Proteus

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1986 Jun, 22(2), 231 - 40
{Urinary infections in patients in the U.S.L . 25 Val di Cornia . Percentage frequency and sensitivity to antibiotics}; Neri A et al.; In order to estimate the present situation concerning bacterial resistance to a group of widely-used antibiotics, the results of several antibiograms, which were carried out from October 1984 to February 1985 on bacterial stocks isolated from urinary cultures sent to the Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry at the Campiglia Marittima Hospital U.S.L . 25 (Livorno) have been collected . The bacterial species most frequently observed are Gram-negative, namely: Escherichia coli (54%), Proteus (19%), Klebsiella (13%) and Pseudomonas (9%) . E . coli turned out to be particularly sensitive to cephotaxim, phosphomicin, nalidixic acid but only slightly to gentamycin . Klebsiella was very sensitive to cephotaxim, gentamycin and amikacin, while Proteus reacted positively against cephotaxim, aztreonam and oxolinic acid . Pseudomonas was resistant to nearly every antibiotic examined, except amikacin and aztreonam . Overall analysis reveals that cephotaxim an aztreonam are the most active on E . coli, Proteus and Klebsiella, while gentamycin is only slightly.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1986 Jun, 22(2), 215 - 22
{Isolation of thymidine-dependent strains . Microbiologic considerations and personal observations}; Grigis A et al.; We describe the emergence of three thymidine-dependent strains (Thy-): two Escherichia coli obtained in successive occasions from urine of a woman treated with co-trimoxazole before the organisms were isolated and one Proteus mirabilis obtained from urine of a man who had a treatment with norfloxacin . Cultural characteristics and methods for the detection of these Thy- strains are given.

Rev Fr Gynecol Obstet, 1986 Jun-Jul, 81(6-7), 385 - 8
{A case of septic necrobiosis in leiomyoma of the uterus in the postpartum period . Clinical, echographic and x-ray computed tomography study}; Tribalat S et al.; The authors report a case of septic necrobiosis of leiomyoma uteri the first signs of which were seen at the eighth day after childbirth . After several episodes of discharge of Proteus into the blood, separated by a period of apparent resolution, the disorder was only resolved by hysterectomy carried out upon the request of intensive care staff, despite the desire of the patient for subsequent pregnancies . Bacteriological examination of the necrobiotic myoma showed the presence of Proteus morgani, the antibiotic resistance characteristics of which were the same as those of the Proteus seen in the blood.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 Jun, 31(6), 422 - 6
{Effect of cationic polymers and surface-active substances on bacterial resistance to kanamycin}; Kutsenko NN et al.; The effect of cationic polymers and surface active substances (SAS) on sensitivity of Klebsiella aerogenes 600, Escherichia coli 154 and Proteus vulgaris 7470 to kanamycin was studied . A decrease in the resistance of the above organisms to kanamycin on its use in combination with cationic polymers and SAS was observed . It was shown that such substances inhibited the activity of the enzymes inactivating kanamycin . Their effect was suggested to be due to changes in the lipid surrounding of the enzymes.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Jun, 17(6), 747 - 53
In-vitro antibacterial activity of BO-1165, a new monobactam antibiotic; Matsuda K et al.; BO-1165 has excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria but it is almost inactive against Gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria . BO-1165 was more active than the four reference drugs against Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, indole-positive and indole-negative Proteus . Also, BO-1165 exhibited high antibacterial activity against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC50, 3.12 mg/l) and P . cepacia (MIC50, 1.56 mg/l), but did not against Ps . maltophilia strains . BO-1165 had good stability to plasmid-mediated and chromosome-mediated beta-lactamases . However, the compound was slightly hydrolyzed by the beta-lactamases isolated from Proteus vulgaris, Ps . cepacia, Klebsiella oxytoca and Ps . maltophilia, which were capable of hydrolyzing aztreonam.

Clin Otolaryngol, 1986 Jun, 11(3), 157 - 9
Preoperative swabs for the treatment of draining ears after middle ear surgery; Stellfeld M et al.; The value of a preoperative swab for the treatment of postoperative infection after middle ear surgery was investigated . In a selected group of 80 patients with postoperative infection a preoperative swab was available, and the variability was analysed for each species . The well-known pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus and Escherichia coli showed good correlation between pre- and postoperative swabs . In contrast to this all other species found in preoperative swabs were of little value postoperatively . This observation is important for the treatment of infection after middle ear surgery, and should be considered if prophylactic antibiotics are planned.

Chemioterapia, 1986 Jun, 5(3), 185 - 90
Survey of aminoglycoside resistance patterns; Legakis NJ et al.; We studied the susceptibility of 545 gram-negative clinical isolates to six aminoglycosides: gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin, amikacin, 2'-N-ethylnetilmicin, and 6'-N-ethylnetilmicin . The resistant strains (359) have been classified into aminoglycoside resistance (patterns) phenotypes (AGRPs) corresponding to known resistance mechanisms . The results clearly demonstrated that most strains of Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa appeared to be able to adenylate the 2'-hydroxyl group (ANT(2'')) of aminoglycosides . Of the AGRPs reflecting acetylating activity, the AAC(3)-II and AAC(3)-I predominated . The AGRP AAC(2') was limited mainly to Proteus and Providencia isolates . It is noteworthy that permeability type resistance (PTR) was observed only among P . aeruginosa strains . Statistical evaluation of the results, using a discriminant regression analysis showed that PTR P . aeruginosa strains were isolated less often from urine than from other clinical sources (P less than 0.05) . On the contrary the ANT(2'') Proteus strains were more common isolates from urinary infections as compared to those from other sources (P less than 0.05) . Other correlations between frequency of AGRPs, bacterial groups, and various clinical sources were not statistically significant . However such differences in the frequency of occurrence of AGRPs among diverse bacterial groups were noted in relation to hospitals.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Jun, 39(6), 833 - 8
Potential prodrugs of 6-acetylmethylenepenicillanic acid (Ro 15-1903); Adam S et al.; The synthesis and biological activities of a series of non-classical penicillins are described . These compounds were synthesized by treating the pivaloyloxymethyl ester of 6-acetylmethylenepenicillanic acid (Ro 15-1903) with various nucleophiles . They were found to be less active against the beta-lactamases from Proteus vulgaris 1028, Escherichia coli 1024, Klebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 418 and E . coli RTEM than the parent compound . Nevertheless, synergy with ampicillin against whole bacterial cells producing beta-lactamases was evident, although the single compounds did not exhibit antibacterial properties . With the compounds 2a and 2b, synergistic interaction with ampicillin could also be demonstrated in mice.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1986 May 30, 98(11), 355 - 7
{Norfloxacin in the treatment of urinary tract infections}; Joost J; 28 patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) were treated with norfloxacin 2 X 400 mg daily for 9 days . 14 of these patients had complicated UTI (stones, obstruction) . The main pathogens were E . coli and Proteus mirabilis . On the third day of treatment all bacteria were eradicated . One week after therapy all patients with uncomplicated UTI were cured and, likewise, 9 of 14 with complicated UTI . There was no laboratory evidence of adverse effects . 6 patients reported only mild side effects such as epigastric pain, dizziness and pruritus, which did not necessitate discontinuation of norfloxacin . Norfloxacin appears to be safe and effective in the treatment of UTI.

N Engl J Med, 1986 May 8, 314(19), 1208 - 13
Bacterial adherence to bladder uroepithelial cells in catheter-associated urinary tract infection; Daifuku R et al.; To assess the role of bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells in the pathogenesis of nosocomial urinary tract infection, we prospectively studied 55 patients with indwelling urinary catheters . We obtained uroepithelial cells from the bladder and urine for culture on the patients' entry into the study and every two to four days during catheterization . In all, 235 collections of uroepithelial cells from these patients were used in an in vitro adherence assay with six gram-negative bacterial strains . With uroepithelial cells from patients who did not have bacterial infections, the adherence of the bacteria used in the assay differed significantly according to species . The least adherence occurred with Escherichia coli GR12; the adherence increased with (in order) Proteus mirabilis, E . coli J96, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . With cells collected just before the onset of bacteriuria, adherence of these gram-negative strains was higher in patients in whom gram-negative rod infections developed than in those with gram-positive coccal infections (P = 0.005) . Analysis with the Cox proportional-hazards model demonstrated that a significant increase in bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells in the bladder occurred two to four days before the onset of bacteriuria, but that adherence returned to base-line values with the onset of bacteriuria . These results suggest that a transient increase in the adherence of gram-negative bacteria to bladder epithelial cells may be an important early event in the development of catheter-associated bacteriuria.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1986 May, 20(1), 43 - 9
Cell-mediated immunity in healthy adults in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic; Williams DL et al.; Cell-mediated immune responses were studied in 2 Antarctic and sub-Antarctic groups at quarterly intervals over a wintering year, using the cutaneous CMI Multitest . The sub-Antarctic population at Macquarie Island (M.I.) had levels of responsiveness and hypoergy comparable to other healthy populations in temperate regions . The Antarctic group at Mawson showed decreased scores and total number of positive responses to antigens, and a significantly elevated incidence of anergy and hypoergy . Quarterly skin testing showed considerable variability in subject responsiveness to specific antigens at different times over the year . However, only 2 antigens at M.I., trichophyton and proteus, showed a significant seasonal variation in score . There was no statistically significant seasonal variation in antigen scores at Mawson . It is concluded that environment and stress factors in Antarctic expeditions are responsible for the decreased immunological responsiveness.

J Infect, 1986 May, 12(3), 221 - 7
Comparison of long-term indwelling catheters and bed-pads in the treatment of urinary incontinence in elderly patients; Rannikko S et al.; Bed-pads and long-term indwelling catheters were compared in the treatment of urinary incontinence in two groups of eight elderly bedridden women . The same silicone catheter could be left in situ on average for 2 months . A detailed description of the changes of urinary bacterial flora in patients of both experimental groups is given . At the end of the 6 months' study all of the patients in both groups had significant bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(8) CFU/1), Proteus species being the most common pathogen in catheterised patients . The development of multiple resistance was observed in both groups, but it was more pronounced in the catheterised group . The indwelling catheter was more economical (P less than 0.001), but carried a higher risk of infection.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1986 May, 34(5), 483 - 9
{Urinary tract infections in general medical practice . A study of clinical findings, of the distribution of causative microbial species and their sensitivity to 16 antibiotics}; Lecomte F et al.; From April to July 1984, all of the strains recovered by 10 private laboratories in Upper-Normandy region (France) from urine samples from outpatients seen in office practices (public and private hospitals excluded) were preserved . A total of 829 strains were collected, identified and tested against antibiotics using disk diffusion techniques . These investigations, together with a synthesis of clinical findings, were carried out by the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Rouen University Hospital . 78.1% of patients were females; all age groups were represented with a greater prevalence of subjects aged 26 to 35 and above 66 . E . coli was the most prevalent pathogen (74.5% of all strains), followed by Proteus and Providencia (10%) . E . coli was recovered in 78% of first infections against 67.7% of recurrent infections and 50% of prostatitis . More than 25% of strains were resistant to ampicillin; norfloxacin showed the best activity, with 96.5% of susceptible strains.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 May, (5), 21 - 4
{Comparative evaluation of different methods for typing bacteria in the genus Proteus}; Shvidenko IG; The work presents the comparative evaluation of different methods used for differentiating bacteria of the genus Proteus . A scheme of the combined typing of Proteus is presented . This scheme includes the determination of enzymatic and serological variants with the subsequent additional bacteriocinogenic and phage typing . Among the Proteus strains in our collection (600 strains), 123 sero-enzymatic variants, 71 enzymo-lysogenic variants, 64 enzymo-bacteriocinogenic variants, 162 sero-lysogenic variants, 164 sero-bacteriocinogenic variants and 52 bacteriocinogeno-lysogenic variants have been detected.

Int J Dermatol, 1986 May, 25(4), 258 - 65
Cephalosporins in cutaneous infections . A prospective comparison of two dosage regimens of ceftazidime for therapy of skin and skin structure infections; Parish LC et al.; The safety and efficacy of ceftazidime administered as 0.5 g every 8 hours (q8h) or 1.0 g q8h for at least 5 days were compared in 197 patients and found to be effective in the treatment of cellulitis, abscesses, skin ulcers, and wound infections . Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen in both treatment groups with approximately half of the isolates from each treatment group being gram-positive . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common gram-negative isolate . P . aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli each comprised 5-12% of the isolates from each treatment group . Clinical cure or improvement was achieved in 98.7% of the patients in each treatment group . Concurrently with clinically successful treatment, a high rate of bacteriologic eradication without superinfection was achieved with the 0.5-g regimen (84% of all isolates) and the 1.0-g regimen (92%).

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 May, 31(5), 381 - 4
{Antibacterial activity of a number of preparations and their combination with a proteolytic enzyme against the microflora of burn and surgical wounds}; Murashko SN et al.; Antibacterial activity of antibiotics (azlocillin, tobramycin and piperacillin), antiseptics (metacid, chlorhexidine and quinosoline) and some other drugs (dioxidine and mafenide acetate) against the main representatives of the burn and surgical wound microflora, i . e . Staphylococcus, P . aeruginosa, Proteus, Providencia, Serratia, Klebsiella and E . coli was studied . Tobramycin and piperacillin were highly active against P . aeruginosa, Staphylococcus and Proteus . It was shown that in the presence of terrilytin, a proteolytic enzyme the activity of the combinations of chlorhexidine with dioxidine or mafenide acetate against all microorganisms occurring in burn and surgical wounds markedly increased.

J Chromatogr, 1986 Apr 25, 377, 49 - 57
Characterization of pathogenic bacteria by automated headspace concentration-gas chromatography; Zechman JM et al.; Automated headspace concentration-gas chromatography (AHC-GC) was used to profile the volatile metabolites produced by Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus . Bacterial cultures were incubated in trypticase soy broth and examined at 24 h . The profiles were consistent for each genus examined and variation observed among the different strains of each species was chiefly quantitative . The volatiles were identified by concurrent headspace concentration-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and consisted mainly of isobutanol, isopentanol, isopentyl acetate, 1-undecene and methyl ketones . There were sufficient differences in the profiles in the 4-6 min elution period to distinguish P . aeruginosa and S . aureus from each other and from the other two bacteria . P . mirabilis and K . pneumoniae typically showed three intense peaks which corresponded to isobutanol, isopentyl acetate and isopentanol . The determination of volatiles by AHC-GC is sensitive, rapid and offers a possible alternative for automatic detection and characterization of pathogenic bacteria.

J Chromatogr, 1986 Apr 23, 357(1), 191 - 8
Highly sensitive assay for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection; Kiuchi K et al.; A highly sensitive assay for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity involving high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection was devised . gamma-Glutamyl-DOPA, a new synthetic dipeptide, which consists of naturally occurring amino acids, was found to be a good substrate for gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase purified from Proteus mirabilis . Enzymatically formed DOPA was adsorbed on an aluminium oxide column, eluted with 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection . The sensitivity limit of this method was 0.5 pmol of DOPA formed . Some properties of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase purified from P . mirabilis were investigated using gamma-glutamyl-DOPA as a substrate . In the presence of 0.15 M glycylglycine, the KM value of the enzyme for gamma-glutamyl-DOPA was 0.013 mM, and the maximum velocity was 247 nmol/min per mg protein . This method was applied to the assay of the enzymatic activity in human serum.

J Biol Chem, 1986 Apr 5, 261(10), 4600 - 6
Expression of the Proteus mirabilis lipoprotein gene in Escherichia coli . Existence of tandem promoters; Ching G et al.; The Ipp gene from Proteus mirabilis was cloned onto pBR322 and expressed in Escherichia coli . The P . mirabilis lpp gene is unique in that it has two tandem promoters transcribing two mRNAs that differ in length by approximately 70 nucleotides at their 5'-ends . The two mRNAs thus encode the identical lipoprotein . The P . mirabilis prolipoprotein has a 19-amino acid signal peptide and a 59-amino acid lipoprotein sequence . In spite of the substantial differences in the amino acid sequence from the E . coli prolipoprotein, the P . mirabilis prolipoprotein is normally modified and processed in E . coli, and the resultant lipoprotein is assembled in the E . coli outer membrane as is the E . coli lipoprotein.

Z Urol Nephrol, 1986 Apr, 79(5), 245 - 52
{Nonspecific pyelonephritis and the formation of urinary calculi in urogenital tuberculosis}; Lenk S et al.; The course of urogenital tuberculosis is complicated by unspecific bacterial infections of the urinary tract and nephrolithiasis . Among 605 patients with bacteriological or histological verified urogenital tuberculosis, 122 patients (20%) developed unspecific bacterial urinary infection--commonly caused by E . coli, proteus and pseudomonas--and 57 patients (9.4%) showed nephrolithiasis . In 42% of the lithiasis patients an urinary tract infection simultaneously occurred . 22 calculi are analyzed by the combined crystal-optical and x-ray-diffraction method with following results: 9 X struvite/carbonate apatite, 6 X calcium phosphate, 7 X calcium oxalate . The texture of 12 calculi was investigated on thin sections by polarization microscopy and a high concentration of organic material was found in both calcium oxalate and struvite/carbonate apatite calculi.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1986 Apr, 32(4), 592 - 4
{A case of soft vesical calculi}; Hori N et al.; A case of soft vesical calculi is reported . A 72-year-old male, visited our clinic complaining of discharge of white muddy substance . KUB film revealed calcification in the vesical region . Urinalysis showed UTI, and culture of urine was positive for Proteus mirabilis . Thereafter, the patient suffered from discharges of similar calculi several times . Two of three infrared spectroscopic charts showed mixture of calcium phosphate and ammonium hydrogen urate and that of the remaining disclosed magnesium ammonium phosphate . An alcian blue-PAS double staining of this calculus revealed the presence of acid and neutral glycosaminoglycans, and bacterial colonies . These calculi were thought to be different from the so called 'matrix calculi'.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Apr, 261(2), 198 - 203
Proteus penneri showing a green colour reaction with Kovacs' indole reagent; Muller HE; All 33 investigated strains of Proteus penneri gave a green colour reaction with Kovacs' indole reagent after an incubation of about three days at 36 degrees C . Furthermore, 26% of the 51 strains of Proteus mirabilis studied also showed the green colour reaction but somewhat more weakly . The initial compound of this reaction seems to be a product of tryptophan metabolism which is formed only under aerobic conditions.

J Hyg (Lond), 1986 Apr, 96(2), 185 - 98
Self-disinfecting plastics for intravenous catheters and prosthetic inserts; Kingston D et al.; A disinfectant (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether: Irgasan, Ciba-Geigy) was incorporated into plastic washers fabricated from ethylvinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene, polypropylene or TPX . Plastics containing 0.2 and 2% Irgasan gave zones of inhibition on nutrient and blood agar plates seeded with micro-organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staph . epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis or Candida albicans) even after thorough washing . Exceptionally, C . albicans was inhibited only by 2% Irgasan, and EVA gave good inhibition only against the staphylococci . Similar washers of each plastic were implanted subcutaneously into the flanks of rabbits; before insertion each was washed, had thread woven into it and was surrounded by a plasma clot containing 2 X 10(8) Staph . aureus . All the plastics without Irgasan gave rise to abscesses, none of the plastics impregnated with 2% Irgasan did, though from 2 out of 12 sites small numbers of Staph . aureus were isolated at post mortem . Using either clinical or bacteriological criteria, the results were highly significant (P less than 0.00001 and P less than 0.001 respectively), demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique in preventing plastic-associated infection.

Infect Immun, 1986 Apr, 52(1), 245 - 51
Role of cell surface receptors in the regulation of intracellular killing of bacteria by murine peritoneal exudate neutrophils; Hart PH et al.; The role of the Fc and third component of complement (C3) receptors on mouse neutrophils in the control of killing of Proteus mirabilis, opsonized in normal mouse serum (NMS) or heated immune mouse serum (HIMS), was studied . The events following incubation of neutrophils with P . mirabilis and the events associated with bacterial killing were assayed . The respiratory burst was quantified by chemiluminescence (CL) . Levels of leukocyte-associated bacteria were determined after a 20-min ingestion period as a measure of phagocytosis . Bacterial killing was measured while ingestion was allowed to continue or as a discrete process when extracellular, noningested bacteria had been removed and neutrophils with intracellular bacteria were incubated in the presence of serum . Modification of these responses in the presence of three monoclonal antibodies (MAb), NIMP-R10 and M1/70, which bind to different epitopes of the mouse C3 receptor, and 2.4G2, which binds to the mouse Fc receptor, was investigated . MAb to the C3, but not to the Fc, receptors reduced CL, ingestion, and intracellular killing of NMS-opsonized P . mirabilis . MAb to the Fc receptor diminished CL to and reduced the rate of ingestion of HIMS-opsonized bacteria . The two MAb to the C3 receptor each produced a similar inhibition of ingestion and intracellular killing of HIMS-opsonized bacteria, but they only partially blocked CL . A range of MAb preparations reactive with other murine antigens did not inhibit these events, either with NMS- or HIMS-opsonized P . mirabilis . The results suggest that C3 receptors on mouse neutrophils played a predominant role in regulation of the killing of P . mirabilis . Similar results were found for Staphylococcus aureus . C3 receptors were necessary for maximal expression of all functions culminating in bacterial kill . That MAb to the C3 receptor inhibited phagocytosis of HIMS-opsonized bacteria in similar fashion to the effect of MAb to the Fc receptor and in contrast to the lack of effect of control MAb may reflect steric hindrance of the Fc receptor by MAb binding to the C3 receptor, or it may reflect that the receptors are linked in murine neutrophils as they are in human neutrophils.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Apr, (4), 84 - 8
{Preventive properties of the blood sera from persons vaccinated with a Proteus vaccine made from soluble antigen complexes}; Levina LA et al.; In experiments of the passive protection of mice the protective properties of sera obtained from humans before and after their immunization with Proteus vaccine used as a monopreparation or in combination with staphylococcal toxoid and/or pyoimmunogen were studied . When introduced in a single subcutaneous injection, Proteus vaccine prepared from soluble antigenic complexes ensured an increase in the protective properties of sera . The second injection of the vaccine essentially enhanced the protective potency of the sera of the immunized donors . The therapeutic injection of Proteus vaccine ensured the essential increase of the protective properties of the sera . This increase could be experimentally detected within at least 25-30 days from the beginning of immunization . The immunization of volunteers with Proteus vaccine in combination with pyoimmunogen and adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid ensured the maximum increase of the protective properties of their sera.

Parasitology, 1986 Apr, 92 ( Pt 2), 313 - 24
Antibodies to the glutamate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum; Ling IT et al.; Polyclonal antisera raised against Plasmodium knowlesi reacted with NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) of P . knowlesi, GLDH of P . falciparum and GLDH of Proteus spp . The antisera did not react with NAD(P) GLDH from bovine liver . Polyclonal antisera raised against the GLDH of Proteus spp . cross-reacted with GLDH from P . falciparum . Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) obtained from mice immunized with Proteus GLDH were either specific for the bacterial enzyme or cross-reacted with P . falciparum GLDH . The selected McAbs did not react with GLDH from P . knowlesi, P . chabaudi or P . berghei . The GLDH of P . falciparum was shown to be a cytosolic protein (by FAT) with a subunit molecular weight of approximately 49 000 Da (by immunoprecipitation) having a predominantly hexameric form (by sucrose density gradient) . Implications of the conserved sequences of GLDHs and other enzymes are discussed.

Urology, 1986 Apr, 27(4), 343 - 8
Escherichia coli adherence to anion exchange resin . In vitro model for initial screening of potential antiadherence agents; Ruggieri MR et al.; The first step in developing a bladder infection is attachment of bacteria to the bladder epithelium . Removing the bladder mucin increases bacterial adherence up to a thousand-fold, and this increase can be prevented by pretreating the mucin-deficient bladder with heparin . To develop a rapid, in vitro antiadherence screening assay, we studied the adherence of Escherichia coli to various chromatography resins and the ability of heparin and other agents to antagonize this attachment . The results can be summarized as follows: Although E . coli attached to all resins, only the adherence to the anion exchange resin was inhibited by heparin (up to 95%) . Agents which did not effect E . coli adherence to the resin did not affect attachment to the bladder . Agents which inhibited E . coli adherence to the bladder also inhibited E . coli adherence to the resin . Similar to the effect of heparin on E . coli attachment, the adherence of Klebsiella ozaene, Proteus mirabilis, and Streptococcus fecalis to both bladder epithelium and anion exchange resin were also antagonized . These studies indicate that the adherence of E . coli (as well as other bacterial species) to anion exchange resin responds to heparin and other chemical agents in a similar manner as does adherence to the mucin-deficient rabbit urinary bladder . Because of the ease and rapid nature of this in vitro assay, it serves as a useful screen for potential bacterial antiadherence agents and could be used to help elucidate mechanisms of bacterial attachment.

J Mol Biol, 1986 Mar 5, 188(1), 109 - 10
Crystallization of recA protein from Proteus mirabilis; Weber IT et al.; The recA protein from Proteus mirabilis, which is homologous to the Escherichia coli protein, forms crystals in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) . There are two 38,000 molecular weight subunits in the asymmetric unit and the unit cell dimensions are a = 57.5, b = 127.0 and c = 157.0 A.

J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 23(3), 604 - 8
Composition and antimicrobic resistance of skin flora in hospitalized and healthy adults; Larson EL et al.; The aerobic bacterial flora of the skin of the anterior nares, axilla, perineum, and toe web in a group of 37 patients hospitalized for at least 2 weeks was compared with the flora of 30 healthy adults . Colony counts were significantly higher for flora of the perineum and toe web in both groups (P less than 0.05) . Patients had significantly higher carriage rates of Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Candida spp . (P less than 0.01) . Staphylococcus haemolyticus was isolated more frequently from patients, and S . hominis was isolated more frequently from controls (P less than 0.01) . Patient microflora, including gram-positive cocci, gram-negative bacilli, large-colony diphtheroids, and lipophilic diphtheroids, showed a high degree of resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents . The gram-positive coccal flora of patients was significantly more resistant than that of controls for 8 of 10 antimicrobial agents tested . Methicillin resistance occurred in only 2.9% of isolates from controls, but in 44.3% from patients (P less than 0.01) . This extensive survey identifies qualitative and quantitative differences in skin flora and confirms that significantly higher levels of antimicrobial resistance are present in all types of organisms from a number of skin sites in hospitalized patients.

Arch Intern Med, 1986 Mar, 146(3), 538 - 41
Clinical and microbiologic consequences of amikacin use during a 42-month period; Berk SL et al.; In June 1980, 23% of our Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and 53% of our Serratia species were resistant to gentamicin and tobramycin . During a 3 1/2-year period of almost exclusive amikacin usage, we noted a fall in overall resistance of gram-negative organisms to tobramycin and gentamicin from 18.8% and 19.3% to 15.2% and 16.2%, respectively . This fall in resistance was most notable for Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia species . During this period there was no increase in amikacin resistance . Age, hospitalization, prior antibiotic therapy, and Foley catheter use were predisposing factors in acquiring amikacin-resistant organisms . Amikacin-resistant gram-negative bacilli were usually sensitive to newer penicillins or cephalosporins.

J Ethnopharmacol, 1986 Mar, 15(3), 279 - 88
Comparative in vitro antimicrobial activity of Chinese medicinal herbs; Franzblau SG et al.; Eighteen herbs used in the treatment of infectious diseases in traditional Chinese medicine were evaluated for in vitro activity against ten microbial pathogens . Lyophilized teas were tested by the agar dilution technique at 100-1600 micrograms/ml . Eleven of the preparations were active against at least one microorganism and six of these were active against at least three of the test isolates . Huangqin (Scutellaria sp.) and Huanglian (Coptis sp.) were each active against five of the isolates . Huangqin inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris at 200 micrograms/ml . Huangqin alone showed strong activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis (less than or equal to 100 micrograms/ml) and Candida albicans (200 micrograms/ml) . The antimicrobial activity of various teas, prepared with equal weights of herbs, could be compared against a particular pathogen by considering both the percentage of water-soluble material in the herbs and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the filtered, lyophilized decoctions.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Mar, 17(3), 323 - 6
Amikacin synergism with beta-lactam antibiotics against selected nosocomial pathogens; Gombert ME et al.; The synergistic interaction between amikacin and several investigational antibiotics against seven different genera of nosocomial pathogens was assessed using the microtitre checkerboard technique . The greatest percentage of tests showing synergy was when amikacin was used in combination with apalcillin and azlocillin particularly against Serratia marcescens and Proteus spp . When amikacin was combined with several new semi-synthetic cephalosporins, synergy was present in a variable percentage of tests . No antagonism was found in any of the tested combinations.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1986 Mar, 65(2), 82 - 106
Septic thrombosis of the dural venous sinuses; Southwick FS et al.; From 1940 to 1984, 19 cases of septic dural-sinus thrombosis have been diagnosed at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and some 136 cases have been reported from other institutions . Septic thrombosis most frequently involves the cavernous sinuses (96 cases) . Facial or sphenoid air sinus infection often precede cavernous-sinus disease . In addition to the classical signs of proptosis, chemosis, and oculomotor paralysis, isolated sixth-nerve palsy and hypo- or hyperesthesia of the fifth nerve may be found . The major pathogens associated with cavernous-sinus infection include Staphylococcus aureus, other gram-positive organisms, and anaerobes . Septic lateral-sinus thrombosis (64 cases) is almost exclusively a complication of otitis media and/or mastoid infection . Organisms causing this infection include Proteus species, Escherichia coli, S . aureus, and anaerobes . Septic thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus (23 cases) most frequently accompanies bacterial meningitis or air sinus infection . Causative organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, S . aureus, other streptococci, and Klebsiella species . Because septic dural-sinus thrombosis is rare, this disease is frequently misdiagnosed . Evaluation should include lumbar puncture, air sinus films, and computed tomographic scan with contrast . Other helpful diagnostic tests may include carotid angiography, and dynamic brain scan . Orbital venography is the most definitive study in cases of chronic cavernous-sinus thrombosis . Therapy should include intravenous antibiotics and early surgical drainage of purulent exudate in the air sinuses or mastoid regions . Retrospective analysis suggests that treatment with heparin may reduce mortality in carefully selected cases of septic cavernous-sinus thrombosis . Anticoagulation is not recommended in other forms of septic dural-sinus thrombosis . Mortality in the antibiotic-era remains high, particularly in patients with septic thrombosis of the cavernous (30%) and superior sagittal (78%) sinuses.

Infect Immun, 1986 Mar, 51(3), 936 - 41
Neutrophil activity in abscess-bearing mice: comparative studies with neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood, elicited peritoneal exudates, and abscesses; Hart PH et al.; Intraabdominal abscesses were induced in mice by intraperitoneal inoculation of Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli plus bran as the abscess-potentiating agent . Six- or seven-day-old abscesses were mechanically disaggregated in buffer, and the cells obtained were fractionated on discontinuous Percoll density gradients . Neutrophil populations of different density, each approximately 90% pure, were isolated . When the abscess-derived neutrophils were subsequently incubated with normal serum in vitro under aerobic conditions, the viability of the gram-negative bacteria that had been phagocytosed within the abscess did not change significantly . This anergy to intracellular bacteria (on subsequent incubation in vitro under optimal conditions for phagocytic killing) was also found for neutrophils that had been obtained from abscesses induced by a mixture that included Proteus mirabilis plus B . fragilis and from those induced by E . coli plus P . mirabilis . While unable to significantly kill intracellular organisms that had been phagocytosed in vivo, the abscess-derived neutrophils could engulf and kill organisms to which they were exposed in vitro . Neutrophils from abscesses induced by P . mirabilis only plus bran killed that organism introduced in vitro significantly more effectively than the organisms that had been engulfed in vivo . In contrast, neutrophils from abscesses induced by the gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus plus bran were able to kill their intracellular organisms on subsequent incubation in vitro as effectively as they could kill added S . aureus . Neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood and from induced peritoneal exudates of abscess-bearing mice were able to phagocytose and kill organisms in vitro with greater efficiency than abscess-derived neutrophils . The mechanism whereby neutrophils from abscesses induced by the gram-positive organism S . aureus can kill the organisms phagocytosed in vivo on subsequent in vitro incubation, in contrast to the relative anergy to their intracellular organisms displayed by neutrophils derived from abscesses induced by combinations of gram-negative bacteria, is not known.

Nephrologie, 1986, 7(1), 13 - 8
{Presence of newberyite in the right kidney and carbonated apatite in the left kidney in a patient with recurrent urinary infections}; Uebelhart D et al.; In about 20% of the cases, urolithiasis is directly linked to chronic urinary tract infection by urea splitting bacteria, essentially Proteus mirabilis . The stones are generally composed of struvite and carbonate apatite which usually occur as staghorn calculi feared because of their obstructive and infectious consequences that cause important renal damage . The case of a 48 year-old woman with chronic urinary infection is described whose right kidney showed a staghorn calculus essentially composed of newberyite, a very rare constituent of urolithiasis, and whose left kidney contained three carbonate apatite calculi . Clinical and technical examinations, relations between the two mineral constituents are discussed in this paper with a review of the literature on the subject.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(11), 861 - 9
Cefonicid, a long acting cephalosporin: in vitro activity compared with three cephalosporins and gentamicin; Hamilton-Miller JM et al.; Minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefonicid, cefazolin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime and gentamicin were determined against 688 bacterial strains (234 Gram-positive and 454 Gram-negative) from 20 different genera . Cefonicid showed a broader spectrum than cefazolin but was not as active as ceftazidime or gentamicin . Cefonicid most closely resembled cefuroxime in terms of microbiological properties . Disc testing accurately predicted sensitivity to cefonicid except for Staphylococcus aureus (which was sensitive by MIC, but appeared resistant in the disc test) and Proteus vulgaris (which was resistant by MIC but appeared sensitive in the disc test) . In combination with gentamicin, synergy or addition was observed in 94% of 35 strains tested by the chequerboard technique . In view of its long half-life and wide range of microbiological activity, cefonicid promises to be a useful addition to the range of cephalosporins already available.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(5), 447 - 50
Antibiogram of urinary tract isolates in Kuwait; Helin I et al.; 1253 urinary tract isolates collected during 9 months (April-December 1984) were analysed by the agar diffusion method for sensitivity to 13 antimicrobial agents commonly used for the treatment of urinary tract infections in children and adults . We noticed an agitatingly high resistance of Escherichia coli to ampicillin, sulphonamide and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and of Proteus spp . to ampicillin . As Kuwait is one of the countries where the total consumption of antibiotics is very high as compared to most of the western countries, we are inclined to assume that this generous policy for the prescription of especially ampicillin and other broad spectrum antibiotics in uncomplicated infections has generated this serious consequence.

J Physiol (Paris), 1986, 81(2), 132 - 9
{Osmotic homeostasis in the freshwater ameba}; Couillard P; Structural and physiological osmotic adaptations of freshwater protozoa are reviewed using Amoeba proteus as an example . A particular emphasis is given to the contractile vacuole . Recent results on the effects of exogenous ATP and vasopressin on the contractile vacuole are also presented.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1986, 34(4), 461 - 9
Lipopolysaccharides of flagellated and non-flagellated Proteus vulgaris strains; Sidorczyk Z et al.; Lipopolysaccharides from two strains of Proteus vulgaris were analyzed . One strain (08) was motile, giving swarming growth on solid media and the other (04)--non-flagellated, not able to swarm . Both lipopolysaccharides appeared to be heterogeneous and were separated into two fractions each . Yield, chemical composition and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed differences between fractions in percentage content of 0-specific and R-core polysaccharides . Relation between ability to swarming growth of Proteus strains and heterogeneity of their lipopolysaccharides is also discussed.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(5), 431 - 8
The combination of pivampicillin and pivmecillinam versus pivampicillin alone in the treatment of acute pyelonephritis; Eriksson S et al.; 96 patients with clinical symptoms of acute pyelonephritis were randomized to 2 weeks treatment with either a fixed combination of pivampicillin and pivmecillinam or to pivampicillin alone . If needed, treatment was first started with the respective parenteral equivalents of the drugs . Acute pyelonephritis was bacteriologically verified in 57 patients, in whom Escherichia coli was isolated in 80% of the cases, Klebsiella in 7% and Proteus mirabilis in 5% . 22 of the 39 patients excluded did not have significant bacteriuria (less than 10(8) c.f.u./l) . Combination treatment was superior to pivampicillin/ampicillin alone, in terms of clinical effect, with successful treatment being noted in 93% in the combination group and in 53% in the ampicillin group (p = 0.002) . The combination was also more effective bacteriologically and it did not select resistant strains in the urinary tract . Ampicillin treatment alone, was, however, associated with a significant increase in urinary strains resistant to ampicillin and to mecillinam . Unsuccessful responders had a significantly higher mean age (p less than 0.01) than successful responders . No serious side-effects were noted.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1986, 52(2), 105 - 16
The functional localization of cytochromes b in the respiratory chain of anaerobically grown Proteus mirabilis; Van Wielink JE et al.; The functional localization of the cytochromes b found in anaerobically grown Proteus mirabilis was investigated . From light absorption spectra, scanned during uninhibited and HQNO-inhibited electron transport to various electron acceptors, it was concluded that all cytochromes b function between two HQNO inhibition sites, or more probably in a Q- or b-cycle.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(2), 149 - 53
Nosocomial infection in a children's hospital . A retrospective study; Polz M et al.; The investigations the frequency of the occurrences of hospital infections were carried in a General Pediatric Ward . Most of the infections (77 per cent) appeared in children up to one year of age . The hospital infections mostly affected children residing in rural areas . The etiological agent was E . coli (36 per cent), Proteus (22.7 per cent) Klebsiella and Staphylococcus . The infections caused by E . coli mainly appeared in girls, others- in boys . The frequency of the occurrences of hospital infections was also analysed with respect to the primary disease of a child . In most cases of additional infections were found in children with upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia and bronchitis . The above differences are statistically valid.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1986, 12(4), 299 - 302
Correlation between structure and biological properties of cephalosporins: the discovery of ceftriaxone; Reiner R; A research programme on cephalosporins was conducted in the author's laboratory with the aim of creating compounds with improved antibacterial and pharmacokinetic properties . In the first phase of this programme, great attention was paid to the study of how the structure of a 3-heterocyclic-thiomethyl side chain is capable of influencing antibiotic activity within a large series of model compounds possessing the same acyl side chain (2-thienylacetyl) as cephalothin . Several structural and physico-chemical features of the heterocyclic thiols used and the corresponding cephalosporins were correlated with in vitro and in vivo activity . As a result of these studies, the enolic 2-methyl-6-hydroxy-5-oxo-as-triazine-3-thiol was identified as the most interesting substituent, since the corresponding cephalosporin showed a valuable resistance breakthrough against several cephalothin-resistant Proteus strains . Consequently, further studies involving the use of different acyl side chains were performed . The introduction of the basic 2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-(Z)-methoxyimino-acetyl side chain finally led to ceftriaxone, which has a very long elimination half-life of 8 hours, high beta-lactamase stability and extremely high chemotherapeutic efficacy against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens . Owing to these properties, ceftriaxone is the first beta-lactam antibiotic suitable for once-daily administration.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Jan, 132 ( Pt 1), 143 - 50
Induction of beta-lactamase in Proteus vulgaris; Okonogi K et al.; Various beta-lactam antibiotics, including monocyclic beta-lactams, induced the beta-lactamase of Proteus vulgaris; when clinical isolates were induced by benzylpenicillin, each strain produced a single beta-lactamase but the activity per milligram dry weight differed from strain to strain . The beta-lactamases of the P . vulgaris strains were heterogeneous with respect to their isoelectric points, but had almost the same specific activities, substrate specificities and Michaelis constants . The kinetics of beta-lactamase formation were investigated in three strains, each with a different beta-lactamase activity . Differential rates of enzyme synthesis and peak activity depended on the concentration of inducer . The plots of the reciprocals of the differential rates versus the reciprocals of the inducer concentrations were linear, and the maximum rate of enzyme synthesis and the concentration of the inducer giving half-maximum induction were determined from this double reciprocal plot . The maximum rates of enzyme synthesis were different in the three strains . The kinetic analysis of beta-lactamase formation revealed that the beta-lactamase activities in a single bacterial species were determined by differences in the rate of enzyme synthesis and not by differences in the properties of the enzyme.

Chemotherapy, 1986, 32(3), 236 - 46
Inducible beta-lactamases are principally responsible for the naturally occurring resistance towards beta-lactam antibiotics in Proteus vulgaris; Aspiotis A et al.; The role of inducible chromosomally mediated beta-lactamases was studied in 22 Proteus vulgaris isolates by monitoring enzyme induction in the presence of various inducers such as ampicillin, cefalothin, cefuroxime, cefsulodin, 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APS), and imipenem . 20 of the isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin, cefalothin, and cefuroxime, whereas 2 isolates were susceptible to these compounds . In all resistant isolates marked inoculum effects could be observed . Enzyme production proved to be transient, i.e . maximum of enzyme production was achieved after 2 or 3 h . In both sensitive isolates enzyme production did not exceed 0.021 U beta-lactamase/mg protein of the cell-free supernatant even after induction with 6-APS or imipenem, whereas it ranged from 0.46 to 6.3 U in the resistant ones . Moreover, enzyme induction was found to be concentration-dependent, as revealed by the extensive study of one of the isolates (No . 4917) . Three different enzymes could be distinguished by means of isoelectric focusing with isoelectric points at 7.4, 8.8, and approximately 9.5 . In the presence of 2.5 mg/l clavulanic acid even strains known to be strong enzyme producers became as susceptible as the sensitive ones: moreover, the inocolum effect was markedly reduced . These findings make it apparent that it is above all the production of inducible enzymes that is responsible for resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in P . vulgaris.

Vet Q, 1986 Jan, 8(1), 2 - 5
Pipemidic acid, a new treatment for recurrent urinary tract infection in small animals; van Oosterom RA et al.; A new chemotherapeutic agent, pipemidic acid, was used to treat 14 dogs and 2 cats with recurrent urinary tract infection caused by multiresistent strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus spp . Bacterial culture of the urine after treatment revealed disappearance of the microorganisms in all patients . It is concluded that pipemidic acid is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for urinary tract infections caused by multiresistant E . coli and Proteus spp., with the condition that bacterial culture during the course of treatment is obligatory.

J Urol, 1986 Jan, 135(1), 182 - 4
The effects of chronic cystitis on vesicoureteral reflux in an animal model; Lewis RW et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine if chronic cystitis interferes with maturation of the ureterovesical junction, thus prolonging vesicoureteral reflux in infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) . Serial implantations of a Proteus-infested silastic pellet into the bladder wall ensured continued infection as demonstrated by urine culture . Chronic cystitis as evidenced by pathological findings at surgery and sacrifice was created in a group of infant monkeys who had initial spontaneous vesicoureteral reflux . There was no evidence of pyelonephritis . Four animals represent a short term study since they were followed from four months to one year of age . Three animals were long term studies and were evaluated for at least 21/2 years . In no animals did chronic cystitis delay the normal disappearance of vesicoureteral reflux that is commonly seen in these animals as the ureterovesical junction matures, as demonstrated by serial cystograms . In two animals reflux (after initial clearing) reappeared when a bladder calculus formed in these chronically infected animals . Renal damage occurred only in these animals . In conclusion, this animal model failed to demonstrate interference with normal vesicoureteral junction maturation in the face of a chronic bladder infection.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1986, 65(5), 354 - 6
{Immunopathology of HTLV III infection in drug addicts}; Corridori S et al.; The authors are herewith reporting the results of an immunological screening performed on 15 drug addicts presenting serological positivity for anti HTLV III (Elisa and WB) . The study has been carried out determining populations and subpopulations of lymphocytes (T3, T4, T8 and T4/T8) and performing cutaneus tests with multiple antigens (Tetanus--Candida--Diphtheria--Proteus--Streptococcus and Tricophyton) . The results achieved by mean of the above mentioned tests seem to indicate the presence of an immunodeficit hitting mainly the cell-mediated immunity in all the patients examined.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1986, 48, 48 - 53
Norfloxacin versus co-trimoxazole in the treatment of recurring urinary tract infections in men; Sabbaj J et al.; Norfloxacin is a lipid-soluble weak organic acid bound to plasma proteins to a low extent . Norfloxacin has a pKa1 from 6.2 to 6.4 and a pKa2 from 8.7 to 8.9 . Mean concentrations of norfloxacin in prostatic tissue have been reported as 1.7 mg/kg . Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in men is frequently associated with prostatic infection, and chronic prostatitis is both difficult to diagnose and to treat . One hundred and twenty-nine patients were entered into a randomized, open controlled, comparative multiclinic study of the efficacy and safety of norfloxacin vs . co-trimoxazole in male patients with recurrent UTI . Norfloxacin 400 mg and co-trimoxazole 160/800 mg were given twice daily for 4 to 6 weeks . One hundred and nine patients were considered evaluable for efficacy . Norfloxacin effected bacteriologic eradication in 56 of 60 (93%) patients; co-trimoxazole effected eradication in 39 of 49 (67%) patients . This difference in bacteriologic outcome had statistical significance (p less than 0.05) . A subset of these patients had prostatic fluid cultures pre- and post-therapy . The eradication rate was 23 of 25 (92%) for norfloxacin and 10 of 15 (67%) for co-trimoxazole . Bacteria isolated were (norfloxacin/co-trimoxazole): E . coli 27/25; K-E-S 14/13; Proteus spp . 7/5; Ps . aeruginosa 2/0; other gram-negative bacilli 4/3; gram-positive cocci 7/3 . Four patients, one on norfloxacin and three on co-trimoxazole had drug-related clinical and/or laboratory adverse experiences . None was serious . Norfloxacin appears to be an effective drug for the treatment of recurrent UTI in men.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Jan, 39(1), 99 - 108
{Cefotiam concentration in exudate from suction drain of patients with breast cancer following intravenous administration}; Hashimoto I et al.; Cefotiam (CTM) in a dose of 2 g was given by intravenous bolus injection to 16 patients with breast cancer operated upon radical mastectomy with suction drainage . The materials of exudate from drain were taken at intervals by sterilized paper disc and determined by the paper disc method with Proteus mirabilis ATCC 21100 as the test organism to CTM concentrations . CTM concentrations in exudate from suction drain of patients increased quickly after intravenous injection, and reached to peak early time on 2 to 3 days after operation . While on 6 days after operation, the CTM concentrations were comparatively lower and reached to peak at 2 approximately 3 hours after injection . The CTM concentrations in exudate exceed the antibacterial levels of CTM and are thought to be sufficient to produce prophylactic effects in the operation.

Fam Pract Res J, 1986 Spring, 5(3), 197 - 203
Nurse-reported infections in a long term care facility; Smith CW Jr; 350 nurse-reported infectious episodes over a two year period were studied in a nursing home population . Urinary tract infections were the most commonly reported, followed by respiratory and skin infections . Of these cases cultured, the most common urinary organisms were Proteus and E . Coli; the most common respiratory pathogen was Proteus; and the usual skin offender was Staph Aureus . Cultures were obtained more commonly for urinary than for skin and respiratory infections . Recurrent infections accounted for 38% of urinary, 39% of skin, and 24% of respiratory infections . These results provide further documentation about the problem of infections in the nursing home, and they may be helpful in designing preventive measures in this setting.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1986, 34(5-6), 505 - 12
Cell invasiveness of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris strains; Rozalski A et al.; Cell penetration ability of haemolytic and non haemolytic Proteus rods was compared . Among four Proteus strains all were able to invade the tested cells (Vero 135, HeLa, L-929 and human blood lymphocytes) but the expression of this feature by haemolytic strains was markedly higher . The survival and multiplication of intracellular bacteria, especially in the case of fresh human blood lymphocytes may be of importance for the development of infection in higher organisms.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1986, 34(5-6), 499 - 504
Humoral response in mice immunized with outer membrane proteins of Shigella flexneri; Witkowska D et al.; Intraperitoneal immunization of mice with outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Sh . flexneri induced in the animals a synthesis of specific antibodies . Their level determined by ELISA test was found to be relatively low in the sera of animals immunized with a single dose (10 micrograms) of OMP; it was markedly higher in mice immunized with two doses of OMP, and very high after three fold immunization . The specific antibodies maintained in the animals for 8-16 weeks after immunization . Anti-OMP sera given to normal mice by intraperitoneal route protected them not only against challenge with homologous Shigella but also against Proteus and Escherichia.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(4), 449 - 53
Ceftazidime, a broad spectrum cephalosporin with activity against Ps . aeruginosa; O'Callaghan H; Ceftazidime is one of the oximinoaminothiazolyl cephalosporins with resistance to most B-lactamases from gram-negative bacteria, and a very wide spectrum of activity including Ps . aeruginosa . MIC's of less than 0.1 mg/l are seen routinely against E . coli, K . pneumoniae, E . cloacae, Proteus spp . both indole positive and negative, Serratia sp., and Providence sp . The mean MIC against clinical isolates of Ps . aeruginosa is less than 2 mg/l . It is bactericidal at concentrations close to the MIC and its activity is unimpaired in the presence of serum . Ceftazidime is well distributed in the body, penetrating into all body fluids at concentrations excess of the MIC's of most pathogenic bacteria . It has a half-life of about 1.5 hours, is excreted almost exclusively by the kidney and is not bound to serum proteins . More than 12,000 patients have now been treated with the antibiotic, with an overall success rate of more than 93%.

J Basic Microbiol, 1986, 26(2), 67 - 74
Expression of the Proteus mirabilis recA gene in Bacillus subtilis is directed by its own promoter; Eitner-Monke G et al.; The recA gene of Proteus mirabilis (recApm) has been cloned into the PstI site of the Bacillus promoter-probe plasmid pPL603 . When present on this plasmid, the recApm1) gene is expressed in B . subtilis under the control of its own transcriptional and translational signals . It is concluded that the high AT-content of the DNA sequence upstream of the -35 region is of decisive importance for the usage of the recApm promoter by the B . subtilis RNA polymerase . The results are discussed in relation to the expression barriers found to exist for genes from gram-negative bacteria in the gram-positive B . subtilis.

Vutr Boles, 1986, 25(1), 21 - 8
{Immunoglobulins in the serum of chronic pyelonephritis patients}; Gruev I et al.; The authors studied the serum levels of immunoglobulins G, A and M in 72 patients with chronic pyelonephritis and 77 clinically healthy subjects . In spite of the high biological variability of the indices studied, high serum levels of IgG and IgA were established in the patients with active urologic infection and with advanced renal insufficiency . Significantly higher values of IgG were established in active pyelonephritis, caused by E . coli and Proteus and of all immunoglobulins--in infection with Enterococcus . The serum level of immunoglobulins in chronic pyelonephritis should be complexly interpreted, together with the other clinical and laboratory data.

Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Jan-Feb, 8(1), 61 - 7
Providencia stuartii: a common cause of antibiotic-resistant bacteriuria in patients with long-term indwelling catheters; Warren JW; The long-term-catheterized urinary tract may offer a particular niche to Providencia stuartii, which is otherwise an uncommon clinical isolate . Published accounts of bacteriuria in patients catheterized for long periods indicate that P . stuartii has often been found as frequently as familiar uropathogens such as Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, enterococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . As in most nosocomial infections, the frequency of isolation of a given species has commonly differed among institutions . In the future P . stuartii may be more frequently encountered as a nosocomial pathogen in nursing homes and in acute care hospitals to which bacteriuric patients are transferred . This trend appears likely because of the increasingly large nursing-home population, the predilection of the bacterium for the long-term-catheterized urinary tract, the opportunity for nosocomial transmission from this reservoir, the resistance of the organism to multiple antibiotics, and the occasional systemic illness and bacteremia caused by P . stuartii.

Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl, 1986, 98, 1 - 71
Urinary calculi and urinary tract infection . A clinical and microbiological study; Holmgren K; The problem of urinary calculi in association with urinary tract infection (UTI) was investigated . Fifty-two (7%) of 796 patients attending our outpatient stone clinic had UTI which was considered of pathogenic importance for their stone formation . Proteus was the most common microorganism . Metabolic disorders were found in one third and anatomical and functional abnormalities in two thirds of the patients . The infected patients had lower urinary calcium excretion and higher serum creatinine than idiopathic stone formers and had a higher frequency of stone operations . The prevalence of staghorn calculi as a cause of urimia was low (1.5% of 481 dialysis patients) . Eight such patients were studied and six of them had metabolic and anatomical disorders . The time taken for the uremia to develop was 7.4 +/- 2.0 (SD) years . In 535 patients treated surgically for renal calculi, about one third had positive urine culture at the time of operation and E . coli was the most common bacterial strain (35%) . Proteus was found in 28% and these patients had the highest frequency of UTI episodes, most of which occurred before hospitalization . Patients infected with E . coli had a higher frequency of phosphate-containing calculi than non-infected patients, in whom the highest frequency of calcium oxalate calculi was found . A new broad-spectrum cephalosporin, ceftazidime, was used as perioperative prophylaxis in 15 patients operated upon for renal calculi and UTI . Ten had bacterial growth in the renal pelvis and all strains were eradicated . Bacterial growth was found in two out of six cultured stones from patients with bacterial growth in the pelvis . The pharmacokinetics of the drug was studied and the decreases in the ceftazidime levels in serum and renal tissue seemed to be parallel . Bacterial binding of urinary isolates to hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles was studied . Two E . coli strains (A5089 and E7704) and one Proteus mirabilis strain (A5076), all obtained from stone patients, were compared with two E . coli strains (2683 and M7810) with well defined cell-surface properties . Hemagglutination tests were performed and the cell-surface hydrophobicity was determined by a salt-aggregating test . When the strains were cultured at 37 degrees C to promote fimbriae formation they hemagglutinated erythrocytes and displayed hydrophobic cell-surface properties, and showed higher capacity for binding to HAP than when cultured at 18 degrees C to suppress fimbriae formation, when they showed almost complete absence of hemagglutination and low cell-surface hydrophobicity . Bacterial cell-surface properties seem to influence the binding of uropathogens to HAP particles.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Jan, 154(1), 109 - 14
Protease production by microorganisms associated with reproductive tract infection; McGregor JA et al.; Factors influencing pathogenicity of various microbes found in the female lower genital tract remain incompletely understood . Protease production by cervico/vaginal microorganisms may alter or inactivate a variety of proteins important in host defense and structural-functional integrity including collagen-containing chorioamniotic membranes and uterine cervix . Host tissues may be made more susceptible to other organisms' virulence factors by protease-producing members of genital tract local flora . Microorganisms themselves may also be influenced by the presence of other microbial protease . Nonspecific protease, gelatinase, collagenase, and elastase production was examined for in vitro with use of aerobic (30) and anaerobic (25) strains of microorganisms typical of those isolated from the lower genital tract of women with premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and puerperal infection . Microorganisms including Bacteroides bivius, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Bacteroides fragilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species, and Propionibacterium acnes produce various proteases . Protease production by both acknowledged pathogenic and commensal bacteria may contribute to the occurrence of reproductive tract morbidity including premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor.

Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1986 Jan-Feb, 20(1), 71 - 3
{Ability of microflora to multiply on polymer materials used in hermetically sealed compartments}; Novikova ND et al.; The main representatives of human auto-microflora were examined to identify the microorganisms that can grow and develop on various polymers used in an enclosed interior . Bacteria of the Genera Pseudomonas, Proteus and Bacillus were found to be most proliferative . Microbial growth was strongly influenced by environmental parameters of the enclosure and by the chemical structure of the polymer.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1986, 35(1-2), 57 - 9
Some biological features of proteus bacilli . 3 . Comparison of haemolytic activity of Proteus and Serratia strains; Rozalski A et al.; The haemolytic activity of Proteus mirabilis and P . vulgaris bacilli exhibited in young broth cultures was compared with the ability of Serratia marcescens strains to haemolyze human and sheep erythrocytes in the same conditions.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Jan, (1), 31 - 5
{Escherichia coli neuraminidase}; Shimaniuk NIa et al.; The intracellular form of neuraminidase has been detected in E . coli and Proteus vulgaris . Neuraminidase has been isolated from E . coli HB 101 cells and purified 118-fold . Some physico-chemical properties of this enzyme have been studied.

Br J Urol, 1985 Dec, 57(6), 618 - 21
Renal stones in children in Pakistan; Rizvi SA et al.; One hundred and fifty children up to the age of 12 years with documented evidence of renal or ureteric stones were studied between July 1973 and June 1983 . The peak age group was between 10 and 12 years, the male to female ratio being 1.9:1 . Abdominal pain was the commonest presenting symptom (66.6%) . Asymptomatic stones or vague symptoms in 23 patients warrant a higher index of suspicion of renal stone disease in children . Thirty patients had associated renal insufficiency . One third of the children had a positive urine culture, Proteus spp . being the commonest organism . Congenital anomalies of the urinary tract were seen in 12% of patients . In the majority (59%), aetiological factors related to stone formation could not be identified . One hundred and thirty patients underwent surgery for removal of stones . Analysis of calculi by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy revealed that stones were predominantly of mixed type, calcium oxalate being the commonest compound . The overall recurrence rate following surgical removal was 15%.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 4(6), 553 - 5
Bacteriological study of renal calculi; McCartney AC et al.; The pre-operative urine, pelvic urine, removed calculi and calculus washings were examined bacteriologically in 24 patients undergoing removal of intrarenal calculi . Four of seven patients with struvite calculi had an infected pre-operative midstream urine specimen and six of the seven removed calculi demonstrated significant bacterial growth . Proteus mirabilis was the commonest organism isolated . Of 17 patients with oxalate calculi only one had an infected pre-operative urine culture, but in four cases the removed stones were infected . Quantitative bacteriological culture of the stones and their washings demonstrated that infection is within the stone itself . Pre-operative urine culture failed to predict infection within the stone in 60% of patients with infected stones . The results suggest that the presence of infected urine together with the presence of renal calculus is indication for removal of the calculus.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1985 Dec, 1(4), 301 - 4
Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and comparison between different screening methods for its detection in infants; Goossens H et al.; Urine was cultured from 441 healthy children, aged 3 to 36 months, simultaneously by standard pour plating and by dip-slide . Significant bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(5) colony-forming units/ml in two successive specimens) was found in 13 children (2.9%): 11 boys, 2 girls . Proteus mirabilis was the most frequently isolated organism . Of the 13 infants, 2 had malformations on intravenous pyelography . All 13 had a negative antibody-coated bacteria test . Nitrite test (N-Multistix) and microscopic examination were also performed . The results suggest that asymptomatic bacteriuria cannot be accurately predicted either by microscopic examination or by the nitrite test, and that the quantitative urine culture by dip-slide is the easiest and most reliable way of diagnosing urinary tract infections . However the criteria of Kass were found to be too strict.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Dec, 28(6), 786 - 90
Microbicidal activity of octenidine hydrochloride, a new alkanediylbis{pyridine} germicidal agent; Sedlock DM et al.; The potential of octenidine hydrochloride (WIN 41464-2) as a topical microbicide was measured both by in vitro death kinetics and reductions in numbers of bacteria on the skin of cynomolgus monkeys . Semilogarithmic survival curves were plotted to measure the microbicidal activity of various concentrations of octenidine against Staphylococcus aureus . The microbicidal activity of octenidine was also determined for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Candida albicans . Death rates for the same microbial strains were compared with those obtained by using chlorhexidine gluconate . Octenidine concentrations of less than 1.5 microM (0.94 microgram/ml) caused a greater than 99% reduction of each microbial population within 15 min . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most susceptible of the test organisms, and E . coli and C . albicans were the least susceptible . Octenidine was more active than chlorhexidine against each test strain . Skin-degerming activities of aqueous and formulated octenidine and formulated chlorhexidine were compared in single and multiple applications of these agents to the hand and foot surfaces of monkeys by using a glove-juice extraction procedure to measure the skin microflora . Aqueous octenidine, at a concentration of 0.2 to 1.6% reduced resident microflora populations from 90 to 99.98%, depending on the concentration and number of applications . Octenidine formulated at 2% in a surfactant-based vehicle exhibited significantly better skin-degerming activity than did either a nonmedicated vehicle or the Hibiclens brand of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1985 Dec 1, 187(11), 1129 - 31
Disease patterns in the Detroit Zoo: a study of the avian population from 1973 through 1983; Kaneene JB et al.; A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate disease patterns in birds at the Detroit Zoo from 1973 through 1983 . Data were derived from the zoo's medical and animal census records; the mean (+/- SD) population of birds during the study period was 469 +/- 42 . Overall annual morbidity rates were 12.5% to 21.5%, with spring months having the highest morbidity rates . Annual mortality rates were 3.1% to 15.2%; 23.9% of the deaths were caused by microbial agents (particularly Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, hemolytic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Aeromonas spp and Proteus spp), 15.4% by trauma, and 42.5% by nondetermined causes . The mute swan (Cygnus olor), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus), common rhea (Rhea americana), and red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) were the 5 species most frequently affected of the 1,032 deaths from 1973 through 1983 . The most frequently isolated parasites were Microtetramere spp, coccidian species, Diplotriaena spp, and Trichomonia spp.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1985 Dec, 98(6), 1681 - 8
Specific inhibition of urease by N-acylphosphoric triamides; Kobashi K et al.; Benzoyl- and isopentenoyl phosphoric triamides (BPA and IPA) strongly inhibited urease activities from jack bean, soybean, watermelon seed, Proteus mirabilis, P . rettgeri, P . vulgaris, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum . Their I50 values (the final concentration causing 50% inhibition), independent of enzyme source, were 2-21 nM, which are about 1,000-fold lower than that of caprylohydroxamic acid, one of the most potent urease inhibitors . ATP-urea amidolyase activity was inhibited 50% by BPA at a higher concentration of 0.28 mM, but was not affected by IPA even at 1.3 mM . Thirteen kinds of hydrolases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, leucine aminopeptidase, papain, lipase, alpha-amylase, glucuronidase, asparaginase, arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and true cholinesterase), two oxidoreductases (catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase), three transferases (glutamic-oxaloacetic aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and arylsulfotransferase) and two kinases (pyruvate kinase and creatine kinase) were not affected at all even at 1 mM BPA and IPA . Exceptionally, pseudo-cholinesterase from human serum was inhibited by BPA and IPA, whose I50 values were 70 nM and 10 muM, respectively, using acetylthiocholine as a substrate . These values increased to 0.55 muM and 54 muM, respectively, when acetylcholine was used as a substrate . These results show that N-acylphosphoric triamides potently and specifically inhibit urease activity at concentrations of nM order.

Chemioterapia, 1985 Dec, 4(6), 439 - 44
Changes in resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics of different bacterial strains isolated during the period 1978 to 1983 . Netilmicin as alternative therapy; Bovelacci A et al.; The percentage resistance of 11,404 gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains isolated from different biological materials between 1978 and 1983 to some aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin) was determined . The percentage of resistant Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and indole-positive Proteus organisms significantly increased . There was also a significant decrease in gentamicin-resistant strains of the Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis species . We also compared the in vitro activity of netilmicin (routinely tested from the beginning of 1983) with those of the other aminoglycosides against 1546 bacterial strains . Netilmicin was found to have greater antibacterial activity than gentamicin or tobramycin . In addition, netilmicin was active against 48.9% of the strains that were resistant to gentamicin and/or tobramycin.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Dec, 131 ( Pt 12), 3375 - 83
Bacteriophage D: an IncD group plasmid-specific phage; Coetzee JN et al.; The existence of the plasmid incompatibility group D was reaffirmed as a result of compatibility experiments done on plasmids R687, R711b, R778b and R840 which were previously tentatively accepted as constituting the group . The group was further delineated by the isolation of a phage, phage D, which adsorbed specifically to IncD plasmid-encoded pili produced by Escherichia coli K12 strains and strains of Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus morganii and Klebsiella oxytoca harbouring one of these plasmids . Plaque formation, like that of phage pilH alpha, was temperature sensitive in that plaques formed at 26 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C . Plaques were fairly clear, regular in outline and varied from pinpoint to about 1.5 mm in diameter on E . coli hosts where plaques were detected, but on the other hosts the plaques were more turbid and often irregular in outline . The phage did not plate (or propagate) on IncD plasmid-carrying strains of Providencia alcalifaciens, Providencia stuartii or Serratia marcescens . The phage had an isometric hexagonal outline with a diameter of about 27 nm . It contained RNA and resembled two other RNA-containing phages, M and pilH alpha, by being sensitive to chloroform . It adsorbed to the sides of the very distal ends of the shafts of IncD plasmid-coded pili.

J Hosp Infect, 1985 Dec, 6(4), 389 - 97
An investigation into in vitro methods for the detection of chlorhexidine resistance; Walker EM et al.; During an outbreak of catheter-related urinary tract infection, due to Proteus mirabilis, it was suggested that the epidemic strain was resistant to chlorhexidine . In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of chlorhexidine to the epidemic Pr . mirabilis and other laboratory isolates were tested in different media . Results were compared with killing times using 1/4 strength Ringers solution, normal human urine and the in vivo killing times in two patients' catheter bags . It was found that the MIC test was unreliable in the assessment of chlorhexidine resistance as it was dependent on the medium used, the inoculum size, and the age of the culture . The test which gave results closest to the in vivo experiments was the killing curve in normal human urine . It is concluded that chlorhexidine resistance is a complex phenomenon which is difficult to evaluate . If in vitro tests are to be used to evaluate the clinical relevance of reduced sensitivity to chlorhexidine, they must mimic the in-use conditions as closely as possible.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Nov, 16(5), 555 - 61
The comparative activity of eleven aminocyclitol antibiotics against 773 aerobic gram-negative rods and staphylococci isolated from infected hospitalized patients; Guimaraes MA et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 11 aminocyclitol antibiotics were determined for 773 recent clinical isolates from infected hospital patients, most of whom were immunocompromised . There was a bias towards aminoglycoside-resistant organisms, and 21% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were resistant to gentamicin . The antibiotics included the natural agents gentamicin, tobramycin, sissomicin and kanamycin and the semi-synthetic compounds amikacin, netilmicin and dibekacin with some newer agents, including O-demethyl fortimicin, Hapa gentamicin B and 5-epi-sissomicin, not available commercially . Tobramycin, sissomicin and gentamicin had similar spectra with tobramycin more active against Ps . aeruginosa, sissomicin more active against proteus and gentamicin more active against serratia . The differences in spectrum between amikacin and netilmicin were marginal, reflecting the relatively low prevalence of acetyltransferase-producing organisms in our collection . Hapa-gentamicin B was the most active aminoglycoside against staphylococci and indole-positive proteus, netilmicin against Escherichia coli and 5-epi-sissomicin against Ps . aeruginosa . Overall 5-epi-sissomicin was the most active aminoglycoside tested . Both Hapa-gentamicin B and 5-epi-sissomicin have potentially valuable antibacterial spectra which merit clinical studies.

Ann Allergy, 1985 Nov, 55(5), 729 - 35
Serial delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity skin testing with multiple recall antigens in healthy volunteers: booster effect study; Lesourd BM et al.; Booster effects on delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) responses have been demonstrated for various antigens when DCH is measured by the Mantoux technique . In the present study, we investigated this possibility when assessing DCH responses using the Multitest CMI multipuncture technique with simultaneous injections of seven test antigens and a control . The DCH responses were quantified for each antigen and for the overall DCH response expressed as a DCH score . In a group of healthy volunteers, DCH was repeatedly tested either 1 month apart or 2 months apart at least six times . When volunteers remained healthy, DCH variations were observed with only two of seven tested antigens: streptococcus which slowly decreased (P = .012) and proteus which slowly increased (P = .04) . Responses to the other antigens and the DCH score remained stable . In contrast, greater DCH variations were observed when infections occurred . The results with the Multitest CMI multipuncture show that repeated application had minimal booster effect on DCH responses and may be used to evaluate and follow immunocompetence of patients.

J Urol, 1985 Nov, 134(5), 1019 - 23
Further characterization of bacterial adherence to urinary bladder mucosa: comparison with adherence to anion exchange resin; Ruggieri MR et al.; Bacterial adherence to anion exchange resin has recently been reported to provide a useful, rapid, in vitro screening assay for identifying putative antiadherence agents . The studies presented in this report provide additional evidence that adherence to anion exchange resin is similar to urinary bladder mucosa adherence . Results are as follows . 1) Heparin inhibits the adherence of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozaenae, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus fecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to both the mucin deficient bladder and anion exchange resin . 2) Drugs which inhibit E . coli adherence to the bladder also inhibit E . coli adherence to the resin and conversely, drugs which do not effect E . coli adherence to the resin do not affect attachment to the bladder . 3) Extracts from mammalian urinary bladder mucosa prevent E . coli adherence to both the bladder and resin . 4) The ability of heparin to displace preattached bacteria from anion exchange resin is inversely proportional to the time the bacteria are in contact with resin . Similar results were obtained for the ability of heparin to displace bacteria from the bladder . These studies indicate that bacterial adherence to anion exchange resin responds to heparin and other chemical agents in a manner similar to the mucin deficient rabbit urinary bladder . Because of the ease and rapid nature of this in vitro assay, it serves as a useful screen for potential bacterial antiadherence agents and could be used to help elucidate mechanisms of bacterial attachment.

Can J Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 31(11), 1041 - 50
Swarmer cell differentiation of Proteus mirabilis in fluid media; Dick H et al.; After 3-4 h in a rich fluid medium such as brain--heart infusion broth, motile nonseptate filaments developed from normal short rods and formed about 80% of the cell mass of Proteus mirabilis PM23 . This developmental pattern was not observed in any of the other nine representatives of the species . These filaments were considered to be equivalent to swarmer cells formed on agar media because these cells ceased tumbling (i.e., chemotaxis was repressed), they developed large numbers of flagella (i.e., flagella synthesis and insertion was derepressed), and the distribution of nuclei in the filaments indicated that there was normal segregation . The population of cells grown in a minimal medium supplemented with amino acids and nicotinic acid consisted only of short cells with tumbling motility, despite the production of long cells and swarming on the same medium solidified with ordinary agar (refined agar was not effective) . These short cells differentiated in 1-1.5 h in brain--heart infusion broth at 37 degrees C after an initial division . The requirements for initiation of differentiation were good basal nutrition, suitable cations (probably Ca2+ and Na+, or K+), and unknown heat-stable organic factors (molecular weight less than 10 000) present in crude agar and yeast extract . Other components of media promoted swarmer differentiation if it was initiated and these included organic acids (lactate), amino acids (proline or serine), phosphate, and an appropriate ionic environment . Comparison of the observed sequence of length classes in brain--heart infusion broth culture with computer generated growth models suggested that, at the outset of growth, 50% of the products of each short cell division ceased septation but grew in length for about five doubling periods and then divided cells from each end at a faster rate (3-5 times per hour) for return to the short cell pool.

J Urol, 1985 Nov, 134(5), 972 - 3
Hyperammonemic coma due to Proteus infection; Kuntze JR et al.; Hyperammonemic coma without liver disease or associated deficiencies in urea cycle enzymes is rare . We report a case and discuss the pathophysiological findings of hyperammonemic coma secondary to Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 741 - 8
Cell cycle parameters of Proteus mirabilis: interdependence of the biosynthetic cell cycle and the interdivision cycle; Gmeiner J et al.; We investigated the time periods of DNA replication, lateral cell wall extension, and septum formation within the cell cycle of Proteus mirabilis . Cells were cultivated under three different conditions, yielding interdivision times of approximately 55, 57, and 160 min, respectively . Synchrony was achieved by sucrose density gradient centrifugation . The time periods were estimated by division inhibition studies with cephalexin, mecillinam, and nalidixic acid . In addition, DNA replication was measured by thymidine incorporation, and murein biosynthesis was measured by incorporation of N-acetylglucosamine into sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble murein sacculi . At interdivision times of 55 to 57 min murein biosynthesis for reproduction of a unit cell lasted longer than the interdivision time itself, whereas DNA replication finished within 40 min . Surprisingly, inhibition of DNA replication by nalidixic acid did not inhibit the subsequent cell division but rather the one after that . Because P . mirabilis fails to express several reactions of the recA-dependent SOS functions known from Escherichia coli, the drug allowed us to determine which DNA replication period actually governed which cell division . Taken together, the results indicate that at an interdivision time of 55 to 57 min, the biosynthetic cell cycle of P . mirabilis lasts approximately 120 min . To achieve the observed interdivision time, it is necessary that two subsequent biosynthetic cell cycles be tightly interlocked . The implications of these findings for the regulation of the cell cycle are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 501 - 9
Cloning of a restriction-modification system from Proteus vulgaris and its use in analyzing a methylase-sensitive phenotype in Escherichia coli; Blumenthal RM et al.; A 4.84-kilobase-pair plasmid was isolated from Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315) and cloned into the plasmid vector pBR322 . Plasmid pBR322 contains substrate sites for the restriction endonucleases PvuI and PvuII . The recombinant plasmids were resistant to in vitro cleavage by PvuII but not PvuI endonuclease and were found to cause production of PvuII endonuclease or methylase activity or both in Escherichia coli HB101 . The approximate endonuclease and methylase gene boundaries were determined through subcloning, Bal 31 resection, insertional inactivation, DNA-dependent translation, and partial DNA sequencing . The two genes are adjacent and appear to be divergently transcribed . Most E . coli strains tested were poorly transformed by the recombinant plasmids, and this was shown by subcloning and insertional inactivation to be due to the PvuII methylase gene . At a low frequency, stable methylase-producing transformants of a methylase-sensitive strain were obtained, and efficiently transformed cell mutants were isolated from them.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1985 Nov, 31(11), 2080 - 4
{Serum and prostatic tissue concentration of ceftizoxime (CZX) after intravenous administration in cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy}; Wakatsuki A et al.; One gram of ceftizoxime (CZX) was administrated before transurethral resection in 38 cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy . Then the serum and tissue concentration of CZX was measured, and compared with the sensitivity of CZX to the bacteria separated from the urine of inpatients . The concentration of CZX in prostatic tissue was higher than the MIC80 for E . coli for 16.7 hr, for Klebsiella for 18.7 hr, for Proteus for 14.7 hr and for Serratia for 8.86 hr . Therefore, CZX was considered to be an effective drug against bacterial prostatitis.

J Urol, 1985 Nov, 134(5), 1002 - 6
Urothelial hyperplasia and neoplasia . II . Detection of nitrosamines and interferon in chronic urinary tract infections in rats; Davis CP et al.; In rats with chronic urinary tract infections, urine and blood were examined for two classes of compounds (nitrosamines and interferon) which may lead to the development of urothelial hyperplasia and neoplasia . In vitro, Escherichia coli, a Proteus species or a mixture of both were able to induce high levels of interferon which theoretically could reduce the host's cellular immune surveillance . These high levels were not detected in vivo in either short-term (5 hr . to 2 wk.) or long-term (2 wk . to 24 wk.) infected rats . In contrast, N, N dimethylnitrosamine was detected in the majority (greater than or equal to 50 per cent) of long term infected rats after 12 wk . although individual rats showed detectable levels as early as 2 wk . post infection . Sterile human or rat urine supported bacterial growth and subsequent production of N, N dimethylnitrosamine, but only after 16 wk . of subculturing in vitro . Gas chromatography was able to detect small amounts of nitrosamines extracted from urine . The mass spectrometer yielded quantitatively and qualitatively better detection . With long term infections, the appearance of a potential carcinogen, N, N dimethylnitrosamine, occurs in vivo and in vitro and correlates with previous findings that describe the development of hyperplastic and early neoplastic changes in the rat urothelium.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1985 Oct, 30(10), 773 - 6
{Beta-lactam antibiotic sensitivity of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from urology patients}; Rudenko AV et al.; Sensitivity of 172 strains of gram-negative bacteria isolated from the urine of urological patients was tested to the beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin, oxacillin, carbenicillin, cefradin, cerhazolin, cephapirin, cefotaxim, and cefuroxim . The method of two-fold serial dilutions in a meat-peptone agar was used . In the therapeutic concentrations the above antibiotics except carbenicillin, cefotaxim and cefuroxim had no inhibitory effect on P . aeruginosa . With respect to E . coli the highest activity was observed with the use of carbenicillin and the new cephalosporins cephazolin, cephapirin, cefradin, cefotaxim and cefuroxim . A significant number of Proteus strains sensitive to the minimal concentrations of the cephalosporins and carbenicillin were detected . However, highly resistant strains were also isolated.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1985 Oct, 31(10), 1727 - 42
{Statistic studies on bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections (report 3)}; Okada K et al.; The following results were obtained from the statistical studies and drug sensitivity tests of bacterial florae isolated from the urinary tract in 1981 and 1982 . Of the 2,029 strains isolated from out-patients, 627 (30.9%) were gram positive cocci, 24.1% were E . coli, 9.4% were Proteus spp., 9.2% were Enterococci, 8.9% were S . epidermidis, 7.0 % were K . pneumoniae, 5.7% were P . aeruginosa and the rest were others . Of the 754 strains isolated from hospitalized patients, 276 (36.6%) were gram positive cocci, 16.8% were Enterococci, 11.4% were S . epidermidis, 11.1% were P . aeruginosa, 8.8% were Proteus spp, 7.2% were E.coli, 6.5% were K.pneumoniae and the rest were others . The number of Proteus spp., P . aeruginosa and Enterococci detected in the isolates from the out-patients and that of E.coli, K . pneumoniae and Proteus spp., detected in the isolates from the in-patients were smaller than in previous reports . More non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli and S . epidermidis were detected in the isolates from both patients were than in previous years . The major isolates i.e., 9 species, from out-patients were more susceptible to the antimicrobial agents tested . The susceptibility of TC and SBPC to major isolates was lower than in previous years . During the past two years, we have been routinely using on inpatients the so-called third generation cefem antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections . This might be why the number of isolates of gram positive cocci has increased especially isolates from inpatients.

J Trop Med Hyg, 1985 Oct, 88(5), 337 - 41
Bacteriology of sore throats in a Sudanese population; Omer EF et al.; One hundred and eighty-six throat swabs were collected from patients with sore throats and 164 throat swabs were collected from healthy controls . All swabs were investigated bacteriologically, and sensitivity tests were performed on all pathogenic isolates . Group A Streptococcus pyogenes was the predominant pathogenic organism (24.7%) and Proteus vulgaris the least predominant organism (0.5%) isolated from patients with sore throats . Streptococcus pyogenes infection was found to be most common among school children between the ages of 9 and 12 (61.5%) . The pathogenic organisms were found to be sensitive to erythromycin (92.6%).

J Bacteriol, 1985 Oct, 164(1), 123 - 9
Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cat gene of Proteus mirabilis: comparison with the type I (Tn9) cat gene; Charles IG et al.; In Proteus mirabilis PM13 chloramphenicol resistance is mediated by the cat gene, a single copy of which is present in both resistant and sensitive isolates and which reverts at a high frequency . RNA measurements show an about 8.5-fold increase in cat-specific mRNA in cells expressing the resistance phenotype as compared with those which are sensitive to chloramphenicol . DNA sequence analysis has revealed a high degree of homology between the P . mirabilis cat gene and the type I cat variant (Tn9), 76% at the amino acid level and 73% when nucleotides in the coding sequence are compared . Sequence homology between the strain PM13 cat variant and Tn9 cat was not apparent however in the 5' and 3' flanking regions . Segments of near identity were seen when the upstream sequence of the cat of P . mirabilis was compared with the 5' regions of the Salmonella typhimurium flagellin genes H1 and H2, which are alternately expressed by a flip-flop control mechanism involving an invertible promoter and a trans-acting product.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Oct, 164(1), 114 - 22
Resistance to chloramphenicol in Proteus mirabilis by expression of a chromosomal gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase; Charles IG et al.; Proteus mirabilis PM13 is a well-characterized chloramphenicol-sensitive isolate which spontaneously gives rise to resistant colonies on solid media containing chloramphenicol (50 micrograms ml-1) at a plating efficiency of 10(-4) to 10(-5) . Such chloramphenicol-resistant colonies exhibit a novel phenotype with respect to chloramphenicol resistance . When a single colony grown on chloramphenicol agar is transferred to liquid medium and grown in the absence of antibiotic for 150 generations, a population of predominantly sensitive cells arises . This mutation-reversion phenomenon has been observed in other Proteus species and Providencia strains, wherein resistance has been shown to be mediated in each case by the enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase . The cat gene responsible for the phenomenon is chromosomal and can be cloned from P . mirabilis PM13 with DNA prepared from cells grown in the absence or the presence of chloramphenicol . Recombinant plasmids which confer resistance to chloramphenicol carry an 8.5-kilobase PstI fragment irrespective of the source of host DNA . The location of the cat gene within the PstI fragment was determined by Southern blotting with a cat consensus oligonucleotide corresponding to the expected amino acid sequence of the active site region of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and the direction of transcription was deduced from homology with the type I cat variant.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1985 Oct, 19(4), 183 - 9
{Anti-bacterial effect of ofloxacin--in vitro and in vivo results}; Altay G et al.; Gram (-) bacteria such as E . coli, B . proteus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas sp were found to be sensitive to Ofloxacin 98.3%, 96.7%, 96.9%, and 89.1% respectively . Among Gram (+) bacteria, 98% of Staph aureus and 95% of Staph epidermidis were susceptible to this drug . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Ofloxacin for the Shigella strains have been found to be between 0.1-0.05 mcg/ml (76%) and 0.05-0.025 mcg/ml (20%) . Thirty three patients with various infection have been treated with ofloxacin; in acute cases the efficacy of the drug was 100%, but reinfections or relapse developed in about half of the patients with chronic and complicated urinary tract infections, 15-20 days after discontinuation of the drug . No serious side effect has been observed.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1985 Sep, 56(3), 135 - 6
Necrosis and abscessation of placental sites in a Pekingese bitch; Penzhorn BL; An 18-month-old Pekingese bitch aborted 7 foetuses at Day 55 of pregnancy . Necrosis and/or abscessation of all 7 placental sites were found following a panhysterectomy performed 4 days later . Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and a beta-haemolytic Streptococcus sp . were cultured from the vaginal discharge and from a uterine abscess.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1985 Sep, 64(5), 342 - 8
Pulmonary cavitation following pulmonary infarction; Libby LS et al.; Cavitation following bland pulmonary infarction is not commonly considered in the differential diagnosis of cavitary lung disease . In a 4-year period we have found 10 cases of cavitating pulmonary infarction (CPI) by reviewing serial chest radiographs from autopsies with pulmonary infarction and in all cases with positive ventilation-perfusion lung scans . We have compared these cases to 31 previously reported cases in the English literature that met our criteria for CPI . In our 10 patients, there were 12 radiographic cavities; 5 in the upper lobes, 5 in the lower lobes and 2 in the middle lobe . This distribution was consistent with a relative upper-lobe predominance in the literature review . In nine patients the cavitation appeared rapidly (mean, 5 days) and was associated with fever, purulent sputum, and leukocytosis . Sputum cultures were obtained in eight patients, revealing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli in three each and Proteus species in two . In four patients, pulmonary infarction was not considered and the diagnosis was made at autopsy, a situation also common in previously reported cases . We have seen a high incidence of CPI in a retrospective review of patients with pulmonary infarction, and we believe that it is important to consider this diagnosis when evaluating cavitary lesions.

J Am Geriatr Soc, 1985 Sep, 33(9), 590 - 4
A 12-month fever surveillance study in a veterans' long-stay institution; Finnegan TP et al.; This report describes a 12-month fever surveillance survey in a 258-bed veterans long-term care institution . There were 128 episodes of fever (one episode per 24 patient-months); 114 were studied . Lower respiratory tract infections were most frequent, 36 (32%), with 26 (23%) urinary tract infections . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen in the chest infections and Proteus mirabilis the most common of the urinary tract infections . In 40 (35%) there was no evidence of a lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, or other bacterial infection . Most recovered rapidly, many with no specific treatment . There was a 16% mortality associated with the febrile episodes.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Sep, 163(3), 1279 - 81
Role of protein subunits in Proteus rettgeri penicillin G acylase; Daumy GO et al.; Penicillin G acylase from Proteus rettgeri is an 80,000- to 90,000-dalton enzyme composed of two nonidentical subunits . Both subunits were required for enzymatic activity . The 65,000-dalton beta subunit contained a phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride-sensitive residue required for enzymatic activity, and the 24,500-dalton alpha subunit contained the domain that imparts specificity for the penicillin side chain.

An Esp Pediatr, 1985 Sep, 23(3), 201 - 4
{Neonatal meningitis caused by Proteus mirabilis with cerebral abscess}; Fumado I et al.; A case neonatal meningitis by proteus mirabilis is presented . Echographic and CT scan studies were performed during clinical evolution, showing generalized brain abscesses appearances that needed surgical treatment . A ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was later practiced to correct hydrocephaly.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Sep, (9), 15 - 7
{Characteristics of various morphological and biological properties of bacteria of the genus Proteus}; Gabidullin ZG et al.; The stable O-form of Proteus has been found to differ from the initial H-form in the absence of flagellae or in a few weakly developed flagellae, in decreased capacity for agglutination with polyvalent and typing sera and in virulence for laboratory animals . As revealed in this study, the conversion of the H-form of Proteus into the stable O-form leads to the loss of resistance to streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, monomycin, ampicillin and neomycin.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1985 Sep, 38(9), 1141 - 51
Cephabacin M1-6, new 7-methoxycephem antibiotics of bacterial origin . I . A producing organism, fermentation, biological activities, and mode of action; Nozaki Y et al.; New 7-methoxycephem antibiotics were found in culture filtrates of a bacterium isolated from a plant and named cephabacin M1-6 . They are the first members of 7-methoxycephem antibiotics of bacterial origin . The producing organism was taxonomically characterized and identified as Xanthomonas lactamgena YK-431; other strains of this species have recently been reported to produce cephabacin F and H group antibiotics . Cephabacin M1-6 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria . Cephabacin M1-6 were as stable as cephamycin C to cephalosporinases . They showed inhibitory activity against a cephalosporinase of Proteus vulgaris GN 4413 . The mode of action of cephabacin M1 was examined using Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis as test organisms; primary lethal targets of cephabacin M1 are penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1 in E . coli and PBP 4 in B . subtilis.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Sep-Oct, 7(5), 635 - 42
Mediterranean spotted fever: a cooperative study of 227 cases; Font-Creus B et al.; The clinical manifestations of 227 cases of Mediterranean spotted fever (Boutonneuse fever) were reviewed, and the epidemiologic aspects of 170 cases from the Valles Occidental region in the county of Barcelona, Spain, were analyzed . In this area an increase in the incidence of the disease has been noticed during the last several years . The patients evaluated presented with high fever and a generalized maculopapular rash . The tache noire at the site of the tick bite was seen in 166 cases (73%) . Other common clinical manifestations were myalgia (73%), headache (69%), conjunctivitis (32%), hepatomegaly (44%), and splenomegaly (19%) . Hepatic function tests (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) gave abnormal results in 55% of all cases . The Weil-Felix reaction was positive in 79% of the cases; the OX19 strain of Proteus vulgaris was the strain most frequently agglutinated . Treatment with oral oxytetracycline or chloramphenicol was effective in all cases.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Sep, 163(3), 925 - 32
Experimental evolution of penicillin G acylases from Escherichia coli and Proteus rettgeri; Daumy GO et al.; Proteus rettgeri and Escherichia coli W were shown to express structurally different penicillin G acylases . The enzymes had similar substrate specificity but differed in molecular weight, isoelectric point, and electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels and did not antigenically cross-react . When the organisms were subjected to environmental conditions which made expression of this enzyme essential for growth, spontaneous mutants were isolated that used different amides as the only source of nitrogen . These mutants acquired the ability to use amides for growth by deregulating the penicillin G acylase and by their evolution to novel substrate specificities . The enzymes expressed by mutants isolated from each genus appeared to have evolved in parallel since each acylase attained similar new substrate specificities when the organisms were subjected to identical selection pressure.

Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 805 - 11
An in vitro ultrastructural study of infectious kidney stone genesis; McLean RJ et al.; A ureolytic strain of Proteus mirabilis, isolated from a patient with infectious kidney stones, produced struvite (MgNH4PO4 X 6 H2O) and apatite {Ca10(PO4)6CO3} crystals in vitro when grown in artificial urine . Surface-attached crystals were encased in a slime-like layer . Scanning electron microscopy revealed that surfaces submerged in the artificial urine were colonized by P . mirabilis . Bacteria-associated crystals appeared soon after colonization and eventually became coated with an amorphous substance . Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of these crystals revealed the presence of Mg, Ca, and P which are major components of struvite and apatite . Transmission electron microscopy of surface scrapings revealed that the glycocalyx of P . mirabilis contained a large number of crystals . Based on these observations and previous work, a theory for infectious renal calculogenesis is proposed . The kidney is initially colonized by invading ureolytic pathogens . These pathogens secrete copious amounts of glycocalyx which facilitates adhesion of the organisms to the kidney, provides protection for these bacteria, and serves to bind struvite and apatite crystals that result from bacterial urease activity . Growth of these calcified microcolonies into mature stones is characterized by continued bacterial growth, incorporation of urinary mucoproteins into the matrix along with bacterial glycocalyx, and a continued deposition of struvite and apatite crystals due to the high pH . The mature stone, in effect, represents an enlarged "fossilized" bacterial microcolony.

J Hosp Infect, 1985 Sep, 6(3), 293 - 8
Proteus bacteraemia in a general hospital 1972-1982; Berger SA; During 1972-1982, 318 isolates of Proteus spp . were recovered from blood cultures, accounting for 14.4% of the aerobic, Gram-negative isolates from blood in a large general hospital . Bacteraemia was most common among male patients on the internal medicine service . A high level of resistance to antibiotic agents was found . Since 1976, 49 proteus isolates were sensitive to either gentamicin or tobramycin, but not to both.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1985 Sep, 5(3), 123 - 6
Changing pattern of neonatal septicaemia in an African city; Okolo AA et al.; The pattern of neonatal septicaemia in a large cosmopolitan African city is presented . Comparison of microorganisms isolated in the present study when compared with the results of previous reports from the same institution, show an increase in the incidence of klebsiella and pseudomonas septicaemia . In contrast, Escherichia coli infection has decreased appreciably from an incidence of 56.8% to 14.3% . Staphylococcus aureus has remained the dominant Gram-positive pathogen over the last decade while group B streptococcal (GBS) disease was rarely encountered . A significant finding was the emergence of gentamicin-resistant strains of E . coli and proteus species during the past 5 years . The overall incidence of neonatal septicaemia was 5.6/1000 livebirths and the mortality rate was 30.6%.

Lancet, 1985 Aug 10, 2(8450), 305 - 7
Antibodies to proteus in rheumatoid arthritis; Ebringer A et al.; Antibodies to proteus species were measured in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and in healthy controls by a Coombs agglutination method . The titres to Proteus mirabilis were higher in 30 RA patients being treated with gold than in 24 patients with active AS (p less than 0.001), 28 patients with inactive AS (p less than 0.001), and 41 healthy control subjects (p less than 0.001) . Control studies with Klebsiella pneumoniae var oxytoca showed high antibody titres only in active AS patients.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Aug, 38(8), 2057 - 67
{Clinical studies on fosfomycin sodium following intravenous administration (tissue concentration and clinical efficacy)}; Nakamura T et al.; Fosfomycin (FOM) is a synthetic antibiotic having a unique structural formula and bactericidal mechanism and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against various bacterial species . It has higher activity in vivo than in vitro . As therapy, FOM-Na in a daily dose of 4 g (2 g X 2) was given by intravenous drip infusion for 5 to 10 days to 6 cases with infectious diseases (2 cases of acute cholecystitis, 3 cases of acute localized peritonitis due to phlegmonous appendicitis and 1 case of acute diffuse peritonitis due to perforative appendicitis) . The clinical response was rated as "excellent" in 1 case, "good" in 4 cases, "fair" in 1 case and "poor" in none . No adverse effects were observed in any of the patients . Six clinical isolates were obtained, and these consisted of 4 strains of Escherichia coli and 1 strain each of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacteroides fragilis . The MICs of FOM were from 6.25 to 12.5 micrograms/ml for E . coli, 50 micrograms/ml for K . pneumoniae, and 100 micrograms/ml for B . fragilis . FOM-Na was administered to the 6 cases intravenously in a dose of 2 g before surgery, and tissue specimens and body fluid samples were taken during the operation . The FOM concentration was determined by bioassay with a Proteus sp . (MB 838) as the test organism . The mean FOM concentration in bile from the common bile duct was 61.85 +/- 17.13 micrograms/ml (n = 5) at 95 to 108 minutes after FOM-Na intravenous bolus injection . The mean FOM concentration in the gall bladder bile was 80.06 +/- 92.36 micrograms/ml, while that in the gall bladder wall was 146.65 +/- 39.10 micrograms/g . The mean FOM concentration in purulent ascites was 58.20 +/- 13.29 micrograms/ml, 36.22 +/- 14.63 micrograms/g in the appendix wall and 12.64 +/- 11.34 micrograms/ml in pus in the appendix . The FOM concentrations in the infected tissues and body fluids thus exceeded the MICs of FOM for the pathogenic bacteria . Therefore, FOM-Na appears to be a very useful drug when used for chemotherapy of infections encountered in the surgical field.

Am J Vet Res, 1985 Aug, 46(8), 1793 - 6
Clinical pharmacokinetics of amikacin in dogs; Baggot JD et al.; After IV, IM, and subcutaneous injection of single dosages of amikacin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of body weight) in each of 4 dogs, the elimination kinetics of amikacin were determined . The pattern of urinary excretion and cumulative amount excreted unchanged in 24 hours were also determined . Amikacin had a short half-life (approx 1 hour) that was independent of the dosage . Intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg gave apparent volume of distribution of 226 +/- 37 ml/kg and body clearance of 2.64 +/- 0.24 ml/min.kg (mean +/- SD, n = 4) . Within 6 hours, greater than 90% of the antibiotic was excreted in the urine, regardless of the route of administration . For isolates of common bacterial species from the canine urinary tract, minimum inhibitory concentrations of amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and kanamycin were determined in vitro . Cumulative percentages were approximately the same for urinary isolates of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and coagulase-positive staphylococci that were susceptible (minimum inhibitory concentrations less than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) to increasing concentrations of amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin, in vitro . Klebsiella pneumoniae was significantly more susceptible to amikacin than were the other bacteria evaluated . Widest variations in susceptibility to aminoglycosides were found with urinary isolates of streptococcal species . For dogs with normal renal function, an amikacin dosage of 10 mg/kg (IM or subcutaneously) is recommended every 8 hours for treatment of systemic infections, and every 12 hours for treatment of urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 Aug, 22(2), 187 - 91
Automated reading of MIC microdilution trays containing fluorogenic enzyme substrates with the Sensititre Autoreader; Staneck JL et al.; The Sensititre Autoreader is a microcomputer-driven instrument capable of automatically reading antimicrobial susceptibility microdilution trays . The instrument measures the fluorescence liberated by bacterial enzymatic activity on fluorogenic substrates as an indicator of growth in each well . A mathematical algorithm converts the fluorescent signals from an antimicrobial dilution series to an MIC endpoint . A three-center study evaluated the performance of the Autoreader in comparison with MIC determined visually in a duplicate set of control plates lacking fluorogenic substrate . Among 828 isolates of gram-negative bacilli tested against 17 antimicrobial agents, Autoreader 18-h MIC were within +/- 1 twofold dilution of control MIC values (agreement) in 95.3% of instances . In 3.5% of the instances, Autoreader values occurred +/- 2 half-step dilutions from control values (minor discrepancy), and in only 1.2% of instances did Autoreader values deviate from control values by greater than +/- 2 dilution steps (major discrepancy) . Agreement, minor discrepancies, and major discrepancies were noted among 148 gram-positive cocci tested against 11 antimicrobial agents in 93.5, 4.8, and 1.7% of the instances, respectively . Over half of the major discrepancies noted with gram-negative bacilli occurred with Proteus mirabilis-beta-lactam combinations, a problem that was resolved when a lower initial inoculum was used . Inter-and intralaboratory reproducibility was excellent . Standard Sensititre susceptibility trays may be instrument read at 18 h reproducibly and accurately with only slight modification of conventional procedures to include fluorogenic enzyme substrates in the incubation broth.

Am J Dis Child, 1985 Aug, 139(8), 840 - 5
Cell-mediated immunity assessed by Multitest CMI skin testing in infants and preschool children; Kniker WT et al.; Two hundred twenty-one healthy children, from 6 months to 7 years of age, were tested for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) by the Multitest CMI (cell-mediated immunity) (Merieux Institute, Miami) . This device permits the simultaneous application of seven standardized recall antigens and a glycerol diluent control . Younger children were tested on the back and older children on the volar surface of the forearm . Only 6.8% of the children were anergic, and most of them (11/15) were female . The DTH responses were present for one or more antigens in 93% of the infants . The DTH responses increased tremendously during the second year of life and increased slowly thereafter . A relatively high incidence of positive reactions was found for three of the tested antigens--diphtheria toxoid (79%), tetanus toxoid (62%), and Proteus (57%), in children in the preschool years, and accounted for three fourths of all positive reactions . Much lower levels were found for Streptococcus (25%), Candida (16%), Trichophyton (5%), and tuberculin (4%) . Measurement of DTH by the standardized Multitest CMI system seems to be a convenient and reliable tool for assessing CMI function in infants and small children . The tool permitted us to measure patterns of DTH responses from infancy onward in a healthy population and to develop index values in a normal reference population with which any tested preschool child can be compared.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1985 Aug, 135(8), 65 - 7
{Comparative evaluation of skin tests in surgical patients}; Shuleva OV; A comparative estimation of the prognostic value of skin tests was made with tuberculin, coli-bacillus antigens, Candida, blue pus bacillus and more complete set of microbic allergens (hemolytic staphylococcus, white streptococcus, blue pus bacillus, coli-bacillus, group pneumococcus, Candida, Proteus Mirabilis) . High prognostic information value was noted by results of skin tests in patients examined with the help of a set consisting of 7 antigens.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1985 Aug, 31(8), 1387 - 91
{Renal infections and implicated urinary stone formation}; Hirano S et al.; To clarify the relationship between urinary tract infections and stone formation, infected renal calculi removed surgically from 19 patients were investigated . First, the stones were studied using a scanning electron microscope and bacteriological method . Most of the stone cores consisted of calcium phosphate and organic materials containing bacteria, fibrin, erythrocytes, leukocytes and so on . Second, in experimental ascending pyelonephritis in rats which received the intravesical instillation of Proteus mirabilis, the incidence of renal stone formation was increased with the grade of the pyelonephritis and necrotic papillae played an important role as stone nuclei . Third, urinary materials, which may initiate and accelerate stone formation, were investigated using the urine of stone formers associated with renal infections, nucleopore filters and stitches, from the standpoint of crystal aggregation and adhesion effects . The bacteria tended to aggregate crystalline and organic matters in the urine and to adhere them to the stitches before the crystals . The results obtained suggest that the bacteria and organic matters in the urine of stone formers participate actively in stone genesis and growth as an adhesive agent.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Aug, 38(8), 2171 - 84
{Comparison of in vitro antibacterial activities of new cephems against clinical organisms (isolated between June 1983 and January 1984)}; Tsuji A et al.; We compared the in vitro antibacterial activities of ceftizoxime (CZX), cefotaxime (CTX), cefmenoxime (CMX), cefoperazone (CPZ), ceftazidime (CAZ), latamoxef (LMOX) and cefotetan (CTT) against 2,729 strains of 11 organisms freshly isolated from 10 medical institutions in Japan between June 1983 and January 1984 and obtained the following results: Against S . pyogenes, LMOX and CTT, which have the methoxy group at the 7 position, were less active than the other drugs . LMOX inhibited 80% of S . pyogenes at 0.78 micrograms/ml; CTT, at 1.56 micrograms/ml; but CZX and CTX inhibited 100% at 0.025 micrograms/ml or lower; CMX, at 0.05 micrograms/ml; and CPZ and CAZ, at 0.20 micrograms/ml . Against H . influenzae, E . coli, K . pneumoniae, P . mirabilis and indole-positive Proteus, these test antibiotics, especially CZX, CTX and CMX, which have the aminothiazolyl methoxyimino group, were potently active . Against S . marcescens CZX and CAZ were more active than the other drugs and against P . aeruginosa CAZ was more active than the other drugs . The test organisms did not tend to acquire resistance to these cephems when our results were compared with the results obtained at the development period.

Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1985 Aug, 63 ( Pt 4), 361 - 70
Evaluation of intracellular killing of bacteria by enriched populations of mouse peritoneal exudate neutrophils; Hart PH et al.; Elicited, mouse peritoneal exudate cells were fractionated by centrifugation on discontinuous Percoll density gradients . Two subpopulations of neutrophils, each of greater than 90% purity, were isolated at discontinuous density gradient interfaces different from the region of mononuclear cell enrichment (i.e., 1.0694-1.0871 and 1.0872-1 X 1002 g/ml for neutrophils and less than 1.0694 g/ml for mononuclear cells) . Peritoneal exudate cells were mixed with Proteus mirabilis in the presence of 1% normal mouse serum for 30 min . The mixtures were fractionated on gradients of Percoll diluted with a clacium-free medium . Populations of cells banding at densities greater than 1.0693 g/ml were washed free of gradient material, and neutrophil suspensions containing intracellular bacteria and which were relatively free of extracellular bacteria were isolated . Less than 7% of the total bacteria present was extracellular . The continuing extracellular presence of a heat-labile component of normal mouse serum was essential for maximal intracellular kill of P . mirabilis by mouse peritoneal neutrophils.

Am J Med, 1985 Jul 15, 79(1A), 1 - 7
Aminoglycoside resistance in gram-negative bacilli during increased amikacin use . Comparison of experience in 14 United States hospitals with experience in the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center; Gerding DN et al.; Resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin was surveyed prospectively during controlled aminoglycoside usage in 14 hospitals . Following an initial baseline period (minimum, three months) during which gentamicin use predominated, gentamicin and tobramycin were placed on restrictive control, establishing amikacin as the aminoglycoside of general use (86 percent of total aminoglycoside usage) . During an average of 35 months' restriction of gentamicin and tobramycin, significant reductions in gram-negative resistance to gentamicin (8.4 to 7.0 percent, p less than 0.001) and tobramycin (6.0 to 5.3 percent, p less than 0.01) were observed . The most significant decreases in resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin (p less than 0.001) were found for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species, Serratia species, and Proteus species . Amikacin resistance among gram-negative bacilli was observed to increase marginally from 1.4 to 1.7 percent (p less than 0.05) during the surveillance period, primarily due to a significant increase in resistance among P . aeruginosa (3.0 to 3.9 percent, p = 0.05) . These data were compared with data from a similar surveillance program at the 700-bed Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center . Over a period of 54 months, both gentamicin and tobramycin resistance decreased significantly when amikacin was used (p less than 0.001), then increased with reintroduction of gentamicin (p less than 0.05), and decreased significantly with reintroduction of amikacin (p less than 0.001) . Despite predominant amikacin use for a total of 38 months, amikacin resistance did not increase and actually decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the last 12 months.

Avian Dis, 1985 Jul-Sep, 29(3), 583 - 9
Aerobic bacterial flora from dead-in-shell chicken embryos from Nigeria; Orajaka LJ et al.; Dead-in-shell chicken embryos from two commercial hatcheries in Anambra State of Nigeria were investigated for isolation of aerobic bacteria . For this purpose, 79 pooled samples containing 632 dead-in-shell chicken embryos were cultured . From these samples, 23 isolates of Escherichia coli and 25 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were recorded . Other bacterial species isolated included Micrococcus sp . (fifteen isolates), Klebsiella sp . (thirteen isolates), Pseudomonas sp . (nine isolates), and Proteus sp . (seven isolates) . Salmonella, Streptococcus, and Mycoplasma spp . could not be isolated . A high incidence of pathogenic strains of bacteria from dead-in-shell chicken embryos was observed . This suggests that the isolates may have contributed to the embryonic mortality and reduced hatchability recorded in the farms investigated.

Pathology, 1985 Jul, 17(3), 420 - 8
Experimental pyelonephritis and papillary necrosis in the Gunn rat; Thomas G et al.; Homozygous and heterozygous female Gunn rats show increased susceptibility to experimental urinary infection . The strain develops pyelonephritis after intravesical inoculation of Proteus mirabilis in numbers which fail to induce the lesion in albino rats, and severe pyelonephritis is frequently complicated by papillary necrosis . The basis for this enhanced susceptibility has not been defined, but the occurrence of the phenomenon in both homozygous and heterozygous rats indicates that it is not caused primarily by high plasma levels of unconjugated bilirubin or by the deposition of bilirubin in the tip of the renal papilla . The increased susceptibility of the homozygous Gunn rat to ascending urinary tract infection provides supporting evidence for the suggestion that infection may complicate the natural history of experimental analgesic nephropathy in this strain and is relevant to the clinical association of analgesic nephropathy and urinary infection.

Urology, 1985 Jul, 26(1 Suppl), 5 - 7
Problem pathogens in nosocomial infections of urinary tract; Resnick MI; Although Escherichia coli accounts for as many as 50 per cent of nosocomial urinary tract infections, the most problematic of these infections are usually caused by Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Proteus . Patients in whom infections with these pathogens are most likely to develop are described . Empiric antibiotic therapy is discussed as it relates to coverage of potential infecting pathogens . The development of antibiotic resistance is illustrated with specific examples from a Cleveland hospital regarding resistance of E . coli to ampicillin and of Pseudomonas to gentamicin . The importance of becoming familiar with hospital sensitivity and resistance patterns is stressed.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1985 Jul-Dec, 78(7-12), 185 - 204
{Comparative activity of norfloxacin and other chemotherapeutic agents on the adhesion of bacteria of the uro-vaginal tract to uroepithelial cells}; Carlone NA et al.; A number of bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and streptococci), obtained from patients with urinary infections, or from vaginal tampons, were assayed in order to evaluate their ability to adhere to uroepithelial cells . We employed, at a comparative purpose, two different methods to eliminate unattached bacteria: the centrifugation technique and the filtration technique . The effect of the pretreatment with subinhibitory concentrations of three chemotherapeutics widely employed in the urological practice (norfloxacin, pipemidic acid and co-trimoxazole) was determined on the strains which demonstrated a good rate of attachment . Growth in the presence of any of the three drugs decreased the adhesive properties of the microorganisms, reducing both the haemagglutination and the yeast aggregation titers of Gram-negative bacteria as well as their adhesiveness . Norfloxacin proved to be the most effective drug in affecting the pathogenicity characteristics of the assayed strains in comparison with the other two chemotherapeutics tested, even if they were also moderately able to inhibit the adhesiveness of the same strains.

Gan No Rinsho, 1985 Jul, 31(9 Suppl), 1211 - 7
{Infectious complications and infection prevention in patients with acute leukemia}; Teshima H et al.; Febrile episodes in 147 patients undergoing first remission induction therapy for acute leukemia were analyzed . Febrile episodes occurred 254 times in 136 patients . The cause of fever could not be identified in 54.3% of all episodes . Antibiotic therapy was effective in 81.1% of these episodes with no cause determined . Postmortem examinations proved infections in 65.2% of patients who had fever of unknown origin before death . Sepsis and pneumonia together accounted for 53.4% of documented infections . Sepsis and pneumonia occurred most often when the patients had neutropenia (less than 500/mm3) . Increase in neutrophil count and achievement of hematologic remission produced good prognosis of the infections, and the reverse was also true in some patients . Fifty percent of fetal patients died of infection . The incidence of infections, especially pneumonia and infections caused by fungi and Proteus species indicating such infections were exogenous, reduced markedly in laminar air flow rooms.

Med Trop (Mars), 1985 Jul-Sep, 45(3), 279 - 86
{Immune response as a function of the nutritional status in young children 1 to 3 years of age in the south of Ivory Coast}; Douchet C et al.; 177 children between 1 and 3 years (74 well-nourished, 55 suspected of protein/calorie deficiency, 48 under nourished) were vaccinated (tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping-cough, polio); one month after the third dose of DTWC polio, we proceeded to apply the Merieux multitest and to check for intradermal reaction to the tuberculin: This study has shown that the Merieux multitest gives results comparable to the classical intradermal method with tuberculin . The multitest makes it possible to explore simultaneously seven different antigens under perfectly comparable conditions from the standpoint of precision and standardization (diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculin, Streptococcus, Proteus, Trichophyton and Candida) . This exploration has shown that there is no significant difference in terms of the nutritional condition of the children . Well-nourished children, under-nourished children and children suspected of a deficiency react in the same manner to antigenic attractions whether vaccinal or spontaneous . This study would seem to suggest, therefore, that the nutritional conditions of a child need not to be taken into account when administering a vaccine.

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1985 Jun, 12(6), 1301 - 5
{Empiric therapy with piperacillin plus amikacin for febrile patients with cancer--with emphasis on granulocytopenia}; Sampi K et al.; Between August 1979 and December 1983 one hundred episodes of fever in 70 patients with cancer, most of whom had granulocytopenia, were treated empirically with a combination of piperacillin (4.0g, every 6 hours) and amikacin (200mg, every 6 hours) at Saitama Cancer Center . Profound granulocytopenia (less than 100/mm3 of granulocytes) was present at the beginning of treatment in 40% of episodes . Oral absorbable or nonabsorbable antibiotics were used in 57 febrile episodes . WBC transfusion was not given . The response rate for all documented infections was 58.1%, including 8 of 9 (88.8%) episodes of bacteremia . The majority of infections with identified organisms were caused by aerobic gram-negative pathogens including P . aeruginosa (8 cases), Klebsiella spp . (3 cases), E . coli (4 cases), Proteus mirabilis (2 cases) and serratia spp . (3 cases) . The response rate of gram-negative bacillary infections was 55% Pneumonia with a response rate of 21.1% responded less satisfactorily than all other types of infection . The response rate for profound persistent granulocytopenia (less than 100/mm3 granulocytes without a rise during therapy) was 45.5% . The most common adverse effect was hepatotoxicity (16 episodes) . Nephrotoxicity occurred in 4 patients and skin rash in 2 patients.

Jpn J Med Sci Biol, 1985 Jun, 38(3), 151 - 3
Spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Japan; Uchida T et al.; The acute febrile disease with characteristic rash encountered in Tokushima Prefecture was proved to be a spotted fever group rickettsiosis, which showed a significant rise in agglutinins to both Proteus OX2 and OX19 and significantly high levels of CF antibodies to Rickettsia akari and Rickettsia rickettsii.

Eur J Epidemiol, 1985 Jun, 1(2), 94 - 9
A study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a large university hospital; Ortona L et al.; The results of a study on the incidence of nosocomial infections in a 1800 bed University hospital are reported . The study, carried out over a 9 months period, included: continuous microbiological surveillance, and a clinical and epidemiological survey . On the basis of the microbiological data collected and analyzed by a computer data system, developed and employed for the control of nosocomial infections, a weekly bed-to-bed survey was carried out by the staff of the Institute of Infectious Diseases . Among 2777 suspected nosocomial infections, as revealed by microbiological monitoring, 701 were confirmed after the bed-to-bed survey . The nosocomial infection rate was 6.75 per 100 discharges . It was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (7.3 and 6 per 100 discharges, respectively) . Nosocomial urinary tract infections were the most frequent (74.2%) . The urinary infection rate was higher in the surgical than in the medical wards (5.3 and 4.6 per 100 discharges, respectively) . Escherichia coli (19.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.3%), Proteus spp . (18.4%) were the pathogens most frequently associated with nosocomial infections . They were followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.5%) in frequency . Among the risk factors, involved in nosocomial infections, the importance of catheterization was confirmed: among our patients with nosocomial urinary tract infections, 73.4% and 79.5%--in the medical and surgical wards, respectively--underwent urological instrumentation, mainly catheterization . An analogous and more detailed study is now in progress and will be extended in the next years.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1985 Jun, 23(6), 323 - 5
Necrotizing emphysematous pyelonephritis: a case report; Pinna A et al.; Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EP) is comparatively rare in urological practice . From 1898 to the present time only 45 cases have been described . In this report we describe the case of a 43-year old diabetic man, with right EP without obstruction of the urinary tract and with a urinary infection of E . Coli . This appears to be rather rare as it is more frequently associated with obstruction of the urinary tract . Surgical exploration enabled us to discover a fistula between the kidney and the wall of the vena cava which would have caused fatal complications if it had not been discovered . The micro-organisms more frequently involved were E . Coli, Proteus, Aerobacter and various anaerobes . Mortality has been reported as 75% in patients receiving medical therapy only and 23% in those undergoing surgery . The authors therefore believe that surgical exploration even with no urinary tract obstruction makes it possible to detect complicating pathologies which may remain undiscovered by medical examination and the urinary excretory tract and renal sheath drained . This provides a better opportunity of estimating possible reversibility of the renal lesion.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1985 Jun, 131(6), 923 - 7
Aminophylline-induced suppression of pulmonary antibacterial defenses; Nelson S et al.; Respiratory infections are frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, indicating that host defenses are compromised . Antibacterial defenses of the lung against such infections include the alveolar macrophage and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) that migrate into the lung to provide auxiliary phagocytic defenses . To test the hypothesis that aminophylline acutely impairs pulmonary antibacterial defenses, mice were challenged by aerosol inhalation with Staphylococcus aureus or Proteus mirabilis and injected intraperitoneally with aminophylline (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg) . Pulmonary bactericidal activity and total lavaged lung cell and differential counts were determined 4 h after bacterial challenge . The highest dose of aminophylline suppressed the killing of S . aureus so that 55 +/- 5% of the initial viable bacteria remained as compared with 22 +/- 4% in the control animals . In contrast, there was a dose-related suppression of pulmonary antibacterial defenses against gram-negative bacteria . With doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, lung defenses were ablated, allowing the proliferation of P . mirabilis to 115 +/- 9% and 253 +/- 9%, respectively, the control value being 26 +/- 3% . The number of PMN obtained by lavage after aerosol challenge with P . mirabilis was also inhibited by aminophylline in a dose-dependent manner . From the lungs of untreated animals 5.0 +/- 0.3 X 10(6) PMN were recovered as compared with 3.3 +/- 0.1 X 10(6), 2.5 +/- 0.2 X 10(6), and 1.8 +/- 0.1 X 10(6), respectively, with increasing doses of aminophylline . The bactericidal activity of lavaged PMN from the lungs of aminophylline-treated rats challenged with the gram-negative bacterium in vivo was significantly depressed when compared with that in control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Jun, 38(6), 1571 - 86
{Cefotiam concentration in exudates from the drainage of patients with acute peritonitis following intravenous administration}; Nishindai H et al.; Cefotiam dihydrochloride (CTM) in a dose of 2 g was given by intravenous bolus injection to 15 patients operated upon for acute or subacute abdominal organs . They were included to 5 cases of acute localized peritonitis due to perforative appendicitis, 3 of diffuse peritonitis due to perforative duodenal ulcer, 1 of diffuse peritonitis with intestinal obstruction, 1 of perforative sigmoid colon cancer, 2 of gastric cancer or polyp with cholelithiasis, and 3 of cholangitis with cholecyst-choledocholithiasis . The materials of exudate from drain were taken at intervals by sterilized paper disc and determined by paper disc bioassay method with Proteus rettgeri ATCC 9250 or Proteus mirabilis ATCC 21100 as the test organisms to CTM concentrations . CTM concentrations in purulent exudate from drain of patients with acute peritonitis, they were increased quickly after intravenous bolus injection, and reached higher levels at early time after injection in cases 2 or 3 days after operation . CTM concentration in purulent exudate from drain was tended to increase in proportion to the severity of the inflammation . The CTM levels in infected exudate were higher than the MICs against clinically isolated organisms for a long time after administration . Therefore, CTM was very useful drug when used for chemotherapy of postoperative peritonitis.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 May, 38(5), 1304 - 10
{Basic and clinical studies on cefminox in the field of obstetrics and gynecology}; Hirabayashi K et al.; Fundamental and clinical studies on cefminox (CMNX, MT-141), a new cephamycin antibiotic, were carried out and the following results were obtained . When CMNX was administered at a dose of 1 g by intravenous drip infusion taking 1 hour, the serum concentrations as high as 20 micrograms/ml and 21 micrograms/ml were detected even at 4 hours after administration for the uterine artery and elbow vein, respectively . From these results, CMNX was supposed to maintain in vivo concentrations high enough to inhibit 80 to 100% of the growth of bacteria such as S . aureus, E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus and anaerobic bacteria, B . fragilis, which are the commonest clinical isolates in the field of obstetrics and gynecology . Clinically, in 7 cases of female genital infections (4 cases of parametritis, 1 case of intrauterine infection, 1 case of pyometra and 1 case of pelveoperitonitis), CMNX was administered at a daily dosage of 2 g in 2 divided doses as intravenous drip infusions taking 90 minutes each . The clinical results were excellent in 1 case, good in 3 cases and poor in 3 cases, with an efficacy rate of 57.1% . In 6 out of these 7 cases progressive carcinoma was present as the underlying disease . No side effects nor abnormalities in laboratory findings were observed in any of the 7 cases . These results suggest that CMNX is effective in the treatment of obstetrical and gynecological infections.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 May, (5), 66 - 9
{Possibilities of enhancing the sensitivity of the coagglutination reaction}; Tishchenko MS; The influence of heating Shigella suspension at 60 degrees C (for 3 minutes) and 100 degrees C (for 30 minutes), as well as adding extraneous microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Proteus) and homologous antibodies to these suspensions, on the sensitivity of the coagglutination test has been studied . The possibility of enhancing the sensitivity of this test 10 to 100 times by heating Shigella suspensions at 100 degrees C for 30 minutes has been shown.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 May, 33(5), 330 - 4
{Clinical evaluation of cefmenoxime in urinary tract and prostatic infections}; Guibert J et al.; Cefmenoxime, a new cephalosporin, was given to fifty patients (28 male and 22 female) aged 15 to 86 years with infection of the urinary tract or prostate . Urinary tract infections, i.e . cystitis in 20 cases and pyelonephritis in 21, were usually chronic and associated with urologic anomalies . Nine patients had infection of the prostate . Pathogens recovered from the urine were 26 E . coli, 8 Klebsiella, 16 Serratia, 5 Proteus mirabilis or indole-positive Proteus, 1 Providencia, and 4 Pseudomonas . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of cefmenoxime ranged from 0.015 to 64 micrograms/ml (mean MIC: 0.12 micrograms/ml) . Cefmenoxime was given as single drug therapy in all patients but one, in a daily dosage of 2 g divided into two intramuscular injections, for 3 to 28 days (average 22 days) . Follow-up after discontinuation of treatment was four weeks . Therapeutic results were as follows: 13 successes and 7 failures by relapse for the 20 cystitis patients, 13 successes and 7 failures by relapse for the 20 interpretable cases of pyelonephritis, and 4 successes and 5 failures by relapse for the 9 patients with prostate infection . Local tolerance was excellent . Skin rash in 2 patients and diarrhea in 1 required withdrawal of the drug . Three other patients with diarrhea were able to continue treatment . Intolerance to ingestion of alcoholic beverages was reported by 10 patients . Hypereosinophilia was recorded in 2 cases and a transient mononucleosic reaction in one . No renal of hepatic side effects were documented.

Z Naturforsch {C}, 1985 May-Jun, 40(5-6), 415 - 20
Isolation of labeled lipoprotein from Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis after incubation with {14C}penicillin; Gruner G et al.; {14C}penicillin binding experiments and membrane analysis were carried out with cell envelope preparations from Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis . After incubation with {14C}penicillin G labeled free lipoprotein could be identified . The analysis of the isolated lipoprotein by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that there is only one protein with an apparent molecular weight of 7000 . The amino acid composition of isolated labeled free lipoprotein from E . coli was identical to the lipoprotein already found in E . coli . It is a point of interest that the amino acid composition of the isolated labeled free lipoprotein from P . mirabilis D 52 differs from that found in other mutants of this strain . The free form of lipoprotein from P . mirabilis D 52 is composed of 61 amino acids and has glycine, phenylalanine and proline as specific components.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1985 May, 30(5), 342 - 4
{Isolation and purification of restriction endonuclease PmiI from Proteus mirabilis 1667}; Bakh NL et al.; A new restriction endonuclease Pmi I was detected in Proteus mirabilis 1667 . The enzyme hydrolyzes DNA of the phage lambda into 10 electrophoretically separating fragments with molecular weights of 1.3-7.9 mD . With the use of two-stage chromatography on blue sepharose and phosphocellulose it is possible to obtain restriction endonuclease Pmi I free of the admixtures of ballast proteins, nonspecific nucleases and phosphatases.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Apr, 15(4), 481 - 7
Interaction of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of clindamycin and gram-negative aerobic organisms: effects on adhesion and polymorphonuclear leukocyte function; Lianou PE et al.; The effect of pre-incubation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis with sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub MICs) of clindamycin on the adherence of these organisms was studied . Culturing these organisms in the presence of clindamycin (4 mg/l) resulted in significant enhancement of adherence for Ps . aeruginosa and Pr . mirabilis and decreased adherence for K . pneumoniae . Furthermore, the effect of pre-exposure to clindamycin on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNLs) function against these organisms was determined . Filtrates of Pr . mirabilis pre-exposed to clindamycin promoted PMNL chemotaxis . No effect on chemotaxis was noted with the filtrates of clindamycin treated Ps . aeruginosa and K . pneumoniae . PMNL phagocytosis for all the organisms was increased after they were pre-exposed to clindamycin.

Cell Biol Int Rep, 1985 Apr, 9(4), 373 - 8
Photophobic and phototactic responses of Amoeba proteus in KCN and SHAM solutions; Lazowski K et al.; The effects of the metabolic inhibitors KCN and SHAM on phototaxis and photophobic response in Amoeba proteus have been studied . Both drugs neither change amoebae photophobic response nor the phototactic reaction . The results indicate clearly that the negative phototactic orientation is not impaired by impediment of respiration thus it is not directly coupled to the differences in energy production in different parts of A . proteus body.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1985 Apr 1, 186(7), 702 - 3
Disseminated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a ferret; Olsen GH et al.; A 3-year-old male ferret was admitted with ulcerated nodules and fistulous draining tracts on the pads and digits of the right front and left hind feet . Proteus sp and Escherichia coli were isolated from the exudate . Histologic examinations revealed that all skin lesions were associated with an underlying squamous cell carcinoma . Surgical removal was attempted, followed by chemotherapy . Regression of remaining lesions was noted before discharge; however, the ferret died 5 days later and was not available for necropsy.

Int J Cardiol, 1985 Apr, 7(4), 405 - 9
Acute rickettsial myocarditis and advanced atrioventricular block: diagnosis and treatment aided by endomyocardial biopsy; Salvi A et al.; A case of acute advanced atrioventricular block in a young patient is described . An endomyocardial biopsy performed to confirm myocarditis showed findings compatible with rickettsial endomyocarditis . Treatment with tetracycline was therefore started and a rapid remission of the atrioventricular block was observed . Healing of the disease was subsequently documented by a second endomyocardial biopsy . The rickettsial etiology was confirmed by the results of serial serum titers against Proteus OX-19 . Endomyocardial biopsy may be clinically indicated for the diagnosis of advanced atrioventricular block in young patients and may help in their optimal treatment.

Eur J Pediatr, 1985 Mar, 143(4), 320 - 3
Variability in the Proteus syndrome: report of an affected child with progressive lipomatosis; Mucke J et al.; In 1983 the Proteus syndrome was delineated by Wiedemann et al . {12} . We report a 10-month-old girl, a further child affected by the new syndrome . The typical signs are macrodactyly, hemihypertrophy, pigmented nevi, hyperkeratosis, and subcutaneous hamartomatous tumours . Our patient shows an aggressive lipomatosis on the trunk and local relapses after surgical interventions in the regions involved . Histology of the adipose tissue showed considerable anisocytosis and increased cell volume.

Arch Intern Med, 1985 Mar, 145(3), 428 - 30
The risk of bladder calculi in patients with spinal cord injuries; DeVivo MJ et al.; A nonconcurrent prospective study of bladder calculi included 500 persons treated at the University of Alabama in Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Care System between 1973 and 1981 . Risk factors suspected of contributing to the development of bladder calculi were identified . Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate each risk factor's adjusted odds ratio and to develop a predictive model for bladder stone formation . Bladder calculi were most likely to develop within one year of injury . Patients developing bladder calculi prior to first definitive discharge were most likely to be white and have neurologically complete lesions and Klebsiella infections at admission . Patients developing bladder stones within two years of hospital discharge were most likely to be young and white and have indwelling urethral catheters and either Proteus or multiple-organism infections at discharge . The predictive model was 82% sensitive and 83% specific when applied to a validation sample of patients.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1985 Mar, 30(3), 221 - 5
{Sensitivity of Proteus mirabilis to drugs in the presence of human blood serum}; Frolov AF et al.; For rational antibiotic therapy of patients with persisting bacterial infections, the routine determination of antibiotic resistance in the microorganisms may be insufficient . In this case estimation of the total bactericidal activity of the antibacterial drugs and sera against the causative agents is required . It was shown experimentally that in the presence of human blood sera sensitivity of the P . mirabilis strains to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin and cephaloridin increased, the sensitivity to rifampicin varied and the sensitivity to chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid lowered . The quantitative indices of the sensitivity depended on the biological properties of the strains . The bactericidal activity of the human blood sera lowered under the action of nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol and rifampicin, with the concentrations of the antibacterial drugs being equal to those attained in the blood of patients during chemotherapy . A method for determination of the bactericidal activity of human blood sera in the presence of the antibacterial drugs with the use of P . mirabilis is described . The method is relatively simple and provides satisfactory coincidence of the results indicative of the nonspecific resistance of the blood . This allows the physician to choose the rational antibiotic therapy.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1985 Mar, 33(3), 189 - 94
{Comparative effects of netilmicin and 4 other aminoglycosides on 1028 bacterial strains isolated in a hospital milieu}; Reynaud A et al.; The activity of netilmicin and four other aminoglycosides was studied by a diffusion method against 1 028 bacterial strains isolated in hospital . Nearly all the strains of Gram-negative bacilli were susceptible to amikacin; with netilmicin, tobramycin, gentamicin and dibekacin the percentages of susceptible strains were smaller, without any statistically significant differences between them . Amikacin and netilmicin were the most effective compounds against staphylococci . Netilmicin seemed to be the most effective compound, in vitro, against streptococci . The MIC of gentamicin and netilmicin of 224 strains showed the superior activity of netilmicin against K . pneumoniae, Proteus, P . aeruginosa and S . aureus.

Postgrad Med J, 1985 Mar, 61(713), 255 - 7
Pneumatocele formation in a patient with Proteus mirabilis pneumonia; Lysy J et al.; A rare case of pulmonary pneumatoceles complicating the course of Proteus pneumonia in an adult is described . The pneumatoceles which appeared early in the course of the pneumonia resolved completely without complications . A brief review of the literature regarding formation of cavities in Proteus pneumonia is given.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1985 Mar 1, 40(5), 143 - 8
{Microbiologic and clinical significance of cefotiam}; Tauchnitz C et al.; Modern cephalosporins are of considerable importance for the therapy of severe infections by multiresistant organisms . According to in-vitro-findings on ampicillin-resistant E . coli as well as Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., and serratia spp., altogether 159 strains, instead of cefotaxime nearly always also cefotiam can be used . The two remedies are clearly superior to cephalothin . cefotiam is ineffective to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . But in this case also cefotaxime is clearly inferior to azlocillin . In 6 of 7 casuistic instances the clinical effectiveness of cefotiam could be confirmed with good tolerability . The contemporary establishment of staph . aureus in mixed infections of serratiastaphylococci proved as as particular advantage . A primary therapeutic failure referred to a necrotizing pancreatitis, when no causative organism was proved, in which case also cefotaxime remained without any effect . Despite the improved individual medical possibilities the control of the infectious hospitalism by critical administration of antibiotics and improved hospital hygiene, particularly strict non-infection, must remain the pre-eminent task.

Eur J Cell Biol, 1985 Mar, 36(2), 163 - 8
Homologies between paraflagellar rod proteins from trypanosomes and euglenoids revealed by a monoclonal antibody; Gallo JM et al.; A Nonidet P 40 insoluble fraction was isolated from Trypanosoma brucei and was used to raise a monoclonal antibody (5E9) . The antigen was localized by indirect immunofluorescence in the flagellum of T . brucei and of two species of euglenoids, Euglena gracilis and Distigma proteus . In immunoblot analysis, 5E9 appeared to bind to paraflagellar rod proteins PFR1 and PFR2 of T . brucei (72000 and 75000 mol . wt.) and of E . gracilis (67000 and 76000 mol . wt.) . The presence of a common epitope in paraflagellar rod proteins from species of trypanosomes and euglenoids shows that despite distinct structures of the rods some identical domain exists in the proteins that could be involved in their supramolecular assembly into a similar organelle . The antigenic determinant defined by 5E9 was also shown to be present in a 87000 molecular weight polypeptide located in the proximal part of the flagellum of Crithidia oncopelti in which a paraflagellar rod is not detectable at the ultrastructural level.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1985 Feb 15, 110(4), 135 - 42
{Gentamicin: various pharmacotherapeutic aspects in comparison with other aminoglycosides}; de Visser NA et al.; Gentamicin may be used in the treatment of infection with gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas spp and Proteus spp . Resistance will only appear in suboptimal or too prolonged courses of treatment and usually is due to 'multi-step mutation' . This resistance may be prevented, among others, by combined treatment with gentamicin and an antibiotic of the beta lactam group . When gentamicin is used correctly, it will have few toxic side-effects . Thus, 3 mg/kg of body weight three times daily will usually be indicated to ensure an optimum therapeutic effect . Parenteral administration of gentamicin would only appear to be useful in cases of bacteraemia and/or bacterial infection of the kidney and/or urinary excretory ducts; in the last-named case, the dose given at one time may be reduced by fifty per cent . Local treatment, the most recent method of which consists in administration by I(ntra-)T(racheal) route, apparently offers more prospects.

Am J Dis Child, 1985 Feb, 139(2), 141 - 6
Cell-mediated immunity in schoolchildren assessed by multitest skin testing . Normal values and proposed scoring system for healthy children; Corriel RN et al.; Measurement of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to a battery of ubiquitous antigens is an accepted means of assessing cell-mediated immunity (CMI) . The recently introduced Multitest CMI system consists of a plastic multiple puncture device that simultaneously applies seven standardized recall antigens in a reproducible manner . A representative population of 448 healthy US schoolchildren was tested to determine incidence and size of DTH responses to each of the seven antigens . All responded to one or more antigens, the number and size of reactions generally increasing with age . Incidence of positive DTH tests was highest for tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, intermediate for streptococcal, Candida, and Proteus antigens, and lowest for tuberculin and Trichophyton antigens . These normal values, related to age and sex, can be a foundation for immunologic evaluation and are the basis of a proposed scoring system that distinguishes between normal DTH reactivity and diminished responsiveness.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Feb, (2), 60 - 5
{Protective activity of a cell-free Klebsiella vaccine in infection in mice caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes}; Kurbatova EA et al.; The capacity of dried Klebsiella cell-free vaccine, obtained from strain No . 204 by the disintegration of microbial mass with hydroxylamine, for protecting mice from pneumococcal infection caused by S . pneumoniae, serotypes 3, 4 and 9N, has been studied . Klebsiella vaccine has been found to possess immunostimulating potency with respect to the S . pneumoniae serotypes under study . On day 5 this potency is manifested to a greater extent than 24 hours after immunization . The combination of Klebsiella vaccine with Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli K-100 antigens enhances the stimulation of nonspecific resistance.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Feb, (2), 49 - 53
{Serological diagnosis and immunological aspects of Proteus infection . V . Design and trial of polyvalent antigenic preparations}; Bidnenko SI et al.; The main principles of the development of Proteus polyvalent antigen and erythrocyte diagnosticum, including the selection of the initial strains according to the clinical importance of their H-antigens and to the variety of their partial factors, the combination of monoantigens to form a polyvalent antigenic preparation with due regard to the potency of each component and the use of the preparation in serological tests in accordance with its summary potency, as well as the simultaneous loading of formaldehyde-fixed and tannin- or bisdiazo benzidine-treated sheep red blood cells with sensitins, have been worked out . The diagnostic value of these preparations has been confirmed by the study of serum samples from 579 patients with intestinal and urological infections (among them 153 patients releasing Proteus) and 245 healthy persons.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Feb, (2), 14 - 9
{Characteristics of bacteria in the genus Proteus isolated from patients with sporadic and group intestinal diseases}; Apollonin AV et al.; The biochemical and biological properties of 148 Proteus strains isolated from patients both in sporadic intestinal infections and in a case of group infection in children's hospital was studied . The study revealed that the etiological factor of the group infection was P . mirabilis belonging to rare serovar 48:2 . Proteus organisms isolated in sporadic infections belonged to a great number of serovars . No relationship between the isolated serovar and the nosological form of the intestinal disease was established . Among the Proteus strains under study, 82 strains showed atypical biochemical properties in 1 test or more . No correlation between the clinical diagnosis and the occurrence of atypical strains was established.

J Biol Chem, 1985 Jan 25, 260(2), 949 - 55
Isolation of altered recA polypeptides and interaction with ATP and DNA; Rusche JR et al.; In this paper we describe the partial proteolytic digestion of recA proteins from Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis and the production and isolation of truncated recA polypeptides . A proteolytic fragment of the P . mirabilis recA protein bound single-strand DNA and ATP normally but has altered duplex DNA binding properties . This protein was shown to initiate but not complete DNA strand transfer from a DNA duplex to a complementary single strand . The product of the E . coli recA1 allele bound but could not hydrolyze ATP and the protein bound single-strand but not double-strand DNA . This protein did not appear to initiate the transfer of a strand from a linear duplex to a single-strand circle and inhibited the wild-type recA protein from performing strand transfer . We report that recA protein binds linear duplex DNA in a manner that enhances the rate of ligation by T4 DNA ligase . When heterologous single-strand DNA was added in addition to the duplex DNA large stable aggregates of protein and DNA were formed that could easily be sedimented from solution.

Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(9), 85 - 8
{Microbiological research on the meat and liver from fattened geese}; Kostadinov K et al.; Microbiologic studies were carried out on the meat and liver of fattened geese that were slaughtered with no sanitary restrictions . Established were the total counts of aerobically growing mesophiles as well as those of coliform, enterococcus, staphylococcus, and micrococcus organisms . The species composition of the isolated bacteria was also determined . It was shown that the investigated samples of the liver and of the pectoral and femoral muscles were free from Salmonella bacteria and pathogenic staphylococci, sulfite-reducing clostridia and Bacterium proteus.

Gegenbaurs Morphol Jahrb . 1985;131(4):567.
{Special behavior of the cloacal glands in Proteus anguineus}; Voss H; In all hitherto examined Urodeles, the cloacal glands are flowing into the cloaca jointly with the hedonic glands, only with the exception of Proteus anguineus, where the cloacal glands are open to the cloaca but the hedonic glands are falling via cutaneous pores on both sides of the cloacal slit.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac, 1985, 102(4), 209 - 15
{Early diffuse hypertrophic osteitis recurrence . Unexpected and consternating development after a large évidement cavity . Apropos of 15 cases}; Fleury P et al.; The authors report 15 cases collected over a period of 13 years (1972 - 1984) of a particularly serious eventuality affecting certain evacuation cavities: Early recurrence of diffuse hypertrophic osteitis (E.R.D.H.O.) . This is a rare complication, occurring in 1.5% of cases of chronic otitis . However, the fact of having operated upon 7 cases in 1984 alone, whilst during the previous 12 years, only 8 had been seen, raised the alarm . The classical pattern of this complication occurs in 3 stages, each involving surgical operation: at the outset, chronic otitis with cholesteatoma or osteitis, most often mixed, for which an "inadequate" surgical procedure is performed . then, after a variable period which may exceed 10 years, a very large evacuation cavity was created by the authors . finally, 3rd and final stage: within 6 months, this cavity filled progressively and, at operation, the authors discovered a cavity virtually completely filled with a "fantastic" "moist sugar" osteitis, requiring a new evacuation cavity, even larger than that created before . In all cases, a successful result was obtained within a varying period, sometimes accompanied by spectacular improvement in general condition . The most plausible etiopathogenic hypothesis advanced to attempt to explain this phenomenon is that of secondary infection by a varied microbial flora, including, on the one hand, aerobic organisms usually discovered in such cases (pseudomonas pyocyaneus, proteus mirabilis) and, secondly, this being of essential importance, "anaerobic" bacteria, the bacteriological diagnosis of which requires application of a strict protocol . The authors have taken three decisions following their bibliographic investigations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Urol Res, 1985, 13(4), 195 - 8
Concrement formation in the urinary bladder in rats inoculated with Ureaplasma urealyticum; Grenabo L et al.; To study the concrement-forming ability of Ureaplasma urealyticum in the urinary tract, viable and heat-killed ureaplasmas as well as urease and non-urease-producing bacteria were inoculated into the bladder in rats . Viable ureaplasmas, in contrast to heat-killed, caused the formation of bladder stones with a frequency corresponding to urease-producing bacteria (Proteus mirabilis) . It was not possible to reculture the inoculated ureaplasmas from the urinary tract . Non-urease producing microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Mycoplasma hominis) only occasionally induced stone formation . The results indicate that U . urealyticum can initiate stone formation, a property that appears to be associated with the urease activity of the organism.

Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(3), 173 - 82
Lateral flagellar antigen of Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio harveyi: existence of serovars common to the two species; Shinoda S et al.; The antigenicity of lateral (L-) flagella of two marine vibrios, Vibrio alginolyticus and V . harveyi, was studied, and the two species were found to have common antigenicity of their flagella . Antisera against L-flagella were prepared by immunizing rabbits with highly purified L-flagellar filaments . H-Agglutination tests with the anti-L-flagella antisera showed that four H-serovars existed in these species and that two of them were shared by the two species . Cross reactivity between H-serovars of these two species and other vibrios having lateral flagella, such as V . parahaemolyticus, V . campbellii, V . proteus, or V . fluvialis, was not observed in the H-agglutination test, although partial common antigenicity was observed in the gel diffusion test with flagellin monomers . These observations suggest that surface antigenic determinants of the lateral flagella of V . alginolyticus and V . harveyi are specific to these two species but internal antigenic determinants buried in the flagellar filaments are partially shared with other vibrio species.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Jan, 38(1), 179 - 89
{In vitro antibacterial activity of various cephems against clinical isolates from complicated urinary tract infections}; Kamidono S et al.; In vitro antibacterial activity of several cephems (CEZ as the first generation (group A); CTM and CMZ as the second generation (group B); CMX, CPZ, LMOX, CTX and CZX as the third generation (group C)) against 8 species, each of 54 strains, of Gram-negative clinical isolates from complicated urinary tract infection was compared by determination of the MICs . The following results were obtained: The most sensitive drugs against each species in MIC80; CTX (MIC80 0.20 microgram/ml) against E . coli, CMX (1.56 microgram/ml) against K . pneumoniae, LMOX (0.39 microgram/ml) against P . mirabilis, LMOX (0.78 microgram/ml) against Indole (+) Proteus, CMX and CPZ (50 micrograms/ml) against E . cloacae, CMX and LMOX (50 micrograms/ml) against C . freundii, CMX (3.13 micrograms/ml) against S . marcescens and CPZ (25 micrograms/ml) against P . aeruginosa The most sensitive drugs against each species in MICS100; CMX (MIC100 3.13 micrograms/ml) against E . coli, CMX (6.25 micrograms/ml) against K . pneumoniae, CTX (0.78 microgram/ml) against P . mirabilis, LMOX (1.56 microgram/ml) against Indole (+) Proteus, CPZ (100 micrograms/ml) against E . cloacae, CMX (100 micrograms/ml) against C . freundii, CMX (12.5 microgram/ml) against S . marcescens and CPZ (50 micrograms/ml) against P . aeruginosa . In each species, the group C were most sensitive followed by those of the group B . Many isolates were highly resistant to the group A (especially in C . freundii, S . marcescens and P . aeruginosa).

J Appl Bacteriol, 1985 Jan, 58(1), 21 - 5
The development of a formulation for radiation-sterilizable urea broth; Eisenberg E et al.; Urea broth, a medium used for the identification of the genus Proteus, was sterilized by gamma radiation, using radiation doses of 1-1.5 Mrad . The radiation-sterilized medium, modified by adding sodium ascorbate and increasing its phenol red and yeast extract content, performed as well as the commercial formulation prepared aseptically, when tested with different Proteus and non-Proteus species . Gamma-irradiation appears to be an attractive and economical method for sterilizing nutrient media in sealed tubes, avoiding the risk of contamination during processing.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1985 Jan, 83(1), 87 - 90
The spot indole test for identification of swarming Proteus; Bale MJ et al.; The authors evaluated the use of the spot indole test for rapid speciation of swarming Proteus from the primary isolation plate . One hundred seventy-two consecutive isolates of swarming Proteus were studied, 163 Proteus mirabilis and nine Proteus vulgaris . One hundred fifty-six isolates (95.7%) of Proteus mirabilis gave a negative spot indole . Seven (4.3%) gave a positive spot indole test, but all seven isolates were from cultures in which other indole-producing organisms also were present . If only isolates representing single gram-negative strains in the specimens were tested, the predictive value was greater than 99% . Eight of the nine (88.9%) Proteus vulgaris isolates gave a positive spot indole test; one (11.1%) gave a negative result . This isolate also failed to produce indole by conventional methods but was ornithine decarboxylase negative, and additional biochemical testing was consistent with the Proteus vulgaris identification . All Proteus vulgaris isolates were resistant to ampicillin, and 94.2% of the Proteus mirabilis tested were ampicillin susceptible . The spot indole test is a rapid, accurate, simple, and cost-effective means of speciating swarming Proteus strains isolated as the only gram-negative bacilli in a specimen . The spot indole test should be used in conjunction with an ampicillin susceptibility test result or other confirmatory test information if other gram-negative bacilli are present in the culture.

J Infect Dis, 1985 Jan, 151(1), 148 - 52
Detection of gram-negative bacteremia by limulus amebocyte lysate assay: evaluation in a rat model of peritonitis; du Moulin GC et al.; A spectrophotometric Limulus amebocyte lysate assay using lysis filtration and centrifugation has been developed for the detection of gram-negative bacteria in blood . The assay is directed at detection of endotoxin in viable and nonviable bacteria present in the blood-stream and not detection of free endotoxin in plasma . The assay was evaluated in a model of peritonitis in which rats were challenged with an inoculum consisting of sterilized human feces, barium sulfate, and one of eight species of bacteria . This assay was able to detect gram-negative bacteremia due to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the rat model when compared with sham-inoculated uninfected rats . The assay failed to detect bacteremia due to Bacteroides fragilis or Staphylococcus aureus, nor was there a significant rise in absorbance when a pellet containing sterilized feces was implanted in the rat.

Exp Cell Res, 1985 Jan, 156(1), 79 - 90
Oscillations in cell shape and size during locomotion and in contractile activities of Physarum polycephalum, Dictyostelium discoideum, Amoeba proteus and macrophages; Satoh H et al.; Changes in cell shape and size were measured during locomotion, together with the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming, in various amoeboid cells in different stages of their life cycle, and under various environmental conditions . The variations in these measurements with time were examined by Fourier spectral analysis . Notwithstanding a change in cell type in the life cycle of P . polycephalum, myxamoebae and tiny plasmodia showed a similar time pattern of locomotion, exhibiting oscillations having a mixture of several periods . A regular oscillation with protoplasmic streaming appeared in the plasmodium only above a critical cell size . D . discoideum amoebae oscillated with two periods of a few minutes in preaggregation stage, but with a period of 10 min in aggregation stage, the latter being induced by cAMP . Macrophages and A . proteus also oscillated with periods of a few minutes . Periods of all these oscillations were prolonged severalfold by respiratory inhibition with NaCN, but were unaffected by glycolytic inhibition with 2-deoxyglucose . Cell fragments of A . proteus containing fewer granules oscillated more slowly and with a larger amplitude than those containing more granules . Among the granules, the nucleus was excluded as a possible modifier of the oscillation . The oscillation in Physarum plasmodium was reversibly suppressed by combining respiratory and ATPase inhibitions in mitochondria with NaCN and oligomycin, intracellular ATP concentration being kept at an appropriate level . The present results show that amoeboid motility, as well as cell shape, is oscillatory and that mitochondria are involved in time keeping.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1985, 64(4), 289 - 93
{In vitro activity of norfloxacin against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms from recent clinical isolates}; Mancini C et al.; A total of 274 recently isolated Gram-positive e Gram-negative strains have been tested . The method used for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics was by agar dilution and the minimal bactericidal concentrations were determined by "replica plating" system . All strains demonstrated a good sensitivity, above all, to Norfloxacin which inhibited Gram-positive bacteria at the concentration of 3.12 micrograms/ml and, concerning Gram-negative, at the concentration of 0.10 microgram/ml for K.E.S . group, 0.19 microgram/ml for Escherichia coli, 6.25 micrograms/ml for Proteus sp and 1.56 microgram/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Also with the other antibiotics we obtained good results especially with Nitrofurantoin concerning Enterococcus and Ceftazidime concerning all the strains . On the basis of these results we can conclude that Norfloxacin is one of the most active antibiotics among those used against strains implicated in urinary infections.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Jan, (1), 51 - 5
{Obtaining antisera to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus antigens for performing immunoenzyme analyses in clinical practice}; Bulava GV et al.; The data presented in this work indicate that specific antisera to P . aeruginosa and Proteus antigens can be produced by using extracts from these microorganisms, destroyed by ultrasonic treatment or by multiple freezing and thawing, for the immunization of rabbits . Blood serum samples from patients with purulent septic complications were studied for the presence of P . aeruginosa and Proteus antigens in ELISA with the use of peroxidase-labeled antibodies from antisera to P . aeruginosa and Proteus . This investigation revealed that during the first 3 days from the beginning of the clinical manifestations of the complications P . aeruginosa and Proteus antigens were detected in 86.4% and 83.4% of the patients, respectively . In the subsequent bacteriological study of wound discharge from these patients the corresponding microflora was detected.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1985, 11(2), 101 - 5
Urinary tract infections after renal transplantation; Alexopoulos E et al.; From 1980 to 1983, 69 patients (36 male) with end-stage renal disease underwent kidney transplantation (11 from cadaveric donors) . Twenty-six out of 69 (17 male) with a mean age of 37 years (range 16-50 years) developed 69 UTI episodes . The standard immunosuppressive regimen consisted of prednisolone and azathioprine and, in selected cases, antilymphocyte globulin or cyclosporin A were given for a short period of time . Thirty-five episodes (50%) occurred within two months of the operation . The most commonly isolated bacteria were E . coli (28 cases), Ps . aeruginosa (16) and Proteus mirabilis (9) . Kidney graft dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, urological complications and antirejection treatment were the main predisposal factors . Recurrence or reinfections were finally diagnosed in 19/26 patients (73%) . Thirteen patients presented with asymptomatic bacteriuria (55% of episodes) . Aminoglycosides, ureidopenicillins and third-generation cephalosporins were found to be very effective for treating severely ill, febrile patients . In addition, trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and mecillinam were useful for patients on long-term chemotherapy . There were no deaths or impairment of the renal graft function directly attributable to the urinary infection . In conclusion, UTIs are a very common cause of morbidity in kidney graft recipients, with the highest incidence in the early post-transplant period . Recurrences or reinfections occur often and asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common finding which needs not be treated aggressively in the absence of symptoms or obstructive uropathy . Patient and graft survival in the long term remain unaffected by the presence of the urinary infection.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1985, 11(1), 29 - 38
Cefmetazole: a broad spectrum cephem antibiotic effective on methicillin- and cephem-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Yokota T et al.; Antibacterial activity of cefmetazole (CMZ) was investigated by the plate dilution method . Since CMZ is stable to any type of bacterial beta-lactamases, it inhibited growth of Escherichia coli carrying R plasmids, Klebsiella spp., Proteus vulgaris, and Bacteroides fragilis at the concentration of less than 0.78 to 25.0 micrograms/ml . The distinct characteristic of CMZ is its anti-MRSA (methicillin- and cephem-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) activity . Exclusively in MRSA, a new fraction of penicillin binding proteins (PBP) with a relative molecular mass of 78 kd apears, and the 78 kd/PBP possesses low binding affinity to beta-lactam antibiotics . By the competitive binding experiment of beta-lactam drugs to the PBPs of MRSA, it was revealed that CMZ and cephaloridine retain binding affinities to the new 78kd/PBP fraction of MRSA.

Braz J Med Biol Res, 1985, 18(3), 397 - 9
Influence of RP4 plasmid on extracellular protease secretion by Proteus mirabilis; Costa SO et al.; The transference by conjugation of protease genetic information between Proteus mirabilis strains only occurs upon mobilization by a conjugative plasmid such as RP4 (Inc P group) . Upon receiving the RP4 plasmid, the level of proteolytic activity of the protease-excreting P . mirabilis is reduced to about 50% . A similar phenomenon occurs when the protease character is mobilized by the RP4 plasmid from the above transconjugant to a non-protease-excreting recipient strain . The molecular mechanism underlying the interference of R plasmids with proteolytic activity remains to be elucidated but there is evidence suggesting that some alteration in the bacterial envelope might be involved.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1985, 35(12), 1760 - 2
Antimicrobial activity of clavines; Eich E et al.; The antimicrobial activity of two clavine-type ergot alkaloids (agroclavine, festuclavine), and 16 derivatives against four human pathogenic bacteria and Candida albicans was determined . It is shown that all ergolines tested with one exception exhibit antibacterial properties against one to four bacteria species . The most active compounds are 6-allyl-6-norfestuclavine (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 30 micrograms/ml against Staphylococcus aureus), 1-propyl-6-norfestuclavine (MIC 60 micrograms/ml against Escherichia coli), 6-cyano-6-norfestuclavine (MIC 250 micrograms/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and 1-methyl-agroclavine (MIC 200 micrograms/ml against Proteus vulgaris) . 1-Allyl-6-norfestuclavine and 1-propyl-6-norfestuclavine showed a broad action spectrum: the growth of all four bacteria species and of Candida albicans was inhibited . The most effective antifungal compounds are 1-propyl-6-norfestuclavine and 6-cyano-6-norfestuclavine (MIC 250 micrograms/ml) . Three alkaloids of different structure (codeine, emetine, quinine) are inactive up to 500 micrograms/ml against the bacteria species and C . albicans . The acute toxicity (mouse) is remarkably diminished by the modifications of the natural clavines.

Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(4), 286 - 91
Unstable L-form of Proteus mirabilis induced by fosfomycin; Schmid EN; An unstable L-form of Proteus mirabilis was induced on solid medium by sensitivity test discs (200 micrograms of fosfomycin + 20 micrograms of glucose-6-phosphate) . The L-colonies were subcultured on agar containing the antibiotic at a concentration of 60 micrograms/ml . On antibiotic-free medium, all the cells reverted to the bacterial phase . On antibiotic-containing agar, the reversion took place as well although at a much lower frequency . Parents and revertants differed in glucose metabolism while they reacted identically in H2S, indole, and urea tests.

Mikrobiologiia, 1985 Jan-Feb, 54(1), 121 - 7
{Detection of lipopeptide complexes in lipid fractions of Proteus mirabilis}; Bondarenko BN; Covalently bonded complexes of phospholipids with peptides were detected in the lipid fractions of Proteus mirabilis . The lipopeptides were developed with ninhydrin after treating thin-layer chromatograms with H1 or 0.1 N HCl at 100 degrees C for 4 hours . The complexes can be chromatographed in silicic acid unfixed layers using neutral or weakly acidic systems of solvents . The complexes break down in layers fixed with gypsum or treated with diluted alkali solutions . The complexes can contain several phospholipid molecules which make them soluble in organic solvents . The lowest proportion between phospholipids and peptide components was 4:1 . Apparently, the complexes contain O-ester and pyrophosphoric bonds.

Chemotherapy, 1985, 31(3), 204 - 10
Increased minimum inhibitory concentrations with anaerobiasis for tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin, compared to latamoxef, piperacillin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin; Tack KJ et al.; Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined under both routine aerobic and anaerobic conditions for a total of 93 organisms representing nine genera . MICs for the aminoglycosides amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin were significantly increased under anaerobic conditions . Tobramycin was most sensitive to the loss of antimicrobial activity with anaerobiasis . MICs for staphylococci were increased by a higher factor than were MICs for gram-negative rods, but even within the latter group increases in MICs for Proteus species were greater than for Salmonella, Klebsiella and Escherichia coli . No change of anaerobic versus aerobic activity was seen for latamoxef, piperacillin, chloramphenicol, or clindamycin.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Jan, 38(1), 27 - 30
{Antibacterial activity of cefmenoxime against clinical isolates . Comparative study}; Takahashi C et al.; Antibacterial activity of cefmenoxime (CMX) against clinically isolated organisms was examined in comparison with that of 4 other antibiotics and concluded as follows: Antibacterial activity of CMX was markedly stronger than those of cefazolin (CEZ), cefmetazole, latamoxef and ampicillin against E . coli, K . pneumoniae, S . marcescens, H . influenzae, P . mirabilis and indole positive Proteus . But the MIC level of CMX against S . aureus was higher than that of CEZ.

J Am Paraplegia Soc, 1985 Jan, 8(1), 13 - 5
In vitro evaluation of current disinfectants for leg bags; Giroux J et al.; An in vitro study was performed investigating the bactericidal ability of five common cleaning agents for leg bags against organisms frequently causing urinary tract infection in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients . Individual disposable Uridrain leg bags were inoculated with urine containing greater than 10(5) colonies/ml of the selected organism . The organisms used were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia stuartii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Herellea, and Enterococcus . Each pair of inoculated bags (one bag for immediate or 0 hour culture and one bag for 24 hour culture) was filled with 30 ml of the test solution, cleaned, drained, and then cultured . The tested solutions included: plain tap water, 1/4% acetic acid, 3% hydrogen peroxide, Sporicidin 1:16 dilution, and 0.06% sodium hypochlorite . The results demonstrated that plain tap water had no effect on reducing the bacterial counts and that 1/4% acetic acid and 3% hydrogen peroxide had only a marginal effect across the spectrum of organisms . Sporicidin and 0.06% sodium hypochlorite exhibited complete bactericidal ability . In the final analysis, 0.06% sodium hypochlorite is the most cost efficient and readily accessible to patients . In practical application, disinfecting daily with 0.06% sodium hypochlorite can decrease external contamination of urinary drainage appliances in SCI patients.

Infection, 1985 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 27 - 8
Primary psoas abscess three years after ipsilateral nephrectomy; Knobel B et al.; We report an unusual case of primary, right psoas abscess caused by Proteus mirabilis which developed three years after ipsilateral nephrectomy . The diagnosis was established by computer tomography, recommended today as superior to other diagnostic methods of demonstration for the retroperitoneum.

Nephron, 1985, 39(4), 371 - 6
Auto-antibody to kidney tubular cells during retrograde chronic pyelonephritis in rats; Feye GL et al.; Retrograde pyelonephritis was induced in inbred Fischer rat kidneys with Proteus mirabilis (1 X 10(8) organisms/ml) . Sera from pyelonephritic animals sacrificed at 4 and 6 weeks contained cytotoxic antibodies to cultured syngeneic 51Cr-labeled kidney tubular cells (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.05, respectively) which could be absorbed with plasma membranes . Immune sera from 4- and 6-week pyelonephritic animals also displayed a granular fluorescent pattern along the surface of cultured kidney tubular cells . Quick-frozen syngeneic rat kidney sections stained positively with fluorescent antibody on the intraluminal side of kidney tubular cells . The results suggest that during chronic phases of pyelonephritis, auto-antibodies to kidney tubular cells are induced.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Jan, 38(1), 49 - 61
{Clinical evaluation of cefmenoxime in chronic complicated urinary tract infection}; Ashiki A et al.; The efficacy of cefmenoxime (CMX), which is a third generation, beta-lactamase-resistant cephem with a broad antibacterial spectrum, was examined in 43 patients with chronic complicated urinary tract infections . The usual dosage regimen was given 2 approximately 4 g/day of CMX by intravenous drip infusion over 1 hour . The duration of treatment was 5 days . Fifteen patients were cured and 21 improved, and the effective rate was 83.7% . Bacterial eradication rate in these cases was 88.2%, especially eradication of the original pathogens such as Serratia marcescens, Proteus species and Klebsiella species, occurred in high frequency . Laboratory abnormalities were slight elevation of serum GOT and GPT in 2 cases . From these findings, CMX was considered to be very effective in complicated urinary tract infections.

Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1985, 11(11), 781 - 6
Comparative in vitro and in vivo activity of cefminox (MT-141), cefotaxime and cefoperazone against gram-negative bacteria; Watanabe T et al.; Against 17 Gram-negative bacteria, excluding Proteus species, the difference between cefminox and cefotaxime was significant in terms of MIC distribution, in favour of cefotaxime, but was not significant in terms of ED50 distribution . Against 22 Proteus species, the difference between cefminox and cefotaxime was not significant in terms of MIC distribution, but was significant for ED50 distribution, in favour of cefminox . The difference between cefminox and cefoperazone was not significant for either MIC or ED50 distribution against 17 Gram-negative bacteria, but was significant against 22 Proteus species, in favour of cefminox . The distribution of rank of the ED50/MIC ratios for cefminox was significantly lower than those for cefotaxime and cefoperazone, indicating that cefminox showed lower ED50 values than expected from the MIC values.

Dev Biol Stand, 1985, 61, 241 - 7
Depression of delayed hypersensitivity responses in patients with pertussis; Hewlett EL et al.; Components of Bordetella pertussis cause impairment of cell-mediated immunity in experimental animals and children with acute pertussis have been shown to have a reduced prevalence of positive tuberculin skin tests (13) . Furthermore, secondary infection is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in this disease . On the basis of these observations, we have studied delayed hypersensitivity responses in children with B . pertussis infection and compared the results with responses elicited in the same patients one to three months later, as well as with responses in control children . During acute illness, each patient was tested for 48 hour delayed hypersensitivity response to seven antigens (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and tuberculin, candida, streptococcus, trichophyton and proteus antigens) and glycerol control . Responses were quantitated by total number of antigens positive (greater than or equal to 2 mm) and total millimeters of response . The control group (N = 11) had 4.2 +/- 1.0 positive antigens and 13.3 +/- 2.7 total mm of response . In contrast, the patients with acute pertussis, (N = 6) had significantly reduced responses, with only 1.5 +/- 1.0 positive antigens and 5.4 +/- 3.2 total mm of response (each different from control, p less than 0.001) . That this difference was due to the acute infection with B . pertussis is supported by the responses demonstrated on retest 1-3 months later . At that time, the convalescent patients had 3.3 +/- 1.0 antigens positive and 11.0 +/- 1.7 mm of induration, not significantly different from the control group . Four of the six pertussis patients were outpatients throughout their course and all recovered uneventfully.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Peptides, 1985, 6 Suppl 3, 485 - 8
Peptides as modifiers of Na+-induced pinocytosis in starved Amoeba proteus; Josefsson JO et al.; Low concentrations of six peptide hormones; glucagon, vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, angiotensin II, lysine-vasopressin, arginine-vasopressin, and the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe, activated the capacity for pinocytosis in starved Amoeba proteus . Competitive inhibitors of the chemotactic peptide in leucocytes inhibited activation by fMet-Leu-Phe, suggesting that its action in the amoeba is mediated by specific receptors . The opioid peptides, beta-endorphin, dynorphin (1-13) and leu-enkephalin abolished through a naloxone-sensitive mechanism activation by hormones and several other activating agents . Also, low concentrations of beef and pork insulin inhibited activation by peptide hormones . An insulin analogue of low potency in mammalian cells was inactive in the amoeba . These results support the hypothesis that besides opioid receptors, there may be insulin receptors and possibly receptors for several other peptide hormones in Amoeba proteus.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1985, 33(2), 241 - 59
Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections . V . Evaluation of the results obtained in children; Slopek S et al.; The results of phage therapy applied in 114 cases of suppurative bacterial infections in children were analyzed . Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 109 (95.6%) cases . The results confirmed great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyogenic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas bacteria.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1985, 33(2), 219 - 40
Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections . IV . Evaluation of the results obtained in 370 cases; Slopek S et al.; The results of phage therapy applied in 370 cases of suppurative bacterial infections were analyzed . Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 342 (92.4%) cases . The results obtained confirmed the previous findings on great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyogenic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas bacteria.

Fortschr Med, 1984 Dec 13, 102(46), 1178 - 80
{Current analysis of pathogen spectrum and resistance in bacterial urinary tract infections . Bacteriologic urine findings of hospitalized urologic patients}; Osterhage HR et al.; We analysed the bacteriological urinary findings of all inpatients of the urological department on admission, during hospitalization and on discharge, over a period of one year . The percentage of urological patients with florid urinary tract infections was less than 10% . The most commonly found pathogen was E . coli, followed by Proteus, enterococci, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella . Any change in the bacterial spectrum was not associated with individual diseases or their treatment . Mixed infections were rarely seen . The nosocomial urinary tract infection rate was an overall 1.5% . Since the clinical findings on admission often require the immediate administration of antibiotics, the results of urine culture cannot always be awaited . Given the present situation with respect to resistance, the use of antibiotics with a sensitivity of only 50% does not appear to make good sense . Prior to receiving the bacteriological report, cephalosporins of the second and third generation are to be recommended to treat complicated urinary tract infections in hospitalized urological patients.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 48(6), 1159 - 65
Microbial colonization of human ileal conduits; Chan RC et al.; Morphological and microbiological techniques were used to locate and identify the microorganisms that colonized the human ileal conduits in 17 different patients from 5 days after surgery up to as many as 16 years of service as a urine conduit . The ecological sequence of this colonization assumes some practical importance because the ascending growth of pathogenic organisms in this essentially open, unvalved urinary tract diversion system leads to the development of life-threatening pyelonephritis . Extensive examination of the microvillus surfaces of the ilea of five accident victims by both transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that these tissue surfaces were not colonized by bacteria, even in the absence of prophylactic antibiotic therapy, and that these surfaces were not occupied by adherent microorganisms after several years of service as a urine conduit, even when the skin surface stoma and the conduit contents were heavily colonized by bacteria and yeasts . During the initial period (10 days) of postoperative antibiotic therapy, the mucus and urine within the conduit were largely colonized by yeasts . A mixed population of yeasts and gram-positive cocci subsequently developed in the conduit itself, and gram-positive cocci were seen to be avidly adherent to epidermal cells at the stoma . As antibiotic protection was gradually withdrawn, gram-negative organisms became a part of the mixed microbial flora of the conduit contents, and some of the potentially pathogenic organisms of this group (e.g., Escherichia spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., etc.) were isolated from patients with pyelonephritis that appeared to come from the ileal conduit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 10(1), 57 - 70
Uptake of antibodies in gram-negative bacteria exposed to EDTA-Tris; Wooley RE et al.; Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid disodium salt (3.22 mM) and Tris (hydroxymethyl aminomethane) (50 mM) was found to cause potentiation of antibiotic actions and/or increased uptake of antibiotics when assessed by bacterial inhibition kinetic studies and uptake of radiolabeled antibiotics . Solutions of EDTA-Tris potentiate the effect of tetracycline, dihydrostreptomycin and penicillin when reacted with Escherichia coli . A similar effect was observed for tetracycline when incubated with Proteus vulgaris and penicillin, chloramphenicol, dihydrostreptomycin and tetracycline when incubated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These effects were noted by decreasing bacterial counts in the bacterial inhibition kinetic studies and increased uptake of radiolabeled antibiotics.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Dec, 37(12), 1703 - 11
Therapeutic efficacy of a new cephamycin, MT-141, in compromised mice; Kawaharajo K et al.; The antibacterial activity of MT-141 against Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii in compromised mice was investigated and compared with that of latamoxef, cefmetazole and cefoxitin . The bactericidal activity of MT-141 in short-term contact with E . coli and P . morganii was markedly enhanced when combined with mouse serum, and the activity of MT-141 was greater than the activities of the three reference drugs . The antibacterial activities of MT-141 in the liver, spleen and kidney of neutropenic and Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mice infected with E . coli and P . morganii were superior to the activities of the reference drugs . MT-141 was more potent than cefmetazole and cefoxitin, and similar to latamoxef in potency against systemic P . morganii infection in Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mice.

J Urol, 1984 Dec, 132(6), 1247 - 9
A newly designed model for infection-induced bladder stone formation in the rat; Satoh M et al.; A newly designed urolithiasis model for rats, inducing a mild urinary tract infection, exhibiting reduced renal damage without pyelonephritis and causing reliable stone formation, was established . This was accomplished by implanting a zinc disc in the bladder and then performing transvesical inoculation of Proteus mirabilis into the bladder . Five days after challenge with 10(7) colony forming units (CFU) of P . mirabilis in each rat, the number of organisms in the bladder urine reached a level of over 10(5) colony forming units per ml . The infection was mostly restricted to the urinary tract organs . Infectious bladder stones were formed 5 days after infection and developed day by day, weighing 88.3 +/- 18.8 mg . on the 21st day . Blood urea nitrogen values stayed in the normal range in all test animals during this experiment . The main composition of the stones formed was shown to be struvite (MgNH4PO4 X 6H2O).

Br J Exp Pathol, 1984 Dec, 65(6), 711 - 8
Opsonins in normal mouse serum for the phagocytic killing of Proteus mirabilis by murine neutrophils; Finlay-Jones JJ et al.; An assay of phagocytic killing by murine neutrophils in homologous serum was used to determine the nature of the opsonins in normal mouse serum for phagocytic killing of Proteus mirabilis . Leucocytes from the peritoneal cavities of mice given an intraperitoneal inoculation of brain-heart infusion broth 3 h previously, phagocytosed and killed P . mirabilis in a 2-h assay in the presence of 10% serum from normal mice . The serum factors supporting phagocytic killing were heat-labile (50 degrees C or 56 degrees C for 30 min) and could be absorbed at 37 degrees C but not 4 degrees C by three different species of Gram-negative bacteria . The tested species of Gram-positive bacterium did not absorb the activity . At the end of the assays, greater than 90% of leucocyte-associated bacteria were associated with neutrophils . Leucocytes from unstimulated peritoneal cavities (less than I% neutrophils) did not kill bacteria in this assay, in contrast to leucocyte suspensions containing up to 98% neutrophils . These findings indicated that the phagocytic killing of P . mirabilis in this assay was mediated by neutrophils, and that complement fixation by the alternative pathway provided necessary opsonins in normal mouse serum.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Dec, 37(12), 1555 - 65
Cephabacins, new cephem antibiotics of bacterial origin . IV . Antibacterial activities, stability to beta-lactamases and mode of action; Nozaki Y et al.; Cephabacin F group antibiotics with a 7-formylamino substituent showed antibacterial activity against a wide variety of bacteria including beta-lactamase-producing clinical isolates and anaerobic bacteria . Cephabacin H group antibiotics without the substituent showed more potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria than cephabacin F group antibiotics, but were not active against Gram-negative bacteria producing beta-lactamases . Cephabacin F group antibiotics were highly resistant to hydrolysis by various types of beta-lactamases and showed strong inhibitory activity against a cephalosporinase of Proteus vulgalis GN 4413 due to the 7-formylamino substituent . Mode of action of cephabacin F1 and H1 was examined using Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis as the test organisms . They showed strong lytic activity against these organisms and inhibited their peptidoglycan synthesis . Cephabacin F1 had the highest affinity for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1 in E . coli and PBP 4 in B . subtilis . Cephabacins showed a protective effect in experimentally infected mice.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1984 Dec, 6(12), 737 - 41
In vitro effect of pH and glucose concentration on the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin in urine; Fromtling RA et al.; The in vitro effect of pH and glucose concentration on the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin in urine was studied . Norfloxacin effectively inhibited the growth of four gram-negative pathogens in urine in vitro at pH values of 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 . The antibacterial activity of norfloxacin in urine was reduced severalfold at pH 6, but minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) at this pH remained clinically significant . Glucose at concentrations of 200 mg/dl and 400 mg/dl (simulating glucosuria of diabetes) did not significantly affect the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin when tested against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Norfloxacin appears to be a highly effective antibiotic in vitro under conditions which simulate normal and diabetic states.

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1984 Dec, 6(12), 731 - 5
Antibacterial efficacy of norfloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin in experimentally-infected normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice; Fromtling RA et al.; Systemic bacterial infections due to Escherichia coli MB 2884, Proteus mirabilis MB 3125 and Klebsiella pneumoniae MB 4005 were well controlled by treatment with norfloxacin both in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice . similar observations were made when trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was used against susceptible pathogens . Systemic infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa MB 4700 was well controlled by norfloxacin and gentamicin in normal mice; this infection was more refractory to treatment by both drugs in diabetic animals . These observations suggest that norfloxacin may be an effective drug in the treatment of bacterial infections which may occur under diabetic conditions, and further investigation is warranted.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 1031 - 6
gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase from Proteus mirabilis: localization and activation by phospholipids; Nakayama R et al.; Antiserum was prepared against the purified gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2) of Proteus mirabilis . The antiserum inactivated the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities of both purified enzyme and intact cells . Native cells were agglutinated with the antibody . Immunocytochemical studies with indirect immunofluorescence and electron microscopy analysis suggested that gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase is localized on the surface of the cell . Its distribution in the cell wall or periplasmic space or both was also confirmed by the treatment of cells with lysozyme-EDTA . The purified enzyme was activated by the addition of membrane phospholipids isolated from the same bacterium . The hydrolysis activity was stimulated more than the transpeptidation activity by several phospholipids.

Arch Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 140(2-3), 187 - 92
The rate of evolutionary divergence of initiation factors IF2 and IF3 in various bacterial species determined quantitatively by immunoblotting; Howe JG et al.; Antibodies to Escherichia coli translational initiation factors IF2 and IF3 were used for an immunological comparison of unpurified proteins from the following genera: Salmonella, Serratia, Proteus, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Sarcina and Bacillus . Immunological relatedness was compared by Ouchterlony double diffusion experiments and immunoblotting analysis . Immunoblotting is a quantitative technique for measuring levels of specific proteins in crude cell lysates . We have used this technique to measure immunological distance with the assumption that the levels of the various translational components are essentially the same in the different bacterial cells examined . Both immunodiffusion and immunoblotting analysis showed a similar evolutionary relationship between the various species for the two initiation factors examined: (Escherichia = Salmonella greater than Serratia greater than Proteus greater than Aeromonas greater than Pseudomonas) . Little or no crossreactivity was found using either analysis with genera: Streptococcus, Sarcina and Bacillus . Using the immunoblot distance, the two initiation factors were shown to diverge at similar rates . One advantage the immunoblotting analysis has over other immunological techniques is that the antigens can be analyzed structurally . We found, for example, that the two forms of IF2 were present in all bacterial species which cross-reacted with anti-IF2, suggesting that both forms are functionally important . Because of its sensitivity, the immunoblot analysis may be more useful than other immunological techniques in studying species that are more distantly related.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1984 Nov 24, 114(47), 1689 - 94
{Coralliform calculi and recurrent urinary infection: a case of newberyite calculi (MgHPO4.3H2O)}; Uebelhart D et al.; In some 20% of cases urolithiasis is directly linked to chronic urinary tract infection by urea-splitting bacteria and essentially Proteus mirabilis . The stones are generally composed of struvite and carbonate apatite, which usually occur as the staghorn calculi feared because of their obstructive and infectious consequences which cause important renal damage . A case is described of newberyite calculus in a woman with chronic urinary infection . Newberyite is thought to be a breakdown product of struvite in particular physico-chemical conditions, and is a very rare constituent of urolithiasis . X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy were used to identify the constituent . Clinical and technical investigations are briefly described, and the literature is reviewed.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Nov 10, 259(21), 13370 - 8
A dominant mutation to ricin resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells induces UDP-GlcNAc:glycopeptide beta-4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity; Campbell C et al.; A biochemical basis for the LEC10 mutant phenotype of Chinese hamster ovary cells has been identified . Independent LEC10 mutants, originally selected for resistance to the toxicity of ricin, have been shown to exhibit reduced binding of 125I-ricin at the cell surface . Although this is indicative of structural changes in cell-surface carbohydrates, labeling of plasma membranes with galactose oxidase/{3H}borohydride revealed no significant differences between mutant and parental cells . Alterations in the carbohydrates synthesized by LEC10 cells were, however, resolved by lectin-affinity chromatography of glycopeptides from the G glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) grown in LEC10 . LEC10/VSV glycopeptides contain a fraction which is not bound to concanavalin A-Sepharose but is strongly retarded on E-PHA (erythroagglutinin from Proteus vulgaris)-agarose . In contrast, CHO/VSV glycopeptides or those from a LEC 10 revertant (R.LEC 10/VSV) do not contain carbohydrates with these properties . High-field 1H NMR spectroscopy of the novel LEC10/VSV carbohydrates showed that they are complex, biantennary structures containing N-acetylglucosamine in beta(1,4)-linkage to the beta-linked core mannose residue . The presence of these structures correlates with the expression of the enzyme responsible for the addition of this "bisecting" GlcNAc residue, UDP-GlcNAc:glycopeptide beta-4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GlcNAc-TIII) . Parental Chinese hamster ovary cells and the LEC10 revertant possess no detectable GlcNAc-TIII activity . The combined evidence suggests that the LEC10 mutation induces the expression of the GlcNAc-TIII enzyme in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Pediatr Med Chir, 1984 Nov-Dec, 6(6), 785 - 9
{Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of ceftriaxone in childhood}; Dellepiane RM et al.; Between the years 1981 and 1983 we treated with Ceftriaxone (Cx) 34 children--aged 15 days to 13 years--affected with serious infections: 18 infections of lower respiratory tract, 1 sepsis caused by E . Coli, 1 meningitis with cloudy cerebrospinal fluid, 1 submandibular adenitis with otitis, 1 otitis, 12 infections of the urinary tract caused by Proteus mirabilis, E . Coli, Klebsiella oxitocica and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Whenever bacteria were isolated by cultures, sensibility in vitro to Cx was tested . Cx was given i.m . or i.v . at a dose ranging from 50 to 135 mg/Kg/die according to the age and the seriousness of the infections; in 17 children Cx was administered once daily, in the other patients in two divided doses . The following laboratory measurements were obtained before, during and after treatment: complete blood cell count, platelet count, total bilirubin, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and urinalysis . Patients were also monitored daily for clinical signs and symptoms such as fever, general conditions, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure . Twenty children showed a good clinical response (1 sepsis, 1 otitis, 1 adenitis, 1 meningitis, 12 infections of the urinary tract, 4 infections of the lower respiratory tract); urine sterilization was achieved after three days of therapy in all patients with infections of the urinary tract . Remarkable clinical and radiological improvement in 9 patients with infections of lower respiratory tract was observed while in only 4 children with bronchopneumonia therapy was ineffective although the dosage of Cx was adeguate; in these patients a further antibiotic treatment was necessary for a complete recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arch Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 140(1), 74 - 8
Dimethylsulphoxide and trimethylamine oxide respiration of Proteus vulgaris . Evidence for a common terminal reductase system; Styrvold OB et al.; Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) sustained anaerobic growth of Proteus vulgaris with the non-fermentable substrate lactate . Cytoplasmic membrane vesicles energized by electron transfer from formate to DMSO displayed anaerobic uptake of serine, which was hindered by metabolic inhibitors known to destroy the proton motive force . This showed that DMSO reduction was coupled with a chemiosmotic mechanism of energy conversion; similar data for TMAO respiration have been presented previously . All biochemical tests applied indicated that the oxides were reduced by the same reductase system . The DMSO and TMAO reductase activities showed the same mobility on ion-exchange chromatography, and polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis (pH 8.9), gradient gel electrophoresis, and gel isoelectric focusing; mol . wt . and pI determined were 95,000 and 4.6, respectively . DMSO inhibited reduction of {14C}TMAO in vesicles . The reductase was inducible to a certain extent; both oxides being equally efficient as inducers . TMAO was reduced at a higher rate than DMSO, explaining faster growth of cells and increased uptake of serine in vesicles with TMAO as electron acceptor . Comparative studies with Escherichia coli also gave evidence for common TMAO and DMSO reductase systems.

Br J Pharmacol, 1984 Nov, 83(3), 615 - 23
Induction and inhibition of pinocytosis by aminoglycoside antibiotics; Johansson P et al.; We investigated whether differences in induction or stimulation of pinocytosis by six amino-glycosides reflected reported differences in their nephrotoxicity . Pinocytosis induced by antibiotics, Na+, K+ or Ca2+ was quantified by the number of pinocytotic channels in Amoeba proteus, a cell suitable for the study of the pinocytotic process . The aminoglycosides were potent inducers of pinocytosis . They were effective in the order of their cationic charge: neomycin greater than gentamicin greater than netilmicin = tobramycin greater than kanamycin greater than streptomycin . Factors which reduced the charge of the molecules, i.e . alkaline pH and combination with carbenicillin or heparin, diminished pinocytosis . Like La3+ the antibiotics inhibited Na+ -induced pinocytosis . The order of efficacy was netilmicin greater than gentamicin greater than neomycin . A similar rank order, which is the reverse of the order of nephrotoxicity, was observed for inhibition of Ca2+ -stimulated, Na+ -induced pinocytosis . Netilmicin was also the most potent inhibitor of the Ca2+-induced pinocytosis in cells treated with concanavalin A . Inhibition of Ca2+ -stimulated pinocytosis by netilmicin was reversed by Ca2+, the calcium ionophore A 23187, or 4-aminopyridine . We have shown that several nephrotoxic cations are strong inducers of pinocytosis in the amoeba, that aminoglycosides in Ringer solution induce pinocytosis in the approximate order of their nephrotoxicity and that factors which are known to diminish toxicity reduce pinocytosis . It, therefore, appears that the mechanism of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity is related to their ability to induce pinocytosis in the amoeba . Low inducing potency and strong Ca2+ -antagonism, as for netilmicin, are qualities which may reduce the tendency of polycationic compounds to damage proximal tubular cells.

Arch Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 139(4), 371 - 5
In vitro synthesis of peptidoglycan by spheroplasts of Proteus mirabilis grown in the presence of penicillin; Martin HH; Spheroplasts of the unstable L-form of Proteus mirabilis with fragile, shape defective cell walls grown in medium containing 120 mg/l penicillin G and then killed and permeabilized by ether treatment, were capable of in vitro synthesis of peptidoglycan from the precursors UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-Glu(ms-A2pm-D-Ala-D-Ala) . The in vitro peptidoglycan was extensively peptide-crosslinked, indicating a continuing function of peptidoglycan transpeptidase in the spheroplasts . The seven penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of P . mirabilis with their functions as multiple peptidoglycan transpeptidases were shown to be saturated in the spheroplasts and thereby functionally inactivated by the penicillin of the growth medium to a very different degree . Complete or almost complete saturation occurred with the PBPs 1A, 1B, and 3, for which functions as indispensable transpeptidases in Escherichia coli have been postulated . In contrast, PBPs 5 and 6 were not saturated in the L-form spheroplasts . Transpeptidase function has been described previously in PBP 5 of P . mirabilis . The working hypothesis is proposed that synthesis of the functionally defective peptidoglycan of L-form spheroplasts in the presence of penicillin takes place with transpeptidase function of PBP 5.

Infection, 1984 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 377 - 80
Experiences on the efficacy and safety of nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, cinoxacin and norfloxacin in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI); Sabbour MS et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of norfloxacin, cinoxacin and oxolinic acid in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) in comparison to nalidixic acid . 125 patients were given the drugs in the appropriate doses for 10-14 days and 30 patients were treated for six weeks . Clinical, bacteriological, hematological and chemical checks were made on all patients before and after treatment . It was found that norfloxacin, cinoxacin and oxolinic acid are safe and effective against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus, the commonly encountered organisms in urinary tract infections . The cure rate for norfloxacin was 93%, for cinoxacin 83%, for oxolinic acid 80% and for nalidixic acid 70% in the short course . However, these differences were not statistically significant . Oxolinic acid, cinoxacin and norfloxacin have the advantage over nalidixic acid of being administered only twice daily.

Exp Cell Res, 1984 Oct, 154(2), 376 - 85
Activation of the capacity for sodium-induced pinocytosis in Amoeba proteus; Johansson P et al.; Amoebae treated with cycloheximide or starved for 8-10 days lose their pinocytotic response to Na+ . Their capacity for Na+-induced pinocytosis was activated after application of various physical or chemical stimuli (electrical stimulation, mechanical shearing forces, osmotic pressure, UV-light, alkali metal ions, capsaicin, and indole) . The degree of activation was related to the intensity and duration of the stimulus and lasted several hours after the stimulus had been withdrawn . The dose-response curves of activating stimuli were always biphasic . Strong activating agents reduced the sensitivity of the amoeba to the inducer . At concentrations lower than those which induced pinocytosis, but in the same order of efficacy, inorganic cations were potent activating agents . Like induction of pinocytosis, activation by cations required minute amounts of Ca2+ and was inhibited by high concentrations of this ion . Activation may therefore be an early event during the induction of pinocytosis . Capsaicin and indole were potent activators, indicating that specific chemical stimuli may increase the capacity for pinocytosis . The activation may be the result of a secretory process adding area and structures to the old membrane which are necessary for the induction of pinocytosis.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 130 ( Pt 10), 2699 - 708
The effect of temperature on the synthesis and assembly of proticine 3 particles by Proteus mirabilis; Senior BW; Proteus mirabilis CW977 produced high yields of the bacteriocin proticine 3 upon mitomycin C induction of cultures growing at 30 degrees C . The proticine was purified and found to have a relative density of 1.299 and to be composed of 10 proteins assembled into structures resembling contractile phage tails . When induction was performed at 41 degrees C neither proticine particles nor proticine activity was detected, although the growth rate of cells and degree of lysis were indistinguishable from that at 30 degrees C . Failure in proticine production was due to a 41 degrees C sensitive stage occurring between 60 and 90 min after the addition of mitomycin C . During this period at 30 degrees C, two proteins of mol . wt 58 000 and 41 000 were formed . These proteins were associated with events leading to the formation of proticine particles with biological activity . When the production of both proteins was prevented either by chloramphenicol or as a result of mutation or through sampling before they were formed, no proticine particles were found nor proticine activity detected . The synthesis of both proteins was also inhibited at 41 degrees C . Co-electrophoresis of the labelled proteins with unlabelled purified proticine confirmed that the protein of mol . wt 58 000 was a proticine structural protein . The protein of mol . wt 41 000 was not a structural component of proticine and its role, if any, in proticine 3 production is possibly that of an assembly protein.

Chemioterapia, 1984 Oct, 3(5), 281 - 5
Clinical chemotherapeutic evaluation of fosfomycin plus amoxicillin (co-fosfolactamine): a prospective double-blind clinical trial; Novelli A et al.; Seventy-three hospitalized patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) were included in a double-blind study and received at random either fosfomycin or fosfomycin plus amoxicillin (CFL) in a pre-fixed combination, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the CFL . CFL was administered orally to 39 patients at the daily dosage of 1 g every 8 h for 6 days (666 mg of fosfomycin and 334 mg of amoxicillin) while fosfomycin was given orally to 34 patients at the daily dosage of 666 mg every 8 h for 6 days . A bacteriological cure was observed in 97.4% of the patients treated with CFL, while in the fosfomycin group the bacterial eradication was obtained only in 82.3% (P less than 0.05) . CFL showed a more rapid bactericidal activity than fosfomycin . In addition, CFL was more effective than fosfomycin against "difficult" Gram-negative bacteria such as Proteus spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Both antibiotics were well tolerated . Our limited experience revealed that CFL induces a negligible degree of resistant strains, and fewer than fosfomycin . Thus we conclude that CFL seems to be a useful antibiotic combination in the treatment of UTI.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 18(2), 167 - 72
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis by mixed anaerobic and aerobic bacteria; Namavar F et al.; The induction of chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) by anaerobic and aerobic bacteria alone or in combination was evaluated . Washed cells as well as the supernate of Proteus mirabilis were chemotactic for leukocytes . The supernate of cultures of two strains of Bacteroides fragilis contained small amounts of chemotactic factors . No chemotactic factors were released from the non-fragilis Bacteroides strains . The supernates of cultures of anaerobic bacteria were capable of inhibiting chemotaxis of leukocytes to the chemotactic factors of P . mirabilis . P . mirabilis and two strains of B . fragilis generated chemotactic factors in serum but none of the other Bacteroides spp . tested were able to induce serum chemotactic factors.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 270 - 1
Recovery of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from irradiated mice; Brook I et al.; Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were often found as mixed infections in 225 lethally irradiated mice . Of a total of 57 mice that were sacrificed, aerobic bacteria were recovered exclusively in 9 (27%) of the 34 culture-positive mice, anaerobic bacteria were recovered exclusively in 15 (44%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora were recovered in 10 (29%) . The predominant organisms were anaerobic cocci Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus spp., and Bacteroides spp.

Exp Cell Res, 1984 Oct, 154(2), 367 - 75
Selective inhibition of calcium-stimulated cation-induced pinocytosis by starvation and inhibitors of protein synthesis in Amoeba proteus; Johansson P et al.; The capacity of Amoeba proteus to form pinocytotic channels after pretreatment with either puromycin, cycloheximide, emetine or a long period of starvation was studied . The effect on pinocytosis of the three inhibitors of protein synthesis was similar . They preferentially affected pinocytosis induced by Na+ with little effect on K+-induced pinocytosis . In Ca2+-deficient media, Na+-induced pinocytosis was inhibited, while the addition of Ca2+ restored channel formation . The degree of inhibition of Na+-induced pinocytosis was influenced by the concentration of Ca2+ in the inducing solution . Selective Ca2+-reversible inhibition of Na+-induced pinocytosis also occurred after starvation or treatment with a proteolytic enzyme, subtilisin . The membrane potential in starved or emetine-treated cells in culture medium was normal and their depolarising response to inducers was not diminished in solutions containing Na+ . The resting input resistance of these cells was higher than in normal amoebae, but no significant difference in electrical parameters was observed after pinocytosis was induced . It is suggested that starvation, inhibition of protein synthesis, and enzyme digestion deplete the membrane of structures which are necessary for normal Ca2+ functions during induction of pinocytosis by Na+-like inducers.

J Urol, 1984 Oct, 132(4), 795 - 9
Ureaplasma urealyticum-induced crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphates in synthetic urine; Grenabo L et al.; Crystallization of struvite and calcium phosphates was studied in vitro as encrustations on glass rods immersed in synthetic urine, to evaluate the crystallization capacity of Ureaplasma urealyticum and compare it with that of known urease and non-urease-producing bacteria . Inoculation of the synthetic urine with Ureaplasma urealyticum resulted in alkalinization of the synthetic urine and crystallization of struvite and brushite . Inoculation with Proteus mirabilis caused a faster and more pronounced alkalinization as well as crystallization of struvite and apatite . The alkalinization and crystallization caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Proteus mirabilis was completely prevented by acetohydroxamic acid, a potent urease inhibitor, linking the crystallization to the urease activity of the microorganisms . When the synthetic urine was inoculated with urease-negative Escherichia coli no alkalinization and no crystallization were seen.

Arch Dermatol, 1984 Oct, 120(10), 1301 - 3
Gram-negative folliculitis . Follow-up observations in 20 patients; Blankenship ML; Gram-negative folliculitis cleared with antibiotics effective against lactose fermenting-gram-negative rods and Proteus organisms in 19 of 20 patients with acne vulgaris . The systemic antibiotic therapy was discontinued after varying periods and the infection remained clear without further treatment for four to 48 months . Nasal cultures were negative for gram-negative organisms on follow-up repeated culture in 12 patients free of infection.

Aktuelle Traumatol, 1984 Oct, 14(5), 200 - 5
{Clinical problems of surgical infection . The Pirogov Institute for Emergency Medicine, Sofia}; Popkirov S et al.; The aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of sepsis are dealt with in this paper . These problems are discussed on the basis of 151 patients treated for sepsis . The cases with monoinfection are 73.6% and those with polyinfection are 24.4% . Monoinfection is caused mainly by Staphylococci -65,3%, followed by E . coli - 15.2%, Proteus - 13% and Klebsiella - 3.3% . For the cases of polyinfection the gram-negative bacteria are 3:1 in respect to the gram-positive bacteria . The bacteriological finding from the haemoculture (92.8% mono- and 7.2% polyinfection) is not equal to this from the input source . Here also the cases of monoinfection are mainly caused by Staphylococci - 70.9%, followed by Proteus - 7.7%, E . coli - 6%, Klebsiella aerogenes - 5.1% and Streptococcus 2.6% . The gram-negative bacteria prevail in the cases of polyinfection . The virulent aggressive infection, bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the aggressive local infection, hypoproteinemia, anaemia, diabetes, a prolonged corticosteroid treatment and unsuitable antibiotic treatment are discussed as main factors predisposing to sepsis . All the 151 patients were treated with the complex therapy, recommended in this paper . It includes a surgical cleaning-up of the initial nidus, intensive reasonable antibiotic treatment against the gram-positive and gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes . Additionally, substitution of infusion therapy, parenteral nutrition, regulation of the pathophysiological deviations and stimulating therapy are carried out . 74.2% from the patients were cured, 25.8% died . 16.6% of the patients who died had sepsis caused by gram-positive bacteria, and 46.1% had sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria . 17% of the patients who died had septicaemia and 22% had septicopyaemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 160(1), 341 - 6
Purification and properties of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase from Proteus mirabilis; Nakayama R et al.; gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase was purified ca . 15,200-fold from cell-free extracts of Proteus mirabilis to electrophoretic homogeneity and then crystallized . The enzyme has an estimated molecular weight of 80,000 and consists of two different subunits with molecular weights of ca . 47,000 and 28,000 . The purified enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis and transpeptidation of various gamma-glutamyl compounds, including the oxidized and reduced forms of glutathione, gamma-glutamyl compounds of L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-histidine, L-alpha-aminobutyrate, L-leucine, and p-nitroaniline . Glycylglycine, L-phenylalanine, L-methionine, L-histidine, L-tryptophan, and L-isoleucine were good acceptors of the gamma-glutamyl moiety in the transpeptidation reaction . Km values for gamma-glutamyl compounds were on the order of 10(-4) to 10(-5) M, and those for acceptor peptides and amino acids were on the order of 10(-2) to 10(-3) M . The enzyme was inhibited by L-serine plus borate and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, which are inhibitors of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidases isolated from mammals . Various amino acids alone were found to inhibit the transpeptidation competitively with a gamma-glutamyl donor . Kinetic analysis suggested that the reaction sequence of substrate binding and product release proceeds according to a ping pong bi bi mechanism.

Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1984 Oct, 62(10), 935 - 44
Characterization and spectral properties of Proteus mirabilis PR catalase; Jouve HM et al.; Purified catalase from a peroxide-resistant mutant (PR) of Proteus mirabilis displayed great similarities with the bovine liver catalase on the basis of its amino acid composition, content in prosthetic groups, and spectroscopic data . The bacterial enzyme was found to have 2.6 +/- 0.2 mol of protoheme IX per tetramer, with an equivalent amount of titrable iron atoms . The optical absorption of P . mirabilis PR catalase in the presence of various anionic species (cyanide, azide, formate) was examined . The dissociation constant of the formate-enzyme complex was determined as 60 +/- 2 mM at pH 7.5 . Inhibition and spectral shifts induced by some thiol compounds were very similar to those reported with mammalian catalase . The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra (at 9 GHz and 6 K) of bacterial catalase and its various complexes were reported . Two major different rhombic high-spin ferric signals could be seen in the g = 6 region, using either the pure enzyme or the cell crude extract . The balance between the two rhombic forms was reversibly altered by pH . Various changes in rhombicity were also observed after binding with anionic ligands . The EPR spectrum (at 40 K) of nitrosyl ferrous catalase was very similar to reported data with horse liver catalase.

J Nat Prod, 1984 Sep-Oct, 47(5), 815 - 8
Antibacterial constituents of the diatom Navicula delognei; Findlay JA et al.; The novel ester (E)-phytol (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-eicosapentaenoate++ + (1); (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-hexadecatetraenoic acid; (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatetraenoic acid; and (6Z,9Z,12Z)-hexadecatrienoic acid isolated from the diatom Navicula delognei f . elliptica, show significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Proteus vulgaris . beta-Carotene, alpha-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, lutein, trans-phytol, and plastoquinone-9 were also isolated from this diatom.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Sep, 26(3), 419 - 20
Susceptibilities of 45 clinical isolates of Proteus penneri; Fuksa M et al.; Patterns of susceptibility of 45 Proteus penneri clinical isolates to 14 antimicrobial agents were evaluated by a macrobroth dilution method . All strains were highly susceptible to ceftizoxime, ceftazidime, moxalactam, cefoxitin, gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin, and, with few exceptions, to amikacin, piperacillin, and cefoperazone . Most strains were susceptible to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone . All strains were resistant to cefazolin and cefsulodin.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1984 Sep, 27(9), 602 - 4
Audit of sepsis in operations for inflammatory bowel disease; Ambrose NS et al.; We report the results of a prospective audit of the rates of postoperative infection in patients having operations for inflammatory bowel disease . Apart from a single prospective controlled trial, all other groups have been studied sequentially using the original placebo control group for comparison . The rate of abdominal wound sepsis when no antibiotic was used was 37 per cent . This was reduced to 23.3 per cent with 24-hour cover using metronidazole and gentamicin . However, only after prolonged use of metronidazole and gentamicin for five days was there a significant reduction in abdominal wound infections to 13.3 per cent . Prophylaxis, using 24-hour cover with metronidazole combined with five-day therapy with mezlocillin, achieved an abdominal wound infection rate of 15.6 per cent . The most recent group of patients studied have received 24-hour cover with metronidazole and five-day exposure to latamoxef . In the last group the rate of abdominal wound infections was only 13.5 per cent and serious postoperative bleeding was recorded in eight patients (15 per cent) compared with serious bleeding is only three of the remaining 129 patients (2.3 per cent) . The only patients in whom streptococcal isolates were eliminated were those receiving metronidazole and mezlocillin . The majority of infections was due to antibiotic-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli, Proteus, and Staphylococcus species.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 130 ( Pt 9), 2285 - 9
A monoclonal antibody specific for the A antigen of Brucella spp; Quinn R et al.; Two murine monoclonal antibodies of the IgG3 class have been isolated after immunization with Brucella abortus . An indirect immunofluorescence test was used to screen hybridoma supernatants and subsequently to determine the cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies with other bacteria . One monoclonal antibody reacted with all the smooth Brucella biotypes tried and with Yersinia enterocolitica serogroup 0:9, though not with rough Br . ovis or with strains of Escherichia, Proteus, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Francisella and Bordetella . The other monoclonal antibody displayed a high degree of specificity for brucellae carrying the A lipopolysaccharide-protein surface antigen . The implications for the diagnosis of brucellosis are discussed.

Laryngoscope, 1984 Sep, 94(9), 1218 - 22
Nonspecific necrotizing petrositis: an unusual complication of otitis in children; Stamm AC et al.; Three cases of an unusual form of suppurative chronic otitis media in children 2 and 3 years old are presented . The clinical feature common to all cases was otorrhea, beginning at the first months of life, with a silent evolution to a complete peripheral facial paralysis . In one case the facial paralysis was bilateral . The treatment applied was surgical: subtotal petrosectomy . The surgical findings were bloody granulation tissue, sequestering completely the otic capsule . The facial nerve was destroyed almost the total length of the Fallopian canal in all cases . The histopathologic examination revealed a destructive and nonspecific chronic inflammatory process . The culture showed Gram-negative organisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis . Etiologic aspects involved in the process are discussed and the name non-specific necrotizing petrositis is suggested to individualize this rare form of otitis which, with morbidity, leads to severe complications such as facial paralysis and deafness.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1984 Sep, 37(9), 1729 - 50
{Evaluation of cefotaxime for postoperative infection in surgery}; Nakanishi Y et al.; Cefotaxime (CTX) was microbiologically and clinically studied in surgery . CTX shows excellent antibacterial activity in vitro against Gram-negative bacilli including E . coli . Klebsiella spp., and Proteus spp . in comparison with cefmetazole (CMZ) and cefazolin (CEZ) . Antibacterial activity of CTX is found to be superior to that of CEZ and equal to that of CMZ against Gram-positive bacteria (S . aureus and S . epidermidis) . The antibacterial activity of CTX against anaerobic bacteria exceeds that of CEZ and almost equal to that of CMZ . It also showed minimum inhibitory concentration values which, clinically speaking, offer great expectation . CTX is also superior to CMZ and CEZ in its antibacterial activity against P . aeruginosa . Clinical studies were carried out in the group A for which CTX was administered a drug of first choice for postoperative infections in surgery, and in the group B for which CTX was administered as a drug of second choice since the antibiotic of first choice had been ineffective for these cases . As a result, high effective rates were obtained in both groups (80.3% for the group A, and 77.1% for the group B) . With reference to the group B, an effectiveness rate of 100% was obtained for the cases in which CEZ had been ineffective and 55.6% was obtained for 10 cases in which mainly combination of CMZ had been ineffective . Side effects appeared in 3 cases (1 case each of tinnitus and malaise, vomiting and nausea, and fever) with an incidence rate of 1.46% . Abnormal clinical laboratory findings appeared in 4 cases (1 case each of leukopenia and increase in GOT and GPT; eosinophilia; increases in platelet and monocyte; and increases in GOT, GPT and A1-P) with an incidence rate of 1.95%.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1984 Sep, 37(9), 1647 - 51
{Distribution of an antibiotic (cefotiam) to the breast tissue}; Kobayashi T et al.; In order to demonstrate the distribution of an antibiotic to normal breast tissues and its penetration into the axillary wound exudate, 1 g of a new cephem antibiotic, cefotiam (CTM), was infused intravenously over 1 hour in 14 patients with breast cancer before and after mastectomy . CTM concentrations were assayed by the cylinder-plate method, using Proteus mirabilis ATCC 21100 as the test organism . Overall CTM levels in the normal breast tissues ranged from 3.6 to 27.7 micrograms/g, and 5.2 micrograms/g of CTM still remained 170 minutes after administration . No significant differences were found in CTM levels of 3 parts of the breast tissue from the same patient . Serum CTM levels rapidly declined after the end of infusion of CTM . Concentrations of CTM in axillary wound exudate after mastectomy ranged from 5.2 to 13.6 micrograms/ml at 3 hours after administration and were almost undetectable at 24 hours . It is concluded that CTM levels in breast tissues were almost the same as those in other tissues.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl B, 91 - 6
Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime on adhesion and polymorphonuclear leukocyte function with gram-negative bacteria; Bassaris HP et al.; The effect of pre-incubation of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae with subinhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime on adherence and polymorphonuclear leukocyte function against these organisms was studied . Culturing the above organisms in the presence of cefotaxime (1/4 MIC) resulted in reduced adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis . Furthermore pre-incubation of all organisms with sub MICs of cefotaxime resulted in significant enhancement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bactericidal activity against these organisms.

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 320 - 4
Pathogenicity of anaerobic gram-positive cocci; Brook I et al.; The pathogenicity of 20 strains of facultative or anaerobic gram-positive cocci (AGPC) was investigated by injecting them alone or mixed with other flora into mice, utilizing the subcutaneous abscess model . Abscesses induced by a mixture of two organisms were uniformly larger than those induced by single organisms . The relationships among seven AGPC strains, eight aerobes, and two Bacteroides spp . were determined by treating the infected animals with antibiotics and observing the effect of therapy directed against one or both organisms present in the abscess . A total of 70 different combinations were tested . As judged by their responses to antimicrobial therapy, facultative cocci or AGPC were relatively more important than the other species in 6 combinations, equally important in 35 combinations, and less important in 29 combinations . The AGPC most often found to be equal to or more important than the other bacteria were Peptococcus magnus, Streptococcus constellatus, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius . Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were frequently found to be of more importance than the AGPC.

Chemioterapia, 1984 Aug, 3(4), 262 - 6
In vitro study of the sensitivity of 1030 hospital-isolated bacterial strains to aztreonam; Grassi L Jr; The antibacterial activity in vitro of aztreonam is compared with other antibiotics on 1,030 strains isolated from pathological specimens . Its spectrum is very large, with special regard to Gram-negative bacteria . Of particular interest appears the sensitivity to aztreonam of otherwise multiresistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus rettgeri.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1984 Aug, 133(8), 45 - 9
{Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation in patients with peritonitis}; Belokurov IuN et al.; The inhibition of the formation of hypersensitivity of delayed type to staphylococcus, Proteus, blue pus bacillus and Escherichia coli was found in patients with peritonitis given complex treatment including hyperbaric oxygenation, against the background of stimulation of the antibody formation to these bacteria . The level of staphylococcal alfa-antitoxin in the blood serum remained substantially lower than that of healthy people whether the treatment included HBO or not . The data obtained show the expediency of early use of HBO in patients with peritonitis.

Ophthalmic Surg, 1984 Aug, 15(8), 661 - 5
Lens implant cyto-pathology in postoperative Proteus panophthalmitis; Wolter JR et al.; The reactive membrane on a posterior chamber lens implant removed from an eye with postoperative proteus mirabilis panophthalmitis was found to be based on a continuous proteinaceous capsule exhibiting only very few fibroblast-like cells . Diffusely arranged neutrophils exhibiting evidence of phagocytosis were attached to a delicate fiber network continuous with the processes of fibroblast-like cells . There was also pus and acellular debris loosely covering the outer surface of this capsule.

J Urol, 1984 Aug, 132(2), 365 - 6
Effect of ammonium on bacterial adherence to bladder transitional epithelium; Parsons CL et al.; The virulence of urease-producing bacteria depends on the ability of urease to degrade urea into ammonia and thereby to alkalinize the urine . Infections caused by urease-producing organisms such as Proteus mirabilis are particularly difficult to manage clinically . We have shown that the layer of glycosaminoglycans at the bladder surface protects against infection by blocking the adherence of bacteria to the epithelium . To determine whether urease-producing urinary pathogens owe their virulence in part to an ability to inactivate the protective effect of the glycosaminoglycan layer, we tested the ability of ammonium chloride to alter bacterial adherence to the normal vesical mucosa . We used an in vivo adherence assay that we have described previously in rabbits . Control animals received sodium chloride adjusted to the same pH as the ammonium chloride . We found that 0.25 M ammonium chloride significantly increases bacterial adherence to normal vesical mucosa as compared to adherence in controls receiving 0.25 M sodium chloride (p less than 0.05) . These data suggest that urease plays a hitherto undescribed role in bacterial virulence by altering the antiadherence activity of the glycosaminoglycan layer present at the transitional cell surface.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1984 Aug 1, 185(3), 277 - 81
Canine urinary tract infections: a comparison of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility test results and response to oral therapy with ampicillin or with trimethoprim-sulfa; Ling GV et al.; In vitro susceptibility testing correctly predicted the outcome of ampicillin therapy in all 56 urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and S intermedius), in all 26 UTI caused by Proteus mirabilis, in 38 of 44 UTI caused by Escherichia coli, in 29 of 31 UTI caused by Streptococcus spp, in 8 of 10 UTI caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, and in 16 of 20 UTI caused by other bacterial species . Thus, 173 of 187 (92.5%) isolates responded to ampicillin therapy in a manner predicted by in vitro susceptibility test results . In vitro susceptibility testing correctly predicted the outcome of therapy with trimethoprim-sulfa in 119 of 138 UTI caused by Escherichia coli, in 33 of 45 UTI caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, in 38 of 43 UTI caused by Proteus mirabilis, in 21 of 25 UTI caused by Streptococcus spp, in 9 of 11 UTI caused by coagulase-positive staphylococci, and in 19 of 21 UTI caused by other bacterial species . Thus, 239 of 283 (84%) isolates responded to trimethoprim-sulfa therapy in a manner predicted by in vitro susceptibility test results.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 30(8), 1046 - 51
Siderophore production by Proteus mirabilis; Evanylo LP et al.; Studies on the isolation and characterization of Proteus mirabilis siderophores provided no evidence that these bacteria synthesize catechol- or hydroxamate-type siderophores . However, gas chromatograph analysis in conjunction with mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, a previously unknown metabolite . Additional substantiating evidence for the presence of alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid in these bacteria was obtained from experiments involving the use of thin-layer chromatography and an ultraviolet absorption spectrum . This compound was found to be capable of removing iron from the synthetic chelator, ethylene-diamine-di-orthohydroxyphenyl acetic acid, and supplying that iron to the bacteria both in a solid agar medium and in a liquid medium . Proteus mirabilis was found to possess an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reaction by which alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid is converted to alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, an intermediate in the valine biosynthetic pathway.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 488 - 98
Transition of deletion mutants of the composite resistance plasmid NR1 in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium; Huffman GA et al.; Derivatives of the composite R plasmid NR1 from which a portion of the resistance determinants (r-determinants) component had been deleted were found to undergo amplification of the remaining r-determinants region in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium . The wild-type NR1 plasmid does not amplify in these genera, although all of these plasmids undergo amplification in Proteus mirabilis . The deletion mutants retained the mercuric ion resistance operon (mer) but conferred a much lower level of sulfonamide resistance than NR1 . The remaining r-determinants region, which is bounded by direct repeats of the insertion element IS1, formed multiple tandem duplications in E . coli, S . typhimurium, and P . mirabilis after subculturing the host cells in medium containing high concentrations of sulfonamide . Gene amplification was characterized by restriction endonuclease analysis, analytical buoyant density centrifugation, DNA-DNA hybridization, and sedimentation in sucrose gradients . The tandem repeats remained attached to the resistance transfer factor component of the plasmid in at least part of the plasmid population; autonomous tandem repeats of r-determinants were probably also present . Amplification did not occur in host recA mutants . Amplified strains subcultured in drug-free medium lost the amplified r-determinants . By using a strain temperature sensitive for the recA gene, it was possible to obtain gene amplification at the permissive temperature . Loss of r-determinants took place at the permissive temperature, but not at the nonpermissive temperature . The termini of the deletions of several independent mutants which conferred low sulfonamide resistance were found to be located within the adjacent streptomycin-spectinomycin resistance gene.

Mol Biol (Mosk), 1984 Jul-Aug, 18(4), 1111 - 20
{Isolation and characteristics of a temperature-sensitive plasmid pRP19.6--an RP1 derivative containing the duplicated IS21 sequence}; Danilevich VN et al.; When analysing the antibiotic resistant, temperature-independent derivatives of Proteus mirabilis cells, carrying the plasmid RP1ts12, a derivative of the latter (pRP19.6) with an elevated frequency of integration into E . coli K12 chromosome, has been isolated . The structure and properties of pRP19.6 was studied . As revealed from the data of structural and genetic analyses pRP19.6 is identical to the factor R68.45 described earlier by Haas and Holloway . Similarly to R68.45, the plasmid under study contains two copies of IS21 sequence and mobilises nonconjugative plasmid pBR325 with high efficiency . Using the temperature sensitive replication of pRP19.6, frequency of it's integration into the chromosomes of E . coli rec+ and recA- stains is determined . It is demonstrated that the clones carrying the plasmid in integrated state are Hfr-strains . The possibilities to use the temperature sensitive R68.45 like plasmid for isolation of Hfr-strains in the broad range of gram-negative bacteria and for insertional inactivation of chromosomal genes are discussed.

J R Soc Med, 1984 Jun, 77(6), 478 - 82
Bacteriological and crystallographical analysis of urinary calculi: aid to patient management; Rosenstein I et al.; In an analysis, by both crystallographic and microbiological methods, of 50 urinary calculi recently removed by surgical operation, 33 proved to be of metabolic origin (mostly calcium oxalate and some uric acid or urate) and 17 of 'infective' origin (struvite, apatite or a mixture of the two) . Metabolic stones were usually bacteriologically sterile or contained only small numbers (less than 10(3)/g of stone) of bacteria which did not produce urease, while infective stones always contained urease-producing organisms, usually Proteus mirabilis, in large numbers (greater than 10(5)/g) . The combined approach of stone analysis by crystallography and microbiological culture yields more information than conventional techniques on which to base the treatment of urinary calculi and the prevention of their recurrence.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jun, (6), 89 - 93
{Immunoenzyme method of diagnosing suppurative-septic complications due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus}; Bulava GV et al.; Two test systems, based on the inhibition of the reaction of enzyme-labeled antibodies and on the indirect reaction of enzyme-labeled antibodies, have been developed with a view to diagnosing purulent and septic complications caused by P . aeruginosa and Proteus in accordance with the results of the determination of the corresponding microbial antigens and antibodies to these antigens in the patients' blood . An increase in the levels of P . aeruginosa and Proteus antigens during the first 3 days of the development of complications and in the titers of antibodies on days 7-10 indicates that the purulent septic complication is caused by the given infective agent . A high correlation of the results obtained by bacteriological and serological diagnostic methods has been observed.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 1037 - 40
Unique developmental characteristics of the swarm and short cells of Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis; Falkinham JO 3rd et al.; Swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris could be distinguished from their short-cell counterparts by virtue of their synthesis (or lack of synthesis) of certain enzymes and outer membrane proteins . Urease synthesis was constitutive in swarm cells and uninducible in short cells . In contrast, phenylalanine deaminase was inducible in both short and swarm cells, demonstrating that transcriptional and translational processes were functional . During swarm cell development, the amount of one outer membrane protein (45 kilodaltons) fell and the amounts of two others (50 and 28.3 kilodaltons) rose significantly, the level of cytochrome b decreased, and the synthesis of cytochromes a and d were repressed . Respiratory activities of swarm cells were greatly diminished, suggesting that energy for swarming came from fermentation rather than from respiration . Widespread changes in the pattern of enzyme activities, in cytochrome composition, and in the composition and type of outer membrane proteins suggest that they are due to transcriptional regulation.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 Jun, 32(5 Pt 2), 496 - 500
{Effect of the amoxicillin-gentamicin combination in the presence of clavulanic acid on 8 strains of amoxicillin-resistant bacteria}; Deforges L et al.; The in vitro inhibitory activity of a combination of amoxicillin and gentamicin was assayed by the microdilution technique in liquid medium on 8 amoxicillin-resistant strains, with the addition of clavulanic acid at a concentration of 4 micrograms/ml . A synergistic effect was demonstrated when clavulanic acid was added . The FIC index was particularly low for the 2 Staphylococcus aureus strains tested (0.19 and 0.25), and slightly higher for the 2 Escherichia coli (0.25 and 0.5) and 2 Proteus vulgaris (0.5 and 0.5) strains . Synergism was less apparent for the 2 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains tested (0.63 and 0.75) . Without clavulanic acid, a synergistic effect was found on only three strains: one Staphylococcus aureus, one Klebsiella and one Proteus . However, the high levels of MICs at which these effects were observed preclude the clinical usefulness of the association . We conclude that the synergistic effect of the amoxicillin-gentamicin combination on susceptible strains is confirmed on amoxicillin-resistant strains when clavulanic acid is added.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1984 Jun, 43(3), 435 - 9
Enhanced bacterial phagocytosis by peripheral blood monocytes in rheumatoid arthritis; Steven MM et al.; To assess the functional state of peripheral blood monocytes in rheumatoid arthritis, we have measured phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis in 48 patients and 28 controls . Using radiolabelled bacteria preopsonised in normal human serum we have demonstrated significantly enhanced uptake of both organisms by patients' monocytes: (Median % uptake Staph . aureus: patients = 35.8; controls = 19.3; p less than 0.001 . Median % uptake P . mirabilis: patients = 32.3; controls = 19.8; p less than 0.01.) These results indicate that patients' monocytes exist in an activated state, which may be important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1984 Jun, 102(6), 923 - 5
Ceftazidime concentrations in human aqueous humor; Axelrod JL et al.; Two grams of ceftazidime was given to 25 patients before cataract surgery . Mean aqueous humor concentrations of 2.8, 3.2, 3.39, and 1.94 micrograms/mL were observed 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours, respectively, after administration of the drug . These concentrations are many times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ceftazidime against 90% ( MIC90 ) of isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Proteus mirabilis, and indole-positive Proteus sp . The peak aqueous humor level was also equivalent to or slightly higher than the MIC90 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 17(3), 259 - 71
The effect of capsular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis on polymorph function and serum killing; Connolly JC et al.; The determinant responsible for the ability of Bacteroides spp . to inhibit polymorph phagocytic killing of aerobic organisms has not yet been identified . Therefore, the roles of lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide of B . fragilis were investigated . Serum-resistant and serum-sensitive strains of Proteus mirabilis were used to indicate inhibition of phagocytic killing and serum killing of aerobes . Whole organisms of B . fragilis, purified lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide were added to an in-vitro phagocytosis system . Results showed that greater than 10(7) bacteroides/ml inhibited both serum and phagocytic killing . Concentrations below 10(7)/ml had little effect on either process . Purified capsular polysaccharide (10 or 100 micrograms/ml), either alone in the system or in combination with sub-inhibitory concentrations of B . fragilis also markedly inhibited serum and phagocytic killing . Lipopolysaccharide (9 micrograms/ml) appeared relatively inert . B . ovatus, reputedly non-capsulated, produced identical results to those obtained with B . fragilis, but an encapsulated strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae did not inhibit serum or phagocytic killing.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Jun, 149(6), 935 - 41
Low levels of functional of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in the promotion of C3-cleavage by granulocyte-neutral proteases in pleural empyema; Suter S et al.; It has been suggested that C3 breakdown by granulocyte-neutral proteases in pleural empyemas may be related to a decreased inhibitor potential for these enzymes . In the present study it was shown that in 17 infected pleural effusions, high proteolytic activity on 125I-labeled C3 (16.3% +/- 4.4%) correlated with low functional levels of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), as determined by trypsin-inhibitory capacity (56.2 +/- 20.1 IU/ml; rs = -0.97, P less than .001), whereas in 18 sterile pleural effusions there was no such correlation (125I-labeled C3 cleavage, 2.2% +/- .2%; trypsin-inhibitory capacity, 192.6 +/- 26.7 IU/ml) . However, alpha 1-PI and alpha 2-macroglobulin protein concentrations in infected and sterile effusions (as measured by immunodiffusion) were similar . Fifteen strains of three bacterial species--Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis--isolated from patients with pneumonia or empyema inactivated the elastase-inhibitory capacity of alpha 1-PI in vitro . These results show that in empyemas functional levels of alpha 1-PI were too low to inactivate granulocyte elastase and that some bacterial species may contribute to the low inhibitor potential of infected pleural fluid by direct alpha 1-PI inactivation.

J Exp Zool, 1984 May, 230(2), 211 - 8
ATP and the autonomy of the contractile vacuole in Amoeba proteus; Pothier F et al.; Contractile vacuole function in amoebae treated with immobilizing (5 mM) and nonimmobilizing (0.125 mM) concentrations of ATP has been studied . In ATP-immobilized amoebae, most vacuolar parameters are accelerated, especially the rate of output which passes from 30 to 70 micron3/sec . This favors the concept of an autonomous vacuole, fully functional in the absence of any bulk contribution to it from remote points of the cell . A lower concentration of ATP (0.125 mM), which does not inhibit movement, causes a still greater acceleration of vacuolar function . Work is in progress to elucidate the site and mode of action of exogenous ATP on Amoeba.

Urologe A, 1984 May, 23(3), 130 - 3
{Current status of determining bacteria and resistance in urinary tract infections}; Ritzerfeld W et al.; A total of 5.584 bacterial strains of different species from urine samples of various University clinics were isolated in 1983 . These were tested with regard to their susceptability towards antibacterial substances . E . coli was the most common rod bacteria isolated, followed by Proteus species, Klebsiella und Pseudomonas . Staphylococci and Enterococci were found relatively frequently . A list was set up concerning the resistance pattern of the most important gram-negative rod bacteria toward four penicillin- and three cephalosporin derivatives as well as towards gentamicin and three chemotherapeutics in a stricter sense . For the first substance group mezlocillin supplied the best results . In the second group cefotaxime was most effective . More unfavorable on the whole were the results of the three chemotherapeutics . Enterococci were inhibited most by azlocillin, mezlocillin, ampicillin and nalidixic-acid . Cefsulodin as a special Pseudomonas cephalosporin showed strong activity towards this bacterial species.

Eur J Cell Biol, 1984 May, 34(1), 60 - 3
{Observation of filaments of 10nm in the demembraned cytoplasm of Amoeba proteus}; Paulin-Levasseur M et al.; We report here the first observation of 10 nm filaments in a protozoan, Amoeba proteus . These intermediate sized filaments were observed in spread cytoplasmic preparations of amoeba as stable cytoplasmic components over a wide range of pH (5.0-9.0) . Although their morphology is grossly similar to the vertebrate intermediate filaments by negative staining, the filaments of amoeba show a characteristic helical structure with a 25 nm axial periodicity and do not display fibrillar projection along their length or at their extremity.

Ann Urol (Paris), 1984 May, 18(3), 165 - 8
{Coralliform lithiasis in children . Apropos of 20 case reports}; Bourdelat D et al.; The authors recall the characteristics of infantile staghorn calculus, in relation to twenty personal cases . The complaint is more frequently encountered in boys than in girls . A frequent etiology is proteus urinary infection . The morphology of the staghorn and the state of the parenchyma are determining factors in the treatment . A sinusoid morphology and thickness of the renal parenchyma are operative indications . The bivalving operation is exceptional . Results are generally satisfactory (80% of cases), and recurrences are rare.

An Esp Pediatr, 1984 May, 20(8), 777 - 82
{Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in childhood: analysis of 4 cases}; Vazquez Martul M et al.; A critical retrospective evaluation of four cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XPG) treated between 1966 and 1980 . Incidence was 1.93% . Age range was from 1.5 and 24 months . Interval since first symptoms to diagnosis was between one and 14 months . Clinical presentation was nonspecific in two and urinary symptoms in the rest, abdominal mass present in all, the fourth had an onset similar to an acute leucosis . There were was a grossly dilated pelvis and calices in two patients and nonfunctioning kidney in the others, one with multiple calculi . Ureteral stenosis was present in two and three showed a vesiureteral reflux grade IV . Urinculture yielded E . coli and Proteus mirabilis . In all cases diagnosis was confirmed by macro and microscopic examination . Nephrectomy was effectively cure in all four children . All patients are well at the end of follow-up, between one and four years.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 May, 257(1), 83 - 92
Toxinogenic potential of Proteus mirabilis strains; Hostacka A et al.; Live bacterial suspensions, original as well as concentrated filtrates of Proteus mirabilis cultures caused positive reaction in the rapid skin test (vascular permeability reaction) and also in the delayed test (combination of haemorrhagic reaction, dilatation of vessels and induration) as well as in the test of mice-foot edema . The test on suckling mice did not prove the presence of thermostable enterotoxin . After separating the concentrated culture filtrates the biologic activity appeared in fraction 1 (relative molecular mass over 100 000) concerning the delayed skin test and in the fraction 2 (relative molecular mass approx . 40 000) in the rapid skin test . The activity localized in the fraction 1 can be ascribed to a lipopolysaccharide . The fraction 2 with an expressed activity in the rapid skin test showed also cytotoxic and proteolytic activity . In both fractions the presence of active antigen substances with different mobility and different antigen specificity was demonstrated.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 May, 25(5), 607 - 11
Synergistic antibacterial activity between L-norvalyl-L-1-aminoethylphosphonic acid and nocardicin A; Angehrn P et al.; The phosphonopeptide L- norvalyl -L-1- aminoethylphosphonic acid { Nva -Ala(P)} has been studied in combination with 12 beta-lactam antibiotics for activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Nocardicin A was found to give the most potent synergistic combination with Nva -Ala(P) . This interaction was widely observed in clinical isolates of P . aeruginosa in vitro and in a mouse septicemia model . Synergy was also observed in vitro and in vivo in several other species, including Proteus mirabilis, indole-positive Proteus spp., and Serratia marcescens . The interaction between Nva -Ala(P) and nocardicin A involved a strongly bacteriolytic mechanism . In addition, the individual components were complementary to one another in their action against organisms not showing synergy . These properties resulted in a broad spectrum of activity of the combination Nva -Ala(P) plus nocardicin A when used to treat experimental gram-negative bacterial infections.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 446 - 9
{Clinical evaluation of azthreonam in severe urinary tract infections}; Guibert J et al.; Azthreonam, the first monobactam, was given to 40 patients with urinary tract infection . Patients included 27 females, aged 17 to 77 years . UTI was complicated cystitis in 10 patients, pyelonephritis in 11, and prostatitis in 19 . The following bacteria were recovered from urine: 12 E . coli, 1 Levinea , 3 Proteus mirabilis, 7 Klebsiella, 14 Serratia and 14 Pseudomonas . MICs of azthreonam ranged from 0.0035 to 16 micrograms/ml (mean 0.12 microgram/ml) . Azthreonam was given intramuscularly, as monotherapy, in a daily dosage of 2 g, in two divided doses, for 10 to 29 days (mean: 28 days) . Follow-up was at least 4 weeks after completion of treatment . Therapeutic results were as follows: 8 cures and 2 failures by relapse in 10 cystitis , 6 cures and 5 failures by relapse in 11 pyelonephritis , and 12 cures and 7 failures by relapse in 19 prostatitis . General and local tolerance were excellent . There were no hematologic or renal side effects . Transaminases SGOT and especially SGPT increased transiently in 7 patients and returned to normal after treatment was discontinued; premature withdrawal was needed in only one case.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 19(4), 541 - 2
Proteus penneri and urinary calculi formation; Krajden S et al.; The clinical significance of Proteus penneri, a newly described species, is unknown . A case report is presented, which is to the best of our knowledge the first description of this organism causing a urinary tract infection and bladder calculi.

J Cell Biol, 1984 Apr, 98(4), 1481 - 7
Disassembly and reconstitution of a membrane-microtubule complex; Murray JM; The cell membrane of the unicellular algae Distigma proteus is associated with arrays of parallel microtubules . Fragments of the membrane-microtubule complex have been isolated and partially purified . The microtubules were stable in vitro at room temperature as well as at 0 degree C, but were specifically and rapidly disassembled by Ca2+ . After removal of all endogenous microtubules, the membrane-microtubule complex could be reassembled from brain microtubule protein and denuded Distigma membrane fragments . The readded microtubules bound in a fixed orientation, and only to those regions of membrane that are normally associated with microtubules in vivo.

Chemioterapia, 1984 Apr, 3(2), 127 - 31
Aztreonam versus cefamandole in the treatment of urinary tract infections; Giamarellou H et al.; The in vivo efficacy and safety of aztreonam compared to that of cefamandole was randomly and prospectively studied in the treatment of 30 patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections with a patient ratio of 2 aztreonam to 1 cefamandole . The mean age was 51.6 +/- 15.4 and 59.8 +/- 13 years respectively . Both antibiotics were given at a dose of 1 g, 8 hourly i.m . for 7-13 days . Sixty-seven percent versus 70% of the patients given aztreonam and cefamandole respectively were suffering from upper urinary tract infections . X ray abnormalities predisposing to relapse or reinfections were present in 88% vs 80% of the patients, while all patients had typical symptoms of urinary tract infections, with high fever (greater than or equal to 38.5 degrees C) reported in 70% and 60% of the patients in the two treatment groups respectively . Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were the predominant isolates in urine cultures . During treatment all patients responded favourably both clinically and bacteriologically, while after a 6-week follow-up 20% versus 30% relapsed clinically with 15% vs 30% bacteriologic relapses in the two groups, but only in patients suffering from upper urinary tract infections . No development of bacterial resistance was observed in the relapses, while mainly Enterococcus spp was implicated in reinfections . No appreciable side effects of toxicity were observed . It was concluded that aztreonam is a promising new antibiotic that deserves further clinical trials in systemic infections.

Hinyokika Kiyo, 1984 Apr, 30(4), 479 - 87
{Bacteriological and architectural studies of infected stones}; Takeuchi H et al.; The stones associated with urinary tract infection were cultured using a method to distinguish between surface contamination and bacteria within the stone . Twenty three of 30 stones (77%) were infected mainly by Proteus mirabilis or Pseudomonas aeruginosa and most were composed of struvite and/or apatite . Most oxalate and uric acid stones were sterile; occasionally the stones with positive culture had a non-urea-splitting bacteria and these were thought to have been infected secondarily . Some infected stones were studied by light microscopy scanning election microscopy and transmission electron microscopy . We found many rods in the interstices of crystals of struvite and apatite extensively from the nucleus to peripheral layers . These findings are important in the prevention and treatment of infection stones.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 56(2), 283 - 94
The uptake and utilization of Entodinium caudatum, bacteria, free amino acids and glucose by the rumen ciliate Entodinium bursa; Coleman GS et al.; Washed suspensions of Entodinium bursa were incubated anaerobically with Entodinium caudatum, ten species of bacteria and a yeast . The rate of uptake and digestion of these micro-organisms was investigated . Protozoa grown in vivo did not engulf Proteus mirabilis or Klebsiella aerogenes but rapidly took up Bacillus megaterium . Selenomonas ruminantium, Torulopsis glabrata and Streptococcus bovis, although only the last was digested with release of soluble material into the medium . Protozoa grown in vitro engulfed each of the bacteria tested, taking up Megasphaera elsdenii and Proteus mirabilis most rapidly . Individual bacterial species and mixed rumen bacteria were engulfed more rapidly (up to 20 times) by protozoa grown in vivo than those grown in vitro, although the latter digested over 80% of the B . megaterium, Escherichia coli and P . mirabilis taken up . Labelled Ent . caudatum was extensively digested after engulfment by Ent . bursa . Some of the digestion products were released into the medium but individual amino acids were transferred as such from Ent . caudatum protein to Ent . bursa protein . Engulfed bacteria and polysaccharide granules were transferred intact from one protozoon to the other . Free amino acids were also taken up intact from the medium into protozoal protein but there was little biosynthesis of amino acids from glucose . When available for engulfment Ent . caudatum was quantitatively a much more valuable source of amino acids for protein synthesis by Ent . bursa than free amino acids or bacteria.

Med Trop (Mars), 1984 Apr-Jun, 44(2), 137 - 42
{Proteus septicemias . Apropos of 4 cases}; Leniaud P et al.; The authors record four cases of septicemia caused by Proteus, observed at the "Hopital Girard et Robic" resuscitation department, in Tananarive, Madagascar . The patients were young and free from visceral disorders . The first case was a post-abortum etiology with a myocardial clinical picture . The second case also was a post-abortum etiology . The course led to the septic shock and to the death . The starting point of the third case was the urinary system, following upon the removal of an urinary obstruction due to post-operative anuresis . In the fourth case, the focus was urinary with a pulmonary clinical picture . The course led to the septic shock and to the death . In all instances, the germ showed sensitivity to amikacin and to the third-generation cephalosporins . The clinical course that led to the septic shock had deeply entailed the prognosis of these septicemias.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Apr, 29(4), 272 - 5
{Response to antibiotics of Proteus strains isolated from different types of clinical material}; Ovetchin PV et al.; The data on the study of the antibiotic response to 42 Proteus strains isolated from different sources in the hospitals of Kharkov are presented . The isolates belonged to P . mirabilis and P . vulgaris . Many strains were resistant to gentamicin, ampicillin and carbenicillin irrespective of the isolation source . 58.0 and 90.3 per cent of the strains isolated from patients with intestinal infections, 66.6 and 100 per cent of the strains isolated from patients with otitis, 33.3 and 66.6 per cent of the strains isolated from patients with bronchopulmonary affections and 100 and 100 per cent of the strains isolated from patients with urological diseases were resistant to gentamicin and carbenicillin, respectively . As for ampicillin, the respective figures were 74.2, 66.6, 66.6 and 100 per cent . All the strains of P . vulgaris isolated from patients with otitis, urological diseases and bronchopulmonary affections were resistant to ampicillin . The MIC of carbenicillin for all the strains except 4 indole-positive strains of P . vulgaris isolated from the faeces and bronchial excreta was much higher than the borderline values.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Apr, 29(4), 263 - 71
{Resistance to antibiotics of Proteus strains from various sources}; Korneva EP et al.; To show the distribution level of antibiotic resistant strains of Proteus and determine the identity of the strains of different origin, i.e . those isolated from humans, animals and environment, the sensitivity of 1084 strains of P . mirabilis and P . vulgaris to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, monomycin, ampicillin, kanamycin, gentamicin and rondomycin was studied with the method of serial dilutions in agar . 964 of them belonged to 28 O-antigen serogroups . Comparative analysis of the data showed that the strains resistant to the above antibiotics were present in all the Proteus groups studied . However, their frequency was different and depended on the antibiotic type and the serological group and origin of the strain . All the strains were resistant to chloramphenicol, while the number of the strains resistant to gentamicin was minimum and did not depend on their origin . The frequency of the rondomycin resistant strains among the isolates from the environment of the agricultural farms was significantly lower . The frequency of the strains resistant to kanamycin, streptomycin and monomycin was significantly higher among the isolates from humans . The difference in the Proteus strains of serogroups 03 and 041, as well as the other serogroups by the detection frequency and resistance to some antibiotics and the portion of the strains of the 4 resistant types or spectra was shown to be significant.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Apr, 47(4), 653 - 7
Leakage of glutathione from bacterial cells caused by inhibition of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase; Nakayama R et al.; Glutathione leaked from cells of Proteus mirabilis grown in medium containing an inhibitor of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase . In medium containing 100 mM L-serine and borate, up to 300 microM glutathione accumulated . L-Serine in the medium was consumed during the logarithmic phase of growth, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity was restored, and glutathione decreased in the medium . In the presence of 2 mM 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, cells increased normally, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase was inhibited completely, and the maximum concentration of glutathione which accumulated in the medium was 20 microM . The glutathione content of cells rose before leakage began . Glutathione leaked from intact cells of other bacteria, although to a lesser extent than was seen with P . mirabilis.

Presse Med, 1984 Mar 29, 13(13), 834 - 7
{Use of azlocillin in the treatment of Pseudomonas bronchopulmonary infections}; Arnaud A et al.; Eleven patients with severe bronchopulmonary infection due to Pseudomonas were treated with azlocillin in doses of 250 mg/kg/day . Severe preexisting respiratory diseases, such as bronchopulmonary carcinoma, bronchiectasis or respiratory insufficiency were present in all cases . All patients had been unsuccessfully treated with various antibiotics before they received azlocillin . The pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed by germ counts in sputum . Comparative in vitro sensitivities to carbenicillin and azlocillin were determined by the disc method and by measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentrations in liquid medium . All strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated were sensitive to azlocillin with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.5 to 64 micrograms/ml . When tested against carbenicillin, 4 of the strains were resistant and 1 had intermediate sensitivity . The carbenicillin/azlocillin minimum inhibitory concentrations ratio was usually equal to 4 . Clinical results were satisfactory in 7 cases; inadequate response or failure was observed in 4 cases and attributed to the replacement of Pseudomonas by another pathogen (Proteus morganii or Klebsiella pneumoniae) . This study suggests that azlocillin is of value in the treatment of bronchopulmonary infections caused by Ps . aeruginosa.

Am J Med Sci, 1984 Mar-Apr, 287(2), 21 - 5
In vitro and clinical evaluation of ceforanide; Lefrock JL et al.; Ceforanide, a new cephalosporin antibiotic with a long half-life (three hours), was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity, pharmacology, and clinical efficacy . Fifty-two patients with 56 infections due to susceptible organisms received ceforanide, 0.5 g, 1 g, or 2 g, intramuscularly or intravenously every 12 hours for four to 60 days (average: 14.1 days) . The in vitro studies of our clinical isolates showed that 12.0 micrograms/ml or less of ceforanide inhibited all Streptococcus pneumoniae, beta hemolytic streptococci group A, B, F, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Hemophilus influenzae . After a 1 gram intramuscular dose, the mean peak serum concentration at one hour was 44.0 micrograms/ml, and at 12 hours was 3.8 micrograms/ml . After a 1 gram intravenous dose, the mean peak serum concentration was 65.0 micrograms/ml, and the mean trough serum concentration at 12 hours was 9.6 micrograms/ml . The infections treated included ten pneumonias, ten urinary tract infections, seven bacteremias, two osteomyelitis, and 35 skin-soft tissue infections . Of the 56 evaluable infections treated, 52 had a clinical cure with only four failures . Ceforanide was well tolerated, with no patients developing thrombophlebitis, or liver or renal abnormalities . Three patients developed abnormal Coombs' reactions and one had diarrhea.

Antibiotiki, 1984 Mar, 29(3), 182 - 4
{Screening of effective agents for decreasing microorganism resistance to antibiotics}; Klimniuk SI; The effect of bile acids on antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus, Proteus, E . coli and Ps . aeruginosa isolated from patients with different purulent inflammatory processes was studied . It was shown in vitro that glycocholic and deoxycholic acids lowered the resistance of the above microorganisms to some antibiotics . The exposure of the staphylococcal strains to deoxycholic or glycocholic acid lowered their resistance to streptomycin, neomycin and kanamycin on the average by 75-150, 125-500 and 55-60 times, respectively . The same tendency was observed in the penicillin and erythromycin resistant strains . A 2-hour incubation of E . coli strains in the presence of glycocholic or deoxycholic acid resulted in a decrease in the MIC of polymyxin B from 312.5 to 1.6 or 3.2 micrograms/ml, respectively . These acids increased bacterial sensitivity to streptomycin, chloramphenicol and neomycin by 8-16, 10-20 and 40-80 times, respectively . The effect of the bile acids on the resistant strains of E . coli and Proteus was less pronounced . It was shown that glycocholic and deoxycholic acids were able to inhibit the activity of staphylococcal beta-lactamase.

No Shinkei Geka, 1984 Mar, 12(3 Suppl), 395 - 400
{Proteus mirabilis brain abscess in a neonate}; Okubo T et al.; A case of neonatal brain abscess was reported . This female infant was born by spontaneous vertex delivery at 38 weeks gestation, weighing 3.1 kg . There were no antenatal and perinatal complications . The Apgar's score was 8 points and her head was 32.8 cm in circumference . Fifty-six hours after birth, she had a clonic general convulsion for about 3 minutes . On the next morning, convulsion recurred, and she was transferred to our hospital . When admitted to the Pediatrics, she was exhausted and irritable . But after hospitalization, she improved without convulsions . CT scan, performed 7 days after birth, revealed large low density areas in both frontal lobes . Electroencephalography showed spike discharge at all leads . The head circumference gradually increased and subsequent CT scans revealed enlargement of the bifrontal low density areas . The first operation was done 28 days after birth . A large amount of yellowish grey pus was aspirated from both sides and the cavity was irrigated . Tobramycin was administered into the abscess cavity.Culture of the pus grew proteus mirabilis . The postoperative conditions were good . But two weeks later her head started to enlarge with the bulging fontanelle . CT scan revealed marked dilation of the ventricles and enlargement of the left frontal abscess . At 2 months of age, second operation was done . Left frontal abscess was punctured and serous pus was aspirated . Proteus mirabilis was cultured again from the pus . Tobramycin was administered into the cavity via the drainage tube every day for a week . As the content of the abscess cavity became clear, V-P shunt and cyst-peritoneal shunt were performed . After shunting procedure, the increase of head circumference stopped and the fontanelle became flat and soft.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Infection, 1984 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 68 - 71
A comparison of the Api-10M commercial microdilution system with the tube dilution and standard microdilution methods; Papapetropoulou M et al.; The susceptibilities of urinary isolates of Escherichia coli (50 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15 strains) and Proteus mirabilis (15 strains) to gentamicin and ampicillin were determined and compared using the following methods: standard tube dilution, standard microdilution, commercial microdilution and disk diffusion susceptibility tests . Results of susceptibility testing performed with the Api- 10M commercial microdilution method agreed with those of the tube dilution method in 93% of the tests, but in only 70% of those obtained with the standard microdilution method; tube dilution and standard microdilution agreed in 85.6% of the cases . All three methods of MIC susceptibility testing agreed with the disk diffusion method in 100% of the tests . There was a definite tendency for the Api- 10M system to give higher MICs than the tube dilution method; the standard microdilution method tended to give lower MICs than those obtained by tube dilution and the commercial microdilution system . The Api- 10M system is a reliable, simple and accurate method since it correlates very will with the tube dilution method.

Radiobiologiia, 1984 Mar-Apr, 24(2), 246 - 9
{Gamma-radiation sensitivity of bacterial intergeneric conjugants Vibrio cholerae biotype Proteus X Serratia marcescens}; Sokurova EN et al.; It was shown that among intergeneric conjugants of Vibrio cholerae biotype proteus (a donor) X Serratia marcescens (a recipient), growing in a medium with two antibiotics, most of the clones are similar, in their sensitivity to gamma-radiation, to the recipient or only differ in their higher radioresistance . There are some clones with higher radiosensitivity.

Cutis, 1984 Mar, 33(3), 313 - 5, 319
Ceforanide compared with cefazolin in skin and soft tissue infections; Parish LC et al.; The response of serious skin and skin structure infections to ceforanide 1 gm every twelve hours or cefazolin 1 gm every eight hours was evaluated in ninety-six patients hospitalized for treatment . Most of the patients had decubitus ulcers; predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis . Ceforanide produced a satisfactory clinical response in 89 percent (forty-eight of fifty-four) of the patients evaluated and eradicated 90 percent (seventy-four of eighty-two) of the pathogens . Although the clinical response of forty-two cefazolin-treated patients was similar (satisfactory response in 86 percent, thirty-six patients), only 81 percent (forty-eight of fifty-nine) of the pathogens were eradicated . Both ceforanide and cefazolin were very well tolerated systemically and locally.

Am J Med Sci, 1984 Mar-Apr, 287(2), 43 - 5
Parenteral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for gram-negative bacillary meningitis; McConville JH et al.; Three adults with gram-negative bacillary meningitis were treated with an intravenous preparation of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole . This therapy sterilized the cerebrospinal fluid in each case . The infections occurred as complications of neurosurgery, trauma and chronic otitis media . Serratia marcescens was the causative organism in two patients and Proteus vulgaris in the third . The infecting organism was eradicated within three to 17 days of beginning intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole . Followup CSF cultures after completing therapy were sterile . These cases suggest intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole may be effective treatment for some cases of gram negative bacillary meningitis.

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