l (valley) and the mean dialysate level was 2.6 mg/l . Ten of these patients were cured . We explained pefloxacin therapy failure in two cases by resistant strains (S . sanguis and S . bovis), in one case by an acquired resistance during treatment (S . epidermidis), in an other case by catheter contamination; and in the last case, clinical failure occur despite good sensitivity with in vitro-test (Acinetobacter).

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 629 - 33
{Ofloxacin (RU 43280) . Clinical study}; Bertrand A et al.; Thirty-two patients were treated by ofloxacin on bacteriological documented infections . They were Enterobacterias: n = 15 (MIC less than or equal to 0.06 to 0.5 microgram/ml); Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter: n = 1 (MIC 0.5 and 4 micrograms/ml); Staphylococcus: n = 6 (MIC less than or equal to 0.06 to 4 micrograms/ml); Pneumococcus: n = 1; Mycoplasma: n = 1; Chlamydia psittaci: n = 2; Legionella pneumophila: n = 1; Rickettsias: n = 4 (three mediterranean fevers one query fever) . Ofloxacin was given orally from 400 to 800 mg per day (5 to 15 mg/kg/day) . It was used alone 26 times and on 6 occasions it was associated with rifampin on 6 staphylococcal infections . On 19 cases it was used after failure or intolerance of initial therapy . Thirty times it was the first antibiotic substance used . Results were good mainly: 1) on nine pneumonitis (enterobacterias: 4; Pneumococcus: 1; Mycoplasma: 1; Chlamydia: 2; Legionella: 1) during a mean duration of twenty days; 2) urinary infections (n:7) provoked by E . coli and Enterobacter cloacae (mean duration: 20 days); 3) 4 osteo-articular-infections (mean duration: 77 days); 4) Rickettsial infections (n:4) during a mean duration of 11 days . Results are particularly noteworthy because patients treated had severe infections: 12 bacteremias, 1 endocarditis and 1 purulent meningitis . None severe adverse effect was observed.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 563 - 7
{Evaluation of the ATB system and the 32 GN tests for the identification and determination of the antibiotic sensitivity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratum . Comparison with the reference dilution method in a gel medium}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; The authors determined the susceptibility to 24 antibiotics of 95 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety anitratum with the automated API ATB System in comparison with the agar dilution method for MIC measurement . The strains have been identified with API 32 GN (automated system) and API NE . There was a good agreement between the two sets of identification results . In susceptibility tests the discrepancies ranged from 0.86% to 3% with a mean value of 1.8% . The overall agreement was 95% between the two methods . This study allowed the authors to define susceptibility phenotypes to the three major antibiotic classes: beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones . The use of 32 GN tests and ATB in the automated system seems very useful, especially in epidemiologic studies in order to analyse numerous data in a short time.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 457 - 60
{Aminoside sensitivity of bacteria isolated in 1984 at the military hospital complex in the Paris region}; Meyran M et al.; The minimal inhibiting concentrations (MIC) of 5 aminosids have been determined by the microdilution method in liquid medium of 4,582 bacterial strains isolated from various pathological samples: 1,039 Staphylococcus, 2,629 Enterobacteria, 759 Pseudomonas and 155 Acinetobacter . The phenotype of resistance has been defined for each strain by listing the antibiotics for which a resistance was observed . The frequencies of the bacterial resistances varied according to the aminosid (gentamicin, sisomicin, tobramycin, netilmicin and amikacin) and to the species studied . For the bacterial species studied, these frequencies of resistance to the aminosid family of antibiotic were weaker in the military hospitals in the district of Paris, than in different civil hospitals where similar studies were conducted.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 May, 7(1), 9 - 19
RO23-6240, a new orally absorbed quinolone: in vitro comparison with other broad-spectrum oral antimicrobial agents and imipenem; Aldridge KE et al.; A total of 626 clinical isolates were tested for their susceptibility to RO23-6240 and other broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents . RO23-6240 showed good activity against strains of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter, and P . aeruginosa . RO23-6240 MIC90s ranged from 0.032 to 4 micrograms/ml for these strains . RO23-6240 also showed good activity against staphylococci, both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains . The activity in vitro of RO23-6240 was comparable with that of norfloxacin and ofloxacin, and more active than imipenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefaclor, and amoxycillin/clavulanate potassium . As with the other quinolones tested, increases in inoculum size produced moderate increases in the MICs and MBCs of RO23-6240.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 May, 35(5), 467 - 72
{Study of the sensitivity to pipemidic acid, pefloxacin and norfloxacin of 444 bacterial strains isolated at a general hospital}; Berardi-Grassias LD et al.; After one year of use of pefloxacin in the intensive care unit, medicine unit and surgery unit and the following recent commercialization without prescription of norfloxacin, we studied for a period of two months (april and may 1986) the susceptibility to pipemidic acid, to pefloxacin and norfloxacin of 444 bacteria strains isolated obtained from clinical specimens . The antibiotic susceptibility is determined by disk diffusion test . We obtained the following results: susceptible methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (SMSA 63 strains): 85.7% PEFS, 11.1% PEFI, 79.4% NORS, 15.9% NORI, resistant methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (RMSA 36 strains): 33.3% PEFS, 2.9% PEFI, 41.6% NORS, 0% NORI; Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae (252 strains): 94% PIPS, 94.8% PEFS, 97.2% NORS; Enterobacter, Proteus indol (+), Providencia and Citrobacter (33 strains): 72.7% PIPS, 72.7% PEFS, 84.8% NORS; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (53 strains): 32% PEFS, 47.2% PEFI, 90.6% NORS, 5.6% NORI; Acinetobacter (7 strains): 57.2% PEFS, 42.8% PEFI, 42.8% NORS, 28.6% NORI . Norfloxacin in active in vitro against the majority of the P . aeruginosa isolated . We found an important methicillin and pefloxacin resistance among the Staphylococcus aureus isolated: 36 strains RMSA (36.4% out of Staphylococcus aureus) and 23 strains RMSA PEFR (63.8% out of RMSA) . These later strains were isolated in eight different units mainly in visceral surgery unit and geriatric units but not in intensive care unit . After an epidemiologic study and the following recommendations to physicians and nurses: treatment by pefloxacin should be used only after bacteriological results and associated with an other antibiotic, the handwashing should be frequent and regular to prevent the spread of infection, four months later we isolated 26 strains of RMSA with 7 RMSA PEF (26.9%).2$

Am J Med, 1987 Apr 27, 82(4A), 346 - 51
Use of intravenous ciprofloxacin in difficult-to-treat infections; Giamarellou H et al.; Intravenous ciprofloxacin was administered to 54 patients who were either critically ill or in whom oral administration was not possible . The 31 males and 23 females ranged in age from 20 to 89 years (mean, 53.2 +/- 17.8 years) . Patients had "difficult-to-treat" infections, i.e., respiratory infections (15), abscesses (four intraabdominal, three lung, two soft tissue, and one intrahepatic), deep soft tissue infections (10), chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis in exacerbation (nine), upper urinary tract infection (five), malignant external otitis (two), catheter-related bacteremia (two), and infectious endocarditis (one) . Thirty patients (56 percent) had serious associated medical problems . Pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38 isolates), Acinetobacter species (10 isolates), Enterobacter cloacae (eight isolates), Escherichia coli (two isolates), Proteus mirabilis (one isolate), Kingella kingae (one isolate), Bacteroides fragilis (eight isolates), and Peptostreptococcus species (five isolates) . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin ranged from 0.003 to 2 micrograms/ml . In 39 patients, the isolated microorganisms were multi-resistant; resistance included ceftazidime and amikacin in 32 patients . In 24 patients, ciprofloxacin was given exclusively by the intravenous route at a dose of 200 mg every 12 hours; in 30 patients, treatment was completed after discontinuation of the parenteral drug with the oral preparation of ciprofloxacin at a dose of 750 mg every 12 hours . The duration of parenteral treatment ranged from six to 40 days (mean, 14.9 days) . A successful clinical response was observed in 49 patients (91 percent), while five (9 percent) failed to show a response . Bacteriologic outcomes were as follows: eradication of pathogen in 33 patients (61.1 percent), persistence in 18 (33.3 percent), and relapse in three (5.6 percent), with development of resistance to ciprofloxacin in nine patients (16.7 percent) and superinfection in two patients (3.7 percent) . Side effects included vein irritation at the site of the infusion (three patients), abnormal elevation in liver enzyme levels (two patients), reversible renal failure (one patient), and nausea (one patient) . Parenteral ciprofloxacin is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective therapy for the critically ill patient, and can be replaced with the oral form when clinically appropriate.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Apr, 62(4), 327 - 33
Microflora associated with the internal surfaces of rubber and stainless steel milk transfer pipeline; Lewis SJ et al.; Sterile sections of rubber and stainless steel milk transfer pipeline were inserted sequentially into a milking installation and soiled with fresh raw milk over a period of 5 d . The resultant adherent microbial population was removed and the generic composition of mesophilic and psychotropic types was determined . In all cases Acinetobacter spp . were found to predominate (59.5-75.6%) . The generic composition of the raw milk used to soil the milking unit (with inserted pipe section) was determined once during each 5-d soiling period . In general the milk was found to contain a mixed flora in which Gram-positive organisms predominated.

Neurosurgery, 1987 Apr, 20(4), 610 - 6
Comparative study of bacteriological contamination between primary and secondary exploration of missile head wounds; Aarabi B; Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial contamination of scalp wounds, indriven bone fragments, and brain tracks were studied in two groups (A and B) of nonrandomized patients with missile head wounds in a 20-month study of patients from the front lines of the Iran-Iraq war . In the 53 Group B patients, the primary debridements, most of which had been performed within 24 hours after injury, were deemed insufficient and a secondary definitive exploration was performed . Group A patients (62) had primary definitive explorations at Nemazee Hospital after a mean of 66.5 hours since injury . All of the patients had been started on dexamethasone and a combination of either ampicillin and chloramphenicol or crystalline penicillin G and chloramphenicol after field evacuation . The contamination rate of scalp wounds, bone fragments and brain tracks was slightly higher in Group A (38.4%, 22.2%, and 29.6% respectively, for Group A and 31.9%, 19.5%, and 27% for Group B, respectively) . Staphylococcus albus among the gram-positive and Acinetobacter among gram-negative bacteria were the most common infecting organisms . Fifty per cent of the bacteria cultured from the brain tracks of Group A and 30.8% of those cultured from Group B patients were gram-negative . A total of 125 patients in four groups was included in our overall study of victims of missile wounds that violated the dura mater . Four patients developed meningitis at Nemazee Hospital (3 postoperatively and 1 after facial penetration) . Two patients in Group B were admitted with meningitis (1 with an accompanying abscess), 1 of them 20 days and the other 60 days after exploration at two different centers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Apr, 19(4), 513 - 20
The effect of oral non-absorbable antibiotics on the emergence of resistant bacteria in patients in an intensive care unit; Stoutenbeek CP et al.; Critically ill patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit since 1982 have been treated prophylactically with oral non-absorbable antibiotics combined with parenteral cefotaxime . A mixture of polymyxin E, tobramycin and amphotericin B has been administered via a nasogastric tube and also applied topically to the buccal mucosa . This regimen has proven to be highly effective in reducing the infection rate . The present study evaluated the occurrence of resistant bacteria with this regimen during a 30-month period, in 164 patients with multiple trauma . No increase in the percentage of patients with acquired drug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli was found during this period . Colonization of the oral cavity and/or gastro-intestinal canal by polymyxin E-resistant strains (invariably Proteus spp.) occurred in 8% of patients, and by tobramycin-resistant bacilli (Escherichia coli or Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas spp.) in 4% . Intestinal colonization with cefotaxime-resistant strains (e.g . Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter or Enterobacter spp.) was observed in 17 patients (10%) . Of these strains 82% were eliminated within one week by the oral non-absorbable antibiotics . Colonization of the respiratory tract, urinary tract or wounds with cefotaxime-resistant Gram-negative bacilli occurred in only three patients (2%).

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 53(4), 839 - 45
Bacterial O-methylation of halogen-substituted phenols; Allard AS et al.; Two strains of bacteria capable of carrying out the O-methylation of phenolic compounds, one from the gram-positive genus Rhodococcus and one from the gram-negative genus Acinetobacter, were used to examine the O-methylation of phenols carrying fluoro-, chloro-, and bromo-substituents . Zero-order rates of O-methylation were calculated from data for the chloro- and bromophenols; there was no simple relationship between the rates of reaction and the structure of the substrates, and significant differences were observed in the responses of the two test organisms . For the gram-negative strain, the pattern of substitution was as important as the number of substituents . Hexachlorophene was resistant to O-methylation by both strains, and tetrabromobisphenol-A was O-methylated only by the gram-positive strain . It is suggested that in the natural environment, bacterial O-methylation of phenols carrying electron-attracting substituents might be a significant alternative to biodegradation.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Apr, 31(4), 505 - 11
In vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of a new monobactam, B0-1165; Neu HC et al.; B0-1165 is a 1-carboxy-1-cyclopropoxyamino,4-fluoromethyl monobactam . It inhibited the majority of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter diversus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, Providencia stuartii, Yersinia enterocolitica, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Salmonella and Shigella species at less than or equal to 0.125 microgram/ml . Overall, its in vitro activity was similar to that of aztreonam, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime, with minor differences in the MICs for individual isolates . Enterobacter species and Citrobacter freundii which were derepressed for beta-lactamase production and had higher MICs of aztreonam and ceftazidime had MICs that ranged from 4 to 32 micrograms/ml . B0-1165 had activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa similar to that of aztreonam but lower than that of ceftazidime and carumonam . Pseudomonas maltophilia and other Pseudomonas species were resistant or had MICs of 32 micrograms/ml, as did Acinetobacter species . B0-1165 did not inhibit streptococcal, staphylococcal, or anaerobic species, such as Clostridium and Bacteroides species . B0-1165 was not hydrolyzed to any appreciable extent by common plasmid- and chromosomally Richmond-Sykes type 1a-, 1c-, and 1d-mediated beta-lactamases . It inhibited the Enterobacter cloacae P99 and inducible Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactamases . B0-1165 was a poor inducer of beta-lactamase, but exposing E . cloacae and C . freundii to B0-1165 selected for resistant isolates . Overall, B0-1165 had in vitro properties similar to those of other monobactams currently available or under investigation.

Anal Biochem, 1987 Apr, 162(1), 143 - 9
Detection of the cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone; van Kleef MA et al.; In order to demonstrate the presence or absence of a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) synthesizing capacity in microorganisms, we have found that media and equipment must be treated to remove contaminating PQQ . Procedures are described which appear to be effective for that purpose . These have been used with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PQQ- strains to develop a sensitive and reliable assay for PQQ . They also have been used to show that under our conditions of growth Escherichia coli does not synthesize PQQ . Fluorescence spectroscopy is not selective enough to detect PQQ in a protein hydrolysate due to background fluorescence in the same spectral regions as PQQ . In addition, PQQ reacts with amino acids to give products that cannot be detected by either fluorescence spectroscopy or biological assay . In this regard, claims that several materials originating from plants or animals contain PQQ should be reexamined . Moreover, PQQ cannot be detected with these methods in hydrolysates of enzymes containing covalently bound PQQ.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 Apr, 6(4), 293 - 9
In vitro activity of RO 23-6240 (AM-833): a new fluoroquinolone; Fass RJ et al.; The in vitro activities of RO 23-6240 (AM-833) and four comparative fluoroquinolones were studied . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of RO 23-6240, which inhibited at least 90% of strains, were less than or equal to 0.03-1 microgram/ml for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter anitratus Aeromonas hydrophila, Branhamella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae, 2-8 micrograms/ml for Staphylococcus saprophyticus, streptococci, diphtheroids, and Pseudomonas spp., and 1-32 micrograms/ml for anaerobic species . MICs of ofloxacin, pefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin paralleled those of RO 23-6240 . With all five drugs, MICs were minimally affected by inoculum size and minimal bacterial concentrations (MBCs) were always within two dilution steps (log2) of MICs.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Mar 16, 163(3), 489 - 95
Studies on the chemical structure of the core-lipid A region of the lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305 . Detection of a new 2-octulosonic acid interlinking the core oligosaccharide and lipid A component; Kawahara K et al.; Lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305 was treated with acid (0.1 M HCl, 100 degrees C, 1 h) . The product obtained (LPSdegr) was subjected to various modification and degradation procedures including reduction, hydrazinolysis and strong acid hydrolysis . Methylation analysis of purified part structures revealed the presence of a 4'-phosphorylated (beta 1'-6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide (lipid A backbone), which carried in position 6' a hitherto unknown 2-octulosonic acid (OclA) in highly acid-stable linkage . It was further shown that OclA is substituted in position 5 by a glucose tetramer, the reducing residue of which is phosphorylated . The hydrophilic region of the LPSdegr could thus be characterized as a phosphorylated heptasaccharide of the following structure: (Formula: see text).

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Mar, 31(3), 473 - 6
Comparative in vitro antibacterial activities of two new oral cephalosporins, ceftetrame (Ro 19-5247) and cefetamet (Ro 15-8074); Chau PY et al.; The in vitro activities of two new oral cephalosporins, ceftetrame (Ro 19-5247) and cefetamet (Ro 15-8074), were tested against 990 clinical bacterial isolates in comparison with that of cephalexin . Both compounds were more active than cephalexin against gram-negative bacteria, inhibiting most isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae at concentrations of less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml, but were not active against Acinetobacter species, most Pseudomonas species, Campylobacter jejuni, and Flavobacterium meningosepticum . Ceftetrame was also more active than cephalexin against most streptococcal isolates and as active as cephalexin against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus; against the latter cefetamet was ineffective.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 195 - 8
{Ecology and the antibiotic sensitivity of hospital strains of Acinetobacter}; Gladshtein AI et al.; Strains of Acinetobacter were shown to be widely distributed in the environment of traumatological and orthopedic hospitals and in clinical pathological materials . This permitted to consider Acinetobacter as an agent causing hospital infections . It was shown that Acinetobacter strains were resistant to the majority of antibacterial drugs . The potential ability of Acinetobacter to transfer resistance plasmids to other strains is of particular danger for distribution of resistant microorganisms in hospitals.

Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Mar-Apr, 9 Suppl 2, S168 - 76
Use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in pediatric infections: relative merits of intravenous administration; Overturf GD; Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) has traditionally been employed as an oral formulation for infections in ambulatory pediatric patients . However, therapeutic concentrations of TMP and SMZ in serum and CSF are more consistently attained after intravenous administration . Serum half-life increases with the age of the child, and few significant toxic effects are observed with intravenous administration . Either the necessity to optimize bioavailability because of the underlying seriousness of disease or a desire to avoid other drugs that may be responsible for adverse reactions or hypersensitivity should direct the clinician to administer an intravenous preparation . Serious pediatric infections that might warrant the consideration of intravenous TMP-SMZ include shigellosis, salmonellosis, typhoid fever, nocardiosis, gram-negative bacillary septicemia or meningitis, and infections due to Pneumocystis carinii and malarial parasites . Infections due to Listeria will respond to TMP-SMZ, and infections due to Citrobacter diversus, Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Flavobacterium meningosepticum are especially susceptible to TMP-SMZ.

J Hosp Infect, 1987 Mar, 9(2), 110 - 9
Hospital outbreak of multi-resistant Acinetobacter anitratus: an airborne mode of spread?
Allen KD, Green HT.
During a 10-month period, from October 1984 to July 1985, a multi-resistant strain of Acinetobacter anitratus was isolated from 36 patients in three neurosurgical wards, one medical ward and the intensive care unit of a district general hospital, and from two patients in the intensive care unit of a hospital in another district . Fourteen patients developed significant infection including pneumonia (10), meningitis (2), septicaemia (2) and wound infection (4) . The majority of cases (28) involved the respiratory tract of ventilated patients, although respiratory equipment was not implicated as a source of the infection . The epidemic strain was recovered from the skin, nose, mouth and rectum of colonized patients and from the hands of personnel . However, extensive air and environmental contamination in the vicinity of colonized patients was also demonstrated . This is the first outbreak of infection with Acinetobacter, of which we are aware, where airborne spread has been observed.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Feb, 169(2), 699 - 703
Dienelactone hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp . strain B13; Ngai KL et al.; Dienelactone hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.45) catalyzes the conversion of cis- or trans-4-carboxymethylenebut-2-en-4-olide (dienelactone) to maleylacetate . An approximately 24-fold purification from extracts of 3-chlorobenzoate-grown Pseudomonas sp . strain B13 yielded a homogeneous preparation of the enzyme . The purified enzyme crystallized readily and proved to be a monomer with a molecular weight of about 30,000 . Each dienelactone hydrolase molecule contains two cysteinyl side chains . One of these was readily titrated by stoichiometric amounts of p-chloromercuribenzoate, resulting in inactivation of the enzyme; the inactivation could be reversed by the addition of dithiothreitol . The other cysteinyl side chain appeared to be protected in the native protein against chemical reaction with p-chloromercuribenzoate . The properties of sulfhydryl side chains in dienelactone hydrolase resembled those that have been characterized for bacterial 4-carboxymethylbut-3-en-4-olide (enol-lactone) hydrolases (EC 3.1.1.24), which also are monomers with molecular weights of about 30,000 . The amino acid composition of the dienelactone hydrolase resembled the amino acid composition of enol-lactone hydrolase from Pseudomonas putida, and alignment of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the dienelactone hydrolase with the corresponding sequence of an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus enol-lactone hydrolase revealed sequence identity at 8 of the 28 positions . These observations foster the hypothesis that the lactone hydrolases share a common ancestor . The lactone hydrolases differed in one significant property: the kcat of dienelactone hydrolase was 1,800 min-1, an order of magnitude below the kcat observed with enol-lactone hydrolases . The relatively low catalytic activity of dienelactone hydrolase may demand its production at the high levels observed for induced cultures of Pseudomonas sp . strain B13.

Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler, 1987 Feb, 368(2), 101 - 9
{Kinetics of membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Aurich H et al.; In recent investigations we were able to demonstrate that the NADP-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is an inducible enzyme localized in intracytoplasmic membranes limiting alkane inclusions . Long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkanols are inducers of the enzyme . It was purified by us and now kinetically characterized using the enzyme-micelle form, which contains bacterial phospholipids and a detergent (sodium cholate), too . The pH optimum of aldehyde dehydrogenase was determined to be at pH 10 . The enzyme showed substrate inhibition (by aldehyde excess) . The Ks and Km values of the leading substrate NADP+ were found to be 8.6 X 10(-5) and 10.3 X 10(-5)M independent of the chain-length of the aldehydes . The Km values of the aldehydes decreased depending on increasing chain-length (butanal: 1.6 X 10(-3), decanal: 1.5 X 10(-6)M) . The Ki values (for inhibition by aldehyde excess) showed a similar behaviour (butanal: 7.5 X 10(-3), decanal: 3.5 X 10(-5)M) as well as the optimal aldehyde concentrations inducing the "maximal" reaction velocity (butanal: 5mM, decanal: 6 microM) . The number of inhibiting aldehyde molecules per enzyme-substrate complex was determined to be n = 1 . NADPH showed product inhibition kinetics (Ki(NADPH) = 2.2 X 10(-4)M), fatty acids did not . We were unable to measure a reverse reaction . The following ions and organic compounds were non-competitive inhibitors of the enzyme: Sn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, BO3(3-), CN-, EDTA, o-phenanthroline, p-chloromercuri-benzoate, mercaptoethanol, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and diisopropylfluorophosphate; iodoacetate did not influence enzyme activity . Chloral hydrate was a competitive inhibitor of the aldehydes . Ethyl butyrate activates the enzyme, dependent on the chain-length of the aldehyde substrates.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 53(2), 440 - 6
Reconstitution of emulsifying activity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 emulsan by using pure polysaccharide and protein; Kaplan N et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 and BD413 produce extracellular emulsifying agents when grown on 2% ethanol medium . For emulsifying activity, both polysaccharide and protein fractions were required, as demonstrated by selective digestion of the polysaccharide with a specific bacteriophage-borne polysaccharide depolymerase, deproteinization of the extracellular emulsifying complex with hot phenol, and reconstitution of emulsifier activity with pure polysaccharide and a polysaccharide-free protein fraction . Chemical modification of the carboxyl groups in the polysaccharide resulted in a loss of activity . The protein required for reconstitution of emulsifying activity was purified sevenfold . The BD4 emulsan apparently derives its amphipathic properties from the association of an anionic hydrophilic polysaccharide with proteins.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 5 - 11
The epidemiology of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: biotype and resistance-pattern of 328 strains consecutively isolated from clinical specimens; Gerner-Smidt P; 328 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus from hospitalized patients and persons attending general practitioners were characterized according to biotype and resistance-pattern . 117 strains of biotype (b.) anitratus, 200 of b.lwoffi, 11 of b . haemolyticus and no strains of b . alcaligenes were found . B . anitratus was more frequently isolated from patients in hospitals than b.lwoffi; b.lwoffi was more often found in general practice . Strains of b . anitratus had more resistance traits than b.lwoffi . Strains of b . anitratus obtained in hospitals were more resistant than strains from general practice . No such difference was found with b.lwoffi.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Feb, 35(2), 187 - 9
{Causes of error in the study of fibrinogen clumping and the diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus: Micrococci and Acinetobacter}; Weber P et al.; Rapid presumptive identification of S . aureus, particularly on the agar slant of biphasic blood culture bottles can be performed by modified slide clumping factor tests . We compared two commercial reagents (Staphyslide and Staphaurex) using strains of "Gram-positive cocci arranged in clusters" (S . aureus, S . epidermidis, Micrococcus) or diplococci-like organisms such as Acinetobacter . Micrococcus and Acinetobacter can be responsible for false-positive reactions with sensitized or not sensitized particles . Control reactions with not sensitized particles or autoagglutination tests in water rather than saline must be performed.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Feb, 40(2), 194 - 9
Evaluation of enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme) for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis in genital tract specimens; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; An enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme) for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis was evaluated on genital specimens from 96 men and 272 women attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD clinic) . Compared with a direct immunofluorescence test for chlamydial elementary bodies, the enzyme immunoassay had a sensitivity of 58% on specimens from men, a specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 93%, and a negative predictive value of 88%; the assay had a sensitivity of 67% on specimens from women, a specificity of 89%, a positive predictive value of 63% and a negative predictive value of 90% . Immunofluorescence provided the most stringent test for the performance of the enzyme immunoassay as values were improved a little when a cell culture procedure was used for comparison . Further evidence for the lack of sensitivity was the detection of elementary bodies, sometimes in large numbers, in the enzyme immunoassay buffer of 13 of 19 specimens that had given a negative enzyme immunoassay result and the finding in comparative titrations of four laboratory strains that the enzyme immunoassay was at least 100-fold less able to detect chlamydiae than either immunofluorescence or the cell culture procedure . Lack of specificity may be associated with the finding that the enzyme immunoassay antibody reacted with strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and group B streptococci . The enzyme immunoassay was not considered to be sufficiently sensitive, specific, or reproducible for routine use.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Feb, 19(2), 197 - 203
Dynamics of ceftazidime-pefloxacin interaction shown by a new killing curve-chequerboard method; Drugeon HB et al.; Since in-vitro methods for studying drug interactions are difficult to evaluate and different results occur with the chequerboard (isobolograms-FIC index) and killing curve methods, a new approach associating these two methods was used to study the ceftazidime-pefloxacin interaction . In 64 tubes in a chequerboard pattern, viable bacteria were counted at 0, 2.5, 5 and 24 h, by a microdilution method and a multiple inoculator replicating method . The bacterial inoculum consisted of 5 X 10(6)-10(7) cfu/ml . Twelve strains belonging to six genera were tested: Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia and Pseudomonas . During the first 5 h no antagonism was noted, but few differences in viable count equal to or greater than 2 log10 were observed . The results of the drug interaction were equivalent to those of the more rapid bactericidal antibiotic concentrations (ceftazidime or pefloxacin) . At 24 h, synergy was observed: ceftazidime prevented the late regrowth noted with pefloxacin, but with Citrobacter spp . regrowth was also observed with ceftazidime and none of the combinations were bactericidal.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 6(1), 59 - 62
Serum bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in volunteers; Machka K et al.; The serum bactericidal activity of two newer quinolones, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, against 206 clinical bacterial isolates was determined in six male volunteers after oral administration of either 500 mg of ciprofloxacin or 200 mg of ofloxacin respectively . The highest bactericidal titers were achieved against Enterobacteriaceae 1 h after ciprofloxacin administration, ranging from 1:121 for indole-positive Proteus species to 1:30 for Serratia spp . Ofloxacin generated lower titers, ranging from 1:14 for indole-positive Proteus spp . to 1:2.5 for Enterobacter spp . Only low serum bactericidal titers were found for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp . and gram-positive cocci . It is concluded that the activity of orally administered ciprofloxacin is superior to that of orally administered ofloxacin in the serum bactericidal test.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Feb, 31(2), 219 - 25
In vitro evaluation of tigemonam, a novel oral monobactam; Tanaka SK et al.; Tigemonam, a novel, orally administered monobactam, exhibited potent and specific activity in vitro against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Its activity was variable to poor against gram-positive bacteria, Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and anaerobes . Within its spectrum of activity, tigemonam was far superior to oral antibiotics currently available, including amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefaclor, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole . In addition, tigemonam was superior to cefuroxime, which is under development as an oral pro-drug, and more active than cefixime against several genera of the Enterobacteriaceae . The activity of tigemonam against the enteric bacteria, Haemophilus species, and Neisseria species was, in general, comparable to that of the quinolone norfloxacin . The excellent activity of tigemonam against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria reflected its marked stability to hydrolysis by isolated enzymes . The expanded spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria observed with tigemonam thus extends oral beta-lactam coverage to include members of the Enterobacteriaceae that are intrinsically or enzymatically resistant to broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jan, 169(1), 414 - 5
Benzoate and muconate, structurally dissimilar metabolites, induce expression of catA in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Neidle EL et al.; Biosynthetic regulation of catA, the gene encoding catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.1.1), was studied in an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus mutant strain unable to metabolize benzoate . Benzoate and muconate independently induced the enzyme . In glucose-grown cells, benzoate yielded higher enzyme levels than did muconate, whereas muconate was the more effective inducer in succinate-grown cells.

Chemotherapy, 1987, 33(2), 97 - 102
Inducing capacity of the combinations mecillinam-ampicillin and mecillinam-ceftazidime in comparison with the capacity of the compounds administered separately; Stobberingh EE et al.; The inducing capacity of mecillinam in combination with ampicillin or ceftazidime was compared with that of the compounds administered separately and related to the inducing capacity of cefoxitin (1 and 10 micrograms/ml) for the chromosomal beta-lactamases from Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, indole-positive Proteus, and Acinetobacter strains . In the majority of the strains all compounds tested alone or in combination showed a lower inducing capacity than cefoxitin at both concentrations (less than twofold); in a few strains a moderate inducing capacity was observed . In general, the inducing capacity of cefoxitin 10 micrograms/ml was similar to that of 1 microgram/ml . Only in two E . cloacae, two S . marcescens and two indole-positive Proteus strains did 10 micrograms/ml cefoxitin show a distinctly higher inducing capacity . The variation in inducing capacity within one species and between the species was remarkable.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jan, 169(1), 303 - 7
Cloning of the genes involved in synthesis of coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Goosen N et al.; Mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD79.41 were isolated that are defective in the synthesis of the coenzyme pyrrolo-quinoline-quinone (PQQ) . A gene bank of the wild-type . A . calcoaceticus genome was constructed with the binary plasmid system pLV21-RP4 delta Km . The DNA of A . calcoaceticus LMD79.41 was partially digested with Sau3A, and fragments of about 15 kilobases were inserted into the BamHI site of pLV21 . The hybrid plasmids maintained in Escherichia coli were transferred by conjugation to the PQQ- mutants of A . calcoaceticus . One hybrid plasmid was isolated that complements all isolated PQQ- mutants . Subcloning of this plasmid in the vector pRK290 resulted in an insert of 5 kilobases on which at least four different genes involved in PQQ synthesis could be indicated . With Tn5 insertions the four PQQ genes were mapped, and it was shown that these genes are most probably located in three operons.

J Basic Microbiol, 1987, 27(10), 557 - 63
Leucine aminopeptidase in intracytoplasmic membranes of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Ludewig M et al.; Cells of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain 69-V contain an aminopeptidase that cleaves L-leucine amide, leucylglycine or leucine hydrazide with high efficiency . Leucine 4-nitroanilide and hydrazide are hydrolyzed to less than 0.1% and 1%, resp . of leucine amide . Grown on acetate-NH4+ medium the activity of the enzyme in the cytoplasm is increased 5-fold compared with cells grown on a casamino acid medium or on yeast extract . In these cases the specific activity of the unpurified enzyme is about 5 nkat/mg for the cytoplasmic and membrane-bound enzyme species as well . Up to 30% of the aminopeptidase activity were found mainly in intracytoplasmic membranes, less in cytoplasmic membranes and only traces in outer membranes, presumably as contaminations . It is solubilized by detergents but not by high salt concentrations . An addition of antipain or Z-Ala2-Phe-CH3 before cell rupture did not change the distribution of the enzyme . A mixture of EDTA and 1.10-phenanthroline diminished the membrane-bound enzyme from 11.4% to 4.3% and leupeptin or E-64 increased it to 20% . The enzyme is regarded as leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) bound to intracytoplasmic membranes.

Drugs, 1987, 34 Suppl 1, 119 - 23
Efficacy and tolerance of oral ofloxacin in treating various infections; Giamarellou H et al.; 66 patients were given daily doses of ofloxacin between 400 and 800 mg for 10 days to 6 months . They were suffering from exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (15), soft tissue phlegmon (11), complicated urinary tract infections (7), bronchopneumonia (7), chronic osteomyelitis in exacerbation (8), chronic prostatitis in exacerbation (5), lower urinary tract infections (3), chronic otitis media (3), acute otitis (3), acute bronchitis (1), lung abscess (2) or liver abscess (1) . Pathogens included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24), Haemophilus influenzae (16), Proteus mirabilis (6), Escherichia coli (6), Enterobacter cloacae (6), Providencia stuartii (2), Serratia marcescens (2), Citrobacter diversus (1), Salmonella enteritidis (1), Acinetobacter anitratus (1), Staphylococcus aureus (1) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (1) . In 35 patients (53%), several aggravating factors coexisted . MICs of ofloxacin ranged from less than or equal to 0.06 to 2 mg/L . Clinically, 65% of the patients were considered as cured, 17% improved and 18% failed to respond . Bacteriologically, pathogens were eradicated in 62%, persisted in 16% and relapsed in 22% . Adverse reactions included gastrointestinal disturbances (4), rash plus facial oedema (1), abnormal liver function (2) and leucopenia (1).

J Basic Microbiol, 1987, 27(8), 427 - 32
Isolation and characterization of the extracellular lipase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69 V; Fischer BE et al.; The extracellular lipase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69 V was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography to homogeneity as suggested by gel electrophoretic analysis . The lipase existed as a high molecular complex of about 300 kDa, with a subunit molecular weight of 30.5 kDa being obtained by SDS-PAGE . The hydrodynamic molecular radius obtained by gel electrophoresis was 3.27 nm . The lipase had an isoelectric point of 5.5 and was stimulated by additions of deoxycholate . The activation energy for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate was 39.9 kJ mol-1 . Tri-, di- and monoacylglycerols were hydrolyzed . Hg2+ and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate inhibited the enzyme activity at very low concentrations . One sulfhydryl group was found per molecule of lipase.

Vutr Boles, 1987, 26(5), 98 - 104
{Treatment of urinary infection with cephadroxyl (Pharmachem)--microbiological and clinical research}; Minkov N et al.; The bacteria isolated from the urine of renal patients were tested for sensitivity towards cephadroxyl (Pharmachem) and other beta-lactam antibiotics--altogether 654 examinations were made . It was established that the gram-positive bacteria (excluding the Enterococcus) are sensitive towards cephadroxyl . From the Gram negative bacteria E . Coli, Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., P . mirabilis, Citrobacter sp . showed the greatest sensitivity towards cephadroxyl, while the indole positive Proteus were with low sensitivity and P . aeruginosa, Acinetobacter sp., Serratia were resistant towards cephadroxyl . 30 patients with persistent mainly secondary urinary infection were treated with cephadroxyl . The clinical symptoms disappeared in 63.3% of the patients and another 26.7% of them showed considerable improvement . Bacteriological sterility of the urine was achieved in 61.29% of the patients . The side effects were mild and rare, only in single cases.

Biochem Soc Symp, 1987, 54, 83 - 92
Structural basis for regulation in gram-negative bacterial citrate synthases; Duckworth HW et al.; The citrate synthases of Gram-negative bacteria, unlike those of eukaryotes, are inhibited allosterically by NADH, but the two kinds of citrate synthase are about 30% homologous in amino acid sequence--the two Gram-negative citrate synthase sequences so far determined, from Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter anitratum, are about 70% identical . A model for the NADH-sensitive E . coli citrate synthase has been constructed using sequence homology and the known structure of the pig heart enzyme . The most reactive cysteine in the E . coli enzyme, which probably marks the NADH binding site, has now been identified as Cys-206 . The model places this residue far from the active site . An E . coli citrate synthase mutant, from which a stretch of 24 amino acids has been deleted near the active site, still binds NADH normally . Two active site missense mutants of this enzyme, generated by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, have lower affinities for one substrate, oxaloacetate, but also are much less sensitive to 2-oxoglutarate, an oxaloacetate analogue hitherto believed to be an allosteric inhibitor . These results confirm that NADH binds to a truly allosteric site in E . coli citrate synthase, the features of which are still to be defined; while 2-oxoglutarate is really an active-site directed inhibitor, although it may still play a regulatory role in vivo.

J Basic Microbiol, 1987, 27(2), 75 - 81
{Proteases in different membrane fractions of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Fricke B et al.; Distinct protease activities were found in membrane fractions from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown on acetate-NH4+ medium until early stationary phase . Mechanical or enzymatic cell disintegration followed by membrane fractionation through sucrose gradient revealed higher activities in the outer membrane than in the cytoplasmic membrane . Using azocasein and synthetic p-nitroanilides as substrates we found very low proteinase activities in intracytoplasmic membrane fractions . However, these fractions contained a significant aminopeptidase activity which was absent from cell envelope membranes . Peptidolytic activities in intracytoplasmic membranes of gram-negative bacteria have not been described before.

Mikrobiologiia, 1987 Jan-Feb, 56(1), 159 - 61
{Selection of mutants of microorganisms utilizing ethanol}; Kovalenko SP et al.; Mutants of the bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 34 and Acinetobacter sp . 172 as well as of the yeast Candida requinyii 316 resistant to acetaldehyde grow better in a medium with ethanol than their parent cultures . In their specific growth rate and alcohol dehydrogenase activity, 28.7-66.7% of such mutants are superior to any clone isolated in a non-selective medium . A medium containing ethanol and acetaldehyde (0.5 to 1.0% by volume) is proposed to select and isolate highly productive mutants.

Chemotherapy, 1987, 33(3), 189 - 96
Combined resistance to quinolones and beta-lactams after in vitro transfer on single drugs; Mouton RP et al.; Single and combined resistance to quinolones and beta-lactams was determined after serial transfers of 18 selected strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (3) and beta-lactamase producing enterobacterial strains (10), in broth dilutions of 4 quinolones and 8 beta-lactams . Two definitions for resistance were used: (I) 8-fold MIC increase and stability of acquired resistance after five transfers in drug-free broth; and (II) 8-fold MIC increase over the breakpoint level . Using definition I, after transfers on a beta-lactam, resistance to one or more beta-lactams was noted in 45%, to one or more quinolones in 7% of strains . After transfers on a quinolone, the frequency of resistance to quinolones was 82%, to beta-lactams 26% . When all tests were counted separately, the resistance percentages were lower, but they showed the same trend . Calculation according to definition II showed quinolone resistance in 5.4% of all tests after transfer on a beta-lactam and beta-lactam resistance in 23% after transfer on a quinolone . Serial transfers on imipenem led to fewer cases of resistance (13%) to beta-lactams than transfers on any other beta-lactam (19-39%) . There were no conclusive differences between the 7 other beta-lactams.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1987, 46(10), 683 - 6
{alpha-Aminomethylketones as inhibitors of a membrane-bound alanine aminopeptidase}; Jahreis G et al.; Methyl ketone derivatives of L-amino acids are substrate analogous inhibitors of membrane bound alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The type of inhibition is competitive . Compounds with a branched aliphatic side chain are most effective so that valine methyl ketone was found to be the best inhibitor of the enzyme with a K-value of 5.5.10(-7) mol.l-1.

J Mol Evol, 1987, 25(2), 159 - 67
The recent evolutionary origin of the phenylalanine-sensitive isozyme of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase in the enteric lineage of bacteria; Ahmad S et al.; Evolutionary events that generated the three regulatory isozymes of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase present in contemporary strains of Escherichia coli have been proposed recently {Ahmad et al . (1986) J Bacteriol 165:146-154} . The phylogenetic subdivision of gram-negative prokaryotes studied (Superfamily B) includes enteric bacteria, an Oceanospirillum cluster, pseudomonad Group I (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), pseudomonad Group V (e.g., Xanthomonas), and the Acinetobacter grouping . DAHP synthase-phe, a regulatory isozyme subject to allosteric control by L-phenylalanine, was the last member of the isozyme family to evolve . Thus, DAHP synthase-phe is absent throughout Superfamily B except within the enteric lineage . Bacteria that make up the enteric lineage (Escherichia, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Serratia, Proteus, Aeromonas, and Alteromonas) were examined in detail; DAHP synthase-phe was present in each of these organisms . Therefore, the isozyme originated between the separation of the enteric and Oceanospirillum lineages, prior to the divergence of Alteromonas putrefaciens (44% homology with E . coli by DNA:rRNA hybridization) from the rest of the enteric lineage . DAHP synthase-tyr and DAHP synthase-trp were uniformly present within the enteric lineage, although it was often necessary to derepress DAHP synthase-trp by physiological manipulation in order to demonstrate its presence.

Presse Med, 1986 Dec 20, 15(46), 2272 - 8
{In vitro effect of piperacillin on aerobic bacteria . Variations according to the phenotypes of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics}; Jarlier V et al.; In a first study the MICs of piperacillin (PIP), mezlocillin (MEZ), azlocillin (AZL), carbenicillin (CARB) and ticarcillin (TIC) against 563 strains of aerobic bacteria were compared . The MIC50 of PIP against E . coli and P . mirabilis was 0.5 to 1 mg/l, that is equal to those of MEZ and TIC but 2 or 3 times lower than those of AZL and CAR . The MIC50 of PIP and MEZ against Klebsiella, a species that is naturally resistant to TIC and CAR, was 4 mg/l . Enterobacter, Serratia and Citrobacter showed two populations of strains: the first was sensitive to the five penicillins tested (MIC50 of PIP: 1 to 2 mg/l); the second was resistant to all of them . PIP and AZL were more active (MIC50 8 mg/l) against Ps . aeruginosa than MEZ, TIC and CAR . All five penicillins had limited activity against Acinetobacter (MIC50 less than 16 mg/l) . PIP, MEZ and AZL were more active than TIC and CAR against enterococci . In a second study, the activity of PIP was evaluated by standard sensitivity tests on 4993 strains of enterobacteria, Ps . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter classified according to their phenotype of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics . PIP was regularly active against enterobacteria and Ps . aeruginosa strains devoid of acquired resistance . The activity of PIP was significantly reduced against enterobacteria strains with a phenotype suggesting induced penicillinase production . However, the inhibition zone diameters, although reduced, remained within what is now considered the sensitivity range (notably with E . coli and Proteus spp), which raises the problem of in vitro tests interpretation . PIP was active against E . coli strains with a "cephalosporinase" phenotype, but inactive against cefotaxime resistant strains of: Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Serratia . The activity of PIP on CAR-resistant Ps . aeruginosa strains was significantly reduced, but the inhibition zone diameter in one quarter of them was still within limits of sensitivity.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Dec 15, 141(2), 797 - 803
Molecular cloning of the structural gene for Acinetobacter citrate synthase; Donald LJ et al.; The structural gene for citrate synthase of Acinetobacter anitratum has been cloned in Escherichia coli in a form which expresses the enzyme . A library of EcoRI fragments of Acinetobacter genomic DNA was prepared in the vector lambda gt10, and clones were screened by hybridization with an E . coli citrate synthase clone under conditions of reduced stringency . A 6.5 kbp clone was obtained which was subcloned into pBR322, and shown to direct the formation of Acinetobacter citrate synthase in E . coli hosts . The promoter was located within a BglII fragment, and from this information the orientation of the gene was deduced.

Chemioterapia, 1986 Dec, 5(6), 379 - 84
The effect of the combination of erythromycin with new beta-lactam antibiotics against gram-negative aerobic respiratory pathogens; Nakatomi M et al.; The effect of erythromycin on the in vitro activity of cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, cefoperazone, moxalactam, ceftazidime, cefmenoxime, aztreonam, imipenem, piperacillin, and gentamicin against 89 bacteria isolated from sputum and tracheal aspirates of patients admitted to intensive care units was evaluated . There were 30 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9 Enterobacter cloacae, 5 Escherichia coli, 4 Enterobacter aerogenes, 3 each of Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas maltophilia, Serratia marcescens, 2 each of Morganella morganii, Acinetobacter anitratus; 1 Proteus mirabilis . All isolates were resistant to erythromycin . Organisms were screened for synergy by fixed erythromycin concentration at 1, 8 and 16 micrograms/ml . There were 16 isolates that showed a greater than four-fold difference in MICs . These strains were analyzed by the checkerboard broth method . No antagonism was seen for any drug combination with erythromycin . One Enterobacter cloacae showed synergy of ceftizoxime and erythromycin, and 1 E . cloacae showed synergy with cefotaxime . Addition was found for 2 P . aeruginosa, 1 each E . aerogenes, E . coli, P . mirabilis, K . pneumoniae and S . marcescens . At concentrations of erythromycin achievable in blood or pulmonary tissue, the activity of newer beta-lactams and gentamicin is not altered by erythromycin.

Infect Immun, 1986 Dec, 54(3), 705 - 9
Plasmid RP1-mediated susceptibility of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus to rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granule contents; Loeffelholz MJ et al.; The resistance plasmid RP1 was transferred by conjugation to a plasmidless strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Acquisition and expression of RP1 by A . calcoaceticus HO1-N was associated with an increase in sensitivity to the antimicrobial activity of extracted contents from rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules . Plasmid RP1-associated antibiotic resistance and sensitivity to granule contents were cured by exposure to acridine orange . Assays with granule extract fractions separated by fast protein liquid chromatography showed myeloperoxidase, protease, and lysozyme fractions to possess little or no antimicrobial activity against the A . calcoaceticus strains . A protein fraction designated peak D, containing two low-molecular-weight cationic peptides (M . J . Loeffelholz and M . C . Modrzakowski, Anal . Biochem., in press), did possess antimicrobial activity against both HO1-N and Ho1-N(RP1) strains, with the HO1-N(RP1) strain being significantly more sensitive.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18 Suppl E, 35 - 9
Comparative activity of imipenem, ceftazidime and cefotaxime against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; Imipenem was the most active drug against Acinetobacter, even against strains possessing beta-lactamases . MICs of imipenem for 50% and 90% of the A . calcoaceticus (var . anitratum) were 0.28 and 0.61 mg/l respectively whereas for ceftazidime they were 4.4 and 10.0, and for cefotaxime, 7.9 and 22.2 mg/l . No change occurred in the in-vitro activity of imipenem against Acinetobacter, during the period 1980-1985 . Geometric mean MICs in 1985 were 0.33 mg/l for A . calcoaceticus var . anitratum; the values were lower for A . calcoaceticus var . lwoffi . Ceftazidime and cefotaxime MICs were also stable from 1981 to 1985, but the values were higher, geometric mean MICs being 5.3 and 10.1 mg/l respectively . MBCs of imipenem for A . calcoaceticus var . anitratum ranged from 0.194 to 0.35 mg/l; the ratio MBC/MIC was 1.17.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18 Suppl E, 175 - 9
Evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin against nosocomial infections and multiresistant pathogens; Giamarellou H et al.; Thirty-five patients suffering from soft tissue infections (12), upper UTIs (6), bronchopneumonia (6), septicaemia (2), chronic osteomyelitis (2), intra-abdominal abscess (2), liver abscess (1), lung abscess (1), acute cholangitis (1), thoracic empyema (1) and chronic prostatitis (1) were given imipenem/cilastatin for 6-21 days . In 22 patients several aggravating factors coexisted, while infection in 16 patients was polymicrobial . The following pathogens were implicated: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21), Escherichia coli (15), Enterobacter cloacae (6), Proteus spp . (3), Klebsiella pneumoniae(3), Citrobacter freundii (1), Salmonella enteritidis (1), Acinetobacter spp . (4), Haemophilus influenzae (2), Bacteroides fragilis (1) and Peptococcus saccharolyticus (1) with MICs to imipenem ranging between 0.5 and 8 mg/l . A successful clinical response was observed in 91.4% of the patients, while pathogens were eradicated in 75.9%, persisted in 24.2% and recurred, in 9.1% of patients, with development of resistance to imipenem in two Ps . aeruginosa strains . Against 150 multiresistant strains of Ps . aeruginosa, 40% of which were resistant to amikacin, 86.4% and 88.9% were found sensitive to ceftazidime and imipenem respectively . It is concluded that imipenem provides the possibility of treating successfully multiresistant and polymicrobial infections with a single antimicrobial.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18 Suppl E, 153 - 60
Experience with imipenem/cilastatin in the intensive care unit; Rouveix E et al.; Twenty-two patients admitted to the ICU with a severe nosocomial infection caused by multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli were treated with imipenem combined with cilastatin . We treated nine cases of meningo-ventriculitis, eight cases of septicaemia, four cases of mediastinitis, and one case of pneumonia . The bacteria responsible were Acinetobacter spp . (10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), Enterobacter cloacae (5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3), Proteus spp . (2), Streptococcus spp . (2), Serratia marcescens (1) . More than one pathogen was isolated in five cases . The dosages ranged between 1.5 g to 4 g per day by intravenous infusion; the highest doses were used for the treatment of meningitis . The mean duration of treatment was 17 days . An aminoglycoside was combined with imipenem in 18 cases . Cure was obtained in 17 out of the 22 cases . Very rapid sterilization of the CSF in the cases of meningitis and ventriculitis was noted . Two patients died rapidly despite eradication of the bacteria . One case of meningitis relapsed but cure was subsequently obtained with continuation of the same treatment . In three cases of Ps . aeruginosa infection, resistant mutants were isolated from the sites of infection and were responsible for two failures and one colonization . Imipenem appears to be an antibiotic of choice in severe nosocomial infections including meningo-ventriculitis, especially those caused by Acinetobacter spp . and Ps . aeruginosa . It is also one of the few antibiotics active against both streptococci and multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli . Careful bacteriological monitoring is recommended during treatment.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18(6), 675 - 9
Susceptibility of non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, amifloxacin, pefloxacin and cefpirome; Appelbaum PC et al.; Susceptibility of 340 mainly clinically isolated Gram-negative non-fermenters to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, amifloxacin, pefloxacin and cefpirome was determined by agar dilution . Ciprofloxacin was most active, with MIC90s against all organisms ranging between less than 0.125 and 4 mg/l . Norfloxacin, amifloxacin and pefloxacin were active against most strains, with MIC90 ranges (mg/l) of 0.5 - 32, 0.25 - 32 and less than 0.125 - 16, respectively . Cefpirome showed less activity than the quinolones on a weight-for-weight basis with MIC90s ranging from 0.5 to greater than 64 mg/l; only fluorescent pseudomonads and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biotypes haemolyticus, alcaligenes were uniformly susceptible to cefpirome . The broad-spectrum activity of the four quinolones suggests potential use in therapy of infections caused by non-fermenters; cefpirome should be reserved for infections caused by fluorescent pseudomonads and possibly Acinetobacter spp.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Dec, 183(1), 79 - 85
Bacterial colonization and occurrence of Legionella pneumophila in warm and cold water, in faucet aerators, and in drains of hospitals; Botzenhart K et al.; Warm and cold water as well as water from wash basin drains and faucet aerators was examined to determine the number of viable and dead bacteria by culture and by staining and to establish the spectrum of species with special consideration of Legionella pneumophila . The relation between the number of Legionella pneumophila, the temperature, and the iron content of the water was determined in three separate warm water systems . High colony counts (up to 8.9 X 10(5) colony-forming units), were detected in both warm and cold water at certain sampling sites . The most prevalent genera were Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter, and Moraxella . Legionella pneumophila was found in every building in 35 of 150 warm samples and in 1 of 43 cold water samples . The highest water temperature of a sample containing Legionella pneumophila was 64 degrees C . The correlation between high colony counts and the occurrence of Legionella pneumophila in the samples was not significant . High iron concentrations, however, appear to have a positive effect on the growth of Legionella pneumophila.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Dec, 18 Suppl E, 27 - 33
Antibacterial properties of imipenem with special reference to the activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Vurma-Rapp U et al.; Imipenem was examined with standardized agar dilution procedures against a wide range of bacteria . Geometric mean MICs against the genera Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Serratia were 0.1-0.4 mg/l, and Proteus and Providencia spp . were inhibited by 0.25-4 mg/l . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratum strains were inhibited by concentrations ranging from 0.12-0.5 mg/l . Methicillin-susceptible staphylococci were highly susceptible to the drug (MICs: less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l) and enterococci were inhibited by 0.25-16 mg/l . Most of the multi-resistant JK corynebacteria were resistant to imipenem . Imipenem was more active than any other beta-lactam against methicillin-resistant staphylococci; this was also demonstrated in a population analysis . Imipenem-resistant minorities in populations, however, were also observed . Cefotaxime-resistant and -intermediate Enterobacter and Citrobacter strains were inhibited by concentrations of 0.5 mg/l or less . No third-generation cephalosporin nor any other beta-lactam showed similarly high activity against these groups of organisms . Among 20 ceftazidime-resistant and 20 ceftazidime-susceptible isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, no strain was resistant and only five ceftazidime-resistant strains were intermediately susceptible (MIC, 8 mg/l) to imipenem.

Lancet, 1986 Nov 29, 2(8518), 1245 - 7
Removal and replacement of Tenckhoff catheter at a single operation: successful treatment of resistant peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Paterson AD et al.; 8 episodes of persistent and 4 of recurrent bacterial peritonitis in 11 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were treated successfully by the removal and immediate replacement of the Tenckhoff catheter . Intraperitoneal antibiotics, which had previously failed to produce clinical resolution of the peritonitis, were continued unchanged . Dialysate culture yielded Staphylococcus epidermidis (3 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (1 case), pseudomonas species (5 cases), acinetobacter (1 case), and no growth in 2 cases . Clinical and microbiological resolution was achieved in all 12 cases within 36 h . CAPD continued uninterrupted in 10 cases . 1 patient required temporary haemodialysis for 6 weeks because of dialysate leakage and later restarted CAPD . 1 patient chose haemodialysis as his long-term treatment when his new catheter failed mechanically on the second postoperative day . Replacement of the Tenckhoff catheter at a single operation without interrupting CAPD reduces the demand which temporary haemodialysis of these patients makes on centre dialysis facilities and may preserve the peritoneal cavity for dialysis by preventing the formation of adhesions.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Nov, 30(5), 769 - 70
In vitro susceptibility of Acinetobacter species to various antimicrobial agents; Rolston KV et al.; The in vitro activity of 18 antimicrobial agents against 40 clinical isolates each of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratum and Acinetobacter lwoffi was studied . Most of the newer 4-quinolone derivatives were extremely active against these organisms . Newer beta-lactam agents, such as cefpirome, BMY 28142, and BRL 36650, were also extremely active, inhibiting all strains at clinically achievable levels . Most agents were two- to fourfold more active against A . lwoffi.

Rev Med Interne, 1986 Nov, 7(5), 477 - 85
{Biological bases for the use of ceftazidime in anti-infection therapy}; Bergogne-Berezin E; The author presents the main in vitro and pharmacokinetic characteristics of ceftazidime, a third generation cephalosporin . Ceftazidime has been shown to be highly stable to most plasmid--or chromosome--mediated beta-lactamases . Several studies have demonstrated that its spectrum includes Gram-positive cocci as well as most Gram-negative bacilli, including beta-lactamase producers . Moreover, it has good in vitro activity against Gram-negative aerobic bacteria (Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp.) and frequently exerts a synergistic bactericidal action when combined with an aminoglycoside . As a result, ceftazidime displays a high intrinsic in vitro activity against most of the "difficult" strains . Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that ceftazidime exhibits metabolic stability in vivo; its elimination halflife is 1.8 hours, and about 88 to 92 p . 100 of the dose is recovered in the 24-h urine . Its extravascular distribution is excellent, with high levels being achieved in most tissues and body fluids in man . These in vitro and in vivo properties of ceftazidime suggest that this new cephalosporin should be considered a promising antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections.

J Dairy Sci, 1986 Nov, 69(11), 2769 - 78
Comparison of the heat resistance of bacterial lipases and proteases and the effect on ultra-high temperature milk quality; Christen GL et al.; Thirty-four of 49 isolates of psychrotrophic bacteria produced extracellular lipase or protease when grown in rehydrated nonfat dry milk . The cell-free crude preparation from 50% of these had either heat-resistant lipase or protease; in 30% both enzymes were heat resistant . Eight isolates were selected for further evaluation of effect on ultra-high temperature processed milk . Free fatty acids and free amino groups of milk precultured with the bacteria increased at different rates depending on the isolate . Partially purified lipase from one of these bacteria (Acinetobacter sp.) caused free fatty acids to increase following ultra-high temperature processing when the milk was stored at 10, 21, or 32 degrees C for 4 wk . The increase was temperature dependent . Lipase activity of .0012 units/ml added prior to processing caused significant increases in free fatty acid at 21 and 32 degrees C in 4 wk.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Nov, 168(2), 815 - 20
Cloning and expression of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus catechol 1,2-dioxygenase structural gene catA in Escherichia coli; Neidle EL et al.; Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.1.1), the product of the catA gene, catalyzes the first step in catechol utilization via the beta-ketoadipate pathway . Enzymes mediating subsequent steps in the pathway are encoded by the catBCDE genes which are carried on a 5-kilobase-pair (kbp) EcoRI restriction fragment isolated from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . This DNA was used as a probe to identify Escherichia coli colonies carrying recombinant pUC19 plasmids with overlapping sequences . Repetition of the procedure yielded an A . calcoaceticus 6.7-kbp EcoRI restriction fragment which contained the catA gene and bordered the original 5-kbp EcoRI restriction fragment . When the catA-containing fragment was placed under the control of the lac promoter on pUC19 and induced with isopropylthiogalactopyranoside, catechol dioxygenase was formed in E . coli at twice the level found in fully induced cultures of A . calcoaceticus . A . calcoaceticus strains with mutations in the catA gene were transformed to wild type by DNA from lysates of E . coli strains carrying the catA gene on recombinant plasmids . Thus, A . calcoaceticus strains with a mutated gene can be used in a transformation assay to identify E . coli clones in which at least part of the wild-type gene is present but not necessarily expressed.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Nov, 30(5), 638 - 44
In vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of a new difluoro oxacephem, 6315-S; Neu HC et al.; 6315-S, a novel difluoromethyl thioacetamido oxacephem, had in vitro activity comparable to that of cefotaxime and moxalactam against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter diversus, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp., inhibiting 90% at less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml . It inhibited piperacillin- and cefoperazone-resistant isolates in these species . 6315-S did not inhibit cefotaxime- or moxalactam-resistant Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, or Enterobacter cloacae (MICs for 90% of the strains tested were greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml) . Proteus vulgaris resistant to cefotaxime was inhibited . Pseudomonas species and Acinetobacter species were resistant (MICs greater than 64 micrograms/ml) . MICs for 90% of the Staphylococcus aureus and S . epidermidis isolates were 4 micrograms/ml . 6315-S was highly active against anaerobic species of Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, and peptostreptococci and was superior to other agents against these organisms . 6315-S was not hydrolyzed by the major plasmid and chromosomal beta-lactamases, but it induced chromosomal beta-lactamases in Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Nov, 8(11), 675 - 8
Antimicrobial activity of imipenem against 1386 clinical isolates; Belobraydic KA et al.; 1386 isolates from clinical specimens were tested against imipenem by disc agar diffusion . The bacteria used in this study consisted of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, E . agglomerans, E . cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K . oxytoca, K . ozanae, Proteus mirabilis, P . vulgaris, Providencia stuartii, P . rettgeri, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Citrobacter diversus, C . freundii, Morganella morganii, Serratia liquefaciens, S . marcescens, Hafnia alvei, Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . cepacia, P . maltophila, P . fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, S . epidermidis, S . saprophyticus, pneumococcus, Lancefield group A, B and D streptococci, viridans streptococci, diphtheroids and Bacillus species . In vitro activity of imipenem was compared with the following antibiotics: ampicillin, amikacin, carbenicillin, cefoperazone, cefoxitin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, colistin, erythromycin, gentamicin, methicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, tobramycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin . Of the 819 strains of Enterobacteriaceae tested, 99.5% were susceptible to imipenem . Ninety-seven percent strains of P . aeruginosa were also susceptible to imipenem . All the 161 isolates of S . aureus and 116 of the 117 isolates of enterococci exhibited in vitro susceptibility to this antibiotic . All gram positive bacteria tested were inhibited by imipenem except 28% isolates of S . epidermidis and 5% isolates of S . agalactiae.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Nov, 18 Suppl D, 1 - 20
The comparative in-vitro activity of eight newer quinolones and nalidixic acid; King A et al.; The in-vitro antibacterial activity of nalidixic acid and the 4-quinolones, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, enoxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, A-56619, A-56620 and CI-934 was assessed by determination of MICs . The 4-quinolones were all highly active against most isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, including nalidixic acid-resistant strains . Ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.002-2 mg/l) was the most active and A-56619 (MICs 0.008-32 mg/l) was the least active . A-56619, A-56620, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and CI-934 were highly active against Acinetobacter strains, pefloxacin and enoxacin were slightly less active, and a few strains were resistant to norfloxacin . All the compounds, including nalidixic acid, were active against Aeromonas strains (MICs 0.001-0.12 mg/l) . Ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.06-1 mg/l) was the most active compound against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; A-56619 and CI-934 (MICs 1-16 mg/l) were the least active against this species . All the compounds were highly active against Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae but the activity of all the compounds was poor against most isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis . All the 4-quinolones were active against staphylococci and CI-934 (MICs 0.03-0.25 mg/l) was the most active . CI-934 (MICs 0.06-2 mg/l) was also the most active compound against all streptococci . Most streptococci were sensitive also to ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.25-4 mg/l) but there were many isolates resistant to the other 4-quinolones . Against the anaerobic bacteria CI-934 was again the most active compound, particularly against the Gram-positive anaerobic cocci . Pefloxacin, enoxacin and norfloxacin had poor activity against most anaerobes . Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, A-56619 and A-56620 had good to moderate activity against all species of anaerobes except the Bacteroides fragilis group, against which none of the compounds was very active.

Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 8 Suppl 5, S528 - 34
Sulbactam/ampicillin: in vitro spectrum, potency, and activity in models of acute infection; Retsema JA et al.; More than 90% of community hospital-isolated strains of Staphylococcus (including methicillin-resistant isolates), Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Neisseria, Branhamella, Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were inhibited by the sulbactam/ampicillin (1:2) combination at concentrations of 8 micrograms/16 micrograms per ml . The peak serum level from a 15-min infusion of 1 g/2 g of sulbactam/ampicillin is more than seven times this 90% end point . Excellent bactericidal activity was demonstrated against ampicillin-resistant isolates . Ampicillin-resistant strains did not develop resistance to sulbactam/ampicillin when they were serially transferred in the presence of sublethal concentrations of the combination . In mice the combination was active against a variety of acute, fatal infections produced by ampicillin-resistant bacterial isolates, including methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and mixed anaerobes . The in vitro and in vivo properties of sulbactam/ampicillin, coupled with its reliable pharmacokinetic performance, appear to make the combination ideally suited for the treatment of polymicrobial (aerobe-anaerobe) infections.

Biochem J, 1986 Oct 1, 239(1), 163 - 7
Purification and characterization of quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D . 79.41; Dokter P et al.; Quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.17) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D . 79.41 was purified to homogeneity . It is a basic protein with an isoelectric point of 9.5 and an Mr of 94,000 . Denaturation yields two molecules of PQQ/molecule and a protein with an Mr of 48000, indicating that the enzyme consists of two subunits, which are probably identical because even numbers of aromatic amino acids were found . The oxidized enzyme form has an absorption maximum at 350 nm, and the reduced form, obtained after the addition of glucose, at 338 nm . Since double-reciprocal plots of initial reaction rates with various concentrations of glucose or electron acceptor show parallel lines, and substrate inhibition is observed for glucose as well as for electron acceptor at high concentrations, a ping-pong kinetic behaviour with the two reactants exists . From the plots, Km values for glucose and Wurster's Blue of 22 mM and 0.78 mM respectively, and a Vmax . of 7.730 mumol of glucose oxidized/min per mg of protein were derived . The enzyme shows a broad substrate specificity for aldose sugars . Cationic electron acceptors are active in the assay, anionic acceptors are not . A pH optimum of 9.0 was found with Wurster's Blue and 6.0 with 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol . Two types of quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenases seem to exist: type I enzymes are acidic proteins from which PQQ can be removed by dialysis against EDTA-containing buffers (examples are found in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes and Pseudomonas sp.); type II enzymes are basic proteins from which PQQ is not removed by dialysis against EDTA-containing buffers (examples are found in A . calcoaceticus and Gluconobacter oxydans).

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Oct, 30(4), 624 - 5
Comparison of susceptibility of gentamicin-resistant and -susceptible "Acinetobacter anitratus" to 15 alternative antibiotics; Stiver HG et al.; Fifty-four clinical isolates of "Acinetobacter anitratus" separated cleanly into gentamicin-susceptible (16 strains) and gentamicin-resistant (38 strains) subpopulations . When tested with a 10(4)-CFU inoculum, gentamicin resistance was associated with a greater than fourfold increase in the MICs of norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, A-56620, tobramycin, and amikacin for 50% of the strains . Antimicrobial agents with MICs for 90% of gentamicin-resistant strains in the susceptible range were ciprofloxacin, A-56619, A-56620, imipenem, SCH-34343, ceftazidime, aztreonam, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, and piperacillin . These agents may be useful alternative drugs for treating infections caused by aminoglycoside-susceptible and -resistant "A . anitratus."

J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Oct, 97(2), 247 - 53
Aerobic gram-negative pharyngeal bacilli of adult Ethiopians: carrier rates and antibiograms; Mengistu Y et al.; One thousand pharyngeal swab specimens were processed for aerobic culture to determine the carriage rate of Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) . The isolates were identified and their sensitivity determined to 11 antibacterial drugs following standard techniques . Similar pharyngeal carriage rates of GNB were found among the various groups of healthy subjects . Patients had higher colonization rates (27%) than healthy subjects (16%) . The increase in prevalence of GNB seemed to be associated with underlying diseases and duration of hospitalization . Klebsiella (36%) was the most frequent genus amongst the 215 isolates of GNB followed by pseudomonas (13%), enterobacter (13%) and acinetobacter (10%) . Others were less frequently isolated . Over 70% of all isolates were resistant to ampicillin (79%) and carbenicillin (72%); 55, 45 and 43% were resistant to cephalothin, tetracycline and streptomycin, respectively . The great majority of the strains were sensitive to the remaining six drugs . The hospital isolates were more resistant than the non-hospital isolates to most drugs tested . The hospital strains were also more often multiply resistant (89%) than the non-hospital strains (60%) . Sixty-five different resistance antibiograms of 1-10 drugs were observed among 191 strains . More varied types of antibiograms were observed among hospital strains . The high frequency of multiple drug resistance of the isolates is an indication of the extensive use of antibacterial drugs, indicating the need for a policy for judicious use of drugs.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1986 Oct, 61(4), 365 - 72
Isolation and characterization of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from natural spring waters in the Lanjaron area (Spain); Quevedo-Sarmiento J et al.; Aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from nine natural mineral water springs in the Lanjaron area of Spain over the period July 1980 to May 1981 . The mineral waters contained few bacteria (mean counts 26-5275 cfu per 100 ml) and the bacterial flora of all nine springs was very similar . Most of the isolates were Gram-negative rods (90%), and among these Pseudomonas spp . and members of the Flavobacterium-Cytophaga-Flexibacter group were numerically dominant . Aeromonas-Vibrio and Enterobacteriaceae isolates were an important fraction of the total number, but isolates from remaining groups (Acinetobacter, Chromobacterium, Alcaligenes and Gram-positive organisms) constituted only a small proportion of the flora . The comparatively small number of species isolated, and the occurrence of no more than three or four different bacterial types in spring water of different chemical and physical composition is discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Oct, 168(1), 31 - 9
Cloning and expression of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus mutarotase gene in Escherichia coli; Gatz C et al.; This article describes the cloning of the mutarotase gene from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and its expression in Escherichia coli . Purification of mutarotase (EC 5.1.3.3) led to a single polypeptide of 40 kilodaltons . The sequences of 27 N-terminal and 76 C-terminal amino acids were determined . From six amino acids of the N-terminal and seven amino acids of the C-terminal portion of the protein, the sequences of two oligonucleotides were deduced . These were synthesized and used as gene probes . Completely restricted chromosomal DNA from A . calcoaceticus was size fractioned, and only fractions hybridizing with the gene probes were used to construct gene banks enriched for the mutarotase determinant . With the N-terminal gene probe, a bank of 6- to 7-kilobase-pair BclI fragments in pBR327 was obtained . A total of 1,200 candidates were screened by colony hybridization followed by dot-blot analysis of purified plasmids from positive candidates and subsequent Southern blot analysis of the respective restricted plasmids, and 500 base pairs (bp) from the 5' end of the mutarotase gene were isolated by this procedure . The 3' portion of the gene was isolated from a gene bank containing 1,500-bp-long HindIII fragments inserted in M13mp11 . This bank was screened by dot-blot analysis of single-stranded phage DNA with the C-terminal gene probe . The isolated gene fragments were fused at a common restriction site in their overlapping region to yield the complete mutarotase gene . High-level expression of mutarotase in E . coli was achieved when the gene was placed under transcriptional control of the phage lambda promoter pL . More than 90% of mutarotase activity was found in the culture medium . The E . coli-derived mutarotase was purified and shown to be identical to the A . calcoaceticus-derived product with respect to the molecular weight and N-terminal amino acid sequence . The expression of mutarotase in E . coli was increased 200-fold in comparison to that the wild-type A . calcoaceticus.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Oct, 182(5-6), 537 - 50
Determination of endotoxins on hypodermic needles by means of a chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay . Development of a test model; Vanhaecke E et al.; A test model was developed in order to describe the determination of endotoxins on hypodermic needles in a reliable and reproducible manner . As in all in-vitro experiments one has to be very careful about extrapolating data to in-vivo situations . However by choosing a hydrophilic (Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028) and a hydrophobic bacterium (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus RR 8212/113), one could hope to obtain a quite representative idea about the extraction of contaminating gram-negative micro-organisms . Using the proposed extraction procedure and a chromogenic LAL assay as detection system, it was possible to achieve a quantitative idea about the extraction of endotoxins on hypodermic needles . Extracting needles at 19 degrees C during 83 to 98 min produced the highest yield as to the detection of endotoxins from hydrophilic strains . For the detection of endotoxins from hydrophobic strains, the highest yield values were obtained when the extraction was performed at temperatures between 64 and 80 degrees C during 96 to 120 min . However it seems necessary to perform the extractions at least three times in order to obtain reproducible results . In conclusion, using the extraction procedure as described, it is possible to measure endotoxin-like activity, on the inner and outer surface of hypodermic needles in a simple but accurate way, using water as extraction fluid and a chromogenic Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate assay as detection system.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Sep, 132 ( Pt 9), 2633 - 6
Prophage induction by ultraviolet light in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Berenstein D; UV-induction of prophage P78 of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus increased with the UV-dose given to the lysogenic strain from the spontaneous induction frequency of about 0.8% to a maximal frequency of 10% . This 10- to 20-fold increase of induction frequency, as measured by the number of infective centres, was accompanied by a 1000-fold increase in the yield of free phage . This effect was probably due to an increase in burst size under the conditions of lysogenic induction . Unusually, the lysogen was more resistant to UV-irradiation than the corresponding non-lysogenic strain.

Drugs, 1986 Sep, 32(3), 222 - 59
Cefonicid . A review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacological properties and therapeutic use; Saltiel E et al.; Cefonicid is a 'second generation' cephalosporin administered intravenously or intramuscularly . It is similar to cefamandole in its superiority to first generation cephalosporins against several enterobacteriaceae as well as its activity against Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains . Its activity against Staphylococcus aureus is similar to that of cefoxitin and inferior to cefamandole and first generation cephalosporins . It has excellent in vitro activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but is inactive against Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Serratia, and Bacteroides fragilis . Due to high achievable plasma concentrations and a relatively long half-life, in most clinical trials cefonicid has been administered once daily . It was comparable in efficacy with cefamandole or cefazolin in the treatment of patients with urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, and soft tissue and bone infections . It has also been compared with penicillin in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea . Results from a small series of patients with endocarditis appear to indicate that cefonicid should not be used in patients with serious staphylococcal infections . Single doses of cefonicid given preoperatively appear to offer a similar degree of protection against post-surgical infection as multiple doses of other antibiotics, but further data from studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these impressions . Patients who require prolonged antibiotic therapy, such as those with osteomyelitis being treated as outpatients after a relatively short inpatient course, could benefit from the once daily dose regimen of cefonicid.

Infect Immun, 1986 Sep, 53(3), 651 - 5
Late intraphagosomal hydrogen ion concentration favors the in vitro antimicrobial capacity of a 37-kilodalton cationic granule protein of human neutrophil granulocytes; Shafer WM et al.; We described previously (W.M . Shafer, L.E . Martin, and J.K . Spitznagel, Infect . Immun . 45:29-35, 1984) the presence of a 37-kilodalton cationic antimicrobial protein (37K CAP) in extracts of granules prepared from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) . In this investigation, we prepared 37K CAP from PMN granule extracts by sequential ion-exchange and molecular-sieve chromatography and examined its antimicrobial activity against a number of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria . At concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml or lower, 37K CAP exerted selective antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria . These bacteria included Acinetobacter lwoffii, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, and Shigella sonnei . However, at 5 micrograms of 37K CAP per ml, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia marcescens resisted this antimicrobial activity . The bactericidal activity of 37K CAP was greatest in acidic (pH 5.5) as opposed to alkaline (pH 7.5) media . The level of S . typhimurium resistance to 37K CAP correlated with the presence of O antigen in the lipopolysaccharide . In the absence of O antigen repeat units, resistance was proportional to the length of the core oligosaccharide . These results suggest that 37K CAP may contribute significantly to the ability of PMN to kill gram-negative bacteria by nonoxidative means, particularly as the maturing phagolysosome becomes acidified.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Sep-Oct, 5(5), 545 - 9
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus sepsis in children with malignancies; Fuchs GJ 3rd et al.; The clinical and microbiologic characteristics of 29 episodes of sepsis caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were reviewed in 25 children with underlying malignancies . Of the 29 episodes of sepsis with this organism 28 occurred from 1980 through 1984, compared with 1 episode from 1973 to 1979 . Risk of infection was associated with the presence of intravascular cannulae, osteosarcoma and recent administration of antitumor chemotherapy . There was no association with neutropenia, malnutrition or focal infection . Of 28 organisms for which the biotypes were known, 14 (50%) were var . lwoffi and 14 (50%) were var . anitratus; 11 episodes (38%) were part of a polymicrobial bacteremia . All patients responded favorably to antimicrobial therapy.

Mol Immunol, 1986 Sep, 23(9), 965 - 9
Polymyxin-B inhibition of LPS-induced interleukin-1 secretion by human monocytes is dependent upon the LPS origin; Cavaillon JM et al.; Polymyxin-B (PMB) is an antibiotic known to inhibit various biological activities induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) . We have investigated the ability of PMB to inhibit LPS-induced interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion by human monocytes in vitro . Interleukin-1 was assayed by the conventional comitogenic assay using mice thymocytes . Our data demonstrate that PMB (1-2 micrograms/assay)-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-1 secretion depends on the origin of the LPS . Interleukin-1 secretions induced by Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LPSs, when used at 1 microgram/assay were completely inhibited by PMB, whereas those induced by Neisseria gonorrheae, Neisseria meningitidis, Bordetella pertussis, and Salmonella enteritidis LPSs were unaffected . Neisseria meningitidis, the most potent IL-1 inducer tested could be inhibited by PMB only at concns below 5 ng/assay; when the assay was performed in the presence of serum (0.2%) PMB could not completely inhibit Neisseria meningitidis LPS-induced IL-1 secretion at LPS doses as low as 100 pg/assay . Polymyxin B itself, at doses greater than 50 micrograms/assay, stimulated IL-1 secretion and acted synergistically with LPS to induce IL-1 secretion when used at 10 micrograms/assay . Potential relevance of Lipid A-mediated IL-1 secretion and the use of PMB to detect endotoxin contamination is discussed.

Can J Microbiol, 1986 Aug, 32(8), 679 - 86
{Aerobic treatment of pig slurry: microbial aspects}; Doyle Y et al.; During the treatment of raw pig slurry by batch aerobic fermentation, the presence of surfaces for bacterial attachment resulted in a 1,000-fold increase in the microbial population . In the absence of such surfaces, a 65% reduction of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the manure was obtained after 168 h of aeration, whereas a value of 90% was observed in their presence . In the early stages of the treatment, during which the redox potential passed from a value characteristic of anaerobic conditions (-305 mV) to a stable value typical of aerobic conditions (+125 mV) some 120 h later, an amylolytic population dominated by Gram-negative bacteria (chiefly Acinetobacter calcoaceticus) developed; this was followed by a phase in which a proteolytic population tended to become dominant . Populations of some potentially pathogenic bacterial strains characteristic of the porcine intestinal flora declined noticeably during the treatment.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Aug, 39(8), 2077 - 83
{Clinical evaluation of ceftazidime in the treatment of neonatal infections}; Arimasu O et al.; Ceftazidime (CAZ) was evaluated for its safety and efficacy in 27 newborns . Four confirmed cases of bacterial infections were cured by the CAZ therapy (efficacy rate 100%) . The CAZ was assessed as effective in sepsis (2) and urinary tract infections (2) . Main pathogens which responded to CAZ were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter anitratum . As adverse effects, elevations of GOT and GPT (1 case) were found to be associated with the CAZ therapy . Half-lives of the serum levels in mature infants were 1.93-3.52 hours, and those in low birth weight infants were 2.92-4.17 hours . Penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid in 1 case of viral meningitis was satisfactory . The data suggest that CAZ is a safe and effective injectable antibiotic when used in newborn with infection caused by CAZ-susceptible bacteria.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Aug, 18(2), 163 - 9
The in-vitro activity of CI-934 compared with that of other new 4-quinolones and nalidixic acid; King A et al.; The in-vitro activity of CI-934, a new 4-quinolone compound, was compared with that of the other new 4-quinolones, enoxacin and ciprofloxacin, and also with that of nalidixic acid . CI-934 was more active than any of the other 4-quinolones tested against Gram-positive aerobic organisms including Staphylococcus aureus (MICs 0.06-0.25 mg/l), beta-haemolytic streptococci (MICs 0.12-0.5 mg/l), Streptococcus pneumoniae (MICs 0.25-0.5 ml/l), viridans streptococci (MICs 0.06-0.5 mg/l) and most enterococci (MICs 0.12-0.5 mg/l), although some ampicillin-resistant isolates of Str . faecium were slightly less susceptible (MICs 2 mg/l) . All three of the newer 4-quinolones tested were highly active against Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonas sp., Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MICs mostly less than 1 mg/l) . The other Gram-negative aerobes tested were in general somewhat less susceptible, although for Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MICs seldom exceeded 8 mg/l . CI-934 was more active than enoxacin against Gardnerella vaginalis (MICs 1-8 mg/l) although it was a little less active than ciprofloxacin . Bacteroides species (including about half of the fragilis group) were susceptible to CI-934 (MICs mostly 1-8 mg/l): ciprofloxacin had similar activity but enoxacin was less active . Other anaerobes tested were mostly highly susceptible to CI-934 (MICs 1 mg/l or less) but were somewhat less susceptible to enoxacin and ciprofloxacin.

Minerva Med, 1986 Jul 14, 77(28-29), 1339 - 46
{Urinary tract infections in a general medicine department . Comments on cases collected over 3 years}; Arosio A et al.; Urinary infections often complicate the clinical course of hospitalised patients especially those with immunological diseases or under antibiotic treatment for other infectious pathologies . Urethral catheterisation is also a well known cause of such infections . The problem of urinary infections was examined in a general medical division . Over a three year period (1982-84), 384 urinary tract infections (UTI) with one infecting organism and 21 UTI with two bacterial species in urine cultures were found . UTI was more often found to be caused by gram negative than gram positive bacilli in both catheterised and non-catheterised patients and E . Coli accounted for most infections . Pseudomonas, Serratia and Acinetobacter were only found in catheterised patients and Enterobacter cloacae almost exclusively so . Among gram-positive bacilli, Enterococcus was the most common . Staphylococcus aureus was rare but created major pathogenetic and therapeutic problems . The results are discussed with particular reference to the high incidence of Escherichia coli and the significance of the different distribution of Pseudomonas, Serratia, Acinetobacter and Enterobacter cloacae between catheterised and non-catheterised patients . Finally the pathogenic and therapeutic problems of UTI caused by more than one germ are considered.

J Wildl Dis, 1986 Jul, 22(3), 344 - 8
Quantitative and qualitative studies of gut flora in striped bass from estuarine and coastal marine environments; MacFarlane RD et al.; Examination of the intestinal contents of 130 striped bass (Morone saxatilis) collected from the Hudson River and Long Island Sound during May to October 1981 showed that opportunistic fish pathogens--especially Aeromonas hydrophila--predominated in samples from both locations . Other isolates from both groups of striped bass included Vibrio, pseudomonads, flavo-bacteria, Alcaligenes, and enterics . Small numbers of Micrococcus, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and Acinetobacter were also isolated . Total numbers of bacteria in the intestines were 100 to 1,000 times higher in striped bass from the Hudson River than in those from Long Island Sound.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Jul, 52(1), 146 - 51
Enhanced emulsan production in mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 selected for resistance to cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; Shabtai Y et al.; Mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 that produced elevated levels of the polymeric bioemulsifier emulsan were isolated on the basis of their resistance to the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) . Such mutants showed maximum enhancement in both overall yield and specific productivity of some two- to threefold over that of the wild type . In addition, the effect was also observed in a resting cell system in the presence of chloramphenicol, indicating that the mutation is not simply the result of faster growth . When CTAB-tolerant mutants were subjected together with the sensitive parent to the detergent under growing conditions, only the mutants were found to grow . The results suggest that the mutation for CTAB resistance leads to enhanced capsule production . This was confirmed quantitatively by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the cell-bound emulsan minicapsule.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Jul, 24(1), 99 - 103
Microplate technique to determine hemolytic activity for routine typing of Listeria strains; Dominguez Rodriguez L et al.; Because the hemolysis produced by Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria seeligeri on blood agar is frequently difficult to interpret, we developed a microplate technique for the routine determination of hemolytic activity with erythrocyte suspensions . This microtechnique is a simple and reliable test for distinguishing clearly between hemolytic and nonhemolytic strains and could be used instead of the CAMP (Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen) test with Staphylococcus aureus in the routine typing of Listeria strains . Furthermore, our results suggest that the quantitation of the hemolytic activity of the Listeria strains, along with the D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and alpha-methyl-D-mannoside acidification tests, allows the differentiation of L . monocytogenes, L . seeligeri, and Listeria ivanovii . We also observed that the treatment of erythrocytes with crude exosubstances of rhodococcus equi, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and S . aureus enhanced the hemolytic activity of all Listeria strains with this characteristic.

Am J Med, 1986 Jun 30, 80(6B), 48 - 55
Prevalence and mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance . A ten-year study; Phillips I et al.; Aminoglycoside resistance was monitored at St . Thomas' Hospital from 1975 to 1984 . Gentamicin resistance had appeared in a number of species by 1975, but remained rare (less than 1 percent of isolates) in Escherichia coli throughout the study period . Gentamicin-resistant Klebsielleae had become fairly common (8 percent of isolates) by 1977, but little change has subsequently occurred in their frequency of isolation . Serratia species are not frequently isolated; gentamicin resistance in these organisms was not observed until 1979 . Since then, 10 to 20 percent of isolates have been found to be resistant . Except for Providencia, most isolates of which were gentamicin-resistant, less than 5 percent of the Enterobacteriaceae isolated were found to be resistant to gentamicin during the 10-year period . Throughout the study, approximately 5 percent of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were resistant to gentamicin . Less than 5 percent of the isolates of Acinetobacter were resistant to gentamicin before 1979, at which time 40 percent were found to be resistant; subsequently, gentamicin resistance among these organisms has become somewhat less common . On the whole, tobramycin resistance has mirrored gentamicin resistance . However, before 1979, most gentamicin-resistant Klebsielleae isolates had retained susceptibility to tobramycin, as had most gentamicin-resistant isolates of Acinetobacter and P . aeruginosa . Amikacin resistance has remained very unusual in all organisms, apart from non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas species . Until 1977, nearly all the resistance among Enterobacteriaceae was attributable to AAC(3)-I, except for that caused by AAC(2') production in Providencia and the non-enzymatic resistance observed in E . coli . However, more recently, AAC(3)-II and AAD(2'') have become the most common mechanisms of resistance . The resistance of most gentamicin-resistant isolates of P . aeruginosa from 1974 to 1977 was attributable to non-enzymatic mechanisms; subsequently, such resistance was more often caused by AAC(3)-I, AAC(6'), or AAD(2'') . Gentamicin resistance first appeared in Staphylococcus aureus in 1976, after which about 1 to 2 percent of the isolates from hospitalized patients were found to be resistant, mostly because of production of AAC(6') and APH(2'').

Am J Med, 1986 Jun 30, 80(6B), 82 - 7
Strategies in aminoglycoside use and impact upon resistance; Acar JF et al.; Assessment of amikacin resistance over a 10-year period at our institution revealed that the number of resistant strains remained stable . Qualitatively, amikacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas were fairly stable . There was a slight increase in amikacin-resistant Acinetobacter and staphylococci . Different factors influencing the emergence and spread of resistant hospital bacteria have been studied at different periods and compared with similar data on gentamicin-resistant strains . Transmissible plasmids, multiple mechanisms of resistance, and high levels of resistance were more frequent in gentamicin-resistant strains . In the amikacin-resistant strains, the level of resistance was 16 to 32 mg/liter with few autotransferable plasmids . A synergistic or additive effect with cephalosporins, which may be a factor in decreasing the risk of selection of the resistant strains since there is no plasmid-mediated resistance to cephalosporins, was demonstrated in Enterobacteriaceae . To control the development of aminoglycoside resistance in hospitals, it may be necessary to restrict the use of more than the one drug to which resistance is developing; to use the antibiotic at the right dosage and, when necessary, in a combination that may prevent the emergence of resistant organisms and plasmids; and to develop measures to control bacterial and R factor transmission.

Am J Med, 1986 Jun 30, 80(6B), 65 - 70
Susceptibility of aerobic gram-negative bacilli to aminoglycosides . Effects of 45 months of amikacin as first-line aminoglycoside therapy; Saavedra S et al.; Amikacin was instituted as the primary empiric aminoglycoside at the San Juan Veterans Administration Medical Center in January 1982; at that time, 16 percent of the strains at the hospital were gentamicin-resistant . A prospective surveillance study was designed to correlate detection of bacterial resistance with aminoglycoside use . In the current report, the baseline period, during which gentamicin was the first-line aminoglycoside, accounting for 61 percent of overall aminoglycoside use, is compared with the period from January 1982 to September 1985, during which the first-line aminoglycoside was amikacin, accounting for 85 percent of overall use . This study is ongoing . During the two periods, the patient population did not differ with regard to aminoglycoside therapy, indications, or overall aminoglycoside use (541 versus 680 patient days per month) . Among the gram-negative bacilli isolated, the percent of strains resistant to amikacin was as follows: pre-baseline period/baseline period, 0.8/0.2 percent; amikacin-usage period, 3.6 percent . Resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin during the period of amikacin use decreased from 16 to 11 percent for gentamicin and from 17 to 11 percent for tobramycin . The decrease in resistance of the gram-negative bacilli to gentamicin varied among strains: the resistance of Escherichia coli decreased from 8 to 4 percent; that of Proteus mirabilis, from 12 to 5 percent; that of indole-positive Proteus, from 19 to 12 percent; that of Acinetobacter, from 57 to 23 percent; that of Citrobacter, from 15 to 7 percent; and that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, from 24 to 16 percent . During the amikacin-usage period, amikacin resistance was unchanged for most strains, with the exception of P . aeruginosa, the resistance of which increased from 4.5 to 7.8 percent . Of the 4,795 strains isolated, 174 were resistant to amikacin; of these, 29 Pseudomonas strains were studied for all mechanisms of resistance . Changes in permeability were exhibited by 11 of the 29 strains; 14 strains exhibited the AAC(6')-I enzyme, 10 strains exhibited the APH(3')-II enzyme, and two strains exhibited ANT(2") in addition to some other unidentified mechanism . Multiple enzyme production was found in 15 of the strains . The use of amikacin as a first-line aminoglycoside is associated with a decrease in resistance to other aminoglycosides and a slight increase in overall resistance to amikacin among aerobic gram-negative bacilli . The usefulness of amikacin has not been affected at our institution.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Jun, (6), 20 - 6
{Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter . Their systematics and ecological analysis}; Kalina GP; The content of A . lwoffi and A . calcoaceticus in water and sewage has been determined . A considerable prevalence of A . lwoffi in both objects has been revealed . The most definite results have been obtained with the use of selective media: ethanol-ammonium medium and Baumann's modified nitrate-acetate medium . The seasonal dynamics of both species in water has been determined, the peak being observed in June and the decrease (and with A . calcoaceticus even disappearance), in August.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Jun, 51(6), 1304 - 8
Variation in composition and yield of exopolysaccharides produced by Klebsiella sp . strain K32 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4; Bryan BA et al.; The exopolysaccharides produced by Klebsiella sp . strain K32 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 under different growth conditions have been analyzed for sugar composition . The first use of ion chromatography for the quantitative determination of microbial exopolysaccharide composition is reported . Klebsiella sp . strain K32 produced a polymer composed of rhamnose, galactose, and mannose early in its fermentation . The composition of the polymer varied markedly depending on the growth stage of the organism . Klebsiella sp . strain K32 grown in a fermentor produced a polymer which was rich in mannose during early exponential growth in a complex medium, but in the late stationary phase it did not contain detectable levels of mannose . The rhamnose present in the polymer increased from 12 to 55% over the course of growth, whereas galactose decreased from 63 to 45% . A . calcoaceticus BD4 produced a polymer containing rhamnose, glucose, mannose throughout its growth and stationary phase . Klebsiella sp . strain K32 and A . calcoaceticus BD4 were grown on various carbon sources in shake flasks . The polymer yield and composition from both organisms were found to vary with the carbon source . The exopolysaccharide with the highest mannose composition was obtained by using rhamnose as a carbon source for both organisms . These and other data suggest that regulatory changes caused by growth on different substrates result in either the production of a different distribution of polymers or a change in exopolysaccharide structure.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 Jun, 34(5 Pt 2), 625 - 8
{Comparative activity in vitro of ceftizoxime, ceftazidime and imipenem against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a nosocomial pathogenic agent, is isolated with increasing frequency from hospitalized patients . Acinetobacter is one of the most resistant pathogens to currently available antibiotics, particularly beta-lactam antibiotics . Beta-lactamases (TEM penicillinase and cephalosporinase) and problems of permeability are the most frequent mechanisms of resistance . The authors compared the in vitro activity of ceftizoxim, ceftazidim and imipenem against 82 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Ceftizoxim, structurally similar to cefotaxim, was highly active in vitro; MIC 50%, 90% and geometric mean were respectively 6.28, 15 and 6.9 micrograms/ml . A significant difference was observed between the anitratum and lwoffi varieties . The lwoffi variety was more susceptible to tested drugs than the anitratum variety . Ceftazidim activity was comparable with MIC 50 of 6.5 micrograms/ml and MIC 90 of 26.2 micrograms/ml . A good bactericidal activity was observed against susceptible strains (MIC less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml) . Imipenem showed the greatest activity since 0.47 microgram/ml of the drug inhibited 90% of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 Jun, 34(5 Pt 2), 573 - 6
{In vitro activity of carumonam (RO 17-2301) on hospital bacteria}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of carumonam (RO 17-2301), a new synthetic antibacterial agent of the monobactam group, were evaluated by agar dilution for 399 hospital isolates . RO 17-2301 was inactive against Gram positive and anaerobic bacteria . Most Enterobacteriaceae were inhibited by concentrations less than 1 microgram/ml, with mode MICs approximating 0.03 micrograms/ml except for Providencia (0.016), Citrobacter (0.06), Serratia (0.06) and Enterobacter (0.12) . A few strains, most of which were Enterobacter or Citrobacter, had high MICs (greater than 8 micrograms/ml) . RO 17-2301 was less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mode MIC 2 micrograms/ml) and Acinetobacter (mode MIC 8-16 micrograms/ml) . Haemophilus influenzae sp . were sensitive to RO 17-2301 (mode MIC 0.12-0.25), regardless of beta-lactamase production status; MICs ranged from 0.06 to 0.25 micrograms/ml for Meningococci, and from 0.008 to 0.06 for Gonococci except for a few strains that had higher MICs (0.25 to 0.5 and even 4 micrograms/ml) . In vitro activity of RO 17-2301 on Gram negative bacteria proved similar to that of third-generation cephalosporins; cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are resistant to RO 17-2301.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 Jun, 34(5 Pt 2), 561 - 6
{In vitro activity of a new 3d-generation cephalosporin, cefodizime, on hospital bacteria}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefodizime were evaluated by agar dilution for 746 bacterial strains isolated in two hospitals . For enterobacteriaceae MICs ranged from 0.008 micrograms/ml to more than 128 micrograms/ml (mode MIC: 0.25); mode MICs varied across species, ranging from 0.016 micrograms/ml for Proteus mirabilis to 1 microgram/ml for Citrobacter; MICs ranged from 0.12 to 8 for most Enterobacter and from 1 to 64 for Serratia . The rare cefotaxime-resistant strains, most of which were Citrobacter or Enterobacter, also showed resistance to cefodizime . Cefodizime was noticeably less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter, with MICs ranging from 32 to more than 128 . Haemophilus sp . and Gonococci, regardless of beta-lactamase-production status, as well as Neisseria meningitidis, were highly susceptible (MIC less than or equal to 0.008-0.016) . Cefodizime was moderately active against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococci (MIC: 2 to 16 micrograms/ml) and failed to inhibit methicillin-resistant strains . Enterococci were slightly susceptible or resistant . Whereas the other Streptococci and Pneumococci had low MICs (0.03-0.12) . A fairly wide range of MICs was found for anaerobes, with lower values for Clostridium (0.008 to 1) than for Bacteroids (8 to 128 mu g/ml) . Our results show that cefodizime has the same properties as other third-generation cephalosporins: cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains also exhibit resistance to cefodizime.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Jun, 51(6), 1321 - 5
Influence of substratum hydration and adsorbed macromolecules on bacterial attachment to surfaces; Pringle JH et al.; The attachment of Pseudomonas fluorescens and an Acinetobacter sp . to hydrogel and polystyrene surfaces was investigated to evaluate the influence of adsorbed water and macromolecules on adhesion . With both organisms, there was a decrease in attachment numbers with increasing water content of the hydrogels . There was also a decrease in attachment with a decrease in water contact angle on untreated, tissue culture and sulfonated polystyrene surfaces; however, the attachment numbers were higher than would be expected on the basis of the hydrogel data . With P . fluorescens, attachment to untreated and tissue culture polystyrene was inhibited by bovine serum albumin, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, and the supernatant from spent medium, both when the conditioning substances were added to the suspension of attaching cells and when they were preadsorbed onto the surfaces . Dextran inhibited attachment only when added to the bacterial suspension . Supernatants from centrifuged natural freshwater samples had no effect . Thus, hydration of a surface and the adsorption of macromolecules can reduce bacterial attachment; however, additional factors relating to the chemical composition of the substratum and polymeric stabilization of suspended cells can affect the adhesion interaction and resultant numbers of attached cells.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1986 May 27, 14(10), 4309 - 23
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus encoded mutarotase: nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene and characterization of its secretion in Escherichia coli; Gatz C et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the mutarotase gene from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus has been determined . It reveals an open reading frame of 381 amino acids . The codon usage of A . calcoaceticus for this gene is similar to E . coli except for the amino acids Leu, Ala, Glu, and Arg where major differences exist . This did not interfere drastically with high level expression in E . coli . The regulatory sequences for the initiation of translation are similar to the ones described for E . coli . The N-terminal 20 amino acids, which are not found in the mature enzyme, show homology to signal sequences of exported proteins . In A . calcoaceticus and E . coli mutarotase is specifically secreted into the periplasmic space . Processing of the signal sequence occurs at identical sites in both organisms . The mature mutarotase consists of 361 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight of 38457 Da . Expression of mutarotase at a high level in a recombinant E . coli destabilizes the outer membrane . This results in coordinated leakage of mutarotase and beta-lactamase into the culture broth.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 May, 17 Suppl C, 1 - 5
In-vitro activity of ticarcillin with and without clavulanic acid against clinical isolates of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; Pulverer G et al.; The in-vitro activity of ticarcillin with and without clavulanic acid was investigated against 285 freshly isolated clinical strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by the agar-dilution technique on Mueller-Hinton-agar . Clavulanic acid had an excellent or moderate potentiating effect on the in-vitro activity of ticarcillin against staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter spp., Acinetobacter, Haemophilus influenzae and Bacteroides spp . No effect was seen against enterococci, indole-positive Proteus spp., Ent . cloacae, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The effect of clavulanic acid was dose- and inoculum-dependent.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 May, 34(5), 448 - 50
{Clinical evaluation of timentin in intensive care}; Gerard A et al.; 16 patients admitted to a MICU were treated with timentin (ticarcillin + clavulanic acid) for bacterial infections: 11 cases of pulmonary infection, 3 cases of urinary tract infection, 2 septic shocks, 3 septicemias and 1 case of multifocal infection . The pathogens considered as a firmly established cause of infection were: 5 Acinetobacter, 12 Pseudomonas, 3 Serratia, 4 Klebsiella, 1 E . coli, 2 Proteus, 1 Providencia, 1 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 Streptococcus D and 1 Flavobacterium meningosepticum . The susceptibility of these pathogens to ticarcillin and timentin is reported . Timentin was prescribed alone in 9 cases and associated (with an aminoglycoside) in 7, in a daily dose of 9 to 18 g, for 6 to 45 days . 3 patients died . The value of timentin in infections due to multiresistant MICU pathogens is stressed.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 May, 34(5), 436 - 9
{In vitro study of the pefloxacine-ceftriaxone combination against 18 strains of Acinetobacter}; Berardi-Grassias L et al.; The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of the pefloxacin-ceftriaxone combination was studied in Mueller-Hinton broth against 18 clinical strains of acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratum by the checkerboard technique . The bactericidal activity was tested after 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours contact . MICs were 0.12 to 4 mg/l for pefloxacin and 2 to 64 mg/l for ceftriaxone . The bacteriostatic interaction of the antibiotics was synergistic for 5 strains (FIC index = 0.375 to 0.5) and additive for 13 strains (FIC index = 0.51 to 1) . The bactericidal interaction was synergistic for 1 strain after 2 hours, 3 strains after 4 hours, 6 strains after 6 hours, and 12 strains after 24 hours . By the FBC technique at 24 hours, the combination was synergistic for 5 strains (FBC index = 0.375 to 5) and additive for 13 strains (FBC index = 0.51 to 1) . No antagonism was detected . The combination is mainly additive but synergism is observed for some strains of acinetobacter . Ceftriaxone prevented the late regrowth noted with pefloxacin.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1986 May, 75(3), 499 - 501
An infant with simultaneous beta-lactamase-positive Haemophilus influenzae meningitis and beta-lactamase-negative H . influenzae septicemia, Escherichia coli pyelonephritis and herpes encephalitis; Peltola H et al.; We describe an infant with meningitis and septicemia due to infection with two different strains of Haemophilus influenzae, with a urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli and in whom herpes virus encephalitis was diagnosed within three days . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus septicemia developed three weeks later . No immunological deficiency could be demonstrated in the patient who recovered finally, albeit with sequelae due to encephalitis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 May, (5), 15 - 21
{Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter . Methods for their isolation and primary identification}; Kalina GP; A liquid accumulation medium and a solid isolation medium for primary identification of bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter have been proposed . Both media have identical composition and contain ethanol as the only source of carbon and energy and sodium ammonium phosphate as the source of nitrogen . Besides, the modification of Baumann's medium with sodium acetate as the source of carbon and potassium nitrate as the source of nitrogen has been developed . This modified medium has simplified composition and is not inferior to the above-mentioned media in selectivity, though its use gives less satisfactory results . The two proposed media, both liquid and solid, are recommended for wide use.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 May, 17 Suppl C, 27 - 33
A comparison of agar dilution, identification of beta-lactamases and disc diffusion methods for assessing the sensitivity to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid; Joly B et al.; The in-vitro antibacterial activity of Timentin has been evaluated with a view to proposing valid criteria for sensitivity and resistance . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for 284 strains including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., staphylococci and enterococci . The same strains were also used for the determination of inhibition zones around discs containing 75 micrograms ticarcillin and 10 micrograms clavulanic acid, and a straight regression line was drawn correlating MIC with inhibition zones . The bacterial population was subsequently grouped according to the diameters of inhibition zones of the antibiogram for 2427 strains of Enterobacteriaceae classified by phenotypes . The comparison of MICs of Timentin and ticarcillin for these strains shows that for penicillinase-producing strains, the Timentin MIC is lower than for ticarcillin whereas cephalosporinase-producing strains have equal MICs for the two . Finally strains that produce many different beta-lactamases are not affected by the presence of clavulanic acid . These results should make it possible to propose provisional zone diameters for determining sensitivity and resistance to Timentin.

Am J Vet Res, 1986 May, 47(5), 1153 - 6
Etiologic significance of bacterial isolates from rams with palpable epididymitis; Lozano EA; Identified and partly identified bacterial isolates were obtained from 48 rams of various breeds that had unilateral or bilateral epididymitis . Most of the animals were approximately 1 year of age; a few were older . Brucella ovis, Actinobacillus spp, Corynebacterium spp, Haemophilus spp, Acinetobacter spp, Escherichia coli, Moraxella spp, Staphylococcus spp, Pasteurella spp, Streptococcus spp, and Chlamydia psittaci were isolated . A vaccine strain of B ovis, isolated species of bacteria, and mixtures of isolates of tissue homogenates containing all isolates except B ovis and C psittaci were inoculated via the mucous membranes of the eyes, nares, and prepuce . Palpable epididymitis was not produced by the inoculations . The vaccine strain of B ovis induced complement-fixation reaction in 11 of 20 rams.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 May, 34(5), 385 - 9
{In-vitro activity of cefonicid on hospital bacteria . Regression line and proposal for critical values}; Chanal M et al.; Antimicrobial activity of cefonicid, a new second generation cephalosporin, against 315 hospital isolates (4th trimester 1984) was investigated . E . coli and Proteus mirabilis were the most susceptible species . All E . coli strains except one were inhibited at 8 mg/l (modal MIC: 0.5); MICs of all indole + Proteus were 8 mg/l (modal MIC: 0.06) . Another group was moderately susceptible: MICs of Klebsiella and Citrobacter ranged from 0.12 to 128 mg/l, but MICs of 50% of these strains were less than or equal to 4 mg/l; MIC was less than or equal to 8 mg/l for 75% of indole + Proteus and Providencia strains; tested Proteus vulgaris were especially resistant (MICs greater than 128 mg/l) . Most Enterobacter and Serratia strains showed little susceptibility (modal MIC for both species greater than or equal to 128 mg/l) . MICs of all tested Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were greater than 128 mg/l . 20 of the 24 tested Acinetobacter strains had a MIC of greater than or equal to 128 mg/l . For Staphylococcus aureus, 88% of methicillin-sensitive strains were inhibited by concentrations of 2 to 4 mg/l whereas methicillin-resistant strains were resistant to cefonicid (75%: MIC greater than 64 mg/l) . Enterococci were resistant to cefonicid . A correlation curve was established (Enterobacteria and Staphylococci) . On the basis of cefonicid's pharmacokinetic characteristics, critical concentrations are proposed.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 May, 132 ( Pt 5), 1257 - 68
The oxidation of glucose by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: interaction of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase with the electron transport chain; Beardmore-Gray M et al.; The coupling of the quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase to the electron transport chain has been investigated in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . No evidence was obtained to support a previous suggestion that the soluble form of the dehydrogenase and the soluble cytochrome b associated with it are involved in the oxidation of glucose . Analysis of cytochrome content, and of reduction of cytochromes in membranes by substrates, and of sensitivity to cyanide indicated that glucose, succinate and NADH are all oxidized by way of the same b-type cytochrome(s) and cytochrome oxidases (cytochrome o and cytochrome d) . Mixed inhibition studies {with KCN and hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HQNO)} showed that the b-type cytochrome(s) formed a binary complex with the o-type oxidase and that there was thus no communication between the electron transport chains at the cytochrome level . Measurements of the reduction of ubiquinone-9 by glucose and NADH, and inhibitor studies using HQNO, indicated that the ubiquinone mediates electron transport from both the glucose and NADH dehydrogenases . In some conditions the quinone pool facilitated communication between the 'glucose oxidase' and 'NADH oxidase' electron transport chains, but in normal conditions these chains were kinetically distinct.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 May, 17(5), 623 - 8
Comparative antimicrobial activity of enoxacin, ciprofloxacin, amifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin against 177 bacterial isolates; Bassey CM et al.; The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of five new quinolones, enoxacin (CI-919, AT-2266), ciprofloxacin (Bay o 9867), amifloxacin (WIN 49375) norfloxacin (MK 0366), and ofloxacin (ORF 18489), was compared against 104 strains of Enterobacteriaceae, 51 Pseudomonas species, 7 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus, and 15 enterococci . In general the quinolones tested were active against most bacterial strains . Ciprofloxacin was the most active with MIC90 for all genera tested ranging from 0.03 to 4.0 mg/l . The range of MIC90 for enoxacin and amifloxacin was 0.06 to 16.0 mg/l, for ofloxacin 0.25 to 8.0 mg/l, and for norfloxacin 0.06 to 32.0 mg/l . All strains of P . aeruginosa tested were resistant to amikacin (MIC greater than or equal to 16 mg/l); those resistant by virtue of inactivating enzyme production were less susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin than those strains exhibiting decreased uptake of amikacin . Susceptibility to enoxacin and amifloxacin was not affected by the mechanism of aminoglycoside resistance . Of 65 strains tested with four quinolones using log and lag phase bacterial growth, the MICs in log phase growth were one to two dilutions higher for 42% of strains tested with amifloxacin, 33% of those tested with norfloxacin, and 23% for those tested with enoxacin and ciprofloxacin.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 May, 7(3), 226 - 35
The colonization of patients in an intensive treatment unit with gram-negative flora: the significance of the oral route; Millership SE et al.; An extensive survey of patients and the environment in a newly refurbished intensive care unit showed that the principle species on patients in sites other than the rectum were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter anitratus and Enterobacter cloacae . Multiple episodes of cross-infection were occurring with 10 different strains of these organisms . Three oral solutions (mouthwashes, 'Clinifeeds' and residual water from nasogastric aspiration apparatus) were heavily contaminated with coliforms including some epidemic strains and this corresponded with the finding that colonization with the above species usually occurred first in the mouth or respiratory tract . Attempts to eliminate contamination of the solutions reduced colonization and cross-infection by over 50%, but did not eradicate it . Two sinks without heat-traps on the drains possibly provided a long term reservoir of epidemic strains.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 51(4), 781 - 9
Evolved aniline catabolism in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus during continuous culture of river water; Wyndham RC; Adaptation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus from river water to aniline depends on the dynamics of parent and mutant populations . The parent, Acinetobacter strain DON26 phenotype Ani0, was common in river water and assimilated aniline effectively at micromolar concentrations, but was inhibited at higher concentrations of aniline . The Ani0 phenotype was also characterized by a broad specificity for oxidation of chloroanilines by aniline-induced cells . The mutant Ani+ phenotype was represented by DON2, isolated from a population of less than 100 cells ml-1 in a mixed river water culture, and by DON261, isolated during continuous culture of DON26 . Ani+ strains assimilated aniline at a greater maximum specific rate than the parent and were able to grow at concentrations of aniline greater than 16 mM . These strains cooxidized phenol after growth at high aniline concentrations, but showed reduced activity toward chloroanilines . These changes plus kinetic data, oxygen uptake data, and the results of auxanography indicate that the mutant has an increased activity and altered specificity of the initial enzyme in the aniline catabolic pathway . The parent strain, DON26, was at a selective advantage relative to the mutant at low concentrations of aniline, but was replaced by the mutant when aniline concentrations increased . Adaptation of the mixed river water community to aniline involved selection of both phenotypes . Reversion of the Ani+ to Ani0 phenotype occurred at a frequency of 10(-2) in the absence of aniline selection . Plasmid content was not altered during either acquisition or loss of the Ani+ phenotype . Adaptive changes in Acinetobacter spp . populations illustrate important differences in the catabolic activities of natural and pollutant selected strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1986 Apr, 4(4), 315 - 26
In vitro activity of DJ-6783 (a keto carboxylic acid) compared with six other orally administered antimicrobial agents; Jones RN et al.; DJ-6783 is a new keto carboxylic acid having an expanded antimicrobial activity when compared with nalidixic acid or cinoxacin . Its usable activity includes the following: Enterobacteriaceae (MIC90, less than or equal to 0.06-4.0 micrograms/ml), Acinetobacter species (MIC90, 0.25-1.0 microgram/ml), Pseudomonas species (MIC90, 1.0-2.0 micrograms/ml), P . aeruginosa (MIC90, 16 micrograms/ml), Staphylococcus species (MIC90, 1.0-32 micrograms/ml), Haemophilus influenzae (MIC900, less than or equal to 0.06 microgram/ml), and Neisseria species (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.06 microgram/ml) . The Streptococcus species were resistant to DL-6783 with MIC50 ranging from 16 to greater than 32 micrograms/ml . The drug appears to be bactericidal, minimally influenced by increasing inocula, but resistant mutants can be selected by serial subinhibitory concentration passages of strains in DJ-6783 . The resulting resistant organisms also have higher MICs to related drugs such as norfloxacin, cinoxacin, and nalidixic acid . DJ-6783 was the most active organic acid not having structural characteristics of the fluorinated 4-quinolones.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1986 Apr, 79(4), 483 - 8
{Endocarditis on cardiac pacemaker endocavitary electrodes . Apropos of 7 cases}; Glock Y et al.; The authors report 7 cases of endocarditis on cardiac pacing catheters observed out of a total of 2 950 primary implantations and 1 600 pacemaker replacements . This is a rare condition (0.15%) but carries a poor prognosis as it usually occurs in elderly patients and demands aggressive management . The presence of multiple pacing catheters and surgical contamination due to manipulation of the pulse generator (reimplantation, pacemaker replacement) are predisposing factors . The infecting organism in these cases was a staphylococcus . One case of metastatic infection was also observed (acinetobacter) . Ablation of the septic endocarditic material under effective, prolonged, double antibiotherapy is essential . Recently implanted electrodes were withdrawn by simple traction in 2 cases . This manoeuvre was attempted initially in all cases but stopped when chest pain or runs of ventricular extrasystoles occurred . Open heart explantation of pacing electrodes adherent to the ventricular apex was performed in 5 patients . Cardiopulmonary bypass without cardiac standstill enabled dissection of the fibrous rings surrounding the catheter after purging the blood from the atrial and ventricular cavities . In one patient, associated tricuspid valve endocarditis was found and valvular replacement was performed with a bioprosthesis . Endocardial pacing was replaced by epicardial pacing in patients with permanent AV block . The prognosis of this condition is poor; there were 2 deaths in this series of 7 patients.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1986 Apr, 8(4), 223 - 6
In vitro activity of aztreonam against gram negative bacteria from clinical specimens and its comparison with other commonly used antibiotics; Qadri SM et al.; A total of 755 gram negative bacteria isolated from clinical specimens were tested against aztreonam by the disc agar diffusion test . The strains of bacteria used in this study consisted of Escherichia coli (314), Enterobacter aerogenes (30), E . agglomerans (7), E . cloacae, (39), Citrobacter diversus (9), C . freundii (13), Hafnia alvei (3), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (10), Klebsiella oxytoca (6), K . ozaenae (5), K . pneumoniae (107), Morganella morganii (3), Moraxella sp . (10), Pasteurella multocida (1), Proteus mirabilis (66), P . vulgaris (4), Providencia rettgeri (12), P . stuartii (5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (85), P . fluorescens (2), P . maltophila (7), Salmonella sp . (1) and Serratia marcescens (17) . In vitro activity against aztreonam was compared with amikacin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalosporin, cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, piperacillin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and tobramycin . Over 99% of E . coli and Enterobacter species were susceptible to aztreonam . All the 118 strains of Klebsiella, 87 strains of Proteus-Providencia and 17 strains of S . marcescens were also susceptible . Aztreonam also showed good activity against P . aeruginosa, inhibiting 90% of the 85 isolates tested.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Apr, 17 Suppl B, 1 - 10
The comparative in-vitro activity of pefloxacin; King A et al.; The in-vitro antibacterial activities of pefloxacin, other 4-quinolones and representative beta-lactams and aminoglycosides were assessed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . Pefloxacin (MICs mostly 0.03-2 mg/l) was highly active against Enterobacteriaceae . Gentamicin had slightly lower activity, and ceftazidime and norfloxacin similar activities to pefloxacin whereas ciprofloxacin was more active . Pefloxacin (MICs 0.03-2 mg/l) was active against Acinetobacter but again ciprofloxacin was more active . Aeromonas was highly susceptible to pefloxacin and norfloxacin (MICs 0.008-0.03 mg/l) as well as to ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.001-0.008 mg/l) . Pefloxacin (MICs 1-8 mg/l) had similar activities to ceftazidime and gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa but tobramycin (MICs 0.25-32 mg/l), norfloxacin (MICs 0.25-4 mg/l) and ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.06-1 mg/l) were generally more active . Haemophilus influenzae was susceptible to pefloxacin (MICs 0.008-0.06 mg/l) and to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, all of which were more active than ampicillin or ceftazidime . Gardnerella vaginalis was not very susceptible to pefloxacin (MICs 2-8 mg/l), the other 4-quinolones or gentamicin but ampicillin and ceftazidime were highly active . Neisseria gonorrhoeae was very susceptible to pefloxacin and norfloxacin (MICs 0.016-0.12 mg/l) and ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.002-0.008 mg/l) . The activity of pefloxacin (MICs 0.25-1 mg/l) was similar to that of ciprofloxacin (MICs 0.12-2 mg/l) but greater than that of norfloxacin (MICs 0.5-4 mg/l) against Staphylococcus aureus . Vancomycin (MICs 1-2 mg/l) had similar activity in vitro but whilst gentamicin was highly active against some isolates, others were resistant . Pefloxacin (MICs mostly 4-32 mg/l) and the other 4-quinolones had lower activity against streptococci (including alpha-, beta-, and non-haemolytic strains, enterococci and pneumococci) than against staphylococci . Benzylpenicillin (or ampicillin in the case of enterococci) were usually more active than any of the 4-quinolones . Bacteroides species, both of the fragilis and melaninogenicus/oralis groups were generally moderately resistant to pefloxacin (MICs 2-32 mg/l) and norfloxacin though ciprofloxacin was more active . Whilst the activity of pefloxacin and the other 4-quinolones was generally somewhat higher against the other anaerobes, ampicillin generally had greater activity.

Chemioterapia, 1986 Apr, 5(2), 75 - 82
In vitro activity of ciprofloxacin compared with other agents against recent hospital isolates; Rubinstein E et al.; Ciprofloxacin's in vitro activity was tested against 385 hospital isolates originating from three geographically distinct regions . Of all strains tested, only three (1 Acinetobacter sp . and 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were ciprofloxacin resistant . Ciprofloxacin was more active against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Acinetobacter sp., Proteus sp., Shigella sp . than gentamicin, mezlocillin and cefotaxime . It was more active than azlocillin and cefsulodin against P . aeruginosa . It was more active than cloxacillin and cefamandole against staphylococci . It was as active as cefotaxime against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens . Ciprofloxacin demonstrated similar activity in broth and solid agar . The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) of all strains were similar to the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC's) . Ciprofloxacin's MIC was not influenced by increase of the inoculum or addition of human serum and only slightly influenced by anaerobic conditions . Decrease of the medium pH increased the MIC substantially . Ciprofloxacin exhibited a rapid bactericidal effect and had only a minimal post-antibiotic effect . These favorable in vitro characteristics of ciprofloxacin warrant further studies.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Mar, 29(3), 530 - 4
LY164846 in vitro antimicrobial activity testing, including disk diffusion susceptibility tests using 30-microgram disks; Jones RN et al.; A new oral cephalosporin, LY164846 (Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Ind.), was found to have a unique antimicrobial spectrum confined to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus spp., streptococci (except Enterococcus spp.), Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, and some anaerobes . Cephalothin in vitro tests (30-microgram disks or dilution) can represent LY164846 for laboratory testing if comparable interpretive breakpoints are applied to strains within the spectrum of LY164846 . Organisms not inhibited by LY164846 (MICs greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) were members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., enterococci, and some strains of Staphylococcus haemolyticus and of the Bacteroides fragilis group.

Mikrobiologiia, 1986 Mar-Apr, 55(2), 237 - 40
{Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain with a wide spectrum of utilizing aromatic compounds and carrying a plasmid for resorcin degradation}; Barkovskii AL et al.; A bacterial strain was isolated from soil and identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . lwoffii . The strain can utilize a wide spectrum of aromatic compounds . It carries a transmissive plasmid pBSW13 which determines resorcin utilization via the ortho pathway including the following steps: resorcin-hydroxyhydroquinone-maleylacetate-beta-ketoadipi c acid . The plasmid has been transferred by conjugation into the recipient strains of A . calcoaceticus 5734 CCM rifr, Escherichia coli J-53 met-pro-rifr and Klebsiella sp . Plasmid DNA with a molecular mass close to that of phage gamma was detected by electrophoresis in the donor and recombinant strains . The degradation of other substrates is not a phenotypic expression of the genes of this plasmid.

Rev Med Interne, 1986 Mar, 7(2), 197 - 204
{Multicenter study of the activity of pefloxacin on bacteria isolated in a hospital milieu}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of pefloxacin were evaluated by agar dilution for 3422 bacterial strains isolated in nine hospitals . Enterobacteriaceae proved very sensitive to pefloxacin: 62 p . 100 of 1743 strains tested had MIC less than or equal to 0.12 and 90 p . 100 less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml; but the percent of strains with MIC greater than or equal to 2 varied among the different groups of Enterobacteriaceae: 2.7 p . 100 for E . coli to 39 p . 100 for Serratia . 55 p . 100 for Pseudomonas and 81 p . 100 of Acinetobacter were inhibited by 1 micrograms/ml or less (mode MIC 1 and 0.5 micrograms/ml) . Haemophilus sp.: 0.03 and 0.06 micrograms/ml and Gonococci were very sensitive to pefloxacin . The spectrum of pefloxacin extended to Gram positive cocci: MIC of Staphylococci were 0.06 to 8 micrograms/ml (mode MIC: 0.5); Enterococci, other Streptococci and Pneumococci were less sensitive: 2 and 4 micrograms/ml for the majority of strains . Concerning anaerobic bacteria, pefloxacin was more active against Clostridium (0.5 to 1 microgram/ml generally), than against Bacteroides (4 to 16 micrograms/ml).

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 132 ( Pt 3), 707 - 15
Molecular cloning into Tn5 and integration in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome: a tool for heterologous gene expression; Krishnapillai V et al.; The DNA primase gene of the promiscuous IncP-1 conjugative plasmid RP1, encoding two polypeptides of 118 and 80 kDa, was inserted into the transposon Tn5 in Escherichia coli . The derivative transposon, Tn2523, was then transposed to a temperature-sensitive replication mutant of the promiscuous IncP-1 conjugative plasmid R68 at permissive temperature and the plasmid transferred to Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO . The latter strain was then grown at non-permissive temperature to identify transposition of Tn2523 into the P . aeruginosa chromosome . Immunological and enzymic analysis showed the expression of functional primase polypeptides in the constructed P . aeruginosa strain . This strain also restored wild-type conjugational transfer proficiency, by complementation, to mutants of the IncP-1 plasmid R18 affected in transfer from P . aeruginosa to P . stutzeri or to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus due to transposon Tn7 insertion mutations in the primase gene . This strategy of cloning into a transposon and integration into the bacterial chromosome should facilitate genetic manipulation and studies of gene expression in a range of Gram-negative bacteria.

Acta Trop, 1986 Mar, 43(1), 31 - 42
Defence reactions of Glossina morsitans morsitans against different species of bacteria and Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Kaaya GP et al.; Tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans, fed on rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei showed wide fluctuations in total and differential haemocyte counts . Similar fluctuations occurred in controls fed on non-infected rats and also between the two groups without showing any difference which could be attributed to the infection . Trypanosome infection of the tsetse haemocoel occurred in 16.25% of the flies, starting from the second day after feeding on the infected rats, but salivary glands and proboscis became infected only after the eleventh day . About 2% of bloodstream forms of T . b . brucei injected into tsetse haemocoels completed their developmental cycle successfully . Injection of tsetse homogenates into teneral G . m . morsitans prior to exposure to trypanosome-infected feed increased T . b . brucei infections in the flies significantly . Injection of live Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus into tsetse induced a remarkable increase in two pre-existing haemolymph proteins with molecular weights of about 70 and 17 kilodaltons, while live Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus induced a very weak response or sometimes none at all . T . b . brucei also failed to induce any increase in these proteins . Inoculation of G . m . morsitans with live E . coli und T . b . brucei prior to feeding on trypanosome-infected rats had no effect on the salivary gland and proboscis infection rates by T . b . brucei . Injection of live T . b . brucei into the haemocoels of tsetse caused no change in total haemocyte counts, but the trypanosomes disappeared from the haemolymph so rapidly that by 48 h post-injection, only about 1% were left.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7(2), 169 - 75
Acinetobacter bacteriocin typing; Andrews HJ; A technique for typing Acinetobacter sp . by bacteriocin production has been developed . One hundred and seventy-six cultures from patients in outbreaks, in the community and environmental sources were identified, tested for sensitivity to gentamicin and bacteriocin typed; 154 were A . anitratus and the remainder A.lwoffi . Only one A.lwoffi strain produced bacteriocin . Ten of 22 were sensitive to bacteriocins and could be used as indicators . A close association was found between bacteriocin production and gentamicin resistance: MIC 4 mg/ml . Using six indicator strains 100/104 (96%) gentamicin-resistant strains were typed with nine distinct patterns of inhibition . Overall typability was 65% but 100/176 (56%) fell into only two groups . The technique may be of value in studying the epidemiology of Acinetobacter.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7(2), 155 - 60
The laboratory diagnosis of peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Gould IM et al.; In 24 episodes of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis occurring in 21 patients, all dialysis fluids were cloudy and contained at least 100 cells mm-3, mostly polymorphs . Gram-positive cocci were seen in centrifuge deposits from only nine of the fluids, but enrichment of 5 ml in liquoid and glucose broth yielded bacteria for all episodes, namely Staphylococcus epidermidis (seven episodes), Staph . aureus (six), Streptococcus mitior (one), Moraxella spp (four), Acinetobacter spp (three), Enterobacteria (two) and Pseudomonas testosteroni (one) . Comparison of washed with unwashed centrifuge deposits gave positive cultures in 11 and 10 fluids respectively; pre-treatment with triton X increased this yield to 19 and 21 positives, respectively . Storage of specimens for 4-12 h at 4 degrees C did not decrease the 100% positive-culture rate . All isolates were sensitive to either gentamicin or vancomycin . Of the 24 dialysis bags from 24 symptomless CAPD patients, none contained more than 60 cells mm-3 and bacteria were not detected by microscopy, culture of the centrifuge deposits, or by enrichment in liquoid or glucose broths.

FEBS Lett, 1986 Feb 17, 196(2), 211 - 4
Separation of isoenzymes of citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase by fast protein liquid chromatography; Mitchell CG et al.; Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) has been shown to be a rapid and effective method of separating isoenzymes of citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The advantages of FPLC over conventional methods of fractionation are discussed and it is suggested that this may be a valuable and more general technique for isoenzyme resolution.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 362 - 6
In vitro activity of BRL 36650, a new penicillin; Van Landuyt HW et al.; Compared with four beta-lactam antibiotics and amikacin, BRL 36650 and BMY-28142 were the most active against 509 Enterobacteriaceae, including cefotaxime-resistant isolates and resistant laboratory mutants . BRL 36650 was more active than aztreonam, ceftazidime, and BMY-28142 against Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other Pseudomonas spp.; all strains were inhibited by 2 micrograms/ml or less.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 557 - 63
Cloning and expression of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus catBCDE genes in Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli; Shanley MS et al.; This report describes the isolation and preliminary characterization of a 5.0-kilobase-pair (kbp) EcoRI DNA restriction fragment carrying the catBCDE genes from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The respective genes encode enzymes that catalyze four consecutive reactions in the catechol branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway: catB, muconate lactonizing enzyme (EC 5.5.1.1); catC, muconolactone isomerase (EC 5.3.3.4); catD, beta-ketoadipate enol-lactone hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.24); and catE, beta-ketoadipate succinyl-coenzyme A transferase (EC 2.8.3.6) . In A . calcoaceticus, pcaDE genes encode products with the same enzyme activities as those encoded by the respective catDE genes . In Pseudomonas putida, the requirements for both catDE and pcaDE genes are met by a single set of genes, designated pcaDE . A P . putida mutant with a dysfunctional pcaE gene was used to select a recombinant pKT230 plasmid carrying the 5.0-kbp EcoRI restriction fragment containing the A . calcoaceticus catE structural gene . The recombinant plasmid, pAN1, complemented P . putida mutants with lesions in catB, catC, pcaD, and pcaE genes; the complemented activities were expressed constitutively in the recombinant P . putida strains . After introduction into Escherichia coli, the pAN1 plasmid expressed the activities constitutively but at much lower levels that those found in the P . putida transformants or in fully induced cultures of A . calcoaceticus or P . putida . When placed under the control of a lac promoter on a recombinant pUC13 plasmid in E . coli, the A . calcoaceticus restriction fragment expressed catBCDE activities at levels severalfold higher than those found in fully induced cultures of A . calcoaceticus . Thus there is no translational barrier to expression of the A . calcoaceticus genes at high levels in E . coli . The genetic origin of the cloned catBCDE genes was demonstrated by the fact that the 5.0-kbp EcoRI restriction fragment hybridized with a corresponding fragment from wild-type A . calcoaceticus DNA . This fragment was missing in DNA from an A . calcoaceticus mutant in which the cat genes had been removed by deletion . The properties of the cloned fragment demonstrate physical linkage of the catBCDE genes and suggest that they are coordinately transcribed.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Jan, 165(1), 301 - 3
Transformation and mobilization of cloning vectors in Acinetobacter spp; Singer JT et al.; R300B-, RSF1010-, and RK2-derived plasmids were introduced into Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD413 by transformation and conjugal mobilization . The transformation frequencies of BD413 were 4.2 X 10(6) to 6.3 X 10(6) transformants per micrograms of DNA per 10(9) recipient cells . Conjugal mobilization frequencies were 1.1 X 10(-1) to 8.5 X 10(-1) per recipient . An improved method for the transformation of A . calcoaceticus BD413 is reported.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(2), 157 - 70
Current state and tendencies of antibiotic resistance in Hungary; Thege MK et al.; This survey is based on data for 245 903 isolates reported by Public Health Network laboratories in 1983 . Facultatively pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria comprised two-third of the isolates, and--except Escherichia coli--were resistant in a high percent to the most frequently used antibiotics . Oxacillin and vancomycin were the most effective against Staphylococcus aureus being in 94.7% resistant to penicillin . In contrast to other streptococci, all Streptococcus pyogenes strains were sensitive to penicillin . The majority of the Gram-positive strains were resistant to tetracycline . A comparison to results reported earlier (1974 to 1983) showed an increasing resistance rate mainly to ampicillin, carbenicillin, co-trimoxazole and gentamicin, which were introduced in therapy during this period . Resistance rate of almost all species has increased to gentamicin, e.g . that of Proteus mirabilis has risen tenfold . Emergence of Haemophilus influenzae resistant to ampicillin, and increasing resistance rates of P . mirabilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae to almost all drugs are remarkable findings . The increasing or variable usage of drugs that have been used for a long time did not influence resistance markedly . In some instances the resistance rates even diminished, e.g . the tetracycline resistance of agents associated with enteric diseases . A restricted use of chloramphenicol reflected in a decreased resistance of some species . Multiresistant Gram-negative strains--which are resistant to all drugs frequently used in Hungary--were isolated in 12.7% from a representative clinical material . The frequent occurrence of multiresistant P . mirabilis and Acinetobacter isolates is a new phenomenon . Surprisingly, the percentage of multiresistant E . coli strains was very low . Amikacin and netilmicin were found to be the most effective against multiresistant isolates.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(6), 351 - 7
Alcohol oxidation by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus EB 104--a n-alkane-utilizing and cytochrome P-450-producing strain; Jirausch M et al.; A soluble, NADP+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) with a pH optimum at 8.7 was found in A . calcoaceticus EB 104 after growth on different carbon sources . n-Alkanols with short and medium chain length were employed as test substrates . The Km values decreased with increasing chain length . The Vmax values remained nearly unchanged . The activities determined were independent of the carbon source . Furthermore, a n-alkanol-dependent reduction of DCPIP was measured in membrane fractions of cells grown on different carbon sources . The optimum pH for this reaction was at 7.5 . Further proof for the presence of a pyridine nucleotide-independent ADH was derived from the oxidation of 14C-decanol in the absence of NADP+ or NAD+.

Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(7), 645 - 57
Pathogenic significance of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: analysis of experimental infection in mice; Obana Y; The phenomenon that mixed infection with certain species of bacteria and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is more virulent than single infection was analyzed experimentally . In mixed infections with A . calcoaceticus paired with either Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the virulence of the latter three organisms was markedly increased over that of single infections only by slime-producing strains of A . calcoaceticus . Of the 100 strains of A . calcoaceticus tested, 14 had slime-producing ability . There was scarcely any difference in the chemical components of the slimes of the two strains tested, but the components of the slime of P . aeruginosa were different from those of these strains . The slime of these two strains exhibited lethal activity in mice, but no correlation was found between the amount of slime produced and the virulence . The slime enhanced the virulence of E . coli, S . marcescens, and P . aeruginosa when it was inoculated along with their viable cells . Furthermore, the slime exhibited potent cell-impairing activity against mouse neutrophils both in vitro and in vivo . This activity was considered to be mainly responsible for the enhancement of virulence in mixed infections.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(3), 181 - 4
Emulsifier formation with Acinetobacter: search for an excretion-reduced mutant of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69-V; Muller RH et al.; After growth on acetate three groups of Acinetobacter strains could be identified with respect to the excretion of a bioemulsifier . Mutants of A . calcoaceticus 69-V were selected which produced reduced amounts of emulsifier.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(4), 344 - 51
Comparative in vitro activity of cefpirome and other antimicrobial agents against isolates from cancer patients; Rolston K et al.; Cefpirome and six other antimicrobial agents were tested against 884 blood culture isolates from cancer patients . Cefpirome was highly active against aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Acinetobacter spp., and the Enterobacteriaceae . Only imipenem was more active than cefpirome against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Cefpirome was also extremely active against beta-hemolytic streptococci and methicillin-susceptible staphylococci.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(4), 319 - 23
Antimicrobial activity of norfloxacin in enteric and urinary tract infections: combined effect of norfloxacin with aminoglycosides, tetracycline and chloramphenicol; Mascellino MT et al.; A comparative study of the in vitro activity of norfloxacin was performed versus that of aminoglycosides, pipemidic acid, tetracycline and chloramphenicol . These antibiotics are the most commonly used antimicrobial agents in the treatment of enteric and urinary tract infections . Results obtained with norfloxacin against Gram-negative isolates tested were very encouraging . MIC values for the Enterobacteriaceae were less than or equal to 0.47 mcg/ml, and for Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter less than or equal to 32.5 mcg/ml . The activity of norfloxacin against Pseudomonas was inferior to that of amikacin, but superior to that of gentamicin . In association with aminoglycosides, norfloxacin proved to be most useful in the treatment of urinary tract infections, while norfloxacin associated with tetracycline and chloramphenicol did not give satisfactory results in the treatment of enteric infections.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1986, 45(3), 315 - 9
{Temperature dependence of membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter: effect of solubilization and chain length of the substrates}; Sorger H et al.; The NADP+-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase of intracytoplasmic membranes of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus shows a characteristic behaviour of its reaction velocities in dependence on temperature . The calculated "real" activation energies depend on the increasing chain-length of the homologous aldehydes and grow appropriate to the membrane-bound and to the micellar form of the enzyme with 6.2 and 7.3 kJ/mole CH2-group, respectively . The values of the activation energy of the membrane-bound enzyme are - for each aldehyde of the homologous series - 12 kJ/mole larger than those of the solubilized enzyme (present as mixed micelles of enzyme, cholate and bacterial phospholipids).

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(10), 571 - 6
Effect of oxygen limitation on the content of n-hexadecane-inducible cytochrome P-450 in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain EB 104; Asperger O et al.; The content of cytochrome P-450 as a function of oxygen supply was studied during growth of Acinetobacter on n-hexadecane in batch cultures at constant pH and agitation . The rate of growth and the content of cytochrome P-450 were not affected as long as the dissolved oxygen tension ranged above 3 to 5% of saturation . The amount of cytochrome P-450 increased when the oxygen tension declined to zero . Cytochrome P-450 levels of about 0.3 to 0.4 nmol/mg protein, i.e . a more than a threefold increase, were observed under conditions where oxygen supply was strictly limited and allowed to maintain only a minimum of metabolism or growth . Limited oxygen supply exerted a special effect on the induction of the cytochrome P-450 as concluded from an increasing ratio between cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome o, and from the absence of cytochrome d in cells with elevated content of cytochrome P-450 . The increased formation of cytochrome P-450 was a reversible process.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(9), 541 - 6
Ultracytochemical localization of aldehyde dehydrogenase in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Sorger H et al.; A membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase is induced in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown on aliphatic hydrocarbons as sole carbon source . This enzyme is NADP-dependent and is able to oxidize medium- and long-chain aliphatic aldehydes to their corresponding fatty acids . Electron micrographs of sectioned alkane-adapted bacteria showed hydrocarbon inclusions in the cytoplasmic matrix . The cytochemical phenazine methosulphate-tetranitro tetrazolium blue capture reaction allowed to localize the activity of the aldehyde dehydrogenase near the surface of these inclusions . At the same location we also found a NADPH tetrazolium-reducing activity.

Acta Microbiol Hung, 1986, 33(1), 85 - 95
Ferric ammonium citrate decomposition--a taxonomic tool for gram-negative bacteria; Szentmihalyi A et al.; The iron uptake test of Szabo and Vandra has been modified and used for the differentiation of Gram-negative bacteria . Nutrient agar containing 20 g per litre of ferric ammonium citrate was distributed into narrow tubes and solidified so as to form butts and slants . Considering the localization of the rusty-brown coloration produced after seeding and incubation, 2367 strains were classified into four groups . (1) Unchanged medium: Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Yersinia spp., Hafnia alvei and Morganella morganii 100% each, Klebsiella spp., 50%, Enterobacter cloacae 37%, Proteus vulgaris 59%, Acinetobacter spp . 42%, Pseudomonas fluorescens 19%, some other bacteria 2-12% . (2) Rusty-brown slant, unchanged butt: Salmonella subgenera II, III and IV 98%, Citrobacter freundii 65%, E . cloacae 55%, P . vulgaris 41%, Proteus mirabilis 98%, Providencia rettgeri 100%, urease-negative Providencia 96%, Acinetobacter spp . 58%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 100%, P . fluorescens 81%, UFP (unclassified fluorescent pseudomonads) 100%, other Pseudomonas spp . 55% . (3) Unchanged slant, brown butt: S . typhi 88%, Salmonella subgenus I 3%, Klebsiella spp . 31%, some other bacteria 2-3% . (4) Rusty-brown slant, brown butt: Salmonella subgenus I 75%, C . freundii 20%, Klebsiella spp . 12%, some other bacteria 1-5% . Colour reactions in ferric ammonium citrate agar are associated with the accumulation of ferric hydroxide: bacteria giving positive reactions on the slant took up as an average, 63 times more iron than those with negative test . The localization of colour reaction correlated partly with aerobic and anaerobic citrate utilization or decomposition in Simmons' minimal and in Kauffmann's peptone water medium.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1986, 45(3), 257 - 64
{Cell envelope-bound proteinase activities of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Fricke B et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus contains proteolytic activity after growth on various culture media . The enzyme activity could be found in the cytosolic fraction as well as in the cell envelopes (also containing the intracytoplasmic membranes) . The highest proteolytic activity could be detected during the transition from the logarithmic growth phase to the stationary phase and in the early stationary phase, respectively . In the culture medium proteolytic activity was only evident in the later stationary phase . This activity was very instable and was liberated apparently by autolysis of the cells . The concentration of the nitrogen source (NH4+) in the medium (i.g . with acetate as carbon source) influences the proteinase activities of the cells . When nitrogen is limited, the proteolytic activity increases strongly in the stationary phase . The pH-profile of the azocaseinolytic activities of the cytosol was nearly the same as that of the cell envelopes (pH-optima are between 7 and 9) . A partial inhibition of the proteolytic activities in the cytosol as well as in the cell envelopes could be attained by serine proteinase inhibitors . Inhibitors of thiol- and metalloproteinases showed no effects.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(12), 949 - 52
In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of several new microbial agents against 96 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolates . Among several new beta-lactams, imipenem, a new, broad-spectrum, highly potent penem, was the most active drug in vitro against these strains, with a geometric mean MIC of about 0.3 mg/l . Ceftazidime and ceftizoxime also demonstrated good in vitro activity with geometric mean MICs of 6 mg/l and 7 mg/l respectively . Among new quinolones, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin were substantially active in vitro: geometric means were 0.8, 0.9 and 1.5 mg/l respectively . A progressive increase in resistance to aminoglycosides has been observed and 80 to 90% of isolates were resistant to all but amikacin, tobramycin and habekacin, which showed geometric mean MICs of 7.0, 6.0 and 1.2 mg/l.

Intensive Care Med, 1986, 12(4), 328 - 31
Portable lung ventilators: the potential risk from bacterial colonisation; Shelly MP et al.; Seven portable lung ventilators were investigated to assess the risk of bacterial colonization of the ventilator valve . One valve was deliberately contaminated with Serratia marcescens and the survival of organisms within the valve studied . Periods of colonization by Acinetobacter were found in all the hospital ventilators studied but none of those from the ambulance service . The potential risk to the patient from this organism is discussed and the importance of adequate storage and regular cleaning of the ventilator valve emphasised . Since humidification of the patients inspired gas during transfer is desirable, the use of a combined heat and moisture exchanger and microbiological filter would appear advisable.

Biosensors, 1986, 2(2), 71 - 87
Quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase and its application in an amperometric glucose sensor; D'Costa EJ et al.; Glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), one of the recently discovered NAD(P)+-independent 'quinoprotein' class of oxidoreductase enzymes, was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.41 and immobilised on a 1,1'-dimethylferrocene-modified graphite foil electrode . The second-order rate constant (ks) for the transfer of electrons between GDH and ferrocenemonocarboxylic acid (FMCA) in a homogeneous system, determined using direct current (DC) cyclic voltammetry, was found to be 9.4 x 10(6) litres mol-1 s-1 . This value of ks for GDH was more than 40 times greater than that for the flavoprotein glucose oxidase (GOD) under identical conditions . Such high catalytic activities were also observed when GDH was immobilised in the presence of an insoluble ferrocene derivative; a biosensor based on GDH was found to produce more than twice the current density of similar GOD-based electrodes . The steady-state current produced by the GDH-based electrode was limited by the enzymic reaction since methods which increased the enzyme loadings elevated the upper limit of glucose detection from 5 mM to 15 mM . The temperature, pH, stability and response characteristics of the GDH-based glucose sensor illustrate its potential usefulness for a variety of practical applications . In particular, the high catalytic activity and oxygen insensitivity of this biosensor make it suitable for in vivo blood glucose monitoring in the management of diabetes.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1986, 49, 135 - 9
Emergence of resistant bacterial strains during treatment of infections in the respiratory tract; Kosmidis J et al.; In order to investigate the frequency of the emergence of resistance during treatment, 1,403 episodes of lower respiratory infection were studied in a General Hospital with three departments of Chest Medicine in a period of four years . In 650 episodes the pathogen was isolated and in 82 of those failure of therapy was accompanied by emergence of resistance to the agent used . Factors associated with this phenomenon were: intensive care, tracheostomy, involvement of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus or Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, use of antipseudomonas penicillins, cefotaxime (especially when used in P . aeruginosa infections) and co-trimoxazole and monotherapy as opposed to appropriate combination therapy in patients with nosocomial pneumonia.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(6), 506 - 14
In vitro activity of SCH-34343, a new penam, and other antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates from cancer patients; Rolston KV et al.; The in vitro activity of SCH-34343, a new penam antibiotic, was tested against gram-positive and gram-negative isolates from cancer patients, and compared to that of 7 other antimicrobial agents . SCH-34343 was extremely active against the Enterobacteriaceae with MIC90 ranging from 0.39 to 6.25 micrograms/ml for Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp . and Serratia marcescens . It was less active against Acinetobacter spp . (MIC90 6.25-12.5 micrograms/ml) and had poor activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Among gram-positive isolates group A and G beta-hemolytic Streptococci were extremely susceptible to SCH-34343 (MIC90 0.025-0.05 micrograms/ml) . Good activity against methicillin-susceptible coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Listeria monocytogenes, and moderate activity against Enterococci was also seen.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 3, S191 - 5
{In vitro activity of new quinolones against nonfermenters and references to sensitivity tests}; Grimm H; Studies of cross resistance between norfloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin and ciprofloxacin using 599 strains of non-fermentative gram-negative rods (297 Pseudomonas spp . and 302 Acinetobacter spp.) resulted in nearly identical minimal inhibitory concentrations of norfloxacin and enoxacin Comparing MIC values, in most ofloxacin was one to four dilution steps superior to enoxacin, and ciprofloxacin was one to four dilution steps superior to ofloxacin . There was not much difference in MICs when species were studied in more detail . In some instances susceptibility testing with more than one new quinolone may be necessary, and evaluation criteria are given.

Clin Ther, 1986, 8(3), 354 - 8
Synergistic activity of amikacin with aztreonam against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative organisms; Greenberg RN et al.; The effects of amikacin in combination with aztreonam were tested on 100 strains of gram-negative bacteria by means of the microtiter checkerboard system . Eighty-one strains were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, eight were Enterobacter species, seven were Acinetobacter species, two were Alcaligenes species, one was a Citrobacter organism, and one was Pseudomonas stutzeri . All strains had a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to aztreonam between 4 and 256 micrograms/ml (MIC50 = 16 micrograms/ml) and an MIC to amikacin between 8 and greater than 128 micrograms/ml (MIC50 = 16 micrograms/ml) . A synergistic effect (fourfold less MIC when both aztreonam and amikacin were present) was observed for 40 (49%) of 81 P aeruginosa and three (16%) of 19 of the other strains tested . All the remaining test strains showed an additive response; no antagonism was observed . The MICs to aztreonam and to amikacin for 98% of strains that exhibited synergism ranged from 2 to 32 micrograms/ml.

Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 4, S226 - 30
Antibacterial activity of ofloxacin and its mode of action; Sato K et al.; The antibacterial activity of ofloxacin against Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was comparable to norfloxacin and enoxacin, and far exceeded the activity of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid . The activity of ofloxacin was two to eight times less than that of ciprofloxacin . Ofloxacin was more active against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., Legionella spp., and Bacteroides fragilis, than norfloxacin, enoxacin, pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid, and the activity of ofloxacin was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin . Ofloxacin was two to seven times more effective than norfloxacin in systemic infections in mice with S . aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens and P . aeruginosa . Ofloxacin strongly inhibited DNA supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase purified from E . coli KL-16 . There is a parallel relationship between antibacterial activity of ofloxacin and its inhibitory action against DNA gyrases from ofloxacin-susceptible and ofloxacin-resistant clinical isolates of E . coli . These results indicate that the high bactericidal action of ofloxacin and the related new quinolone agents can be explained by their potent inhibitory activities against DNA gyrase in bacterial cells.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(1), 9 - 14
Localization of hydrolytic enzymes in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Fischer BE; The localization of hydrolytic enzymes, phosphatase, esterase, lipase and palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase was analysed in the cytosol, cytoplasmic membrane, periplasmic fraction, outer membrane and culture supernatant in dependence on the growth rate of the bacteria . The unspecific phosphatase was found to be a cytosolic enzyme . A lipase was the only extracellular enzyme detected . The results pointed to a secretion of the lipase into the culture medium via cytoplasmic and outer membrane . The palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase was found to be attached to the outer membrane, but activities were also detected in the periplasmic fraction . Unspecific esterolytic activities were mainly measured in the cytosol and in the cytoplasmic membrane.

J Hosp Infect, 1986 Jan, 7(1), 42 - 8
Investigation of an outbreak of infection with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a special care baby unit; Stone JW et al.; During a period of 6 months, an 'epidemic strain' of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was isolated from 10 pre-term neonates in a special care baby unit (scbu) . Of these, nine had pulmonary infections . The tenth was found to have conjunctival colonization only . The 'epidemic strain' was characterized by serotyping, biotyping, bacteriocin typing and antibiograms . An identical strain was isolated from an 'Ambu' resuscitation device but not from other environmental samples or from staff on the unit . The outbreak ceased after the colonized resuscitator was removed and an appropriate disinfection policy implemented for the replacement resuscitators.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Jan, 165(1), 146 - 54
Evolution of the regulatory isozymes of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase present in the Escherichia coli genealogy; Ahmad S et al.; The evolutionary history of isozymes for 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase has been constructed in a phylogenetic cluster of procaryotes (superfamily B) that includes Escherichia coli . Members of superfamily B that have been positioned on a phylogenetic tree by oligonucleotide cataloging possess one or more of four distinct isozymes of DAHP synthase . DAHP synthase-0 is insensitive to feedback inhibition, while DAHP synthase-Tyr, DAHP synthase-Trp, and DAHP synthase-Phe are sensitive to feedback inhibition by L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, and L-phenylalanine, respectively . The evolutionary history of this isozyme family can be deduced within superfamily B by using a cladistic methodology of maximum parsimony (R . A . Jensen, Mol . Biol . Evol . 2:92-108, 1985) . DAHP synthase-0 was found in Acinetobacter species and in Oceanospirillum minutulum, organisms that also possess DAHP synthase-Tyr . These two isozymes were apparently present in a common ancestor that predated the evolutionary divergence of contemporary superfamily B sublineages . DAHP synthase-0 is postulated to have been the evolutionary forerunner of DAHP synthase-Trp . The newly evolved DAHP synthase-Trp is postulated to have possessed sensitivity to feedback inhibition by chorismate as well as by L-tryptophan, chorismate sensitivity having been retained in rRNA group I pseudomonads (minor sensitivity), group V pseudomonads (very sensitive), and Lysobacter enzymogenes (ultrasensitive) . Organisms constituting the enteric lineage of the phylogenetic tree (including a cluster of four Oceanospirillum species) have all lost the chorismate sensitivity of DAHP synthase-Trp . The absence of DAHP synthase-Phe in the Oceanospirillum cluster of organisms supports the previous conclusion that DAHP synthase-Phe evolved recently within superfamily B, being present only Escherichia coli and its close relatives.

Presse Med, 1985 Dec 28, 14(46), 2331 - 5
{Evolution of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in the hospital milieu, from 1971 to 1984}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; During the last 10 years the authors have evaluated the increasing part played by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in nosocomial infections and the increasing resistance of this species to antibiotics . The study involved 850 clinical strains isolated from 1971 to 1984, and 24 antibiotics were tested . A progressive increase in resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides and tetracycline was observed, and to date up to 80-90% of the strains are resistant to all but major drugs such as imipenem, ceftazidime, tobramycin and amikacin . A significant difference in susceptibility to the major antibiotics was noticed between Acinetobacter clinical strains isolated before and after 1980 . A correlation study between the development of resistant strains and the hospital consumption of antibiotics showed that this was a factor to be taken into account . After the new Bichat Hospital was opened, in 1980, the rate at which var . anitratum strains were isolated rose from 77.5% to 94.5% . The opening of new departments (intensive care units) with a higher risk of infection and a totally different environment probably constitutes the most important factor in this evolution.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1985 Dec 20, 13(24), 8685 - 94
AccIII, a new restriction endonuclease from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Kita K et al.; A new site-specific restriction endonuclease, AccIII, was isolated from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . AccIII recognizes T/CCGGA and cleaves at the position shown by the arrow . AccIII activity was inhibited by adenine methylation at the overlapping dam methylase recognition sequence.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Dec 2, 153(2), 249 - 54
Identification of 2-keto-3-deoxy-1,7-dicarboxyheptonic acid as a constituent of the lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305; Brade H et al.; A 3-deoxyaldulosonic acid, not previously described, was identified as a component of the lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305: 2-keto-3-deoxy-1,7-dicarboxyheptonic acid . This compound, whose steric configuration has not been determined, was released from lipopolysaccharide after acid hydrolysis as monosaccharide and in the form of a glucose-substituted disaccharide . It was identified by combined gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using various derivatization procedures . The presence of a 2-keto-3-deoxyaldulosonic acid was established from the typical fragmentation pattern of the C1-C6 moiety which was identical to that of similarly derivatized authentic 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-mannooctonic acid (dOclA) . Location of the keto and deoxy function at C2 and C3, respectively, was deduced from the fragmentation pattern of the deuterolabelled derivatives after reduction of the keto and carboxy groups . The presence of two carboxy groups was ascertained after carboxy reduction with sodium boro-(2H)hydride of the carbonyl-reduced and permethylated derivative whereby the molecular masses were found to differ by 4 Da . Further proof for the presence of two carboxy groups was obtained by alkaline transesterification of the carbonyl-reduced and permethylated derivative with ethanolic sodium ethylate: it was shown that two methyl ester groups had been transesterified since the molecular mass was shifted higher by 28 Da . Substitution by a D-glucopyranosyl residue in position 4 was established by methylation analysis performed on the carbonyl- and carboxyl-reduced and permethylated disaccharide . The D-configuration of the glucosyl residue was determined by its reactivity with D-glucose oxidase . Thus, the structure of the disaccharide is 4-O-glucopyranosyl-2-keto-3-deoxy-1,7-dicarboxyheptonic acid.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1985 Dec, 243(2), 470 - 9
Interconvertible molecular-weight forms of the bifunctional chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydratase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Berry A et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus belongs to a large phylogenetic cluster of gram-negative procaryotes that all utilize a bifunctional P-protein (chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydratase) {EC 5.4.99.5-4.2.1.51} for phenylalanine biosynthesis . These two enzyme activities from Ac . calcoaceticus were inseparable by gel-filtration or DEAE-cellulose chromatography . The molecular weight of the P-protein in the absence of effectors was 65,000 . In the presence of L-tyrosine (dehydratase activator) or L-phenylalanine (inhibitor of both P-protein activities), the molecular weight increased to 122,000 . Maximal activation (23-fold) of prephenate dehydratase was achieved at 0.85 mM L-tyrosine . Under these conditions, dehydratase activity exhibited a hysteretic response to increasing protein concentration . Substrate saturation curves for prephenate dehydratase were hyperbolic at L-tyrosine concentrations sufficient to give maximal activation (yielding a Km,app of 0.52 mM for prephenate), whereas at lower L-tyrosine concentrations the curves were sigmoidal . Dehydratase activity was inhibited by L-phenylalanine, and exhibited cooperative interactions for inhibitor binding . A Hill plot yielded an n' value of 3.1 . Double-reciprocal plots of substrate saturation data obtained in the presence of L-phenylalanine indicated cooperative interactions for prephenate in the presence of inhibitor . The n values obtained were 1.4 and 3.0 in the absence or presence of 0.3 mM L-phenylalanine, respectively . The hysteretic response of chorismate mutase activity to increasing enzyme concentration was less dramatic than that of prephenate dehydratase . A Km,app for chorismate of 0.63 mM was obtained . L-Tyrosine did not affect chorismate mutase activity, but mutase activity was inhibited both by L-phenylalanine and by prephenate . Interpretations are given about the physiological significance of the overall pattern of allosteric control of the P-protein, and the relationship between this control and the effector-induced molecular-weight transitions . The properties of the P-protein in Acinetobacter are considered within the context of the ubiquity of the P-protein within the phylogenetic cluster to which this genus belongs.

Arch Intern Med, 1985 Dec, 145(12), 2174 - 9
Endemic nosocomial Acinetobacter calcoaceticus bacteremia . Clinical significance, treatment, and prognosis; Smego RA Jr; The medical records of 27 patients with blood cultures positive for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus over a recent five-year period (0.7% of all positive blood cultures) were reviewed retrospectively to determine the epidemiologic and clinical significance of these isolates . Eighteen isolates represented true bacteremias, 16 of which were hospital acquired . Patients most frequently were located in an intensive care unit or on a surgical ward . A seasonal July-to-September peak incidence was noted . The most common site of primary infection was the respiratory tract . Aminoglycosides, alone or in combination with a second agent, were used to treat all but one infection . Bacteriologic cure was achieved in 15 cases (88%); six patients had polymicrobial sepsis that carried a higher mortality than pure A calcoaceticus bacteremia (50% vs 0%) . Acinetobacter, a low-virulence opportunistic pathogen, may be an infrequent but potentially serious endemic agent of nosocomial bacteremia in some institutions . The prognosis of bacteremia, when appropriately treated, appears to be good.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Dec, 164(3), 1011 - 6
Fatty aldehyde dehydrogenases in Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N: role in hexadecanol metabolism; Singer ME et al.; The role of fatty aldehyde dehydrogenases (FALDHs) in hexadecane and hexadecanol metabolism was studied in Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N . Two distinct FALDHs were demonstrated in Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N: a membrane-bound, NADP-dependent FALDH activity induced 5-, 15-, and 9-fold by growth on hexadecanol, dodecyl aldehyde, and hexadecane, respectively, and a constitutive, NAD-dependent, membrane-localized FALDH . The NADP-dependent FALDH exhibited apparent Km and Vmax values for decyl aldehyde of 5.0, 13.0, 18.0, and 18.3 microM and 537.0, 500.0, 25.0, and 38.0 nmol/min in hexadecane-, hexadecanol-, ethanol-, palmitate-grown cells, respectively . FALDH isozymes ald-a, ald-b, and ald-c were demonstrated by gel electrophoresis in extracts of hexadecane- and hexadecanol-grown cells . ald-a, ald-b, and ald-d were present in dodecyl aldehyde-grown cells, while palmitate-grown control cells contained ald-b and ald-d . Dodecyl aldehyde-negative mutants were isolated and grouped into two phenotypic classes based on growth: class 1 mutants were hexadecane and hexadecanol negative and class 2 mutants were hexadecane and hexadecanol positive . Specific activity of NADP-dependent FALDH in Ald21 (class 1 mutant) was 85% lower than that of wild-type FALDH, while the specific activity of Ald24 (class 2 mutant) was 55% greater than that of wild-type FALDH . Ald21R, a dodecyl aldehyde-positive revertant able to grow on hexadecane, hexadecanol, and dodecyl aldehyde, exhibited a 100% increase in the specific activity of the NADP-dependent FALDH . The oxidation of {3H}hexadecane byAld21 yielded the accumulation of 61% more fatty aldehyde than the wild type, while Ald24 accumulated 27% more fatty aldehyde, 95% more fatty alcohol, and 65% more wax ester than the wild type . This study provides genetic and physiological evidence for the role of fatty aldehyde as an essential metabolic intermediate and NADP-dependent FALDH as a key enzyme in the dissimilation of hexadecane, hexadecanol, and dodecyl aldehyde in Acinetobactor sp . strain HO1-N.

Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 687 - 94
A 28,000-dalton protein of normal mouse serum binds specifically to the inner core region of bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Brade L et al.; Normal mouse serum was found to contain a protein, referred to here as factor, which binds to the inner core region of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of various bacterial families . Since factor-LPS interactions resulted in activation of guinea pig complement, factor activity could be assayed by a passive hemolysis test with sheep erythrocytes coated with LPS or lipid A from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (which was found earlier to bind particularly well to factor) . Factor was purified by G-50 and hydroxyapatite chromatography whereby the specific hemolytic activity was enriched 1,675-fold . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions revealed the presence of a 28,000-dalton protein as the main band . The identity of this band was determined by absorption experiments with LPS-coated sheep erythrocytes or latex beads, whereby the 28,000-dalton band disappeared after specific absorption and could be recovered from the absorbent . The binding specificity of factor was determined in a passive hemolysis inhibition assay with defined oligosaccharides representative for the inner core region of LPS . Thus, the di- and trisaccharides alpha-D-mannoheptopyranosyl-(1----5)-2-keto-3-deoxy-D-mannoocto nic acid and alpha-D-mannoheptopyranosyl-(1----3)-alpha-D-mannoheptopyranosy l-(1----5)-2- keto-3-deoxy-D-mannooctonic acid, respectively, were able to inhibit binding of factor to LPS . The results are in accordance with our earlier observation that the heptose-2-keto-3-deoxy-D-mannooctonic acid region represents a common antigen of bacterial LPS . Rabbit hyperimmune serum directed against this common antigen and purified factor was found to exhibit the same specificity for LPS . Factor activity was followed in mice in vivo after injection of LPS; it disappeared completely 15 min after the injection of LPS and reappeared within 1 h.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1985 Dec, 181(3-5), 418 - 29
Quantitative and qualitative aspects of bacterial flora of Karachi coastal water shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis and Metapenaeus monoceros); Zuberi R et al.; Bacterial counts were made over a period of two years of two important commercial shrimp varieties of Karachi coastal waters . Bacteria were also isolated and identified . Total number of bacteria were found to be remarkably equal at 37 degrees, 30 degrees and 25 degrees C . Aerobic plate count of Penaeus merguiensis at 37 degrees C ranged from 1.2 X 10(5) to 6.0 X 10(7) CFU/g (Median 1.8 X 10(6) CFU/g), and were predominantly Vibrio, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Flavobacterium . The corresponding count at 30 degrees C ranged from 3.2 X 10(5) to 4.7 X 10(7) CFU/g (Median 2.6 X 10(6) CFU/g) . The bacterial flora in order of predominance were Vibrio, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Moraxella, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Alteromonas, and Acinetobacter . The 25 degrees C counts ranged from 5.3 X 10(5) to 8.5 X 10(7) CFU/g (Median 3.1 X 10(6) CFU/g), the flora was composed of Vibrio, Moraxella, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Bacillus, Alteromonas, and Acinetobacter in order of predominance . The aerobic plate count of Metapenaeus monoceros at 30 degrees C ranged from 8.4 x 10(5) to 3.8 x 10(7) CFU/g (Median 2.9 x 10(6) CFU/g) . The bacterial flora in order of predominance were Vibrio, Micrococcus, Moraxella, Pseudomonas, Alteromonas, Flavobacterium and Staphylococcus . No significant qualitative or quantitative difference was obtained between the two shrimp species . The presence of Staphylococcus at 37 degrees C was attributed to favourable incubation temperature as well as to excessive unsanitary handling while the absence of Moraxella and Alteromonas putrefaciens at this temperature was considered due to the psychotrophic nature of these organisms.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Dec, 4(6), 415 - 23
The activity of cefbuperazone, a 7 alpha-methoxy 7 beta acyl ureido cephalosporin; Neu HC et al.; The activity of cefbuperazone, a 7 alpha-methoxy ureido cephalosporin, was determined against 726 clinical isolates . Ninety percent of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter diversus, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii, Salmonella, and Shigella species were inhibited by less than or equal to 6.3 micrograms/ml . Cefbuperazone was more active than cefamandole, cefoxitin and piperacillin against these species . Concentrations of 25 micrograms/ml of cefbuperazone were needed to inhibit Serratia marcescens and Providencia species, and 50% of Enterobacter cloacae had MICs greater than 25 micrograms/ml . Cefbuperazone was less active by 8 to 32-fold than cefotaxime or moxalactam against most Enterobacteriaceae . Cefbuperazone did not inhibit Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas species . Hemolytic streptococci were inhibited by 12.5 micrograms/ml and staphylococci by 25 micrograms/ml . Cefbuperazone had activity comparable to cefoxitin and moxalactam against Bacteroides fragilis with MIC90s of 6.3 micrograms/ml . Cefbuperazone was not hydrolyzed by plasmid or chromosomal beta-lactamases and was an inhibitor of the P99 E . cloacae beta-lactamase with an I50 of 1 microgram/ml . It was a less effective inhibitor of the K . oxytoca K1 and E . coli TEM-1 beta-lactamases than was clavulanic acid . Cefbuperazone induced beta-lactamases in P . aeruginosa and resistant E . cloacae . A permeability barrier in E . cloacae, C . freundii and P . aeruginosa is suggested by the potentiation of cefbuperazone's activity by EDTA.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 131 ( Pt 12), 3367 - 74
Molecular analysis of an antibiotic resistance plasmid, pAV5, and its derivative plasmids in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Divers M et al.; The non-conjugative plasmid pAV5 specifies resistance to kanamycin/neomycin (KmR) and tetracycline (TcR) . Physical evidence is presented to show that pAV5 gives rise to two plasmids, pAV51 (KmR) and pAV52 (TcR), which are formed by deletion of apparently non-overlapping segments of pAV5 . Expression of TcR has been obtained in Escherichia coli and is associated with a 1.9 kb HindIII fragment found in pAV5 and in pAV52 . Expression of KmR has been obtained in E . coli and is associated with a 1.3 kb PstI fragment found in pAV5 and pAV51 . Evidence is presented that the KmR gene is flanked by inverted repeat sequences and is therefore tentatively identified as a transposon, designated Tn4411 . The KmR gene specifies an aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase-type I (APH(3')-I) enzyme.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Dec, 28(6), 849 - 50
In vitro activity of ciprofloxacin combined with azlocillin; Moody JA et al.; A ciprofloxacin plus azlocillin broth microdilution checkerboard was evaluated against 125 aerobic gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria . Synergism (sigma FIC less than or equal to 0.5) occurred among 56% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 30% of Acinetobacter species, and 40% of Staphylococcus aureus studied . Antagonism (sigma FIC greater than or equal to 2) was present in less than 1% of the organisms.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Dec, 164(3), 1017 - 24
Alcohol dehydrogenases in Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N: role in hexadecane and hexadecanol metabolism; Singer ME et al.; Multiple alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) were demonstrated in Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N . ADH-A and ADH-B were distinguished on the basis of electrophoretic mobility, pyridine nucleotide cofactor requirement, and substrate specificity . ADH-A is a soluble, NAD-linked, inducible ethanol dehydrogenase (EDH) exhibiting an apparent Km for ethanol of 512 microM and a Vmax of 138 nmol/min . An ethanol-negative mutant (Eth1) was isolated which contained 6.5% of wild-type EDH activity and was deficient in ADH-A . Eth1 exhibited normal growth on hexadecane and hexadecanol . A second ethanol-negative mutant (Eth3) was acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) deficient, having 12.5% of wild-type ALDH activity . Eth3 had threefold-higher EDH activity than the wild-type strain . ALDH is a soluble, NAD-linked, ethanol-inducible enzyme which exhibited an apparent Km for acetaldehyde of 50 microM and a Vmax of 183 nmol/min . Eth3 exhibited normal growth on hexadecane, hexadecanol, and fatty aldehyde . ADH-B is a soluble, constitutive, NADP-linked ADH which was active with medium-chain-length alcohols . Hexadecanol dehydrogenase (HDH), a soluble and membrane-bound, NAD-linked ADH, was induced 5- to 11-fold by growth on hexadecane or hexadecanol . HDH exhibited apparent Kms for hexadecanol of 1.6 and 2.8 microM in crude extracts derived from hexadecane- and hexadecanol-grown cells, respectively . HDH was distinct from ADH-A and ADH-B, since HDH and ADH-A were not coinduced; Eth1 had wild-type levels of HDH; and HDH requires NAD, while ADH-B requires NADP . NAD- and NADP-independent HDH activity was not detected in the soluble or membrane fraction of extracts derived from hexadecane- or hexadecanol-grown cells . NAD-linked HDH appears to possess a functional role in hexadecane and hexadecanol dissimilation.

Am J Med, 1985 Nov 29, 79(5B), 73 - 7
Lower respiratory tract infection; Finegold SM et al.; The most important lower respiratory infection is pneumonia, the fourth leading cause of death . Most cases of bronchitis are of viral etiology and are not major problems . Empyema can present an important problem in management . Although the diagnosis of pneumonia is usually relatively straightforward, the specific etiologic diagnosis remains a major problem . Availability of empyema fluid or a positive blood culture result can be helpful in making the etiologic diagnosis, but these are unavailable in most patients . Screening of sputum Gram stains under 100 X magnification is very important; there should be fewer than 10 squamous epithelial cells, more than 25 polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or both per field of this size . The major causes of pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, anaerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, various gram-negative aerobic or facultative bacilli and Legionella . However, many other organisms are capable of causing pneumonia, even in the immunocompetent host . Further adding to the problem is the fact that a number of different organisms are manifesting increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents . Our study with ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid included seven patients with pneumonia, one with empyema, and one with purulent tracheobronchitis . Organisms recovered from pleural fluid, transtracheal aspiration and sputum or tracheostomy aspirate included multiple anaerobes, pneumococci, S . aureus, Hemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K . ozaenae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, beta-hemolytic streptococci, Neisseria meningitidis and Branhamella catarrhalis . Several of the organisms were ticarcillin resistant . Eight of the patients had cures and the other patient showed improvement . Only minor side-effects were encountered--Coombs' positivity (without hemolysis), eosinophilia, drug fever and one case of questionable neutropenia.

Am J Med, 1985 Nov 29, 79(5B), 141 - 5
Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid versus moxalactam therapy of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and skin and soft tissue infections; Siebert WT et al.; A controlled, randomized study to compare the efficacy and safety of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid with moxalactam was carried out in 25 evaluable patients with bone, joint, and skin or skin structure infections . Of the 13 patients in the ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid-treated group, nine had osteomyelitis, two had septic arthritis, one had cellulitis, and one had a wound infection . Four of the 12 moxalactam-treated patients had osteomyelitis, one had septic arthritis, and the other seven had cellulitis and/or infected ulcers . A total of 21 causative organisms were isolated in the group treated with ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid: Enterobacteriaceae (10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (five), obligate anaerobes (three), Staphylococcus aureus (two), and Acinetobacter species (one) . Cultures in the moxalactam-treated group yielded 23 pathogens: Enterobacteriaceae (seven), S . aureus (six), group B streptococci (four), P . aeruginosa (two), obligate anaerobes (two), Streptococcus pyogenes (one), and Aeromonas species (one) . A cure or satisfactory response was achieved in 12 of the 13 (92 percent) patients who received ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid and in 10 of the 12 (83 percent) patients who received moxalactam . One patient with septic arthritis who received ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid had a relapse during therapy, as did one moxalactam-treated patient with a post-surgical wound infection . The other patient in whom moxalactam treatment failed had a wound infection that became reinfected . Some abnormalities in laboratory parameters occurred in each group, but none was severe enough to warrant discontinuation of treatment.

Arch Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 143(2), 122 - 9
Evolutionary implications of features of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in the genus Acinetobacter; Byng GS et al.; Key enzymes of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis were examined in the genus Acinetobacter . Members of this genus belong to a suprafamilial assemblage of Gram-negative bacteria (denoted Superfamily B) for which a phylogenetic tree based upon oligonucleotide cataloging of 16S rRNA exists . Since the Acinetobacter lineage diverged at an early evolutionary time from other lineages within Superfamily B, an examination of aromatic biosynthesis in members of this genus has supplied important clues for the deduction of major evolutionary events leading to the contemporary aromatic pathways that now exist within Superfamily B . Together with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Xanthomonas campestris, four well-spaced lineages have now been studied in comprehensive detail with respect to comparative enzymological features of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis . A . calcoaceticus and A . lwoffii both possess two chorismate mutase isozymes: one a monofunctional isozyme (chorismate mutase-F), and the other (chorismate mutase-P) a component of a bifunctional P-protein (chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydratase) . While both P-protein activities were feedback inhibited by L-phenylalanine, the chorismate mutase-P activity was additionally inhibited by prephenate . Likewise, chorismate mutase-F was product inhibited by prephenate . Two isozymes of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase were detected . The major isozyme (greater than 95%) was sensitive to feedback inhibition by L-tyrosine, whereas the minor isozyme was apparently insensitive to allosteric control . Prephenate dehydrogenase and arogenate dehydrogenase activities were both detected, but could not be chromatographically resolved . Available evidence favors the existence of a single dehydrogenase enzyme, exhibiting substrate ambiguity for prephenate and L-arogenate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1985 Nov, 3(6), 489 - 99
In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefoperazone-sulbactam combinations against 554 clinical isolates including a review and beta-lactamase studies; Jones RN et al.; Cefoperazone was tested against 554 clinical isolates alone and with sulbactam in three combinations . The addition of sulbactam in low concentrations (less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml) improved the spectrum of cefoperazone principally against gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter species, some Pseudomonas species, and beta-lactamase-positive Enterobacteriaceae . Nearly all of the spectrum increase was achieved at a sulbactam level of less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml . Sulbactam was found to be an effective antimicrobial agent against Acinetobacter species (MIC50, 1.0 microgram/ml), Pseudomonas acidovorans (MIC50, 2.0 micrograms/ml), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC50, less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml), and N . meningitidis (MIC50, less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml) . Sulbactam had a higher affinity and binding constant for the plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases such as TEM-1 and TEM-2 compared to cefoperazone (greater than or equal to 10-fold difference) . This finding was important as cefoperazone can be hydrolyzed at a moderate rate by the highly efficient TEM enzymes (less than 2% of clinical Escherichia coli isolates) . Sulbactam increased the susceptibility (less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml) of 220 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae to cefoperazone from 88.6 to 96.3% when 4.0 micrograms/ml of sulbactam was added . The cefoperazone antimicrobial activity was also increased against the nonenteric bacilli from a 69.5 to a 87.4% total inhibition . MICs among cefoperazone-susceptible gram-negative and gram-positive strains were routinely decreased 2- to 32-fold, as calculated from MIC90 results . Therefore, sulbactam should predictably increase the antimicrobial spectrum and clinical effectiveness of cefoperazone against nosocomial and other pathogens such as the plasmid-containing enteric bacilli, Bacteroides species and Acinetobacter species, and possibly provide the opportunity to reduce dosage schedules for infecting species already susceptible to cefoperazone alone.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 Oct 15, 152(2), 453 - 8
Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4; Kaplan N et al.; Compositional analysis of the intact and carboxyl-reduced capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 (PS-4) showed it to consist of L-rhamnose, D-glucose, D-glucuronic and D-mannose in molar ratios of 4:1:1:1 . 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, oligosaccharide analysis and base-catalyzed beta-elimination were used to elucidate the primary structure . Oligosaccharides were obtained by enzymatic depolymerization with a specific bacteriophage-induced depolymerase and by partial acid hydrolysis . Form the results it is concluded that PS-4 consists of repeating units of the heptasaccharide (Formula: see text) . The bacteriophage-induced depolymerase was found to be an endo-beta-D-glucosidase that hydrolyzed the bond beta-D-Glc-(1----3)-L-Rha to generate a heptasaccharide in 40% yield.

Biochem J, 1985 Oct 15, 231(2), 407 - 16
Membrane-bound lactate dehydrogenases and mandelate dehydrogenases of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Purification and properties; Allison N et al.; Procedures were developed for the optimal solubilization of D-lactate dehydrogenase, D-mandelate dehydrogenase, L-lactate dehydrogenase and L-mandelate dehydrogenase from wall + membrane fractions of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . D-Lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were co-eluted on gel filtration, as were L-lactate dehydrogenase and L-mandelate dehydrogenase . All four enzymes could be separated by ion-exchange chromatography . D-Lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were purified by cholate extraction, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing . The properties of D-lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were similar in several respects: they had relative molecular masses of 62 800 and 59 700 respectively, pI values of 5.8 and 5.5, considerable sensitivity to p-chloromercuribenzoate, little or no inhibition by chelating agents, and similar responses to pH . Both enzymes appeared to contain non-covalently bound FAD as cofactor.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Oct, 164(1), 446 - 55
Regions of broad-host-range plasmid RK2 involved in replication and stable maintenance in nine species of gram-negative bacteria; Schmidhauser TJ et al.; The replication and maintenance properties of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2 and its derivatives were examined in nine gram-negative bacterial species . Two regions of RK2, the origin of replication (oriV) and a segment that encodes for a replication protein (trfA delta kilD, designated trfA*), are sufficient for replication in all nine species tested . However, stable maintenance of this minimal replicon (less than 0.3% loss per generation under nonselection conditions) is observed only in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, and Azotobacter vinelandii . Maintenance of this minimal replicon is unstable in Rhizobium meliloti, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Caulobacter crescentus, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides . A maintenance function has been localized to a 3.1-kilobase (kb) region of RK2 encoding three previously described functions: korA (trfB korB1 korD), incP1-(II), and korB . The 3.1-kb maintenance region can increase or decrease the stability of maintenance of RK2 derivatives dependent on the host species and the presence or absence of the RK2 origin of conjugal transfer (oriT) . In the case of A . calcoaceticus, stable maintenance requires an RK2 segment that includes the promoter and the kilD (kilB1) functions of the trfA operon in addition to the 3.1-kb maintenance region . The broad-host-range maintenance requirements of plasmid RK2, therefore, are encoded by multiple functions, and the requirement for one or more of these functions varies among gram-negative bacterial species.

Cancer Res, 1985 Oct, 45(10), 4876 - 82
Tissue nitrogen-sparing effect of high protein diet in mice with or without ascites tumor treated with Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase; Kien CL et al.; Forty-eight tumor-free mice and 32 mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumor were randomized into 2 treatments, Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase (AGA) (600 IU/kg/day for 7 days) and 0.9% NaCl controls, and into 2 or 3 isocaloric diets, normal protein (NP) (20 g protein/100 g diet), high protein (HP) (58 g protein/100 g diet), and zero protein (ZP) (tumor-free mice only) . In tumor-free, NP-fed mice, AGA caused percentage reductions (P less than 0.01) in the nitrogen content of liver (50%), intestine (42%), thymus (89%), spleen (75%), and carcass (20%), but HP prevented this effect on intestine and carcass and caused percentage increases in the nitrogen content of liver (53%), intestine (36%), thymus (122%), and carcass (25%) . In Ehrlich ascites tumor mice (NP or HP fed) AGA caused markedly lower (P less than 0.01) tumor burdens and increased nitrogen content of intestine (HP), kidney (NP and HP), and spleen (NP and HP) . Ehrlich ascites tumor, AGA-treated, HP-fed mice ate 31% less food (P less than 0.01) (compared to NP) but HP resulted in percentage increases in the nitrogen content of liver (18%; P = 0.05), intestine (25%; P less than 0.05), and thymus (164%; P less than 0.01) . In the Ehrlich ascites tumor, AGA group the HP diet caused higher hematocrit and serum total protein (both, P less than 0.05) . Adverse nutritional effects of AGA seen in normal mice were markedly diminished in tumor-bearing animals . The observed nitrogen-sparing effects of the high protein: energy ratio may be relevant to humans and to other forms of neoplasia and chemotherapy.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Oct, 28(4), 514 - 20
In vitro activities of the quinolone antimicrobial agents A-56619 and A-56620; Eliopoulos GM et al.; The in vitro activities of two new quinolone antimicrobial agents, A-56619 and A-56620, were compared with those of norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and other antimicrobial agents . The activity of A-56620 was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Aeromonas hydrophila (MICs for 90% of the strains were less than or equal to 0.06 micrograms/ml); Acinetobacter anitratus and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC for 90% of the strains was 0.5 micrograms/ml); and most streptococci . Against other gram-negative strains, A-56620 demonstrated activity comparable to that of norfloxacin, but the new drug was two to eight times more active than norfloxacin against gram-positive isolates . A-56620 was more active than A-56619 against most gram-negative organisms tested . Of the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae examined, 88% were inhibited by A-56619 and 99% by A-56620 at concentrations of less than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml . By time-kill methods, the new quinolones were bactericidal against gram-negative bacilli during the first 6 h of incubation, but against S . aureus and enterococci the drugs were primarily bacteriostatic during this period . The frequency of spontaneous resistance to 10 micrograms of these drugs per ml was less than 10(-8) for all species tested except E . cloacae, but by serial passage through incremental concentrations of the antimicrobial agents, colonies many-fold more resistant than the initial isolate could be selected . However, resistance to concentrations of the drug greater than 100 micrograms/ml remained stable after passage on antibiotic-free media in only 1 of 35 strains tested.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Oct, 33(8), 825 - 9
{Carbenicillin resistance of gram-negative bacteria: incidence, biochemical and genetic determinism}; Shaokat S et al.; Of nine hundred ampicillin resistant (Amp-R) enterobacteria strains, isolated in hospital between July and December 1981, 73,7% are also carbenicillin-resistant (Carb-R) . This particular double resistance varies depending upon the species considered: indole positive Proteus (23%), Enterobacter cloacae (64%), Citrobacter freundii (67%), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (73%), Proteus mirabilis (75%), Serratia marcescens (90%), Escherichia coli (91%), Providencia stuartii (96%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (100%) . The biochemical and genetic basis of resistance to beta-lactamines was studied in 27 strains belonging to these 9 species . A constitutive beta-lactamase was found in all the strains . These enzymes were identified by determination of the isoelectric point on crude sonic extracts, the enzymic activity profile, the inhibition by clavulanic acid and cloxacillin of enzyme activity . Two types of enzymes were predominant: TEM-1 (20 strains) and TEM-2 (7 strains); two strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae produced both SHV-1 and TEM-1 . The transfer by conjugation to E . coli K12 of ampicillin and carbenicillin resistance was obtained with 14 strains: (E . coli: 9, C . freundii: 1, K . pneumoniae: 1, E . cloacae: 2, P . stuartii: 1) . In all strains but one E . coli we noted the co-transfer of other antibiotic resistance markers.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Oct, 16(4), 469 - 73
In-vitro activity of Ro-15-8074, a new oral cephalosporin; Peeters M et al.; The in-vitro activity of Ro-15-8074, a new oral cephalosporin, was tested against common clinical isolates, and compared with the in-vitro activity of cefaclor, cefadroxil, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole . Its activity against Enterobacteriaceae was better than those of the other antibiotics tested . It was also highly active against Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase producing strains . Its activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., was poor . Ro-15-8074 was less active against staphylococci and group D streptococci than were cefaclor, cefadroxil and ampicillin . It was equally or less active than cefaclor, cefadroxil, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole against other streptococci.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Oct, 16(4), 475 - 84
Antibacterial activity of ofloxacin and other 4-quinolone derivatives: in-vitro and in-vivo comparison; Chantot JF et al.; Ofloxacin (DL8280, RU43280) is a newly introduced oxazine quinolone derivative with broad and potent antibacterial activity . Ofloxacin showed excellent in-vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae while most strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were inhibited by less than 2 mg/l . The compound was significantly more potent than norfloxacin against Acinetobacter spp . and Staphylococcus spp . Ofloxacin and norfloxacin behaved similarly with respect to inoculum size, effect of urine and serum, bactericidal properties and frequency of spontaneous resistant mutants . Ofloxacin displayed an in-vivo antibacterial activity up to five times greater than that of pefloxacin and norfloxacin, probably due to the conjunction of favourable pharmacokinetics, excellent bacterial susceptibility and good stability towards metabolic degradation.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Oct, 131 ( Pt 10), 2805 - 11
Plasmid transfer and behaviour in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus EBF65/65; Chopade BA et al.; At least one plasmid from each of the incompatibility groups B, C, FIV, H2/S, I alpha, I delta, P, W and X was shown to be capable of transfer from Escherichia coli K12 to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus EBF65/65 . Transfer was influenced by the presence of pAV2 (thought to encode a restriction-modification system) in the recipient strain; however, not all plasmids belonging to a particular incompatibility group behaved identically . All plasmids were unstable to varying degrees in A . calcoaceticus EBF65/65, but under suitable conditions were capable of transfer to further strains of EBF65/65 and re-transfer to E . coli K12 . Of 40 recently isolated trimethoprim R plasmids 31 transferred successfully from E . coli K12 to A . calcoaceticus EBF65/65, but 17 of these 31 required the introduction of a second mobilizing plasmid for re-transfer to occur.

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 1985 Oct-Dec, 80(4), 411 - 21
{Gram-negative bacteria resistant to antibiotics in foods}; Dias JC et al.; From 154 food samples, including vegetables (lettuce), milk and meals served at school it was possible to isolate and identify 400 Gram negative bacilli distributed among 339 enteric bacteria (Escherichia, Shigella, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia and Proteus) and other 61 non enteric bacilli (Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium, Aeromonas and Pseudomonas) . Submitting this cultures to the drugs sulfadiazine (Su), streptomycin (Sm), tetracycline (Tc), chloramphenicol (Cm), kanamycin (Km), ampicillin (Ap), nalidixic acid (Nal) and gentamycin (Gm) it was observed only six stocks susceptible to all drugs and total sensibility to Gm . Among enteric bacteria the profiles Su (27,6%) and Su-Ap (39,6%) predominated, while for the non enteric bacilli percentages of 18.0 for Ap and 9.8 for Su-Ap were detected . Aiming to better characterization of resistance, experiments of conjugation were made with standard strains of Escherichia coli K 12 . Great concern was raised by the recognition of these cultures due to the elevated R+ taxes for the enteric bacilli that were close to 90% (milk and food at school) and about 70% in relation to lettuce.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1985 Oct, 84(4), 496 - 504
The cefoperazone-sulbactam combination . In vitro qualities including beta-lactamase stability, antimicrobial activity, and interpretive criteria for disk diffusion tests; Jones RN et al.; Three concentrations of the penicillanic acid sulfone, sulbactam were tested in combination with cefoperazone against 632 recent clinical bacterial isolates . Cefoperazone was effective alone (less than or equal to 16 micrograms/mL) against 95% of Enterobacteriaceae and combined with 4 micrograms/mL sulbactam inhibited 99.5% of strains . This coverage of enteric bacilli was superior to timentin (99.1%), ceftazidime (98.2%), and tobramycin (90.9%) . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefoperazone-susceptible strains also were markedly decreased by sulbactam (overall MIC90s, 8.0 micrograms/mL for cefoperazone and 1.0 microgram/mL for cefoperazone and 4.0 micrograms/mL for sulbactam) . Sulbactam also expanded the spectrum of cefoperazone against Acinetobacter species, some rare Pseudomonas species, and Bacteroides fragilis group species . Sulbactam had direct antimicrobial activity against the acinetobacters and Pseudomonas acidovorans, but the increased activity of cefoperazone-sulbactam against some other Pseudomonas species and anaerobes was attributed to beta-lactamase inhibition . The cefoperazone MICs against beta-lactamase producing Staphylococcus species also were lowered to the level of enzyme-deficient strains . Cefoperazone bactericidal activity was improved by 4.0 micrograms/mL sulbactam, and no antagonism was observed . beta-lactamase hydrolysis studies confirmed a slow hydrolysis of cefoperazone only by TEM beta-lactamases and a high-grade resistance to enzyme breakdown by sulbactam . Differential beta-lactamase affinity studies for cefoperazone and sulbactam showed potential efficacy and applications to plasmid-mediated TEM and OXA enzymes and only marginal effective sulbactam inhibition of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella species enzymes . Disk diffusion studies on 556 strains confirmed the applicability of the cefoperazone 75-micrograms disk to testing routine isolates other than enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . The addition of 4.0 micrograms sulbactam/mL in a fixed concentration to dilution test systems and 15 micrograms sulbactam to the 75 micrograms cefoperazone disk were recommended for in vitro tests . Susceptibility and resistant interpretive criteria for the disk and dilution tests can be applied with confidence . Only 0.4% false-susceptibility errors and a 97.5% absolute interpretive agreement were achieved using the 75 micrograms cefoperazone/15 micrograms sulbactam disk.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Sep 16, 131(2), 564 - 6
Replacement of methoxatin by 4,7-phenanthroline-5,6-dione and the inability of other phenanthroline quinones, as well as 7,9-di-decarboxy methoxatin, to serve as cofactors for the methoxatin-requiring glucose dehydrogenase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Conlin M et al.; Glucose dehydrogenase from A . calcoaceticus has been dissociated into apoenzyme and methoxatin coenzyme, and enzyme activity restored by replacing coenzyme with 4,7-phenanthroline-5,6-dione but not with 1,10- nor 1,7-phenanthroline-5,6-diones nor with 7,9-decarboxy methoxatin.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Sep, 22(3), 387 - 90
Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility testing by agar dilution and the Micro Media system (Fox Panel); Welch WD et al.; The susceptibilities of 350 gram-positive cocci and 638 gram-negative bacilli to various antimicrobial agents were compared by using the Micro-Media system (MMS) (Fox Panel) (Micro-Media Systems, Inc., Potomac, Md.) and a standard agar dilution procedure . Major discrepancies occurred with enterococci, among which 48 of 53 isolates (91%) were found to be resistant to penicillin G by agar dilution and reported as susceptible by the MMS . Other large discrepancies occurred with Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus, among which more than 40% of the isolates were judged to be resistant to ampicillin by agar dilution and susceptible by the MMS . In terms of overall agreement in interpretation of MICs by the two systems, an agreement of greater than 84% was seen for both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms when ampicillin and cephalothin (68 and 78% agreement for gram-positive cocci, respectively) were excluded . These disagreements in MIC interpretations may result in part from the small number of organisms tested per well (4,000 CFU) in the MMS, as compared with 10,000 CFU per test in the agar dilution method.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Sep, 163(3), 882 - 9
Plasmid-mediated mineralization of 4-chlorobiphenyl; Shields MS et al.; Strains of Alcaligenes and Acinetobacter spp . were isolated from a mixed culture already proven to be proficient at complete mineralization of monohalogenated biphenyls . These strains were shown to harbor a 35 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid mediating a complete pathway for 4-chlorobiphenyl (4CB) oxidation . Subsequent plasmid curing of these bacteria resulted in the abolishment of the 4CB mineralization phenotype and loss of even early 4CB metabolism by Acinetobacter spp . Reestablishment of the Alcaligenes plasmid, denoted pSS50, in the cured Acinetobacter spp . via filter surface mating resulted in the restoration of 4CB mineralization abilities . 4CB mineralization, however, proved to be an unstable characteristic in some subcultured strains . Such loss was not found to coincide with any detectable alteration in plasmid size . Cultures capable of complete mineralization, as well as those limited to partial metabolism of 4CB, produced 4-chlorobenzoate as a metabolite . Demonstration of mineralization of a purified 14C-labeled chlorobenzoate showed it to be a true intermediate in 4CB mineralization . Unlike the mineralization capability, the ability to produce a metabolite has proven to be stable on subculture . These results indicate the occurrence of a novel plasmid, or evolved catabolic plasmid, that mediates the complete mineralization of 4CB.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 14 - 20
Review of in vitro activity of third-generation cephalosporins and other newer beta-lactam antibiotics against clinically important bacteria; Thornsberry C; The third-generation cephalosporins and some newer beta-lactam compounds such as the monobactams and carbapenems, when compared with first- and second-generation cephalosporins, have an extended spectrum of activity and generally greater activity against gram-negative bacilli of clinical importance . The increased spectrum includes the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Although the third-generation cephalosporins have some activity against P . aeruginosa, of those drugs now available in the United States, ceftazidime and cefoperazone are much more active than the others, and ceftazidime is more active than cefoperazone . The activity of the third-generation compounds against Acinetobacter species and other Pseudomonas species is limited . These compounds inhibit the growth of Hemophilus and Neisseria species (including beta-lactamase-producing isolates), nonenterococcal streptococci, and anaerobic gram-positive cocci . They also inhibit the growth of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci but generally are not as active against these organisms as are the first-generation cephalosporins . They do not inhibit methicillin-resistant S . aureus . The activity of third-generation cephalosporins against anaerobes varies, but moxalactam and ceftizoxime are similar in activity to cefoxitin, a second-generation compound . The third-generation cephalosporins do not inhibit the growth of Listeria . A majority of organisms resistant to cephalothin and cefamandole (first- and second-generation cephalosporins) and to aminoglycosides are inhibited by third-generation cephalosporins.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 56 - 61
Role of cephalosporins in the treatment of bacterial meningitis in adults . Overview with special emphasis on ceftazidime; Norrby SR; Experience with the use of first-generation cephalosporins in bacterial meningitis has been disappointing; low concentrations were obtained in the cerebrospinal fluid, and therapeutic failures were encountered . Of the second-generation cephalosporins cefamandole, cefuroxime, and cefoxitin, only cefuroxime has proved efficacy in meningitis caused by meningococci, pneumococci, or Hemophilus influenzae . The third-generation cephalosporins offer new advantages in the treatment of meningitis because they are active at the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations obtainable . Cefotaxime has produced high cure rates in patients with meningitis caused by meningococci, pneumococci, or H . influenzae . Several controlled comparative studies indicate that ceftriaxone is as effective as conventional treatment in therapy for neonatal or childhood meningitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, or H . influenzae . Moxalactam has been found in uncontrolled studies to be effective when the cause was enteric gram-negative bacilli . Ceftazidime is a new cephalosporin with a high degree of beta-lactamase stability and a broad antibacterial spectrum, which includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa that enters the cerebrospinal fluid . Data from 29 patients who received ceftazidime as monotherapy for bacterial meningitis showed an overall cure or improvement rate of 75.9 percent . Therapy failed in three patients with meningitis caused by gram-positive organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, S . epidermidis, S . agalactiae), and in three with gram-negative organisms . Of 14 patients with Pseudomonas meningitis, 11 showed a cure, as did six of six patients with meningitis caused by Enterobacter, Serratia, or Acinetobacter . More, preferably controlled, studies of the efficacy of ceftazidime in the treatment of meningitis should be undertaken.

Am J Med, 1985 Aug 9, 79(2A), 2 - 13
Relation of structural properties of beta-lactam antibiotics to antibacterial activity; Neu HC; There has been remarkable progress in the development of new antimicrobial agents as the result of structural modifications of the cephalosporin nucleus . It has been possible to predict many aspects of the antimicrobial activity of new agents and to recognize the structural modifications that contribute to overcoming the continued problem of bacterial resistance . The activity of beta-lactams against gram-positive species depends primarily on their affinity for the enzymes referred to as penicillin-binding proteins . Resistance of gram-positive species to beta-lactams is either due to altered penicillin-binding proteins or, more commonly, due to the presence of beta-lactamases, which are usually plasmid-mediated and inducible . The activity of beta-lactams against gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria is the result of the way in which the compounds pass through the porin channels in the outer wall, resist inactivation by beta-lactamases, and bind to the penicillin-binding proteins . The basic cephalosporin nucleus consists of the essential beta-lactam ring fused to a dihydrothiazine ring . It is possible to modify this structure to increase antibacterial activity . Changes in moieties at position 3 affect pharmacologic activity but can also cause a marked increase or decrease in activity against staphylococci and Pseudomonas species . The presence of the thiomethyltetrazole group at position 3 has been associated with an alteration in prothrombin synthesis and with disulfiram reactions . Modifications of the cephem nucleus at position 7 by addition of methoxy groups increase beta-lactamase stability but decrease activity against gram-positive species because of lower affinity for penicillin-binding proteins . The more useful acyl side chains have been those that contain a 2-aminothiazolyl moiety, which causes increased affinity of the molecules for penicillin-binding proteins of gram-negative bacteria and streptococcal species . Iminomethoxy groups provide beta-lactamase stability against the common plasmid beta-lactamases such as those of Staphylococcus aureus and the TEM, SHV-1, OXA, and PSE enzymes found in Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as the chromosomally mediated K-1 and P99 enzymes of Enterobacter . A propylcarboxy group increases beta-lactamases stability and also provides activity against P . aeruginosa and some Acinetobacter . Conversely, this particular grouping reduces the beta-lactamase induction capabilities of a compound, as well as its ability to function as a beta-lactamase inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

J Bacteriol, 1985 Aug, 163(2), 493 - 9
Energy transduction by electron transfer via a pyrrolo-quinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (var . lwoffi); van Schie BJ et al.; The coupling of membrane-bound glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.17) to the respiratory chain has been studied in whole cells, cell-free extracts, and membrane vesicles of gram-negative bacteria . Several Escherichia coli strains synthesized glucose dehydrogenase apoenzyme which could be activated by the prosthetic group pyrrolo-quinoline quinone . The synthesis of the glucose dehydrogenase apoenzyme was independent of the presence of glucose in the growth medium . Membrane vesicles of E . coli, grown on glucose or succinate, oxidized glucose to gluconate in the presence of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone . This oxidation led to the generation of a proton motive force which supplied the driving force for uptake of lactose, alanine, and glutamate . Reconstitution of glucose dehydrogenase with limiting amounts of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone allowed manipulation of the rate of electron transfer in membrane vesicles and whole cells . At saturating levels of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, glucose was the most effective electron donor in E . coli, and glucose oxidation supported secondary transport at even higher rates than oxidation of reduced phenazine methosulfate . Apoenzyme of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenases with similar properties as the E . coli enzyme were found in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (var . lwoffi) grown aerobically on acetate and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown anaerobically on glucose and nitrate.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Aug, 38(8), 2129 - 38
{Therapeutic effects of micronomicin against severe infections in patients with hematopoietic disorders . Hanshin Infection Study Group}; Hasegawa H et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) at a daily dose of 120 to 360 mg was administered to patients with severe infections who had hematopoietic disorders as underlying diseases . Efficacy and safety of the drug were evaluated . The underlying diseases in the 56 patients included in the evaluation of efficacy were acute myelocytic leukemia (24 cases), acute lymphocytic leukemia (8), acute promyelocytic leukemia (6), acute monomyelocytic leukemia (4), acute monocytic leukemia (1), erythroleukemia (1), chronic myelocytic leukemia-blastic crisis (4), malignant lymphoma (3), aplastic anemia (2), and others (3) . The infections were septicemia in 9 patients, suspected septicemia in 48, respiratory tract infection in 7, and perianal abscess in 2 . The clinical efficacy of MCR was 'excellent' in 12 patients, 'good' in 17, 'fair' in 7, 'poor' in 30 for an efficacy rate of 43.9% . The efficacy rate classified according to infections was 22.2% in septicemia, 56.3% in suspected septicemia . The organisms isolated from the patients with septicemia were Escherichia coli in 2, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 1, alpha-Streptococcus in 1, Serratia marcescens in 1, and Acinetobacter sp . in 1 . The efficacy rate was 15.4% in the 13 patients whose causative organisms were identified . The efficacy rate for patients who had failed to respond to prior antibiotic therapy was 43.9% . The efficacy rate in patients (34 cases) with an initial neutrophil count less than 100/microliter was 44.1% . Side effect which might have been caused by MCR was skin eruption in only one episode among 83 episodes those were evaluated for safety.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Aug, 4(4), 271 - 7
The activity and beta-lactamase stability of cefotetan compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics; Neu HC et al.; The in vitro activity of cefotetan was assessed against beta-lactamase producing clinical isolates . The majority of Enterobacteriaceae were inhibited by less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml with 50% of isolates inhibited by less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . Cefotetan inhibited organisms resistant to cefazolin, cefonicid and cefoperazone, but not isolates of Enterobacter, Citrobacter or Serratia resistant to ceftizoxime . Cefotetan inhibited beta-lactamase producing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml, but it did not inhibit Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Cefotetan was as active as cefoxitin against anaerobic species such as Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium . Cefotetan was not hydrolyzed by Richmond-Sykes plasmid beta-lactamases of type III such as TEM and SHV, nor by the OXA or PSE beta-lactamases . It also was not hydrolyzed by cephalosporinases of Richmond-Sykes type Ia or Id . Cefotetan inhibited beta-lactamases of the type Ia and Id, but it also induced these beta-lactamases in P . aeruginosa, E . cloacae and C . freundii.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Aug, 28(2), 259 - 64
In vitro activities of enoxacin, ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid, aztreonam, piperacillin, and imipenem and comparison with commonly used antimicrobial agents; Henry D et al.; A total of 745 gram-negative and 313 gram-positive clinical isolates were tested against enoxacin, ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid, aztreonam, imipenem, and piperacillin and compared with commonly used antimicrobial agents . Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid, imipenem, and piperacillin were active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp . and most Pseudomonas spp . Aztreonam was active against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae but was less effective against the nonfermenters . Enoxacin was active against the Enterobacteriaceae, P . aeruginosa, the staphylococci, and most Acinetobacter spp . but was less active against Pseudomonas spp . and streptococci . Imipenem was very active against all gram-positive and -negative organisms tested except for Pseudomonas maltophilia.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Aug, 28(2), 308 - 10
Ciprofloxacin therapy of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other resistant bacteria; Eron LJ et al.; Ciprofloxacin was administered orally to 48 patients with 24 Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and 13 other infections caused by cephalothin-resistant gram-negative bacilli . The types of infections treated included those of skin or skin structure, bone, urinary tract, and respiratory tract . In 83% of P . aeruginosa infections, a favorable clinical outcome occurred, compared with 85% for all infections . Failure to achieve a cure correlated with the emergence of resistant P . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains in four instances and superinfection with Candida (two cases) and Streptococcus (two cases) species . Therapy was discontinued in three patients because of the development of nausea . Ciprofloxacin appears to be safe and effective in the therapy of infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacilli.

Am J Med, 1985 Jul 15, 79(1A), 43 - 50
Treatment of pediatric infections with amikacin as first-line aminoglycoside; Shulman ST et al.; Because of increased aminoglycoside resistance of hospital bacterial isolates, aminoglycoside sensitivity patterns of isolates in a large children's hospital were assessed before and during a 33-month period of almost exclusive amikacin use . There was no significant change in overall resistance rates of gram-negative enteric bacteria to gentamicin (4.8 percent and 4.6 percent), tobramycin (2.5 percent and 3.6 percent), and amikacin (1.2 percent and 1.8 percent) from the pre-amikacin period to the amikacin usage period, respectively . No significant differences were observed for isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas species . In contrast, significant decreases in gentamicin and tobramycin resistance rates for Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in gentamicin resistance of Proteus were found . Very little change in resistance of staphylococcal isolates was seen during a shorter evaluation period . Pediatric aminoglycoside usage includes therapy of neonatal infections, cystic fibrosis, febrile neutropenic episodes in patients with cancer, abdominal surgery, bacterial endocarditis, and gram-negative central nervous system infections . Amikacin has also been used successfully as single-dose therapy of urinary tract infections, and acceptable cerebrospinal fluid levels of amikacin have been documented in hydrocephalic patients with ventriculitis . In vitro studies of 22 bacterial isolates demonstrated synergy between amikacin and penicillin or newer cephalosporins in 13, an additive effect in seven and indifference in two . No antagonism was found . In addition, in vivo synergy between imipenem and amikacin was found in neutropenic infant rats with P . aeruginosa sepsis using a strain with which no synergy was demonstrable in vitro . Amikacin is effective in pediatric infections and is well tolerated by children . Because excessive or inadequate levels are frequent with usually recommended doses, particularly in neonates and patients with compromised renal function or cystic fibrosis, serum levels should be monitored to minimize risk and to ensure therapeutic levels.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Jul, 59(1), 41 - 7
Bacteria in bivalve shellfish with special reference to the oyster; Kueh CS et al.; The bacterial flora of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, the sea mussel Perna viridis and the arkshell clam Scapharca cornea differed considerably from that of seawater in both numbers and generic composition . The numbers of heterotrophic bacteria in the bivalve shellfish, including the anaerobes and spore-forming bacteria, were greater than that in the surrounding water . Pseudomonas spp . were the dominant organisms, comprising over one third of the 321 strains characterized after isolation from the bivalves and seawater . Other bacteria isolated from the shellfish included Vibrio, Acinetobacter, and Aeromonas spp., whereas the seawater flora consisted mainly of coliform organisms, coryneform bacteria and Flavobacterium/Cytophaga spp . Bacteria associated with the deposit-feeding clams were higher in density and more distinct in generic composition as compared with those in the suspension-feeding oysters and mussels . Over 90% of the coliform and heterotrophic bacteria in oysters were found in organs associated with the digestive tract . Coliforms were mainly found in the stomach while heterotrophs were present in both stomach and the lower intestine . The results suggest that the stomach flora of oysters are mainly derived from the external environment and, through a process of selection and multiplication, that it may be gradually replaced by a more indigenous population which dominates the lower digestive tract.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Jul-Aug, 7 Suppl 3, S452 - 7
Prospective randomized comparison of imipenem/cilastatin and cefotaxime for treatment of lung, soft tissue, and renal infections; Diaz-Mitoma F et al.; Thirty-one moderately or severely ill hospitalized patients with proved (25 patients) or suspected (six) bacterial infections were randomly allocated to receive imipenem/cilastatin (16) or cefotaxime (15) . The median age, sex, duration of therapy, underlying disease, and types of infection were similar in both groups . Nineteen patients with pneumonia, eight with soft tissue infection, and four with acute pyelonephritis were included . The pathogens isolated included Escherichia coli (six), Streptococcus pneumoniae (five), Streptococcus pyogenes (five), Haemophilus species (four), Proteus species (three), Staphylococcus aureus (three), and Serratia marcescens (two) . In the imipenem/cilastatin group, 13 patients were cured of their infections and three showed improvement . In the cefotaxime group, nine were cured, three showed improvement, and three showed no improvement . Nine patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin developed phlebitis, as compared with eight treated with cefotaxime . One patient treated with cefotaxime developed diarrhea . During therapy, potential pathogens were isolated from four patients in the imipenem/cilastatin group (Candida species {two} and Pseudomonas maltophilia {two}), as compared with eight in the cefotaxime group (enterococci {two}, Pseudomonas aeruginosa {two}, Candida species {two}, Acinetobacter anitratus {one}, and Pseudomonas fluorescens {one}) . There were no recognized superinfections.

Dan Med Bull, 1985 Jun, 32(3), 196 - 8
In vitro activity of aztreonam--a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic; Friis H; The in vitro antibacterial activity of aztreonam (SQ 26776), a new beta-lactam antibiotic, was measured by the agar dilution technique . Aztreonam is known to have a narrow spectrum with activity only against Gram negative bacteria . The strains tested were 223 clinical isolates from blood cultures obtained at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark . Its activity against E . coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter, Salmonella typhimurium and Serratia marcescens was satisfactory with MIC values normally below 0.5 mg/l . However, six out of 135 strains of E . coli showed surprisingly high MIC values of eight and 16 mg/l . The activity against Pseudomonas spp . and Acinetobacter spp . were limited, but the majority were inhibited by concentrations of aztreonam between 2.0 and 8.0 mg/l . The MIC values for the tested anaeobic bacteria were high, ranging from 8.0 to above 512 mg/l . With its narrow spectrum of activity, aztreonam seems to be a valuable addition to the antibiotic arsenal . Clinical studies will determine its real value.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Jun, 21(6), 959 - 62
Comparison of the Cathra Repliscan II, the AutoMicrobic system Gram-Negative General Susceptibility-Plus Card, and the Micro-Media System Fox Panel for dilution susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli; Reiber NE et al.; A comparative evaluation was done to test the accuracy of the Cathra Repliscan II agar dilution system (Diagnostic Equipment, Inc., St . Paul, Minn.), the AutoMicrobic system with Gram-Negative General Susceptibility-Plus Card (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.), and the Micro-Media Fox Panel micro broth dilution system (Micro-Media Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.) in determining MICs of 12 antibiotics for 200 gram-negative bacilli . Of the 200 strains tested, 12 isolates did not grow in one of the three systems . The 188 remaining organisms included 158 members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, 20 Pseudomonas spp., 5 Acinetobacter sp., 3 Aeromonas spp., and 2 Vibrio spp . A total of 2,256 organism-antibiotic combinations were analyzed for each system . An MIC was considered correct if two of the three systems were in agreement . When disagreements occurred, correct MICs were determined by the standard agar dilution method . With this criterion, overall agreements of the Cathra Repliscan II system, AutoMicrobic system, and Micro-Media Fox Panel system were 94.7, 94.9, and 95.5%, respectively . Tetracycline (20%), nitrofurantoin (20%), and ampicillin (16%) accounted for 56% of the discrepancies observed . These results indicate that all three systems perform with a high degree of accuracy for susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli.

South Med J, 1985 Jun, 78(6), 647 - 51
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus septicemia in patients with cancer; Rolston K et al.; At our institution, 95 cases of Acinetobacter septicemia occurred over a ten-year period (1973 to 1982) in patients being treated for cancer . In 24 patients the infection was polymicrobial, while Acinetobacter ssp was the only offending pathogen in 71 patients . In 76 patients (80%), the infection was related to an indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) . A sharp increase in the frequency of Acinetobacter septicemia was noticed in the years 1981 and 1982 and coincided with a marked increase in the number of indwelling CVCs in use . Acute leukemia and breast cancer were the malignancies most commonly associated with Acinetobacter septicemia . The isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus from the patients in this study were highly susceptible to the aminoglycosides and moderately susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), carbenicillin, and tetracycline . Seventy-nine patients recovered from their infection with removal of the CVC and antimicrobial chemotherapy . Acinetobacter sp was the cause of death in none of the 16 patients who died . A calcoaceticus is an important nosocomial pathogen causing infections predominantly in immune compromised patients and frequently associated with indwelling catheters.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 564 - 8
{Comparative bacteriologic activity of norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin against 320 Gram-negative bacilli resistant and non-resistant to nalidixic acid and cephalosporins}; Croize J et al.; Bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of three fluoroquinolones, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin, against 320 strains of Gram-negative bacilli were studied in vitro . For nalidixic acid-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, susceptibility or resistance to second or third generation cephalosporins has no significant bearing on the MIC 90 of each of the three antibiotics . This is not so of nalidixic acid-resistant strains . All E . coli and K . pneumoniae strains are susceptible to the three quinolones (MIC 90 less than 3 mg/1); MICs 90 are higher for E . cloacae and S . marcescens; Serratia strains in particular have an MIC 90 greater than 6 mg/1 . Nalidixic acid-susceptible Acinetobacter strains can be eliminated by ofloxacin or pefloxacin, whereas norfloxacin has the greatest activity against P . aeruginosa . We conclude that when multiresistant bacteria emerge, testing of susceptibility to the three quinolones studied may be useful.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 473 - 6
{In vitro effect of ceftriaxone on hospital bacteria . Line of regression and critical values}; Cluzel M et al.; Antimicrobial activity of ceftriaxone, a new third generation cephalosporin, against hospital isolates was investigated . 312 strains belonging to the most commonly recovered species were studied using the following methods: agar diffusion (disk antibiotic testing), agar dilution (determination of MIC) and dilution in a liquid medium with subculture to agar plates (determination of MBC) . Except for a few Citrobacter strains and rare Serratia strains, all Enterobacteriaceae tested proved highly susceptible, with MICs less than or equal to 1 mg/l and mode MICs ranging from 0.003 mg/l (Proteus) to 0.25 mg/l (Enterobacter) . MICs ranged from 16 to 32 mg/l for Acinetobacter (mode MICs: 16 mg/l) and 16 to greater than or equal to 128 for Pseudomonas (mode MIC greater than or equal to 128 mg/l) . Methicillin-susceptible staphylococci were moderately susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC: 2 to 8 mg/l) whereas methicillin-resistant staphylococci and enterococci were resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 64 mg/l) . Bactericidal activity was excellent: MBC/MIC less than or equal to 2 (except for a few Serratia strains) . A correlation curve was established . Given the high serum concentrations of ceftriaxone (achieved with the usual maximal dosage) and its unusually extended half-life (7 to 8 h), the following cutoff concentrations can be proposed: C less than or equal to 4 mg/l, corresponding to greater than or equal to 20 mm: susceptible bacteria C greater than 32 mg/l, corresponding to less than 15 mm: resistant bacteria.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 461 - 5
{Effect of a ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (timentin) combination on bacteria resistant to ticarcillin}; Rouhan D et al.; Sixty-nine ticarcillin-resistant strains (57 Gram negative bacilli and 12 S . aureus) were tested: MICs and MBCs were determined for clavulanic acid, ticarcillin, and both agents combined using a liquid micromethod . MICs were compared to results of disk antibiotic sensitivity tests . While clavulanic acid exhibits little antibacterial activity, its action is synergistic with that of ticarcillin making 100% of Staphylococci and 84.2% of Gram negative bacilli susceptible . Among the Gram negative bacilli tested, distribution is as follows: E . coli (9/9), Klebsiella (10/14), Enterobacter (1/3), Serratia (8/8), Proteus, Providencia (8/8), Salmonella (2/2), Acinetobacter (4/4), and Pseudomonas (6/9) . Although strong bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities are already achieved with 4 mg, the best results are obtained with timentin 8 mg.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15 Suppl C, 111 - 7
beta-Lactamase susceptibility and comparative activity of Sch 34343 and other beta-lactams for non-fermenters, Neisseria spp . and beta-lactamase-positive Enterobacteriaceae; Mouton RP et al.; By means of a micro-dilution technique (10(5) cfu/cup) 30 strains of Pseudomonas spp . were found resistant to Sch 34343 . The susceptibility of Acinetobacter spp . (20 strains) was greatest for imipenem, followed by Sch 34343 (MIC approximately 0.7 mg/l), ceftazidime and ceftriaxone . Ten Moraxella strains were very susceptible to Sch 34343, imipenem and ceftazidime . For 35 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ten beta-lactamase-positive) and ten strains of N . meningitidis we noted no resistance to Sch 34343 (MIC 0.015-0.06 mg/l), or to any of the other drugs tested . Sixty-two strains of Enterobacteriaceae producing various beta-lactamases were tested for their sensitivity to Sch 34343 and seven other beta-lactams . To an even greater extent than imipenem and Sch 34343, latamoxef and ceftazidime proved very active against all these strains . A PSE-4-producing Escherichia coli strain was resistant to Sch 34343 . The inoculum effect (10(6) vs 10(4) cfu/ml) on Sch 34343 activity was usually small (1-4) . Tests for the beta-lactamase susceptibility of Sch 34343 showed that only one PSE-3, one PSE-4 and one chromosomal beta-lactamase from a strain of Enterobacter cloacae were slightly active.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 487 - 92
{Multicenter study of the in vitro effect of imipenem (N-formimidoyl-thienamycin) on hospital bacteria}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of imipenem were evaluated by agar dilution for 2 895 bacterial strains isolated in 9 hospitals . Imipenem proved highly active against Enterobacteriaceae, with an MIC less than or equal to 0.25 for 63% of the 1 556 tested strains, less than or equal to 1 for 89.6% and less than or equal to 4 for 99% . The different groups of Enterobacteriaceae exhibited similar mode MICs (0.12 to 0.25), with the exception of Serratia (0.25-0.5), P . mirabilis (0.5), indole-positive Proteus (2), and Providencia (1) . MICs of most cefotaxime-resistant strains were within the susceptibility range . Imipenem also exhibited satisfactory activity against P . aeruginosa (mode MIC 1-2) and Acinetobacter sp . (mode MIC: 0.25-0.5) . MICs ranged from 0.03 to 4 (mode MIC: 0.5) for Haemophilus sp . and 0.25 to 1 for Gonococci, regardless of beta-lactamase-production status . MICs for Meningococci were less than or equal to 0,06 . Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococci had low MICs, ranging from 0.008 to 0.5 (mode MIC : 0.016); MICs for methicillin-resistant strains varied widely, from 0.016 to 64, and were higher after incubation at 30 degrees C . Streptococci, except for Enterococci, and Pneumococci were highly susceptible (usually 0.008-0.03); MICs for Enterococci varied from 0,12 to 32 (mode MIC: 1-2) . Except for four C . difficile strains, all tested anaerobic strains were inhibited by concentrations less than or equal to 1 (mode MICs: 0.06 for C . perfringens and 0.03 for B . fragilis).

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Jun, 131 ( Pt 6), 1511 - 21
traT gene sequences, serum resistance and pathogenicity-related factors in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and other gram-negative bacteria; Montenegro MA et al.; The R6-5 plasmid-specified outer membrane protein, TraT protein, has previously been shown to mediate resistance to bacterial killing by serum . Colony hybridization with a 700 bp DNA fragment carrying most of the traT gene was used to examine the prevalence of traT in Gram-negative bacteria, particularly strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from clinical specimens . traT was found in isolates of E . coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Klebsiella, but not in Pseudomonas, Aeromonas or Plesiomonas, nor in the few isolates of Enterobacter, Proteus, Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Serratia or Yersinia that were examined . It was detected in a significantly higher proportion of the E . coli strains isolated from the blood of patients with bacteraemia/septicaemia or from faeces of patients with enteric infections (50-70%) than in that of strains isolated from normal faeces (20-40%) . The incidence of traT in strains isolated from cases of urinary tract infections was variable . traT was found to be frequently associated with production of the K1 capsule and with the carriage of ColV plasmids, but not with the carriage of R plasmids, nor with serum resistance or the production of haemolysin.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Jun, 15 Suppl C, 119 - 32
Gram-negative bacilli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins: beta-lactamase characterization and susceptibility to Sch 34343; Medeiros AA et al.; We studied 192 recent clinical isolates, comprising six species of Gram-negative bacilli resistant either to cefotaxime or latamoxef (Moxalactam), from several hospitals . All isolates were resistant to several other third-generation cephalosporins or a monobactam . Two to five types of chromosomal beta-lactamases, as defined by isoelectric focusing, were readily identified in each species . Isolates of Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Serratia produced higher levels of chromosomal beta-lactamase than corresponding cefotaxime-susceptible strains . In addition, 20 of 57 produced one or two plasmid-determined beta-lactamases, TEM-1, OXA-2, or a novel enzyme, OHIO-1 . The penem and carbapenem antibiotics, Sch 34343 and imipenem, were more active than cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, latamoxef and aztreonam against isolates of Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Ent . aerogenes, Ent . cloacae and Morganella, whereas imipenem, ceftazidime, and aztreonam were more active against Serratia isolates . The addition of plasmid-determined beta-lactamase increased resistance to piperacillin, cefoperazone and cefamandole but not to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, latamoxef, aztreonam, Sch 34343, or imipenem . Of 24 strains susceptible to aminoglycosides, none produced a plasmid-determined beta-lactamase, whereas 20 were found among the 33 strains resistant to aminoglycosides . Resistance of clinical isolates to newer beta-lactams appears to be due primarily to a high level of chromosomal cephalosporinase present without inducing agents . The plasmid-determined beta-lactamases, TEM-1 and OHIO-1, contributed little to resistance to most of the newer beta-lactams but were strongly associated with aminoglycoside resistance in these selected isolates . The greater in-vitro efficacy of the penem and carbapenem antibiotics, Sch 34343 and imipenem, against most of these isolates makes them promising candidates as first line agents against these pathogens.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Jun, 33(5 Pt 2), 469 - 72
{In vitro activity of ceftriaxone on hospital bacteria . Results of a multicenter study}; Soussy CJ et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftriaxone were determined by agar dilution for 2 099 strains isolated in six teaching hospitals . MICs were less than 1 microgram/ml for the great majority of Enterobacteriaceae, with mode MICs varying across groups from less than 0.008 micrograms/ml for Proteus (mirabilis and indole-positive) to 0.25 for Enterobacter . Only a few resistant strains were found, mainly among Enterobacter and Citrobacter . Ceftriaxone proved noticeably less active against P . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter (mode MICs: 16 micrograms/ml) . Haemophilus sp . and Gonococci, regardless of beta-lactamase production status, as well as Neisseria meningitidis, were highly susceptible (MIC less than 0.008-0.032) . Ceftriaxone was moderately active against methicillin-susceptible staphylococci (MIC: 2 to 8 micrograms/ml) and failed to inhibit methicillin resistant strains . Enterococci were slightly susceptible or resistant, whereas the other Streptococci and Pneumococci had low MICs (0.03-0.25) . A fairly wide range of MICs was found for anaerobes (Clostridium: 0.06-2, Bacteroides: 0.5-32) . Our data show that its particularly strong activity against Proteus, Haemophilus and Neisseria sets ceftriaxone apart from the other third-generation cephalosporins.

J Hosp Infect, 1985 Jun, 6(2), 166 - 74
Epidemic spread of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a neurosurgical department analyzed by electronic data processing; Gerner-Smidt P et al.; An epidemic spread of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus in two neurosurgical wards is described retrospectively and prospectively using electronic data processing . Isolation of the species from sputum preceded the isolation from CSF by 1/2-1 year . Control measures directed against spread by air and indirect contact controlled the epidemic . Reexamination of 20 selected strains from the epidemic revealed two distinct resistance patterns.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1985 May, 180(5-6), 436 - 47
{Qualitative and quantitative determination of bacterial populations in an aquatic environment . 7 . Development of bacterial growth on raw materials exposed to potable water}; Dott W et al.; Refined steel plates coated with different materials that contained available organic compounds led to a microbial growth on the surface . Even plastics and bitumen which were used in the sphere of drinking water showed after an exposure time of three months up to 192 ml slime per square meter . The number of viable bacteria within the Aufwuchs was in the range of 10(7) cfu/ml . The production of slime increased with time . The relation of carbohydrate and protein content significantly changed from 2 at the beginning to 30 after 12 months of incubation the bitumen coating test plates . This indicates an increase synthesis of carbohydrate containing extracellular polymeric substances during the late phase of growth . The bacteria isolated from the Aufwuchs mainly belonged to the genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter, Caulobacter, sheated bacteria and other gramnegative physiologically nonreactiv roads . During exposure of the plates the relation changed within the bacterial communities of the main groups . Comparing the bacteria communities of inlet and outflow water it became evident that the later one was influenced by bacteria of the Aufwuchs.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 May, 58(5), 457 - 9
A note on microbial spoilage of sheep meat at ambient temperature; Narasimha Rao D et al.; Shelf-life and microbial spoilage of sheep carcass meat at ambient temperature under commercial conditions were studied . The initial bacterial count of carcasses ranged 5.6-5.8 log/cm2 . Staphylococcus spp . (48%) predominated in the initial microflora of carcasses followed by Micrococcus spp . (19%) and Escherichia spp . (12%) . Microbial spoilage of carcasses occurred around 20 h when the bacterial count reached 8.0-9.0 log/cm2 . Thus the shelf life of carcasses at ambient temperature was 19 h . The predominant micro-organisms at the time of spoilage were Escherichia and 'Acinetobacter-like' organisms . It was also observed that Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus spp . could form a major part of the final flora . The presence of Escherichia and Staphylococcus spp . in higher percentages on the surface of carcasses at the time of spoilage presents the scope for health hazards.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 May, 33(5), 440 - 3
{Bacteriologic monitoring of bronchial secretions in surgical intensive care}; Duez JM et al.; Quantitative bacteriologic monitoring of bronchial secretions obtained by protected distal catheterism was performed in 60 critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation . A number of factors which have significant bearing on bacterial growth in the respiratory tract were demonstrated . A statistical correlation was found between aspiration pneumonia and presence of Enterobacteriaceae, as well as between hospital-acquired pneumonia and recovery of opportunistic pathogens . S . aureus was especially prevalent in patients under corticosteroids . Aminoglycoside treatments increased the frequency of Acinetobacter infections, whereas prevalence of S . aureus and P . aeruginosa appeared unrelated to the use of any specific antibiotic . The value of bacteriology on protected distal catheter bronchoscopy specimens is to allow accurate diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections and provide guidelines for the choice of appropriate antibiotics.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 May, 33(5), 301 - 8
{Activity of the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (augmentin) combination on strains of hospital isolates}; Deforges L et al.; All strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacilli (Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter) isolated from 01.01 to 03.31.83 were studied using agar diffusion with augmentin-impregnated discs (amoxicillin 20 micrograms + clavulanic acid 10 micrograms) . Augmentin is active against penicillinase-producing Staphylococci susceptible to methicillin, whereas methicillin-resistant strains are also resistant to augmentin . According to the susceptibility of strains to amoxicillin, carbenicillin and cefalotin, Enterobacteriaceae can be divided into five main phenotypes, of which four are resistant . "RSR" and "RRR" phenotypes, which are cephalosporinase producers, are chiefly found among Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter and indole + Proteus; in these groups a change in inhibition diameters indicating activity of augmentin is observed only in a significant number of Proteus vulgaris strains . "RRS" and "RRI" strains are penicillinase producers found mainly among E . coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and oxytoca, and Proteus mirabilis; they emerge as very susceptible to augmentin . Pseudomonas aeruginosa is never susceptible to augmentin . Augmentin is slightly more active than amoxicillin on some Acinetobacter strains but the difference is too inconsiderable to be of clinical significance.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 May, 27(5), 782 - 90
Comparative in vitro activities of cefpiramide and apalcillin individually and in combination; Allan JD et al.; The in vitro activities of cefpiramide and apalcillin were compared with those of other third-generation cephalosporins and extended-spectrum penicillins against over 1,000 clinical bacterial isolates . The activity of cefpiramide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable to those of piperacillin and cefoperazone, inhibiting 90% of strains at concentrations less than or equal to 16.0 micrograms/ml . This drug was also active against a broad range of gram-negative organisms but was generally less active than many of the other cephalosporins tested against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae . The activity of cefpiramide against gram-positive organisms was comparable to that of cefoperazone . Apalcillin, along with ceftazidime, was the most active agent tested against P . aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus, inhibiting 90% of these strains at concentrations less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml . Against other gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, its activity was similar to that of piperacillin . The activities of both cefpiramide and apalcillin were significantly reduced by the presence of several plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases in a series of otherwise isogenic strains of P . aeruginosa in comparison with their activities against a parent strain which lacks these enzymes . Many strains of Enterobacter cloacae were synergistically inhibited by the combination of gentamicin with either cefpiramide (5 of 10 strains) or apalcillin (6 of 10 strains) . Most strains of P . aeruginosa were synergistically inhibited by the combination of gentamicin with either cefpiramide (8 of 10 strains) or apalcillin (10 of 10 strains) . However, cefoxitin antagonized the activity of both cefpiramide and apalcillin against most of these same strains.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 May, 33(5), 325 - 9
{Effect of flash chemoprophylaxis by cefotaxime on the appearance of postoperative bacterial superinfections in surgery of the prostate}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; The effect on bacteriologically documented postoperative infection of flash prophylaxis using two intravenous injections of 20 mg/kg cefotaxime each was evaluated in a double blind, randomized trial against placebo . 181 participants free of urinary tract infection prior to surgery had either transurethral prostatic resection (TUR) (n = 90) or open prostatectomy (OP) (n = 91) . Urine samples, blood samples, prostate specimens and skin swabs were investigated for pathogens . Rate of urinary tract infection was significantly reduced by cefotaxime (CTX) prophylaxis in both groups . CTX lowered the incidence of early postoperative urinary tract infection from 30% to 4% in TURs and from 46% to 4.5% in OPs . Similarly, a significant difference was demonstrated for incidences of intra and postoperative bacteremia . In open prostatectomy patients, a reduced rate of wound infection and shorter hospital stay were noted in the treated group . Pathogens recovered in this study were Streptococcus (29%), Staphylococcus (20.5%), Enterobacteriaceae (45.75%), Pseudomonas (1.25%), Acinetobacter (3%), and Bacteroides fragilis (0.5%) . CTX prophylaxis apparently has no bearing on postoperative emergence of resistant pathogens . Percentage of resistance to CTX in delayed postoperative infections was 33% in the control group and 35% in the treated group . We conclude that flash CTX prophylaxis in transurethral or open prostatectomy is of benefit in reducing morbidity and hospital costs.

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