Acinetobacter

Biochem J, 1985 May 1, 227(3), 753 - 7
Membrane-bound lactate dehydrogenases and mandelate dehydrogenases of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Location and regulation of expression; Allison N et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus possesses an L(+)-lactate dehydrogenase and a D(-)-lactate dehydrogenase . Results of experiments in which enzyme activities were measured after growth of bacteria in different media indicated that the two enzymes were co-ordinately induced by either enantiomer of lactate but not by pyruvate, and repressed by succinate or L-glutamate . The two lactate dehydrogenases have very similar properties to L(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase and D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase . All four enzymes are NAD(P)-independent and were found to be integral components of the cytoplasmic membrane . The enzymes could be solubilized in active form by detergents; Triton X-100 or Lubrol PX were particularly effective D(-)-Lactate dehydrogenase and D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase could be selectively solubilized by the ionic detergents cholate, deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulphate.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 May, 33(5), 416 - 20
{Comparative in vitro study of the activity of 5 quinolones against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; The authors compared the in vitro activity of ofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and nalidixic acid against 143 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the agar dilution method . Minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were measured using microplates . Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin were substantially active in vitro . MICs 50 were respectively 0.72, 0.69 and 1.05 micrograms/ml . Geometric means were 0.98, 1.03 and 1.64 micrograms/ml . Norfloxacin and nalidixic acid were slightly less active, with MICs 50 of 7.85 and 17.87 micrograms/ml and geometric means of 10.72 and 28.3 micrograms/ml respectively . Fifty percent of strains were killed by 1.5 micrograms/ml of pefloxacin; the greatest bactericidal in vitro activity was exhibited by ciprofloxacin whose MBC 50 was 0.60 micrograms/ml . Bactericidal activity of ofloxacin was comparable with a MBC 50 of 0.68 micrograms/ml . A significant difference was observed between the two varieties of Acinetobacter: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . Iwoffi was more susceptible to tested drugs than the anitratum variety . In short, new quinolone antimicrobial agents may be active in the treatment of nosocomial hospital infections due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus which is one of the most resistant pathogens to currently available beta-lactams and aminoglycosides.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 May, 15(5), 551 - 8
The in-vitro activities of enoxacin and ofloxacin compared with that of ciprofloxacin; King A et al.; The in-vitro activities of enoxacin and ofloxacin were compared with that of the other new 4-quinolone, ciprofloxacin . All three compounds were highly active against Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MICs mostly less than 1 mg/l) . The other Gram-negative aerobes tested were in general less susceptible, though for Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species (including aeruginosa) MICs seldom exceeded 8 mg/l . Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were more active against Gardnerella vaginalis (MICs 0.5-2 mg/l) than was enoxacin (MICs 8-32 mg/l) . Staphylococci were susceptible to ofloxacin (MICs 0.12-1 mg/l) and enoxacin (MICs 0.5-2 mg/l) as well as to ciprofloxacin . Streptococci also were mostly sensitive to the compounds though the MICs of enoxacin (4-64 mg/l) were noticeably higher than those of ofloxacin (1-4 mg/l) . Anaerobes were in general susceptible though, as with streptococci, ofloxacin, with activity similar to that of ciprofloxacin, was more active than enoxacin . Variants of Enterobacteriaceae with reduced susceptibility were readily selected in the laboratory with either enoxacin or ofloxacin as the selective agent . The MICs of all the 4-quinolones were usually increased four- to 16-fold for these strains; they could therefore be regarded as remaining susceptible to the newer compounds.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Apr, 15(4), 441 - 8
In-vitro and in-vivo activities of antimicrobial agents against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Obana Y et al.; The virulence of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus was studied in mice, and in-vitro and in-vivo activities of several antimicrobial agents were evaluated . In in-vitro susceptibility testings, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and peptide were highly sensitive, and minocycline and doxycycline were the most active of 21 antibiotics tested against 84 clinical isolates of Acin . calcoaceticus . Virulence tests for mice revealed that some strains exhibited high virulence with LD50 values between 10(3) and 10(4) viable cells/mouse . Against lethal and urinary tract infections produced by Acin . calcoaceticus Ac-54 strain in mice, minocycline, doxycycline, gentamicin, and dibekacin, which were highly active in vitro, were effective.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Apr, 4(2), 182 - 5
Aztreonam in the therapy of nosocomial infections in patients with impaired host defenses; Cristiano P et al.; A clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with aztreonam in hospital-acquired infections . Twenty patients (13 men and 7 women) with impaired host defenses and nosocomial infections were treated with aztreonam at a dosage ranging 4 and 6 g/day I.V . at 8 or 12-hour intervals . Average length of therapy was 10.35 +/- 4.61 days . The isolated organisms were as follows: Escherichia coli (5), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3), Enterobacter cloacae (1), Proteus mirabilis (2), Proteus vulgaris (1), Acinetobacter anitratus (1), Serratia marcescens (1), Citrobacter freundii (1), Bacteroides fragilis (3), Bacteroides melaninogenicus (1) . In 5 patients (25%) a mixed infection was observed . Sixteen patients (80%) were completely cured from infection and 24 isolated organisms (88.8%) were eradicated . No adverse reactions were observed . Aztreonam has undoubtedly high clinical and bacteriological efficacy in the therapy of nosocomial infections in patients with impaired host defenses.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Apr, 162(1), 162 - 9
Growth of Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N on n-hexadecanol: physiological and ultrastructural characteristics; Singer ME et al.; The growth of Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N on hexadecanol results in the formation of intracytoplasmic membranes and intracellular rectangular inclusions containing one of the end products of hexadecanol metabolism, hexadecyl palmitate . The intracellular inclusions were purified and characterized as "wax ester inclusions" consisting of 85.6% hexadecyl palmitate, 4.8% hexadecanol, and 9.6% phospholipid, with a phospholipid-to-protein ratio of 0.42 mumol of lipid phosphate per mg of inclusion protein . The cellular lipids consisted of 69.8% hexadecyl palmitate, 22.8% phospholipid, 1.9% triglyceride, 4.7% mono- and diglyceride, 0.1% free fatty acid, and 0.8% hexadecanol, as compared with 98% hexadecyl palmitate and 1.9% triglyceride, which comprised the extracellular lipids . Cell-associated hexadecanol represented 0.05% of the exogenously supplied hexadecanol, with hexadecyl palmitate accounting for 14.7% of the total cellular dry weight . Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N possesses a mechanism for the intracellular packaging of hexadecyl palmitate in wax ester inclusions, which differ in structure and chemical composition from "hydrocarbon inclusions" isolated from hexadecane-grown cells.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1985 Mar 29, 127(3), 911 - 5
Solubilization of bacterial cells in organic solvents via reverse micelles; Haring G et al.; A reverse micellar system containing Tween 85 and water in isopropylpalmitate was developed which permitted the solubilization of bacteria in the form of homogenous organic solutions . The presence of the bacteria in solution was demonstrated by light microscopy . Immediately after solubilization, isolated bacterial cells were observed, which by aging tend to form larger aggregates . Cells of Escherichia coli remained viable in this system for at least one day and retained beta-galactosidase activity for an even longer period as indicated by the hydrolysis of x-gal . Cells of an alkane-degrading strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus remained viable in the system for several days.

Mikrobiologiia, 1985 Mar-Apr, 54(2), 203 - 8
{Utilization of 3-chlorobenzoic acid by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Zaitsev GM et al.; A strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus assimilating 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3-CBA) as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from soil near Moscow . When 3-CBA is utilized, 2-chloro-cis, cis-muconic acid is accumulated in the medium . The liberation of chlorine atoms is 50--60% of the theoretically possible value . The oxidation of 3-CBA yields 3-chloropyrocatechol (3-CPC) and 4-chloropyrocatechol (4-CPC) . 4-CPC serves as a source of nutrition for A . calcoaceticus . The oxidation of 3-CPC yields 2-chloro-cis, cis-muconic acid which is accumulated in the cultural broth without further utilization . The enzyme system of 3-CBA is inducible.

Infection, 1985 Mar-Apr, 13(2), 85 - 6
Anti-pseudomonal activity of HR 810; Husson MO et al.; The anti-pseudomonal activity of HR 810, a new 2-aminothiazolyl cephalosporin, was compared to that of carbenicillin, azlocillin and cefsulodin against 187 non-fermenters . HR 810 was the best agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus with an MIC50 less than or equal to 4 mg/l and an MIC90 less than or equal to 16 mg/l . It was as effective as azlocillin against Pseudomonas stutzeri and Pseudomonas mendocina, with an MIC50 less than or equal to 0.25 mg/l and an MIC90 less than or equal to 1 mg/l . It was not active against other species of Pseudomonas or other non-fermenters such as Flavobacterium sp.

Rev Med Interne, 1985 Mar, 6(2), 178 - 86
{Antibacterial activity of ceftriaxone}; Bergogne-Berezin E; In this study the author reports the main in vitro characteristics of ceftriaxone, a new aminothiazolyl methoxy-iminocephalosporin . The relationship between its structure and the antibacterial activity compared with cefotaxime reveals an expected longer antibacterial efficacy due to a long elimination half-life (8 h) . It has been shown that ceftriaxone is highly stable against most either plasmid or chromosome-mediated beta-lactamases . Several studies demonstrated that the spectrum of ceftriaxone included Gram-positive cocci as well as most Gram-negative bacilli even beta-lactamase producers; a variable in vitro activity against Gram-negative aerobic bacteria (Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp.) has been proved, with a frequent synergistic bactericidal activity when combined with aminoglycosides, or with other beta-lactam antibiotics (carbenicillin, piperacillin) . Multiple PBPs targets have been identified, including PBP1b, 2 and 3, leading to filamentation of E . coli, Ps . aeruginosa and Haemophilus cells . As a result, ceftriaxone displays a high intrinsic in vitro activity against troublesome strains and might be considered as a promising new cephalosporin for treatment of severe infections.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Mar, 161(3), 1176 - 81
Exocellular esterase and emulsan release from the cell surface of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Shabtai Y et al.; An esterase activity has been found, both in the cell-free growth medium and on the cell surface of the hydrocarbon-degrading Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 . The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of acetyl and other acyl groups from triglycerides and aryl and alkyl esters . Emulsan, the extracellular heteropolysaccharide bioemulsifier produced by strain RAG-1, was also a substrate for the enzyme . Gel filtration showed that the cell-free enzyme was released from the cell surface either emulsan free or associated with the bioemulsifier . The partially purified enzyme was found to interact specifically with the esterified fully active emulsan, but not with the deesterified polymer . A role for esterase in emulsan release from the cell surface was indicated when the enzyme was preferentially depleted from the cell surface under conditions in which emulsan was not released . Such cells lost the capacity to release the biopolymer.

Am J Med, 1985 Feb 8, 78(2A), 51 - 6
Aztreonam in the treatment of serious orthopedic infections; Pribyl C et al.; Aztreozam was evaluated in the treatment of a variety of orthopedic infections . Included were 17 patients with osteomyelitis, three with purulent arthropathy with prostheses, and 16 with superficial infections secondary to trauma or surgical procedure . Pathogens were gram-negative bacilli sensitive to aztreonam . Concomitant antibiotics were administered for gram-positive cocci that were present initially or by superinfection . Infecting organisms included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (minimal inhibitory concentration 4 to 16 micrograms/ml), Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter sakazakii, Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus rettgeri, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and others (all with minimal inhibitory concentrations less than 1.0 microgram/ml) . Dosage of aztreonam was 2 to 8 g per day administered intravenously or intramuscularly for five to 52 days . Clinical and bacteriologic responses were adequate in all instances . Recurrences were observed in two individuals with osteomyelitis and one with purulent arthropathy . Adverse clinical or laboratory observations were infrequent and inconsequential.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Feb, 15(2), 193 - 200
The in-vitro activity of Ro 17-2301, a new monobactam, compared with other antimicrobial agents; Wise R et al.; The susceptibility of 554 recent clinical isolates and known resistant bacterial strains to the new monocyclic beta-lactam Ro 17-2301 were studied and compared to that to other beta-lactams (including aztreonam and temocillin) and gentamicin . Ro 17-2301 had a high degree of activity against the Enterobacteriaceae (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.25 mg/l) being similar or slightly more active than aztreonam and ceftazidime . Strains of Acinetobacter spp . (MIC90 16 mg/l) . Haemophilus influenzae strains (including beta-lactamase producers) were more susceptible (MIC90 0.5 mg/l) than those of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC90 4 mg/l); against these latter two groups of isolates aztreonam was more active (MIC90 0.12 mg/l) . Both aztreonam and Ro 17-2301 had little activity against Gram-positive cocci with the exception of Streptococcus pneumoniae for which the MIC90 of RO 17-2301 was 16 mg/l . Ro 17-2301 had modest activity against Bacteroides fragilis . The MBC of Ro 17-2301 was very similar to the MIC and the addition of human serum had little effect on the amount of the compound . The mean serum protein binding was 26.3% . A study of the penicillin binding protein affinity of Ro 17-2301 in a strain of Escherichia coli showed PBP 3 to be the primary target . The morphological response to exposure to Ro 17-2301 was filamentation followed by lysis after prolonged exposure.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Feb, 151(2), 252 - 8
An outbreak of infections with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in burn patients: contamination of patients' mattresses; Sherertz RJ et al.; During a 21-month period Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was the most common organism causing infections in a university burn center . Forty-three of 103 patients admitted became infected with this organism . Risk factors associated with burn wound colonization with Acinetobacter included larger burns and Foley catheter use; however, only a longer duration of hospitalization was an independent discriminator of colonization . Infection-control measures, including strict isolation and closure and repainting of the burn unit, did not prevent the transmission of Acinetobacter . An investigation found that wet mattresses served as environmental reservoirs of Acinetobacter . This finding led to a policy of discarding each patient's mattress on the day of the patient's discharge from the burn unit . Life table analysis demonstrated that this intervention led to a reduced risk of burn wound colonization with Acinetobacter (P less than .05) and ultimately resulted in the complete elimination of the organism from the burn unit.

Gene, 1985, 39(2-3), 293 - 7
Versatile mercury-resistant cloning and expression vectors; Gambill BD et al.; Cloning vectors have been constructed employing two diverse replicons, IncQ and P15A . Both vectors confer resistance to kanamycin (Km) and mercuric ions (Hg2+) . One of these vectors, pDG105, is a broad-host-range, nonconjugative, oligocopy IncQ plasmid, which is capable of transforming Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Pseudomonas putida . The second vector, pDG106, is a narrow-host-range, multicopy cloning vector compatible with pBR322 . Both vectors contain unique cloning sites in the Km-resistance gene for HindIII, SmaI, and XhoI, as well as unique EcoRI and ScaI sites in the mer operon . Cloning into the EcoRI site in the mer operon results in the mercury "supersensitive" phenotype, easily detectable by replica plating . Insertion of the galK gene into the EcoRI site in the mer operon results in Hg2+-inducible galactokinase activity, demonstrating the application of these plasmids as regulated expression vectors.

Acta Paediatr Hung, 1985, 26(3), 255 - 9
Use of counter-immunoelectrophoresis for the detection of chlamydial antigens in serum; Storm W et al.; An increasing number of reports on Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia in infancy has recently been published in the literature . Demonstration of the aetiologic agent depends, however, on laborious culture procedures and serological techniques . Based on the observation of a cross-reaction between certain Acinetobacter species and Chlamydiae, the detection of chlamydial antigens in sera of 13 infants with pneumonia due to Chlamydia trachomatis was performed with antiserum to Acinetobacter by the counter-immunoelectrophoresis technique.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1985, 51(2), 219 - 25
Fish flesh agar medium--a suitable experimental medium for the detection of spoilage bacteria; Chandrasekaran M et al.; The spoilage characteristics of bacterial strains were studied by growing them at 28 +/- 2 degrees C in agar and broth media prepared with sterile fish and prawn flesh homogenates . The percentage of spoilers found among the bacterial isolates tested, as shown by odour production and halo zone formation, was independent of the source of flesh used . Indole and fluorescent pigment production were also observed in the broth . Pseudomonas, Vibrio and Acinetobacter exhibited faster growth in flesh media than in the usual artificial media . Decrease of protein and lipid concentration in the clear zone of agar media suggests the utilization of the available substrate by spoilage bacteria.

Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(6), 73 - 8
{Amino acid composition of white poultry meat contaminated with psychrophilic microorganisms}; Ivanova S et al.; Studied was the effect of psychrophilic organisms of the Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, and Flavobacter genera on the amino acid composition of white poultry meat stored at 0 degrees to 4 degrees C in the course of 48 hours, and at 18 degrees C in the course of 6 to 12 months . The quantitative determination of individual amino acids was carried out by means of an automatic amino acid analyzer, Hitachi type, after the method of Speckman, Stein, and Moore . No changes were established in the amino acid composition of white poultry meat that was treated with psychrophilic organisms as against the composition of untreated meat . Proteins preserved their biologic value.

Microbios, 1985, 42(169-170), 163 - 73
Effect of saccharin on growth and acid production of glucose-grown pathogenic and oral bacteria; Linke HA et al.; Growth and acid production of glucose-grown Gram-positive and Gram-negative rods as well as cocci from the human oral cavity were studied in the presence of 0.02 to 20.00 mg/ml sodium saccharin . All Gram-positive rods, i.e . Actinomyces viscosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Gram-positive cocci, i.e . Streptococcus spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus, were significantly inhibited by saccharin, especially at the higher concentrations . While Gram-negative cocci, i.e . Veillonella sp and Neisseria sicca were strongly inhibited by all tested saccharin concentrations, Gram-negative rods, i.e . the enterics and Acinetobacter sp, exhibited little if any inhibition . Saccharin caused a significant reduction in fermentative acid production congruent with observed growth.

Drugs, 1985, 29 Suppl 5, 1 - 8
In vitro activity of temocillin against clinical isolates; Van Landuyt HW et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentrations of temocillin against more than 1000 clinical isolates were determined by an agar dilution method . Temocillin showed excellent activity against Haemophilus influenzae, pathogenic Neisseria species and Branhamella catarrhalis, including beta-lactamase producing strains, but showed very low activity or was inactive against Gram-positive cocci and Campylobacter, Bacteroides, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species . Good activity was obtained against 702 Enterobacteriaceae, including isolates resistant to the other penicillins and first- and second-generation cephalosporins, with 92% of all the strains inhibited at a concentration of 8 mg/L . However, the most striking property of temocillin was its high beta-lactamase stability which resulted in both a very narrow range of MICs within which all the isolates were inhibited, and a small influence of inoculum size on the MICs.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1985, 174(1), 29 - 33
Enzymatic profile of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Poh CL et al.; The enzymatic profiles of 109 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus and lwoffi were determined with conventional plate tests and the rapid API ZYM system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) . The majority of strains tested lacked DNase, hemolysin, protease, elastase and gelatinase . Strong enzymatic activities of butyrate esterase (C4), caprylate esterase (C8) and leucine arylamidase were detected in all isolates . No trypsin, chymotrypsin, alkaline phosphatase or glucosidase activities were present . This profile was characteristic of all isolates examined by the API ZYM system and could serve as a useful diagnostic feature of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus and subsp . lwoffi.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 49(1), 256 - 7
Incidence of Acinetobacter spp . and other gram-negative, oxidase-negative bacteria in fresh and spoiled ground beef; Eribo BE et al.; A total of 1,409 gram-negative bacterial colonies were randomly selected from 19 samples of fresh and spoiled ground beef plated on six media . Only 137 (9.7%) were oxidase negative, and 20 (14.6%) of these were Acinetobacter spp., all of which were recovered from fresh meat samples . The importance of this group in both fresh and spoiled beef is less than is generally believed.

Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(4), 279 - 85
Ro 17-2301: in vitro comparison with aztreonam, imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime and netilmicin; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activity of the novel monobactam antibiotic, Ro 17-2301 has been compared with those of aztreonam, imipenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime and netilmicin . A total of 438 clinical isolates of aerobic gram-negative rods were employed and an agar dilution method was used for measurement of MIC . Ro 17-2301 was highly active against a wide variety of Enterobacteriaceae species (MIC range less than or equal to 0.03-8, MIC50 less than or equal to 0.03, MIC90 0.06 mg/l) . The activity of aztreonam parallelled that of Ro 17-2301 although the latter seemed to have more uniformly high activity against Klebsiella sp . The other agents showed generally high activity against Enterobacteriaceae except netilmicin against Providencia stuartii (MIC50 4, MIC90 greater than or equal to 16 mg/l) . Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . was more variable . Ro 17-2301 and aztreonam were moderately active (MIC50 2, MIC90 8 and 16 mg/l, respectively) . Imipenem was the most active agent against Acinetobacter, whereas Ro 17-2301 was moderately active . In conclusion, Ro 17-2301 shows impressive activity against Enterobacteriaceae and moderate activity against Acinetobacter and P . aeruginosa . Ro 17-2301 may well prove to be a useful agent in the treatment of gram-negative infections.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(2), 141 - 6
Transferable amikacin and cefamandole resistance: Pseudomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter strains as possible reservoirs of R plasmids; Krcmery V et al.; Three strains belonging to gramnegative non-fermenting rods, i.e . a Pseudomonas maltophilia strain and two strains of Acinetobacter, were tested, as representatives of different types of nosocomial strains, for transferability of their multiple drug resistance . As all of them posed difficulties in demonstrating the transferability of their resistance by conventional methods, a three-step procedure was developed that includes a transfer to rifampicin-resistant P . aeruginosa recipients, then to susceptible P . aeruginosa intermediate strains, and, finally, from these strains to rifampicin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae . In three strains studied three genetically different types of R plasmids have been demonstrated . P . maltophilia transferred Amikacin resistance, as well as resistance to other antibiotics, to P . aeruginosa and then to Enterobacteria . In contrast, an Amikacin-resistant Acinetobacter with quite identical multiple drug resistance spectrum transferred its resistance to P . aeruginosa only, but not to Enterobacteria . Finally, another Acinetobacter strain, resistant to Gentamicin but susceptible to Amikacin transferred this resistance directly to Enterobacteria (and, separately, to P . aeruginosa, too) . All three strains transferred Cefamandole resistance together with other resistances . Non-fermenting rods, thus, might be a source of transmissible resistance to reserve antibiotics as Amikacin, and advanced-type Cephalosporins.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 131 ( Pt 1), 7 - 15
Properties of monoclonal antibodies to the genus-specific antigen of Chlamydia and their use for antigen detection by reverse passive haemagglutination; Thornley MJ et al.; The chlamydial genus-specific antigen was extracted with phenol/chloroform/petroleum ether (PCP) from preparations of Chlamydia trachomatis and C . psittaci, and quantities measured using an assay for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . The LPS from C . trachomatis contained 2.2% (w/w) of ketodeoxyoctanoic acid . Five IgG monoclonal antibodies reacted in an ELISA with LPS from both species, the antigen being periodate-sensitive and heat-resistant, confirming that all antibodies were against the genus-specific antigen . All the antibodies bound to the PCP extract of C . trachomatis on an immunoblot, at a position corresponding to the periodate-Schiff-stained bands of both C . trachomatis extract and Salmonella Re-LPS . When linked to trypsin-treated sheep erthrocytes and used in reverse passive haemagglutination tests, all antibodies gave indicator cells capable of detecting chlamydial LPS or crude preparations of chlamydiae grown in McCoy cells, the sensitivity varying with the antibody used . The antibodies varied in IgG subclass (either IgG2a or IgG3), and in ability to precipitate in immunodiffusion tests . Two antibodies cross-reacted with one strain of Acinetobacter in ELISA and with Salmonella Re-LPS in both ELISA and immunodiffusion tests . The other three did not react in ELISA with Acinetobacter strains or Salmonella Re-LPS, and none of the five reacted with LPS of E . coli or Pseudomonas morsprunorum.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(4), 409 - 15
Cefamandole resistance transfer in bacterial strains from two newborn units; Krcmery V et al.; Transfer of Cefamandole resistance was demonstrated from strains of Citrobacter freundii as well as from individual strains of Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter anitratus and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients in two newborn units . In Citrobacter freundii, Cefamandole resistance was transferred always with Cephalotin resistance as well as with a TEM-like beta lactamase (conferring resistance to Ampicillin, Carbenicillin and Azlocillin) . Citrobacter freundii strains from Hospital I were completely susceptible to gentamicin, while strains of other species, resistant to Cefamandole plus Cephalotin, were resistant to Gentamicin as well, and transferred this resistance, too . In one Enterobacter cloacae strain from Hospital I, Cefamandole resistance could be separated from resistance to Cephalotin, but only in clones selected with gentamicin and not with any of the cephalosporins . Acinetobacter anitratus strain was also resistant to Cefotaxime, but did not transfer this resistance . It might be concluded that special nosocomial bacteria may carry plasmids conferring a transferable type of resistance to Cefamandole together with resistance to classical cephalosporines . Second cycle of transfers, i.e . between two variants of E . coli K-12 strains confirmed the contransferability of Cefamandole and Cephalotin resistance.

Ann Fr Anesth Reanim, 1985, 4(3), 248 - 53
{Lack of specificity of protected distal bronchial samples in the bacteriological diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia caused by gram negative bacilli}; Riou B et al.; Lower respiratory tract secretions (LRS) were sampled during a two year period in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation using a method previously described by Matthew et al . Only those LRS positive for gram-negative bacilli were reported in this study . The patients were separated in two groups: those with nosocomial pneumonia due to gram-negative bacilli (NP+ group) and those without (NP- group) . The species most often isolated from LRS were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25%), Proteus (20%), Escherichia coli (18%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10%), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (8%) and Haemophilus influenzae (7%) . The spectrum of gram-negative species was not statistically different in either group of patients . The numbers of gram-negative bacilli isolated from each LRS were more important in the NP+ group (p less than 0.001), but so was the duration of mechanical ventilation before each LRS (p less than 0.01) . In this group also, a specific bacteriological diagnosis with only one species was possible in 3 out of the 13 cases; a tentative diagnosis only was possible in 10 cases: in 6 cases, the responsibility of two (or more) species was suggested . The susceptibility to antibiotics of gram-negative bacilli isolated from LRS was moderate . A third generation cephalosporin together with amikacin seemed to be the best choice of antibiotics when no specific bacteriological diagnosis could be made with the LRS.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1985 Jan, 3(1), 59 - 64
Identification of gram-negative bacilli using the Autobac IDX; Burdash NM et al.; The Autobac IDX is a new system for the rapid identification of clinically significant members of the Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Moraxella, and Pseudomonas species . The use of 18 differentially inhibitory compounds such as dyes and antibiotics along with a computerized algorithm based on a multivariate analysis provides the basis for the identification of 30 different groups of gram-negative bacilli . Required preliminary tests include observations on the presence or absence of swarming on a sheep blood agar plate and noting the following: growth, lactose fermentation, and bile precipitation from a MacConkey plate . Spot indole and spot oxidase tests must be performed as well . Identification by the Autobac IDX System takes 3-6 hr after completion of the preliminary tests . From a total of 403 isolates tested, the Autobac system agreed with the MicroID AND N/F systems on 382 identifications (94.8%) . Four isolates, two Acinetobacter anitratus, one Serratia marcescens and one Moraxella osloensis could not be identified by IDX . Additional testing was required on 35 (8.7%) of the isolates.

Drugs, 1985, 29 Suppl 5, 91 - 7
Temocillin . In vitro activity compared with other antibiotics; Martinez-Beltran J et al.; Temocillin is a recently developed penicillin with a methoxy group in the 6-alpha position . The in vitro activity of temocillin was studied using 932 recent clinical isolates of aerobic and anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci, and its activity was compared with that of other beta-lactam antibiotics . Temocillin was active against the Enterobacteriaceae, with narrow ranges of MICs and MIC90 values (less than or equal to 8 mg/L) for all isolates except Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter species . Moreover, the compound was active against 46 multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae strains . The drug was also strongly active against Haemophilus influenzae, with beta-lactamase-producing strains being as susceptible as non-beta-lactamase-producing strains . Temocillin showed no useful activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter or Gram-positive cocci, and had only discrete activity against the Bacteroides fragilis group . In general, temocillin displayed the same spectrum of activity against Enterobacteriaceae as third generation cephalosporins, but with a substantially lower intrinsic activity.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1985 Jan, 3(1), 7 - 17
Apalcillin {PC-904}: spectrum of activity and beta-lactamase hydrolysis/inhibition; Barry AL et al.; Apalcillin is a Pseudomonas-active penicillin with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity similar to that of piperacillin, except for the greater potency of apalcillin against Acinetobacter spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Studies with 846 isolates representative of the common bacterial pathogens compared apalcillin to piperacillin, azlocillin, mezlocillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone . Apalcillin and piperacillin were both active against all 13 species of the Enterobacteriaceae that were tested (MIC 50s less than or equal to 8.0 micrograms/ml) but some strains were resistant to both penicillins . Apalcillin was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp . (MIC 50 less than 2.0 micrograms/ml) . Like other penicillins, apalcillin was not effective against beta-lactamase-producing Staphylococcus spp., Haemophilus spp . or Neisseria gonorrhoeae . Rates of hydrolysis by six beta-lactamase preparations from gram-negative bacilli were determined, comparing apalcillin, piperacillin, azlocillin, ticarcillin, ampicillin and dicloxacillin to benzyl penicillin . Apalcillin and ticarcillin were more resistant than piperacillin and azlocillin to hydrolysis by the PSE-2 enzyme from P . aeruginosa . As did many other penicillins, apalcillin inhibited the Type 1 beta-lactamase that is produced by Enterobacter cloacae . The other enzymes were inhibitory only in very high concentrations.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 49(1), 192 - 7
Tolerance of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 to the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: role of the bioemulsifier emulsan; Shabtai Y et al.; Emulsan, the polyanionic heteropolysaccharide bioemulsifier produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1, was found to enhance the tolerance of RAG-1 cells to the toxic effects of the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) . Emulsan-mediated tolerance was obtained with the purified deproteinated apoemulsan; ca . 9 micrograms of apoemulsan neutralized 1 microgram of CTAB . Deesterified apoemulsan was only half as effective in protecting the cells from CTAB toxicity . Tolerance was also mediated by the cell-associated emulsan minicapsule . Mutants lacking this capsule were more sensitive to CTAB than the corresponding parent . The growth of mutants and parent cells in mixed-culture experiments demonstrated that the cell-associated polymer mediates CTAB tolerance in the early stages of growth . Once sufficient cell-free polymer has been released into the aqueous medium (ca . 0.5 micrograms/ml), this extracellular emulsan also plays a role in CTAB tolerance.

Mol Gen Genet, 1985, 200(2), 302 - 4
Vectors for transposon mutagenesis of non-enteric bacteria; Ely B; We have constructed a series of transposon delivery vectors derived from pRK2013 . Since pRK2013 has a broad host range transfer system and a ColE1 replicon, it can be transferred to, but not replicated in, many non-enteric gram-negative bacteria . Thus pRK2013 provides an effective mechanism for the transient introduction of a transposon . Delivery vectors containing Tn7 (tmp str), Tn10 (tet), Tn10 HH104 (tet), or Tn5-132 (tet) have been constructed . When transposition in Caulobacter crescentus was examined, both Tn7 and Tn5-132 were found to transpose efficiently . In contrast, although the antibiotic resistances of Tn10 and Tn501 (mer) were expressed in C . crescentus, no transposition was observed with either transposon . However, transposition of Tn10 from the Tn10 vectors did occur in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and transposition of Tn501 from pMD100 has been demonstrated in Rhizobium japonicum (Bullerjahn and Benzinger 1984) . Thus, transposon-host interactions play an important role in the determination of whether a particular transposon can transpose in a given host . Furthermore, the results with C . crescentus indicate that there must be different requirements for host interactions for Tn10 and Tn501 than for Tn5 and Tn7.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1985, 35(3), 570 - 2
{In vitro activity of seven gyrase inhibitors of a group of heterocyclic carbonic acids against nonfermenting gram negative rods (nonfermenters)}; Grimm H; MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) determinations for nalidixic acid, cinoxacin, pipemidic acid, norfloxacin, enoxacin, and ciprofloxacin were done by agar dilution on isosensitest agar (oxoid) . Bacterial strains investigated were 189 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 164 Acinetobacter lwoffii, 4 Ps . maltophilia, 3 Ps . putrefaciens and 3 Ps . odorans . The results in summary are: Ciprofloxacin is the most active gyrase inhibitor against Ps . aeruginosa as well as against other nonfermentative gram-negative rods, versus Ps . aeruginosa norfloxacin is a little more active than ofloxacin, against nonfermentative gram-negative rods other than Ps . aeruginosa norfloxacin is markedly less active than ofloxacin . Problems concerning cross-resistance of new gyrase inhibitors are discussed.

Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(6), 466 - 71
In vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin and rosoxacin compared with cinoxacin and trimethoprim; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, rosoxacin, cinoxacin and trimethoprim have been compared . An agar dilution method has been employed for the measurement of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . 426 clinical, bacterial urinary isolates mainly from hospitalised patients were included; all common urinary tract pathogens were represented . The newer quinolones were highly active against Enterobacteriaceae species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Ciprofloxacin was the most active agent against these organisms (MICs less than or equal to 2 mg/l) . A few strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were resistant to rosoxacin (MIC greater than or equal to 128 mg/l) . Cinoxacin and trimethoprim were considerably less active against gram-negative strains . The new quinolones were also active against staphylococci of various species and enterococci (MICs less than or equal to 4 mg/l) except for rosoxacin for which 16 mg/l was needed to inhibit all gram-positive isolates . Cinoxacin was virtually inactive against this group whereas trimethoprim showed variable activity.

Am J Med, 1984 Dec 21, 77(6A), 34 - 42
Cefmenoxime efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics in critical care patients with nosocomial pneumonia; Schentag JJ et al.; Nephrotoxicity frequently complicates the use of aminoglycosides in severely compromised acute care patients . Therefore, an open clinical trial was initiated to determine if cefmenoxime alone is useful in serious nosocomial pneumonias . Thirty consecutive patients were entered in the trial, and 28 patients with an average age of 66 years were evaluable . Most were malnourished at entry, with serum albumin averaging 2.8 g/dl and prognostic nutritional index values over 70 percent (normal less than 40 percent) . One-half the patients had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 68 percent required ventilators . Fifty-seven percent had concomitant cardiac disease, and 79 percent had previously been treated with antibiotics . Pneumonia was proven to be present by new infiltrate on chest x-ray, new fever, elevated white blood cell count, and gram-negative rods on gram stain and in cultures of tracheal aspirates or sputum . Patients were given cefmenoxime 1 to 2 g every six hours an average of 12 days . Cefmenoxime peak (one hour) and trough concentrations were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography and averaged 58 and 7 micrograms ml, respectively . Pharmacokinetic data in 18 patients were determined from serum profiles . Gram-positive organisms, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Hemophilus influenzae were usually eradicated . Persistence was noted for some Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Acinetobacter . Persistence in patients with good clinical response was considered colonization rather than superinfection . Overall, a satisfactory clinical response rate was noted in 78.6 percent of evaluable patients, whereas four patients responded satisfactorily with recurrence and two treatments had an unsatisfactory response . No serious adverse effects were observed . Cefmenoxime is a promising agent in the treatment of susceptible pneumonias in critical care patients.

Am J Med, 1984 Dec 21, 77(6A), 17 - 20
Cefmenoxime therapy in bacterial osteomyelitis; Sheftel TG et al.; Cefmenoxime, a new parenteral beta-lactamase-resistant cephalosporin, was evaluated for safety and efficacy in 15 patients (10 male and five female) with acute (1 patient) and chronic (14 patients) osteomyelitis . Diagnosis was made by culture of the surgical biopsy specimen . Osteomyelitis was treated with 8 to 12 g of cefmenoxime per day (mean 9.1 g) for 42 to 66 days (mean 47.3) . Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefmenoxime were determined and all pathogens were inhibited by 12.5 micrograms/ml or less, except for Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter species, both of which had an MIC of 25.0 micrograms/ml . All patients had at least one surgical debridement . Of the 15 patients, 10 (67 percent) had the osteomyelitis "arrested." These patients have been followed up five to 14 months after completion of cefmenoxime therapy . Toxicity studies indicated mild elevations in serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase in two patients . Cefmenoxime appears to be a safe and effective antibiotic in the treatment of osteomyelitis.

Am J Med, 1984 Dec 21, 77(6A), 1 - 3
Cefmenoxime: in vitro activity; Stamm JM; The in vitro activity of cefmenoxime (SCE-1365 or A-50912), a new semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic, was determined for a broad spectrum of 1,234 organisms isolated as part of a multiclinic study . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cefmenoxime required to inhibit at least 90 percent of strains tested (MIC90) ranged from 0.12 to 8 micrograms/ml for Enterobacteriaceae . MIC90S were 0.015 and 0.06 microgram/ml for Streptococcus pneumoniae and S . pyogenes, respectively, and 4 micrograms/ml for Staphylococcus aureus . Group D streptococci were less susceptible . The MIC90 of cefmenoxime for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Hemophilus influenzae was 0.06 microgram/ml . Cefmenoxime was less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species, and Bacteroides fragilis (MIC50 = 16 micrograms/ml).

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Dec 3, 145(2), 265 - 72
Nature and location of amide-bound (R)-3-acyloxyacyl groups in lipid A of lipopolysaccharides from various gram-negative bacteria; Wollenweber HW et al.; It has previously been demonstrated {Eur . J . Biochem . 124, 191-198 (1982) and 137, 15-22 (1983)} that the lipid A component of Salmonella and Proteus lipopolysaccharides contains amide-linked (R)-3-acyloxyacyl residues . In the present study lipid A of other gram-negative bacteria was analysed for the presence of amide-bound 3-acyloxyacyl residues . It was found that such residues are constituents of all lipid A tested (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas sinensis, Bacteroides fragilis, Vibrio cholerae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Rhodospirillum tenue, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Escherichia coli) . Amide-linked (R)-3-acyloxyacyl groups, therefore, represent common and ubiquitous structural elements of bacterial lipid A . The composition of 3-acyloxyacyl groups differed considerably among different bacteria . As amide-bound (R)-3-hydroxy fatty acids straight chain and isobranched acyl groups with 10-17 carbon atoms were identified . The most frequently encountered fatty acids, substituting the 3-hydroxyl group of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, were nonhydroxylated straight chain and isobranched acyl residues with 10-17 carbon atoms as well as (S)-2-hydroxy fatty acids with 12 carbon atoms . In some cases, using laser desorption mass spectrometry, the distribution of 3-acyloxyacyl residues over the two available glucosamine amino groups of the lipid A backbone was investigated.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 57(3), 413 - 21
The microbiology of stockfish during the drying process; Valdimarsson G et al.; Stockfish is made by drying species of fish in the open air to a final water content of 17-18% (w/w) . By this treatment the fish acquires a very characteristic flavour . A study was made of the microbiology of blue ling (Molva dypterygia dypterygia) during this process . Aerobic plate counts at 22 degrees C in the flesh of the fish reached a maximum of 4.1 x 10(7)/g dry weight, after drying for 30 days . Analyses of the aerobic/facultatively anaerobic bacterial flora in the flesh showed initially a dominance of Moraxella and Acinetobacter-like spp . As the drying progressed a Gram positive, catalase negative flora appeared, increasing its proportion to 77% of the bacterial content of the fish . Representative strains of these bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 Dec, 179(6), 496 - 507
{Bacteriological studies of dental units in conservative dentistry as well as requirements and recommendations for hygiene in dental practice}; Metz H et al.; Four different dental units (Sirona 2000, Sirodont S, Sirona 2000 and Siro I) used in conservative dentistry were investigated bacteriologically by analysing water samples from the tumblers, the assistant's spray, micromotors, hand sprays at the units and from the scalers . The results of the analysis (shown in Table 2-5) reveal that micro-organisms of the Pseudomonas group were mainly found in the turbines and also in the micromotors . In other areas of the equipment micro-organisms of the acinetobacter species were frequently identified . The germ counts were very high, especially in the morning, and not infrequently reach levels as high as 50,000 germs/ml . For disinfection isopropyl alcohol and Tego 103 S were used; the latter was found to produce a good disinfecting action following prolonged exposure . Further requirements and recommendations for hygiene in the dental practice are briefly discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 3(6), 531 - 7
3-0-demethyl fortimicin A: in vitro activity and interpretive zone standards for disk diffusion susceptibility tests; Barry AL et al.; The in vitro activity of 3-0-demethyl fortimicin A was compared to that of amikacin and tobramycin against 5,230 clinical isolates in four institutions . Amikacin and tobramycin were more active than 3-0-demethyl fortimicin A against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., but all three drugs had similar activity against the Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus . Additional tests with 335 representative gram-negative bacilli compared five different aminoglycosides, demonstrating differences with some isolates . Standardized disk diffusion tests were also performed with 30 micrograms 3-0-demethyl fortimicin A disks, according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards . The following interpretive breakpoints are proposed: less than or equal to 11 mm for resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) and greater than or equal to 15 mm for susceptible (MIC less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(2-3), 198 - 212
Differentiation of gram negative rods other than Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae by a micromethod for determination of carbon substrate assimilation; Freney J et al.; The assimilation techniques described for taxonomic study are unsuitable for routine diagnosis because of the need for purification and standardization of substrates, the great quantity of medium consumed and difficulties in interpreting the results . A standardized micromethod (API Strip) for the study of carbon substrate assimilation by bacteria has recently been described (Zbl . Bakt . Hyg., I . Abt . Orig . A 255 (1983) 479-488) . The prototype gallery used consisted of two strips of 32 microtubes each containing dehydrated carbon substrate . Each strip contained 30 tests plus positive and negative controls . The suspension medium was a synthetic semi-gel . A total of 1046 strains of Gram-negative rods representing 41 species belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, Flavobacterium and to the EF4 group were tested (Tables 1 to 6) . Automatic reading was performed after incubation at 32 degrees C for one day, or two days for slow growing bacteria, using an ATB 1500 reader (API System) linked to a HP 85 microcomputer (Hewlett-Packard) . Most species showed typical carbon substrate assimilation patterns allowing their differentiation from other species within each genus . The results obtained with the micromethod agreed in large measure with the nutritional patterns reported by other workers . It should be possible to use these results to construct a set of tests suitable for identifying species of Gram-negative rods other than Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 1202 - 4
Direct identification and susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli from BACTEC bottles by use of the MS-2 system with updated bacterial identification software; Dipersio JR et al.; The Abbott MS-2 system (Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostic Division, Irving, Tex.), equipped with updated bacterial identification software (version 03.02), was used to perform both direct identification and susceptibility tests on gram-negative bacilli from positive BACTEC blood culture bottles . Ninety-eight of 101 Enterobacteriaceae strains, one strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and two strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were correctly identified by following a direct inoculation procedure . One Enterobacter sakazakii isolate was misidentified as Enterobacter cloacae . Ninety-seven percent of 936 direct susceptibility results were identical to the results obtained by using the standard MS-2 susceptibility procedure . Only five tests yielded a sensitive-direct and a resistant-standard MS-2 susceptibility result.

J Clin Pathol, 1984 Dec, 37(12), 1388 - 91
Serotyping of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Das BC et al.; Serotyping of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by direct immunofluorescence and a capsule swelling reaction is described . One hundred isolates, including 12 from an outbreak in a neonatal department, were studied . Ninety five per cent of the isolates were typable by immunofluorescence and could be divided into 30 separate types, but 42.1% of typable strains, including 11 from the outbreak, were of one type . Typing results by the capsular swelling reaction generally followed those of immunofluorescence methods.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Dec, 32(10), 1040 - 2
{Use of cefotaxime in severe infections in newborn infants}; Peskine F et al.; Twenty-seven septicemia, 2 urinary tract infections and 2 meningitis were treated with Cefotaxime . The pathogenic organisms were most often entero-bacteria (16 E . coli, 2 Klebsiella, 2 Enterobacter cloacae, 1 Proteus, 1 Acinetobacter); sometimes they were Streptococcus (5 Streptococcus D, 3 Streptococcus B, 1 Streptococcus Salivarius) . Cefotaxime was given alone to 16 patients, in association to an aminoglycoside in 15 cases . It was administered by infusion over 30 minutes every 8 hours in a daily dose of 150 mg/kg (during 10 days in case of septicemia and during 18 days if it was a meningitis) . A clinical and bacteriological success was obtained in 86% of the 22 cases caused by Enterobacteria, in one of the 5 septicemia due to Streptococcus D and in the 3 infections caused by Streptococcus B . It may be concluded from these results that cefotaxime may be used in neonate infection due to a Gram- . But when a Listeria or a Streptococcus D is discovered the ampicillin classically prescribed must be maintained.

Mol Biol Evol, 1984 Nov, 1(6), 456 - 72
Nucleotide sequence of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus trpGDC gene cluster; Kaplan JB et al.; A plasmid library of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HindIII fragments was constructed, and clones that complemented an Escherichia coli pabA mutant were selected . Plasmids containing a 3.9-kb fragment of A . calcoaceticus DNA that also complemented E . coli trpD and trpC-(trpF+) mutants were obtained . We infer that complementation of E . coli pabA mutants was the result of the expression of the amphibolic anthranilate-synthase/p-aminobenzoate-synthase glutamine-amidotransferase gene and that the plasmid insert carried the entire trpGDC gene cluster . In E . coli minicells, the plasmid insert directed the synthesis of polypeptides of 44,000, 33,000, and 20,000 daltons, molecular masses that are consistent with the reported molecular masses of phosphoribosylanthranilate transferase, indoleglycerol-phosphate synthase, and anthranilate-synthase component II, respectively . A 3,105-bp nucleotide sequence was determined . Comparison of the A . calcoaceticus trpGDC sequences with other known trp gene sequences has allowed insight into (1) the evolution of the amphibolic trpG gene, (2) varied strategies for coordinate expression of trp genes, and (3) mechanisms of gene fusions in the trp operon.

Biochem Int, 1984 Nov, 9(5), 587 - 93
Rapid purification of 2,4-dichlorophenol hydroxylase by biospecific desorption from 10-carboxydecylamino-sepharose; Beadle CA et al.; 10-Carboxydecylamino-Sepharose, which bears a mixture of ionic and aliphatic substituent groups, adsorbs 2,4-dichlorophenol hydroxylase from Acinetobacter in a non-biospecific manner . The enzyme has been specifically desorbed by its substrate, 2,4-dichlorophenol, giving a 42-fold purification (to greater than 90% purity) in a single step . The enzyme contained 3.1 moles of FAD per mole and displayed a catalytic constant of 14.7 s(-1) . Mixed-function adsorbents probably have wide applicability for biospecific desorption of proteins . The present report indicates that they may be useful in the purification of aromatic hydroxylases bearing flavin prosthetic groups that readily dissociate in conventional purification procedures employing conditions of high ionic strength.

Rev Infect Dis, 1984 Nov-Dec, 6 Suppl 4, S783 - 90
In vitro experience with cefonicid; Actor P; Cefonicid was found to be highly active in vitro against greater than 5,000 bacterial isolates . Its spectrum of activity was similar to that observed with cefamandole, including both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens . No significant activity was observed against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, enterococci, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Acinetobacter, and Bacteroides species . Studies in which susceptibility disks containing 30 micrograms of cefonicid, cefamandole, or cephalothin were used and zone sizes were plotted against MIC values resulted in similar regression lines . Interpretive breakpoints were less than or equal to 14 mm for defining resistance and greater than or equal to 18 mm for defining susceptibility . The results for isolates tested with cefonicid susceptibility disks were highly predictive of clinical efficacy . On the basis of the observed pharmacokinetics of cefonicid at the usual single daily dose of 1 g, a bacterial strain is considered susceptible if the MIC values are not greater than 16 micrograms/ml . Organisms with MICs greater than 32 micrograms/ml are considered resistant . The profile of the stability of cefonicid to hydrolysis by beta-lactamases is similar to that observed with cefamandole . The affinity of cefonicid to the penicillin-binding proteins of Escherichia coli also resembled that of cefamandole, with its greatest affinity for penicillin-binding proteins 1a, 3, and 1b, in that order.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Nov, 26(5), 781 - 4
Amifloxacin activity against well-defined gentamicin-resistant, gram-negative bacteria; John JF Jr et al.; Amifloxacin (WIN 49375) activity against a well-defined group of gentamicin-resistant gram-negative bacilli was compared with the activity of 11 other antimicrobial agents . For all strains, amifloxacin and norfloxacin were the most active agents, followed by cefotaxime and moxalactam . For Acinetobacter sp . only amifloxacin had an achievable MIC for 90% of the strains . Amifloxacin joins other newly developed DNA gyrase inhibitors as potentially useful agents for infections due to aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacilli.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Nov, 26(5), 734 - 40
In vitro antibacterial properties of BRL 36650, a novel 6 alpha-substituted penicillin; Basker MJ et al.; BRL 36650 is a new type of penicillin in which a formamido group has been introduced into the 6 alpha-position of the nucleus . The compound is highly active against aerobic gram-negative bacteria and is stable to a wide range of beta-lactamases produced by these organisms . Against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, BRL 36650 was considerably more active than piperacillin, particularly against beta-lactamase-producing strains, and showed a similar level of activity to moxalactam, aztreonam, and the third-generation cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftazidime . Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas species, BRL 36650 was more active than piperacillin, cefoperazone, and aztreonam and compared favorably with ceftazidime . BRL 36650 was highly active against Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains, and against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Clinical isolates of Enterobacter species and P . aeruginosa which showed markedly reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam were only slightly less susceptible to BRL 36650 . Against Bacteroides fragilis and most gram-positive bacteria, BRL 36650 showed only a low level of activity . BRL 36650 was found to be only 35% bound to human serum protein, and the antibacterial activity was little affected by the presence of serum . In contrast, the composition of the test medium influenced the activity of BRL 36650 slightly, and an antagonistic effect could be demonstrated between the compound and a component of certain Mueller-Hinton media.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Nov, 26(5), 660 - 4
Comparative in vitro activities of apalcillin and piperacillin against gram-negative bacilli; Fass RJ et al.; The susceptibilities of 317 gram-negative bacilli to apalcillin and piperacillin were determined by standardized microdilution and disk diffusion tests . The respective percentages of strains susceptible to less than or equal to 64 micrograms of apalcillin and piperacillin per ml were as follows: members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, 90 and 88%; randomly selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 100 and 100%; multi-drug-resistant P . aeruginosa, 100 and 75%; and other nonfermenters and Aeromonas hydrophila, 99 and 97% . The drugs had equal activity against Enterobacteriaceae and A . hydrophila; apalcillin was more active against Pseudomonas species and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and piperacillin was more active against other nonfermenters . By using linear regression analysis, we found that the MICs of apalcillin and piperacillin were highly interrelated; the lines of best fit had slopes close to unity, and correlation coefficients (r) were greater than 0.90 for Enterobacteriaceae as a group and for other species individually . With disk diffusion testing, inhibition zone diameters around 100 micrograms apalcillin and 100 micrograms piperacillin disks correlated well with respective MICs for Enterobacteriaceae and P . aeruginosa (r = -0.93 to -0.96) . Using an error rate-bound classification scheme, we determined breakpoints for apalcillin susceptibility and confirmed those previously established for piperacillin to be appropriate . The apalcillin disk, with modified breakpoints, could be used to predict piperacillin MICs for all organisms, but the piperacillin disk could not be used to predict apalcillin MICs for nonfermenters.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 130 ( Pt 11), 2893 - 903
Isolation, characterization and mapping of mandelate pathway mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Vakeria D et al.; Mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus EBF 65/65 that could not grow on intermediates of the mandelate or benzyl alcohol pathways were isolated and in some cases the enzymic lesions were identified . Several catabolic markers were mapped using the plasmid pAV1 . The mandelate genes appeared to be clustered near the auxotrophic marker phe-1 but were not all contiguous with each other . The gene responsible for the appearance of the novel L(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase appeared to be close to a gene responsible for the activity of the original D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase.

Pharmacotherapy, 1984 Nov-Dec, 4(6), 325 - 33
Cefonicid: a long-acting, second-generation cephalosporin . Antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and adverse effects; Pontzer RE et al.; Cefonicid is a new second-generation cephalosporin with a broad antimicrobial spectrum of activity and a prolonged serum elimination half-life . It has good in vitro activity against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, nonenterococcal streptococci, Hemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and many of the commonly isolated Enterobacteriaceae . Organisms usually resistant to cefonicid include species of Pseudomonas, Serratia, Acinetobacter and Providencia, and Bacteroides fragilis . The drug is 98% protein bound in human serum, which probably contributes to its significant reduction of antimicrobial activity measured in serum . Limited clinical trials have demonstrated it to be effective for surgical prophylaxis and for treating infections of the urinary tract, lower respiratory tract and bone . Failures have been reported in treatment of soft tissue infections and endocarditis caused by S . aureus . A potential cost reduction may be achieved by administering a single daily dose of cefonicid for established infections or a single preoperative dose for effective surgical prophylaxis instead of multiple-dose regimens of other, similar agents.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 20(5), 899 - 904
Collaborative evaluation of the Abbott Avantage system for identification of frequently isolated nonfermentative or oxidase-positive gram-negative bacilli; Jorgensen JH et al.; The capability of the Abbott Avantage system to identify 10 species of commonly isolated glucose nonfermentative or oxidase-positive gram-negative bacilli in a 5-h test period was evaluated in a collaborative study . The Avantage nonenteric data base uses 20 biochemical test reactions performed in an expanded Abbott bacterial identification cartridge plus the results of a manual oxidase test . The species included in the Avantage data base are Acinetobacter anitratus, Acinetobacter Iwoffi, Aeromonas hydrophila, Flavobacterium meningosepticum-IIb group, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescens-putida group, Pseudomonas maltophilia, Pasteurella multocida, and Plesiomonas shigelloides . The collaborative study included the testing of 200 coded challenge strains in all three laboratories and the subsequent testing of an additional group of 100 to 200 clinical isolates recovered independently by each laboratory . Reference identifications for all isolates were determined by conventional biochemical test reactions . The overall accuracy of identification of the coded challenge strains for the three laboratories was 97%, whereas 95% of 437 clinical isolates and selected stock cultures of clinical derivation were identified correctly.

Am J Med, 1984 Oct 19, 77(4C), 3 - 11
Antimicrobial activity of ceftriaxone: a review; Cleeland R et al.; Ceftriaxone possesses potent activity, both in vitro and in vivo, against a broad range of bacteria . MIC50 and MIC90 geometric means were calculated using the results of broth and agar dilution assays performed worldwide . The MIC90 for ceftriaxone overall was 8 micrograms/ml or less for Enterobacteriaceae and 0.024 microgram/ml or less for Neisseria and Hemophilus species . Moderate activity was noted against Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species (MIC50 12 to 28 micrograms/ml) . Ceftriaxone was extremely active against nonenterococcal streptococci (MIC90 0.07 microgram/ml or less) and quite active against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90 5 micrograms/ml or less) . Ceftriaxone generally was inactive against enterococci and methicillin-resistant staphylococci . Activity against anaerobes was good, except for many strains of Bacteroides fragilis and B . thetaiotaomicron (MIC greater than 64 micrograms/ml) . Ceftriaxone exhibited excellent stability to beta-lactamases . The effect of medium and inoculum on in vitro testing was minimal . Excellent activity was demonstrated in vivo . Against Enterobacteriaceae, nonenterococcal streptococci, and H . influenzae, the PD50 in mice generally was less than 1 mg/kg . S . aureus strains responded moderately (mean PD50 6.5 mg/kg), whereas against most P . aeruginosa strains, PD50s ranged from 5 to greater than 250 mg/kg . The superior pharmacokinetic profile of ceftriaxone compared with that of other new cephalosporins was demonstrated by use of a prophylactic treatment schedule . The ability of ceftriaxone to penetrate the cerebrospinal fluid and provide excellent therapeutic coverage was confirmed in experimental meningitis models.

Am J Med, 1984 Oct 19, 77(4C), 112 - 6
Pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone after intravenous infusion and intramuscular injection; Scully BE et al.; The pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone were evaluated in eight adults after doses of 1 g administered by intravenous infusion and 1 and 0.5 g administered by intramuscular injection . Mean peak plasma concentrations were 168 micrograms/ml for 1 g given intravenously, 81 micrograms/ml for 1 g given intramuscularly, and 46 micrograms/ml for 0.5 g intramuscularly . Plasma concentrations were similar by both high pressure liquid chromatographic and microbiologic methods . The plasma half-lives were 7.6 and 8.3 hours, respectively, for the intravenous infusion and intramuscular injection . Plasma concentrations were equal for the 1 g intravenous and intramuscular routes by 2.5 hours . Plasma concentrations exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of most aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative organisms with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species for 24 hours . Urinary concentrations exceeded 100 micrograms/ml for 24 hours for the 1-g doses and for 12 hours for the 0.5-g dose . Urinary recovery of ceftriaxone within 24 hours was 40 percent for intravenous infusion and 33 and 34 percent for the intramuscular injection . A single 1-g dose daily will exceed the MICs of most staphylococcal and streptococcal species and Enterobacteriaceae for 12 to 24 hours.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 57(2), 247 - 61
Allogenic succession of marine bacterial communities in response to pharmaceutical waste; Grimes DJ et al.; Vibrio spp . predominated in the culturable bacterial community of surface waters of the Puerto Rico Trench at the site of disposal for nearly ten years of pharmaceutical wastes . In this area and surrounding waters as far as 1000 km north of the dumpsite and south into the Caribbean Sea, Vibrio spp . comprised up to 100% of the culturable bacteria, with Acinetobacter spp . being the second most prevalent group . Pseudomonas spp., reported to be common in these waters a decade earlier, were virtually absent from all samples examined during a three year study involving 9 cruises . Staphylococcus spp . were also found in water samples collected within the dumpsite . Using cultures isolated from surface water samples collected at the dumpsite, laboratory experiments confirmed that pharmaceutical waste can enrich for Vibrio spp., in preference to Pseudomonas spp., with growth of the strains proportional to the amount of waste added.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl C, 47 - 55
Enoxacin: worldwide in-vitro activity against 22451 clinical isolates; Siporin C et al.; A worldwide multicentre study involving 31 centres in eight countries was conducted to compare the in-vitro activity of enoxacin with that of other currently available antibiotics . Enoxacin was active against virtually all of the species of Enterobacteriaceae tested (MIC90 less than or equal to 0.25-2 mg/l) . It was also effective at inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC90 = 2 mg/l; n = 3540), Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis (MIC90 = 2 mg/l; n = 2635 and 837 resp.), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (MIC90 = 4 mg/l; n = 260), Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Haemophilus influenzae (both MIC90 less than or equal to 0.25 mg/l) . The MIC90 for enoxacin against streptococci ranged from 8 to 32 mg/l . Comparison of data from Canada, West Germany, U.K., South Africa and New Zealand showed the MICs for enoxacin to be generally consistent throughout the world . The only exception was for Citrobacter freundii where the MIC90 was significantly higher in the U.K . than in West Germany (P less than 0.05 Mann Whitney U Test) . Against susceptible species the activity of enoxacin was generally greater than that of ampicillin, gentamicin and the cephalosporins . Because of the prevalence of resistance to these drugs, there appears to be a continued need for new antibiotics with differing mechanisms of action.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl B, 71 - 6
Effect of antibiotic use on the incidence of cephalosporin resistance in two Australian hospitals; Benn RA et al.; The incidence of resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to three generations of cephalosporins was surveyed in two large hospitals with widely differing rates of cephalosporin usage . Overall resistance (MIC greater than 5 mg/l) of Enterobacteriaceae to cefotaxime in the hospital using large amounts of cephalosporins was 4% compared with 0.7% in the other . Enterobacter species accounted for most resistant isolates and resistant Enterobacter cloacae replaced sensitive strains in four patients given cefotaxime in 1983 . The distribution of species colonizing intensive care areas was similar in both hospitals with cephalosporin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus predominating.

Microbiol Sci, 1984 Sep, 1(6), 149 - 52
Biological phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment; Timmerman MW; Several commercially available systems claim to remove phosphate biologically from municipal wastewater . Techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have demonstrated that the phosphate removed is stored within bacterial cells as polyphosphate . Acinetobacter species are usually isolated from phosphate-removing systems although there is a great deal of evidence which casts doubt on the exclusive role of these organisms.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1984 Sep, 16(9), 847 - 8
Postoperative ocular infections: an analysis of laboratory data on 750 cases; Mahajan VM; From 1981-1982, 750 clinical specimens from patients who developed postoperative infections were processed in the ocular microbiology laboratory . Bacterial cultures were positive in 71.0%, fungal in 1.3% and another 1.4% yielded both . The remaining 26.3% were sterile . Infections were due chiefly to Gram positive organisms (63.6%); only 6.4% were due to Gram negative bacteria while 0.9% were due to both . Staphylococcus aureus (52.0%) was the most common isolate, followed by S epidermidis (37.2%) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were the next frequent pathogens . Aspergillus was the most common fungus among the fungal isolates . The highest number of infections followed cataract extraction and keratoplasty . A vast majority of postoperative infections seem to be occurring with hospital acquired strains . Cloxacillin seems to be the most effective remedy for treating staphylococcal infections and polymyxin B for infections due to Pseudomonas . Chloramphenicol appears to be as effective as gentamicin for treating all infections.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl B, 301 - 6
A comparison of cefotaxime and cefoperazone in respiratory tract infections; Garcia-Rodriguez JA et al.; The clinical efficacy and safety of cefotaxime and cefoperazone were evaluated in a comparative study . There were 18 adult males and 11 females . Their underlying disease was pneumonia (10), pleural empyema (2), bronchiectasis (6), bacterial bronchitis (9), lung abscess (2) . Bacterial material included sputum, bronchial secretion gained by bronchoscopy or tracheal aspiration, and pleural punctures obtained up to 24 h before treatment . Most patients had Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae infections, although two patients in the cefoperazone group had infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and another two anaerobic flora . Standard disc diffusion, and agar dilution susceptibilities were performed on all isolates . Patients received either cefoperazone (14) intravenously or intramuscularly in a dose range from 2 to 8 g/day or cefotaxime (15) 1 to 2 g intravenous or intramusculary at dosing intervals of 6 to 8 h (total 3 to 8 g/day), depending on the severity of the disease . Clinical improvement occurred in 14/15 (93%) of patients in the cefotaxime group, and 12/14 (86%) of patients treated with cefoperazone . Two failures in the cefoperazone group were secondary to superinfection (Acinetobacter and Ps . aeruginosa) . Bacteriological and symptomatic failure, occurred in one patient with anaerobic lung abscess treated with cefotaxime . The results of this study indicate that cefotaxime is safe and effective in the therapy of acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infections.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 18(1), 55 - 64
Fingerprinting Acinetobacter strains from clinical sources by numerical analysis of electrophoretic protein patterns; Alexander M et al.; A total of 57 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was fingerprinted by SDS-PAGE of cellular protein . All strains were also examined by conventional, API and N/F-Tek methods, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined . In general, using the API 20E and N/F-Tek methods, it was possible to assign isolates of A . calcoaceticus to the two accepted "biotypes" or "varieties", A.c . anitratus and A.c . lwoffi, but these methods did not offer useful subdivision of the biotypes . Gel electrophoresis permitted subdivision of the strains into clusters in a manner which suggests that the technique may be valuable in typing strains isolated during outbreaks of infection in hospital.

J Environ Sci Health B, 1984 Aug, 19(6), 523 - 38
The fate of methoxychlor in soils and transformation by soil microorganisms; Golovleva LA et al.; Methoxychlor was found to be sufficiently persistent in soil and its residues were present even 18 months after the soil treatment . Saprophytes, fungi and actinomyces were unaffected by varying concentrations of methoxychlor, azotobacter however was susceptable . Soil strains isolated did not utilize methoxychlor as a sole carbon source except for 9 cultures belonging to the genera Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Rhodococcus which carried out the complete dechlorination, demethylation and splitting of one of methoxychlor aromatic rings . Anaerobic conditions were more favorable for methoxychlor biodegradation by soil and pure microbial cultures.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 3(4), 301 - 5
Evaluation of commercial test systems for the identification of nonfermenters; Lampe AS et al.; Three commercially available test systems for the identification of nonfermentative gram-negative rods were compared: API 20NE, flow N/F and Minitek Nonfermenter System . Two hundred strains were identified by conventional means and by each test system . The rate of correct identification of Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium and Moraxella strains to genus level and of the other genera to species level was 92% with API 20NE, 84% with flow N/F and 75% with Minitek Nonfermenter System . The need for these kits in the diagnostic hospital laboratory is also discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jul, 159(1), 388 - 9
Transposon Tn5 encodes streptomycin resistance in nonenteric bacteria; O'Neill EA et al.; Strains of Caulobacter crescentus, Pseudomonas putida, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Rhizobium meliloti, and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides carrying the kanamycin resistance-encoding transposon Tn5 were 15 to 500 times more resistant to streptomycin than transposon-free strains . The streptomycin resistance determinant, which is separable from the kanamycin resistance determinant of Tn5, was not expressed in Escherichia coli or Klebsiella aerogenes.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jul, 14(1), 81 - 91
Cefmenoxime in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonias in critical care patients; Reitberg DP et al.; Nephrotoxicity frequently complicates the use of aminoglycosides in severely compromised acute care patients . Therefore, we initiated an open clinical trial to determine if cefmenoxime alone is useful for serious Gram-negative pneumonias in this population . Thirty consecutive patients were studied . Average age was 66 years . Most were malnourished at entry, with serum albumin averaging 2.8 g/dl and prognostic nutritional index values over 70% (normal less than 40%) . One-half of the patients had severe COPD and 67.9% were on ventilators . Fifty-seven per cent suffered concomitant cardiac disease, and 78.6% had been previously treated with antibiotics . Pneumonia was proven by new infiltrates on chest X-ray, new fever, elevated WBC count and Gram-negative rods on Gram's stain and in cultures of tracheal aspirate or sputum . Patients were given cefmenoxime 1-2 g every 6 h for an average of 12 days . Cefmenoxime peak (1 h) and trough concentrations were measured by HPLC and averaged 58 and 7 mg/l respectively . Gram-positive organisms, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp . and Haemophilus influenzae were usually eradicated . Persistence was noted for Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp . Persistence in patients with good clinical response was considered colonization rather than superinfection . Overall, satisfactory clinical response rate was noted in 78.6%, while four patients responded satisfactorily with recurrence, and two treatments were unsatisfactory . No serious adverse effects were observed . Cefmenoxime is a promising agent for treatment of susceptible pneumonias in critical care patients.

Immun Infekt, 1984 Jun, 12(3), 139 - 42
{Bacterial etiology of hospital-acquired infections}; Daschner F; During the last decades the spectrum of microorganisms causing nosocomial infections has changed . The frequency of Streptococci group A decreased and bacteria formerly considered as apathogen now cause serious infections . More and more "new" organisms are responsible for nosocomial infections . Especially in immunocompromised patients Legionella pneumophila causes infections with often severe and fatal course . Clostridium difficile can be isolated in 6% to 48% in the stool of patients with antibacterial treatment . Up to 36% of all hospitalized patients excrete Clostridium difficile asymptomatically . Acinetobacter species are responsible for 1% to 3% of all nosocomial infections . These changes are probably due to selection by antibiotics and an increase of invasive medical procedures even in immunocompromised patients.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jun, 25(6), 710 - 8
In vitro evaluation of HR810, a new wide-spectrum aminothiazolyl alpha-methoxyimino cephalosporin; Jones RN et al.; HR810 (Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals Inc., Somerville, N.J.) is a new, cyclical-pyridinium cephalosporin that appeared superior to numerous comparison drugs against 658 strains of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria . Seventeen Enterobacteriaceae spp . were tested by broth microdilution methods, and the 50% MICs (MIC50S) and 90% MICs (MIC90s) were 0.03 to 0.12 and 0.03 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively . Only one strain had an MIC greater than 8.0 micrograms/ml (99.6% is considered susceptible) . HR810 inhibited 98% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml, and the MIC90 for Acinetobacter spp . was 4.0 micrograms/ml . It was also very active against Pseudomonas spp . and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90, 0.5 micrograms/ml) but marginally active against methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains (MIC90, 16 micrograms/ml) and enterococcus (MIC90, 32 micrograms/ml) . Non-enterococcal streptococci had MIC50s ranging from 0.008 micrograms/ml for Streptococcus pyogenes to 0.12 micrograms/ml for pneumococci . All MICs of HR810 against Haemophilus and Neisseria spp . were less than or equal to 0.03 micrograms/ml (MIC50, 0.002 to 0.008 micrograms/ml) . HR810 poorly inhibited beta-lactamases and was very stable against 11 tested beta-lactamases of plasmid (TEM, OXA, SHV-1, and PSE) and chromosomal (K1, K14, P99) types.

Arch Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 138(2), 102 - 5
p-Chloromercuribenzoate specifically modifies thiols associated with the active sites of beta-ketoadipate enol-lactone hydrolase and succinyl CoA: beta-ketoadipate CoA transferase; Yeh WK et al.; beta-Ketoadipate enol-lactone hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.24) and succinyl CoA: beta-ketoadipate transferase (EC 2.8.3.6) catalyze consecutive metabolic reactions in bacteria . The enzymes appear to be members of different families of related proteins . Enzymes within the enol-lactone hydrolase family appear to have diverged so extensively that common ancestry sometimes is not directly evident from comparison of NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the proteins . Amino acid sequences at or near the active sites of the enzymes are likely to have been conserved, and hence a chemical proble that reacted specifically near the active sites of the enzymes might identify regions of amino acid sequence in which evolutionary affinities among widely divergent proteins could be identified . p-Chloromercuribenzoate appears to be such a probe because enol-lactone hydrolases and CoA transferases from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas putida were completely inhibited by stoichiometric quantities of the compound which appears to modify selectively cysteinyl side chains at or near the active sites of the enzymes . Stoichiometric inhibition of P . putida enol-lactone hydrolase was observed in the presence of excess dithiothreitol; therefore the reactive cysteinyl residue in this enzyme appears to be nucleophilic . The hydrolase is inhibited by beta-ketoadipate, but the compound must be supplied at 10 mM concentrations in order to achieve 50% inhibition, so the product inhibition is unlikely to be significant under physiological conditions.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 Jun, 179(3), 248 - 58
{Distribution of enterobacteria in soil following irrigation with waste water}; Ahmed RE et al.; The filtration of wastewater after irrigation by sandy soil in the area of The Braunschweig Sewage Utilization Association was investigated . For that purpose, the concentrations of gram-negative aerobe rods were determined in soil samples of 15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, 60 cm, 75 cm, 90 cm, 105 cm, 120 cm, 135 cm, and 150 cm depth immediately after an irrigation of about 50 mm wastewater during the vegetation (3 series), the vegetationless period (6 series), after one week (3 series) and after two weeks (3 series) during the vegetationless time . All enterobacteria were isolated and identified on the genus or species level (Table 1) . Their concentration drops one order of magnitude per 20 cm soil down to a depth of 75 cm . In deeper soil layers the concentration of enterobacteria decreases one order of magnitude about per 60 cm . The enterobacteria penetrated to 60 cm during the vegetation and to 135 cm during the vegetationless period (Fig . 1) . There is a relative increase of the fraction of Enterobacteriaceae and a relative decrease of Aeromonas and Plesiomonas as a function of the depth . The non-fermenter, i.e . Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, and Pseudomonas remain constantly . Down to soil layers of 45 cm the Enterobacter increase relatively . E . coli increase also a little bit, whereas Citrobacter and Klebsiella decrease, respectively (Fig . 2, 3) . Downwards, the ratio of Enterobacteriaceae shows no significant changes . Other Enterobacteriaceae, i.e . Proteus, Providencia, and Serratia constitute less than 10 percent . We have found none strains of Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia under 5105 enterobacteria identified.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Jun, 32(5 Pt 2), 520 - 4
{Sensitivity to fosfomycin of bacteria isolated at the Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital in 1982 and 1983}; Bismuth R et al.; Susceptibility of 16 056 strains isolated in 1982 and 1983 to fosfomycin (FOS) was tested with Mueller-Hinton medium and discs 50 micrograms FOS + 25 micrograms glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) (cutoff diameter 14 mm) . For 3 411 strains, inhibition zone diameters were recorded . Almost all E . coli, Citrobacter, Salmonella and S . aureus were susceptible to FOS as well as 70% of Serratia, E . cloacae, P . mirabilis and 50% of Klebsiella and Enterobacter sp . Only 27% of P . aeruginosa, 20% of indole positive Proteus and 8% of Acinetobacter were sensitive to FOS . E . coli, Citrobacter and S . aureus seem to exhibit the highest susceptibilities to FOS . Sensitivity rates of E . cloacae, Serratia, P . aeruginosa, and especially Klebsiella seemed slightly underestimated by the disk diffusion method, but differentiation between susceptible and resistant strains was facilitated by rating as susceptible those strains with inhibition zone diameters between 12 and 14 mm . This method also seemed to underrate the sensitivity of susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, probably because of inadequate G6P concentrations at this point of the disk.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jun, 44(3), 609 - 13
Immunologically related ketodeoxyoctonate-containing structures in Chlamydia trachomatis, Re mutants of Salmonella species, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus; Nurminen M et al.; The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Chlamydia trachomatis, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus, and Re mutants of Salmonella sp . were shown to share related immunodeterminants , as demonstrated by double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels . The cross-reactive material in the extracellular slime of A . calcoaceticus var . anitratus was shown to be released LPS . The Acinetobacter LPS was found to separate in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into three fractions . The cross-reactive component was the fraction migrating fastest, at a rate identical to Re-type LPS of Salmonella sp . The Acinetobacter LPS could be used as antigen in complement fixation assays performed on paired sera of patients with chlamydial pneumonia; it gave results identical to those of the chlamydial complement fixation glycolipid antigen conventionally used in such assays in 9 of 10 patients.

Immun Infekt, 1984 Jun, 12(3), 139 - 42
{Bacterial agents of hospital infections}; Daschner F; During the last decades the spectrum of microorganisms causing nosocomial infections has changed . The frequency of Streptococci group A decreased and bacteria formerly considered as apathogen now cause serious infections . More and more "new" organisms are responsible for nosocomial infections . Especially in immunocompromised patients Legionella pneumophila causes infections with often severe and fatal course . Clostridium difficile can be isolated in 6% to 48% in the stool of patients with antibacterial treatment . Up to 36% of all hospitalized patients excrete Clostridium difficile asymptomatically . Acinetobacter species are responsible for 1% to 3% of all nosocomial infections . These changes are probably due to selection by antibiotics and an increase of invasive medical procedures even in immunocompromised patients.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jun, (6), 27 - 9
{Isolation of the L forms of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . Lwoffii in infectious endocarditis}; Zubkov MN et al.; In the bacteriological study of blood samples taken from a patient with infectious endocarditis the hemoculture of the L-forms of A . calcoaceticus, var . lwoffii, was isolated . This hemoculture reverted into the bacterial form in the process of subculturing on solid media . The species of the isolated L-forms was established on the basis of the data obtained in the study of the biological properties of the revertants . To ensure the effectiveness of bacteriological investigations, a special search for atypical cultures is recommended in those cases when the inoculation of blood samples yields negative results.

Ann Intern Med, 1984 Jun, 100(6), 881 - 90
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for bacterial meningitis; Levitz RE et al.; Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has excellent microbiologic activity against most pathogens that produce meningitis; both components of this drug have high penetration into tissues, including the cerebrospinal fluid . Clinical experience shows that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be beneficial in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis caused by organisms only moderately susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins (Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens) or resistant to these antibiotic agents (Pseudomonas cepacia, Acinetobacter) . The success of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of four patients with Staphylococcus aureus and two patients with Listeria monocytogenes meningitis shows that this drug may also be useful in treating infrequent types of gram-positive meningitis.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jun, 25(6), 701 - 5
Susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria to polymyxin B nonapeptide; Viljanen P et al.; Subinhibitory concentrations of polymyxin B nonapeptide sensitized all 21 polymyxin-susceptible gram-negative bacterial strains studied to hydrophobic antibiotics such as fusidic acid, novobiocin, and erythromycin . The susceptibility increases were usually 30- to 300-fold . The strains included representatives of Escherichia coli with different O- and K-antigens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter agglomerans, Salmonella typhimurium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas maltophilia . In contrast, polymyxin-resistant strains (Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii, Providencia stuartii, and Serratia marcescens) were resistant to the action of polymyxin B nonapeptide.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 307 - 11
{Pharmacokinetics of apalcillin . Study of linearity}; Akbaraly JP et al.; Apalcillin is a new semi-synthetic penicillin active on the positive Gram bacteria, and on the enterobacteria, with a particular activity on Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . The linearity study of the pharmacokinetic was carried out on 26 subjects who were given increasing doses (500, 1 000, 2 000, 3 000 mg) of apalcillin by the venous route . The dosages carried out by the HPLC and bacteriological methods, show a good correlation between the two methods . The serum concentrations, 5 mn . after injection, were respectively 72 micrograms/ml (500 mg); 145 micrograms/ml (1 g) ; 221 micrograms/ml (2 g) ; 290 micrograms/ml (3 g) . Urinary excretion is around 20 %, and this, regardless of the dose . The dose increase seems to have no effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters, calculated on the basis of a bi- compartmental model . The areas under the time serum concentrations, increase proportionally, to the dose : 61 (500 mg) ; 146 (1 g) ; 285 (2 g) ; 367 (3 g) - micrograms/ml X h . the linear regression between the AUC (y) and the applied doses (X) is : y = 0,12 X + 14,27 ; r = 0,9046 ; n = 69 . The correlation between the AUC and the doses is significant (p less than 0,001) . The results obtained show that increasing the dosage has no effect on apalcillin pharmacokinetics, which appear linear.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 May, 25(5), 669 - 71
In vitro activity of apalcillin compared with those of piperacillin and carbenicillin against 6,797 bacterial isolates from four separate medical centers; Barry AL et al.; Quantitative susceptibility tests were performed in four separate medical centers, in which apalcillin was compared with piperacillin and carbenicillin . Data from tests of 6,797 isolates confirmed that apalcillin and piperacillin had nearly identical spectra of activity but that apalcillin was significantly more active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC required to inhibit 90% of strains, 2.0 versus 64 micrograms/ml) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus (MIC required to inhibit 90% of strains, 2.0 versus 16 micrograms/ml) . Against 166 anaerobic bacterial isolates, apalcillin demonstrated in vitro activity.

In Vitro, 1984 May, 20(5), 376 - 84
Effect of asparaginase on cell membranes of sensitive and resistant mouse lymphoma cells; Ankel EG et al.; High concentrations of Escherichia coli asparaginase (80 U/ml) altered the binding of concanavalin A (Con A) to L 5178Y murine lymphoma cells that are sensitive to the cytotoxic action of this enzyme . Incubation of the asparaginase sensitive line in asparagine-free media or media containing Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase did not alter the Con A binding of these cells . Escherichia coli asparaginase had no effect on Con A binding of two asparaginase resistant L5178Y cell lines that were isolated and maintained in asparagine depleted or asparaginase containing medium . The E . coli asparaginase preparation inhibited protein and glycoprotein biosynthesis to comparable degrees . It did not have proteolytic or glycolytic activity . Escherichia coli asparaginase did not alter the binding of wheat germ, soybean or ricin agglutinins to any of these cell lines . These data suggest that high concentrations of E . coli asparaginase have a specific effect on the Con A receptor in the sensitive line.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 331 - 4
{Multicenter study of the antibacterial activity of a new cephalosporin: CM 40874}; Duval J et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CM were evaluated on 2 548 bacterial strains isolated in 8 hospitals . CM demonstrated high activity on Enterobacteriaceae, the MIC being less than or equal to 0.125 micrograms/ml for 71% of the 1 362 strains tested, less than or equal to 1 for 99.6%, and less than or equal to 4 for 99.9% . Mode MIC varies little among the different groups of Enterobacteriaceae (from 0.06 to 0.12 micrograms/ml), with the exception of Serratia sp . (mode MIC : 0.25) and Klebsiella oxytoca (mode MIC : 0.03) . Most of Enterobacter, Serratia, and Citrobacter sp . strains not inhibited by cefotaxime are readily inhibited by CM at the same concentrations than susceptible strains . CM has less activity on P . aeruginosa (MIC 2-32 micrograms/ml) and Acinetobacter sp . (MIC 8-128) . Staphylococci (MIC 32) and Enterococci are not susceptible . Variable activity is found against other Streptococci . CM inhibits Haemophilus sp . at MICs of 0.12 to 0.5 micrograms/ml and Gonococci at MICs of 0.03 to 0.5 (whether the strains produce beta-lactamase or not) . Meningococci have a mode MIC of 0.03 micrograms/ml (range 0.008 to 0.25) . Thus, CM 40874 is a new third generation cephalosporin with high activity on Enterobacteriaceae, including those strains not susceptible to cefotaxime and good activity on Haemophilus sp . and Neisseria sp . This additional activity is probably supported by enhanced resistance to enzymatic inactivation by beta-lactamases.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 301 - 6
{Bacteriostatic activity of apalcillin on Gram-negative bacilli and strict anaerobic bacteria . Multicenter study}; Quentin C et al.; This work reports a multicenter study of the bacteriostatic activity of apalcillin, a new N-acyl-penicillin, against 1 827 clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacilli and obligate anaerobes . The modal minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for susceptible strains are (mg/l) : Salmonella-Shigella : 1 ; E . coli : 0.5-2 ; Klebsiella : 4 ; Citrobacter : 1-2 ; Enterobacter : 2 ; Serratia : 8 ; Proteus-Providencia : 1 ; Acinetobacter : 1-4 ; P . aeruginosa : 2 ; H . influenzae : 0.06 ; C . perfringens : 0.03-01 ; Peptococcus : 0.2 ; B . fragilis : 16 . Against Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter, apalcillin is as active as mezlocillin and piperacillin, and much more than carbenicillin . Against P . aeruginosa, apalcillin is the most active penicillin : 2 to 16 fold more active than azlocillin and piperacillin, and 2 to 128 fold more active than ticarcillin . Against H . influenzae, C . perfringens and Peptococcus, apalcillin has MICs similar to those of other N-acyl penicillins, and inferior to those of carboxypenicillins . Apalcillin, as other penicillins, is poorly active against B . fragilis.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 May, 179(2), 151 - 61
{Pathogen distribution in waste water sprinkler irrigation}; Ahmed RE et al.; The spray irrigation with pretreated wastewater was investigated on the sewage farm of the Braunschweig Sewage Utilization Association . The emission of airborne bacteria was measured by means of Andersen sampler (AS), Reuter centrifugal sampler (RCS), and sedimentation plates (SP) . There was a good correlation of results obtained by parallel measurings of AS and RCS . The RCS was more effective by the factor 11.5 than the AS sampling airborne microorganisms . However, the AS gaves the distribution curve of differently big airborne particulates (Table 1) . The medium decrease of bacteria from the sprinkler determined by AS and SP was similar (Fig . 1) . With low wind velocity, an aerosol containing enterobacteria was yet detectable at a distance of 60-160 m down-wind from the spray sprinkler . The transport of bacteria as a function of the wind velocity is given in Fig . 2 increasing about 25 m for an increase of the wind velocity of 1 m/sec . During the spray irrigation, the composition of bacteria in the airborne particles is varying continuously . The following order of succession of die-away rates was found: Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Vibrio greater than Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas greater than Enterobacter greater than Citrobacter greater than E . coli greater than Klebsiella greater than gram-positive bacteria (Table 3) . Only seldom and under extreme conditions, gram-negative bacteria were detected in a range between 200-300 m beyond of concentrations as they were found also in controls without irrigation . This result substantiates a minimum protective distance of 300 m between sprinkler and human settlements.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 326 - 30
{In vitro activity of ceftizoxime on hospital bacteria . Results of a multicenter study}; Soussy CJ et al.; The susceptibility to ceftizoxime of all bacterial strains isolated from seven university-affiliated hospitals over one month was tested with disk-diffusion technique . Additionally, the MIC of 1937 strains selected at random was evaluated by the agar dilution method . The majority of Enterobacteriaceae are inhibited at a concentration of less than 1 microgram/ml with a mode MIC varying from 0.008 to 0.12 among the various groups . A few Enterobacter and Citrobacter strains are resistant . Little activity was demonstrated by ceftizoxime on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter sp . (mode MIC 32 and 8 micrograms/ml respectively) . Haemophilus sp . (MIC 0.01-0.03) and Neisseria (MIC less than 0,008-0,016) are very susceptible to the drug . The MIC of methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus varies from 1 to 4 micrograms/ml ; Enterococci are less susceptible, whereas other Streptococci and Pneumococci have low MICs (less than 0.008-0.025) . The susceptibility of anaerobic pathogens varies widely between species, and within species ; MIC ranges from 0.008 to 32 micrograms/ml for Clostridium sp . and 0.25 to 128 micrograms/ml for Bacteroides sp.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Apr, 13(4), 325 - 31
The in-vitro activity of ciprofloxacin compared with that of norfloxacin and nalidixic acid; King A et al.; The in-vitro activity of ciprofloxacin , a new 4-quinolone, was compared with that of norfloxacin and nalidixic acid against recent clinical isolates of medically important bacteria . Overall, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin had similar spectra of activity, but ciprofloxacin had somewhat greater intrinsic activity against most organisms . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were in the range 0.004-4 mg/l for Enterobacteriaceae, 0.016-2 mg/l for Pseudomonas spp., 0.004-1 mg/l for Acinetobacter, 0.004-0.016 mg/l for Haemophilus influenzae, 0.001-0.004 for gonococci, 0.004-0.03 mg/l for Cmpylobacter , 0.12-2 mg/l for staphylococci, 0.25-4 mg/l for streptococci, 1-32 mg/l for the Bacteroides fragilis group and mostly in the range 0.25-8 mg/l for other obligate anaerobes . Resistant variants could be selected readily in vitro by culture on any of the three compounds investigated . However, while the MICs of nalidixic acid were high for these variants those of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were much lower.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Mar, 29(3), 191 - 5
{Sensitivity of nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria of clinical origin to antibacterial preparations}; Shchenderov BA et al.; Sensitivity of 371 clinical strains of gram-negative bacteria not fermenting glucose . was studied with respect to 11 antibacterial drugs with the use of indicator discs . The strains were isolated from patients with purulent inflammatory diseases in 1980-1981 . Gentamicin proved to be the most active in vitro against the majority of isolates . Among Pseudomonas 56 per cent of P . maltophilia strains were resistant to this antibiotic . More than 80 per cent of the strains belonging to Acinetobacter and Moroxella were sensitive to nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid . Analogous sensitivity of these bacteria was observed with respect to streptomycin and kanamycin . About a half of the not fermenting bacteria were sensitive to chloramphenicol, rifampicin and tetracycline . The majority of the bacteria were resistant to one or more of the chemotherapeutic drugs . Strains with multiple resistance to at least 6 drugs predominated among . P . aeruginosa, P . maltophilia and P . cepacia . Such polyresistant strains were mainly isolated from the urine, from wound and ear discharge.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Mar, 32(3), 177 - 81
{Bioenzymatic and lysotypic study of 200 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; Two hundred strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated between 1971 and 1978 at the Bichat Hospital were studied by means of a biochemical and enzymatic technique thanks to 150 tests per strain . Most strains (about 60%) were Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety anitratus which is more frequently isolated than var . lwoffi . Three bioenzymatic groups have been statistically defined . This classification corresponds to the main lines of previous descriptions by Henriksen (1960) and those indicated in the Bergey's Manual (1974) . The results of the study do not show any correlation between the clinical origin of the strains, their bioenzymatic profile and their phage-type which was determined for 60 strains . Otherwise, it was to be noted that glucose is not a basic character of this classification which is based on an average profile of strains; some tests are particularly important for the differentiation of species (amino-acids); some characteristics have been observed and have to be related to the enzymatic properties of the strains and their role in the catabolism of some carbohydrates . The results of the study might constitute a new approach of epidemiological criteria to be determined for Acinetobacter strains ( Bergogne -Ber ezin and al., 1970, 1980, Gardner and al., 1970; Glew and al., 1977).

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1984 Feb 4, 114(5), 156 - 61
{Comparison of antibacterial activities of cephalosporins}; Kayser FH et al.; 2770 strains of Enterobacteriacea and of Acinetobacter were examined for susceptibility to cefoperazone, cefotaxime, ceftazidim, ceftriaxone, lamoxactam and cefotiam with the disk diffusion test . The percentage of susceptible strains was between 92% and 99% . Strains resistant to the new cephalosporins were more frequently observed in Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens and Proteus vulgaris . A comparison with the activity of cefamandole, cefoxitin and cefuroxime showed the improvement which has been obtained by the development of the newer cephalosporins . Third generation cephalosporins showed variable activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Modal MICs of cefoperazone, cefsulodin and ceftazidim were between 2-4 mg/l, whereas mode MICs of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and lamoxactam were 16 mg/l . Of 591 examined Pseudomonas strains, 75, 90 and 96% respectively were susceptible to the first-named three derivatives in agar diffusion tests . Two to 60% of these cultures were susceptible to the second group of cephalosporins . These data show the unreliability of the disk test in testing Pseudomonas with these cephalosporins . Cefalothin, cefamandole and cefotiam were most active against staphylococci (mean MICs 0.25-0.5 mg/l) . Lamoxactam, ceftazidim and cefsulodin showed only moderate activity (mean MICs 6.3-10.2 mg/l) . All cephalosporins were inactive against enterococci, but showed good activity against streptococci and pneumococci.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 56(1), 53 - 61
The influence of incubation temperature and pH on the antimicrobial properties of hen egg albumen; Tranter HS et al.; Gram positive bacteria, including lysozyme-resistant strains, and yeasts were killed in hen egg albumen with or without iron at 30 of 39.5 degrees C . The albumen was more toxic at 39.5 degrees C than at 30 degrees C for Gram negative bacteria . With the exceptions of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter sp . and Proteus vulgaris, iron caused the growth of Gram negative bacteria or protected them from being killed in hen albumen at 39.5 degrees C . At this temperature, however, maximal growth of and glucose utilization by Escherichia coli C20 only occurred in albumen supplemented with growth factors, trace metals, additional nitrogen and sufficient iron to quench ovotransferrin . The bactericidal properties of albumen could be negated by changing its pH from 9.0 or above to 7.5 or below . At 39.5 degrees C, enterochelin allowed growth of E . coli in albumen at pH 7.9, but not at 9.4, whereas iron allowed growth at both pH values.

Am J Infect Control, 1984 Feb, 12(1), 14 - 8
A decade of nosocomial Acinetobacter; Larson E; A review of nosocomial infections (NI) from January 1971 to April 1981 was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital to examine NI caused by Acinetobacter and to determine whether a rising trend in rates could be detected . Acinetobacter accounted for 85 of 6115 (1.4%) NI . Sites of infection were respiratory tract (42.2%), blood (17.8%), peritoneum (16.7%), urinary tract (10%), surgical wounds (7.8%), central nervous system (3.3%), and skin or eye (2.2%) . All patients who developed NI from Acinetobacter were receiving systemic antimicrobial therapy; 58.8% were in the intensive care unit (ICU) . The highest rates of Acinetobacter infection occurred in the early 1970s (2.3%); the lowest occurred from 1978 to 1981 (0.94%), p approximately 0.06 . This decrease primarily resulted from two factors: a reduction in cross-infections, probably related to a structural change in the ICU from open-bed ward to single rooms, and the elimination of peritoneal infections traced to contamination of dialysate solution . We conclude that in this institution no rise in the proportion of NI caused by Acinetobacter has occurred over the past decade; if anything, there is a downward trend.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1984 Feb, 365(2), 143 - 50
Chloridazon-catechol dioxygenases, a distinct group of meta-cleaving enzymes; Schmitt S et al.; We previously described a new meta-cleaving enzyme, termed chloridazon-catechol dioxygenase . The present paper describes the comparison of this enzyme with the meta-cleaving enzymes of eighteen strains of soil bacteria isolated with various aromatic compounds . Four of these strains were isolated with the herbicide chloridazon, six with the analgeticum aminopyrine and one with the analgeticum antipyrine as sole carbon source . These strains all belonged to a new type of bacteria, called Phenylobacteria . The seven other strains were isolated with aromatic compounds such as toluene, 3-phenylpropionate, benzoate, papaverine and 4-chlorobenzoate, and belonged to various species including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Nocardia . In double diffusion experiments with antibodies, prepared against chloridazon-catechol dioxygenase, extracts from the eleven strains of Phenylobacteria gave a cross reaction, whereas the extracts of the seven other strains showed no reaction . The enzymes of the eleven positive strains showed the same characteristic kinetic behaviour as the previously described enzyme . In contrast to catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase they needed the addition of exogenous Fe2+ ions for activity . On ion-exchange chromatography they emerged at the same buffer concentration as chloridazon-catechol dioxygenase . In polyacrylamide electrophoresis they migrated identically . The linkage map derived from the activities of the various enzymes with 10 different substrates revealed an identity of more than 80% for these eleven enzymes . So the meta-cleaving enzymes of the Phenylobacteria seem to form a distinct group among the non-heme iron-containing dioxygenases.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 19(2), 215 - 7
Development and evaluation of a coculture technique for identification of anaerobic organisms; Hussain Z et al.; We investigated a method to reduce oxygen tension and produce anaerobic conditions conveniently by coculture with a nonfermentative organism . The biochemical reactions of 94 strains representing 41 different species were determined using prereduced media and gas chromatography according to standard methods . The standard reactions were compared with those obtained by preparing similar media, modified by containing no cysteine or resazurin, under aerobic conditions . Preincubation of the modified biochemical media with a standard suspension of a culture of Acinetobacter lwoffi provided reducing conditions . In 1,449 individual tests using 22 different biochemicals, 1,349 (93%) of the reactions agreed . Only two misidentifications resulted when using the modified media, one each at the species and genus levels . Two strains of Actinomyces odontolyticus failed to grow in coculture.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 157(2), 607 - 11
Insertional specificity of transposon Tn5 in Acinetobacter sp; Singer JT et al.; Suicide plasmid pJB4JI, containing transposon Tn5 and phage Mu, was introduced from Escherichia coli 1830 into Acinetobacter sp . strain HO1-N and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD413 . Kanamycin-resistant (Kmr) exconjugants of HO1-N and BD413, isolated on complex medium, were screened for auxotrophic requirements . Over 10,000 Kmr clones were examined, but no auxotrophs were detected . Several Kmr exconjugants of BD413 and HO1-N, obtained from independent matings, were chosen for further study . All Tn5-containing strains exhibited kanamycin phosphotransferase activity . Kmr strains lacked plasmid DNA as determined by three plasmid screening procedures, and the Kmr phenotype was not transferable by conjugal matings to kanamycin-sensitive BD413, HO1-N, or E . coli HB101 . The chromosomal location of Tn5 insertions in independently isolated Kmr exconjugants of BD413 and HO1-N was characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping and hybridization studies . Results obtained from Southern hybridization studies were consistent with a single Tn5-specific insertion site in HO1-N and two such sites in BD413 . Phage Mu sequences were not detected in Tn5-containing Acinetobacter sp.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 49 - 55
Response of marine bacterioplankton to differential filtration and confinement; Ferguson RL et al.; The bacterioplankton community of confined seawater at 25 degrees C changed significantly within 16 h of collection . Confinement increased CFU, total cell number (by epifluorescence microscopy), and average cell volume of bacterioplankton and increased the turnover rate of amino acids in seawater sampled at Frying Pan Shoals, N.C . The bacterioplankton community was characterized by two components: differential doubling times during confinement shifted dominance from bacteria which were nonculturable to bacteria which were culturable on a complex nutrient medium . Culturable cells (especially those of the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, and Acinetobacter) increased from 0.08% of the total cell number in the seawater immediately after collection to 13% at 16 h and 41% at 32 h of confinement . Differential filtration before confinement indicated that particles passing through a 3.9-microns-, but retained by a 0.2-micron-, pore-size Nuclepore filter may be a major source of primary amines to the confined population . The 3.0-microns filtration increased growth rate and ultimate numbers of culturable cells through the removal of bacterial predators or the release of primary amines from cells damaged during filtration or both.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 31 - 8
Metabolic and ultrastructural response to glucose of two eurytrophic bacteria isolated from seawater at different enriching concentrations; Baxter M et al.; Two marine bacteria, an Acinetobacter sp . (strain GO1) and a vibrio sp . (strain G1), were isolated by extinction dilution and maintained in natural seawater supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus, and glucose at 0.01 and 10 mg of glucose carbon per liter above ambient monosaccharide concentrations, respectively . After 3 days in unsupplemented natural seawater, growth in batch culture with glucose supplements was determined by changes in cell numbers and glucose concentration . The exponential growth of the Acinetobacter strain with added glucose was indistinguishable from that in natural seawater alone, whereas that of the Vibrio strain was more rapid in the presence of glucose supplements, suggesting that the Acinetobacter strain preferred the natural organic matter in seawater as a carbon source . The ultrastructure for both isolates was unaffected by glucose supplements during exponential growth, but there were marked changes in stationary-phase cells . The Vibrio strain formed polyphosphate at 10 mg of glucose carbon per liter, whereas poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate formation occurred at 100 mg and became excessive at 1,000 mg, disrupting the cells . In contrast, the Acinetobacter strain elongated at 100 and 1,000 mg of glucose carbon per liter but failed to show poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate formation . The diversity of responses shown here would not have been detected with a single concentration of substrate, often used in the literature to characterize both pure and natural populations of marine bacteria.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(1), 79 - 82
Cefuroxime in acute septic arthritis; Hedstrom SA et al.; Cefuroxime was used in 17 patients with clinical, bacteriological and/or laboratory signs of acute septic arthritis in comparison with 10 patients given cloxacillin and ampicillin alone, or in combination . 14 patients in the study group had positive cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, 10, S . epidermidis, 1, Streptococcus pyogenes group G, 2 and Acinetobacter, 1) . Three more patients with non-bacterial arthritis were included in an antibiotic penetration study . In 6 patients serum and joint fluid concentrations of cefuroxime were repeatedly determined by an assay using high pressure liquid chromatography . After 1.5 g intravenous cefuroxime the joint fluid concentrations were 16-80 and 5-40 mg/l at 2 and 8 h, respectively, exceeding the serum concentrations during that period of time . From the clinical and pharmacokinetic data a dosage of 1.5 g cefuroxime intravenously t.i.d . is recommended to the adult patient . This high dosage resulted in primary healing in 11 patients with one relapse one year later in a patient with a knee arthroplasty . Half the dosage intramuscularly in 6 patients failed in 2 . No side effects were seen during cefuroxime therapy.

Curr Med Res Opin, 1984, 9(3), 157 - 60
In vitro activity of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid (BRL 28500, 'Timentin') against ticarcillin-resistant gram-negative rods; Chattopadhyay B et al.; A study was carried out to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of 211 clinical isolates of ticarcillin resistant (MICs greater than 128 micrograms/ml) Gram-negative rods to a combination of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid . The combination demonstrated superior activity; 90% of the Proteus spp . and 50% of E . coli and Klebsiella spp . isolates were inhibited at a concentration of 64 micrograms/ml . It was 2 to 8-times more active than ticarcillin alone against E . coli, Proteus and Klebsiella spp . in half to three-quarters of the strains under test . This enhanced activity was only marginal, however, against Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Serratia and Pseudomonas spp . Against 161 ticarcillin sensitive strains the combination did not have any potentiation effect.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jan, 157(1), 179 - 83
Specific binding of a bacteriophage at a hydrocarbon-water interface; Pines O et al.; Emulsan, the extracellular polyanionic emulsifying agent produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1, has been implicated as a receptor for a specific virulent RAG-1 bacteriophage, ap3 . Aqueous solutions of emulsan did not interfere with phage ap3 adsorption to RAG-1 cells . However, binding of phage ap3 occurred at the interfaces of hexadecane-in-water emulsions specifically stabilized by emulsan polymers . Binding of ap3 to emulsions was inhibited either in the presence of anti-emulsan antibodies or in the presence of a specific emulsan depolymerase . Moreover, when the phage was first bound to emulsan-stabilized emulsions and the emulsions subsequently treated with emulsan depolymerase, viable phage was released, indicating that phage ap3 DNA ejection was not triggered by binding . The results indicate that emulsan functions as the ap3 receptor and suggest that to function as a receptor, emulsan assumes a specific conformation conferred on it by its specific interaction with hydrophobic surfaces.

Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(10), 51 - 8
{Contamination of butchered poultry with psychrophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms}; Ivanova S; Studied were the ways in which slaughtered birds were contaminated with psychrophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms as well as the effect of the various technologic stages in the yield and processing of the poultry meat on the extent of its contamination and the occurrence of such organisms in alive and slaughtered broilers in dependence on the season . It was found that the individual stages of production of poultry meat influenced the rate of contamination of slaughtered birds . There was a difference between the psychrophilic microflora in alive birds and that found after slaughter and processing . In the first group highest was the percent of the Acinetobacter (100%) genus, followed by the Flavobacter (80%), Corinebacter (60%) and other genera, while in the slaughtered birds prevailing were the Pseudomonas (50-75%) and Flavobacter (17-30%) genera . Following scalding the psychrophile count dropped 12 times as compared to the count established at stunning, and the count of psychrotrophic organisms dropped 7 times . Greatest was the drop following the process of singeing--8 times for the psychrophiles and 2.5 times for the psychrotrophic organisms . During the following stages of the technologic process no rise was observed of the count of both types of organisms . The count of psychrotrophic organisms was found to be lower in the spring and autumn seasons, and it was higher in the summer . Psychrophiles showed highest number of strains isolated in the winter season--as many as 102.

J Int Med Res, 1984, 12(6), 364 - 8
Phage-types and susceptibility to 26 antibiotics of nosocomial strains of Acinetobacter isolated in Portugal; Santos Ferreira MO et al.; Sixty-two strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated from pathological samples or from the environment in several hospitals in Lisbon, were studied by means of two complementary phage-typing systems . Eighteen phage-types or sub-types, one group of uncommon types (9.6%) and one group of untypable strains (20.9%) were found . A new phage-type (No . 104) and a new sub-type (No . 18) were defined among the Portuguese strains . The in vitro activity of 26 antibiotics against 48 nosocomial strains was studied by the Kirby-Bauer method . The most active antibiotics were, in decreasing order, amikacin, carbenicillin, tobramycin, minocycline, dibekacin, doxycycline, sisomycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxacole, ticarcillin and piperacillin . The strains were also tested against 4 new beta-lactam antibiotics, and the MICs were determined by an agar dilution method . N-formimidoyl-thienamycin was found to be the most active against Acinetobacter and ceftazidime was considerably more active than apalcillin and cefotaxime.

Clin Ther, 1984, 6(5), 625 - 35
Clinical evaluation of mezlocillin in neonates; Chiu T et al.; Single-dose pharmacokinetic studies were performed in 64 infants, ranging in age from less than 1 day to 6 days, after intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection of approximately 75 mg/kg of mezlocillin . Mean serum concentrations at one hour were 107 micrograms/ml and 82.5 micrograms/ml for neonates less than or equal to 1 day of age and greater than or equal to 6 days of age, respectively . The serum clearance ranged from 3.0 to 6.4 hours . Based on data from the study, it is recommended that mezlocillin be administered to neonates with gram-negative bacterial infections in a single dose of 75 mg/kg, either as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes or as an intramuscular injection, every 12 hours during the first week of life . Mezlocillin alone or in conjunction with penicillin was used in treating 165 neonates with suspected sepsis . Gram-negative organisms were recovered from 18 of the 27 neonates from whom pathogens were isolated . Three of these 18 strains, a Klebsiella oxytoca, an Acinetobacter anitratum, and a Haemophilus influenzae, were resistant to mezlocillin in vitro . Twenty-four of the 27 patients who satisfied criteria for evaluation achieved a bacteriological and a clinical cure . Cerebrospinal fluid permeation after multiple doses ranged from 18% to 45% of serum levels . No significant local or systemic side effects were seen . The results indicate that mezlocillin is an effective ureidopenicillin for the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections.

Clin Ther, 1984, 7(1), 73 - 80
Inhibitory and bactericidal activities of amifloxacin, a new quinolone carboxylic acid, compared with those of seven other antimicrobial agents; Baltch AL et al.; The activity of amifloxacin, a new quinolone carboxylic acid compound, against 147 strains of microorganisms was studied and was compared with the activities of cinoxacin, trimethoprim, amikacin, and four beta-lactam antimicrobials . The minimal concentration at which 90% of strains were inhibited by amifloxacin was lowest for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp (less than or equal to 0.125 microgram/ml), followed by Proteus sp (less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml), Enterobacter sp and Citrobacter sp (less than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml), Providencia sp (less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia sp, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus (less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml) . When compared with the ranges of activity of seven reference antimicrobials, the range of amifloxacin activity was lowest for P aeruginosa, Citrobacter sp, Proteus sp, and A calcoaceticus var anitratus and similar to aztreonam's activity against Enterobacter sp . For amikacin-resistant P aeruginosa, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amifloxacin ranged from 1 to 16 micrograms/ml . The MICs and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of amifloxacin were similar . For all strains tested, microbial susceptibilities to amifloxacin were greater than those to currently available oral antimicrobial drugs, such as cinoxacin and trimethoprim.

Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 197(2), 280 - 5
Mercury-resistant plasmids in bacteria from a mercury and antimony deposit area; Khesin RB et al.; Most bacterial cells (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter) obtained from the soil at the Khaidarkan mercury and antimony mine (Kirghiz USSR) contain R plasmids with mercury (HgCl2) resistance determinants . The plasmids have a large molecular mass (about 100 MD, though smaller ones also occur), and at least some of them are transmissive . Many of the Hgr bacteria also display an elevated antimony (SbCl3) resistance, though this trait was not shown to be plasmid-dependent . There are practically no Hgr plasmids in bacteria taken from the soil at different distances from the mine: the saturation of bacteria with Hgr plasmids is maintained by selective pressure only in the area with a high enough toxin concentration . In the same mercury and antimony deposit area Hgr plasmids were also found in Escherichia coli isolates from the gut of Mus musculus mice and Bufo viridis toads . At least some of the bacterial plasmids obtained from animals also carry antibiotic-resistance determinants (Tcr, Cmr, Smr) . These plasmids are also transmissive . They display internal instability and lose their resistance determinants after a conjugation transfer to other E . coli strains.

Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(2), 113 - 8
Ceftazidime: in vitro comparison with cephalothin, cefuroxime, and netilmicin . A Norwegian study; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activity of ceftazidime has been compared with those of cephalothin, cefuroxime, and netilmicin against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in order to register sensitivity patterns in the western part of Norway . An agar dilution method was used for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination . Ceftazidime was the most active agent against Enterobacteriaceae; all isolates being inhibited by 2 mg/l or less, whereas netilmicin was slightly less active, especially against Providencia . Cephalothin and cefuroxime were markedly less active than the other two agents against Enterobacteriaceae . Ceftazidime and netilmicin were active against our Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (MICs less than or equal to 4 and less than or equal to 8 mg/l, respectively) . Only netilmicin had useful activity against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Ceftazidime was the least active agent against Staphylococcus aureus; nearly all the isolates had MICs of 4-8 mg/l . Cefuroxime was the most active agent against Bacteroides fragilis, whereas ceftazidime was inactive . Ceftazidime may, in the future, be a useful alternative to the aminoglycosides in the treatment of serious gram-negative infections, particularly when P . aeruginosa might be involved.

Clin Pharm, 1984 Jan-Feb, 3(1), 23 - 32
Review of cefonicid, a long-acting cephalosporin; Dudley MN et al.; The in vitro activity, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and clinical efficacy of cefonicid are reviewed . Also discussed are formulary considerations and bacterial resistance . Cefonicid, an investigational agent near approval, is less active than other currently available first- and second-generation cephalosporins against gram-positive cocci, particularly Staphylococcus . Cefonicid and cefamandole have similar activity that is superior to the first-generation cephalosporins against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., indole-negative Proteus spp., and Providencia spp . Organisms such as Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Bacteroides fragilis are resistant to cefonicid . Despite a small volume of distribution and high protein binding, cefonicid achieves high tissue concentrations . Approximately 90% of an administered dose is excreted unchanged in the urine, and the elimination half-life is approximately four hours . Cefonicid is usually well tolerated . In treating skin infections, cefonicid was usually less effective than cefazolin against Staphylococcus aureus . In genitourinary infections, cefonicid 1 g daily (as the sodium salt) in a single dose has shown comparable efficacy to cefamandole or amoxicillin given in multiple daily doses . Based on available data, single daily dosing of cefonicid in the therapy of Staph . aureus endocarditis is not effective . In studies of patients undergoing hysterectomy, cesarean section, cholecystectomy, and colorectal surgery, cefonicid 1 g given as a single preoperative dose has produced results comparable with those of cefoxitin 1-2 g (as the sodium salt) given preoperatively and for several doses postoperatively . The major clinical uses of cefonicid will probably be as a possible cost-reducing alternative (based on a single daily dose) to currently available first- and second-generation cephalosporins for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and infections caused by enteric organisms . It may also be useful as a possible cost-reducing alternative to cefoxitin for prophylaxis in hysterectomy and biliary tract surgery.

J Mol Evol, 1984-85, 21(2), 139 - 49
Clues from Xanthomonas campestris about the evolution of aromatic biosynthesis and its regulation; Whitaker RJ et al.; The recent placement of major Gram-negative prokaryotes (Superfamily B) on a phylogenetic tree (including, e.g., lineages leading to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus) has allowed initial insights into the evolution of the biochemical pathway for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and its regulation to be obtained . Within this prokaryote grouping, Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 12612 (a representative of the Group V pseudomonads) has played a key role in facilitating deductions about the major evolutionary events that shaped the character of aromatic biosynthesis within this grouping . X . campestris is like P . aeruginosa (and unlike E . coli) in its possession of dual flow routes to both L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine from prephenate . Like all other members of Superfamily B, X . campestris possesses a bifunctional P-protein bearing the activities of both chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase . We have found an unregulated arogenate dehydratase similar to that of P . aeruginosa in X . campestris . We separated the two tyrosine-branch dehydrogenase activities (prephenate dehydrogenase and arogenate dehydrogenase); this marks the first time this has been accomplished in an organism in which these two activities coexist . Superfamily B organisms possess 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-P (DAHP) synthase as three isozymes (e.g., in E . coli), as two isozymes (e.g., in P . aeruginosa), or as one enzyme (in X . campestris) . The two-isozyme system has been deduced to correspond to the ancestral state of Superfamily B . Thus, E . coli has gained an isozyme, whereas X . campestris has lost one . We conclude that the single, chorismate-sensitive DAHP synthase enzyme of X . campestris is evolutionarily related to the tryptophan-sensitive DAHP synthase present throughout the rest of Superfamily B . In X . campestris, arogenate dehydrogenase, prephenate dehydrogenase, the P-protein, chorismate mutase-F, anthranilate synthase, and DAHP synthase are all allosteric proteins; we compared their regulatory properties with those of enzymes of other Superfamily B members with respect to the evolution of regulatory properties . The network of sequentially operating circuits of allosteric control that exists for feedback regulation of overall carbon flow through the aromatic pathway in X . campestris is thus far unique in nature.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Dec, 12(6), 577 - 85
An evaluation of recently developed antibiotics; Fernandes CJ et al.; A number of newer antibiotics, broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins, have been evaluated against Gram-negative rods . The organisms were selected for multi-resistance and transferable resistance factors . None of the broad-spectrum penicillins was much use against most of the organisms . Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, latamoxef (moxalactam) and N-formimidoyl thienamycin were all highly effective against most multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli; cefoperazone being inferior to them . Enterobacter and Serratia strains were relatively resistant to all the agents mentioned and against Acinetobacter only N-formimidoyl thienamycin showed much activity . Thus, use of these drugs may increase the proportion of infections due to organisms such as Serratia or Acinetobacter.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Dec, 1(4), 295 - 311
Ceftriaxone: a summary of in vitro antibacterial qualities including recommendations for susceptibility tests with 30-micrograms disks; Jones RN et al.; The new aminothiazoyl-cephalosporin, ceftriaxone (Ro 13-9904), was found to have excellent inhibitory activity against the Enterobacteriaceae (minimum inhibitory concentration needed to inhibit 50% of isolates (MIC50) less than or equal to 0.004-0.5 microgram/ml, Haemophilus influenzae (MIC50 less than or equal to 0.004 micrograms/ml), Neisseria species (MIC50 less than or equal to 0.001 microgram/ml), pneumococci (MIC50 0.25 micrograms/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC50 2.0 micrograms/ml), and Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC50 0.015 micrograms/ml) . Ceftriaxone was less effective against Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other Pseudomonas species (MIC50 8.0-16 micrograms/ml) . Methicillin-resistant S . aureus and enterococci were not significantly inhibited by ceftriaxone . Ceftriaxone was very resistant to beta-lactamase hydrolysis, although the type IV cephalosporinase minimally destroyed the compound at 16.4-19.9% of the rates for cephaloridine . Type I cephalosporinases were inhibited by ceftriaxone and related enzyme-stable cephalosporins . Based on analysis of disk-MIC regression statistics, tentative recommendations for the disk test of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards are 21 mm or more = susceptible, 14-20 mm = moderately susceptible, and 13 mm or less = resistant . These criteria produce interpretive accuracy of more than 92%, with very rare major errors . Ceftriaxone was comparable to cefotaxime in spectrum and activity, thus allowing the use of the "spectrum-class" concept (for example, cefotaxime tests in vitro to predict ceftriaxone susceptibility, and vice versa).

FEBS Lett, 1983 Nov 14, 163(2), 265 - 8
Modulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus by acetate; Reeves HC et al.; The addition of acetate to a culture of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown in medium containing limiting succinate as the sole carbon and energy source leads to an increase in the specific activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase . This is in contrast to similar studies with several other microorganisms in which acetate induces an ATP-dependent phosphorylation and concomitant decrease in the specific activity of this enzyme.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983 Nov, 128(5), 811 - 5
The contribution of leukocytes and bacteria to the low pH of empyema fluid; Sahn SA et al.; Empyema fluid characteristically has a low pleural fluid pH, and it has been demonstrated that this fluid has a high acid-generating capacity . To evaluate the contribution of leukocytes and bacteria to the low pH of empyema fluid, an experimental model of empyema was used . After the production of a sterile pleural effusion by turpentine in both normal and neutropenic New Zealand white rabbits, either live Streptococcus pneumoniae, killed Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Acinetobacter, an organism that does not undergo fermentation or produce substantial acid, were injected into the pleural fluid . With these manipulations, the contribution of leukocytes and bacteria alone could be assessed . The results showed that both leukocyte phagocytosis and bacterial metabolism contribute to the low pH of empyema fluid and that the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes per se in clinically observed ranges is not critical to the change in pleural fluid pH.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Nov, 256(1), 80 - 6
{Clinical importance of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolations from blood and venous catheters}; Hoppe M et al.; From 1980 to 1982 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (A.c.) derived from blood cultures and venous catheters of 29 patients could be grown . 6 patients with clinical signs of Gram-negative septicemia had two or more blood cultures positive for A.c . Thus, the role of A.c . as the etiologically relevant pathogen seems to be evident . In 14 cases with clinical signs of septicemia but only one set of blood cultures positive for A.c . it is felt to be the causative agent since no other cause could be found . In 9 cases isolation of A.c . seems to be due to contamination - most likely from skin -, because neither evidence of septicemia nor relationship to the diseases present of A.c . existed.

J Bacteriol, 1983 Oct, 156(1), 161 - 7
Enzymatic depolymerization of emulsan; Shoham Y et al.; Emulsan, the polyanionic emulsifying agent synthesized by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1, was depolymerized by an enzyme obtained from a soil bacterium YUV-1 . The extracellular emulsan depolymerase was produced when strains RAG-1 and YUV-1 were grown together on agar medium . The enzyme was extracted from the agar and concentrated by ultrafiltration and ammonium sulfate precipitation . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 89,000 . Emulsan depolymerase activity was due to an eliminase reaction which split glycosidic linkages within the heteropolysaccharide backbone of emulsan to generate reducing groups and alpha, beta-unsaturated uronides with an absorbance maximum of 233 nm . Deesterified emulsan was degraded by emulsan depolymerase at only 27% of the rate of the native polymer . The treatment of emulsan solutions with emulsan depolymerase for brief periods caused a rapid and parallel drop in viscosity and emulsifying activity . More than 75% of the viscosity and emulsifying activity was lost at a time when less than 0.5% of the glycosidic linkages were broken . These data indicate that (i) emulsan depolymerase is an endoglycosidase and (ii) the higher the molecular weight of emulsan, the greater its emulsifying activity . Exhaustive digestion of emulsan with emulsan depolymerase produced oligosaccharides with a number average molecular weight of about 3,000 . The fractionation of the digest on Bio-Gel P-6 yielded four broad peaks . The pooled fractions from each of the peaks contained the same relative amounts of reducing sugar and had an absorbance at 233 nm . The molar ratio of esterified sugar to reducing groups was close to 2 in each fraction.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 2869 - 80
{Combined action of cephamycin and aminoglycoside antibiotics}; Tanaka M et al.; The combined actions of cefoxitin (CFX) with amikacin (AMK), gentamicin (GM) and dibekacin (DKB) were studied against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . The following results were obtained . The synergistic actions of CFX with AMK, GM and DKB were observed on S . aureus, S . epidermidis, E . coli, S . marcescens, K . pneumoniae, Proteus spp . and Acinetobacter by checker board titration method . The combination of CFX with AMK was most effective . In case of the combination of CFX with AMK, the simultaneous administration showed the highest bactericidal effect, followed by the case of addition of AMK after adding CFX . The phase-contrast microscopic observation on S . marcescens revealed that the bacterial cell prolonged with CFX showed a filament-like form and with AMK almost a normal form . In the combination, lysed cells were observed . The therapeutic experiment of S . marcescens infection in mice demonstrated that the combination of CFX with AMK showed superior effect than that of each drug alone.

Immunol Commun, 1983 Oct, 12(5), 473 - 80
Bacteria-immune system interactions . II . Adherence of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains to human lymphocytes; Kleinman R et al.; Out of twenty-nine strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (A . calcoaceticus) only eight adhered to lymphocytes . The percentage of lymphocytes labeled with bacteria varied from 5 to 70% . Most of the labeled lymphocytes had large numbers of bacteria attached to them . The variation in the percentages of lymphocytes labeled in various individuals was minimal.

J Dent Res, 1983 Oct, 62(10), 1073 - 5
Acinetobacter contamination of laboratory dental pumice; Williams HN et al.; Micro-organisms of the genus Acinetobacter, implicated as opportunistic pathogens, have been recovered from dentures after laboratory repair . A study was undertaken to determine if Acinetobacter could be isolated from used dental pumice . Cultural studies demonstrated that Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety lwoffi was present in high numbers in used pumice and was a major gram-negative microbial contaminant.

J Gen Microbiol, 1983 Oct, 129 (Pt 10), 2979 - 83
The absence of quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Beardmore-Gray M et al.; It is shown that the unusual NAD(P)+-independent quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase, said previously to be responsible for oxidation of ethanol during growth of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LMD 79.39, was in fact isolated from an unidentified organism which contained cytochrome c and which has now been lost . Several genuine strains of A . calcoaceticus do not contain cytochrome c nor do they contain a quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase . The enzyme responsible for ethanol oxidation in these bacteria is an inducible NAD+-linked alcohol dehydrogenase.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Sep, 46(3), 573 - 9
Bacterial degradation of emulsan; Shoham Y et al.; Emulsan is a polyanionic heteropolysaccharide bioemulsifier produced by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 . A mixed bacterial population was obtained by enrichment culture that was capable of degrading emulsan and using it as a carbon source . From this mixed culture, an emulsan-degrading bacterium, termed YUV-1, was isolated . Strain YUV-1 is an aerobic, gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium which grows best in media containing yeast extract . When placed on preformed lawns of A . calcoaceticus RAG-1, strain YUV-1 produced translucent plaques which grew in size until the entire plate was covered . Plaque formation was due to solubilization of the emulsan capsule of RAG-1 . Plaque formation was not observed on emulsan-negative mutants of RAG-1 . As a consequence of the solubilization of the emulsan capsule, RAG-1 cells became more hydrophobic, as determined by adherence to hexadecane . Growth of YUV-1 on a medium containing yeast extract and emulsan was biphasic . During the initial 24 h, cell concentration increased 10-fold, but emulsan was not degraded; during the lag in growth (24 to 48 h), emulsan was inactivated and depolymerized but not consumed; during the second growth phase (48 to 70 h) the depolymerized emulsan products were consumed.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Sep, 36(9), 2635 - 64
{Clinical evaluation of cefroxadine in bacterial infections of the eye}; Ooishi M et al.; Cefroxadine (CXD) capsules and dry syrup, an oral cephem antibiotic, were administered into 120 cases with ocular infections and the following results were obtained: The daily dose of CXD capsule was ranged from 500 to 1,500 mg and that of CXD dry syrup from 17.9 to 85.7 mg/kg, and the duration of CXD administration was from 2 days to 14 days . Clinical response rates classified by diagnosis The clinical response rates were 77.8% (14/18) in blepharitis, 86.7% (26/30) in hordeolum, 62.5% (5/8) in meibomianitis, 74.6% (44/59) in conjunctivitis, 100% (2/2) in corneal infiltration, 100% (1/1) in cellulitis of the lid, in dacryocystitis and in corneal ulcer, respectively . Clinical response classified by isolated organisms The response rates on S . aureus were 80.0% (20/25), on S . epidermidis 75.8% (47/62) and on S . pneumoniae 66.7% (2/3), respectively . The overall clinical response rate on Gram-positive bacteria was 78.3% (94/120) . The response rates on H . influenzae, Acinetobacter spp., P . mirabilis, E . coli and Moraxella spp . were ranged from 42.9 to 100% . The sensitivity distributions of clinically isolated S . aureus and S . epidermidis to CXD were ranged from 1.56 to greater than 100 micrograms/ml and from 0.39 to 12.5 micrograms/ml, respectively . The former showed a peak at 3.13 micrograms/ml and the latter in 1.56 micrograms/ml . Side effects in 3 cases (2.3%) out of 129 were observed . That is; glossitis, thirst feeling and palpitation in each case, respectively.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Sep, 1(3), 215 - 9
Effects of atmosphere of incubation on recovery of bacteria and yeasts from blood cultures in Tryptic soy broth; Ilstrup DM et al.; A comparison was made of the results of blood cultures between 1974 and 1981 in unvented and transiently vented bottles of Tryptic soy broth under vacuum with CO2 . A total of 14,646 isolates were available for statistical analysis . Significantly more isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Serratia, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Neisseria, and Candida were recovered from the vented bottle . Significantly more isolates of Corynebacterium, Haemophilus, Flavobacterium, Moraxella, Bacteroidaceae, and Peptostreptococcus were recovered from the unvented bottle.

Plasmid, 1983 Sep, 10(2), 138 - 47
Transferable plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter; Goldstein FW et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain BM2500 was resistant to ampicillin, aminoglycoside-aminocyclitols, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and high levels of trimethoprim . Resistance to ampicillin was due to the presence of a beta-lactamase (TEM-1) and the aminoglycoside-aminocyclitol resistance was mediated by phosphotransferase (APH(3')(5")I) and adenylyltransferase (AAD(3)(9} activities . The resistance genes were carried by a 167 kilobase plasmid, pIP1031, belonging to incompatibility group 6-C; the plasmid was self-transferable, at extremely low frequency, to Escherichia coli by conjugation . Plasmid pIP1031 DNA was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis following restriction endonuclease digestion, by nucleic acid hybridization, and by CsCl analytical density gradient ultracentrifugation . The results support the hypothesis that plasmid pIP1031 may have been acquired recently by strain BM2500.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Aug, 24(2), 297 - 9
In vitro activities of new beta-lactam antibiotics against Acinetobacter spp; Garcia I et al.; The in vitro activities of new beta-lactam antibiotics was studied and compared with those of other known agents against 51 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus and 23 isolates of A . calcoaceticus subsp . lwoffi . Of the new beta-lactam antibiotics, imipemide (N-formimidoyl thienamycin), ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, and piperacillin demonstrated good activities . The minimal inhibitory concentrations for A . calcoaceticus subsp . lwoffi were lower than those obtained for A . calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Aug, 55(1), 119 - 25
Microculture model studies on the effect of various gas atmospheres on microbial growth at different temperatures; Eklund T et al.; A microculture technique, employing 96-well tissue culture plates in plastic bags, was used to test the effect of different gas atmospheres (vacuum, air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide) on the growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus macerans, Salmonella typhimurium . Candida albicans, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas/Acinetobacter/moraxella-group, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Yersinia enterocolitica at 2, 6, and 20 degrees C . In general, carbon dioxide was the most effective inhibitor . The inhibition increased with decreasing temperature . Only the combination of carbon dioxide and 2 degrees C provided complete inhibition of Broch . thermosphacta and Y . enterocolitica.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Aug, 18(2), 236 - 41
Endemic gentamicin resistance R factors on a spinal cord injury unit; Shlaes DM et al.; Cleared lysates of gentamicin-resistant, gram-negative bacilli obtained during a prevalence survey and a subsequent prospective study on a spinal cord injury unit were analyzed . Of 105 strains obtained during the epidemiological study, 62 were analyzed for plasmid content . None of the 14 Acinetobacter strains carried plasmids . Of 20 strains from the initial prevalence survey, 9 carried a 36- or (in two cases) a 27-megadalton plasmid . Eight of the nine were Providencia strains; none were Pseudomonas strains . Of 28 nosocomial isolates obtained during the prospective survey, 22 carried plasmids of similar molecular weight (P less than 0.025, compared with the prevalence survey), including 20 of 22 isolates of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and 2 of 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates . Conjugation, curing, and transformation indicate that these plasmids carry gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, and, variably, chloramphenicol resistance . Restriction endonuclease digestion of purified plasmid DNA suggests that the plasmids from multiple species of the family Enterobacteriaceae contain common sequences, whereas those from Pseudomonas spp . do not . This study suggests that an endemic conjugal 36-megadalton gentamicin resistance R factor exists in many nosocomial species of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Jul, 46(1), 140 - 5
Metabolic breakdown of Kaneclors (polychlorobiphenyls) and their products by Acinetobacter sp; Furukawa K et al.; Biodegradability of commercial polychlorobiphenyl mixtures (Kaneclors, KC 200 to KC 500) and their metabolic products by Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis . KC 200 (primarily dichlorobiphenyls) rapidly degraded after 4 h of incubation with the P6 resting cells, showing predominant accumulation of monochlorobenzoic acids . KC 300 (primarily trichlorobiphenyls) were also degraded after 4 h of incubation, producing various metabolic intermediates such as mono- and dichlorobenzoic acids, dihydroxy biphenyl compounds with two and three chlorines, and the ring meta-cleavage compounds with two and three chlorines . KC 400 (primarily tetrachlorobiphenyls) were also susceptible to biodegradation by the same organism . Chlorobenzoic acids (chlorine number 1 to 3), dihydroxy compounds (chlorine number 2 to 4), and the ring meta-cleavage compounds (chlorine number 2 to 3) were observed as the products from KC 400 . In addition to such products, a large amount of unknown compounds with two chlorines in the molecule, which can be derived from 2,3,2',3' - or 2,3,2',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyls or both, accumulated . In contrast to KC 200, KC 300, and KC 400, KC 500 (primarily pentachlorobiphenyls) were resistant to degradation and hardly metabolized . Only dihydroxy compounds of certain pentachlorobiphenyls were detected.

J Gen Microbiol, 1983 Jul, 129 (Pt 7), 2009 - 15
Regulation of expression of novel mandelate dehydrogenases in mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Hills CA et al.; Wild-type strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus able to grow on only L(+)- or D(-)-mandelate gave rise to mutants that could grow on the other isomer of mandelate . Each mutant contained an additional mandelate dehydrogenase which was not expressed in the parent strain . The novel enzymes were shown to be controlled co-ordinately with the pre-existing enzymes for the conversion of mandelate into benzoate when induced with phenylglyoxylate, gratuitously induced with thiophenoxyacetate, subjected to anti-induction by 2-phenylpropionate or catabolite-repressed by succinate . Mutants which had been selected on the basis of possession of a constitutive phenylglyoxylate decarboxylase also constitutively expressed both the original and the novel mandelate dehydrogenases.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jul, 12 Suppl A, 181 - 8
Open study of ceftazidime in serious infections due to multiply-resistant bacteria; Pechere JC et al.; We treated 37 infections in 32 patients who had one or more significant underlying diseases . Most of the responsible micro-organisms were multiresistant, but were initially sensitive to ceftazidime . They included 16 Pseudomonas spp., 10 Serratia spp., 6 Klebsiella spp., 7 other Enterobacteriaceae, 3 Staphylococcus spp., 3 strict anaerobes and 1 Acinetobacter anitratus . Indications for ceftazidime encompassed a broad spectrum of diseases: 10 complicated UTI, 13 skeletal and soft tissue infections, 4 bronchopulmonary infections, 6 intra-abdominal infections, 3 septicaemias, 1 brain abscess with meningitis . Ceftazidime was administered without other antimicrobials, except for metronidazole in two patients with intra-abdominal abscesses . Doses varied from 2 to 12 g/day (median: 3 g), given for 3-31 days (median: 12 days) . Clinical cure was recorded in 26 patients (81%), 24 (75%) having also a bacteriological cure . In six patients, clinical findings subsided significantly but with incomplete resolution or relapse during follow-up . Four organisms developed resistance during therapy: 2 Pseudomonas, 1 Enterobacter cloacae and 1 Bacteroides vulgatus . Three patients developed mild superinfections (2 Candida, 1 Staph . epidermidis) . Ceftazidime was well tolerated; adverse events were mild and reversible . Local thrombophlebitis was observed twice, two patients had a positive reaction to the direct Coombs' test, two had transitory elevation of transaminases and one suffered from drowsiness during intravenous injections . Ceftazidime appeared to be a valuable weapon for fighting severe infections in compromised patients, especially when Gram-negative bacilli were involved.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Jul, 18(1), 128 - 35
Evaluation of the updated MS-2 Bacterial Identification system in comparison with the API 20E system; DiPersio JR et al.; The recently updated MS-2 Bacterial Identification system software (Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostic Division, Irving, Tex.) was compared with the original MS-2 Bacterial Identification software and the API 20E, using 968 strains of Enterobacteriaceae . The updated MS-2 software correctly identified 94.4% of the isolates tested . API 20E and the original MS-2 software correctly identified 91 and 85.3% of the strains, respectively . MS-2 responses were considered to be equivocal (needing additional tests for verification) if the percent likelihood values were less than 80% . The percentage of equivocal responses was reduced from 6.5% with the original software to 2.2% with the updated software, and the percentage of incorrect identifications was reduced from 8.2 to 3.4% with the original and updated software, respectively . Organisms belonging to 25 taxonomic groups were tested . Direct comparison of the two MS-2 programs showed that the updated MS-2 software increased the identification accuracy of Salmonella spp., Enterobacter cloacae, Providencia stuartii, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . A decrease in accuracy was seen with Citrobacter freundii, Hafnia alvei, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis when the updated software was used . The remaining 12 taxonomic groups were not affected by the software changes . The updated MS-2 software appears to significantly improve the identification accuracy of the MS-2 Bacterial Identification system.

J Bacteriol, 1983 Jul, 155(1), 424 - 6
Stereospecificity in meta-fission catabolic pathways; Burlingame R et al.; The stereospecificities of 2-keto-4-pentenoate hydratase and 4-hydroxy-2-ketovalerate aldolase were studied in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Acinetobacter sp . Hydration was stereospecific in all three; however, only P . putida and Acinetobacter sp . showed stereospecificity in their aldolase reactions.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Jun, (6), 49 - 53
{Identification of gram-negative nonfermentation bacteria in the air of a surgical hospital}; Vlodavets VV et al.; The method of detecting Gram-negative nonfermentative bacteria in the air of surgical hospitals by means of the -1 apparatus has been developed . 167 strains of nonfermentative bacteria have been isolated and studied; of these, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus constitute 88% . Nonfermentative bacteria occur most frequently in the air of wards for patients with severe burns, as well as in the air of dressing rooms when patients with burns are being bandaged there . The possibility of the spread of nonfermentative bacteria in the hospital by the aerogenic route should be taken into account.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 504 - 8
{In vitro effect of rosoxacin on hospital bacteria . Results of a multicenter study}; Soussy CJ et al.; This work reports a multicenter study of antibacterial activity of rosoxacin, a new antibacterial agent of the quinolone group . Enterobacteriaceae are very sensitive to rosoxacin (modal MIC 0,5 micrograms/ml); resistant strains are observed in all species, but more often among Serratia and Citrobacter . Pseudomonas aeruginosa is less sensitive with a maximum number of strains between 2 and 8 micrograms/ml, so it is nearly for Acinetobacter . Haemophilus are very sensitive, having MIC of 0,03 and 0,06 micrograms/ml . The spectrum of rosoxacin includes Gram positive bacteria, since the MIC of Staphylococci are similar to Enterobacteriaceae; Enterococci are less sensitive, the major part of the strains being inhibited by 4 and 8 micrograms/ml.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 488 - 91
{In vitro activity of azthreonam on hospital Gram-negative bacilli . Results of a multicenter study}; Deforges L et al.; This work reports a multicenter study of antibacterial activity of azthreonam, a new antibacterial agent of the monobactam group, on Gram negative rods . Enterobacteriaceae are very sensitive to azthreonam (modal MIC: 0,06 micrograms/ml); some strains have higher MIC greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml, particularly among Enterobacter, Serratia and Citrobacter . Azthreonam has a good activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa: 90% of the strains are inhibited by 8 micrograms/ml or less . Acinetobacter are less sensitive with a modal MIC of 32 micrograms/ml . Haemophilus are inhibited by low concentrations, 0,06 to 0,12 micrograms/ml usually.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 467 - 70
{In vitro study of the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of temocillin (BRL 17421)}; Chanal M et al.; Temocillin is a carboxypenicillin; a methoxy group in the 6-alpha position should confer to the molecule greater stability to beta-lactamases . 236 strains isolated from clinical specimens were tested . MICs were determined by agar dilution method . Enterobacteriaceae were very susceptible, MICs being generally less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml and always less than 32 micrograms/ml . The activity of the drug was equal against the beta-lactamases producing strains . On the other hand temocillin was not active against aerobes (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 90% of Acinetobacter), and against Gram positive bacteria . The bactericidal effect was strong: (formula; see text) A regression-line was proposed for Enterobacteriaceae and "break-points" were discussed.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Jun, 54(3), 367 - 71
Factors regulating the density of bacteria in process waters of a paper mill; Vaatanen P et al.; Variations in the numbers of total colonies of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp . and pseudomonads were investigated in process waters of a paper mill in southern Finland . Variations were related to independent parameters, namely temperature, pH, redox potential and production of offset paper, by using multiple regression analysis . Temperature was the most significant regressor variable and was negatively correlated with bacterial counts . It accounted for up to about 80% of the variance in bacterial counts in various parts of the process . The significance of temperature was due to its fluctuations in a critical range, above and below the maxima for bacterial growth . The pH level was also significant for total colony count and for K . pneumoniae . Redox potential and the production of offset paper were of significance for Acinetobacter spp . Washing the paper machine with water and lye decreased the numbers of bacteria in process waters.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Jun, 1(2), 165 - 72
Norfloxacin (MK-0366, AM-715): in vitro activity and cross-resistance with other organic acids including quality control limits for disk diffusion testing; Jones RN et al.; Norfloxacin is a new organic acid antimicrobic with an expanded spectrum that includes Staphylococcus spp, most Pseudomonas spp, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ssp anitratus, some streptococci, as well as nearly all enteric bacilli . The drug appears to be bactericidal . Its expanded spectrum suggests that it should be tested separately by disk diffusion or other susceptibility testing methods . Tentative norfloxacin disk test quality control limits were derived from the results of a multi-laboratory study: Escherichia coli, 28-36 mm; S . aureus, 17-28 mm, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 22-29 mm.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 463 - 6
{Apalcillin: in vitro activity compared with that of carbenicillin, ticarcillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin against Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter}; Quentin C et al.; The in vitro activity of apalcillin was compared with that of carbenicillin, ticarcillin, mezlocillin and piperacillin against clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter . 1 168 strains were tested by a routine disk diffusion method . They were grouped into different patterns of resistance by results to ampicillin, carbenicillin and cephalotin . The MICs were determined for 300 of these strains . Apalcillin, mezlocillin and piperacillin are active against most strains of E . coli, P . mirabilis, Klebsiella and C . diversus resistant to carbenicillin and ticarcillin . Apalcillin is the most active penicillin against Acinetobacter; it is almost as active as piperacillin, the best drug against Enterobacteriaceae.

J Hosp Infect, 1983 Jun, 4(2), 199 - 208
Disinfection of respirator tubing: a comparison of chemical versus hot water machine-assisted processing; Gurevich I et al.; A comparison of machine-assisted chemical disinfection, using a glutaraldehyde solution, and machine-assisted hot water disinfection was made by placing a large inoculum (approximately 10(7) colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus) in sets of tubing before processing . Machine-assisted chemical processing proved to be the most efficient method with a disinfection failure rate of 6 per cent (two positive tubes out of 35) . Machine-assisted hot water processing had a disinfection failure rate of 83 per cent (44 of 53 tubes were not successfully disinfected) . Some of the tubes that were disinfection failures were dried in a hot air cabinet after the initial sampling, which further reduced the colony counts in the tubing but did not totally eliminate growth except in one tube . The colony counts after drying, showed that A . anitratus was 15 per cent more sensitive to hot air drying than Ps . aeruginosa, but this was not a statistically significant reduction.

Lancet, 1983 May 28, 1(8335), 1209 - 10
Wound infection in cardiothoracic surgery; Wells FC et al.; The incidence of wound inflammation and infection for ten days after routine cardiothoracic operations was monitored in 454 patients having routine open-heart surgery (179), thoracotomy (100), or coronary artery bypass surgery (175) . The percentage incidence of inflammation/infection for intracardiac operations was 12/2.3, for thoracotomies 12/1, and for coronary artery surgery including leg wounds 39/12 (sternal infection rate 7.5%) . The incidence of staphylococcal infection was similar in the three groups . The excess of sternal wound infections in patients having coronary artery surgery was related to gram-negative bacteria (enterobacteria or acinetobacter) and similar bacteria were found in leg wounds . The findings suggest that bacteria from the leg or perineum are transmitted to the sternal wound at operation . A preoperative bath with chlorhexidine did not alter the incidence of infection but did seem to reduce the incidence of inflammation in leg wounds.

J Bacteriol, 1983 May, 154(2), 893 - 905
Localization of emulsan-like polymers associated with the cell surface of acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Pines O et al.; Various immunochemical techniques were employed to probe the relationship between the extracellular emulsifying agent (emulsan) and the cell-associated form of the polymer in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 . Using an emulsan-specific antibody preparation, immunocytochemical labeling revealed that an emulsan-like antigen is a major component of the 125-nm minicapsule which envelopes the exponential-phase cell of the parent strain . The marked reduction of this capsule in stationary-phase cells was correlated with the production of extracellular emulsifying activity . Crossed immunoelectrophoresis techniques demonstrated that the major antigenic component (S1) of the culture supernatant fluid is immunochemically identical to purified emulsan, yet electrophoretically distinct . The characteristics of the parent strain were compared with those of two phage-resistant mutant strains which are defective in extracellular emulsan production . One of these mutants, termed TR3, lacked both the emulsan-like capsule on the cell surface and the extracellular S1 component . A second phage-resistant emulsan-defective mutant (TL4) was characterized by an antigenically altered and inactive form of extracellular emulsan . A relatively small amount of emulsan-like capsular material was consistently demonstrated on the cell surface of this mutant . The correlation between phage sensitivity and extracellular emulsan production was strengthened by the fact that emulsan-specific antibodies inhibited both emulsification activity and phage adsortion onto cells of the parent strain.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 May, 11 Suppl C, 97 - 102
The in-vitro activity of mezlocillin against community hospital isolates in comparison to other penicillins and cephalosporins; Parry MF et al.; The in-vitro activity of mezlocillin was evaluated against 1795 fresh clinical isolates at a 320-bed community hospital and compared with that of ticarcillin, piperacillin, cefoxitin, cefamandole, moxalactam, cefotaxime and cefoperazone . Only 25 isolates (1.4%) were highly resistant to mezlocillin (greater than 128 mg/l) . The MIC 90 values were less than or equal to 32 mg/l for all species studied, including Klebsiella, but excluding Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas where the MIC 90 values were 64 mg/l . The anti-pseudomonal activity of mezlocillin was equivalent to that of ticarcillin but less than that of piperacillin, particularly at low MIC values . Against most members of the Enterobacteriaceae mezlocillin was more active than cefoxitin or cefamandole but was less active than moxalactam, cefotaxime or cefoperazone . Its activity against enterococci exceeded that of all other agents tested, inhibiting 82% of strains at an MIC value less than or equal to 1 mg/l . Because of its exceptionally broad spectrum, mezlocillin promises to be of value for the treatment of infections due to a wide variety of micro-organisms, and particularly for mixed infections due to Gram-negative bacilli and enterococci.

Acta Cytol, 1983 May-Jun, 27(3), 281 - 4
Meningitis with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in cerebrospinal fluid . A case report; Kobayashi TK et al.; A case of meningitis due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus occurred after neurosurgery . The cerebrospinal fluid cytology showed intracellular diplococci that strongly resembled Neisseria meningitidis . However, subsequent bacteriologic studies revealed a bacterium identical to A . calcoaceticus . It is of practical importance for cytology laboratories to recognize this diplococcal form of organism.

J Clin Microbiol, 1983 May, 17(5), 870 - 7
Direct dilution sampling, quantitation, and microbial assessment of open-system ventilation circuits in intensive care units; Malecka-Griggs B et al.; In a systematic approach, 37 duplicate samples of open system circuits (Bennett MA-1 ventilators) of patients in medical and surgical intensive care units were processed by direct and serial (APHA guidelines) dilutions . The paired difference test on 15 of the in-use circuitry solution samples indicated no difference between the direct and serial dilution methods (P less than 0.001) . Seventy-seven additional respiratory therapy circuitry samples from similar intensive care patients were analyzed via a direct dilution method alone and processed microbiologically . The direct dilution procedure was a rapid and accurate means of evaluation of microbial contamination in the range of greater than or equal to 10 to less than or equal to 10(6) CFU/ml . High densities of organisms frequently were found . Sites of contamination included the proximal or patient end of the circuitry (heaviest), the nebulizer trap, and the distal or humidifier portions of the circuitry . The contaminants found were predominantly gram-negative nonfermenters: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . antitratus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas maltophilia, and Flavobacterium meningosepticum . Fermenters were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus sp., Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter diversus, and Enterobacter agglomerans . Infrequently, gram-positive Streptococcus spp . and Staphylococcus spp . were noted.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 392 - 5
{Comparative in vitro activity of 6 recent beta-lactams against hospital strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: role of the monobactam SQ 26,776}; Joly-Guillou ML et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is recognized as one of the most resistant nosocomial pathogens . Clinical isolates of Acinetobacter are usually resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics and even to carbenicillin; 50% of the strains isolated in 1981-82 at the Bichat hospital were inhibited only at a concentration of 180 micrograms/ml . Recently several new molecules belonging to the beta-lactam group were discovered . Among them, monobactam SQ 26 776, a new broad spectrum highly potent monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, is resistant to beta-lactamase degradation and is able to inhibit especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Providencia . Its activity against 110 clinical strains of Acinetobacter was compared to that of 5 recent beta-lactam antibiotics which are resistant to beta-lactamase degradation (N-formimidoyl-thienamycin, cefotaxime, moxalactam, ceftriaxone, cefoperazone) . 50% of the strains were inhibited at a concentration of 25 micrograms/ml and 90% at a concentration of 58 micrograms/ml of monobactam . The geometric mean was 27 micrograms/ml . For the other beta-lactam antibiotics, the MIC values (except for thienamycin), were superior to the critical values of bacterial susceptibility . N-formimidoyl-thienamycin is the most active compound against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter, with MIC 50 and MIC 90% being respectively of 0,4 and 0,8 micrograms/ml.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 375 - 8
{Multicenter study of the in vitro antibacterial activity of ceftazidime on gram-negative bacilli}; Deforges L et al.; This work reports a multicenter study of antibacterial activity of ceftazidime, a new third generation cephalosporin, on hospital Gram negative rods . Enterobacteriaceae are very sensitive to ceftazidime with a maximum number of strains inhibited by 1 microgram/ml or less (modal MIC 0, 125 microgram/ml); some resistant strains are observed, particularly among Enterobacter and Citrobacter . Activity of ceftazidime on Pseudomonas aeruginosa is superior to other third generation cephalosporins; modal MIC is 1 microgram/ml and 88% of the strains are inhibited by 4 microgram/ml or less . Acinetobacter are less sensitive to ceftazidime, with a modal MIC of 8 microgram/ml.

J Med Microbiol, 1983 May, 16(2), 203 - 10
A new lipopolysaccharide antigen identified in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: occurrence of widespread natural antibody; Brade H et al.; Serological investigation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus revealed a new antigen to which antibody in high titre is present in the serum of many mammalian species . The passive haemolysis test showed that antibody, in titres ranging from 32-4096, was invariably present in the serum of mice, rats, guinea-pigs, and horses . Rabbits and human beings had lower and more variable titres (less than 2-512) . The antigen persisted after prolonged hydrolysis of the LPS in 1% acetic acid at 100 degrees C . Acinetobacter lipid A, which resembled antigenically the lipid A of many gram-negative bacteria, could be distinguished from the new antigen by inhibition and absorption experiments . Antibody to the new antigen could be completely absorbed with acinetobacter lipid A but not with enterobacterial lipid A; moreover, the latter failed to react with the antibody in the passive haemolysis test . Immunisation of rabbits with lipid A-immunogenic acinetobacter cells gave rise to antibodies against the new antigen and to lipid-A antibodies . Absorption of the immune serum with acinetobacter lipid A removed antibody to both antigens, but absorption with enterobacterial lipid A removed only the lipid -A antibodies.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 362 - 5
{Evaluation of ceftriaxone (R013-9904) in the treatment of septicemia caused by gram-negative bacilli}; Naessens A et al.; Thirty-four patients admitted for a suspicion of septicaemia were treated with ceftriaxone, a third generation cephalosporin . Ceftriaxone was administered IV at a dose of 2 grams daily, either as a single injection of 2 g or as two injections of 1 g each . 43 organisms were isolated from the blood of the 34 patients: 20 E.coli; 5 Klebsiella; 2 Salmonella; 2 indole positives Proteus; 1 indole negative Proteus; 1 Enterobacter; 2 Acinetobacter; 3 Staphylococcus aureus; 2 Streptococcus; 1 Enterococcus; 1 Meningococcus and 3 anaerobes . The MIC of the enterobacteria for ceftriaxone ranged from less than or equal to 0.097 microgram/ml to 1.56 microgram/ml . Only two staphylococci, one Acinetobacter and the enterococcus were resistant to the drug . Serum assays of ceftriaxone were performed on the second day of treatment for 15 patients . Within the group treated with a single dosis of 2 g per day, the blood levels were: maximal level (10 min, after the injection): 175 to 460 micrograms/ml (average: 315), minimal level (before injection) 12 to 100 micrograms/ml (average 53) . Among the patients treated with two doses of 1 g per day, we obtained: maximal levels 121 to 260 micrograms/ml (average 178), minimal levels 31 to 70 micrograms/ml (average 52) . A clinically favorable evolution was obtained for 29 patients (85%) . In the cases of 4 patients, the antibiotherapy had to be adapted in view of the susceptibility of the organisms isolated . Ceftriaxone was very well tolerated . The only observed secondary effect was a drug fever occurring in 3 patients who remained febrile in spite of a general improvement.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 347 - 50
{In vitro bacteriostatic activity of cefmenoxime (SCE 1365), cefotaxime and moxalactam}; Husson MO et al.; The in vitro activity of cefmenoxime (SCE 1365), a new cephalosporin derivate was compared with two other "third generation" cephalosporins: cefotaxime and moxalactam . Cefmenoxime as cefotaxime and moxalactam were very active against 305 cephalosporinase-producing and cephalosporinase-non-producing Enterobacteriaceae . Cefmenoxime was the most active against Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia enterocolitica with a mean MIC at least twice lower . Several strains of the species Hafnia alvei, Providencia stuartii and Proteus vulgaris were more resistant . Against Haemophilus influenzae, the activity of the three cephalosporins was higher with a mean MIC between 0,030 and 0,040 microgram/ml . Against carbenicillin-sensible or carpenicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, the three cephalosporins were not performant . Against Staphylococcus aureus, cefmenoxime and cefotaxime had an identical activity with a mean MIC of 1,5 microgram/ml against methicillin-sensible strains and a mean MIC of 5,5 micrograms/ml against methicillin-resistant strains.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 May, 31(5), 343 - 6
{In vitro antibacterial activity of cefmenoxime (SCE 1365)}; Brun Y et al.; 617 clinical isolates were tested, 592 of which were from hospital source . The minimal inhibitory concentrations of cefmenoxime were determined by a microtiter dilution method, using Mueller-Hinton broth . The results obtained give a 92% agreement with the reference agar-dilution method . Cefmenoxime shows a potent activity against Enterobacteriaceae (n = 420): the modal MIC is less than or equal to 0,03 mg/l, and 90% of them are inhibited by 1 mg/l . Some isolates require a higher concentration, above 32 mg/l: Enterobacter (8%), indole-positive Proteus (13%), Serratia (3%), Citrobacter (3%) . Pseudomonas (n = 71) and Acinetobacter (n = 62) appear to be less susceptible than Enterobacteriaceae . The modal MIC is 16 mg/l and the concentration inhibiting 90% of the isolates is above 32 mg/l . The modal MIC of cefmenoxime against Staphylococcus aureus (n = 64) is 1 mg/l, and 90% of the strains belonging to this species are inhibited by 32 mg/l.

J Wildl Dis, 1983 Apr, 19(2), 98 - 100
Isolations of aerobic bacteria from wild desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni and O . c . mexicana) in Arizona; Marshall MM et al.; Nasal, pharyngeal, cervical and vaginal swab specimens were obtained from 74 desert bighorn sheep for the purpose of investigating the normal aerobic bacterial flora of wild sheep . A total of 281 isolates was obtained and identified by standard microbiologic tests . One hundred seven of these isolates were gram positive and included Bacillus sp . (36%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (8%), S . aureus (4%), Corynebacterium sp . (diphtheroids, 4%), and Streptococcus sp . (48%) . gram negative isolates totaled 174 and included Neisseria sp . (18%), Citrobacter sp . (3%), Enterobacter sp . (2%), Escherichia coli (2%), Proteus sp . (2%) and non-fermentative bacilli (NFB) (73%) . Of the NFB isolates, Pseudomonas sp . (25%), Acinetobacter sp . (18%), Moraxella sp . (15%) were identified.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Apr, (4), 17 - 20
{Etiological importance and identification of Acinetobacter in secondary and endogenous infections}; Zubkova MN et al.; A total of 2 museum and 63 clinical Acinetobacter strains were studied . In these studies, carried out with the use of Oxi/Ferm Tube and API 20E, 56 cultures were classified as V . anitratus and 9, as V . lvoffii . To screen Acinetobacter in routine studies, simple tests were proposed: staining by Gram's method, the study of morphology and motility, the determination of the character of growth in Endo's medium and Russel's medium, the cytochromoxidase test . The occurrence of Acinetobacter in pathological material was found to vary between 0.43% and 3.5%, depending on the localization of the process.

J Gen Microbiol, 1983 Apr, 129 (Pt 4), 1109 - 19
Immunochemical identification of the major cell surface agglutinogen of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-92; Bayer EA et al.; The immunochemical and immunocytochemical characteristics of three Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG strains were compared in order to clarify the relationship between antibody-induced agglutination and the production of polyanionic extracellular emulsifier (termed emulsan) . In addition to the parent, RAG-92, two mutant strains were examined: (1) a non-agglutinating emulsan-producer (AB15), and (2) an agglutinating mutant (16TLU) defective in the production of emulsan . A combined genetic-immunochemical approach was employed . This included the comparison of crossed immunoelectrophoresis patterns of parent and mutant supernates and the effect of absorption of anti-whole cell antiserum with mutant cells . In addition, agglutinability and competition studies were performed as well as electron microscopic cytochemistry . The results demonstrated that three major antigenic components were associated with the cell surface and the supernate . Mutant cells were altered both in their cell surface properties and in their extracellular products . One antigenic component, termed component C3, was the major cell surface agglutinogen; this component was absent in non-agglutinating mutants . Component C3 may be identical with or attached to the 300 nm projections on the parent cell surface, but it is not directly related to the presence of emulsan . It appears that emulsan plays little or no role in the phenomenon of antibody-induced agglutination of this organism.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1983 Apr, 91(2), 141 - 4
N-formimidoyl thienamycin: in vitro comparison with cefoxitin and tobramycin against clinical, bacterial isolates; Digranes A et al.; The in vitro activity of the novel beta-lactam antibiotic, N-formimidoyl thienamycin (N-f thienamycin) has been compared with those of cefoxitin and tobramycin . An agar dilution method was employed . N-f thienamycin was active against all Enterobacteriaceae isolates (MIC less than or equal to 4 mg/l) . All Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were inhibited by 2 mg/l . N-f thienamycin was also active against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (96 per cent inhibited by 0.5 mg/l) and Gram-positive cocci . All enterococci were inhibited by 2 mg/l . The drug was active against Haemophilus influenzae (MIC less than or equal to 1 mg/l) and the Bacteroides fragilis group (MIC less than or equal to 0.5 mg/l) . Cefoxitin was inactive against most Enterobacter and A . calcoaceticus isolates and all P . aeruginosa and enterococcal isolates . Tobramycin was virtually inactive against Gram-positive cocci other than Staphylococcus aureus . N-f thienamycin thus has a broad spectrum of in vitro activity, greater than that of cefoxitin and tobramycin, and may therefore be useful in the treatment of serious infection, particularly when the aetiology is unknown.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Apr, 254(2), 214 - 28
Taxonomic implications of quantitative transformation in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Bergan T et al.; Quantitative transformation of streptomycin resistance marker was carried out with strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Standard recipient strain was the competent BD4-Ss . Transformation proceeded in a liquid system with a concentration of 20 micrograms/ml of streptomycin resistant DNA (Sr-DNA) from BD4, 17 reference strains of Acinetobacter, and 42 recent clinical isolates of the acid forming variant (anitratus) and 12 of the non-acid forming variant (lwoffi) as donors of Sr-DNA . The exposure time was 20 min before interruption with DNase and quantitated plating . Among the strains examined were differentiated 16 biotypes as based on oxidative acid production from glucose and lactose, haemolysis, urease, gelatinase, and growth with citrate as the sole carbon source . Autologous transformation gave a transformation of 2.94 (+/- 0.66)% of the recipient cells (quantitated by colony forming units) . Sr-DNA from 50 of 63 strains were able to transform BD4-Ss . The transformation ratio was 0.06-6.4% of autologous BD4 transformation . Two further recent clinical isolates were weakly transformation competent . Competence was only found in autologous transformation . The major portion (50/63) of the strains belong to the BD4 genotype of A . calcoaceticus, but the taxonomic position of the 13 non-donors in respect to BD4 could not be evaluated by transformation because of lack of a competent recipient . The strains transforming BD4 belonged to both the glucose acidifyers and the non-acidifyers without genetic distinction . The results are consistent with recognition of both as belonging to the same species, but with their recognition as species variants: A calcoaceticus var, anitratum and A . calcoaceticus var . lwoffi.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Apr, 254(2), 197 - 213
Factors affecting quantitative transformation of streptomycin resistance markers in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Bergan T et al.; Quantitative transformation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4-Ss exposed to autologous DNA in a liquid system was examined with streptomycin resistance as a marker . The exposure to DNA was terminated by addition of DNase at set intervals . The variables tested were concentrations of autologous Sr-DNA, exposure time, growth phase, recipient cell density, and the pH of the liquid transformation system . The ratio of transformants to total number of recipient cells (T/R-ratio) was proportional to the DNA concentration up to a level of about 10 micrograms/ml . There was a constant increase of transformant numbers upon time of exposure . The T/R ratio was highest at the early growth phase, but the total number of transformed cells per ml culture aliquot was only raised by a factor approximately 10 from the earlier to the later growth phases and non increase was observed in recipients grown for more than 3 hours . There was a marked relationship between the relative number of transformants per total number of recipients in that the T/R-ratio was markedly higher with fewer cells per ml in the transformation broth system where exposure to DNA occurred . The transformation was higher at a pH of 7.3 than 7.0 . The results enabled definition of the optimal test system for quantitative transformation of A . calcoaceticus with the strain BD4 as recipient.

Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1983 Apr, 61 (Pt 2), 251 - 62
Transferable antibiotic resistance in a general hospital: a two year survey; Ackerman VP et al.; For two years transferable antibiotic resistance (TAR) was studied by replicator methods in strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated in a 900-bed hospital . Transfer to an Escherichia coli recipient was demonstrated in 21% of 7,800 Enterobacteriaceae . It was most common in Klebsiella (37% of isolates) and least in Acinetobacter (6%) . The mean number of phenotypic resistance markers (RMs) transferred was higher from Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterobacter cloacae than from E . coli or P . mirabilis . K . pneumoniae and E . cloacae especially transferred 7 or more RMs much more often than other species . Some RMs were associated with a particular species, e.g . streptomycin with E . coli, kanamycin or gentamicin with E . cloacae and kanamycin with P . mirabilis . The same was true of certain patterns of resistance transfer, e.g . Ap-Km and P . mirabilis, Ap-Sm and E . coli, Ap-Km-Gm-Tm-Cm and K . pneumoniae . However, many of the commonest resistance phenotypes were transferred from several species and from several biotypes within any given species . Resistance patterns transferred from E . coli were detected sporadically throughout, whereas many of those transferred from Klebsiella, Enterobacter or Proteus were found only for a limited time.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Apr, 54(2), 225 - 35
Plasmids encoding trimethoprim resistance in bacterial isolates from man and pigs; Mee BJ et al.; Trimethoprim (Tp) resistant Gram negative bacteria were isolated from humans and pigs . The bacterial hosts were characterized by their resistance pattern and biotype . The presence of transferable Tp plasmids was demonstrated in 86% of 59 porcine isolates and 37% of 49 human isolates . The Tp R-plasmids carried a diversity of resistance determinants such as Tc, Cm, Sp, Sm and Su . Incompatibility tests distinguished two major groups, Inc FIV and Inc N . Thirty of 99 Tp R-plasmids isolated from humans were grouped as Inc FIV and eight as Inc N . The results of molecular weight determination of Tp R-plasmids performed by agarose gel electrophoresis were consistent with the existence of two groups--larger R-plasmids (76 to 104 Md) belonging to Inc FIV and lower molecular weight R-plasmids (25 to 35 Md) belonging to Inc N . Results from this study indicate that the Tp R-plasmids isolated in Perth have evolved independently from those described in Europe and the United Kingdom . There is also evidence for their local spread between Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Acinetobacter from man and animals.

Biochem Pharmacol, 1983 Mar 15, 32(6), 971 - 7
Kinetic properties and inhibition of Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase; Steckel J et al.; Kinetic parameters, substrate specificity and exclusivity of ligands at binding sites of L-glutaminase-L-asparaginase purified from Acinetobacter glutaminasificans were studied in order to gain knowledge about the dual activities of this enzyme and its inhibition by structural analogs . Both L-glutamine and L-asparagine, which showed similar Km (4 approximately 7 X 10(-5) M) and Vmax (molecular activity 1.0 min-1) values, were competitive with each other for the substrate binding site . The products, L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid, showed competitive inhibition with respect to either L-glutamine or L-asparagine as substrates . Multiple inhibition of the glutaminase activity by L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid indicated that these ligands are mutually exclusive at the product-releasing site . The initial rates of both of the enzyme's activities were competitively inhibited by the following inhibitors (in rates of both of the enzyme's activities were competitively inhibited by the following inhibitors (in decreasing order of activity): 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON), L-methionine sulfoximine, azaserine, and Acivicin . DON and azaserine inhibited both the asparaginase and glutaminase activities in a time-dependent and irreversible manner . The kinetic data suggest an ordered mechanism with glutamine or asparagine as the first substrate and glutamic acid or aspartic acid, respectively, as the last product . These results also suggest that a single mechanism and a single set of binding sites are responsible for catalyzing both of the enzyme's activities . The data also showed that succinylated enzyme, which has a 10-fold increase of plasma half-life in animals and humans and, thus, has benefit as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, retained its catalytic activity and maintained Km and Vmax values similar to the native enzyme.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1983 Mar 15, 182(6), 600 - 3
Bacterial and fungal isolates from Equidae with ulcerative keratitis; Moore CP et al.; Gram-negative bacteria were the most common microbial isolates from 38 eyes of 37 horses with ulcerative keratitis . Pseudomonas sp, Enterobacter group, and Acinetobacter sp were the most prevalent . Fungi were cultured from 15 eyes and included 7 genera, with Aspergillus sp being the most prevalent . Ten of the eyes with fungal keratitis had been treated with corticosteroids . Eleven of 38 eyes had mixed bacterial and fungal infections . Clinically, the most severe cases were those in which Aspergillus and gram-negative bacteria existed in a mixed infection . On the basis of susceptibility testing, gentamicin was highly efficacious (88.4%) against all bacterial isolates . Cephaloridine was slightly more efficacious than gentamicin against the gram-positive organisms . Only 32.3% of the gram-negative isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol . Of the relatively small number of gram-positive organisms isolated, streptococci were more often susceptible to chloramphenicol, whereas staphylococci were more often susceptible to gentamicin.

Burns Incl Therm Inj, 1983 Mar, 9(4), 292 - 4
Infection with Acinetobacter in a burns unit; Green AR et al.; In recent months 17 patients on the Burns Unit at St Lawrence Hospital have been infected with Acinetobacter anitratus . We present 4 patients who have been extremely ill and in whom Acinetobacter was considered to have played a prominent role . We stress the importance of opportunistic infection in burns patients and antibiotic resistance in this organism.

Am J Med, 1983 Mar, 74(3), 449 - 56
Outbreak of pyrogenic reactions at a dialysis center . Association with infusion of heparinized saline solution; Kantor RJ et al.; Twenty-three pyrogenic reactions occurred in 16 patients undergoing hemodialysis at a private dialysis center in the south central United States between November 23 and December 2, 1978 . No deaths were attributed to reactions; however, 10 patients were hospitalized for observation after experiencing a reaction . Cultures of all blood specimens obtained from the patients gave negative results . Chills (75 percent), nausea and/or vomiting (30 percent), and fever (90 percent) were the most common signs and symptoms, with mean times of onset after starting dialysis of 1.1, 1.6, and 3.6 hours, respectively . An epidemiologic and laboratory investigation documented that reactions occurred only in patients who had anticoagulation with a dilute solution of heparin . Analyses of heparinized saline solution used during the outbreak revealed a bacterial count of 7.4 X 10(5)/ml and a bacterial endotoxin level of 1,300 ng/ml . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . Iwoffi was isolated from the solution . Diluted heparin solution was prepared at the dialysis center by adding commercially supplied sodium heparin to 0.9 percent sodium chloride infusion fluid . Bacteria and endotoxin were not detected in vials of stock heparin and bags of unopened 0.9 percent sodium chloride infusion fluid . We concluded that contamination of the solution occurred at the dialysis center . After changes in the preparation and use of heparin were instituted on December 4, 1978, no pyrogenic reactions occurred in more than 400 subsequent dialyses.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1983 Mar, 19(1), 147 - 54
{Evaluation of a new system for the simultaneous identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing of gram-negative bacilli by automation}; Nicolosi VM et al.; ABAC- IDENTIBIOGRAMMA II is a new system allowing the carry out of antimicrobial susceptibility testing on various bacterial groups and also the fully automatic simultaneous susceptibility testing and identification of Gram-negative bacilli (urinary and not) . Particularly most species of Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonas hydrophila, Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp . can be identified . This system has two important characteristics, due to a computerized program: that is the possibility of using sensitivity data as complement of the biochemical assays to obtain identification and the directions for use transmitted through the display . The validity of system and the reliability of its results have been verified.

Infect Immun, 1983 Mar, 39(3), 1024 - 8
Inhibition of bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons and epithelial cells by emulsan; Rosenberg E et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 and BD413, as well as Streptococcus pyogenes M-5, adhered to octane . Adherence was inhibited by emulsan (100 micrograms/ml), the polymeric emulsifying agent produced by A . calcoaceticus RAG-1 . Emulsan also inhibited adherence of S . pyogenes and RAG-1 to buccal epithelial cells . The mean values of bound S . pyogenes per epithelial cell were 57.2 and 20.7 for the control and emulsan-containing suspensions, respectively; mean values of bound RAG-1 per epithelial cell were 221 for the control and 40 for the suspension containing 100 micrograms of emulsan per ml . Desorption of previously bound RAG-1 from epithelial cells by emulsan was concentration dependent: a maximum of 80% desorption was obtained with 200 micrograms of emulsan per ml . The data showing that emulsan desorbed 70% of the indigenous bacterial flora from buccal epithelial cells suggest that hydrophobic interactions mediate not only the in vitro adherence of laboratory strains to epithelial cells, but actually govern the adherence of the majority of the bacteria that colonize this surface . The advantages of using emulsan as an antiadherence agent include its chemical purity, stability, and polymeric nature.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Mar, 1(1), 71 - 83
Antimicrobial activity, beta-lactamase stability and beta-lactamase inhibition of cefotetan and other 7-alpha-methoxy beta-lactam antimicrobials; Jones RN et al.; The antimicrobial activity of three 7-alpha-methoxy beta-lactams were compared to cefoperazone and ceftriaxone . All had a similar spectrum of activity against the Enterobacteriaceae, except cefoxitin . Cefotetan was only slightly less active than moxalactam against the Enterobacter spp . Ceftriaxone was most effective on Neisserias, Haemophilus spp, nonenterococcal Streptococcus spp, and Acinetobacter spp . Cefoperazone generally inhibited more pseudomonads while all of the "cephamycins" showed activity against Bacteroides fragilis and B . thetaiotaomicron . Beta-lactamase hydrolysis studies of six substrates having pharmacologic serum half lives of greater than or equal to 2 hrs were performed by bioassay and automated procedures . Excellent correlations were found between methods up to 24 hrs . A "lag-phase" was observed for several drug/enzyme combinations before initiation of significant substrate hydrolysis . The 7-alpha-methoxy beta-lactams were routinely more stable to the six representative enzymes (Richmond-Sykes types I-V) than other "stable" cephalosporins . Substrate hydrolysis rates resulting in greater than 50% drug loss in less than or equal to 1 hr generally produced resistant in vitro test results . Cefotetan, cefoxitin, moxalactam, ceftriaxone, and dicloxacillin were potent inhibitors of Type I (P99) beta-lactamases . Moxalactam demonstrated significant inhibition and affinity for the Type V enzyme while cefoperazone uniquely possesses affinity (so-called inhibition) for all tested beta-lactamases . Cefotetan appears to be a promising, beta-lactam compound with some in vitro characteristics comparable to the 1-oxa-beta-lactams and alpha-methoxyimino cephalosporins.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1983 Mar-Apr, 134A(2), 163 - 8
{Activity of sulbactam and clavulanic acid, alone and combined, on Acinetobacter calcoaceticus}; Kitzis MD et al.; Sulbactam and clavulanic acid, both beta-lactamase inhibitors, were studied alone or associated on 85 isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . When sulbactam was tested alone the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was less than 2 micrograms/ml with the carbenicillin-sensitive strains of A . Calcoaceticus and between 8 to 16 micrograms/ml with the carbenicillin-resistant strains . In the presence of clavulanic acid (5 or 10 micrograms/ml) the MIC of sulbactam on all the carbenicillin-resistant strains decreased to less than 4 micrograms/ml.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Feb, 11(2), 181 - 5
The in-vitro activity of O-demethylfortimicin; Neu HC; The activity of O-demethylfortimicin against ampicillin, cefazolin and carbenicillin resistant bacteria was determined . O-Demethylfortimicin showed excellent in-vitro activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Ent . agglomerans, Ent . aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella, and Providencia inhibiting these organisms at less than or equal to 3.1 mg/l . It was particularly effective against Ent . cloacae and Serratia marcescens that were resistant to cefotaxime, cefoperazone and moxalactam . O-Demethylfortimicin did not show particularly good activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Acinetobacter or other Pseudomonas species, MIC90 values were 100 mg/l . Combination of O-demethylfortimicin and ticarcillin or cefsulodin tested against Ps . aeruginosa were primarily indifferent . Combination of O-demethylfortimicin and ticarcillin showed partial synergy for 65% of Enterobacter isolates.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1983 Feb, 67(2), 124 - 6
Trauma-induced endophthalmitis caused by Acinetobacter anitratus; Mark DB et al.; A 56-year-old man sustained an intraocular injury by a piece of steel followed by endophthalmitis, which resolved after lensectomy, vitrectomy, and intravitreal injections of gentamicin . Acinetobacter anitratus was the organism responsible for the endophthalmitis . It is a Gram-negative polymorphic organism that can resemble several other pathogens and possesses unpredictable antibiotic susceptibility . A . anitratus is an important cause of nosocomial infection but has not previously been reported as a cause of endophthalmitis following trauma.

Biochem J, 1983 Feb 1, 209(2), 379 - 86
Mutant strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus possessing additional mandelate dehydrogenases . Identification and preliminary characterization of the enzymes; Hills CA et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus wild-type strain N.C.I.B . 8250 can grow on only the L(+)-isomer of mandelate but mutant strains have been isolated that can grow on D(-)-mandelate . These mutants contain a novel D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase in addition to the original L(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase . A second wild-type strain, EBF 65/65, shows the opposite pattern and can grow on D(-)-mandelate but not on L(+)-mandelate; mutants have been isolated that possess an L(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase in addition to the original D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase and can thus grow on L(+)-mandelate . Both L(+)- and D(-)-mandelate dehydrogenases, whether originally present or evolved, are very similar in many respects: they are membrane-bound and NAD(P)+-independent; their activities have similar dependence on temperature and pH; they are inhibited by oxalate but not by several metal-chelating agents; they are stereospecific in their action and are inhibited by the opposite stereoisomers . D(-)-Mandelate dehydrogenase is much more susceptible than L(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase to inhibition by HgCl2 and p-chloromercuribenzoate and is much more heat-labile.

FEBS Lett, 1983 Jan 24, 151(2), 260 - 4
Reversible effects of cross-linking on the regulatory cooperativity of Acinetobacter citrate synthase; Mitchell CG et al.; Citrate synthase was purified from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and treated with the cleavable cross-linking reagent dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) . Cross-linking of the enzyme resulted in the abolition of the sigmoidal responses to inhibition by NADH and re-activation by AMP displayed by the native enzyme . Inhibition and re-activation were still observed but without any cooperativity . Cleavage of the disulphide bonds in the cross-links by treatment with dithiothreitol restored the sigmoidal characteristics of both inhibition and re-activation.

FEBS Lett, 1983 Jan 24, 151(2), 265 - 8
Proteolysis of acinetobacter citrate synthase by subtilisin; Mitchell CG et al.; Citrate synthase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus was subjected to proteolysis with subtilisin . Although the enzyme proved relatively resistant to inactivation by this treatment, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis clearly revealed breakdown of the citrate synthase to smaller fragments . The regulatory responses of the native enzyme to inhibition by NADH and re-activation by AMP were retained on proteolysis, indicating that the fragments bind tightly to each other and preserve the overall cooperative molecular interactions.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1983 Jan 7, 108(1), 12 - 7
{Microorganisms in home-care inhalation devices}; Exner M et al.; Contamination of inhalation equipment used at home, cleaning procedures, and the occurrence of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms in mouthwash water was studied in 55 patients . Fungi in the oropharyngeal space were found in 58%, Staphylococcus aureus in 29%, Enterobacteriaceae in 47% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 11% . Contamination with potentially pathogenic micro-organisms occurred in 64% of inhalation equipment and inhalation solutions . In a total of 151 samples from the equipment Klebsiella was present in 14%, Enterobacter in 10%, Serratia and Acinetobacter in 11% each, Pseudomonas in 5% and Staphylococcus aureus in 4.5% . In three cases the same serotype of Ps . aeruginosa was present in the oropharyngeal cavity and inhalation equipment . In most cases the cleansing of the inhalation equipment had been inadequate . Only 36% of those questioned cleaned the equipment immediately before use, only 4 of 20 stated that they washed their hands before use . Subjective assessment of the value of inhalation treatment was either "very good" or "good" in 80%.

Intensive Care Med, 1983, 9(3), 139 - 41
Acinetobacter mediastinitis and pneumonia in a thorotrastoma patient . The oropharyngeal flora as source of infection; Stoutenbeek CP et al.; A case of bilateral pneumonia, mediastinitis and septicaemia caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Candida albicans is described . The infections occurred after a palliative operation for an esophagotracheal fistula in a thorotrastoma patient . The oropharynx was colonized by the two microorganisms at admission and is presented as the source of these infections . Clinical management and antimicrobial policy, including oropharyngeal decontamination, leading to a good outcome are reported.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Jan, (1), 67 - 70
{Bacteria of the species Acinetobacter calcoaceticus as the possible etiological factor in infectious complications in burns}; Kolker II et al.; The results of the study of the etiological role of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in infectious complications of burning lesions are presented . These bacteria were shown to occur in 28% of burn wounds, quite frequently as a monoculture or association with diphtheroids . A . calcoaceticus were capable of persisting in the wounds during the whole period of treatment (up to 2-3 months) . A high level of the contamination of burn wounds with these microorganisms, reaching 10(5)-10(6) cells per 1 g of tissue or 1 cm2 of the wound surface, was observed . The occurrence of A . calcoaceticus in the blood of the patients from whose burn wounds these microorganisms could be isolated was 36.3% . All isolated strains possessed multiple drug resistance.

Curr Med Res Opin, 1983, 8(8), 577 - 81
Comparative in vitro activity of ticarcillin, piperacillin, azlocillin and mezlocillin; Chattopadhyay B et al.; The in vitro activity of ticarcillin, piperacillin, azlocillin and mezlocillin was determined against 403 clinical isolates . At MIC50, piperacillin was 2 to 8 times more active than the other three compounds against Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter and Salmonella species . Against Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Haemophilus, Bacteroides spp . and non-beta-lactamase producing Staphylococcus aureus the activity of piperacillin was similar to one or more of the most effective agents . However, azlocillin and mezlocillin were more active than piperacillin against enterococci . Ticarcillin was the least active in vitro . Despite these significant differences at MIC50 amongst the four compounds, they became much less discernible at MIC90, obviously due to beta-lactamase producing strains under study . The spectrum of activity of piperacillin encompasses those of azlocillin and mezlociLlin together except for Gram-positive organisms.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 19 - 29
Cefotetan: profile of in-vitro activity; Bauernfeind A; Cefotetan, a novel 7 alpha-methoxy cephalosporin, was shown to be comparable to other third-generation cephalosporins when tested in vitro against 1063 Gram-negative clinical isolates of 11 species . Ninety per cent of all isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus rettgeri, Providencia stuartii, Serratia marcescens and Citrobacter freundii were inhibited by concentrations of cefotetan between 0.07 and 3.2 mg/l . Activity against Gram-positive cocci was about equal to that of moxalactam . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter were resistant . Cefotetan inhibited about two-thirds of Enterobacter strains at 16 mg/l . beta-Lactamases of Enterobacter cloacae highly resistant to cefotetan inactivated this cephamycin . These strains were resistant to most other beta-lactams as well . Synergism between cefotetan and aminoglycosides was found in 8 out of 16 Gram-negatives.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 1 - 9
Cefotetan: in-vitro antibacterial activity and susceptibility to beta-lactamases; Phillips I et al.; The in-vitro antibacterial activity of cefotetan was assessed against recent clinical isolates of common bacteria and also against reference strains that produced known beta-lactamases . The compound was active against most staphylococci (MICs 4 to 8 mg/l) though methicillin-resistant strains were less sensitive . It was also generally active against streptococci (MICs mostly in the range 1 to 16 mg/l) . However, enterococci and penicillin-resistant pneumococci were resistant . Cefotetan was highly active against enterobacteria, with 75% of isolates inhibited by 0.5 mg/l and 90% inhibited by 4 mg/l . It was also highly active against Haemophilus influenzae (MICs 0.5 to 4 mg/l) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MICs 0.06 to 2 mg/l) but had relatively poor activity against Acinetobacter spp . (MICs mostly 4 to 128 mg/l) . Cefotetan had little useful activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs 16 to 512 mg/l) but was more active against most other pseudomonads . Cefotetan had moderate activity against the Bacteroides fragilis group (MICs mostly less than or equal to 32 mg/l), though Bact . fragilis sensu stricto and Bact . vulgatus were more sensitive (MICs usually less than or equal to 4 mg/l) . It was more active against most other anaerobes, though its activity was always exceeded by that of ampicillin . Cefotetan possessed a high degree of resistance to both plasmid-mediated and chromosomally-determined beta-lactamases.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 95 - 101
Susceptibilities of gentamicin-resistant Gram-negative aerobic bacilli to cefotetan and other beta-lactams; Hart CA et al.; The activity of the 7 alpha-methoxycephalosporin, cefotetan was determined against 365 infecting isolates of gentamicin- and multiply-resistant Gram-negative aerobic bacilli, and compared with those of cefuroxime, cefoxitin, cephradine, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime . All proteus (4), providencia (6) salmonella (3) and serratia (2) were susceptible to 8 mg/l of cefotetan, as were respectively 90 and 81% of 42 Escherichia coli and 16 citrobacter isolates . The intrinsic activity of cefotetan was high against 237 klebsiellae (38 different serotypes), only 4 being relatively insusceptible (MICs 16- greater than 32 mg/l) . Activity against pseudomonas (10 isolates) acinetobacter (15 isolates) and enterobacter (30 isolates) was poor . Overall, the activities of cefotetan were similar to those of cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime but ceftazidime was also active against the majority of pseudomonas, acinetobacter and enterobacter . Cefotaxime was less active than cefotetan against some cefuroxime-resistant klebsiellae . Much greater numbers of isolates were insusceptible to either cefuroxime or cefoxitin . Cephradine was the least active.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 79 - 85
Comparative susceptibilities of organisms isolated in Sicily to cefotetan and other antibiotics; Russo G et al.; In recent years there has been a gradual increase in the number of infections caused by Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Serratia and non-fermentative bacilli such as Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes and Acinetobacter . The object of this investigation was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the cephalosporins cefoxitin, cefoperazone, cefotaxime and of gentamicin, in comparison with cefotetan, a new cephamycin with a high degree of stability to beta-lactamases . The cefotetan MIC was not affected either by size of the bacterial inoculum, or the culture medium and the serum protein binding of cefotetan was 85% . Cefotetan showed only moderate antibacterial activity, similar to that of the other cephalosporins tested, against the Gram-positive cocci, whereas it was very active against fermentative and non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The remarkable activity of cefotetan against Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Serratia is of particular interest.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 31 - 6
Cefotetan: comparative study in vitro against 226 Gram-negative clinical isolates; Morel C et al.; The activity in vitro of the new cephamycin, cefotetan, was compared with that of cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefuroxime and cefotaxime against 226 recently isolated Gram-negative pathogens (207 Enterobacteriaceae and 19 Acinetobacter) . Cefotetan was consistently more potent than cephalothin, cefoxitin and cefuroxime . Cefotaxime and cefotetan were essentially similar in activity against the Enterobacteriaceae with the singular exception of Enterobacter spp . which were markedly more susceptible to the former drug . None of the five agents was especially active against acinetobacter but cefotaxime was the best . Limited tests of bactericidal activity showed that the MBC differed from the MIC by a factor of 4 at most . Increasing the inoculum tested from 10(2) to 10(8) per ml had little adverse effect on the MIC of cefotetan . If the recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for susceptibility to cephalosporins are applicable to cefotetan and the breakpoint criteria of less than or equal to 10 mg/l (sensitive) and greater than or equal to 32 mg/l (resistant) are acceptable, then only a few of the Enterobacteriaceae in this study were resistant . These resistant organisms were amongst Enterobacter spp . and Citrobacter spp.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1983 Jan, 177(1-2), 141 - 55
{Qualitative and quantitative determination of bacterial populations in aquatic habitats . 5 . Comparison of 2 rapid sand filters}; Dott W et al.; The bacterial examinations of raw water and the effluent of two rapid sand filters showed differences with respect to the colony count, the identified species and the activity of the isolated bacteria . The raw waters of the treatment plants Si and Me are originated from an oligotrophic artificial lake and from ground-water respectively . The two raw waters contained only low numbers of bacteria, whereas the effluents of the filters showed a considerable increase of the bacterial counts . The results indicate a development of microbial populations in the filters . Furthermore there were also differences between the two filters examined . The first one led to the growth of Pseudomonas- and Flavobacterium species, the second one to Flavobacterium, Chromobacterium and Acinetobacter species . Comparing the raw water and the effluent, a reduction of special and total physiological activities of the isolated bacteria could be observed in filter I, whereas there wasn't any change in filter II.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1983, (2), 97 - 100
{Long-term preservation of reference cultures of microorganisms in the form of gelatin disks}; Idel'chik MS et al.; The survival of the various bacteria, yeast and fungal species maintained in gelatinous disks for 1-2 years has been tested . As a rule, cultures with poor lyophilization performance were badly preserved in gelatinous disks (e.g . non-sporulating fungi and certain bacteria and yeast species) . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Candida requinyii species after being stored for two years do not change the main taxonomic characteristics and possess the growth ability.

Infection, 1983, 11 Suppl 1, S49 - 53
The pharmacokinetic behaviour of ceftazidime in man and the relationship between serum levels and the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates; Harding SM et al.; The pharmacokinetic properties of ceftazidime in volunteers and in vitro activity against a wide range of human pathogens were investigated . Ceftazidime was well tolerated by i . m . and i . v . routes in single doses of 500 mg to 2 g and in repeat doses of 2 g tds for ten days . The half-life averaged 1.9 h and urinary recovery over 24 h averaged 83% . There was good agreement between HPLC and microbiological assay and no metabolites were detected by either method . Correlation of serum levels with MIC90 values suggested that the 500 mg i . m . dose given bd should be suitable for fully sensitive enterobacteria and 1 g i . m . or i . v . bd should be effective against most genera . It may be necessary to use 1 g or 2 g i . v . doses tds when treating infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter spp . These higher doses may be required when there is impaired penetration into the site of infection, when the infection is complicated by underlying pathology or in a life-threatening situation.

Chemotherapy, 1983, 29(6), 408 - 14
In vitro antimicrobial activity of ceftizoxime; Schell RF et al.; The antimicrobial activity of ceftizoxime was compared to cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cephalothin, and lamoxactam (moxalactam) against 549 bacteria . It had activity similar to cefotaxime and lamoxactam against most members of the Enterobacteriaceae . Ceftizoxime should prove useful against gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.

Clin Ther, 1983, 5(6), 603 - 16
In vitro activity of ceftazidime and ceftriaxone; Keenholtz SL et al.; The in vitro susceptibility of 230 clinical isolates, including 55 anaerobic bacteria, was tested with ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, moxalactam, cefamandole, cefoxitin, and ticarcillin . Ceftazidime was the most active drug against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter sp . Against Enterobacteriaceae, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone were similar to cefotaxime, moxalactam, and cefoperazone and more active than cefamandole, cefoxitin, and ticarcillin . Cefoxitin and moxalactam were significantly more active against Bacteroides fragilis than were the other beta-lactam drugs . Against Staphylococcus aureus, ceftriaxone showed moderate activity, while ceftazidime was relatively inactive . These results indicate a potential role for ceftazidime and ceftriaxone against infections involving facultative and aerobic gram-negative bacilli.

Chemotherapy, 1983, 29(5), 337 - 44
Susceptibility of 324 nonfermentative gram-negative rods to 6 cephalosporins and azthreonam; Appelbaum PC et al.; Susceptibility of 324 isolates of nonfermentative gram-negative bacteria to cephalothin, cefamandole, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, cefsulodin, and azthreonam was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion techniques . With the exception of Moraxella species, first- and second-generation cephalosporins were minimally active against nonfermenters tested . Cefsulodin and azthreonam were mainly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In contrast, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone exhibited wider activity spectra . Cefsulodin and ceftazidime were the most active against P . aeruginosa, followed by azthreonam and ceftriaxone . Ceftazidime was the only drug with significant activity against Pseudomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas fluorescens/Pseudomonas putida, and was also the most active against Pseudomonas cepacia . Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Alcaligenes strains were most sensitive to ceftazidime, followed by ceftriaxone and azthreonam . Ceftriaxone was the most active against moraxellas, followed by cefamandole/cefoxitin, ceftazidime, cephalothin, cefsulodin, and azthreonam . Ceftazidime was the most active against uncommonly isolated nonfermenters . Results observed in this study reflect a potential use for ceftazidime in therapy of infections caused by most gram-negative nonfermenters; therapy with cefsulodin and azthreonam in nonfermenter infections should be restricted to those caused by P . aeruginosa, and that with ceftriaxone reserved for non-P . aeruginosa infections.

Chemotherapy, 1983, 29(5), 332 - 6
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: in vitro susceptibility of 150 clinical isolates to five beta-lactam antibiotics and tobramycin; Dibb WL et al.; The in vitro activities of azlocillin, carbenicillin, ceftriaxone, piperacillin, N-formimidoyl thienamycin (N-f thienamycin) and tobramycin have been compared against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 100) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (n = 50) . An agar dilution method was employed for measurement of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) . Tobramycin was the most active drug against P . aeruginosa (MIC less than or equal to 2 mg/l) . Of the beta-lactam antibiotics, N-f thienamycin and tobramycin were highly active against A . calcoaceticus (MIC less than or equal to 2 mg/l), although one isolate was resistant to tobramycin (MIC greater than 16 mg/l) . The other drugs were only moderately active against A . calcoaceticus.

Mol Gen Genet, 1983, 189(1), 102 - 12
IS15, a new insertion sequence widely spread in R plasmids of gram-negative bacteria; Labigne-Roussel A et al.; We have shown that the IS15 element, first detected in Salmonella ordonez and previously designated IS1522 (Labigne-Roussel et al . 1981), could transpose, with an approximate frequency of 5 X 10(-5), to various sites of different replicons in an Escherichia coli host deficient for general homologous recombination . Physical mapping with restriction endonucleases of this 1,500 base pairs (bp) transposable module indicated the presence of two, possibly contiguous, directly repeated internal sequences, at least 480 bp in size . IS15 could generate in vivo, by intramolecular recombination between the two direct repeats, IS15-delta, which is 830 bp in size . The reverse transition, IS15-delta to IS15, was not observed . The two related structural forms of IS15 were detected, by Southern hybridization, on plasmids belonging to various incompatibility groups (Inc6-C, I1, 7-M, and Y) isolated from phylogenetically remote pathogenic bacterial genera (Escherichia coli, Salmonella panama, Enterobacter cloacae, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus) . Whereas IS15 could promote its own transposition and transposition of DNA fragments it flanked, IS15-delta resulting from the 670 bp 'clean' deletion and representing the most common natural deletion derivative could only induce replicon fusion . It appears, therefore, that the two structural configurations of IS15 have evolved to play, by transposition, distinct and complementary roles in bacterial evolution.

Infection, 1983, 11 Suppl 1, S23 - 7
The in vitro activity of ceftazidime against resistant clinical isolates; Van Landuyt HW et al.; The in vitro activity of ceftazidime was determined using an agar dilution technique and compared with that of cefotaxime and moxalactam against 559 clinically important isolates . Ceftazidime showed poor activity against Bacteroides and Campylobacter, moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus and excellent activity against Haemophilus, Aeromonas and the Enterobacteriaceae . 91% of 324 cephalothin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were inhibited at a concentration of 1 mg/l . Ceftazidime was the most active drug against Acinetobacter . It also showed exceptional activity against Pseudomonas, inhibiting 90% of the strains at a concentration of 4 mg/l . A significant inoculum effect was only seen with inocula of 10(6) cfu or higher, and depended on the strain tested and the methodology employed.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11(1), 75 - 82
Cefoperazone versus cefamandole in the treatment of acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infections; File TM Jr et al.; In a randomized comparative study, 113 patients were treated with cefoperazone or cefamandole for acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infections . Most patients had Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae infections, although five patients in the cefoperazone group had infections caused by other Gram-negative bacilli (two with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) . The clinical responses and adverse effects were not significantly different between the two treatment groups . Satisfactory clinical responses occurred in 36/39 (92%) of evaluable patients in the cefoperazone group and 33/34 (97%) of evaluable patients treated with cefamandole . Two failures in the cefoperazone group were secondary to superinfection (Acinetobacter and Ps . aeruginosa) . Bacteriological and symptomatic failure occurred in one patient with Ps . aeruginosa lung abscess treated with cefoperazone and in one patient with a polymicrobial empyema treated with cefamandole . The results of this study indicate that cefoperazone is safe and effective in the therapy of acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infections.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1983, 32(2), 191 - 6
Studies on the utilization of octane by algae; Zawadzki Z et al.; The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of various octane concentrations on a mixed culture of Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris and Oscillatoria sp . and the ability of these algae to utilize octane as the sole source of organic carbon in the medium . The same investigations were carried out for a mixed culture consisting of algae and the strain Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and for A . calcoaceticus alone . The results obtained show that all of the strains under study, both algal and bacterial, can grow even at high octane concentrations and that they are able to utilize octane.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Nov 18, 11(46), 3396 - 9
{Sensitivity of 1041 strains of bacteria obtained from an intensive care unit with regard to aminoglycosides}; Beney E et al.; Antibiotic treatment of infections due to opportunistic organisms often involves an aminoglycoside/beta lactamine combination . In order to help in the selection of the aminoglycoside used, a statistical study was made of 1041 strains of organisms obtained from an intensive care unit to 4 aminoglycosides: gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin and dibekacin . These included Gram negative bacilli (enterobacteria, pseudomonas, acinetobacter) and staphylococci . The study showed amikacin to be the most suitable aminoglycoside for prescription in an infection threatening the vital prognosis in the short term and where the organism has not been identified . In non-threatening infections when the organism has not been identified, gentamicin, tobramycin or dibekacin should be used in preference to amikacin . For any type of infection, once the organism has been identified, amikacin should only be used if it is the only effective agent . When the organism is equally sensitive to gentamicin, tobramycin and dibekacin the choice of drug should take into account the known potential toxicities of each drug.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Nov 18, 11(46), 3391 - 5
{Comparative in vitro activity of dibekacin, gentamicin and tobramycin on 617 bacterial strains}; Coulet M et al.; Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 3 aminoglycosides (dibekacin, gentamicin, tobramycin) have been recorded with 617 hospital strains . 4 mg/l of tobramycin inhibited 82 to 84% of Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and S . Aureus; the less sensitive species are Serratia (51%) and Citrobacter (68%) . 4 mg/l concentration of gentamicin or dibekacin inhibited 80-83% of Pseudomonas and S . Aureus, 78-79% of Acinetobacter and 74% of Enterobacteria . Dibekacin shows an in vitro activity superior to that of gentamicin and inferior to that of tobramycin on Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis, but is rather to that of gentamicin and tobramycin on all other bacteria species.

Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Nov-Dec, 4 Suppl, S606 - 9
Moxalactam therapy for gram-negative bacillary meningitis; Rahal JJ Jr; Twenty patients with gram-negative bacillary meningitis (19 episodes caused by enteric bacilli and one by Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were treated with moxalactam given intravenously . Seventeen patients responded well clinically and bacteriologically without known relapse . Fourteen of 18 isolates from cerebrospinal fluid were susceptible to less than or equal to 0.5 micrograms of moxalactam/ml . Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of moxalactam in four patients were 2.4-16 micrograms/ml . This accumulated experience indicates that moxalactam has been effective in the treatment of patients with meningitis due to highly susceptible enteric gram-negative bacilli . However, it cannot be recommended as single-drug therapy for meningitis due to P . aeruginosa or Acinetobacter.

J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 128 (Pt 11), 2781 - 90
pHH502, a plasmid with IncP and IncI alpha characters, loses the latter by a specific recA-independent deletion event; Nugent ME et al.; Plasmid pHH502, of molecular weight 70 X 10(6), determined resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, sulphonamides and mercuric chloride and was incompatible with members of IncP and IncI alpha . It resembled other plasmids of IncI alpha in the following properties: it determined pili that were morphologically and serologically I alpha pili, whose production was repressed in established plasmid-carrying (R+) cultures; its transfer was equally efficient in liquid or on solid medium; it exerted surface exclusion against other IncI alpha plasmids; it was non-transferable to Proteus . In a reproducible, recA-independent event, pHH502 gave rise to pHH502-1, a plasmid of molecular weight 40 X 10(6), lacking determinants for resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol and all detectable IncI alpha characteristics . pHH502-1 was incompatible only with IncP plasmids and resembled other IncP plasmids in determining constitutive production of rigid pili, in its surface exclusion, in transferring at greater frequency on solid than in liquid medium and in being transmissible to Proteus mirabilis . It differed from other IncP plasmids in the morphology and serological type of its pili and in failing to transfer to Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . Small numbers of pHH502-1 rigid pili were present on bacteria carrying pHH502 . Possible mechanisms for the generation of pHH502 and pHH502-1 are discussed.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Oct, 22(4), 535 - 40
In vitro activity of temocillin (BRL 17421), a novel beta-lactam antibiotic; Van Landuyt HW et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentration of temocillin (BRL 17421) against 476 clinical isolates was determined by an agar dilution method . Temocillin was active against most of the Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus, and Neisseria strains tested . The compound showed low activity or was inactive against Bacteroides, Campylobacter, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus aureus strains . Within each species, individual strains showed a high degree of uniformity in their susceptibility to temocillin; the drug concentrations that inhibited the growth of 90% of organisms were the same or close to those which inhibited the growth of 50% of organisms . In contrast, the same strains showed a very wide range of susceptibility to the other antibiotics tested, including third-generation cephalosporins . Against strains of Enterobacteriaceae highly susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, temocillin was considerably less active than cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and moxalactam, although it was more active than cefazolin and piperacillin . Against certain strains of Enterobacter and Citrobacter resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, temocillin was more active than cefotaxime and ceftazidime . An increase in the inoculum size did not alter the activity of temocillin, indicating that the compound has high stability to beta-lactamases . The minimal lethal concentration was also very similar to the minimal inhibitory concentration when an inoculum of 10(5) colony-forming units was used.

Eur J Pediatr, 1982 Oct, 139(2), 151 - 2
Detection of circulating antigens of Chlamydia trachomatis by counterimmunoelectrophoresis; Storm W et al.; An increasing number of reports on Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia in infancy has recently been published in the literature . The demonstration of the etiologic agent depends, however, on laborious culture procedures and serological techniques . Based on the observation of a cross-reaction between certain Acinetobacter species and chlamydiae, the detection of chlamydial antigens in sera of 5 infants with distinctive clinical features of a pneumonia due to Chlamydia trachomatis was performed with antisera to Acinetobacter by the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) technique.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Oct, 44(4), 972 - 87
Chlorine resistance patterns of bacteria from two drinking water distribution systems; Ridgway HF et al.; The relative chlorine sensitivities of bacteria isolated from chlorinated and unchlorinated drinking water distribution systems were compared by two independent methods . One method measured the toxic effect of free chlorine on bacteria, whereas the other measured the effect of combined chlorine . Bacteria from the chlorinated system were more resistant to both the combined and free forms of chlorine than those from the unchlorinated system, suggesting that there may be selection for more chlorine-tolerant microorganisms in chlorinated waters . Bacteria retained on the surfaces of 2.0-microns Nuclepore membrane filters were significantly more resistant to free chlorine compared to the total microbial population recovered on 0.2-micron membrane filters, presumably because aggregated cells or bacteria attached to suspended particulate matter exhibit more resistance than unassociated microorganisms . In accordance with this hypothesis, scanning electron microscopy of suspended particulate matter from the water samples revealed the presence of attached bacteria . The most resistant microorganisms were able to survive a 2-min exposure to 10 mg of free chlorine per liter . These included gram-positive spore-forming bacilli, actinomycetes, and some micrococci . The most sensitive bacteria were readily killed by chlorine concentrations of 1.0 mg liter-1 or less, and included most gram-positive micrococci, Corynebacterium/Arthrobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas/Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium/Moraxella, and Acinetobacter.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Oct, 22(4), 548 - 53
In vitro and in vivo activity of DL-8280, a new oxazine derivative; Sato K et al.; DL-8280, 9-fluoro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H- pyrido-(1,2,3-de)1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid, is a new nalidixic acid analog with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, including obligate anaerobes . The activity of DL-8280 against Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Clostridium perfringens was roughly comparable to that of norfloxacin and far exceeded that of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid . DL-8280 had greater activity against Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter spp., and Bacteroides fragilis than did norfloxacin, pipemidic acid, and nalidixic acid . Nalidixic acid-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, ampicillin-resistant gonococci, and clindamycin-resistant obligate anaerobes were also susceptible to DL-8280 . The activity of DL-8280 was affected very little by inoculum size, and its action was bactericidal at two times the minimal inhibitory concentrations at most . Administered orally to mice experimentally infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, or P . aeruginosa, DL-8280 was 2 to 7 times more effective than norfloxacin and 7 to more than 50 times more active than pipemidic acid.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 126 - 32
Emulsan production by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in the presence of chloramphenicol; Rubinovitz C et al.; When exponentially growing cultures of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 or RAG-92 were either treated with inhibitors of protein synthesis or starved for a required amino acid, there was a stimulation in the production of emulsan, an extracellular polyanionic emulsifier . Emulsan synthesis in the presence of chloramphenicol was dependent on utilizable sources of carbon and nitrogen and was inhibited by cyanide or azide or anaerobic conditions . Radioactive tracer experiments indicated that the enhanced production of emulsan after the addition of chloramphenicol was due to both the release of material synthesized before the addition of the antibiotic (40%) and de novo synthesis of the polymer (60%) . Chemical analysis of RAG-1 cells demonstrated large amounts of polymeric amino sugars; it was estimated that cell-associated emulsan comprised about 15% of the dry weight of growing cells . The data are consistent with the hypothesis that a polymeric precursor of emulsan accumulates on the cell surface during the exponential growth phase; in the stationary phase or during inhibition of protein synthesis, the polymer is released as a potent emulsifier.

In Vitro, 1982 Sep, 18(9), 750 - 4
Sensitivity of cultured pancreatic carcinoma cells to Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase; Wu MC et al.; Cultured human pancreatic carcinoma cells (MIA PaCa-2) have been shown previously to be very sensitive to E . coli L-asparaginase (EC II) . The present studies have demonstrated that another enzyme, Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase (AGA) is much more effective in inhibiting cell growth . At the concentration of 0.0025 U/ml of AGA activity the enzyme totally inhibited cell growth, whereas the EC II with the same concentration did not show any effect . The inhibition of cell growth correlated well with inhibition of protein and glycoprotein synthesis . The addition of L-glutamine at the concentration of 1 mM completely reversed the inhibition of protein synthesis . Similarly, the addition of L-glutamine at the concentration of 3 mM daily on 3 successive days after adding AGA resulted in significant reversal of growth inhibition . The results of this study indicate that the action of AGA on MIA PaCa-2 is, to a great extent, exerted through its L-glutaminase activity.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 16(3), 443 - 51
Bacteriuria caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovars in a normal population and in general practice; Hoffmann S et al.; A total of 14 strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biovar anitratus and 93 strains of A . calcoaceticus biovar lwoffi from a total of 97 patients participating in studies of significant bacteriuria were cultured . These studies involved an interview survey of asymptomatic significant bacteriuria and a multiple-center investigation of urinary tract infection diagnosed in general practice . Antibiotic susceptibilities of the strains as determined by a disk diffusion technique were generally in agreement with the results in the available literature, although we found high activity exhibited by ampicillin, cephalosporin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and streptomycin . The following resistance patterns were seen . (i) The strains from the interview survey were more often resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin, and tetracycline than were strains from the general practice study . (ii) More biovar anitratus strains than biovar lwoffi strains were resistant to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and mecillinam . (iii) More biovar anitratus strains than biovar lwoffi strains were resistant to carbenicillin in the interview survey . The literature relevant to the incidence and significance of A . calcoaceticus biovars in urinary cultures, as well as predisposing factors, was reviewed . The incidence of these organisms in significant bacteriuria seems to be increasing . We concluded that A . calcoaceticus biovars can cause urinary tract infection in abnormal hosts as well as in basically healthy individuals.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Sep, 22(3), 453 - 60
Antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of temocillin; Jules K et al.; Temocillin, a 6-alpha-methoxy penicillin, inhibited 90% of strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter, Proteus, Providencia, Salmonella, and Shigella at a concentration of less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml . Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoea were inhibited by less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . Changing the medium or pH of the cultures did not alter the minimal inhibitory concentrations, which were similar in broth and human serum, as were the minimal bactericidal concentrations . An increase in inoculum size from 10(5) to 10(7) colony-forming units increased concentration required for inhibition . Temocillin inhibited strains resistant to ampicillin, ticarcillin, cefazolin, cefamandole, and cefoxitin . Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and other Pseudomonas spp . and Acinetobacter spp . were resistant, as were gram-positive organisms . Temocillin was not hydrolyzed by the common plasmid and chromosomal beta-lactamases but inhibited them . The resistance of certain gram-negative bacilli to temocillin seemed to be a result of failure of the molecule to enter through the cell wall, since combination of temocillin with EDTA made Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacter strains susceptible to low concentrations of the compound.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 44(3), 619 - 26
Involvement of plasmids in total degradation of chlorinated biphenyls; Furukawa K et al.; Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 has previously been reported to utilize biphenyl (BP) and chlorinated BPs, with accumulation of corresponding chlorobenzoic acids . Arthrobacter sp . strain M5 was isolated as a contaminant in the culture of Acinetobacter sp . strain P6 growing on 4-chlorobiphenyl and showed properties similar to P6 in the degradation of chlorinated BPs . Both strains harbored an identical plasmid of 53.7 megadaltons . These strains spontaneously lost the ability to utilize BP and 4-chlorobiphenyl with high frequency (4 to 8%) after overnight growth in nutrient broth . The BP- derivatives could not regain the BP-assimilating ability (reversion frequency, less than 10(-9) per cell per generation) but retained the plasmid with small, detectable deletions . BP+ P6 cells grown on BP or benzoate oxidized BP and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl and produced meta cleavage compounds from the latter compound (lambda max, 434 nm) and also from catechol (lambda max, 375 nm) through the meta pathway . On the other hand, benzoate-grown BP- segregants totally lost the BP-metabolizing activities and oxidized catechol through the ortho pathway . A combined culture of the chlorinated BP-dissimilating P6 or M5 strain (harboring the putative 53.7-megadalton plasmid specifying conversion of chlorobiphenyls to chlorobenzoic acids) and genetically constructed mono- or dichlorobenzoate-utilizing pseudomonads (harboring plasmids encoding complete utilization of mono- or dichlorobenzoates) allowed greater than 98% utilization of mono- and dichlorobiphenyls, with the liberation of equivalent amounts of chloride ions.

Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Sep-Oct, 4 Suppl, S401 - 5
Comparative activity of cefotaxime and selected beta-lactam antibiotics against Haemophilus influenzae and aerobic gram-negative bacilli; Dabernat HJ et al.; The activity of cefotaxime was compared with that of ampicillin, moxalactam, and cefoperozone against 50 isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and with that of ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefamandole, cefazolin, and several other established and investigational beta-lactam antibiotics against several hundred isolates of gram-negative aerobic enteric bacilli . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the drugs were determined by the agar plate dilution technique for H . influenzae and by the microtiter broth dilution technique for the other pathogens . Cefotaxime was the most active agent against H . influenzae; it was 20 times more active than ampicillin . It was also the most active agent against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, nontyphoid Salmonella species, and Yersinia enterocolitica . Cefotaxime was among the most active agents against Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter species, Shigella species, Proteus mirabilis, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . None of the new cephalosporins or penicillin inhibited greater than 90% of the isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations of less than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml; these drugs were, however, more active than carbenicillin.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 16(2), 257 - 65
Reliability of early identifications obtained with Enterobacteriaceae-plus biochemical cards in the automicrobic system; Barry AL et al.; The AutoMicrobic system (AMS) is capable of identifying most Enterobacteriaceae within 8 h and many glucose-nonfermenting, gram-negative bacilli after 13 h of incubation . Early preliminary results can be readily obtained from the computer as the tests incubate . Data with 1,023 bacterial isolates were reviewed to determine the relative accuracy of 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 13-h identifications . All AutoMicrobic system identifications with probability (P) values of less than 0.80 were considered equivocal responses which needed supplementary tests before a final report could be issued . Analysis of our data suggests that early identifications of Morganella morganii, Acinetobacter sp., Yersinia spp., Salmonella spp . (other than Salmonella typhi), Shigella spp . (other than Shigella sonnei), Enterobacter agglomerans, Pseudomonas spp . (other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Pseudomonas maltophilia), Klebsiella spp . (other than Klebsiella pneumoniae or Klebsiella oxytoca), Citrobacter amalonauticus, Serratia liquefaciens, or Vibrio spp . Should be considered nonspecific responses, even when P greater than or equal to 0.80 . Other identifications reported after 4 h were 96% accurate . At least half of our isolates (60% of our Enterobacteriaceae) could be identified reliably within 4 h, the remaining isolates required longer incubation.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Aug, 22(2), 323 - 9
Transposon-mediated multiple antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter strains; Devaud M et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp . anitratus, which is unusually resistant to multiple antibiotics, was the cause of an epidemic of respiratory tract infections in patients in an intensive care unit . A representative isolate of the epidemic strain was found to contain the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes 3-N-acetyltransferase, 3'-phosphotransferase, and 3"-adenylyltransferase, which confer resistance to gentamicin, kanamycin, and streptomycin, respectively . In addition, the strain produced a cephalosporinase and was resistant to penicillins due to the production of a TEM-2 beta-lactamase . The bacterial isolate also exhibited resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and sulfonamides . The resistant phenotype of this strain was similar to resistance patterns frequently observed in endemic hospital flora, suggesting that the transfer of an R plasmid into Acinetobacter sp . may have occurred . However, antibiotic resistance could not be transferred to any recipient by various mating procedures . After plasmid RP4 was transferred into an ampicillin- and kanamycin-susceptible derivative of the epidemic strain, mobilization of resistance to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and possibly tetracycline could be achieved . This mobilization was due to the transposition of a 16-megadalton DNA sequence from the Acinetobacter chromosome into plasmid RP4 . Insertion of the transposable sequence occurred near the PstI and SmaI sites around position 22.5 on the physical map of plasmid RP4 . We suggest that a plasmid resistant to multiple antibiotics was transferred from the hospital flora into Acinetobacter sp . but could not be maintained stably in this host . Instead, a multiply resistant DNA sequence was transposed and stably integrated into the Acinetobacter chromosome . The occurrence of such multiply resistant transposons on conjugative plasmids contributes greatly to the genetic variability of bacteria and may sometimes have serious epidemiological and therapeutic consequences.

JAMA, 1982 Jul 2, 248(1), 71 - 4
Designing appropriate therapy in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis; Corrado ML et al.; Gram-negative bacillary meningitis is being diagnosed more frequently, and the introduction of newer beta-lactam antibiotics has contributed significantly to successful therapy . These new agents--became of their ease of administration and relative safety--also allow nonspecialists to treat the disease . There are, however, pitfalls in therapy of infections due to this heterogenous group of organisms . Extremely susceptible organisms, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, most often respond to cephalosporin monotherapy, whereas relatively resistant organisms such as Acinetobacter and some Enterobacter may not . In these cases, combination therapy with an aminoglycoside is warranted . Testing the infecting organism for antibiotic susceptibility at the appropriate inoculum and pH may be useful in predicting therapeutic outcome.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1982 Jul-Dec, 75(7-12), 239 - 50
{Incidence of fermentative and non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli in an intensive care environment}; Speciale A et al.; The Authors study the incidence of gram-negative fermentative and non-fermentative bacilli in an Intensive Care Division according to the following microbial contamination indexes: Air Microbic Index; Staff Index; Patient Index; Equipment Index . The collected data show that some air microbic factors and part of the complementary equipment to intensive care are particularly infected by gram-negative germs Germs such as Pseudomonas Acinetobacter and mainly bacilli of K.E.S . group.

Arch Dis Child, 1982 Jul, 57(7), 557 - 9
Acinetobacter meningitis: acquired infection in a neonatal intensive care unit; Morgan ME et al.; A cluster of 4 cases of meningitis due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus occurred during a 5-day period in a neonatal intensive care unit . Three of the infants were preterm and all had a history of other medical problems . Initiation of intravenous therapy with carbenicillin was accompanied by clinical recovery and a bacteriological cure . Intensive bacteriological investigation failed to show a common source for the infections.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1982 Jul, 66(7), 1479 - 85
Clinical evaluation of succinylated Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase in adult leukemia; Warrell RP Jr et al.; We treated 13 adult patients with acute leukemia or chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) in blast phase using succinylated Acinetobacter glutaminase-asparaginase (SAGA) administered on a daily dose schedule . SAGA reduced the peripheral blast count in two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and two with blastic CML; however, no patient achieved either complete or partial remission . Marked central nervous system toxic effects (encephalopathy and coma) were observed, limiting treatment in patients whose disease appeared responsive; this effect finally prompted early discontinuance of the trial . Other toxic effects observed included nausea, hyperglycemia, and respiratory alkalosis . Hypersensitivity reactions to the enzyme were not seen . Pharmacologic analyses showed that prolonged blood glutamine depletion was achieved only by daily enzyme administration; however, we noted the importance of performing amino acid analysis on blood which was deproteinized immediately following phlebotomy . Our results demonstrate excessive central nervous system toxicity when glutaminase-asparaginase is administered on a daily schedule . Because of this effect, we propose that future trials of similar enzymes be limited to short courses of enzyme therapy, possibly with the addition of antimetabolites or amino acid analogs, which could enhance the antitumor effect without increasing toxicity.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jul, 22(1), 1 - 9
Ceftriaxone: in vitro studies and clinical evaluation; Gnann JW Jr et al.; The in vitro activity of ceftriaxone against 437 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli was determined . Ceftriaxone was found to have high in vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae, with the exception of Enterobacter cloacae . Ceftriaxone was only minimally active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . We evaluated the clinical efficacy and toxicity of ceftriaxone in 55 adult patients . Bacterial infection was confirmed by the isolation of etiological bacteria in 30 patients . Infectious disorders treated included 10 pneumonias, 13 urinary tract infections, and 7 soft tissue or bone infections . Pathogens identified were 25 isolates of gram-negative bacilli, 5 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 5 isolates of pneumococci, and 4 isolates of other streptococci . The overall efficacy of ceftriaxone was excellent . The clinical cure rate was 93%, and the bacteriological cure rate was 93% . A total of 30 adverse reactions were noted in 22 of 55 patients receiving ceftriaxone, but only one necessitated discontinuation of treatment . Adverse effects frequently noted were elevated hepatic enzymes (16%), thrombocytosis (16%), and eosinophilia (8%) . Ceftriaxone is an effective and well-tolerated antimicrobial agent that appears promising for the treatment of serious gram-negative bacillary infections.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1982 Jun 12, 112(24), 867 - 70
{Near-drowning in an adult: favorable course after a 20-minute submersion}; Genoni L et al.; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was successful in a healthy 29-year-old woman who had been submerged for 20 minutes in water at 10 degrees C . The evolution was characterized by the development of a multifactorial ARDS (secondary drowning) and sepsis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila and Acinetobacter anitratum . Fibrosing alveolitis caused a restrictive syndrome with severe mechanical impairment and transitory therapy-resistant hypoxemia . It is suggested that prolonged submersion in cold water is also a treatable and completely reversible condition in adults . In our patient without neurological sequelae the pulmonary function studies after 3 months show complete recovery from the mechanical impairment . After a follow-up period of 11 months only mild abnormalities of gas exchange persist.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jun, 43(6), 1262 - 6
Microbial spoilage of whole sheep livers; Gill CO et al.; When liver treated with antibiotics to inhibit microbial growth were held at 10 degrees C, the initial high pH (6.4) declined as lactic acid accumulated throughout the storage period of 10 days . The glycogen content also declined, but the glucose concentration in the tissues remained high . When livers were allowed to spoil at 10 degrees C, distinct but variable floras developed within the tissues, in the drip, and on the upper surface . Deep-tissue floras were composed of anaerobic and facultative organisms (Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, Aeromonas); surface floras were generally dominated by strictly aerobic organisms (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter); drip floras contained variable proportions of organisms of all three types, but the facultatively anaerobic Enterobacter were usually present as a major component . Spoilage occurred after 4 to 6 days with the development of visible discrete colonies on the upper surface without spoilage odors being evident . Changes in tissue and drip composition due to microbial activity could be detected only when spoilage had reached an advanced stage.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jun, 1(3), 159 - 65
Sensitivity of 341 non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria to seven beta-lactam antibiotics; Appelbaum PC et al.; Susceptibility of 341 isolates of non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria to carbenicillin, piperacillin, cefoperazone, moxalactam, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, and N-formimidoyl thienamycin was determined by the agar dilution and disc diffusion methods . Piperacillin was the most active agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, thienamycin the most active against Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida, and moxalactam the most active against Pseudomonas maltophilia . Piperacillin and thienamycin were the most active agents against the other Pseudomonas species studied . Thienamycin proved to have excellent activity against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus--90% of strains were inhibited by less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . The two most active drugs against Alcaligenes species were piperacillin and thienamycin, both of which inhibited 90% of isolates at a concentration of 2 micrograms/ml . All drugs were active against Moraxella species . The broad sensitivity spectrum of piperacillin, thienamycin, and the third-generation cephalosporins against non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria indicates their potential use in infections caused by these organisms.

Antibiotiki, 1982 Jun, 27(6), 447 - 50
{Antibiotic sensitivity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in patients with infected burns}; Borisova OK et al.; Sensitivity of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratum isolated from infected burn wounds was studied with respect to 24 antibiotics . It was found that the isolates were multiple drug resistant . Sensitivity was observed at least to 8 out of 24 antibiotics . The majority of the isolates were resistant to 10--15 drugs . Many strains were resistant to 16--17 antibiotics . 11 antibacterial drugs, i . e . tobramycin, sisomicin, gentamicin, amicacin, neomycin, carbenicillin, polymyxin M, erythromycin, tetracycline, rifampicin and dioxidine proved to be most active against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The strains were resistant to 6 antibiotics, i . e . penicillin, oxacillin, lincomycin, ceporin, fusidin and ristomycin . The activity of streptomycin, ampicillin and levomycetin was negligible.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jun, 15(6), 1016 - 8
Glucose-nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli associated with clinical veterinary specimens; Mathewson JJ et al.; Glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFB) have been recognized recently as opportunistic pathogens of humans . With few exceptions, strains of NFB have not been considered important enough to be identified when isolated from animals . In this study, all NFB isolated during a 1-year period in a clinical veterinary microbiology laboratory were identified to determine their prevalence . Of the 347 strains of NFB obtained, the most common species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes . Of all clinical veterinary specimens submitted for cultures, 10% contained nonfermenters.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6), 432 - 9
{Comparative activity of cefsulodin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter and Enterobacteriaceae (author's transl)}; Courtieu AL et al.; Cefsulodin, a new semi-synthetic cephalosporin, is characterized by its activity against P . aeruginosa . In this study the authors compared this new molecule with other four betalactamines, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, azlocillin and mezlocillin, and two aminoglycosides, amikacin and netilmicin . Two hundred and forty five strains studied were 100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 20 Acinetobacter, 42 Proteus, 21 Serratia, 22 Enterobacter, 20 Klebsiella and 20 E . coli . One hundred twenty strains of these showed carbenicillin resistant phenotype . MIC were determined by the agar dilution method . Cefsulodin was only active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa . MICs were at least 16 mg/l in the other species . On carbenicillin susceptible P . aeruginosa strains, the average MIC of cefsulodin, amikacin and netilmicin was 1 mg/l, and MICs of azlocillin, mezlocillin, ticarcillin and carbenicillin were 4-8 mg/l, 8 mg/l, 16 mg/l and 32 mg/l, respectively . On carbenicillin resistant P . aeruginosa, ticarcillin and mezlocillin were not effective and MICs of azlocillin and cefsulodin were 16 mg/l and 4-8 mg/l, respectively . However, MICs were between 64 and 128 mg/l in 20 p . cent of carbenicillin resistant strains.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6 Pt 2), 506 - 9
{In vitro activity of ceftazidime compared with five beta-lactamase stable compounds against clinical strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus }; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is recognized as one of the most resistant nosocomial pathogens . Clinical isolates of Acinetobacter are usually resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics . The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of ceftazidime, a new broad spectrum highly potent beta-lactam antibiotic, able to inhibit especially Pseudomonas and Providencia . Its activity against 96 clinical strains of Acinetobacter was compared with the activity of 5 recent beta-lactam antibiotics which are resistant to beta-lactamase degradation (cefoxitine, Cefotaxime, moxalactam, cefotiam, cefamandole) . The results of this comparative study of the in vitro activity of the 6 beta-lactam antibiotics exhibit a higher activity of ceftazidime: 50 p . cent of the strains were inhibited at a concentration of 4 micrograms/ml while the other drugs inhibited 50 p . cent of the strains at concentrations superior to 10 micrograms/ml; the geometric mean was 7 micrograms/ml for ceftazidime while for the other drugs it was more than 10 micrograms/ml and for 3 of them, the geometric mean was more than 40 micrograms/ml . Otherwise one could notice a bimodal distribution of the strains which suggests the presence of 2 populations of Acinetobacter, respectively inhibited with 4 micrograms/ml (susceptible) and 64 or 128 micrograms/ml (resistant) . Finally this study shows that ceftazidime is one of the most active compounds against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus among the 3rd generation of cephalosporins.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6), 341 - 4
{Comparative study of ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and moxalactam against 150 Gram negative strains (author's transl)}; Nasnas R et al.; The in vitro activity of ceftriaxone, a new cephalosporine derivative was compared with two other "third generation" cephalosporins, cefotaxime and moxalactam . 150 strains of Gram negative bacilli were used in this study . Ceftriaxone as cefotaxime and moxalactam were very active against most of the 104 multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae . Ceftriaxone was the most active against Proteus providencia with a mean MIC of 0.007 microgram/ml . Cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were less active than moxalactam against Enterobacter with MIC higher or equal to 32 micrograms/ml . The three cephalosporins had an almost identical activity against carbenicillin resistant Pseudomonas with an MIC higher than 4 micrograms/ml . MIC against Acinetobacter were higher or equal to 16 micrograms/ml . Moxalactam was the most active against Bacteroides fragilis with a mean MIC of 0.5 micrograms/ml; ceftriaxone and cefotaxime had a mean MIC of 2 to 4 micrograms/ml.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6 Pt 2), 495 - 500
{Use of moxalactam in intensive care units: clinical and bacteriological results related to serum and bronchial concentrations }; Mouton Y et al.; Twenty-patients (14 with mechanical ventilation) received moxalactam in an intensive care unit for pneumonia (3 cases), empyema (5 cases), bronchopneumonia (8 cases), bronchopneumonia with bacteremia (4 cases), 23 organism were isolated and 16 were hospital-acquired: Staphylococcus (3), Escherichia coli (1), Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia (5), Proteus (3), Aeruginosa (2), Acinetobacter (2), These patients received moxalactam at the dosage of 500 mg/8H, 5 at 1 g/12H and 13 at 1 g/8H . Daily dosage ranged between 25 and 50 mg/kg; mode of administration was IM (16) or IV infusion pump (5) and mean duration of treatment was 12 days (range 6-21) . Serum and bronchial secretion samples were assayed by the agar diffusion technique utilizing a susceptible strain of enterobacter cloacae (0.06 microgram/ml) as assay organism . At 1 h, mean serum concentrations were 31.5 micrograms/ml after 1 g IM every 12H, 54.9 micrograms/ml after 1 g IM every 8H and at 30 mn after the end of the infusion, serum concentrations were 54.2 micrograms/ml . At the same time, bronchial secretion concentrations were respectively 2.1 micrograms/ml, 5 micrograms/ml and 3.7 micrograms/ml . Clinical cures were obtained in 16 (80%) and bacteriological cures occurred in 14 (70%); of the 12 hospital - acquired infections patients, 8 experienced clinical cures (66%) and the emergence of the following organisms was observed during moxalactam treatment: Staphylococcus (1), Enterococcus (1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), Acinetobacter (3), For the 20 patients, we noted 4 adverse effects: pruritic morbilliform eruption (1), thrombocytosis (1), eosinophilia (2), To avoid failures, the usefulness of routine combinations with amyglycosides is discussed for the cases of hospital - acquired infections.

Biochemistry, 1982 May 11, 21(10), 2490 - 8
Studies on the chirality of sulfoxidation catalyzed by bacterial flavoenzyme cyclohexanone monooxygenase and hog liver flavin adenine dinucleotide containing monooxygenase; Light DR et al.; The stereochemical outcome of oxygen transfer to the sulfur moiety of aryl alkyl sulfides catalyzed by two flavoenzyme monooxygenases has been determined by resolution of sulfoxide product enantionmers on a high-pressure liquid chromatography column {Pirkle, W . H., Finn, J . M . Schreiner, J . L., & Hamper, B . C . (1981) J . Am . Chem . Soc . 103, 3964-3966} containing a 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl-D-phenylglycine chiral stationary phase . With 4-tolyl ethyl sulfide as substrate, cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter produces predominantly the (S)-(-)-sulfoxide (82% S, 18% R), a modest enantioselectivity . In contrast, the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) containing a monooxygenase purified from hog liver microsomes carries out sulfoxidation to yield the (R)-(+)-sulfoxide enantiomer as major product (95% R, 5% S) . The presence of the minor sulfoxide enantiomer in each case appears to be due to incomplete chiral processing by each enzyme and not to a competing, achiral, nonenzymic sulfoxidation process . The mammalian FAD-containing monooxygenase also oxygenates the divalent sulfur of the antiarthritic drug sulindac sulfide to yield a single dextrorotatory isomer of the sulfoxide prodrug . Analysis of the chiral outcome of sulfoxidation catalyzed by rat liver microsomes indicated that phenobarbital treatment increases the capacity for S-(-)-oxygenation of 4-tolyl ethyl sulfide, suggesting that the phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes catalyze formation of the (S)-(-)-sulfoxide preferentially, a surmise validated in the following paper {Waxman, D . J., Light, D . R., & Walsh, C . (1982) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)} . With sulindac sulfide as substrate, though, both control and phenobarbital-induced microsomes catalyze sulfoxidation to yield the same (+)-sulfoxide enantiomer generated by the purified FAD-containing monoxygenase, suggesting a low degree of participation by the cytochrome P-450 isozymes in sulfoxidation of this compound.

Am J Infect Control, 1982 May, 10(2), 43 - 8
Progressive resistance in a single strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus recovered during a nosocomial outbreak; Carlquist JF et al.; A study was undertaken to investigate a nosocomial outbreak of acinetobacter calcoaceticus . The outbreak occurred in a shock-trauma intensive care unit (ICU) during a 6-month period and involved a total of 37 cases . Although no deaths were attributable to Acinetobacter, 60% of patients from whom Acinetobacter was isolated were determined to have a lower respiratory tract infection . A significant difference (p less than 0.05) was noted between the length to stay in the unit of patients who acquired Acinetobacter (mean 23.9 days) and of those who remained free of the organism (mean 2.58 days) . The average day on which cultures first became positive was 14.85 . During the last 3 months of the outbreak, the ICU Acinetobacter isolates developed an unusual pattern of aminoglycoside resistance that differed significantly (p less than 0.001) from the sensitivities of non-ICU Acinetobacter isolates . No plasmids could be detected in selected aminoglycoside-resistance Acinetobacter . Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated concurrently from patients with Acinetobacter showed no abnormal variation in antimicrobial sensitivities . These findings were interpreted to mean that the outbreak was the result of the persistence of a single strain of A . calcoaceticus within the ICU . Termination of the outbreak was attributed to initiation of control measures.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(5), 769 - 76
Tentative interpretive standards for agar disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing of cefoperazone; Thornsberry C et al.; Cefoperazone is a new cephalosporin with a very wide spectrum of activity, including activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . It has less activity on enterococci and Acinetobacter . Of the 459 selected bacterial strains tested in this study, only 1.5% (7 strains and 6 genera) had minimum inhibitory concentrations of greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml . For a minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint of less than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml (susceptible), we recommend that the disk diffusion test be done with a 75-micrograms disk and breakpoints of greater than or equal to 18 mm for susceptible, 15 to 17 mm for intermediate, and less than or equal to 14 mm for resistant . Diffusion tests using these criteria yielded only 1.1% very major or major errors.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1982 May-Jun, 133(3), 387 - 92
{gamma-Glutamyl-transferase activity in the family "Neisseriaceae" (author's transl)}; Riou JY et al.; Members of the family Neisseriaceae (554 strains) were screened for gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma GT) activity . gamma GT was produced by Neisseria meningitidis but not produced by any strain of N . gonorrhoeae, N . lactamica and Branhamella catarrhalis . Most non-proteolytic Acinetobacter calcoaceticus produced gamma GT whereas most A . lwoffii failed to produce gamma GT.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 Apr 1, 123(2), 323 - 32
The purification and properties of 2,4-dichlorophenol hydroxylase from a strain of Acinetobacter species; Beadle CA et al.; 1 . 2,4-Dichlorophenol hydroxylase has been purified 13-fold from Acinetobacter grown on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as sole carbon source . The enzyme was estimated to be 80-90% pure by electrophoresis . 2 . The enzyme has a relative molecular mass of about 240 000 and consists of four subunits of identical size . 3 . The enzyme contains FAD as the prosthetic group . FAD could not be replaced by riboflavin or FMN in reconstituting active enzyme from apoenzyme . 4 . The reaction catalysed is an NADPH-dependent hydroxylation of 2,4-dichlorophenol with the formation of 3,5-dichlorocatechol as product . The reaction stoichiometry is typical of a monooxygenase with an external electron donor . NADPH is the preferred reduced pyridine nucleotide substrate but the enzyme can function with NADH . 5 . The enzyme possesses broad effector specificity . In addition to 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol and 4-chloro-2-methylphenol are true substrates for the enzyme . A number of 'non-substrate effectors' has been found . 6 . The enzyme is sensitive to thiol-inhibiting reagents.

Ann Intern Med, 1982 Apr, 96(4), 468 - 74
Host defense and antimicrobial therapy in adult gram-negative bacillary meningitis; Rahal JJ et al.; Effective therapy for aerobic gram-negative bacillary meningitis is limited by antibiotic resistance among many pathogens and by poor diffusion of some antibiotics into the subarachnoid space . The host response to suppurative meningitis caused by all encapsulated bacteria is impaired by a deficiency of complement and opsonic activity in infected spinal fluid; consequently, therapy with bactericidal antibiotics is preferred . Chloramphenicol diffuses well into cerebrospinal fluid, but is bacteristatic against enteric gram-negative bacilli . Although aminoglycosides are bactericidal, their use requires daily intralumbar or intraventricular injections . Newer cephalosporin compounds, moxalactam and cefotaxime, are bactericidal at very low concentrations and diffuse well from serum to infected spinal fluid . Clinical trials with moxalactam suggest that it is the most effective regimen for enteric gram-negative bacillary meningitis in adults; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and acinetobacter meningitis are most susceptible to a combination of intravenous ticarcillin and aminoglycoside, plus intrathecal aminoglycoside.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Apr, 21(4), 641 - 5
Comparative in vitro study of temocillin (BRL 17421), a new penicillin; Bolivar R et al.; The activity of temocillin (BRL 17421), a new penicillin, was tested in vitro against 653 isolates of gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci . The drug was compared with other beta-lactam antibiotics and tobramycin . It inhibited the majority of gram-negative bacilli tested except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, which were highly resistant . It was active against more than 50% of the multiresistant strains tested . Temocillin was more active than mezlocillin against most gram-negative bacilli and more active than moxalactam, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime against Enterobacter spp . In general, it was slightly less active than the other drugs tested and had no activity against the gram-positive cocci . There was no significant change in drug activity when pH and medium were varied, and the effect of serum binding was minimal . There was no significant inoculum effect when the size of the inoculum was increased from 10(4) to 10(6) organisms per ml.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Apr, 150(1), 298 - 302
Transfer of the gonococcal penicillinase plasmid: mobilization in Escherichia coli by IncP plasmids and isolation as a DNA-protein relaxation complex; Guiney DG Jr et al.; A 4.4-megadalton penicillinase plasmid, pWD2, from Neisseria gonorrhoeae was transformed into Escherichia coli . pWD2 was efficiently mobilized by IncP plasmids in E . coli but not by Flac, R1drd-19, or R64drd-11 . pWD2 could be isolated as a DNA-protein relaxation complex with properties similar to the well characterized ColE1 complex . The host range of pWD2 was shown to include gonococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and Hemophilus influenzae, but not Acinetobacter calcoaceticus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These findings suggest that P-group plasmids could have played a role in the dissemination of the TEM beta-lactamase to pathogenic gram-negative bacteria.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Apr, 21(4), 604 - 7
In vitro antibacterial activity of norfloxacin (MK-0366); King A et al.; The in vitro activity of norfloxacin (MK-0366) compared with that of beta-lactam antibiotics and, where appropriate of gentamicin or metronidazole was assessed against recent clinical isolates of common bacteria . The compound was highly active against most enterobacteria (minimal inhibitory concentrations {MICs}, 0.008 to 32 micrograms/ml; 90% inhibited by 0.25 micrograms/ml), Haemophilus influenzae (MICs, 0.03 to 0.12 micrograms/ml), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MICs, 0.008 to 0.016 micrograms/ml) . It was also active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs, 0.12 to 2 micrograms/ml), most other pseudomonads (MICs, 0.03 to 32 micrograms/ml), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (MICs 0.06 to 4 micrograms/ml) . Norfloxacin was somewhat less active against staphylococci (MICs, 0.25 to 4 micrograms/ml; 1 microgram/ml required to inhibit 50% of isolates) and streptococci (MICs, 0.5 to 64 micrograms/ml) . Members of the Bacteroides fragilis group of anaerobes were relatively resistant to norfloxacin (MICs, 8 to 128 micrograms/ml), as were most other anaerobes.

S Afr Med J, 1982 Mar 20, 61(12), 448 - 9
Acinetobacter meningitis - a diagnostic pitfall . A report of 3 cases; Berkowitz FE; Three fatal cases of meningitis caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus are reported, 1 in a premature infant who was being artificially ventilated and 2 in adults who had had neurosurgical operations . The microscopic resemblance of this organism to Neisseria meningitidis is high-lighted and the problems of antimicrobial therapy are discussed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Mar, (3), 100 - 3
{Acinetobacter colcoaceticus: its properties, identification key and a study of its role in acute intestinal diseases}; Proskuriakova NB et al.; The authors present their new scheme for the identification of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, requiring a lesser number of test, and the characterstics of 84 strains isolated from patients with acute intestinal diseases and from the environment . Some strains are atypical . Acinetobacter has been detected in 7.8 +/- 1.0% of patients with acute intestinal diseases . The authors' observations confirm that the detection of Acinetobacter in washings from such patients is more convincing for etiological diagnosis than its detection on feces.

Clin Pharm, 1982 Mar-Apr, 1(2), 114 - 24
Cefotaxime: microbiology, pharmacology, and clinical use; Dudley MN et al.; The microbiological activity, pharmacology, and clinical efficacy of the third-generation cephalosporin cefotaxime are reviewed . Cefotaxime has greater activity than other available first- and second-generation cephalosporins against Enterobacteriaceae . It is more active than older cephalosporins against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., but most strains are still considered resistant . Cefotaxime is also active against some gram-negative bacilli that are resistant to aminoglycosides, including amikacin . Cefotaxime has activity comparable with other cephalosporins against gram-positive cocci, except staphylococci and enterococci, which are resistant . Cefotaxime in combination with penicillins or aminoglycosides may be synergistic against selected gram-negative bacilli . Cefotaxime is metabolized in vivo to the desacetyl derivative, which is also microbiologically active . Cefotaxime appears to penetrate most body tissues and fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid . Clinical use of cefotaxime has resulted in response rates between 70 and 95% in most infections . The ultimate role of cefotaxime and other third-generation cephalosporins is not established since controlled clinical comparisons with standard antimicrobial regimens are lacking . Possibilities include the empiric and specific therapy of serious gram-negative bacillary infection probably in combination with a penicillin or an aminoglycoside . Cefotaxime appears to be potentially useful in the management of gram-negative bacillary meningitis.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Feb 4, 11(5 Pt 2), 318 - 23
{Comparative in vitro activity of 5 semi-synthetic penicillins against aerobic Gram-negative bacilli and enterococci (author's transl)}; Thabaut A et al.; The MICs and MBCs of mezlocillin, ticarcillin and piperacillin were determined by microdilution in liquid medium against 700 strains of Gram-negative bacilli and enterococci isolated from pathological materials and classified according to their sensitivity of ampicillin and carbenicillin . Strains sensitive to ampicillin and carbenicillin were usually sensitive to the other penicillins with weight for weight differences in activity . The MIC pf mezlocillin against 40% of ampicillin - and carbenicillin-resistant TEM-producing strains of E . coli ranged fron 32 to 64 micrograms/ml . In 50% of Klebsiella strains producing a broad-spectrum penicillinase which inhibited ampicillin and carbenicillin, the MIC of mezlocillin was equal or inferior to 8 micrograms/ml . Carbenicillin-resistant Enterobacter and Citrobacter strains were also resistant to the other penicillins under study . Mezlocillin and piperacillin showed some activity on a few strains of carbenicillin-resistant Serratia, Proteus and Acinetobacter spp . Piperacillin and, to a lesser degree, mezlocillin were active against those strains of Pseudomonas spp for which the MIC of carbenicillin was around 512 micrograms/ml . Mezlocillin and ampicillin were the most active of the antibiotics tested against Enterococci . The MBCs of all antibiotics in this study were strongly influenced by the size of the inoculum.

Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Feb 4, 11(5 Pt 2), 314 - 7
{Sensitivity to mezlocillin Gram-negative aerobic bacilli according to their pattern of resistance to the usual beta-lactam antibiotics (author's transl)}; Witchitz JL et al.; Gram-negative aerobic bacilli (Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter) isolated in clinical circumstances at the microbiology of the Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, are classified according to their resistance to the usual beta-lactam antibiotics routinely tested: ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefalotin . The MICs of mezlocillin were measured on 204 strains and compared to the results obtained with older drugs in each group.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1982 Feb, 15(1), 46 - 57
Metabolic accumulation of hydrocarbons by Acinetobacter species; Chung ST et al.; Acinetobacter HO1-N grown on hexadecane as a sole source of carbon and energy was demonstrated to cytoplasmically sequester this hydrocarbon . Cultures grown with hexadecane and heptadecane accumulated intracytoplasmically both hydrocarbons . The accumulation of specific alkanes was non-specific while the oxidation of the pooled hydrocarbon was highly specific . Naphthalene was highly inhibitory to the growth of this microorganism but slowly co-oxidized in the presence of hexadecane.

Arch Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 131(1), 27 - 31
Different forms of quinoprotein aldose-(glucose-) dehydrogenase in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Duine JA et al.; The ratios of the oxidation rates of aldose sugars, determined in cell-free extracts of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, vary with the strain and growth conditions used . Three distinct forms of glucose dehydrogenase with different substrate specificities, occurring in variable proportions in these extracts, are responsible for this effect . One form is the already known "soluble glucose dehydrogenase", the other two forms are complexes containing enzyme and components of the respiratory chain . The proportions in which the enzyme forms are found in the cell-free extract correlate with the oxidative behaviour of whole cells with respect to aldose sugars, It is concluded, therefore, that the enzyme forms are not an artefact of the isolation procedure but that they exist as such in vivo . Since the two complexes can be converted into the soluble enzyme form, aldose dehydrogenase can, probably, be integrated in three different ways into the respiratory chain . The presence of glucose during growth does not stimulate aldose dehydrogenase production . This is not surprising since the enzyme has no function is carbon metabolism, except perhaps in strains growing on pentoses at high pH . Therefore, the physiological role of quinoprotein aldose dehydrogenase in this organism may be primarily in energy generation.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 Feb, 122(2), 233 - 7
Isolation, purification, and chemical analysis of the lipopolysaccharide and lipid A of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305; Brade H et al.; The lipopolysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCTC 10305 (London) was obtained by a modified phenol/chloroform/light petroleum method from the bacterial cells and from the culture medium in yields of 1.6% and 2.2% respectively (based on the bacterial dry weight) . On chemical analysis, both preparations proved to be identical . The lipopolysaccharide obtained from the cells was purified by repeated ultracentrifugation, electrodialysis, and precipitation with sodium chloride . It was free of nucleic acids, proteins, and glycans . In the analytical ultracentrifuge, the triethylamine and sodium salt forms of the lipopolysaccharide showed a s20 value of 8.9 S and 51 S, respectively . The lipopolysaccharide consisted of glucosamine, 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, D-glucose, fatty acids, and phosphate in a molar ratio of 2:1:7:6:4 . The fatty acids were predominantly lauric acid, 2-hydroxy, and 3-hydroxylauric acid in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 . Only 3-hydroxylauric acid was found in amide linkage . On mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide, 65% lipid A were obtained, to which glucosamine was retained quantitatively . It still contained 50% of the original glucose, while one third (15%) of the liberated glucose was in monomeric form.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 43(2), 424 - 9
UV light-induced survival response in a highly radiation-resistant isolate of the Moraxella-Acinetobacter group; Keller LC et al.; A highly radiation-resistant member of the Moraxella-Acinetobacter group, isolate 4, obtained from meat, was studied to determine the effect of preexposure to UV radiation on subsequent UV light resistance . Cultures that were preexposed to UV light and incubated for a short time in plate count both exhibited increased survival of a UV light challenge dose . This response was inhibited in the presence of chloramphenicol . Frequencies of mutation to streptomycin, trimethoprim, and sulfanilamide resistance remained the same after the induction of this survival response and were not altered by treatment with mutagens, with the exception of mutation to streptomycin resistance after gamma-irradiation or nitrosoguanidine or methyl methane sulfonate treatment . The results indicated that isolate 4 has a UV light-inducible UV light resistance mechanism which is not associated with increased mutagenesis . The characteristics of the radiation resistance response in this organism are similar to those of certain other common food contaminants . Therefore, considered as part of the total microflora of meat, isolate 4 and the other radiation-resistant Moraxella-Acinetobacter isolates should not pose unique problems in a proposed radappertization process.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 15(2), 302 - 7
Evaluation of the AutoMicrobic system for identification of glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative rods; Smith SM et al.; With the Enterobacteriaceae Plus Biochemical Card, the AutoMicrobic system (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) is purported to identify members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and seven species of glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative rods: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . fluorescens, P . putida, P . maltophilia, P . cepacia, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (saccharolytic and non-saccharolytic) . The latter capability was examined in this investigation . Of 410 glucose-nonfermenting rods included in the identification profile, the AutoMicrobic system correctly identified 366 (89.3%) . Of 62 glucose-nonfermenting organisms not included in the identification profile, 41 (66%) were correctly reported as "unidentified organism." The usefulness of the AutoMicrobic system-generated identification probability in establishing criteria for acceptance of identification is discussed.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 1(1), 49 - 51
In vitro activity of N-formimidoyl-thienamycin in comparison to that of moxalactam and cefotaxime against gentamicin-resistant gram-negative bacteria; Pusztai-Markos Z et al.; The inhibitory and bactericidal activity of N-formimidoyl-thienamycin in vitro against 131 clinical isolates selected for their gentamicin resistance was compared with that of cefotaxime and moxalactam . All strains were inhibited by N-formimidoyl-thienamycin concentrations within a range of 0.12-4 mg/l . N-formimidoyl-thienamycin was less active than cefotaxime and moxalactam against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., and more active than all other antibiotics tested against Serratia spp., Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp . In contrast to the other antibiotics N-formimidoyl-thienamycin showed a narrow margin of difference between minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations . N-formimidoyl-thienamycin is a promising antibiotic for the treatment of hospital infections with multi-resistant organisms.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(4), 405 - 16
Nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria and their differentiation from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Iskhakova KI et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and other nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria isolated from surgical patients and environmental washings at a surgical in-patient department were characterized bacteriologically . The biochemical and cultivation features of 156 P . aeruginosa strains, 35 strains of oxidase-negative and 31 strains of oxidase-positive Gram-negative bacteria other than P . aeruginosa were studied . Nonpigmented P . aeruginosa strains and strains with delayed pigmentation accounted for, respectively, 8.3% and 21.2% of the P . aeruginosa isolates . Deviations other than pigmentation deficiency from typical characteristics of P . aeruginosa cultures included absence of the following activities: Glucose and xylose oxidation, gelatin liguefaction, proteolysis on milk agar and some others . Thirty-five strains of oxidase-negative nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria were identified as Acinetobacter anitratus (21 strains), Moraxella lwoffi (11 strains) and Pseudomonas maltophilia (3 strains) . Oxidase-positive nonfermenting Gram-negative bacteria (31 strains) were mainly represented by Pseudomonas alcaligenes (11 strains) and Pseudomonas cepacia (6 strains) . Other species were isolated in individual cases only . The investigation scheme and tests proposed by Gaislerova (1977) allowed identification to species of most of the nonfermenting Gramnegative bacteria isolated.

Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 3, S249 - 56
Comparative in vitro antibacterial activity of seven semi-synthetic penicillins against aerobic gram-negative bacteria and enterococci; Thabaut A et al.; The MICs and MBCs of mecillinam, ticarcillin, mezlocillin, azlocillin and piperacillin were determined by the microdilution method in liquid medium using 700 strains of gram-negative bacilli and enterococci isolated from pathological sources and classified as a function of their sensitivity to ampicillin and carbenicillin . The ampicillin and carbenicillin-sensitive strains were generally sensitive to the other penicillins, although there were differences in activity . The ampicillin and carbenicillin-resistant strains of Escherichia coli that produce a TEM-type penicillinase were sensitive to mecillinam . Mezlocillin, piperacillin and azlocillin had MICs of between 32 and 64 mg/l for 40% of these strains . The Klebsiella strains, whose broad-spectrum penicillinase deactivates ampicillin and carbenicillin, remained sensitive to mecillinam . Mezlocillin, azlocillin and piperacillin had MICs of less than 8 mg/l for 50% of these strains . The carbenicillin-resistant strains of Enterobacter and Citrobacter were also resistant to the other penicillins . Piperacillin and mezlocillin displayed some activity against certain strains of carbenicillin-resistant Serratia, Proteus and Acinetobacter . Azlocillin, piperacillin and, to a lesser degree, mezlocillin were active against the strains of Pseudomonas, for which carbenicillin had an MIC of about 512 mg/l . Ampicillin, mezlocillin and azlocillin showed the best activity against the enterococci, against which mecillinam was inactive . The MBC of these antibiotics is greatly influenced by the density of the bacterial inoculum.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(6), 365 - 72
{Optimization of culture conditions for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus grown on n-alkanes in a laboratory fermenter}; Fricke B et al.; The growth conditions for the cultivation of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a commercial laboratory fermenter have been optimized . This was done taking former results of shake cultures as a basis . At the end of the logarithmic phase up to 10 g/l dry weight were obtained . The following culture conditions have been used: The medium contained 10 ml/l n-alkane and 6 g/l NH4Cl . The pH was adjusted to 6.5 and pO2 employed to 70% saturation . A 12 times higher amount of dry weight was observed compared with shake culture technique.

Infection, 1982, 10(3), 168 - 71
Nosocomial bacteremia due to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Raz R et al.; In 1980, 13 patients with positive blood cultures for Acinetobacter calcoaceticus were detected in an 800 bed university medical center . Twelve of the 13 isolates were identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var . anitratus and one as var . lwoffi . In the same period there were 361 positive specimens of A . calcoaceticus . Eight of the patients were classified as having significant bacteremia (Group A) with a serious infection in which Acinetobacter was considered a significant pathogen . Five additional patients, however, (Group B) had fever and only one set of positive blood cultures . The significance of these positive isolates was unclear to the attending clinicians . All but one Group A patient appeared to have acquired their infection during hospitalization . In this group, one patient had an underlying pneumonia as the source of bacteremia . In the remaining patients bacteremia was related to some form of invasive catheterization . Seven patients responded rapidly to appropriate antimicrobial therapy and one patient with terminal cancer died as a result of infection . This report reviews the clinical spectrum of Acinetobacter bacteremia, which can range from mild, possibly self-limiting bacteremia to serious, life-threatening septicaemia, especially in compromised hospitalized patients.

Can J Comp Med, 1982 Jan, 46(1), 80 - 4
Evaluation of the API 20E system for the identification of gram-negative nonfermenters from animal origin; Devenish JA et al.; The API 20E system was evaluated on isolates from animals of aerobic nonfermentative and cytochrome oxidase positive Gram-negative rods . An accuracy of identification of 80% (214/268 isolates) was achieved for those organisms included in the 1976-1977 API profile index . Members of the genera Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter were identified with 100% accuracy . Organisms not included in the API profile gave either an unacceptable profile number or were incorrectly identified as Moraxella spp . When the inoculum size was increased there was better identification.

Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 351 - 4
In vitro comparison of cefotetan with five other cephalosporins against nosocomial pathogens; Daschner FD et al.; The in vitro activity of cefotetan against Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacterial strains including nonfermenting species has been compared with that of cefoxitin, cefotaxim, moxalactam, cefoperazone and ceftazidime by use of an agar dilution method . Cefotetan was found to be inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species and only moderately active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Enterobacter cloacae . It was more active than cefoxitin and cefoperazone against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and indole-positive Proteus strains.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1982 Jan, 16(1), 35 - 41
{Amikacin - resistance in some bacteria isolated in Ankara, and its relation to R plasmids}; Akman M et al.; Four acinetobacter and 5 Ps . aeruginosa strains which were isolated in Clinical pathology Lab . of Hacettepe Univ . Med . School, and found to be resistant to Amikacin were tested for infectious drug resistance, using conventional in vitro transfer technique repeatedly . E . coli K12 Nalr (for Acinetobacters), and Ps . aeruginosa (for Pseudomonads) strains were used as recipients . For cultures and transfer experiments NB No : 2, and for the selection Mc Conkey Agar plates with nalidixic acid and proper antibiotics were used . Inspite of some variable and curious positive findings, it was not possible to transfer Amikacin - resistance to recipients with certainty . Results suggest that this characteristic was not controlled by R plasmids and hence was not "infectious", or at least could not been transferred by the technique we used.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(1), 3 - 15
{Rubredoxin reductase in crude extracts of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in relation to carbon source and growth phase}; Claus R et al.; By immunization of rabbits with discelectrophoretically purified rubredoxin-reductase from Ac . calcoaceticus an antiserum against this enzyme was prepared . The antiserum was monospecifical to a diaphoretic activity, which had a RF-value identical with the rubredoxin-reductase-RF value . It has been shown by discelectrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, OUCHTERLONY technique and kinetic investigations that crude extracts of bacteria grown on C16, malate, succinate or acetate contain rubredoxin-reductase . By the LAURELL technique we demonstrated that the amount of the enzyme is nearly independent of the carbon source . There are only differences during the different growth phases.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1982, 32(5), 531 - 3
In vitro combination effects of cefsulodin, moxalactam and cefoperazone with four aminoglycosides on nonfermenting nosocomial gram-negative bacteria; Daschner FD et al.; The activity of moxalactam, cefsulodin and cefoperazone on 67 non-fermenting gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from patients with nosocomial infections was tested either alone or in combination with gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin and netilmicin, respectively, by use of the checkerboard agar dilution technique . Cefsulodin was most active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cefoperazone was the most active cephalosporin tested against Pseudomonas fluorescens-putida and Acinetobacter antitratus . Cefoperazone-aminoglycoside interactions were found to be synergistic in only 2--5% of all strains, cefsulodin and moxalactam in combination with aminoglycosides were most potent against P . aeruginosa . Cefsulodin-gentamicin interactions were superior to other cephalosporin-amino-glycoside combinations.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1982, 61(4), 309 - 19
{Minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefuroxime and cefalotin against 90 bacterial strains}; Mascellino MT et al.; In this work, the sensitivity in vitro of cefoxitin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefoperazone and cephalothin have been examined . Test of sensitivity in vitro have been performed as by Kirby-Bauer method as by measurement of MIC and MBC . Then the regression lines have been determined . Cefotaxime and cefoperazone provided nearly complete coverage of all Enterobacteriaceae; 80% were inhibited at less than or equal to 2 mcg./ml . This value is far below therapeutically attainable serum concentrations . Cefotaxime has MIC lower than cefoperazone . It has a significant spectrum of activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nonenterococcal Streptococcus sp, non Enterobacteriaceae Gram-negative bacilli . Only enterococci and Acinetobacter species were relatively resistant to cefoperazone and cefotaxime . The cephalothin and the cefoxitin included excellent antimicrobial coverage of the staphylococci and the anaerobic bacteria respectively.

Ann Intern Med, 1981 Dec, 95(6), 688 - 93
A cluster of Acinetobacter Pneumonia in foundry workers; Cordes LG et al.; In a 3-month period, three men who had worked for 5 to 19 years as welders or grinders of steel castings in a foundry acquired pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus variety anitratus serotype 7J . Two of the men died, and postmortem examination showed mixed-dust pneumoconiosis with iron particles in the lungs . A calcoaceticus variety anitratus serotype 7J was isolated from the air in the foundry but the source was not found . The prevalence of antibody titers of 64 or greater to the 7J strain was significantly higher among foundry workers (15%) than among community controls (2%) (p less than 0.01) . Sampling showed that the concentrations of total and metallic particles (especially iron) and of free silica in air inhaled by welders and grinders at the foundry frequently exceeded acceptable levels . These findings suggest that chronic exposure to such particles may increase susceptibility to infection by this organism, which rarely affects healthy people.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981 Dec, 174(6), 509 - 22
{Acinetobacter isolates from environmental sampling in hospitals (author's transl)}; Ohgke H et al.; By environmental culturing Acinetobacter could be isolated from human sources and wet sites as well as from air and dry surfaces . In variety "anitratus" strains from patients and hospital personal resistance against antibiotics and metal salts was more dominant than in other strains . Acinetobacter strains were more tolerant of dryness than E . coli but less than Micrococcus luteus . By repeated contacts Acinetobacteres could be recovered from contaminated surfaces of polyvinyl chloride in significantly higher numbers than from paving tile.

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