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 -