Biokhimiia, 1984 Jan, 49(1), 32 - 7 {Isolation and properties of tyrosine phenol-lyase from Citrobacter intermedius}; Demidkina TV et al.; A method for preparation of homogeneous tyrosine phenol lyase (EC 4.199.2) from Citrobacter intermedius has been developed . The cells were cultivated in the media with a view to obtain a cell culture with a high activity of tyrosine phenol lyase . The isoelectric point for the enzyme lies at pH 4.9 . Tyrosine phenol lyase is strictly stereospecific: it catalyzes the formation of pyruvate only from L-tyrosine, but not from D-tyrosine . Kinetic studies showed that K+ and NH4+ cations are non-competitive activators of the enzyme (Ka = 3.57 X 10(-3) and 1.34 X 10(-4) M, respectively). Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1984 Jan-Feb, 20(1), 79 - 87 {Immobilization of Citrobacter freundii cells with tyrosine phenol-lyase activity by entrapment in natural gels}; Tysiachnaia IV et al.; A comparative study on immobilization of Citrobacter freundii cells by entrapment in carrageenan, agar, agar-agar, and gelatin gels (5, 10, and 15%) was carried out . Gelatin gels were treated with glutaraldehyde to make them more rigid . As a result, the tyrosine phenol-lyase activity of these samples was less than that of free cells (about 40%) . The yield of TP-lyase activity was 40--60% when cells were immobilized in 5% and 7% agar and agar-agar gels . The cells entrapped in carrageenan gels, the concentration of which was varied from 2 to 10%, possessed the highest tyrosine phenol-lyase activity (up to 90%) . The efficiency of cell entrapment was high for all the carrier and equal to 70--90% . The plastic strength and swelling of the above gels, as well as the phenol adsorption on the carriers and the release of the bacterial cells from them were studied under the conditions of tyrosine phenol-lyase reaction. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(3), 175 - 81 Influence of spontaneous and inducible beta-lactamase production on the antimicrobial activity of recently developed beta-lactam compounds; Cullmann W et al.; The activity of 9 recently developed beta-lactam compounds was evaluated in 185 ampicillin-resistant isolates of Enterobacteriaceae . Moreover, in all strains, spontaneous and inducible beta-lactamase production was quantified and correlated with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each compound . In most species, no correlation could be observed between spontaneously produced beta-lactamase and the MICs, with the only exceptions of Serratia spp . and Morganella morganii isolates for methoxyimino cephalosporins and azthreonam . On the other hand, the increase of MICs of third-generation cephalosporins and azthreonam correlated well with the total amount of enzyme produced . With respect to temocillin and the penem compound Sch 29 482, there was a significant correlation of enzyme production and MICs only among the Citrobacter spp . isolates . It can be assumed that the effectiveness of the new agents is not only due to the low rate of hydrolysis, but also to the rapid binding to the lethal target. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 98 - 104 In vitro and in vivo antibacterial properties of FK 027, a new orally active cephem antibiotic; Kamimura T et al.; FK 027 was more active than cefaclor, cephalexin, and amoxicillin against stock strains of a wide variety of gram-negative bacteria, including such opportunistic pathogens as Citrobacter and Enterobacter species and Serratia marcescens . FK 027 was significantly more active than the three reference drugs against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, indole-positive and -negative Proteus species, Providencia species, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . It was less active than cefaclor, cephalexin, and amoxicillin against staphylococci, but it was similar to cefaclor in its activity against streptococci . With few exceptions, FK 027 was active against strains of E . coli, K . pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis that were resistant to the reference agents . The bactericidal activity of FK 027 against various gram-negative bacteria, including Proteus species, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, and S . marcescens, was greater than that of cefaclor, cephalexin, and amoxicillin . The therapeutic activities of FK 027 in mice infected with gram-negative bacilli were far superior to the activities of cefaclor, cephalexin, and amoxicillin, but they were inferior to the activities of these reference drugs against infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1984, 32(4), 493 - 7 Immunochemical characterization of lipopolysaccharides of Citrobacter chemotypes CC-G and CC-H; Romanowska A et al.; Lipopolysaccharides of Citrobacter serotypes 04, 027 and 036 indicate strong cross-reactivity in passive hemagglutination and their O-specific chains are homopolymers of (beta 1----2)--linked 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose . Citrobacter serotype 023 cannot be placed in chemotype CC-H, since its O-specific polysaccharide does not contain 4-deoxy-hexose . The possibility exists that 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexosyl side chains of 023-specific-polysaccharide disappeared as a result of a mutation of the parent strain . Although Citrobacter strain PCM 1487 contains 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose and belongs to the chemotype CC-G, it cannot be included to the serotypes 04, 027 or 036 . Instead, it represents a new serotype, with O-specific polysaccharide composed of 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. Clin Ther, 1984, 6(6), 839 - 43 Cefoperazone in the treatment of postsurgical wound infection, sepsis, and abscess of the spinal cord and brain; Woo JH et al.; Cefoperazone was used in the treatment of 23 cases of serious bacterial infection in 20 patients . Ten postoperative scalp wound infections, five infections at the site of tracheostomy, four cases of extradural spinal cord abscess, three cases of sepsis, and one abscess of the cerebellopontine angle were treated with cefoperazone (1 to 2 gm BID, usually for seven to 27 days) . There were excellent or good clinical responses in 87% (20/23) of the cases (14 of the 15 postsurgical wound infections, three of the four cases of spinal cord abscess, and all three cases of sepsis) . Most of the organisms isolated from the patients' cultures were sensitive to cefoperazone . Excellent or good responses occurred in ten of the 12 infections due to Staphylococcus aureus, in all three infections due to Pseudomonas sp, all three due to Citrobacter freundii, the two due to Serratia marcescens, one of the two due to Klebsiella sp, and the one due to Escherichia coli . Two patients with ventriculitis were clinically improved by three 1-gm infusions, via a shunt, of cefoperazone . No adverse effects of the antibiotic therapy were reported. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1984, 173(1), 45 - 8 Growth of clinical isolates in the cold; Flournoy DJ; Common clinical isolates were tested to determine their ability to multiply after 7 days at 4 degrees C in trypticase soy broth . 34% of the 214 isolates grew in the cold . Citrobacter freundii, Group D Enterococci, Klebsiella oxytoca, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri and Serratia marcescens grew best of all . The importance of growth in the cold is discussed. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(5-6), 711 - 27 Recognition and clinical significance of mechanisms of bacterial resistance to beta-lactams; Mouton RP; Resistance to beta-lactams may be difficult to recognize . This is due to the difficulty in detecting these resistances, when the routine tests performed in diagnostic laboratories are interpreted in the usual manner . Since failure to recognize this type of resistance may have serious consequences for the patient, it is essential that it be detected when present . For the detection of methicillin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus a standardized method using either a medium containing 5% NaCl or a low incubation temperature is advocated . Methicillin resistance of S . epidermidis can only be recognized reliably by means of a quantitative test and incubation for 42-48 h . Resistance of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin may be intrinsic or it may be caused by a TEM beta-lactamase; a beta-lactamase test should be used to detect the latter type of resistance . Inducible cephalosporinase may be responsible for the rapid development of resistance of some bacterial species to cefamandole, even during therapy . If a stable beta-lactamase production is attained by mutation, resistance to other beta-lactams will usually be present as well . Routine induction tests should be performed for all isolates of species of Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter and Proteus, indole-positive . The same type of 'hidden' resistance may be present in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with regard to cefotaxime and other third-generation cephalosporins . Beta-lactamase-positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae can easily be recognized by a beta-lactamase test . In addition, the results of diffusion tests allow one to distinguish between beta-lactamase-positive and beta-lactamase-negative strains . Recognition of those strains of N . gonorrhoeae having a decreased susceptibility to penicillin is only possible when well-standardized quantitative tests are used. Clin Ther, 1984, 6(4), 411 - 24 In vitro properties of ceftazidime, a highly active broad-spectrum cephalosporin with antipseudomonal activity; Harper PB; Ceftazidime is an aminothiazolyl cephalosporin that exhibits a high level of broad-spectrum activity, with particularly good activity against Pseudomonas sp . Although activity in vitro against staphylococci is moderate, the majority of enterobacteria are susceptible, with MIC50 values in the range from 0.06 to 4 micrograms/ml . This cephalosporin is also highly active against indole-positive Proteus sp, Providencia sp, Citrobacter sp, and Serratia sp, with MIC50 values ranging from less than or equal to 0.06 to 0.13 microgram/ml . Good activity against Pseudomonas sp is a notable feature, with MIC90 values in the range of 4 to 8 micrograms/ml . Ceftazidime is bactericidal at concentrations identical or close to the MIC . Antibiotic performance in vitro appears to be unaffected by the presence of body fluids . Good stability to hydrolysis by a range of the prevalent beta-lactamases, good penetration into the intact bacterium, and a high affinity for the essential penicillin-binding proteins combine to account for the broad spectrum and high activity of ceftazidime . Comparative in vitro studies have shown ceftazidime to be as active and sometimes more active than available aminoglycoside antibiotics . Since the mode of action of ceftazidime differs fundamentally from that of the aminoglycosides, high activity is maintained against the majority of aminoglycoside-resistant isolates . Ceftazidime should therefore represent a viable and potentially safer alternative to aminoglycoside antibiotics. Urol Int, 1984, 39(6), 345 - 51 Comparative efficacy of piperacillin versus carbenicillin for complicated urinary tract infections; Sharifi R et al.; In this controlled, randomized clinical trial we compared piperacillin and carbenicillin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections . 24 patients received piperacillin 150 mg/kg/day for 7.2 +/- 2.75 days and 17 patients received carbenicillin 200 mg/kg/day for 7.5 +/- 2.90 days . Patients were evaluated for clinical and bacteriologic responses and tolerance to therapy . Although the clinical cure rate significantly favored carbenicillin treatment (p less than 0.01), the sum of the percentages of cases with clinical cure and clinical improvement were similar between groups: 91.6% for piperacillin and 88.2% for carbenicillin . The bacteriologic cure rates for piperacillin and carbenicillin patients (54.1 and 47.0%, respectively) were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) . The low cure rates in our study were probably the result of uncorrected/uncorrectable genitourinary tract abnormalities . Superinfections developed in 12.5 and 17.6% of piperacillin and carbenicillin patients, respectively, and were due to Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter diversus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Overall, side effects were mild, reversible, and did not require discontinuation of treatment . However, carbenicillin caused elevations in liver enzymes more frequently than piperacillin (p less than 0.05) . Based on our data, we recommend reserving piperacillin monotherapy for patients who are poor candidates for aminoglycosides, or are on severe sodium restriction, and have serious complicated urinary tract infections due to susceptible organisms . We do not recommend piperacillin alone for empiric treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1984 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 115 - 29 {Specificity of new restrictases and methylases . Unusual modification of cytosine at position 4}; Ianulaitis AA et al.; Fourteen restriction endonucleases and 4 methylases were isolated and purified from 14 strains of Citrobacter freundii and Escherichia coli, which were isolated from natural sources . To determine the nucleotide sequence recognized by the endonucleases a comparison of DNA cleavage patterns, the evaluation of the cleavage frequency of some DNA with known recognition sequences and mapping was used . It was determined that Cfr101 is a new enzyme recognizing 5'PuCCGGPy . Other restriction enzymes isolated were isoschizomers of: Cfr5I, Cfr11I, Eco60I, Eco61I--EcoRII; Cfr4I, Cfr8I, Cfr13I--Sau96I; Cfr6I--PvuII, Cfr9I--SmaI, Eco26I--HgiJII; Eco32I--EcoRV; Eco52I--XmaIII; Eco56I--NaeI . Some of the enzymes in C . freundii and E . coli were found for the first time . The methylases MCfrI; MCfr6I, MCfr9I and MCfr10I recognize the same nucleotide sequence as specific endonucleases isolated from the same strain . DNA modification in vitro by MCfrI and MCfr10I yields 5-methylcytosine and 4-methylcytosine by MCfr6I and MCfr9I. Can J Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 30(1), 91 - 7 Characterization of anti-Citrobacter 036 specific polysaccharide monoclonal antibodies; Shearman PJ et al.; Monoclonal mouse antibodies specific for the 0 antigen of Citrobacter 036, a homopolymer of beta (1----2)-linked 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose, were generated by the hybridoma technique . Balb/c mice were immunized with killed whole-cell vaccine and initial selection of active clones was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Concentrated culture supernatants from selected hybrid cultures were used to identify 10 0-antigen specific monoclonal antibodies using the multiple criteria of immunoprecipitation of 0 chains and LPS, inhibition by acid hydrolyzed 0 chains in the screening ELISA, and antibody class analysis . Four monoclonal antibodies were chosen for further study using dose-dependent 0-chain inhibition of ELISA and passive hemagglutination, passive hemolysis, and bacterial agglutination titres . When screened with Citrobacter serotypes known to contain the sugar 4-deoxy-D-arabinose, passive hemagglutination tests showed that the two monoclonal antibodies examined possessed titres which could be correlated with the reported 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose content of the respective LPS's . This sugar is an antigenically important unit of several Citrobacter serotypes as defined by these well-characterized monoclonal antibodies. Clin Ther, 1984, 7(1), 33 - 9 Efficacy of ceftizoxime administered twice daily in hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections; Lentnek A et al.; The efficacy and safety of ceftizoxime administered twice daily were evaluated in 215 hospitalized patients with documented lower respiratory tract infections . The majority of patients received 1 to 2 gm of ceftizoxime intramuscularly or intravenously every 12 hours; the mean dosage was 2 gm/day, and the mean duration of therapy was 8.9 days . Clinical cure was achieved in 204 (95%) of the 215 patients with lower respiratory tract infection . One hundred and thirty-eight patients were both clinically and bacteriologically evaluable . The clinical response rates, by organism, were: Streptococcus pneumoniae, 100% (50/50); Haemophilus influenzae, 96% (25/26); gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter sp, Serratia sp, Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp, Citrobacter sp, and Morganella morganii), 86% (32/37); and Staphylococcus aureus, 92% (12/13) . In the other 77 patients with clinical symptoms, no pathogen was isolated or insufficient follow-up data were collected to assess bacteriologic response . Adverse reactions, which were infrequent, were similar to those reported in other US trials of the drug . The findings indicate that ceftizoxime, 1 to 2 gm BID, is effective and safe in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized patients . This low-dose regimen can significantly reduce the cost of cephalosporin therapy. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1983 Dec 1, 183(11), 1198 - 201 Panophthalmitis and otitis interna in fire-bellied toads; Brooks DE et al.; Microbiologic and histologic studies were made of fire-bellied toads with signs of ocular and central nervous system disease . Providencia alcalifaciens, Citrobacter freundii, Aeromonas hydrophila, and other gram-negative bacilli were isolated from the eyes and multiple tissues of ill toads . The histologic evaluations revealed severe panophthalmitis and otitis interna. Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1983 Dec, 61(12), 1292 - 303 Survey, purification, and properties of sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase among microorganisms; Choy FY et al.; Sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase was purified approximately 500- to 600-fold to apparent homogeneity from Escherichia coli B, Escherichia coli C, Escherichia coli var . communior, Escherichia acidilactici, Enterobacter aerogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, and Saccharomyces cereviseae . The molecular weights of the enzyme as estimated by gel filtration ranged from 97 X 10(3) to 101 X 10(3) . The enzyme was composed of two subunits with the same molecular weight which ranged from 50 X 10(3) to 52 X 10(3), as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis . Homogeneous enzyme preparations hydrolyse all the tested alpha-D-aldohexose 1-phosphate, D-(keto or aldo)hexose 6-phosphate, and pentose phosphate substrates significantly . When the microorganisms were transferred from growth medium with 1% glucose to that without glucose, there were dramatic increases in both the specific and total enzyme activities . At least three isozymes appeared to be present in S . cereviseae, and two appeared to be present in E . coli B, E . coli var . communior, and N . meningitidis . Rabbit antiserum immunized against sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase purified from E . coli B cross-reacted with both the crude extracts and purified preparations of the enzyme from the other microorganisms . The presence of neither sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase activity nor immunocrossreacting material was detected in the following microorganisms: Aspergillus niger, Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilis, Citrobacter freundii, Clostridium butyricum, Corynebacterium xerosis, Flavobacterium aquatile, Flavobacterium synxanthum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Micrococcus coralinus, Neisseria perflava, Neurospora crassa, Penicilium expansum, Penicilium notatum, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Saccharomyces fermenti, Sarcina lutea, and Streptomyces antibioticus . At present, no conclusive relationship can be established between the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system and the enzyme sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase among microorganisms . The physiological role of sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase as a transferase and regulatory enzyme is discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Nov, 256(1), 109 - 18 Influence of methoxy-substitution of beta-lactam compounds on the interaction with various beta-lactamases; Cullmann W et al.; The interaction of 6 alpha-(temocillin) and 7 alpha-methoxy substituted (cefoxitin) beta-lactam compounds with various beta-lactamases was studied employing enzyme kinetics and compared to that of unsubstituted compounds . Both chromosomally mediated enzymes from Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii were competitively inhibited by the methoxy-substituted compounds . Higher concentrations of cefoxitin caused a competitive inhibition of the plasmid-mediated Tem-1 enzyme, whereas temocillin led to a non-competitive inhibition of the Tem-1 enzyme . These results indicate that the discrepancies in the interaction on the above mentioned compounds have to be attributed to the different molecular structure of the beta-lactam nucleus . Moreover, no predictions can be made on the basis of an analogy between 6 alpha-methoxy-penams and 7 alpha-methoxy cephems. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 2887 - 92 {Sensitivity of the recent bacterial isolates to cefotaxime and other cephem antibiotics}; Fujita S et al.; Antimicrobial susceptibility of 703 nonselected strains of 14 different bacterial species to cefazolin, cefmetazole, cefotiam, cefoperazone latamoxef, and cefotaxime (CTX) was examined . CTX was the most active against E . coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, P . mirabilis, H . influenzae, beta-Streptococcus group A, beta-Streptococcus group B and S . pneumoniae . On the other hand, CTX-resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml) strains were isolated at the following frequencies: Citrobacter, 21.7%; Enterobacter, 7.7%; Serratia, 4.6%; P . aeruginosa, 40.4% and B . fragilis, 28.6% . Of the 411 strains classified as very sensitive () or moderately sensitive (++) by disk method, 405 strains (98.5%) were inhibited by less than or equal to 12.5 micrograms/ml of CTX . Only 1 strain (0.2%) was falsely classified as moderately sensitive and no strains were falsely categorized as resistant. FEBS Lett, 1983 Sep 19, 161(2), 210 - 2 A new site-specific endodeoxyribonuclease from Citrobacter freundii; Janulaitis A et al.; Cfr10 I, a site-specific endonuclease from Citrobacter freundii strain RFL10, was isolated . It recognizes and cleaves the family of related sequences: 5'Pu decreases CCGGPy to generate DNA fragments with 5' tetranucleotide extensions . Cfr10 I may be useful in molecular cloning experiments, especially in conjunction with other enzymes which generate the same terminal extensions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Sep, 24(3), 437 - 9 Efficacy of BRL 25000 against Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, and Citrobacter freundii in urinary tract infections; Nakazawa H et al.; Synergism between amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was not expected against cephalosporinase-producing bacterial strains because clavulanic acid has little inhibitory action on cephalosporinases . However, in a clinical trial of BRL 25000 (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid), excellent results were obtained in complicated urinary tract infections caused by Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, and Citrobacter freundii strains which produced cephalosporinase and were highly resistant to amoxicillin alone . The good clinical efficacy of BRL 25000 in such urinary tract infections was probably due to the fact that the urinary concentration of clavulanic acid was higher than its minimal inhibitory concentrations for these strains. J Bacteriol, 1983 Sep, 155(3), 1297 - 305 Comparison of the overlapping frd and ampC operons of Escherichia coli with the corresponding DNA sequences in other gram-negative bacteria; Bergstrom S et al.; Specific DNA probes from Escherichia coli K-12 were used to analyze the sequence divergence of the frd and ampC operons in various species of gram-negative bacteria . These operons code for the fumarate reductase complex and the chromosomal beta-lactamase, respectively . We demonstrate that the two operons show the same general pattern of divergence, although the frd operon is considerably more conserved than is the ampC operon . The major exception is Salmonella typhimurium LT2, which shows a strong homology to the E . coli frd probe but none to the E . coli ampC probe . The operons from Citrobacter freundii and Shigella sonnei were cloned and characterized by physical mapping, Southern hybridization, and protein synthesis in minicells . In S . sonnei, as in E . coli K-12, the frd and ampC operons overlap (T . Grundstrom and B . Jaurin, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 79:1111-1115, 1982) . Only minor discrepancies between the two operons were found over the entire frd-ampC region . In C . freundii, the ampC and frd operons do not overlap, being separated by about 1,100 base pairs . Presumably the inducible property of the C . freundii chromosomal beta-lactamase is encoded by this 1,100-base-pair DNA segment. Infect Immun, 1983 Sep, 41(3), 1056 - 61 Synthesis of plasmid-coded heat-labile enterotoxin in wild-type and hypertoxinogenic strains of Escherichia coli and in other genera of Enterobacteriaceae; Neill RJ et al.; The effect of host determinants on expression of plasmid-coded heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) was examined . A collection of LT plasmids was introduced into isogenic strains of Escherichia coli K-12 strains containing the wild type or hypertoxinogenic (htx-2) allele . For each plasmid tested, production of LT increased by approximately 1.5- to 3-fold in the host containing htx-2, indicating that the htx-2 allele affects a regulatory function for LT production that is common to many different enterotoxin plasmids . LT plasmids from E . coli were also introduced into strains of Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhimurium . The plasmids were stably maintained and determined production of LT in those genera, although the amounts of LT produced varied by more than 50-fold . These observations demonstrate that host factors have an important role in determining the level of expression of plasmid-coded LT genes and support the hypothesis that interspecific, conjugal transfer of enterotoxin plasmids may confer enterotoxigenicity to a wide variety of potentially pathogenic enteric bacteria. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Aug, 12(2), 127 - 31 The origin and properties of beta-lactamase satellite bands seen in isoelectric focusing; Simpson IN et al.; Citrobacter diversus 2046E and Branhamella catarrhalis 2001E each produce a constitutive, chromosomally mediated broad-spectrum beta-lactamase . Isoelectric focusing of both enzymes revealed patterns of multiple 'satellite' bands . The principal satellite bands of each enzyme were isolated and characterized . Individual bands of each enzyme gave similar substrate profiles, molecular weights and responses to inhibitors to one another . The results support the theory that satellite bands are due to the loss and/or modification of specific amino acid residues resulting in biologically active molecules with altered nett charges. Antibiotiki, 1983 Aug, 28(8), 581 - 6 {TEM-type beta-lactamase coded by the plasmid from Citrobacter sp.}; Sazykin AIu et al.; beta-Lactamase was isolated from the cells of E . coli, strain 1039, a transconjugant carrying the plasmid first detected in Citrobacter sp . beta-Lactamase was purified to obtain a homogeneous preparation . The activity of the enzyme was estimated by a modification of the potentiometric method providing determination of up to 0.1 mumol of penicilloinic acid . The activity of the pure enzyme was 206 mumol per 1 mg of protein per minute . The molecular weight determined by gel filtration was 21500 . The substrate profile of beta-lactamase corresponded to the TEM type . Preliminary incubation with methicillin resulted in a significant decrease in the enzyme activity . Carbenicillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin and cephalothin induced no decrease in the activity of the enzyme when subjected to preliminary incubation with it . The use of the functional group reagents allowed detecting residues of serine and lysine in the enzyme active centre or close to it . Km and Kcat for some antibiotics were evaluated . The ratio of alpha- and beta-structures in the molecule of beta-lactamase was determined with the method of circular dichroism (CD) . The fraction of the alpha-spiral areas amounted to 30 +/- 5 per cent and the fraction of beta-structures amounted to 20 +/- 5 per cent . On attachment of methicillin to the molecule of the enzyme the ratio of alpha- and beta-structures did not change which may be considered as a preliminary indication of the centre "immobility" in the process of catalysis . Slow hydroysis of methicillin by beta-lactamase was shown with the method of CD. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5(6), 375 - 83 Antibacterial activity of aztreonam: a synthetic monobactam . A comparative study with thirteen other antibiotics; Paradelis AG et al.; The in vitro activity of aztreoman (SQ 26, 776), a new monocyclic beta-lactam antimicrobial agent, was determined against 1720 bacteria, all clinical isolates, and compared with that of thirteen beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics . Aztreonam inhibited 90% of Citrobacter diversus, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter agglomerans, E . coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus morganii, Proteus rettgeri, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella sp . by less than or equal to 0.4 micrograms ml-1 . This activity was superior to moxalactam, piperacillin, cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefoxitin, cefsulodin, ceftazidime and aminoglycoside antibiotics . Aztreonam was as active as moxalactam against Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae and Shigella species . Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to moxalactam, piperacillin, cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, cefsulodin and ceftazidime were inhibited by aztreonam 50% by 6.3 micrograms ml-1 and 90% by 16 micrograms ml-1 . Aztreonam was as active as ceftazidime against Serratia marcescens, all strains were inhibited by 3.1 micrograms ml-1 and 90% by 1.6 micrograms ml-1 . There was no major difference between MBC and MIC values of aztreonam and the effect of inoculum size upon MIC values was observed at 10(7) CFU. Pediatr Med Chir, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5(4), 205 - 9 {2 cases of osteomyelitis in acute leukemia in the induction phase of treatment}; De Bernardi B et al.; Whereas children with Acute Leukemia are highly susceptible to infectious complications, the occurrence of acute osteomyelitis is extremely rare in these patients . The authors describe two such cases in children at onset of an acute lymphoblastic and of a myelomonocytic leukemia, respectively . In the former case, the clinical course has been characterized by the progressive involvement of several joints and bones . A citrobacter Freundii was isolated in the synovial fluid of an involved knee . This complication was successfully treated with proper antimicrobic agents and surgical toilet, while the patient was vigorously treated for her leukemia, achieving a complete remission . The latter case developed a right humerus osteomyelitis from an Enterobacter . The patient failed to respond to antibiotics, and his leukemia also turned refractory to antiblastic therapy . The difficulty in the differential diagnosis among the X-graphic aspects of leukemic, inflammatory and degenerative disease of bones are discussed by the authors . Some pathogenetic hypothesis of leukemic osteomyelitis are also presented. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jul, 24(1), 31 - 8 In vitro evaluation of Augmentin by broth microdilution and disk diffusion susceptibility testing: regression analysis, tentative interpretive criteria, and quality control limits; Fuchs PC et al.; Augmentin (Beecham Laboratories, Bristol, Tenn.), a combination drug consisting of two parts amoxicillin to one part clavulanic acid and a potent beta-lactamase inhibitor, was evaluated in vitro in comparison with ampicillin or amoxicillin or both for its inhibitory and bactericidal activities against selected clinical isolates . Regression analysis was performed and tentative disk diffusion susceptibility breakpoints were determined . A multicenter performance study of the disk diffusion test was conducted with three quality control organisms to determine tentative quality control limits . All methicillin-susceptible staphylococci and Haemophilus influenzae isolates were susceptible to Augmentin, although the minimal inhibitory concentrations for beta-lactamase-producing strains of both groups were, on the average, fourfold higher than those for enzyme-negative strains . Among the Enterobacteriaceae, Augmentin exhibited significantly greater activity than did ampicillin against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter diversus, Proteus vulgaris, and about one-third of the Escherichia coli strains tested . Bactericidal activity usually occurred at the minimal inhibitory concentration . There was a slight inoculum concentration effect on the Augmentin minimal inhibitory concentrations . On the basis of regression and error rate-bounded analyses, the suggested interpretive disk diffusion susceptibility breakpoints for Augmentin are: susceptible, greater than or equal to 18 mm; resistant, less than or equal to 13 mm (gram-negative bacilli); and susceptible, greater than or equal to 20 mm (staphylococci and H . influenzae) . The use of a beta-lactamase-producing organism, such as E . coli Beecham 1532, is recommended for quality assurance of Augmentin susceptibility testing. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1983 Jul, 22(7), 515 - 7 Citrobacter ventriculitis in a neonate responsive to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; Greene GR et al.; There are increasing reports of citrobacter central nervous system infections in neonates . These organisms cause brain abcesses in a high percentage of patients . They may be resistant to commonly used antibiotics . We report a term male infant with underlying meningo-myelocoele and hydrocephalus in whom Citrobacter diversus meningitis and ventriculitis developed . Initial antibiotic therapy including intraventricular amikacin failed to sterilize the ventricles or alter a deteriorating clinical course . Adding intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to the therapeutic regimen resulted in reversal of a progressively worsening condition and eventual recovery . Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole should be considered as a potentially useful alternative antibiotic for susceptible central nervous system infections. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jul, 12 Suppl A, 81 - 8 Early results of a comparative trial of ceftazidime versus cephalothin, carbenicillin and gentamicin in the treatment of febrile granulocytopenic patients; Ramphal R et al.; Ceftazidime was compared with a combination of cephalothin, carbenicillin and gentamicin as empirical therapy for fever in granulocytopenic patients . Forty-eight patients were studied in this randomized trial . In the 44 evaluable cases, favourable clinical responses were seen in 9/21 ceftazidime-treated cases and 13/23 patients treated with the combination . Four of 5 bacteraemias were cured with ceftazidime and 3 of 4 with triple therapy . Comparable numbers of patients developed new fevers while on therapy . Five ceftazidime-treated patients developed documented superinfection compared to 6 patients in the other group . Five patients treated with ceftazidime died from the initial infection or a superinfection compared with 3 on the combination . The overall results appear to be similar at this time . However, remarkable differences were observed between the types of superinfecting organisms with the two regimens . If all 48 patients are considered the isolates were as follows: ceftazidime treatment--5 clostridia, 3 enterococci, 1 Staphylococcus epidermidis and 1 Citrobacter; cephalothin-carbenicillin-gentamicin treatment--4 Pseudomonas, 1 Escherichia coli, 1 Bacteroides fragilis and 2 Candida spp . These results suggest that Gram-positive coverage should be added to ceftazidime in the empirical treatment of febrile granulocytopenic patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jul, 24(1), 23 - 30 Kinetic studies on inactivation of Citrobacter freundii cephalosporinase by sulbactam; Yamaguchi A et al.; The inactivation kinetics for inhibition by sulbactam (CP45,899) of Citrobacter freundii GN346 cephalosporinase were studied in detail and compared with those of type Ib penicillinase or TEM-2 beta-lactamase mediated by R plasmid RGN823 . The rate constant for progressive inactivation of the cephalosporinase was significantly larger than that measured with the penicillinase . The number of sulbactam molecules required to cause complete inactivation of one cephalosporinase molecule (turnover number) was 80 . The turnover number for the penicillinase was 5,200 . The powerful inhibition by sulbactam of this cephalosporinase is similar to clavulanic acid inhibition of the penicillinase (turnover number, 115; reported by others) . The affinity of sulbactam for the cephalosporinase, expressed as Ki, was 500 microM; this value was much higher than that for the penicillinase, which was estimated to be 0.5 microM . These results indicated that sulbactam is an effective progressive inactivator but a poor competitive inhibitor for the cephalosporinase . Our study also revealed that the cephalosporinase and sulbactam formed a long-lived inhibitor-enzyme complex which we termed the pseudo-irreversible complex . The half-life of the complex was 550 min at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. Minerva Med, 1983 Jun 16, 74(25), 1457 - 62 {Effects of lysozyme treatment on immune reactions in viral hepatitis . Preliminary report}; Fiori GP et al.; The effect of orally administered Lysozyme (2 g per diem for 6-15 days) on serum immunoglobulins, C3 complement component, its C3A properdine activator and intestinal flora was studied in 45 subjects with acute viral hepatitis . Comparison of the data before and after treatment revealed a significant decrease in IgA, IgM and C3A and an equally significant increase in C3 . Coproculture tests revealed important changes in many case in which one or more pathogenetic species (Enterobacter, Proteus, Citrobacter) had completely disappeared . The mechanisms used by Lysozyme in the modulation of immunological responses during viral hepatitis are discussed . These include reduction of the enteric antigen stimulus by inhibiting the growth of bacterial flora, the blocking of anti-complement factors and the modification of antibody response. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jun, 11(6), 577 - 81 Selection of variants of Gram-negative bacteria with elevated production of type 1 beta-lactamase; Gwynn MN et al.; Variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated that produced elevated levels of type 1 beta-lactamase . The variants were readily isolated on antibiotic-containing agar and showed resistance to a wide range of beta-lactam antibiotics including some regarded as being relatively stable to the beta-lactamase produced. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Jun, 36(6), 1521 - 43 {Comparison of antibacterial potencies of oral and parenteral antibiotic preparations against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Proteus isolated from urinary tract infections (3 . 1981) . 3 . Patient backgrounds and bacterial sensitivities}; Kosakai N et al.; Routine susceptibilities testing of microorganisms isolated from patients are of restricted usefulness in the treatment of patients because of the delay in obtaining results . Thus, the empiric chemotherapy based on the susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from patients is necessary for the majority of patients with simple and complicated urinary tract infections . In this study the relation between changing susceptibility and background factors such as age, a sex distinction, antibiotics, areas in Japan, simple and complicated UTI and so on, has been investigated. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Jun, 36(6), 1504 - 20 {Comparison of antibacterial potencies of oral and parenteral antibiotic preparations against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Proteus isolated from urinary tract infections (3: 1981) . 2 . Changes in bacterial sensitivities}; Kosakai N et al.; Since 1979 the antibacterial activity of antibiotics against E . coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus isolated from patients with urinary tract infections has been investigated . The serious transition of susceptibilities of E . coli and Klebsiella could not be recognized in these antibiotics (MPC, ABPC, NA, PPA, CEX, CEZ, CTM, CMZ and CFX) . However, a few resistant organisms against the third generation's antibiotics (CTX, CMX, CZX, LMOX and CPZ) have already been appeared, we have to observe these results, continuously. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Jun, 36(6), 1469 - 503 {Comparison of antibacterial potencies of oral and parenteral antibiotic preparations against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Proteus isolated from urinary tract infections (3: 1981) 1 . Susceptibility distribution}; Kosakai N et al.; In vitro activities of antibacterial agents against E . coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus which were isolated from patients with urinary tract infections at 8 hospitals in Japan, were investigated by dilution broth method using MIC 2000 (Dynatec) during July to October in 1981 . The summarized results are as follows: Among oral antibacterial agents, MPC and PPA have showed potent antibacterial activities against E . coli and Klebsiella . In vitro activities of oral antibacterial agents against Proteus and Citrobacter showed not so potent . Among the first and second generation's parenteral antibacterial agents, CTM has showed potent antibacterial activities against E . coli and Klebsiella . Among the third generation's parenteral antibacterial agents, CMX, CTX and CZX have showed potent antibacterial activities against E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus and Citrobacter. J Clin Pathol, 1983 Jun, 36(6), 670 - 3 Phenomenon of resistance to Augmentin associated with sensitivity to ampicillin: occurrence and explanation; Brumfitt W et al.; Ampicillin was found to be some tenfold more active than amoxycillin against Enterobacter cloacae . This finding explains the observation that some Ent cloacae strains are sensitive to ampicillin in the disc test but resistant to Augmentin . Ampicillin was also found to be more active than amoxycillin against Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens . In view of these findings, the practice of using ampicillin discs to predict sensitivity to amoxycillin should be reconsidered . The use of both ampicillin and amoxycillin discs is appropriate if errors are to be avoided. Immun Infekt, 1983 Jun, 11(4), 140 - 2 {Spectrum of resistance of various bacteria against cefotiam in 3 Berlin clinics}; Hahn H et al.; The in vitro activity of Cefotiam ( Spizef ) was tested using the agar diffusion test method according to DIN 58940 and compared with the antibacterial activity of 12 other routinely tested antibacterial chemotherapeutics . A total of 3000 strains from patients' specimens from the University Hospital of the Free University of Berlin and the Municipal Wenckebach Hospital, West Berlin, was tested . Cefotiam proved effective against strains of Staphylococcus aureus in 99,4%, Escherichia coli in 99,7%, Klebsiella species in 97,8%, Enterobacter species in 91,7%, Citrobacter in 92,6%, and beta-hemolytic Streptococci in 99,3% of all strains tested . There were only few sensitive strains of Enterococci and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jun, 23(6), 907 - 13 In vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of cefodizime, an aminothiazolyl iminomethoxy cephalosporin; Scully BE et al.; Cefodizime, an iminomethoxy aminothiazolyl cephalosporin similar to moxalactam and ceftazidime, was less active (minimal inhibitory concentration, 1.6 to 12 micrograms) than cefazolin or cefotaxime against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . It inhibited Haemophilus and Neisseria spp . at less than 0.5 microgram/ml . It did not inhibit methicillin-resistant staphylococci, enterococci, or Listeria spp . and was 8- to 32-fold less active than cefotaxime, moxalactam, or ceftazidime against Escherichia coli, Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia spp., and Serratia spp . Cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, and Proteus vulgaris were resistant to cefodizime . Cefodizime was less active than cefoxitin or moxalactam against Bacteroides fragilis . Cefodizime was not hydrolyzed by common plasmid or chromosomal beta-lactamases, and it inhibited type I beta-lactamases. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Jun, 2(3), 266 - 9 Norfloxacin versus cotrimoxazole in the treatment of lower urinary tract infections; Giamarellou H et al.; In a randomised prospective study 61 patients with lower urinary tract infection received either 200 mg norfloxacin (33 patients) or 480 mg cotrimoxazole (28 patients) twice daily for ten days . Pathogens included Escherichia coli in 48 patients, Proteus mirabilis in ten patients, and Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii and Staphylococcus saprophyticus in one patient each . The MICs of norfloxacin and cotrimoxazole were less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l and less than or equal to 1 mg/l respectively . On the tenth day of treatment 94% of the patients receiving norfloxacin and 89% of the patients receiving cotrimoxazole were clinically cured, and the pathogens were eradicated in 94% and 96% of the patients respectively . At six week follow-up one patient given cotrimoxazole and two given norfloxacin had a reinfection . No side-effects or toxicity were observed with the exception of a diffuse rash in one patient receiving cotrimoxazole in whom treatment was discontinued . It is concluded that norfloxacin is safe and as effective as cotrimoxazole in the treatment of lower UTI and should have an important role to play whenever multiresistant organisms are implicated. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Jun, 2(3), 230 - 4 In vitro antibacterial activity of norfloxacin compared with eight other antimicrobial agents; Body BA et al.; The antibacterial activity of norfloxacin, an organic acid structurally related to nalidixic acid, was compared with that of the oral cephalosporins cefaclor and cephalexin, and with that of nalidixic acid, cinoxacin, amikacin, ampicillin, trimethoprim alone and the combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole . Agar dilution studies were performed with a total of 398 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria . Norfloxacin was found to be the most active drug studied against each of the different groups of organisms tested . MIC90 values for norfloxacin were as follows: Citrobacter spp., 2 micrograms/ml; Enterobacter spp., 0.13 micrograms/ml; Escherichia coli, 0.06 micrograms/ml; Klebsiella spp., 0.13 micrograms/ml; Proteus spp., 0.06 micrograms/ml; Salmonella spp., 1 microgram/ml; Serratia spp., 0.13 micrograms/ml; and Pseudomonas spp., 2 micrograms/ml . MIC90 values for the other drugs were 4 micrograms/ml or greater and many organisms were totally resistant to one or more of the other drugs (MIC greater than 128 micrograms/ml) . Cross resistance between norfloxacin and the related drugs nalidixic acid and cinoxacin was not observed. Immun Infekt, 1983 Jun, 11(4), 140 - 2 {Resistance spectrum of various bacteria against cefotiam in 3 Berlin clinics}; Hahn H et al.; The in vitro activity of Cefotiam (Spizef) was tested using the agar diffusion test method according to DIN 58940 and compared with the antibacterial activity of 12 other routinely tested antibacterial chemotherapeutics . A total of 3000 strains from patients' specimens from the University Hospital of the Free University of Berlin and the Municipal Wenckebach Hospital, West Berlin, was tested . Cefotiam proved effective against strains of Staphylococcus aureus in 99,4%, Escherichia coli in 99,7%, Klebsiella species in 97,8%, Enterobacter species in 90,3%, Proteus mirabilis in 98,7%, indolpositive Proteus species in 91,7%, Citrobacter in 92,6%, and beta-hemolytic Streptococci in 99,3% of all strains tested . There were only few sensitive strains of Enterococci and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Chromatogr, 1983 May 13, 274, 27 - 35 Head-space gas-liquid chromatography for the rapid laboratory diagnosis of urinary tract infections caused by enterobacteria; Hayward NJ; Urine specimens were analysed in parallel in a hospital laboratory by routine methods which were regarded as the standard of correct diagnosis and by the rapid test already developed in a research laboratory . Technical modifications made to the rapid test ensured that its results agreed with those from routine methods and increased its rapidity so that a result was possible 4 h after receipt of the specimen . When 382 urine specimens were analysed by the modified test which is described in detail, there were neither false negatives nor false positives for infections with Escherichia, Klebsiella, Citrobacter or Proteus species. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 1983 May-Jun, 4(3), 668 - 71 Complications of Citrobacter neonatal meningitis: assessment by real-time cranial sonography correlated with CT; Levine RS et al.; Real-time cranial sonography via the anterior fontanelle was used serially over a 3- and 6-week period, respectively, to evaluate two infants who developed multicystic encephalomalacia secondary to Citrobacter neonatal meningitis . Sonographic findings included heterogeneous parenchymal echogenicity, gyral prominence, periventricular hypoechoic areas from which cystic spaces evolved, and development of hydrocephalus . Serial cranial computed tomography over the same time period confirmed the sonographic observations in each case. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 May, 254(3), 413 - 22 Investigations on beta-lactamase stability of recently developed beta-lactam compounds: study of enzyme kinetics; Cullmann W et al.; The plasmid-mediated TEM-1 enzyme (E . coli K12 R6K) and chromosomally mediated enzymes from Enterobacter cloacae (IEP 8.5) and Citrobacter freundii (IEP 9.5) were highly purified . Enzyme kinetics were studied with various therapeutic compounds as substrates and lamoxactam, azthreonam, and N-formimidoyl thienamycin as inhibitors . Lamoxactam and azthreonam failed to inhibit the TEM-1 enzyme, whereas N-formimidoyl thienamycin was a competitive inhibitor . KI was 5 mumol/l--thus corresponding to KM--and independent of the substrate . With respect to chromosomally mediated enzymes, there was a time-dependent inhibition of beta-lactam hydrolysis . KI ranged from 0.06 to 0.2 mumol/l in dependence of the inhibitor . Enzyme kinetics suggested a non-competitive type of inhibition thus indicating that binding of these compounds to both chromosomally mediated enzymes must be followed by a further reaction step . It is evident that the stability against beta-lactamases of recently developed compounds is based on different mechanisms--characteristic for the enzyme being considered. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1983 Apr 15, 95(8), 261 - 3 {Intraocular penetration of netilmicin}; Radda TM et al.; The penetration of netilmicin, a semisynthetic aminoglycosid into the primary human aqueous humor was determined . The antibacterial spectrum of netilmicin is adequate to gentamicin . The efficacy also covers gentamicin resistant strains . After intramuscular injection of 5 mg/kg body weight aqueous levels higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Proteus morganii were obtained . In the therapy of bacterial endophthalmitis the synergistic effect of netilmicin with beta-Lactam antibiotics in the form of a combined therapy should be made use of . For perioperative prophylaxis the newer aminoglycosids are not indicated because there is the danger of a development of resistant strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Apr, 23(4), 630 - 3 Bacteriological studies of the enteric flora of patients treated with bicozamycin (CGP 3543/E) for acute nonparasitic diarrhea; Harford PS et al.; During a therapeutic trial of bicozamycin (BI) for traveler's diarrhea, aerobically grown, gram-negative bacteria, predominantly Escherichia coli, were decreased by 2 to 3 logs per g of stool; the number of BI-resistant gram-negative bacteria did not increase . Resistant species were most often Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Morganella morganii, and few BI-resistant E . coli strains were isolated . Cross-resistance between BI and other antimicrobial agents was not found . Resistance to BI could not be transferred or mobilized to an E . coli K-12 recipient. J Hyg (Lond), 1983 Apr, 90(2), 233 - 9 Citrobacter koseri (syn . C . diversus): biotype, serogroup and drug resistance patterns of 517 strains; Gross RJ et al.; The names Citrobacter koseri and C . diversus are synonyms for a species of enterobacterium with a particular ability to cause neonatal meningitis . 517 strains belonging to this species were examined using biotyping and serotyping techniques . 40% of the strains belonged to serogroups O2 and O1 and 72% belonged to biotypes d and a . Strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid belonged to several different serogroups and biotypes but serogroups O2 and O3 and biotypes d and a were the most common . All the strains were resistant to ampicillin, 42% were resistant to neomycin/kanamycin and 38% were resistant to cephaloridine . 37% of the strains were resistant to three or more drugs. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1983 Apr, 177(3-4), 342 - 9 The bacterial flora of fruits and vegetables in Lebanon and the effect of washing on the bacterial content; Abdelnoor AM et al.; Washed and unwashed vegetables and fruit specimens including radish, lettuce, mint, carrots, parsley, strawberries, green almond, akadinya, green-gages, cherries, plums, peaches, pears, and apples were investigated for their bacterial content . Tested specimens had a high content of bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Providencia, Escherichia, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella . The washing procedure followed was effective in reducing the number of bacteria, but did not eliminate them . Enterobacter agglomerans was present in most specimens tested, and 11 out of 28 E . coli isolates were serotypable and may be enterotoxigenic or enteropathogenic . These findings are of concern in view of the fact that food-borne illnesses including "Traveler's diarrhea" are common in Lebanon. Infect Immun, 1983 Apr, 40(1), 133 - 8 Differential toxicity of inhaled gram-negative bacteria; Baseler MW et al.; The toxicity by inhalation of various gram-negative bacteria, isolated from settings associated with inhalation disease, was studied by a variety of means . These microorganisms were not equally toxic . Citrobacter freundii aerosol challenges of rabbits provoked significant (up to fivefold) increases in plasma haptoglobin 24 to 48 h after inhalation . Other strains tested failed to provoke such statistically consistent increases . Measurements of C-reactive protein in these same animals did not lead to as reliable results, due to the variability of the responses . Mice responded differently to inhalation in that haptoglobin responses were either unaffected or depressed . When a strain of mice was used that exhibits more severe inflammatory responses to endotoxin (C3H/HeJ), C . freundii and Escherichia coli aerosols provoked significant haptoglobin increases . Free lung cell analyses demonstrated that the macrophage and neutrophil responses differed depending on the strain of bacteria used . Again, C . freundii induced the greatest responses . When murine B lymphocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide preparations from different gram-negative bacteria, distinctly different dose-response curves were obtained . The types of responses obtained indicate that (i) brief inhalation of bacterial aerosols previously thought to be innocuous may lead to pulmonary inflammation, and (ii) that these bacteria differ in their toxicity, with C . freundii being the most toxic organism of the five studied. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Mar-Apr, 5 Suppl 1, S9 - 20 The emergence of bacterial resistance and its influence on empiric therapy; Neu HC; The discovery of antimicrobial agents had a major impact on the rate of survival from infections . However, the changing patterns of antimicrobial resistance caused a demand for new antibacterial agents . Within a few years of the introduction of penicillin, the majority of staphylococci were resistant to that drug . In the 1960s the production of the semisynthetic penicillins provided an answer to the problem of staphylococcal resistance . In the early 1960s most Escherichia coli were susceptible to the new beta-lactam antibiotic ampicillin; by the end of that decade, plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase resistance was found in 30%-50% of hospital-acquired E . coli . Use of certain agents resulted in the selection of bacteria, such as Klebsiella, that are intrinsically resistant to ampicillin . The original cephalosporins were stable to beta-lactamase, but the use of these agents was in part responsible for the appearance of infections due to Enterobacter species, Citrobacter species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These bacteria, as well as Serratia, were resistant to many of the available beta-lactam agents . Aminoglycosides initially provided excellent activity against most of the facultative gram-negative bacteria . However, the widespread dissemination of the genes that cause production of the aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes altered the use of those agents . Clearly, the evolution of bacterial resistance has altered the prescribing patterns for antimicrobial agents . Knowledge that beta-lactam resistance to ampicillin or cephalothin is prevalent is causing physicians to select as empiric therapy either a combination of two or more agents or agents to which resistance is uncommon . The new cephalosporins offer a broad spectrum of anti-bacterial activity coupled with low toxicity . However, physicians must closely follow the changing ecology of bacteria when these agents are used, because cephalosporins can also select bacteria resistant to themselves and thereby abolish their value as empiric therapy. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Feb, (2), 25 - 31 {Characteristics of Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter strains isolated in urological infections}; Petrovskaia VG et al.; The comparative study of more than 300 Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter strains isolated from patients with urological infections and parenteral infections of other localization, as well as from the feces of healthy persons has been carried out . The strains causing inflammatory processes in the urinary tract have been shown to possess no strict specificity . The ability of opportunistic enterobacteria to cause urinary tract lesions is their polydeterminant property ensured by the combination of different factors . A number of characteristics which can be considered as the markers of "nephritogenic" strains have been revealed . Thus, among Proteus mirabilis strains the largest percentage is constituted by strains fermenting sucrose and producing hemolysin . The urological pathogenicity of "nephritogenic" strains belonging to the genera Proteus, Klebsiella and Enterobacter has been found to be linked with their resistance to complement and their capacity for producing substances increasing capillary permeability . In C . freundii strains differences in O serogroups and a number of markers (the fermentation of raffinose, the formation of hemolysin and permeability factor) have been revealed . These data may be useful for the prognosis and evaluation of the course of urological infections. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Feb, 45(2), 484 - 92 New medium for improved recovery of coliform bacteria from drinking water; LeChevallier MW et al.; A new membrane filter medium was developed for the improved recovery of injured coliforms from drinking water . The new medium, termed m-T7, consists of 5.0 g of Difco Proteose Peptone no . 3, 20 g of lactose, 3.0 g of yeast extract, 0.4 ml of Tergitol 7 (25% solution), 5.0 g of polyoxyethylene ether W-1, 0.1 g of bromthymol blue, 0.1 g of bromcresol purple, and 15 g of agar per liter of distilled water . Additional selectivity may be obtained by aseptically adding 0.1 microgram of penicillin G per ml to the medium after autoclaving . In laboratory studies, m-T7 agar recovered 86 to 99% more laboratory-injured coliforms than did m-Endo agar . m-T7 agar also recovered an average of 43% more verified coliforms from 67 surface and drinking water samples than did the standard m-Endo membrane filter technique . From drinking water, m-T7 agar recovered nearly three times more coliforms than did m-Endo agar . Less than 0.5% of the colonies on m-T7 agar gave false-negative reactions, whereas greater than 70% of the typical yellow colonies from m-T7 agar produced gas in lauryl tryptose broth . Most of the verified coliforms isolated on m-T7 agar belonged to one of the four common coliform genera: Escherichia, 17.6%; Klebsiella, 21.7%; Citrobacter, 17.3%; Enterobacter, 32.2% . The results demonstrate that m-T7 agar is superior to m-Endo agar, especially for the isolation of injured coliforms from drinking water. Vet Med Nauki, 1983, 20(2), 58 - 65 {Enterococci and coliforms in yellow sheep cheese}; Aleksieva V; The developmental dynamic of enterococci and coliforms was followed up in the entire technologic process and the storage of kashkaval (yellow cheese of ewe milk) under the conditions of modern industrial production . It was found that during the whole industrial cycle up to the steam cooking of curd the amount of enterococci grew and reached its peak value in the cheddarized cheese curd (2.4--30 million per gram), increasing from 10 to 34 times as against its level in the initial milk used . The coliform bacteria also rose in number, and their amount reached maximum values of 10 to 120 mill/g in the processed and dipped curd, after which a slowly advancing reduction set in . Species of the Enterobacter (55.1%), Escherichia (14.1%), Citrobacter (19.2%), and Klebsiella (11.5%) genera were isolated . The steam cooking of cheddarized curd produced an unfavourable effect on enterococci (pasteurization effect of up to 98.3 to 99.9%) and a lethal effect on the coliforms . Enterococci that resisted steaming multiplied in kashkaval and reached their highest level--960 000 up to 39 mill/g--between the 30th and the 60th day of production after which their numbers dropped . Their amount in the ripened product varied from 95000 to 17.8 mill/g, and on the 240th following production--from below 100 to 1.6 mill/g . Coliform bacteria were not found in 0.1 g of the product mass during ripening and storage of kashkaval . Out of the 196 strains that were differentiated as enterococci 30.7 per cent of the fecalis subgroup, and 69.3 per cent--of the Sp . faecium-durans subgroup . After steaming 92.3 per cent of the strains were of the Str . faecium and Str . durans species. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 73 - 8 In-vitro activity of cefotetan, other beta-lactams and netilmicin; Shah PM; In-vitro activity of cefotetan was compared to that of other cephalosporins netilmicin . Cefotetan at very low concentrations inhibited Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens . Poor activity was seen for all beta-lactams against Enterobacter and Citrobacter spp . Activity of cefotetan against Staphylococcus aureus was comparable to that of ceftazidime and moxalactam . Netilmicin was the only agent equally active against all Gram-negative bacilli and Staph . aureus tested . Under conditions simulating serum levels cefotetan demonstrated rapid and long-acting bactericidal activity and bacteria exposed to these concentrations required up to 10.2 h to recover from the effect of the antibiotic . Six out of 15 strains did not recover fully. Microbiol Immunol, 1983, 27(1), 1 - 5 Incompatibility group K plasmids in bacteria isolated from a urinary tract infection; Araki Y et al.; Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were concurrently isolated from a patient with a urinary tract infection . Transferable drug resistant plasmids were isolated from both strains, pMS434 and pMS435 . These plasmids belonged to incompatibility group K and both carried genes governing resistance to various aminoglycoside antibiotics, i.e., kanamycin, gentamicin C complex, streptomycin, and 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B, in addition to those governing resistance to sulfanilamide and ampicillin . They inactivated kanamycin, gentamicin C complex and 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin by adenylylation and kanamycin by phosphorylation . Electron microscopic observations disclosed that the molecular weights of the plasmids were about 67.8 megadaltons . These results indicated the similarity in genetic constitution of the two plasmids . This was the second isolation of incompatibility group K plasmids, following that reported by Hedges and Datta (Nature 234: 220-221, 1971). J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jan, 11 Suppl, 159 - 67 Comparative activity of cefotetan on Escherichia coli K12 possessing plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases; Chabbert YA et al.; The antibacterial activity of cefotetan, a new cephamycin, was compared with that of cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefamandole, cefoperazone and cefotaxime on 12 substrains of Escherichia coli K12 BM13 harbouring single and multi-copy plasmids coding for plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases TEM, SHVI, OXA-I and OXA-III . The 99% inhibitory concentrations (IC99) for the recipient strain were increased in proportion to the enzyme activity in the case of cefamandole and cefoperazone . In contrast, the activity of cefoxitin, cefotaxime and cefotetan was not significantly modified . Since these enzymes are responsible for the resistance of Enterobacteriaceae in the great majority of clinical isolates, cefotetan can be expected to be fully active against strains producing them . Cefotetan was not hydrolysed by chromosomal cephalosporinase and it was active against Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Morganella strains producing a low level of enzyme but hyperproducing variants were highly resistant to cefotetan. Immun Infekt, 1983 Jan, 11(1), 30 - 4 {The antibiotic agent azthreonam: studies on plasmid-dependent resistance formation}; Cullmann W et al.; Two mechanisms can be assumed that are responsible for the stability of azthreonam against the attack of beta-lactamases: first, azthreonam lacks binding to the enzyme protein and second, rate of hydrolysis is extremely low, resulting even in inhibition of enzyme activity . Enzyme kinetics were studied from highly purified enzymes: azthreonam did not bind to the TEM-1 enzyme, whereas the compound revealed a time-dependent inhibition of the chromosomally mediated Enterobacter cloacae enzyme . With various cephalosporins as substrates marked discrepancies in the mode of inhibition were observed: cefacedone revealed merely noncompetitive inhibition, cefazolin and cefoperazone demonstrated mixed-inhibition kinetics, and with cephalothin as the substrate enzyme kinetics strongly suggested binding of a second azthreonam molecule . With cefacedone as the substrate KI was ascertained to be 0.8 X 10(-7) mol/l . Conjugative transfer of the TEM-mediating plasmids R6K and RP1 resulted in 20 to 50-fold increase of the MIC's for the Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii recipients, in spite of the fact that azthreonam does not serve as a substrate for the TEM-1 enzyme . These findings have likely to be attributed to an impaired penetration of the compound through the "outer membrane" of the recipient strains. Mol Gen Genet, 1983, 190(1), 85 - 91 Cloning and expression of the gene(s) for cephalosporinase production of Citrobacter freundii; Yamamoto T et al.; The chromosomal gene(s) for cephalosporinase production of Citrobacter freundii GN346 has been cloned into vector plasmid pMK1, initially as a 7.3 kb EcoRI fragment . From the substrate profile and the response to anti-GN346 CSase serum of the enzyme produced, it was confirmed that the hybrid plasmid (pTY71) carries the relevant chromosomal cephalosporinase gene from C . freundii GN346 . A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of cloned EcoRI fragments was constructed, and the structural gene of the cephalosporinase could be limited in the 1.5 kb BamHI fragment . The cloned gene(s) was expressed at an extremely low level in Escherichia coli . Furthermore, its expression was constitutive in E . coli, although inducible in its own cytoplasm. Infection, 1983 Jan-Feb, 11(1), 47 - 51 {Microbiological studies with the new penicillin BRL 17421 (temocillin)}; Malottke R et al.; In vitro Evaluation of BRL 17421 (Temocillin), a New Penicillin . The in vitro antibacterial activity of BRL 17421 (temocillin), a new penicillin, was determined in quantitative serial broth dilution tests and was compared to that of mezlocillin, piperacillin, cefazolin and cefotaxime against 751 clinical isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae family . In addition, the sensitivity of 211 mezlocillin-resistant gram-negative rods to BRL 17421 was also determined . Temocillin exhibited a high level of antibacterial activity against various bacterial species of the Enterobacteriaceae family, including isolates resistant to mezlocillin . The 90% MICs against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp . and indole-negative and indole-positive Proteus strains ranged from 0.5 mg/l to 16 mg/l . Concentrations of 16 mg/l were required to inhibit 80% of the Serratia marcescens strains; some isolates were resistant . No significant difference between MIC and MBC values was observed. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jan, 23(1), 63 - 6 beta-Lactamase inhibitory activity of iodopenicillanate and bromopenicillanate; Neu HC; Iodopenicillanate and bromopenicillanate were shown to be effective inhibitors of a variety of beta-lactamases . Staphylococcus aureus isolates were synergistically inhibited by iodopenicillanate and bromopenicillanate combined with ampicillin . Methicillin-resistant S . aureus was not synergistically inhibited . Escherichia coli which possessed TEM beta-lactamase activity had a reduction in ampicillin minimal inhibitory concentration, but an E . coli isolate which had chromosomal beta-lactamase and a low ampicillin minimal inhibitory concentration showed no reduction in ampicillin minimal inhibitory concentration with either iodopenicillanate or bromopenicillanate . Of the Klebsiella isolates tested, 80% were synergistically inhibited by both iodopenicillanate and bromopenicillanate . Most Morganella isolates were synergistically inhibited by either iodopenicillanate or bromopenicillanate combined with ampicillin, as were many Salmonella, Shigella, Citrobacter diversus, and Citrobacter freundii isolates . No Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were synergistically inhibited by iodopenicillanate or bromopenicillanate . Preincubation did not improve the inhibitory activity of iodopenicillanate or bromopenicillanate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jan, 23(1), 15 - 8 Antibacterial activity of norfloxacin; Norrby SR et al.; Norfloxacin, a new quinoline derivative, was studied in vitro, and determinations of agar dilution minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and broth dilution MICs and MBCs were made . Nalidixic acid and cinoxacin were used as comparative agents . Norfloxacin was found to be extremely active against all strains tested of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis, indole-positive Proteus spp . Serratia spp., Citrobacter spp., and Enterobacter spp., with MICs normally below 1 microgram/ml . It also was found to be highly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and enterococci, which are all resistant to nalidixic acid and cinoxacin . The MICs for norfloxacin obtained by broth dilution were slightly higher than those obtained by agar dilution, whereas the reverse was true for nalidixic acid and cinoxacin . The MBCs of norfloxacin were only slightly higher than the MICs, even at high inocula . The in vitro activity of norfloxacin was not dependent on the inoculum size, whereas both the MICs and the MBCs of nalidixic acid increased markedly for many of the strains tested when the inoculum was increased in broth dilution from 10(3) to 10(6) colony-forming units per ml . Norfloxacin seems to be a promising antibacterial agent for the treatment of urinary tract infections, especially those caused by Pseudomonas spp . and other species today requiring the use of injectable antibiotics. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1982 Nov-Dec, 133(3), 365 - 77 {Rapid determination of the synergy of clavulanic acid and beta lactams by measuring the intracellular ATP by bioluminescence}; Cornel E et al.; Twenty clinical isolates of ampicillin- and carbenicillin-resistant or susceptible (two strains) Gram-negative rods, producing at least one beta-lactamase, were examined for susceptibility to a combination of ampicillin or carbenicillin with clavulanic acid (enzymatic inhibitor) . Synergy was evaluated by the reduction of the beta-lactam agar dilution MIC and by the measurement of intracellular AYP using firefly bioluminescence . The potentiation effect of clavulanic acid was variable, depending on resistance levels, species and types of beta-lactamase (TEM, SHV-1, CARB, OXA, MAL and Cpase) . The synergy was significant, with 10 mg/l of inhibitor for all the strains producing TEM-1, TEM-2 and Carb-2 except for one strain of Serratia marcescens (TEM-2) . The synergy was weak for Levinea strains (Citrobacter diversus biotype b), biosynthesizing specific penicillinases as MAL-1 . No potentiation effect was observed for strains producing a cephalosporinase, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This effect appeared to be variable for strains producing the oxacillin-hydrolysing enzyme (OXA-1), such as E . coli and P . aeruginosa . A positive correlation was clearly demonstrated between the MIC values and the intracellular ATP concentration in bacteria within 2 h . The opportunity of using the firefly assay for the rapid determination of synergy between beta-lactam antibiotics and clavulanic acid is discussed. Pharmacotherapy, 1982 Nov-Dec, 2(6), 322 - 7 Ceforanide: antibacterial activity, pharmacology, and clinical efficacy; Barriere SL et al.; Ceforanide is a new cephalosporin with a longer elimination half-life than any currently available cephalosporin . Its activity is very similar to that of cefamandole, a second-generation cephalosporin, except that ceforanide is less active against most gram-positive organisms . Many coliforms, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Proteus, are susceptible to ceforanide, as are most strains of Salmonella, Shigella, Hemophilus, Citrobacter and Arizona species . However, most strains of Serratia marcescens and all Pseudomonas aeruginosa are resistant to this compound . Peak serum concentrations in excess of 100 micrograms/ml are achieved after a 1 g intravenous dose . The elimination half-life of ceforanide is about 3 hrs in patients with normal renal function; this allows twice daily dosing for the majority of patients . As renal excretion amounts for 85-90% of drug elimination, the serum half-life increases to approximately 20 hours in anuric patients . Tissue penetration studies demonstrate inhibitory concentrations in cardiac tissue, bone, and joint fluid . Minor adverse effects have been reported after large doses of ceforanide . Clinical trials indicate that ceforanide is effective in the treatment of skin and soft tissue, pulmonary and urinary tract infections, bone and joint infections, and endocarditis . Ceforanide also has been shown to be as effective as cephalothin or cephaloridine when given prophylactically for vaginal hysterectomy. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Oct, 35(10), 1264 - 70 Studies on the OA-6129 group of antibiotics, new carbapenem compounds . II . In vitro evaluation; Sakamoto M et al.; The OA-6129 group of antibiotics, new carbapenem compounds, had relatively potent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . Synergism of compound OA-6129A in combination with conventional beta-lactam antibiotics was observed in antimicrobial activity against beta-lactamase producers such as Proteus vulgaris GN 76 and Citrobacter freundii GN 346 . The new carbapenem compounds were slightly superior to PS-5 in stability to kidney homogenates of various animal species. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Oct, 44(4), 1001 - 3 Underestimation of total-coliform counts by the membrane filter verification procedure; Standridge JH et al.; Coliforms, primarily Citrobacter freundii, gave negative verification results in the total-coliform membrane filtration test . The organisms produced gas from lactose in brilliant green bile broth but not in lauryl tryptose broth . The discrepancy was related to the peptone sources used in the media. J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 57 - 62 Evolutionary divergence of the Citrobacter freundii tryptophan operon regulatory region: comparison with other enteric bacteria; Blumenberg M et al.; The regulatory region of the trp operon of Citrobacter freundii was sequenced and compared with the corresponding regions of other enteric bacteria . Significant differences were noted in the promoter region . These differences are presumably responsible for the weak expression of the cloned trp operon in Escherichia coli . The presumed operator region, although nonfunctional in E . coli, has dyad symmetry, but the sequence of the symmetrical region differs appreciably from those of operators that can be regulated by the E . coli trp repressor . The sequence of the trp leader region of C . freundii resembles that of other enteric bacteria, suggesting that the C . freundii operon is also regulated by attenuation . Comparison of the sequence of the initial portion of trpE with the homologous regions of E . coli and Salmonella typhimurium indicates that the three organisms probably are evolutionary equidistant. Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Sep, 78(3), 351 - 5 Comparison of two methods for same-day identification of Enterobacteriaceae; Appelbaum PC et al.; Two commercial methods, API 20E (as modified for same-day enterobacterial identification) and Micro-ID, were evaluated for ability to provide useful same-day information of 368 clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae . Organisms included Escherichia coli (54), Shigella (7), Edwardsiella tarda (1), Salmonella enteritidis (10), Citrobacter (30), Klebsiella (55), Enterobacter (68), Hafnia alvei (2), Serratia (33), Proteus (64), Morganella morganii (24), Providencia (18), and Yersinia enterocolitica (2) . Methods were those of manufacturers without supplemental tests . API at five hours identified 78.5% of strains to species, 9.5% to genus only, 10.1% as part of a spectrum of identifications (SI), and 1.9% incorrect . Micro-ID at four hours yielded 90.0% correct identification to species and 3.3% to genus only, 4.0% SI, and 2.7% incorrect . API identification of many Serratia, Citrobacter, Providencia strains was to genus only; most incorrect results occurred in Serratia marcescens . Micro-ID identified most organisms to species; incorrect identifications were mainly S . marcescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Both systems provided excellent identification of E . coli . Both methods sacrifice a degree of accuracy that varies with the species tested, as compared to overnight systems, but both provide rapid information of potential clinical value. Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Sep-Oct, 4 Suppl, S416 - 20 Treatment of urinary tract infections with cefotaxime: noncomparative and prospective comparative trials; Madsen PO; Three studies evaluated the efficacy of cefotaxime for the treatment of urinary tract infections . An open, multicenter, noncomparative trial included 477 patients who received a usual dose of 2 g of intravenous or intramuscular cefotaxime daily for five to 10 days . The maximal daily dosage in severe cases was 12 g . Pathogens included Escherichia coli and species of Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Morganella, Providencia, and Proteus . Of all the causative organisms, 83.6% were eradicated in the 271 patients who could be evaluated . The other two studies were prospective, randomized comparisons of cefotaxime (392 patients) with cefazolin (250 patients) for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by microorganisms susceptible to both antibiotics . The treatment schedule was the same as that in the first study . Results of these two prospective studies were pooled . Cefotaxime eradicated 90% of all pathogens, and cefazolin eradicated 72% . Cefotaxime was significantly more effective (P less than 0.01) than cefazolin in eradicating E . coli and Proteus mirabilis . A satisfactory clinical response was obtained in 98.1% of patients given cefotaxime and in 87.6% of those given cefazolin (P less than 0.01). Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Sep, 22(3), 518 - 9 Synergistic activity of mecillinam in combination with the beta-lactamase inhibitors clavulanic acid and sulbactam; Neu HC; The beta-lactamase inhibitors clavulanic acid and sulbactam were combined with mecillinam . beta-Lactamase-containing Escherichia coli resistant to mecillinam was synergistically inhibited by both clavulanic acid and sulbactam . beta-Lactamase-containing Enterobacter was synergistically inhibited, but strains lacking beta-lactamases were not synergistically inhibited . Synergistic inhibition was noted for beta-lactamase-containing, mecillinam-resistant Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Serratia, and Salmonella isolates, but only 18% of beta-lactamase-containing Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri, Providencia stuartii, and Morganella morganii were synergistically inhibited by the combinations. Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Aug, 35(8), 1977 - 86 {Susceptibilities of clinical isolates to aminoglycoside antibiotics . Susceptibility of clinical isolates from patients with complex and refractory infections}; Deguchi K; Four hundred strains (13 species, 8 genera) were obtained from patients with complicated and intractable infections . The antibiotic sensitivities of these isolates were determined in relation to aminoglycoside (AGs) (GM, DKB, AMK, HBK), beta-lactam (SBPC, PIPC, CMZ), and FOM . 1 . The frequency of clinical isolates that were resistant to GM and DKB in this study was high level in the case of S . aureus, Enterobacter spp., S . marcescens, Proteus spp . (indole positive) and P . aeruginosa . And some of them were also resistant to AMK and HBK . However HBK had potent antibacterial activity to S . aureus . The inactivating enzyme contributing to AGs resistance was AAC for almost Gram-negative bacillis and APH + AAC for S . aureus . But AGs was not permeable only to P . maltophilia . 2 . Almost similar resistant patterns were seen to SBPC and PIPC . However, the frequency of resistant strains of S . aureus to SBPC was less than one of PIPC, while that of Citrobacter spp . to PIPC was less than SBPC . Among of other bacteria, P . aeruginosa and Proteus spp . (indole positive) had moderate sensitivity to SBPC and PIPC . 3 . CMZ had poor antibacterial activity to Enterobacter spp . and S . marcescens and no activity to P . aeruginosa . It had moderate activity to Citrobacter spp . and potent activity to S . aureus, E . coli, K . pneumoniae and Proteus spp . (indole positive) . 4 . FOM had antibacterial activity to all the bacteria tested . Almost FOM-sensitive bacteria had moderate MICs (6.25-25 micrograms/ml). J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 128 (Pt 8), 1915 - 21 Cell and ATP yields of Citrobacter freundii growing with fumarate and H2 or formate in continuous culture; Lutgens M et al.; Out of 19 strains belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae only Escherichia coli and Citrobacter strains fermented fumarate exclusively to succinate . This fermentation was dependent on the presence of molecular hydrogen or formate . The inability of these micro-organisms to convert fumarate to succinate, acetate and CO2 correlated with their lack, or low activity, of oxaloacetate decarboxylase . Continuous culture experiments were performed with Citrobacter freundii in minimal or complex medium with fumarate + H2 of formate, and the growth parameters were determined . From the data obtained, a Ymax fumarate dissimilated value of 10.5 +/- 0.8 g dry wt per mol fumarate dissimilated was calculated . This value demonstrates that, per mol fumarate reduced, at least 0.6 +/- 0.05 mol ATP is produced and subsequently used for biosynthetic purposes. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Aug, 35(8), 963 - 71 Beta-lactamase inhibitory activities and synergistic effects of 5,6-cis-carbapenem antibiotics; Okonogi K et al.; Twelve 5,6-cis-carbapenem antibiotics were examined for their beta-lactamase inhibitory activities, their types of inhibitions, and their synergistic activities with other beta-lactam antibiotics . All the carbapenems inhibited eight types of beta-lactamases including cephalosporinases which were insensitive to clavulanic acid and sulbactam . The sulfonyloxy ethyl carbapenems were the most active inhibitors; they inhibited all beta-lactamases in a progressive fashion, whereas some of the hydroxyl compounds exerted non-progressive inhibition against several beta-lactamases such as those of Escherichia coli TN713 and Proteus vulgaris GN4413 . Several carbapenems were inactivated by the beta-lactamases of Citrobacter freundii GN1706, P . vulgaris GN4413, E . coli TN713, and Klebsiella pneumoniae TN1698 . Most of the carbapenems potentiated the antibacterial activities of ampicillin and cefotiam against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 1(4), 238 - 42 Comparative synergistic activity of netilmicin-piperacillin versus gentamicin-piperacillin; Machka K et al.; The synergistic action of the combination netilmicin-piperacillin in comparison to gentamicin-piperacillin was studied in 206 clinical isolates of staphylococci, enterococci, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by means of the checkerboard technique . Overall, netilmicin-piperacillin acted synergistically against 31% and gentamicin-piperacillin against 14% of the 206 strains . In particular, synergism was more frequently observed with netilmicin-piperacillin against Escherichia coli, Citrobacter spp., indole-positive Proteus spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Synergy was uncommon with either combination against enterococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Serratia spp . Only partial synergy or indifference was seen with both combinations against Klebsiella spp . The interaction of netilmicin would appear to be superior to that of gentamicin in combination with piperacillin. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1982 Jul-Sep, 27(3), 199 - 210 {Antibiograms in ambulatory medical practice . Results with a group of gram-negative bacilli strains isolated by uroculture}; Rozen P et al.; During the April 1979--June 1978 period, 1161 tests were carried out on the sensitivity to antibiotics and chemotherapeutical agents of Gram-negative bacillus strains isolated from 7632 urocultures . Resistance was tested under qualitative control against 13 antimicrobial agents by the Kirby-Bauer diffusimetric method . The resistance sensitivity and the presence of intermediary strains is shown for E . coli Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Morganella, Providencia, and Pseudomonas . Attention is drawn to the fairly high proportion of intermediary strains . Their role from the therapeutical point of view is reduced, but epidemiologically, their role is important since their evolution towards resistance or sensitivity cannot be foreseen. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jun, 21(6), 906 - 11 In vitro activity of apalcillin compared with that of other new penicillins and anti-Pseudomonas cephalosporins; Neu HC et al.; Apalcillin, a naphthydridine derivative of ampicillin, was compared with ticarcillin, azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone against gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial isolates and with cefsulodin and tobramycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The minimal concentrations of apalcillin at which 50 and 90% of hospital isolates of Escherichia coli were inhibited were similar to those of mezlocillin and piperacillin (1.6 and 100 micrograms/ml, respectively) . Apalcillin had minimal inhibitory concentrations similar to those of piperacillin against Citrobacter freundii and Citrobacter diversus . Against Klebsiella, apalcillin inhibited 50% of organisms at a concentration of 6.3 micrograms/ml, similar to piperacillin . The activity of apalcillin against Enterobacter (E . aerogenes, E . cloacae, and E . agglomerans) was similar to that of mezlocillin and piperacillin and greater than that of ticarcillin . The activity of apalcillin against Proteus mirabilis was similar to that of the other agents, as was its activity against indole-positive Proteus and Providencia . Only 40% of Serratia were inhibited at an apalcillin concentration of 25 micrograms/ml . Apalcillin was as active as piperacillin but twofold less active than cefoxitin or moxalactam against Bacteroides fragilis . It was as active as piperacillin, cefoperazone, and cefsulodin against P . aeruginosa (apalcillin inhibited 90% of organisms at a concentration of 25 mg/ml) . There was an inoculum effect and a difference in the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration with beta-lactamase strains . Apalcillin was hydrolyzed by plasmid beta-lactamase but not as well by cephalosporinases. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(5), 902 - 5 Comparison of three automated systems for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli; Kelly MT et al.; Several instruments for automated or semiautomated susceptibility testing are currently available . Three of these instruments, Autobac (General Diagnostics, Warner-Lambert Co., Morris Plains, N.J.), MS-2 (Abbott Laboratories, Dallas, Tex.), and AutoMicrobic system (AMS) (Vitek, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) were compared for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli . A total of 207 isolates representing 29 species of gram-negative bacilli were tested simultaneously by each instrument and by a standardized disk diffusion reference method . Nine antimicrobial agents, including ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and nitrofurantoin were tested . Discrepancies between the results of the automated and reference disk diffusion methods were resolved by agar dilution testing . Overall, 93% of the Autobac and MS-2 results and 83% of the AMS results were in agreement with the results obtained by the reference methods . The results of the Autobac, MS-2, and AMS systems respectively included 3.3, 2.3, and 4.2% major and very major discrepancies . Excessive testing discrepancies were found for certain drugs, including ampicillin, tetracycline, and nitrofurantoin, and for certain organisms, including species of Providencia, Serratia, and Citrobacter . The results of this comparison of three automated systems for antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicate that the Autobac and MS-2 instruments provided highly reliable results . The AMS need further development of its susceptibility testing capability to eliminate an unacceptably high number of minor discrepancies. J Med Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(2), 263 - 6 Rhodanese activity: a simple and reliable taxonomic tool for gram-negative bacteria; Lanyi B; The thiosulphate: cyanide sulphurtransferase (rhodanese) test of Vandenbergh, Bawdon and Berk (1979) has been simplified and 2469 strains from a wide variety of sources representing different biochemical, serological or phage-pattern entities were tested . The percentages of rhondanese-producing strains were: Escherichia coli 98%, Shigella flexneri serovars 1-5%, X and Y 0%, other shigellae 73-100%, Yersinia spp . 0%, Salmonella subgenera I-IV 0%, Citrobacter freundi 16%, Klebsiella 37%, Enterobacter 4%, Hafnia alvei 61%, Proteus spp . 0%, Pseudomonas spp . 98-100% . Rhondanese production by S . flexneri serovar 6 supports the view that this group of bacteria should be removed from S . flexneri and placed in another species of Shigella. J Clin Pathol, 1982 Apr, 35(4), 452 - 7 Comparative epidemiology of gentamicin-resistant enterobacteria: persistence of carriage and infection; Hart CA et al.; During a two-year period from January 1979, 260 patients have been involved in an outbreak of carriage and infection due to gentamicin-resistant enterobacteria . We have examined the duration of carriage of such enterobacteria and have compared the carriage of Klebsiella with that of other resistant enterobacteria . Carriage of gentamicin-resistant enterobacteria occurred most frequently and was least sporadic in the intestinal tract . Vaginal carriage was observed in 49 out of 68 patients tested and occurred more frequently in older patients . Oral carriage was noted in 36% of patients but was more sporadic than intestinal carriage . Rates of oral carriage were greater among moribund patients . Carriage at skin sites was related to their proximity to the perineum . Intestinal carriage of gentamicin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiellae but not Klebsiella oxytoca nor Citrobacter persisted for long periods (half lives of 140 and 100 days respectively) . Cessation of carriage of gentamicin-resistant Klebsiellae was due to loss of both the organism and its plasmid rather than a shedding of the plasmid . Chronic bacteriuria with gentamicin-resistant E coli and Klebsiellae (half life 180 days) but not Klebsiella oxytoca nor Citrobacter persisted for long periods. Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Apr, 35(4), 1022 - 44 {Compared studies of antimicrobial agents against E . coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus isolated from urinary tract infections}; Kosakai N et al.; In vitro activities of antibacterial agents against E . coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus which were isolated from patients urinary tract infections at 8 hospitals in Japan, were investigated by agar dilution method from July to October in 1979 . The summarized results are as follows . 1 . Among oral antibacterial agents, MPC and PPA have showed potent antibacterial activities against E . coli and Klebsiella . Among parenteral antibiotics, CTM was the most active against E . coli and Klebsiella . However, ABPC-resistant E . coli and Klebsiella have appeared to occupy about 40% and 96% of bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections, respectively . 2 . In vitro activities of antibacterial agents against Proteus and Citrobacter showed not so potent . 3 . Causative organisms in female patients with simple urinary tract infections were mainly E . coli and Klebsiella . 4 . Among oral antibacterial agents, PPA have shown similar antimicrobial activities against E . coli isolated from simple and complicated urinary tract infections . ABPC and MPC have been influenced in some degree by these factors . However, parenteral antibiotics are not influenced by these factors . On the other hand, in vitro activities of antibacterial agents against Klebsiella isolated from simple and complicated urinary tract infections were similar. J Clin Invest, 1982 Apr, 69(4), 979 - 84 Rapid differentiation of bacterial meningitides by direct gas-liquid chromatography; Thadepalli H et al.; Rapid identification of Haemophilus influenzae and other bacillary meningitides was attempted by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) of the metabolic by-products in broth cultures and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from experimental meningitis produced in New Zealand White male rabbits . These results were correlated with the GLC of CSF of meningitis patients . A major peak with retention time of succinic acid was found in the broth cultures of all bacilli tested including H . influenzae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes . Succinic acid was also found in the CSF of experimental meningitis and in the CSF of all patients with H . influenzae and Esch . coli meningitis . This peak was not detected in the blood samples of experimental animals . It was also absent in the broth cultures of all of the gram-positive and gram-negative cocci tested, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis . Succinic acid, which appears to be a by product of fermentation, persisted as a clear cut marker in H . influenzae meningitis for at least 3 d after the initiation of treatment . In one patient, the succinic acid peak disappeared during treatment and reappeared with a clinical relapse . Clearly, the presence of succinic acid that can be rapidly detected by GLC in the CSF excludes pneumococcal or meningococcal meningitis and strongly suggests H . influenzae or other bacillary meningitides. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 15(4), 582 - 8 Sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the automicrobic system (with the Enterobacteriaceae-plus biochemical card) for identifying clinical isolates of Gram- negative bacilli; Barry AL et al.; Two independent laboratories tested 1,743 clinical isolates by using the Enterobacteriaceae-plus Biochemical Card in the AutoMicrobic system (AMS) and identical standard reference methods . Included were 55 isolates representing 11 species that cannot be identified by the enterobacteriaceae-plus Biochemical Card computer program; 3 or these isolates were incorrectly identified as Pseudomonas cepacia . With the other 1,688 isolates, 5% of the AMS identifications were considered to be equivocal (probability value, less than 0.80), and the remaining test were 97% accurate (sensitive), Difficulty was observed in the ability of the AMS to identify some H2S-negative Citrobacter freundii species . An AMS response of P . cepacia was also considered nonspecific, because several other organisms were misidentified at P . cepacia . Reproducibility of the system was documented by testing 125 strains on 3-separate days; only 6 strains produced significantly variable results . The AMS (with the Enterobacteriaceae-plus Biochemical Card) was a very satisfactory, automated system for accurately identifying most gram-negative bacilli within 8 to 13 h. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Apr, 21(4), 536 - 44 Antimicrobial and beta-lactamase inhibitory activities of carpetimycins A and B, new carbapenem antibiotics; Kobayashi F et al.; Carpetimycins A and B showed widely broad spectra and potent activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including various species of anaerobic bacteria . The antimicrobial activity of carpetimycin A was 8 to 64 times greater than that of carpetimycin B and 4 to 128 times greater than that of cefoxitin . The inhibitory concentration of carpetimycin A required to inhibit more than 90% of clinical isolates was 0.39 micrograms/ml for Escherichia coli and klebsiella and 1.56 microgram/ml for Proteus and Staphylococcus aureus . At a concentration of 3.13 micrograms/ml, carpetimycin A inhibited almost all clinical isolates of Enterobacter and Citrobacter, which showed resistance to many clinically used beta-lactam antibiotics . Carpetimycins A and B furthermore were shown to have potent inhibitory activities against several kinds of beta-lactamases produced by beta-lactam-resistant strains; they inhibited not only penicillinase-type beta-lactamases but also cephalosporinase-type beta-lactamases, which were insensitive to clavulanic acid . In combination with beta-lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin, carbenicillin, and cefazolin, carpetimycins A and B showed synergistic activities against beta-lactam-resistant bacteria. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 1(2), 76 - 81 Comparison of three methods for identification of Enterobacteriaceae; Appelbaum PC et al.; This study compares the ability of three commercial overnight methods, API 20E, Minitek and Enteric-Tek, to accurately and completely identify 368 clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae without supplemental tests . Organisms included Escherichia coli (54 strains), Shigella spp . (7), Edwardsiella tarda (1), Salmonella enteritidis (10), Citrobacter spp . (30), Klebsiella spp . (55), Enterobacter spp . (68), Hafnia alvei (2), Serratia spp . (33), Proteus spp . (64), Morganella morganii (24), Providencia spp . (18), and Yersinia enterocolitica (2) . Methods were those of the manufactures without supplemental tests . API 20E correctly identified 93.2% of strains to species and 3.3% to genus level only, with 3.0% as part of a spectrum of identifications, and 0.5% incorrect identifications . Minitek yielded 96.0% correct identifications to species and 0.5% to genus level only, with 2.5% spectrum identifications, and 1.0% incorrect identifications . Enteric-Tek correctly identified 97.0% of strains to species level with 3.0% spectrum identifications . API 20E identification of some Serratia and Citrobacter strains was to genus level only . Problem organisms for Minitek included Enterobacter agglomerans and Serratia marcescens . A comparison of these three commercial methods shows that all three have the ability to identify most clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae without supplemental tests. Mikrobiologiia, 1982 Mar-Apr, 51(2), 216 - 9 {Cytochrome composition and content of Citrobacter freundii}; Zatsepin SS et al.; Citrobacter freundii, strain 62, produces considerable amounts of cytochromes c and b when it grows in media with different carbon compounds under both aerobic anc anaerobic conditions . The content of cytochromes c increases under anaerobic conditions, particularly in the presence of formate or DMSO, and under aerobic conditions if formate is added . In contrast, the amount of cytochromes b decreased when the culture is grown in media with formate under anaerobic conditions . Cytochrome o is principal terminal oxidase in C . freundii . Under certain growth conditions, the microorganism, just as E . coli, produced also cytochromes a and d. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Mar, 21(3), 509 - 12 Activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin and cephalosporins against isolates from nosocomially acquired bacteremia; Gutierrez-Nunez J et al.; The in vitro activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin was compared with that of seven beta-lactam agents against bacteremic clinical isolates, including gentamicin-resistant, gram-negative bacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococci, and enterococci . N-formimidoyl thienamycin was the most active antibiotic against all of the gram-positive cocci studied, with the exception of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the only agent active against the enterococci . N-formimidoyl thienamycin was less active than some of the other agents against Enterobacteriaceae, except for the strains of Serratia and Citrobacter studied . For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, N-formimidoyl thienamycin was the most active agent (4 micrograms/ml was the lowest concentration that inhibited 90% of the strains tested). Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 283 - 95 {Review {new antibiotics series I}: cefuroxime (author's transl)}; Nakagawa K; Cefuroxime (CXM) is a new injectable cephalosporin stable against beta-lactamases . The results of preclinical and clinical studies so far carried out in Japan on cefuroxime are summarized in this paper . 1 . CXM is stable to various kinds of beta-lactamases except the one produced by P . vulgaris GN 76 (RICHMOND type Ic) . Reflecting this action, CXM has been shown to have antibacterial activity, not only against organisms which respond to conventional cephalosporins, but also against Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Hafnia, and Indole positive Proteus which are resistant to conventional cephalosporins . 2 . After an intravenous or an intramuscular injection, satisfactory blood levels of CXM are attained with the half-life about 1 hour, and CXM is excreted into urine via kidney in an active form . Transfer of CXM to tissues or various body fluids such as bile, cerebrospinal fluid, prostatic fluid, etc., is also satisfactory . 3 . Of the total 826 evaluable cases treated in the open clinical study, 243 cases (29%) were assessed as 'excellent' and 404 (49%), as 'good,' and the efficacy ratio ('excellent' and 'good') was as high as 78% . 4 . In a double-blind comparative study vs . cefazolin in patients with respiratory or urinary tract infections, CXM was proven to be superior to CEZ in either the infection, both in terms of clinical efficacy and global utility . 5 . Incidence of side effect was very low . Of the total 1,057 cases treated in the open and double-blind clinical studies, side effects, mostly skin hypersensitivity and pyrexia, were noted only in 26 cases (2.5%). Antibiotiki, 1982, 27(7), 517 - 21 {Antibiotic sensitivity of opportunistic bacteria isolated from patients}; Arons RM et al.; Sensitivity of 147 Enterobacteria strains isolated from feces of various patients was determined with the method of serial dilutions on solid nutrient media . 8 antibiotics were tested . By genera (species) the microorganisms were arranged in the following order: E . coli (65 strains), Citrobacter (33 strains), E . cloacae (15 strains), Serratia liquefaciens (9 strains), Hafnia (6 strains), Klebsiella (4 strains), Pectobacterium (3 strains), non-identified organisms (13 strains) . The majority of the strains were resistant to levomycetin (chloramphenicol), morphocycline, tetracycline and tetraolean and at the same time sensitive to streptomycin, neomycin, monomycin and kanamycin . 18 combinations of resistance were found . Repeated examinations of the specimens from the same patient revealed changes in the species composition of the cultures and subsequently in the antibiotic sensitivity spectrum. Basic Life Sci, 1982, 19, 175 - 94 Genetic and molecular studies of the regulation of atypical citrate utilization and variable Vi antigen expression in enteric bacteria; Baron LS et al.; 1 . The atypical citrate-utilizing ability to two strains of E . coli has been shown to be plasmid-encoded . Strain V414 carries a 130 Mdal conjugative Cit+ plasmid that also specifies Tcr and Cmr . Strain V517 carries 9 different plasmid species but only the 36 Mdal species is correlated with Cit+ ability . These plasmids are different from previously reported Cit+ plasmids of E . coli and Salmonella, which express thermosensitive conjugal transfer systems . 2 . A 9 kb Pstl fragment, carrying the Cit+ genes of pWR60, has been cloned into the pBR325 plasmid . 3 . Metabolic studies indicate that intact citrate is not incorporated directly into whole cells . Rather, atypical citrate utilization by these E . coli strains appears to involve partial metabolism of citrate at the cell surface before or during uptake . 4 . The expression of atypical Cit+ ability by the parental pWR60 plasmid or by the recombinant pWR61 plasmid appears reversible and may involve an expression switch mechanism (i.e., insertion sequence element) . 5 . Two widely separated genetic loci, viaA and viaB, are necessary for Vi antigen synthesis in Salmonella and Citrobacter . In some strains of C . freundii, Vi antigen expression is reversible, a phenomenon which can be visualized by a colonial morphology transition between Vi-expressing and -nonexpressing forms . 6 . The C . freundii viaB locus appears to encode the Vi antigen as well as the genetic "switch" mechanism controlling reversible Vi antigen expression . The viaA locus, which is found in several different bacterial species, may encode some common property (e.g., cell surface structure or enzymatic activity) that is needed for Vi antigen expression . 7 . S . typhi and E . coli K12 hybrid strains which carry the C . freundii viaB locus have been constructed . These hybrid strains express reversible Vi antigen expression, even in the absence of general recombination (i.e., functional recA gene product) . 8 . The C . freundii viaB locus was transposed via Mu-mediated events to an F'lac plasmid in the E . coli K12 hybrid strain WR2376 . F' plasmids carrying the viaB locus should serve as a highly enriched source of viaB DNA for physical examination of the switch mechanism . 9 . Genetic manipulations such as those described herein can be used to study virtually any plasmid, viral, or chromosomally-encoded property . The resultant better understanding of biochemical pathways and of genetic regulatory control systems, and the isolation of desired gene sequences should provide ample information and materials for improving chemical processes and constructing vaccines against various organisms. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jan, 43(1), 97 - 103 Influence of diluents, media, and membrane filters on detection fo injured waterborne coliform bacteria; McFeters GA et al.; Pure cultures of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Citrobacter freundii were injured ( greater than 90%) in water from a dead-end section of the Bozeman, Montana, distribution system . The effects of the following laboratory variables on the enumeration efficiency of injured and undamaged control cells were examined: (i) diluent composition, temperature, and time of exposure; (ii) media, using various formulations employed in enumerating gram-negative bacteria; and (iii) surface pore morphology of membrane filters . The addition of peptone or milk solids to diluents and low temperature (4 degrees C) maximized the recovery of injured cells, but had little effect on undamaged cells . Control cells were recovered with high efficiencies on most media tested, but recoveries of injured cells ranged from 0 to near 100% . Most of the media commonly used in water analysis recovered less than 30% of injured cells . This was explained in part by the sensitivity of injured bacteria to deoxycholate concentrations greater than 0.01%, whereas control cells were unaffected by 0.1% . Membrane filter surface pore morphology (at 35 degrees C) had a negligible effect on total coliform recoveries . Recommendations are made regarding procedures to improve the recovery of injured coliforms by routine laboratory practices. Mikrobiologiia, 1982 Jan-Feb, 51(1), 21 - 6 {Effect of oxygen and substrates for growth on the superoxide dismutase and catalase activity of microorganisms}; Kulakova SM et al.; The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in Azotobacter vinelandii, Citrobacter freundii, Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, Thiocapsa roseopersicina and Spirulina platensis is far higher when the cultures are grown under the aerobic conditions . The activities of SOD and catalase are higher in R . capsulata cells cultivated in a medium with glucose in the dark under the aerobic conditions than in cells grown under the same conditions but in the light . R . capsulata grown in a medium with glucose and T . roseopersicina cultivated in a medium with formate or pyruvate had higher activities of SOD and catalase than R . capsulata grown in a medium with acetate and T . roseopersicina cultivated in a medium with glucose . Irrespective of the growth conditions, the highest activity of SOD was manifested by C . freundii while that of catalase by A . vinelandii 1 . C . freundii and T . roseopersicina contained both Mn-SOD and Fe-SOD whereas A . vinelandii