Infect Immun, 1984 Mar, 43(3), 1068 - 71 Vero cell invasiveness of Proteus mirabilis; Peerbooms PG et al.; Vero cell invasiveness was studied for a group of Proteus mirabilis strains isolated from the urinary tract and feces and for a limited group of urinary isolates of Escherichia coli . Experimental conditions affecting this invasiveness were studied . All of the P . mirabilis strains tested were capable of cell invasion, whereas none of the E . coli strains was . Correlation between the hemolytic activity of the P . mirabilis strains and their invasive ability suggested that the bacterial hemolysin may be involved in the invasion process . Other experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis is discussed . The differences in the invasive capacities of P . mirabilis and of E . coli may be important for the apparent differences in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection by both species. Jpn J Antibiot, 1984 Mar, 37(3), 295 - 302 {Transfer of cefmenoxime to burn blister fluids}; Nishizaki A et al.; Transfer of cefmenoxime (CMX) into the burn blister fluids was studied in 10 burned patients with 2 administrated doses (25, 50 mg/kg) . CMX concentrations in serum and burn blister fluid after 1 hour intravenous drip infusion were measured using Proteus mirabilis ATCC 21100 as the test organism grown in the DST agar medium . In the case of CMX 25 mg/kg dose, the peak serum concentration was observed 61.5 micrograms/ml at 1 hour, while the peak burn blister fluid concentration was observed 15.2 micrograms/ml at 2 hours . Pharmacokinetic parameters of serum concentration calculated were 1.02 hours as half-life (beta) and 0.42 L/kg as distribution volume, respectively . In the case of CMX 50 mg/kg dose, the peak serum concentration was observed 122.0 micrograms/ml at 1 hour and the peak burn blister fluid concentration was observed 40.8 micrograms/ml at 2 hours . Pharmacokinetic parameters of serum concentration calculated were 1.27 hours as half-life (beta) and 0.55 L/kg as distribution volume . From this study, the dose dependency between 25 mg/kg dose and 50 mg/kg dose in serum and in burn blister fluid is recognized. J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Mar, 130 ( Pt 3), 693 - 700 Proteus mirabilis chromosome mobilization by plasmid D: a physical characterization; van Dijken MC et al.; Plasmid D, a hybrid of plasmids P-lac and R1 drd19, mediates polarized chromosome mobilization from one origin in Proteus mirabilis strain PM5006, while the parental plasmids neither individually nor combined mobilize this chromosome . To elucidate its acquired mobilizing ability plasmid D was characterized physically in relation to P-lac and R1 drd19 . Restriction patterns of these plasmids were compared and it was shown that D consists of P-lac and only the r-determinant (r-det) of R1 drd19 . A mechanism for the formation of plasmid D, via transduction of the r-det and subsequent transposon-like integration into P-lac, involving insertion sequence IS1, was suggested . Evidence for aberration in plasmid D DNA as a result of r-det integration into P-lac was attributed to IS1 elements which flank the r-det . Recombination regions of parental plasmid DNA were located on HindIII fragments alpha and beta of plasmid D and were subsequently inserted in vitro into IncP-1 plasmid RP4 that fails to mobilize the P . mirabilis chromosome . RP4::HindIII alpha plasmids did not mobilize the latter chromosome, but rendered the Proteus host lac+ . RP4::HindIII beta plasmids pMC1 and pMC17, containing the fragment in opposite orientations, mobilized the P . mirabilis chromsome . For pMC17, mobilization was indistinguishable from that of plasmid D, i.e . having the same orientation and the same single origin . However, mobilization promoted by pMC1 was from two distinctly different origins, different from that of pMC17 . This apparently deviates from known examples where inversion of homologous DNA inserted into plasmids leads to mobilization from the same origin but in reverse direction. J Hosp Infect, 1984 Mar, 5(1), 92 - 5 The use of the Dienes test in the epidemiology of proteus urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord disease; Herruzo-Cabrera R et al.; The incidence of urinary tract infections in 47 patients with spinal cord injuries (11 women and 36 men) was studied and the aetiological agents identified . A high incidence of Proteus mirabilis infection was found and both auto- and cross-infection were identified by the Dienes test. Cell Biol Int Rep, 1984 Mar, 8(3), 207 - 13 Preservation and phallotoxin-staining of the microfilament system in Amoeba proteus; Stockem W et al.; The spatial organization of the microfilament system as the main component of the cytoskeleton in Amoeba proteus was preserved by a glutaraldehyde-lysine-fixation and visualized with fluorescent phallotoxins (NBD- phallacidin , R-phalloidin) . Results obtained by means of this method coincide exactly with observations gained from immunocytochemical, ultrastructural and molecular cytochemical studies, i.e., the microfilament system is mainly displayed beneath the cell membrane, at the hyalo - granuloplasmic border and around the cell nucleus . The preparation procedure employed is suitable for the rapid demonstration of cytoplasmic microfilaments in cells difficult to preserve by chemical fixation. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1984 Feb, 30(2), 191 - 8 {A bacteriological study on urinary calculi associated with infections}; Yoshida O et al.; There are difficult problems in the management of urinary calculi associated with infections . Stones associated with infections are not only infection stones such as struvite stones, but also other kinds of stones such as calcium oxalate . Therefore, from practical view points, bacteriological studies should be carried out on urinary calculi associated with infections as a whole . We investigated 120 cases of urinary calculi associated with infections with special reference to bacteria on the stone surface, within the stone, compositions of the stone and permeation of an antibiotic into the stone . Proteus was isolated most frequently from the urine, followed by E . coli and Pseudomonas . These bacteria were isolated from the stone surface, although the incidence of Proteus mirabilis was higher than that in the urine . Bacteria were isolated in 25 of the 33 specimens of the inside parts and in 12 of the 12 stones of MAP and MAP plus other components . Proteus mirabilis was found in 7 of the 12 stones . Bacteria were isolated from the inside of 9 of the 16 stones of CaP and CaP plus other components and Proteus mirabilis was found in 6 of these 9 cases . Pseudomonas was isolated in 2 out of the 7 stones of CaP plus CaOX and its growth was seen in 5 specimens . The incorporation of an antibiotic, Cefmetazole, into the stone differed greatly with each stone . There were some cases in which the concentration of Cefmetazole in the inside was less than 5% of that in the outside . Stones may function as a sanctuary for organisms and may protect these organisms. J Urol, 1984 Feb, 131(2), 330 - 1 Hyperammonemia in a boy with obstructive ureterocele and proteus infection; Sinha B et al.; We report on a boy with ureteroceles that obstructed the bladder outlet and ureters, who presented with sepsis and hyperammonemia despite normal liver function . The hyperammonemia was most likely caused by excessive absorption of ammonia produced by Proteus mirabilis in the obstructed urinary tract. Ann Intern Med, 1984 Feb, 100(2), 219 - 22 Five-year surveillance of aminoglycoside usage in a university hospital; Betts RF et al.; Because an increased incidence of nosocomial bacteremia due to gentamicin-resistant organisms occurred in our hospital, amikacin was substituted for gentamicin as the primary empiric aminoglycoside . Prospective surveillance of aminoglycoside use and of bacterial resistance to aminoglycosides was done before and after the substitution . We compared the baseline period when gentamicin was the primary aminoglycoside with the subsequent period when amikacin accounted for 81% of aminoglycoside used . During the two periods the patient population did not differ with regard to indications for aminoglycoside therapy . Among the gram-negative organisms isolated, rates of amikacin resistance during the baseline (1.1%) and usage (1.05%) periods were not significantly different (p greater than 0.6) . Resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin during the period of amikacin use showed a statistically significant decrease (p greater than 0.001) due to decreased resistance to gentamicin of Providencia, Serratia, indole-positive Proteus, and decreased resistance to tobramycin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Unrestricted use of amikacin does not necessarily lead to increase in amikacin resistance but may lead to a decrease in resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin among gram-negative organisms. Arch Surg, 1984 Feb, 119(2), 206 - 11 Topical chlorhexidine diphosphanilate (WP-973) in burn wound sepsis; McManus AT et al.; We studied the diphosphanilate salt of chlorhexidine (WP-973), as a 2% cream, for therapeutic activity in two rat models of fatal burn wound infection . Control treatments were infection and placebo cream; infection only; infection and 1% sulfadiazine silver; and burning only . Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Proteus mirabilis was tested in surface-inoculated rats with 20% scalds . Treatments were initiated 24 hours or four hours, respectively, after inoculation . Pseudomonas-infected rats were treated once a day for ten days . Proteus-infected rats were treated once a day for five days . In these experimental models, chlorhexidine diphosphanilate was equal to silver sulfadiazine, an established topical chemotherapeutic agent . In vitro activity was examined using bacteremia isolates from 65 burned patients . Using agar diffusion trench plates, chlorhexidine diphosphanilate was active against all strains . No evidence of cross-resistance between sulfonamide and chlorhexidine diphosphanilate or its components was observed. J Med Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 17(1), 31 - 6 A 16-month analysis of urinary tract infection in children; Naylor GR; Results of the examination of urine specimens with evidence of acute urinary tract infections from children aged 16 years and under in general practice were analysed during a period of 16 months . Infections were much commoner in girls than in boys, with Escherichia coli most frequently involved in both groups . Urinary tract infections caused by Proteus strains were predominantly associated with boys . Infections in girls showed a higher incidence at 3, 6 and 16 years of age . Possible reasons for these sex- and age-associated patterns of infection are discussed . It is suggested than an important factor in the prevention of urinary tract infections in young girls is proper supervision of school lavatories . The report illustrates how much useful information can be obtained from the analysis of diagnostic results based on a simple but thorough laboratory approach. Immun Infekt, 1984 Feb, 12(1), 64 - 8 {Animal experiment studies of the synergism between acylureido- penicillins and immunoglobulin G}; Dalhoff A; Animal experiments revealed that the simultaneous administration of mezlocillin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) caused a highly significant increase in the elimination of beta-lactamase producing strains of the species E.coli or Proteus spp . as compared to a mezlocillin-monotherapy . This synergistic effect is due to an inhibition of the enzymic activity of the beta-lactamases by antibodies as could be demonstrated by using enzyme crude extracts . In vivo studies on the stimulation of phagocytosis revealed that only an intact 7S IgG-preparation obtained by reduction and alkylation stimulated phagocytosis, whereas cleaved or acid-treated products were ineffective. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1984 Feb, 30(2), 259 - 64 {A study on transfer of ceftizoxime into prostatic and vesical tissues}; Katsumi T et al.; Prostatic and vesical tissue levels of Ceftizoxime (CZX) were determined in 21 patients with prostatic hyperplasia after the intravenous administration of 1 g of CZX . Serum concentration on prostatic surgery continued to be 1.3 fold higher than that of healthy adults . Prostatic tissue levels attained a peak of 40.7 +/- 1.6 micrograms/g (mean +/- SE) at 30 minutes after administration and vesical tissue levels attained a peak of 72.4 +/- 24.8 micrograms/g at 30 minutes . The mean value was 21.0 +/- 6.4 micrograms/g in prostatic tissue after administration for 120 minutes with the tissue/serum ratio of 0.91 . Prostatic tissue level in glandular dominant were slightly higher than those of myoglandular hyperplasia (P less than 0.1) . Judging from its favorable transfer into the prostatic tissue and MIC against clinically isolated E . coli, Proteus sp . and Klebsiella, CZX seemed to be clinically useful in the treatment of prostatic infection. Nord Vet Med, 1984 Jan-Feb, 36(1-2), 38 - 42 Observations of bacterial diseases of captive snakes in Finland; Soveri T; Eighteen captive, nonpoisonous snakes which suffered from bacterial infections were studied . The most usual bacteria found were gram-negative rods; especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila and Proteus spp . The most common disorders caused by them were stomatitis, septicaemia, bronchopneumonia and abscesses . The sensitivities of ten isolated bacteria to antimicrobial drugs were tested . Neomycin and gentamicin seemed to be effective, especially against P . aeruginosa. Microbios, 1984, 39(157-158), 169 - 76 Tris- and deoxycholate-induced lysis in colistin-treated Proteus strains; Chapman DG; Strains of Proteus spp . were pretreated with colistin (polymyxin E) and resuspended in either Tris buffer or sodium deoxycholate . Leakage of potassium and materials with an absorption maxima at 260 nm increased on resuspension of two pretreated Proteus mirabilis strains in Tris buffer or sodium deoxycholate . The activity of Tris increased up to pH 9 and of sodium deoxycholate up to 1,000 micrograms/ml . Greater leakage occurred with resuspension in Tris buffer than in sodium deoxycholate . Other Proteus strains tested did not produce leakage following similar treatment. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 Jan, 178(5-6), 464 - 501 {Setting up an infection control system}; Puschel WC; The present paper deals with the manifestations of nosocomial infections . According to a study by Daschner et al . (18) 4,4% of all hospitalized patients contract nosocomial infections . These have negative effects on the process of recovery and present a great economical burden . The specific problem of hospital infections is compounded of the appearance of polyresistant germs arising from incorrect therapy, the unfavourable immune situation of patients at risk, and the invasive medicotechnical treatment of these patients, such as especially transuretral catheters, intubations, tracheotomies, and the application of venous catheters . As the most important sources of infection the faeces of patients and staff as well as moist places must be mentioned . Germs are transferred from here to the patients predominantly via the hands of the medical staff . An important basis for the improvement of the hygienical situation is provided by infection statistics . This paper presents two and examines them for their significance and feasibility . For model A 500 patients of a medical intensive ward were analysed prospectively in summer 1978 . Besides microbiological data a great number of patients' parameters such as disposition, kind and quality of medical operations etc . were taken into account . For model B the microbiological findings of 3952 patients of 4 intensive wards were compiled retrospectively . Results of the comparison: Model A is indispensable for defined questions in the area of hospital hygiene, but requires considerable efforts in terms of time and money . Model B can be employed for the longterm control of the frequencies of infection and changes of resistance from already existing reports and does not require considerable additional means . In view of the extensive material it is advisable to process the data electronically . Results of the infection statistics (Modell B): An average infection rate of 16% was determined . Most frequent were infections of the respiratory tract (43%) followed by infections of the urinary tract (29%), blood (13%) and wounds (14%) . The most important germs were fungi, Pseudomonas, E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterococci, Staph . aureus, and Staph . albus . In the discussion the results are compared with findings in the current literature . Special attention is given to the definition of the terms infection and hospital infection and other problems influencing comparability . In a final statement the importance of environmental examinations and the role of pathology for infection control are treated. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1984 Jan-Feb, 135A(1), 135 - 40 Experimental production of bladder calculi in rats by ureaplasma injection; Clerc M et al.; Certain infection stones are thought to be linked to urease-possessing bacteria such as Proteus sp . Since ureaplasma also contain urease and are predominantly located in the urogenital tract, their possible role in the formation of infection stones was studied in the rat model described by Friedlander and Braude {2} . Infection stones were produced in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar male rats after injection of ureaplasmas into the renal medulla . In Sprague-Dawley rats, six different ureaplasma strains (serotypes 3 and 5 clinical isolates) were able to produce bladder stones . Acetohydroxamic acid, a urease inhibitor, prevented the formation of the stones . There was no difference in urinary pH or the presence of leukocytes, crystals and ureaplasmas in the urine between rats which presented stones and those which did not . Ureaplasmas could be cultivated only very rarely from rat stones . Similarly, no ureaplasmas could be obtained from human stones. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim, 1984, 3(2), 134 - 6 {A severe form of Mediterranean boutonneuse fever}; Houvenaeghel M et al.; A severe case of boutonneuse fever was reported which was only diagnosed after death . The infectious syndrome and cutaneous eruption were associated with meningitis, encephalitis, hypoxaemia and thrombocytopaenia . The absence of an initial lesion ("tache noire") and the notion of recent German measles contamination explained the late diagnosis . Serious cases of boutonneuse fever were usually rare; they were better known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a rickettsial infection of the same group, the clinical symptoms of which were very similar and which gave the same proteus agglutination reactions as with boutonneuse fever . An earlier diagnosis, now possible thanks to immunofluorescent techniques using skin biopsies, should enable earlier treatment. Nephron, 1984, 36(4), 224 - 9 Effects of different forms of dialytic treatment on serum antibacterial activity in patients with chronic renal failure; Minelli Bertazzoni E et al.; The antibacterial activity of fresh and heat-inactivated normal serum was compared with that of sera from patients with renal failure: 16 on diet, 9 on regular hemodialysis (HD) and 9 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . The antibacterial activity was determined on Proteus rettgeri (Sanelli) by a turbidimetric method . The inhibitory activity of fresh serum was only slightly decreased in nondialyzed uremic patients, whereas it was significantly impaired in CAPD and HD patients . Heat-inactivated normal serum (56 degrees C, 30 min) lost its antibacterial activity . Only CAPD patients' sera behaved as the normal ones . In fact, a consistent residual antibacterial activity was found in heat-inactivated sera of nondialyzed and hemodialyzed patients . The results are in keeping with the view that uremic patients have reduced host-defence reactions . Dialysis treatment appears to further depress the antibacterial capacity of uremic patient's sera . The residual antibacterial activity of heat-inactivated sera is due to substances, not present in normal controls, which act with a mechanism independent of the complement system . CAPD seems more effective than hemodialysis in removing these substances. J Cell Biol, 1984 Jan, 98(1), 283 - 95 Three-dimensional structure of a membrane-microtubule complex; Murray JM; The unicellular algae Distigma proteus contain a group of aligned microtubules associated with their cell membrane . The association is maintained in isolated membrane fragments . The membrane-microtubule complex also includes a crystalline array of membrane particles . The major peptide component of this array was identified by labeling whole cells with radioiodine . The entire complex of membrane, particles, and microtubules is sufficiently well ordered to permit reconstruction from electron micrographs by Fourier techniques . A three-dimensional model of the membrane array at a nominal resolution of 2.5 nm has been calculated . Some similarities were apparent between lattice spacings in the membrane array and in microtubules . Analysis of these lattice correlations suggests a way in which the array of membrane particles may serve as scaffolding for microtubule attachment. Cell Tissue Res, 1984, 235(2), 393 - 402 Some evidence for the ampullary organs in the European cave salamander Proteus anguinus (Urodela, Amphibia); Istenic L et al.; The multicellular epithelial organs in Proteus anguinus, which Bugnion (1873) assumed to be developing neuromasts, have been analyzed by light- and electron-microscopy . Their fundamental structure consists of single ampullae with sensory and accessory cells with apical parts that extend into the pit of the ampulla, and of a short jelly-filled canal connecting the ampulla pit with the surface of the skin . The organs are located intra-epithelially and are supported by a tiny dermal papilla . The cell elements of sensory epithelium are apically linked together by tight junctions . The free apical surface of the sensory cell bears several hundred densely packed stereocilia-like microvilli whereas the basal surface displays afferent neurosensory junctions with a pronounced round synaptic body . The compact uniform organization of the apical microvillous part shows a hexagonal pattern . A basal body was found in some sensory cells whereas a kinocilium was observed only in a single cell . The accessory cells have their free surface differentiated in a sparsely distributed and frequently-forked microvilli . The canal wall is built of two or three layers of tightly coalescent flat cells bordering on the lumen with branching microvilli . The ultrastructure of the content of the ampulla pit is presented . In the discussion stress is laid on the peculiarities of the natural history of Proteus anguinus that support the view that the morphologically-identified ampullary organs are electroreceptive . The structural characteristics of ampullary receptor cells are dealt with from the viewpoint of functional morphology and in the light of evolutionary hypotheses of ampullary organs. Eur J Cell Biol, 1984 Jan, 33(1), 29 - 36 {Effects of pH and ATP on the cytoplasm of Amoeba proteus: relation between cytoplasm motility and actin polymerization}; Paulin-Levasseur M et al.; The effect of pH and ATP was studied on isolated cytoplasm of Amoeba proteus . These two parameters were shown to influence both the motility and the organization of actin filaments in the isolated cytoplasm . Furthermore, our results demonstrate that there is a relationship between the motility and the polymeric state of actin . When the isolated cytoplasm is non-motile, actin is highly polymerized into long filaments arranged parallel in bundles . When this cytoplasm is motile, however, actin can either be weakly polymerized, i.e . observed as few short filaments, or can be polymerized in long branched filaments forming a loose network. Antibiotiki, 1984 Jan, 29(1), 49 - 51 {Microflora study and the pharmacokinetic characteristics of gentamycin in children with mucoviscidosis}; Skala LZ et al.; P . aeruginosa and Staphylococcus were isolated respectively from 46.7 and 30.9 per cent of the children with mucoviscidosis . Proteus, Klebsiella and hemophilic bacilli were isolated from 11.2, 2.8 and 2.8 per cent of the patients respectively . All the isolates of Proteus, 95.8 per sent of the staphylococcal strains and 16.7 per cent of the P . aeruginosa strains were highly sensitive to gentamicin . No gentamicin resistant strains were detected . The studies on the gentamicin pharmacokinetics showed that the maximum levels of the drug in the blood and sputum of the children treated with the antibiotic injected intramuscularly in doses of 1.2 and 2-2.5 mg/kg were attained in 1 hour . The concentration of gentamicin in the sputum amounted to 60-80 per cent of its concentration in the blood serum . Within 11 hours the antibiotic sputum levels were higher than the MIC for the organisms sensitive to gentamicin . After a single endobronchial administration of the drug it was detected in the sputum for 6 days in concentrations exceeding the MIC for the moderately sensitive strains. Nephrologie, 1984, 5(5), 222 - 4 {Experimental magnesium ammonium phosphate lithiasis induced by Ureaplasma in the rat}; Texier J et al.; Struvite urinary stones are commonly associated with infections by urease possessing bacteria (Proteus) . Ureaplasma urealyticum, a genital mycoplasma, is predominantly located in the human genito-urinary tract and produces urease . Its possible role in the formation of infection stones was studied in the rat model described by Friedlander and Braude . Struvite bladder stones were produced in 60% of Sprague-Dawley male rats after infection of ureaplasmas (serotype 1, 2, 3, 7) into the renal medulla . Mycoplasma hominis, another genital mycoplasma, produced bladder stones in only 10% of animals . A kinetic study showed that pure struvite stones appeared into the bladder 4 to 5 days after inoculation and that U . urealyticum did not usually remain viable more than 6 days . Acetohydroxamic acid and doxycycline prevented the formation of the stones. Pediatr Radiol, 1984, 14(5), 318 - 22 Neonatal osteomyelitis in Nigerian infants; Omene JA et al.; Twenty-seven Nigerian infants with osteomyelitis during the first 28 days of life are presented to highlight the severity of the clinical manifestations and the radiological features of this infection . The clinical signs include limitation of movement of the extremities involved and localized swelling . Severe constitutional changes such as fever (greater than 39 degrees C) and abdominal distension were common . This contrasts with results from North America and Europe which emphasize the paucity of clinical signs despite involvement of multiple sites . Multiple site involvement was encountered in only eight cases . Staphylococcus aureus, proteus mirabilis and candida albicans were the main pathogens isolated . The long bones were more frequently affected . Aggressive bone destruction was a constant radiological finding peculiar to staphylococcal osteomyelitis while the formation of sequestrum, a rare occurrence in the newborn, was present in six patients . The mortality rate was 7.4% and the morbidity rate was equally low. Nahrung, 1984, 28(4), 439 - 48 {The degradation of lactose in the intestines of rats on human and cow's milk diets}; Zunft HJ et al.; Female lactose adapted rats were kept for 10 days on human milk (HM), a milk diet adapted to human milk (MD1), and a milk diet rich in protein and phosphate (MD2), the lactose supply being always the same . In the caecum, colon and faeces, the pH value, the phosphorus content, the buffer capacity and the numbers of microorganisms with proteolytic activity (Bacteroides, Klebsiella, Proteus) were lower and the lactose concentration and the beta-galactosidase activity were higher on HM and MD1 than on MD2. Pediatr Med Chir, 1984 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 73 - 5 {Results of 3 or 10 days' treatment with nitrofurantoin or cotrimoxazole in urinary infections in children}; Ruberto U et al.; 110 children, affected by UTI, were included in this study; 52 of them were treated for 10 days and the remaining 58 for 3 days . Both groups were treated with cotrimoxazole or nitrofurantoin . Urine cultures were repeated soon after the end of therapy and repeated subsequently for a period of 6 months or of 1 year . There is not a great difference between the results obtained with the 10 days treatment and those of the 3 days treatment . An high percentage of relapses occurred in UTI caused by Proteus and Klebsiella. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 198(1), 166 - 71 Anomalous expression of the E . coli lac operon in Proteus mirabilis . II . Effects of lacI and lacP mutations; Baumberg S et al.; The lac operon introduced into Proteus mirabilis shows two anomalies of expression: the maximal induced level is reduced by about an order of magnitude, and the basal level becomes about 100 times higher than in E . coli, as a result of which the induction ratio appears very small, around 2-5 in contrast to as much as 1000 in E . coli . It was suggested by Baumberg and Dennison (1975) that the two anomalies might be manifestations of a single effect whereby some exogenous promoters give poor expression in this host, since they could result from poor expression of the lacZYA and lacI promoters respectively . We show here that when the lacP class II promoter mutation L305 was transferred on an F-prime into P . mirabilis, its effect on lac expression was much as in E . coli . However, when Flac bearing the IQ1 up-promoter mutation was introduced into P . mirabilis, the basal level decreased by three orders of magnitude, in accord with poor expression of lacI+ being responsible for the usual low induction ratio . These results are consistent with the hypothesis of Baumberg and Dennison (1975) but do not prove it: poor expression of lacI and/or lacZYA could also result from weak translation initiation, problems of continuation of transcription or translation (e.g . due to pause sequences or differences in codon use), or diminished mRNA stability. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 198(1), 159 - 65 Anomalous expression of the E . coli lac operon in Proteus mirabilis . I . Effects of L8 and L8 UV5; Roberts M et al.; The lac operon shows anomalous expression in Proteus mirabilis: the maximal induced level is 10% or less of that in E . coli, while repression reduces this by a factor of only 2-5 . We have sought to determine whether this effect relates in any way to CRP-mediated activation of expression, by comparing expression in P . mirabilis of lac operons (introduced for technical reasons on IncP1 plasmids) either regulatorily wild-type or bearing L8 or L8UV5 . Derivatives of RP1 bearing L8UV5 were obtained by homogenotisation of pGC9114 (RP1::Tn951) in a L8UV5 background; while derivatives of RP4 bearing lac+, L8 or L8UV5 were obtained by Mu-mediated translocation of chromosomal regions bearing these alleles, following partial heat-induction of Mucts62 on pGM14 (RP4::Mucts62) in the appropriate hosts . These plasmids could be readily transferred to, and stably maintained in, the P . mirabilis strains employed . It was found that L8 reduced the maximal level of beta-galactosidase activity, and L8UV5 restored this activity to around wild-type, in P . mirabilis quantitatively very much as in E . coli . Nevertheless, the low maximal level of expression and high basal level characteristic of the former host were unchanged . The simplest explanation of these results is that P . mirabilis contains a protein that mimics the E . coli CRP protein in interacting with the appropriate DNA binding site and thereby stimulating transcription; and that the anomalous regulation of lac in this host is unconnected with the CRP system. Am J Nephrol, 1984, 4(6), 361 - 6 Do antibody-coated bacteria reflect local immune response in the urinary tract? Riedasch G, Ritz E, Rauterberg E. We examined whether antibody-coated bacteria (ACB) reflect local immune response or passive adsorption of immune globulins (Ig) . For this purpose, bacterial subcultures from infected urines and third-party bacteria were incubated with Ig preparations . These were obtained from infected urine either by removal of Ig from ACB (dissociation in alpha-methylmannoside, 0.1 M glycine-HCl, or 3 M NaSCN) or by staphylococcal protein A affinity chromatography from the supernatant of infected urine . Coincubation of either Ig preparation with bacterial substrains of the original urine and with third-party strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, several Escherichia coli strains, enterococci, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus) caused coating of the bacterial surface with Ig . Coating was not measurably influenced by coincubation with various carbohydrates or by preincubation of bacteria with glucosidases . Adsorption of Ig was observed after heat denaturation and formalin treatment of bacteria and was independent of bacterial growth phase . Coating was observed both with intact IgG and with F(ab)2 fragments . We further examined the proportion of bacteria coated with IgA, IgG, and IgM in urines of 200 bacteriuric women with symptomatic urinary tract infection . The frequency histogram plot showed a continuous nonlinear unimodal distribution . Consequently, any selection of a 'normal range' is arbitrary . It is concluded that coating of the bacterial surface with Ig may not necessarily reflect local immune response . A major problem of the ACB test is definition of the normal range. Urol Res, 1984, 12(4), 199 - 203 The effects of heparin on the adherence of five species of urinary tract pathogens to urinary bladder mucosa; Ruggieri MR et al.; Previous studies performed in our laboratory have indicated that the primary antibacterial defense mechanism of the rabbit urinary bladder is the antiadsorptive action of the surface mucopolysaccharide . Removal of this layer with an acid rinse increases bacterial adherence up to 100 fold . Exogenous mucopolysaccharide (heparin) has been shown to restore Escherichia coli adherence to control levels . To determine whether this antiadherence action of heparin is species specific, we compared the adherence of 5 common urinary tract pathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozonae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus fecalis) to both mucin intact and mucin deficient rabbit bladders with and without prior heparin exposure . Bacteria were radiolabeled by addition of 3H-adenine to the culture broth so that the number of bacteria adhering to the bladder could be determined using liquid scintillation spectrophotometry . Results were as follows: Acid removal of the mucin layer significantly increased the adherence approximately 10 fold for all 5 species tested . Briefly exposing the mucin deficient bladders to heparin decreased the adherence of all species tested except Pseudomonas to mucin intact control levels . Heparin treatment of mucin intact bladders slightly decreased adherence of all species except Pseudomonas below mucin intact controls, however, results were not statistically significant . The magnitude of Klebsiella adherence was nearly 20 fold greater than all other species tested . While this non-species specific adherence inhibition of heparin may prove useful in the clinical setting, it appears to be less effective against Pseudomonas. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 195(3), 516 - 22 Functional substitution of the recE gene of Bacillus subtilis by the recA gene of Proteus mirabilis; Eitner G et al.; Rec mutants of Bacillus subtilis have been tested for complementation by the recA gene of Proteus mirabilis (recApm) which was introduced into B . subtilis via the plasmid pHP334 . In the recE4 mutant of B . subtilis the plasmid pHP334 restored significantly the defects in RecE functions tested: UV-sensitivity, homologous recombination (transduction and transformation) and prophage induction . Although serological methods to detect the presence of RecApm protein in B . subtilis have been unsuccessful, our results strongly indicate that the recE function of B . subtilis is analogous to the recA function of P . mirabilis. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1984 Jan-Jun, 77(1-6), 33 - 44 {Urinary tract infections: bacteriological aspects of recurrent cystitis}; Fontana G et al.; Gram-negative bacteria, and above all E . coli and Proteus sp., cause the great part of UTI . Some characters of microorganisms (as the capsular K antigen, the production of haemolysin and the endotoxin of cell wall) can affect the invasive capacity and the virulence of E . coli . The bacterial adherence, due to the presence of fimbriae, seems to be correlated to the persistence of microorganisms in lower urinary tract . Moreover Enterobius vermicularis, intestinal parasite frequent in infancy, can transport in girls E . coli strains from the rect, through the urethra, to the bladder . The data regarding the importance of the immune local response are not clear yet. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1984 Jan-Jun, 77(1-6), 106 - 12 {In vivo interferon-inducing capacity of a multibacterial extract: prospective new use}; Pugliese A et al.; We studied IFN inducing ability on syngenic C3H mice of a multibacterial antigenic extract consisting of different strains of following species: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris . A dose-dependent IFN production was demonstrated and two peaks of circulating IFN were observed few hours and two days after i.v . inoculation . Per os administration only at high doses induced evaluable levels of IFN in the circulation. IARC Sci Publ, 1984, (57), 275 - 81 N-nitrosamine formation by intestinal bacteria; Suzuki K et al.; N-Nitrosamine formation by various intestinal bacteria was investigated . N-Nitroso-dimethylamine (NDMA) formation by viable resting cells of Escherichia coli A10 was proportional to the incubation time and the enzyme concentration, while boiled cells were incapable of nitrosation . The enzyme was optimal at pH 7.5 and showed about the same specificities for dimethylamine, diethylamine, dibutylamine, di-isobutylamine, piperidine and pyrrolidine, but high specificity for morpholine . The intestinal bacteria harbouring nitrosating enzyme were mainly aerobic, i.e., Escherichia coli, Proteus morganii, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Only one of the 32 anaerobic intestinal bacterial species, i.e., Peptococcus asaccharolyticus, was positive . The enzyme activities of these nitrosating bacteria covered a range of 0.06-0.90 nmol NDMA formed per hour per mg protein . These results support the theory of enzymatic catalysis of N-nitrosamine formation by microorganisms and suggest the possibility of endogenous nitrosation in the digestive tract. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(5-6), 775 - 87 Pathogenic synergy: mixed intra-abdominal infections; MacLaren DM et al.; In this article we review our researches into the pathogenesis of mixed infections . These may conveniently be divided into in vitro and in vivo studies . In vitro we confirmed that interference with the killing of aerobes by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN's) is a property of the Bacteroides strains tested and appears to depend on competition for opsonins i.e . complement factors . Further studies are in progress to define which complement factors and which bacterial structures are involved . The influence of B . fragilis on chemotaxis has also been studied . Our preliminary data suggest that B . fragilis is itself poorly chemotactic and reduces the chemoattractivity of Proteus mirabilis . This observation is surprising when we consider that abscess formation is the hall-mark of B . fragilis infections and needs clarification . In vivo we have developed a skin infection model in mice which is economical and gives reproducible and quantitative results . In this model we have demonstrated pathogenic synergy between Escherichia coli and B . fragilis . Further studies are planned to assess the role of complement and bacterial factors in this in vivo synergy. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1984, 32(3), 317 - 35 Results of bacteriophage treatment of suppurative bacterial infections . III . Detailed evaluation of the results obtained in further 150 cases; Slopek S et al.; The results of phage therapy applied in further 150 cases of suppurative bacterial infections were analyzed . Positive therapeutic results were obtained in 137 cases (91.3%) . The results obtained confirmed the previous findings on great effectiveness of bacteriophages in the treatment of septic infections, spontaneous or postoperative, caused by pyo genic Staphylococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas. Biorheology Suppl, 1984, 1, 303 - 7 Use of a laser-Doppler electrophoresis method in bacteriology (preliminary results); Stoltz JF et al.; A new electrophoresis system using Laser Doppler velocimetry has been developed . This technic allows fast measurements, (1 minute) over a large number of particles (several thousand or more) . Furthermore, the small size of the particles is no longer a limitation of the measurement . These qualities made it possible to study the electrokinetic properties of cells . In this paper the authors present the first application obtained on different types of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris) submitted to five antibiotics (gentamycin, minocyclin, cephalotin, spiramycin, sobramycin) . After four hours of incubation at 37 degrees C, important decreases of electrophoretic mobility were observed on bacteria treated with antibiotics to which they were sensitive . On the other hand, no significant modification appeared on bacteria treated with antibiotics to which they were not sensitive . In conclusion, the electrophoretic mobility test seems to be useful to study the response of bacteria to antibiotics and perhaps could be used to set antibiograms. Urol Res, 1984, 12(2), 107 - 9 The bacteriology of the urine and renal calculi; Lewi HJ et al.; The bacteriological status of the pre-operative urine, removed calcium and the pelvic urine was studied in 63 consecutive patients undergoing removal of intrarenal calculi . The overall infection rates in the pre-operative urine, removed calculi and pelvic urine were 29%, 38% and 30% respectively . In patients with staghorn calculi, 58% of patients had an infected pre-operative M.S.S.U., and 82.5% of removed calculi demonstrated significant bacterial growth, with Proteus mirabilis being the predominant organism isolated . In patients with single or multiple oxalate calculi, 17% had an infected pre-operative M.S.S.U., and 22% of removed calculi demonstrated a significant bacterial growth . The findings would indicate that the presence of a positive M.S.S.U . in a patient with a renal calculus is an indication for surgical removal. Microbios, 1984, 41(160), 87 - 98 Surface antigens of Proteus mirabilis revealed by electroblotting from sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels; Driver K et al.; Western Blotting of whole cell preparations of three strains of Proteus mirabilis after separation by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels revealed a complex pattern of antigens . Similar antigen profiles were obtained with isolated outer membranes indicating that the majority of cell surface antigens are located in the outer membrane . Major outer membrane proteins were strongly antigenic and cross-reactive . The highly immunogenic flagella were detected in whole cell preparations and visible in isolated outer membranes . Whereas the protein and flagellar antigens were cross-reactive, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could only be detected as immunoreactive material using homologous antisera for each strain . The LPS appeared as two broad bands (high and low Mr, respectively) in immunoblots of whole cells, isolated outer membranes and purified LPS . However, isolated LPS could be resolved into multiple sharp bands when 4 M urea was included in the gel system . These discrete bands are assumed to represent differing O antigen chain lengths of the LPS as reported for other Gram-negative organisms. Microbios, 1984, 39(157-158), 177 - 85 Structural alterations to Proteus mirabilis as a result of exposure to haemolymph from the larvae of Galleria mellonella; Morton DB et al.; Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine Proteus mirabilis, strain 11-1A, for morphologic alterations following exposure to normal and immune cell-free haemolymph obtained from Galleria mellonella larvae . It was found that both normal and immune haemolymph exerted effects on the bacterial cells, with immune haemolymph affecting a much higher percentage of cells than normal haemolymph . The morphological damage observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) included abnormal shapes, blebbing of the cell wall, surface erosion and lysis of the cell . Transmission electron microscopy showed evidence of damage to the cell wall and supported the results obtained from SEM. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 194(1-2), 111 - 3 P . mirabilis RecA protein catalyses cleavage of E . coli LexA protein and the lambda repressor in vitro; West SC et al.; The cloned recA+ gene of proteus mirabilis substitutes for a defective RecA protein in Escherichia coli recA- mutants, and restores recombination, repair and phage induction functions to near normal levels . In a previous report, we described the purification and characterisation of the recombination activities of the P . mirabilis RecA protein (West et al . 1983b ) . In this paper, we show that the purified protein catalyses the cleavage of both the Escherichia coli LexA protein and the bacteriophage lambda repressor in vitro . These results provide a direct biochemical basis for the interspecies complementation observed in vivo and suggest that P . mirabilis has an SOS regulatory network similar to that of E . coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 149 - 51 Kinetic studies on the inhibition of Proteus vulgaris beta-lactamase by imipenem; Hashizume T et al.; Imipenem was found to inhibit Proteus vulgaris beta-lactamase in a progressive manner . Kinetic experiments confirmed that the inactivated enzyme was not completely recovered after intact imipenem had been exhausted. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jan, (1), 35 - 8 {Experimental study of the immunogenicity of a monopreparation of Klebsiella pneumoniae antigen complex and its association with Staphylococcus, Proteus and Escherichia coli antigens}; Egorova NB et al.; The study carried out in mice with experimental Klebsiella sepsis has revealed that Staphylococcus, Proteus and E . coli antigenic complexes used as monovaccines ensure the protection of a definite percentage of the animals from K . pneumoniae infection . The mixture of these 3 preparations possesses a higher protective potency . The immunogenic potency of K . pneumoniae antigenic complex used as a component of combined vaccines with 2 or 4 components has proved to be sufficiently high and not inferior to the potency of K . pneumoniae monovaccine. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jan, (1), 19 - 23 {Protective properties of Proteus ribosomal vaccine}; Ovetchin PV et al.; The results of the study of the protective properties of Proteus ribosomal vaccine prepared from P . vulgaris museum strain F-30 are presented . The vaccine showed protective effect even in a dose of 0.0001 microgram of protein per mouse; when used in immunization doses of 1 and 10 micrograms of protein per mouse, the vaccine completely protected the animals, ensuring their survival . Experiments aimed at the determination of the maximum protective effect of the vaccine were carried out . The ribosomal vaccine injected in a dose of 1 microgram of protein per mouse protected 50% of mice challenged with 10 LD50; in a dose of 10 micrograms of protein per mouse the vaccine protected 100% of the animals challenged with 3.7 and 10 LD50 . Proteus ribosomal vaccine prepared from P . vulgaris museum strain was shown to render protective effect with respect to P . vulgaris and P . mirabilis clinical strains. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 2(6), 571 - 6 Adhesion of Proteus species to various cell types; Savoia D et al.; Pathogenic and saprophytic Proteus strains from the urine of patients with urinary tract infections and healthy adults respectively were evaluated with regard to their ability to adhere in vitro to homologous cells (uroepithelial cells from urinary sediment and cultured WISH cells) and heterologous cells (RK-13 and MDCK cells) . The effect on attachment of pretreating bacteria with subinhibitory concentrations of piperacillin and sagamicin was also determined for one sensitive and one resistant strain . Fifty percent of the pathogenic Proteus strains demonstrated good adherence to human urinary epithelial cells, whereas saprophytic strains did not adhere . There was a lower rate of attachment to culture cells . Piperacillin and sagamicin in subinhibitory concentrations caused a decrease in the attachment of the sensitive Proteus strain. HNO, 1983 Dec, 31(12), 436 - 9 {Fosfomycin--a new antibiotic in rhinootolaryngology}; Stammberger H; Fosfomycin is a relatively new antibiotic drug, deriving from streptomyces species . Its special chemical structure and small molecular size provide a very good diffusion into tissues like bone, fascia and wound exudates as well . In a clinical study Fosfomycin was given to 26 patients with infections mainly of the middle ear and mastoid as well as other ENT-infections . Clinical success, laboratory investigations and bacteriology are described in detail . The drug proved to be of special value in the treatment of chronic purulent otitis, purulent or chronic secreting tympanoplasties or other postoperative middle-ear affections when caused by penicillin-resistant staphylococci, proteus-species and pseudomonas aeruginosa . In the other cases treatment results were good corresponding to the bactericidal spectrum of Fosfomycin . There was one treatment failure in our series, but no reverse reaction at all. Trop Geogr Med, 1983 Dec, 35(4), 389 - 91 Pathogenic organisms in chronic suppurative otitis media in Enugu, Nigeria; Ibekwe AO et al.; Pathogenic organisms in chronic suppurative otitis media from 62 patients were identified . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was responsible in 46%, Staphylococcus aureus in 29% . Proteus mirabilis in 13%, Streptococcus pyogenes in 6%, Aspergillus niger in 5% and Mucor sp . in 2% . The most prevalent organism in children was Staphylococcus aureus . The role of fungi in chronic suppurative otitis media is discussed. Can J Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 29(12), 1650 - 2 {In vitro interaction between an ampicillin-colistin combination and ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli}; Coste M et al.; In this work, the authors studied in vitro potential interactions between bacteria and antibiotics . Colistin and ampicillin were introduced to ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli and ampicillin activity was measured . Two layers of agar media were used . The lower layer contained E . coli and colistin . The superficial layer was sown with indicating bacteria (ampicillin-sensitive Proteus mirabilis) . Ampicillin activity was evaluated on the upper layer with impregnated disks . By this technique, it was ascertained that ampicillin degradation increased with colistin concentration . In this case, colistin may favour interactions of intracellular beta-lactamases on ampicillin. Helv Paediatr Acta, 1983 Dec, 38(5-6), 417 - 24 {Mortality of rare purulent meningitis, (Staphylococcus, Listeria Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, E . coli, Salmonella) . An epidemiologic study using the literature from the last 30 years}; Buchs S; 3056 cases of purulent meningitis caused by seven rare microorganisms (Staphylococci, Listeria, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, E . coli, Salmonella) were collected from the West European and North American literature of the last 30 years . The average lethality has been calculated for the periods ranging from 1948 to 1962 and from 1963 to 1979 in order to compare the results due to the use of penicillin and older antibiotics with those accomplished with ampicillin and the aminoglycosides . After 1963 the death-rate of each type of meningitis decreased considerably (except for Salmonella meningitis): the lethality of the whole group fell from 48% to 33%, in the subgroup of gram-negative meningitis from 55% to 38%, and in the group of neonatal gram-negative meningitis from 67% to 52% . The best results were seen in Proteus meningitis where lethality decreased from 55% to 15% . In E . coli meningitis there was a reduction from 60% to 43% only . Using the chi-square test all these differences were highly significant (p less than 0.001). Eur J Biochem, 1983 Dec 1, 137(1-2), 15 - 22 Chemical structure of the lipid A component of the lipopolysaccharide from a Proteus mirabilis Re-mutant; Sidorczyk Z et al.; The chemical structure of the lipid A component from the lipopolysaccharide of a Proteus mirabilis Re-mutant (strain R45) was analysed . It consists of a beta(1-6)-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide which carries two phosphate groups, one being ester-linked to position 4' of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue and the other being bound to the glycosidic hydroxyl group of the reducing glucosaminyl residue . The ester-bound phosphate group is quantitatively substituted by a 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinopyranosyl residue, the glycosidic phosphoryl group appears to be unsubstituted . Two available hydroxyl groups of the disaccharadide (probably at positions 3 and 3') are acylated by approximately 1 mol each of (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic and (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid/mol . The amino group of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue carries (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic and that of the reducing residue (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid . In addition smaller amounts of (R)-3-hexadecanoyloxytetradecanoic acid are present in amide linkage . The attachment site of the oligosaccharide portion to lipid A was also investigated . It was found that the hydroxyl group at position 6' of the nonreducing glucosaminyl residue carries 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid . This indicates that the saccharide portion in this Proteus lipopolysaccharide is linked to lipid A via the primary hydroxyl group in position 6'. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Dec, 36(12), 3412 - 21 {Clinical evaluation of the method to determine antibiotic concentrations in small amounts of samples}; Nishindai H et al.; Concentrations of cefotiam (CTM) in the exudate after abdominal operation were studied . The exudates were collected by 6 mm paper discs and the antibiotic concentrations were determined by the paper disc method using Proteus rettgeri ATCC 9250 as test organism . Comparison between agar well and paper disc assay for CTM in ascites specimens showed good correlation . Two grams of CTM was intravenously given to the patients after abdominal operations . The concentration of CTM in the exudate for 6 hours after injection was 0.4--14.2 micrograms/ml and this value exceeded the antibacterial level of CTM . It is, therefore, concluded that CTM will be effective for the postoperative prophylaxis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Dec, 1(4), 313 - 6 Beta-lactamase stability of cefoxitin in comparison with other beta-lactam compounds; Neu HC; The beta-lactamase stability of cefoxitin, the second-generation cephamycin compound, was compared with that of cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, moxalactam, carbenicillin, and piperacillin . Unlike cefamandole, cefoperazone, carbenicillin, and piperacillin, cefoxitin was not hydrolyzed by the common plasmid beta-lactamases, TEM-1, TEM-2, OXA-2, and SHV-1 . Cefoxitin and moxalactam were the only agents stable to all chromosomal beta-lactamases, whereas cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, carbenicillin, and piperacillin were destroyed by cephalosporinases of Proteus vulgaris and Bacteroides fragilis. J Nat Prod, 1983 Nov-Dec, 46(6), 874 - 5 Antibacterial activity studies of flavonoids from Salvia palaestina; Miski M et al.; Ten aglycones and six glycosides of luteolin and apigenin were identified from the leaves of Salvia palaestina Bentham (Labiatae) . Among them cirsimaritin showed a high activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while the others have little or no activity against the same bacterial strains. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3250 - 3 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin IX . Perinatal and postnatal study by intravenous injection in rats}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc . as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Perinatal and postnatal studies of MCR in rats were carried out by intravenous injection for safety evaluation (Dose; 25, 50 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg) . The results of studies are as follows . There was no adverse effect on delivery and nursing ability in dams at any dose . There was no adverse effect at any dose on postnatal development of offspring, such as weight gain, postnatal differentiation, spontaneous motor activity, learning, sexual maturation and reproductive performance . Renal toxicity was observed at dose of 75 mg/kg in autopsy of dams after treatment. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3243 - 9 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin VIII . Teratogenicity studies in rabbits after intravenous injection}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc . as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Teratogenicity studies of MCR in rabbits were carried out by intravenous injection for safety evaluation (Dose; 25, 50 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg) . The results of studies are as follows . Fetal malformation attributable to MCR was not observed at any dose . There was no adverse effect on new borns at any dose. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3239 - 42 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin VII . Fertility study by intravenous injection in rats}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc . as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Fertility studies of MCR in rats were carried out by intravenous injection for safety evaluation (Dose: 25, 50 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg) . The results of studies are as follows . There was no adverse effect on fertility ability at any dose . Suppression of adult body weight gain was observed slightly at all dose level in male and at the dose level of 75 mg/kg in female. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3226 - 38 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin VI . Subacute toxicity in rabbits after drip intravenous infusion}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc . as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Subacute toxicity studies of MCR in rabbits were carried out by drip intravenous infusion (d.i.v.) comparing with intramuscular injection (i.m.) for 30 days (doses; d.i.v . = 4, 25, 63 mg/kg, i.m . = 63 mg/kg) . The results of the studies are as follows: Animals did not die at any dose . Renal disorders occurred mainly at the dose level of 63 mg/kg; they were almost similar to those observed when administered by i.m., and the grade of disorders in d.i.v . was the same as in i.m . The maximum safety dose was 4 mg/kg. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3208 - 25 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin V . Subacute toxicity in rats after intravenous injection}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc . as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Toxicological studies of MCR in rats were carried out by intravenous injection for safety evaluation . Study on subacute toxicity: Wistar rats were injected intravenously with MCR at the dose levels of 4, 10, 25, 63 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 30 days . The results of the studies are as follows: In the subacute toxicity study, animals died at the dose level of 100 mg/kg (10 out of 30 animals) . Main changes observed were renal disorders and ataxia which showed a close similarity to those seen in intramuscular toxicity studies in rats . The renal histological disorders occurred mainly at the dose levels of 25 mg/kg and over, but they were slight at the dose levels of 25 mg/kg . Ataxia was observed at the dose levels of 63 mg/kg and over, but its grade was slight at the dose level of 63 mg/kg . The maximum safety dose was equal to in the intramuscular subacute toxicity in rats, 10 mg/kg. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Nov, 36(11), 3204 - 7 {Safety evaluation of micronomicin IV . Acute toxicity in rats, rabbits and dogs after drip intravenous infusion}; Hara T et al.; Micronomicin (MCR) is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis var . nonreducans which was isolated from soil collected at Sagamihara City by Nara et al . This antibiotic shows a close similarity to gentamicin C components in physical and chemical properties . The antibacterial activity of MCR is broad-spectrum and almost equal to that of gentamicin C complex . MCR exhibits particularly high activity against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia, etc, as well as against some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin C1a . Toxicological studies of MCR were carried out for safety evaluation as follows: Studies were carried out to assess acute toxicity, when administered in 1 hour by drip intravenous infusion to Wistar rats, Japanese White rabbits and Beagle dogs . The results of the studies are summarised as follows: There was no difference on acute toxicity between drip intravenous infusion (d.i.v.) and intramuscular injection (i.m.) in rats . However, acute toxicity of d.i.v . was less than that of bolus intravenous administration (i.v.) in rats . Acute toxicity of d.i.v . was stronger than that of i.m . in dogs when administered in rats . Acute toxicity varied with species, and it was ranked in rabbits not equal to dogs greater than rats . There was no difference on symptoms between d.i.v . and i.m. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1983 Nov, 72(6), 879 - 83 Urolithiasis in children . Presenting signs, etiology, bacteriology and localisation; Bensman A et al.; Based on a personal series of 310 observations, the authors have studied the presenting signs, the etiology, the urinary bacteriology and the localization of the stone in children with urolithiasis . Urinary tract infection is the presenting sign in 55% of the cases, hematuria in 23% and abdominal pain in 20% . Urinary malformation is associated in 26% of cases, whatever the age at diagnosis . The urinary bacteria found in 55% of cases is Proteus . Localization was in the kidney in 228 cases, in the ureter in 71 cases, the bladder in 45 cases and in the urethra in 5 cases. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Nov, (11), 78 - 83 {Immunogenicity of a vaccine made from soluble Proteus antigens}; Levina LA et al.; Hemagglutinins with different specificity were determined in 270 subjects: of these, 101 were examined in the time course before and after immunization with Proteus vaccine prepared from soluble antigens . The preparation possessed pronounced immunological potency and stimulated the formation of antibodies to the vaccine strain, to heterologous Proteus strains and to the common antigens of Gram-negative bacteria . The combined scheme of the subcutaneous and local administration of the above-mentioned Proteus vaccine ensured an increase in the synthesis of IgM and IgA in patients with Proteus wound infection . Active immunization ensured an essential rise in the level of hemagglutinins to Re-glycolipid in donors and oncological patients not infected with Proteus, but did not ensure the statistically significant shifts in the antibody level to Re-glycolipids in patients with chronic Proteus infection. Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1983 Nov, 61(11), 1219 - 27 Properties of a catalase from a peroxide-resistant mutant of Proteus mirabilis; Jouve HM et al.; A catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) from Proteus mirabilis PR, a mutant with strong resistance to hydrogen peroxide, was purified to homogeneity and compared with catalase from wild-type P . mirabilis . In crude extracts from the mutant, catalase was present as two different entities called A and B, that could be resolved by ion-exchange chromatography . The B form was transformed into A . The pure catalase preparation contained the A form only . This catalase was not found to be different from the wild-type enzyme, considering its molecular weight, subunit composition, isoelectric pH, and reactivity to specific antibodies . Partial proteolytic cleavage of the two bacterial enzymes with four different proteases proceeded at the same rate and produced identical patterns . However, pure catalase from the mutant had a specific activity against H2O2 of 2.7 X 10(7) M-1 X s-1, and its purity index (A406/A280) was 1.12 . These values were higher than previously determined for the wild-type enzyme . Furthermore, the mutant catalase was more stable to heat . The results suggest that the purified catalase (A form) differs from the wild-type enzyme and appears to be a more efficient catalase against H2O2 . Both enzymes were found to be much more resistant than beef liver catalase to the classically used catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. Arch Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 136(2), 152 - 7 Electron transport and cytochromes in aerobically grown Proteus mirabilis; van Wielink JE et al.; The function of the cytochromes in electron transport from NADH to oxygen in aerobically grown Proteus mirabilis has been determined . 77K-Spectra of cytoplasmic membrane suspensions, frozen while catalyzing electron transport from NADH to oxygen, in the presence as well as in the absence of 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, have been recorded . Analysis of these 77K-spectra revealed that cytochrome b-563 (E'0 = +140 mV), cytochrome b-556 (E'0 = +140 mV) {or alternatively cytochrome b-563/556 (E'0 = +140 mV)} and cytochrome b-557 (E'0 = +50 mV) may function in a Q or b-cycle . The function of cytochrome c-549 (E'0 = +75 mV), which seems to be present only in a very low concentration, and cytochrome b-556 (E'0 = -105 mV), which reacts very slowly to the addition of NADH and oxygen, remains unclear . Cytochrome o, the main oxidase of aerobically grown P . mirabilis cells, can not be detected by the methods described above . Only when the reduced form of cytochrome o is liganded with carbon monoxide a specific alpha-band can be detected at 569 nm at 25 degrees C and 565 nm at 77K. Arch Intern Med, 1983 Nov, 143(11), 2093 - 5 Bacteremia associated with decubitus ulcers; Bryan CS et al.; We studied 104 episodes of bacteremia in 102 patients with decubitus ulcers observed over five years in the hospitals of one metropolitan area . The ulcers were considered to be the "probable" source of bacteremia in 49% of episodes . Another site of infection was documented in 86% of patients . Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were the most frequent blood isolates in these patients, but only Bacteroides species correlated with "probable" origin of bacteremia from the ulcers . The overall mortality was 55%, with 51% of deaths being attributed to infection . These findings emphasize the importance of decubitus ulcers as potential sources of bacteremia in hospitalized patients. J Med Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 16(4), 427 - 31 The adhesins and fimbriae of Proteus mirabilis strains associated with high and low affinity for the urinary tract; Adegbola RA et al.; In strains of Proteus mirabilis of urinary origin, no correlation was found between proticine types, reflecting relative affinity for the urinary tract, and the production of haemagglutinins and presence of fimbriae, a measure of adhesiveness. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 2844 - 8 {Fosfomycin susceptibility of clinical isolates from otorhinolaryngological infections}; Deguchi K; To investigate the clinical and bacteriological usefulness of orally administered fosfomycin calcium (FOM), the susceptibility of 558 strains to FOM was determined . These strains were isolated at our Center, between Feb . 1982 and Feb . 1983 from otorhinolaryngological infections . Several other drugs were also tested on the same strains for comparison . The results were as follows . The MIC80 of FOM was 6.25 micrograms/ml against each of aerobic Gram-positive cocci such as S . aureus, S . pyogenes, S . pneumoniae, anaerobic Gram-positive cocci such as Peptococcus spp., and H . influenzae . P . mirabilis, indole-positive Proteus spp., P . aeruginosa and K . pneumoniae were inhibited, respectively, at 3.13, 12.5, 12.5 and 50 micrograms/ml . Most of the MICs were between 3.13 and 12.5 micrograms/ml, and the difference between the MIC50 and the MIC90 was only 1 to 2 tubes since there were few resistant strains . With the comparative drugs, there was a reduction seen in the sensitivities of pipemidic acid (PPA), ampicillin (ABPC), and cephalexin (CEX) against, respectively, P . aeruginosa, beta-lactamase-producing H . influenzae and S . aureus . FOM showed good and constant sensitivity for the weakly PPA-sensitive P . aeruginosa, weakly ABPC-sensitive beta-lactamase-producing H . influenzae and weakly CEX-sensitive S . aureus . The MICs of FOM against the main problematic isolates from otorhinolaryngological infections were mostly between 3.13 and 12.5 micrograms/ml, including the above weakly PPA-, ABPC- and CEX-sensitive strains . Based on these values, FOM may be said to have moderate antibacterial efficacy when administered orally in the usual dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Oct, (10), 88 - 92 {Vaccine from soluble antigens for the specific therapy of Proteus infection}; Kreinin LS et al.; A vaccine prepared from Proteus soluble antigens obtained by the disintegration of microbial cells with hydroxylamine is proposed . In animal experiments the vaccine has proved to be nontoxic when injected in large single doses or in smaller doses over a prolonged period and capable of protecting mice and rabbits from Proteus infection . No pronounced postvaccinal complications have been registered in humans immunized with the vaccine . The possibility of using the vaccine for immunizing donors with the aim of obtaining hyperimmune anti-Proteus plasma and for the active vaccinal therapy of patients with Proteus infection has been shown. Kardiologiia, 1983 Oct, 23(10), 28 - 31 {Patho- and morphogenesis of infectious myocarditis}; Maksimov VA et al.; An experimental study in white mice infected with influenza virus A1, staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli or Proteus, showed toxic vascular, stromal and cardiomyocyte damage in the myocardium within the first 2-3 days (circulation disorders, edema, dystrophic and necrotic changes in cardiomyocytes), which by day 3-5 were replaced by inflammation resulting in the formation of myocarditic cardiosclerosis foci by the 3d-4th week . Certain immune disorders were detected in patients with infectious myocarditis; cardiac antigen was found in the serum of 24%, anticardiac antibodies in 22%, positive blast transformation tests in 7.5%, as well as reduced quantities of T cells . Coons's method at late dates after staphylococcal angina revealed antibodies to myocardial structures in 45.7% of patients, and those to connective tissue in 36.1-31.4% . Myocarditis signs were identified in part of those . A scheme is proposed for the pathogenesis of infectious myocarditis. J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Oct, 55(2), 209 - 14 Performance of a semi-automated antibiotic susceptibility testing system (ABAC); Lamp RP et al.; The ABAC system for antibiotics susceptibility testing was compared with an agar diffusion method in 14 960 tests, including 23 antibacterial agents . Identical breakpoints were used . Only 3% major discrepancies (M.d.; sensitive vs resistant) and 19% minor discrepancies (m.d.; intermediate vs sensitive or resistant) were noted . Major discrepancies were mainly found for methicillin (Staphylococcus aureus), netilmicin (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), chloramphenicol, sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Proteus sp.) and were checked by quantitative susceptibility tests . These showed ABAC to be at fault in 41--47% of discrepancies, the diffusion test in 21--32% and 21--37% were intermediate . Half of the m.d . involved beta-lactams, which is explained by two low breakpoints . Except for methicillin and netilmicin the overall results showed ABAC to be equal to the agar diffusion method . Technical faults, like leakage and incorrect filling of cups in the plastic rotors of ABAC, occurred in 14% of the rotors. J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Oct, 55(2), 371 - 2 A note on the determination of antibiotic susceptibility of invasive strains of Proteus by a simple agar dilution method; Zemelman R et al.; A method is described for testing antibiotic susceptibility of invasive and noninvasive micro-organisms in which strains are grown on small agar discs. J Bacteriol, 1983 Oct, 156(1), 177 - 85 Homologous sequences other than insertion elements can serve as recombination sites in plasmid drug resistance gene amplification; Peterson BC et al.; A plasmid (pRR983) was constructed which has a gene coding for neomycin and kanamycin resistance flanked by direct repeats of regions of homology which contain no known insertion sequences . pRR983 does not have any homologous IS1 sequences . Growth of Proteus mirabilis harboring pRR983 in medium containing high concentration of neomycin resulted in cells which were highly resistant to both neomycin and kanamycin . Plasmid DNA was analyzed by using restriction endonucleases . In most cases the neomycin resistance gene had been tandemly duplicated by using the homologous DNA sequences flanking the resistance gene as recombination sites . This is analogous to tandem duplication of drug resistance genes on NR1 using the two direct repeats of IS1 as recombination sites . The amplified plasmid DNA returned to its original structure by the deletion of amplified neomycin resistance determinants when the host cells were cultured without selection for high resistance to neomycin. J Cell Biol, 1983 Sep, 97(3), 692 - 702 Acidification of phagosomes is initiated before lysosomal enzyme activity is detected; McNeil PL et al.; We have measured changes of pH in a protein's microenvironment consequent on its binding to the cell surface and incorporation into pinosomes . Changes of pH were measured from single, living cells and selected regions of cells by the fluorescence ratio technique using a photon-counting microspectrofluorimeter . The chemotactic agent and pinocytosis inducer, ribonuclease, labeled with fluorescein (FTC-RNase), adsorbed to the surface of Amoeba proteus, and was pinocytosed by cells in culture media at pH 7.0 . The FTC-RNase entered an apparently acidic microenvironment, pH approximately 6.1, upon binding to the surface of amoebae . Once enclosed within pinosomes, this protein's microenvironment became steadily more acidic, reaching a minimum of pH approximately 5.6 in less than 10 min . FTC-RNase pinocytosed by the giant amoeba, Chaos carolinensis, entered pinosomes whose pH was correlated with their cytoplasmic location during the initial 30-40 min after pinocytosis . The majority of pinosomes containing FTC-RNase clustered in the tail ectoplasm of C . carolinensis during this interval and had a pH of approximately 6.5; those released into endoplasm and carried into the tip of cells had a pH below 5.0 . As pinosomes became distributed at random in C . carolinensis (1-2 h after initial pinocytosis), differences in pH between tip and tail pinosomes vanished . We have also measured the pH within single phagosomes of A . proteus . Phagosomal pH dropped steadily to approximately 5.4 within 5 min after particle ingestion in 70% of the cells measured, and reached this level of acidity within 10 min in 90% of the cells measured . By contrast, stain for the lysosomal enzyme, acid phosphatase, was evident within only 20% of 5-min-old phagosomes visualized by light microscopy, and within only 40% of 10-min-old phagosomes . A microfluorimetric assay was used to simultaneously record changes in pH, and the initial deposition of lysosomal esterases, within phagosomes of single, living Amoeba proteus . Near complete acidification of the phagosome was recorded from some cells before phagosomal fusion was evident by this microfluorimetric assay . From other cells, however, continued acidification of phagosomes was recorded after lysosomal fusion was initiated . We conclude that acidification of phagosomes by A . proteus is initiated but not necessarily completed prior to phagosome-lysosome formation, and that the two events are closely linked in time . Initial acidification of endosomes is a property intrinsic to the plasma membrane which envelops particles at the cell surface, rather than the result of lysosomal fusion with phagosomes. Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1983 Sep, 16(3), 214 - 6 The turbidimetric stability of common clinical bacterial isolates in water; Hovnanian A et al.; Ninety common clinical bacterial isolates were suspended in sterile deionized, tap and lake water to a turbidity of 100 Klett-Summerson Colorimeter Units . The suspensions were then measured for turbidity at seven and 14 days of storage at 25 degrees C . Turbidities for Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were stable for 14 days, however those of Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and S . epidermidis were unstable as evidenced by a decreased turbidity . Staphylococci were much less stable in deionized water than tap or lake water . Overall, the turbidity of most isolates was most stable in lake followed by tap and deionized water, respectively. Exp Cell Res, 1983 Sep, 147(2), 466 - 71 Quantitative analysis of changes in cell shape of Amoeba proteus during locomotion and upon responses to salt stimuli; Ueda T et al.; A new parameter expressing the complexity of cell shape defined as (periphery)2/(area) in 2D projection was found useful for a quantitative analysis of changes in the cell shape of Amoeba proteus and potentially of any amoeboid cells . During locomotion the complexity and the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming in amoeba varied periodically, and the Fourier analysis of the two showed a similar pattern in the power spectrum, giving a rather broad peak at about 2.5 X 10(-3) Hz . The complexity increased mainly due to elongation of the cell as external Ca2+ increased . This effect was blocked by La3+, half the inhibition being attained at 1/200 amount of the coexisting Ca2+ . On the other hand, the complexity decreased due to rounding up of the cell as the concentration of other cations, such as Sr2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Na+, K+ etc., increased . Irrespective of the opposite effects of Ca2+ and other cations on the cell shape, the ATP concentration in amoeba decreased in both cases with increase of all these cations . The irregularity in amoeboid motility is discussed in terms of a dynamic system theory. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1983 Sep, 32(5), 1101 - 7 Diagnostic criteria for scrub typhus: probability values for immunofluorescent antibody and Proteus OXK agglutinin titers; Brown GW et al.; The sensitivities and specificities of the indirect microimmunofluorescent antibody (IFA) and Weil-Felix (OXK) tests for scrub typhus were established for a range of titers using groups of diseased and control (other febrile illnesses) patients diagnosed by other methods . At a cut-off point of greater than or equal to 1:400, the IFA test was 0.96 specific, and at greater than or equal to 1:320, the OXK was 0.97 specific . Using either these highly specific levels of antibody or other rigorous diagnostic criteria (isolation or 4-fold rising titers), the prevalence of scrub typhus infection was determined to be 0.22 in an unselected population of febrile patients in a rural Malaysian hospital . Probability values (Pr) for the correct diagnosis of scrub typhus were then calculated from the specificity, sensitivity and prevalence determination for a range of titers . The Pr for an OXK titer of greater than or equal to 1:320 was 0.79, and the Pr for an IFA titer of greater than or equal to 1:400 was 0.78 . When both these titers were present in a single specimen, the Pr increased to 0.96. Can J Med Technol, 1983 Sep, 45(3), 172 - 6 Bacteremia in a Veterans Administration Medical Center (1961-1981); Flournoy DJ et al.; Laboratory data on blood cultures were reviewed for the period 1961-1981 . Blood cultures accounted for 18% of all bacterial cultures . Nine percent of all blood cultures were positive for growth, including pathogens and contaminants . Of these, 21% wer contaiminants . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common contaminant while Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently occurring pathogens, respectively . Four percent of all positive blood cultures, involving pathogens, had multiple organisms with E . coli the most common . There was no drastic change in the frequency of occurrence of Gram negative or positive isolates over the years, but certain pathogens like Proteus mirabilis, Serratia sp . and Group A Streptococci were more common from 1971-81 than 1961-70 . One percent of all patients with positive blood cultures had the same organism for two months or longer . Analysis of these longer occurring infections yielded a mean of 15, median of 7 and range of 2-87 months . E . coli was the most common pathogen in these chronic infections, followed by S . aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, respectively. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Aug, 36(8), 2261 - 8 {Experimental and clinical evaluation of cefpiramide in pediatrics}; Nishimura T et al.; The authors have carried out the laboratory and clinical studies of cefpiramide (CPM) . The results were as follows; The sensitivity was estimated by plate dilution method on 27 strains of S . aureus and P . aeruginosa, 26 strains of E . coli, 25 strains of K . pneumoniae and 13 strains of Proteus sp . isolated from patients . The distribution of S . aureus was 0.78 approximately 6.25 micrograms/ml and the peak of distribution was 1.56 micrograms/ml . The distribution of E . coli was 0.78 approximately 50 micrograms/ml and the peak of distribution was 0.78 and 25 micrograms/ml . The growth of 24% of K . pneumoniae was not inhibited at concentration of more than 50 micrograms/ml . The distribution of Proteus sp . was 6.25 approximately 100 micrograms/ml . The growth of 77.8% of P . aeruginosa was inhibited at concentration of less than 3.13 micrograms/ml . CPM was given by intravenous administration for 5 minutes and drip infusion for 30 minutes at a single dose of 20 mg/kg of CPM to each 2 children respectively . After intravenous administration of CPM, the mean peak serum level was 200.5 +/- 37.5 micrograms/ml at 15 minutes, 44.3 +/- 0.9 micrograms/ml at 6 hours, 19.9 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml at 12 hours respectively . Half-life time was 4.2 hours . After drip infusion of CPM, the mean peak serum level was 150.5 +/- 14.5 micrograms/ml at end of infusion, 23.6 +/- 3.3 micrograms/ml at 6 hours and 8.2 +/- 2.0 micrograms/ml at 12 hours respectively . Half-life time was 3.8 hours . The mean urinary excretion rate was 23.15%, 28.2% up to 12 hours after intravenous administration and drip infusion respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Aug, 36(8), 2160 - 70 {Evaluation of cefpiramide, a new cephem parenteral preparation developed in Japan, in pediatrics}; Nakazawa S et al.; Fundamental and clinical studies of cefpiramide (CPM), a newly developed cephem antibiotic with a broad spectrum, were performed and the following results were obtained . The serum levels of CPM after the intravenous injection or the drip infusion of CPM at dose of 10.0 approximately 46.7 mg/kg reached the peak of 75.8 approximately 274.0 micrograms/ml at 30 approximately 60 minutes after infusion and were 3.9 approximately 55.1 micrograms/ml at 8 hours after the infusion . Half-life of CPM in the blood was between 2.4 and 7.0 hours . The excretion rates of CPM into urine up to 24 hours after the infusion were 5.7 approximately 20.4% . Twenty-five patients with acute respiratory tract infection (RTI, 15 cases), urinary tract infection (UTI, 8 cases), cellulitis (1 case) and salmonellosis (1 case) were treated with CPM . The treatment by intravenous injection or drip infusion of 22 approximately 55 mg/kg/day (40 approximately 50 mg/kg/day) for mean 6 days resulted in 100% of good response in 15 cases of RTI and in 88% of good response in 8 cases of UTI . S . aureus, H . influenzae, E . coli, Proteus, Klebsiella and Salmonella group B were isolated from the culture of sputum or urine in the patients, and they were all eradicated by the treatment with CPM . No side effects were observed except eosinophilia in 1 case and the elevation of GOT and GPT in 1 case. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Aug, 36(8), 1999 - 2006 {Clinical evaluation of cefoxitin for the treatment of severe gastrointestinal infections}; Fukutome A et al.; Some 23 patients suffering from severe gastrointestinal infections were treated with cefoxitin (CFX) at the Bokuto Metropolitan Hospital, surgical ward, from September to November, 1982 . Clinical examinations were conducted and the findings bacteriologically evaluated . The following clinical results were obtained: Of 23 patients, 11 were treated for diffuse peritonitis, 5 for localized peritonitis, and 7 for cholangitis . Following treatment, 5 were judged "excellent", 12 "good", 4 "fair", and 2 "poor." The clinical efficacy rate was 74% . Antibiotic disc susceptibility testings for ampicillin, cephalexin, gentamicin, and CFX were conducted . Gram-negative rods, such as E . coli, Klebsiella sp., Proteus sp., and especially, anaerobic B . fragilis, indicated susceptibility to CFX . B . fragilis was resistant to the remaining 3 antibiotics . Transient elevations in S-GOT and S-GPT levels were observed in 2 patients . However, this was not thought to be caused by CFX . No other irregularities were found . CFX is considered to be a drug of first choice for the treatment of severe gastrointestinal infections . However, for infections due to mixed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria, concomitant treatment with CFX and an aminoglycoside is recommended. Lab Anim Sci, 1983 Aug, 33(4), 361 - 3 Leukocyte agglomeration test to reveal bacterial infections in mice; Kariv N et al.; A simple and rapid procedure was used to detecting covert bacterial infections in mice . The procedure was based on observations that bacterial infections were associated with clumping of leukocytes . A large drop of citrated venous blood was placed on a slide and allowed to spread . After fixation and staining the percentage of agglomerated leukocytes was determined by counting . Experimental urinary tract infections caused by either Escherichia coli or Proteus mirabilis served as a model to test the efficacy of the method . Elevation of leukocyte agglomeration was observed in these localized infections. J Med Microbiol, 1983 Aug, 16(3), 323 - 31 The purification, structure and synthesis of proticine 3; Senior BW; The ability of Proteus mirabilis to produce the bacteriocin, proticine 3, is found almost exclusively in strains that cause severe infections of the upper urinary tract . Proticine 3 was purified from lysates of mitomycin C-induced cultures . Biological activity was associated with structures resembling bacteriophage tails which, when first produced, were in the form of "nails" with one pointed end and a base plate with appendages at the other end . This form was unstable and changed to a "rocket" form in which the outer sheath contracted and thickened to reveal a protruding, hollow core that often became detached from the sheath . Purified proticine 3 comprises two major and nine minor proteins . Fluorography showed that during production of the proticine, a 58,000 mol . wt protein was synthesized late in the induction process and became the most intensely labelled protein in the culture . Synthesis of this protein coincided with the appearance and increase in titre of biologically-active proticine within the cell and with the appearance of "nail" forms . The protein is believed to be shed when an active "nail" is converted to an inactive "rocket" and to be either the component of proticine 3 associated with its lethal activity, or the protein required for the correct assembly of the constituent components into a biologically-active particle . The role of proticine 3 as a virulence factor is discussed. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5(6), 385 - 90 Comparative study of aztreonam and cefamandole in the treatment of serious urinary tract infections; Tsouroutsoglou W et al.; In a single blind study we compared the efficacy of aztreonam (Az), a novel monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, to that of cefamandole (Cef) in the treatment of serious urinary tract infections (UTIs) . Twenty-one patients were studied (6 men and 15 women, 18-75 years old), 12 suffering from an upper and 9 from a lower UTI; 14 of them received Az and 7 Cef (2:1 ratio), according to a prospective randomization schedule . Az or Cef were administered intramuscularly (1 g every 8 hours) for 5 to 10 days . Patients were followed up for 28 to 42 days after end of treatment . The following bacteria were isolated in the urine cultures: E . coli (in 14 cases), Proteus sp . (4), Klebsiella sp . (2) and Pseudomonas sp . (in 1 case) . All 21 bacterial isolates were susceptible to Az while 19 of them were susceptible to Cef (the Pseudomonas strain was sensitive to Az but resistant to Cef) . During the entire period of observation, we had 13 cures and 1 relapse in Az-group and 5 cures and 2 relapses in the Cef-group . Aztreonam was as equally well tolerated as cefamandole and no major side effects were observed in either group . In 4 Az- and 3 Cef-patients a rise of SGOT and SGPT (up to 2 1/2 times the upper normal limits) was observed, but it subsided a few days after the end of treatment . Our study shows that aztreonam is at least as effective, safe and well tolerated an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of serious urinary tract infections as cefamandole; In the future aztreonam deserves a large scale, systematic trial in all infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Diagn Histopathol, 1983 Jul-Dec, 6(3-4), 203 - 19 Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: a pathological, clinical and aetiological analysis of 87 cases; Parsons MA et al.; Analysis of 87 cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis ( XPN ) from 1958 to 1983 (14 males, 73 females, ages 13-85) revealed an incidence of 1.4 cases/100 000 population per annum which is apparently increasing . Clinical, radiological and pathological investigations demonstrated universal urinary obstruction (77.5 per cent calculi, 17.5 per cent pelviureteric junction obstruction) and pathogenic organisms such as E . coli or Proteus were cultured from the urine in 72 per cent of cases . Rare complications included sinuses or fistulae to bowel . We believe that the combination of urinary obstruction and infection by organisms of low virulence initiate XPN , and that associated lipid is derived from renal pelvic adipose tissue . Problems of differential diagnosis are discussed in relation to the use of immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Jul-Aug, 5 Suppl 3, S502 - 6 Use of rifampin for the treatment of serious staphylococcal and gram-negative bacillary infections; Acar JF et al.; The use of rifampin combined with other antimicrobial agents for the treatment of 40 serious bacterial infections against which other treatment regimens had failed was reviewed . Seven of 17 staphylococcal infections (16 due to Staphylococcus aureus and one due to Staphylococcus epidermidis) were cured, as were 16 of 23 infections caused by gram-negative bacilli . In vitro tests of interaction between rifampin and other antibiotics produced variable results . However, eight rifampin-resistant strains (six of S . aureus, one of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one of Proteus mirabilis) emerged during combination therapy in seven patients; the drugs involved were rifampin plus vancomycin in three instances, rifampin plus gentamicin in two, rifampin plus colistin in one, and rifampin plus pristinamycin in one . Thus, while rifampin produced a dramatic beneficial effect in some patients with serious bacterial infections, the emergence of resistant strains, even with dual drug therapy, was identified as a potential problem. Lepr India, 1983 Jul, 55(3), 504 - 11 Bacteriological study of trophic ulcers in leprosy patients (a preliminary study); Kumar CH et al.; Swabs from trophic ulcers from 108 cases were studied by culture . 37 cases yielded single organism (Ps . aeruginosa, 18, Proteus species 11, Staph . pyogenes 4, Others 4) . 71 cases yielded mixed growth with two or more organisms . Ps . aeruginosa, Proteus species and Diphtheroids were the predominant organisms in these cultures . Ps . aeruginosa was sensitive to Gentamycin (96.6%), Streptomycin (62.7%) and Chloramphenicol (33.9%) . Other organisms although comparatively more sensitive showed a similar pattern. Chest, 1983 Jul, 84(1), 109 - 11 Elevated pleural fluid pH in Proteus mirabilis empyema; Pine JR et al.; Three cases of Proteus empyema were associated with elevated pleural fluid pH values . The elevated pH is likely due to ammonia production by Proteus organisms. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Jun, 11(6), 503 - 9 Evidence for a slowing in trimethoprim resistance during 1981--a comparison with earlier years; Brumfitt W et al.; Two thousand seven hundred bacterial strains, isolated during 1981 from urine specimens both from patients in hospital and general practice, were examined for resistance to trimethoprim . The incidence of such resistance was 13% in the hospital isolates and 5.8% in the general practice strains . High level resistance (MIC greater than 1 mg/ml) was present in 75-90% of the resistant strains . With the exception of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Proteus mirabilis, almost all the trimethoprim-resistant strains were also resistant to sulphonamide . In 410 strains from sputum specimens the incidence of resistance was 5.4% . Disc testing for the determination of sensitivity of urine isolates is best carried out using a 5 micrograms disc, while for sputum isolates our present experience indicates that a 1.25 micrograms disc is most appropriate . Our results indicate that the rate of increase in the acquisition of resistance to trimethoprim appears to have slowed down compared with the period 1975-1977, and that almost all this resistance is now high level . The introduction of trimethoprim alone for therapeutic use appears to have little if any effect on the incidence of trimethoprim resistance. Biol Reprod, 1983 Jun, 28(5), 1243 - 55 Effect of estrogen-promoted bacterial infections of the rat uterus on bioassay of mammalian cell growth factor activities in uterine luminal fluid; Leland FE et al.; Exogenous estradiol treatment of intact or ovariectomized rats causes accumulation of significant volumes of fluid in the uterine horns . In this report, evidence is presented showing the presence of mammalian cell growth factor(s) in uterine luminal fluid (ULF), along with other data showing that the exogenous estradiol treatment needed to cause significant accumulation of the fluid also facilitates the movement of vaginal origin bacteria into the uterine horns . It is shown that microorganisms infect the uteri of 80% or more of rats administered exogenous estradiol, and that the microorganisms are most probably of vaginal origin; procedures such as ligation of the uterine body above the cervix or antibiotic treatment did not suppress the infections . Administration of different doses of exogenous estrogen by either implantation of a single 25-mg estradiol/cholesterol pellet which causes a 20- to 50-fold elevation of estradiol levels above physiological plasma concentrations, or instead, by a Silastic tube delivery method that elevates levels only 2- to 3-fold above the normal range, resulted in equal frequency of uterine infections and in the appearance of infection at the same time after starting treatment . A number of bacterial species are present in the contaminated ULF, and these are the origins of intracellular products which are potent inhibitors of mammalian cell growth; the presence of these bacterial origin inhibitors interferes with the bioassay of the ULF growth factor activity, and hence, impedes the characterization of the growth factor(s) present in luminal fluid . Characterization of the origins of the growth-inhibiting activities showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis are the predominant species present in infected uteri and that both produce exotoxin activities which inhibit growth of mammalian cells in culture; Pseudomonas appears to be the greater producer of cytotoxic activity . Evidence is presented that suggests that the well-known Exotoxin A produced by Pseudomonas may be responsible, in part, for the toxic effects of this organism . Other, as yet unidentified, cell growth inhibitors also may be produced by the bacteria found in ULF . Surgical separation of the uterine body from the cervix allows preparation of ULF which contains no bacteria and substantially reduced levels of growth inhibitors to mammalian cell lines. Vet Microbiol, 1983 Jun, 8(3), 271 - 80 Action of EDTA-Tris and antimicrobial agent combinations on selected pathogenic bacteria; Wooley RE et al.; The concentration of EDTA-Tris (3.22 mM EDTA and 0.05 M Tris) used as a lavage to treat otitis externa, cystitis or other persistent infections in dogs and cats, was found to prevent the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and beta streptococci when present in growth media . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was rapidly lysed in this solution . Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris grew in the presence of EDTA-Tris, but to a lesser extent than the controls without these compounds . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for 8 antimicrobial agents with and without EDTA-Tris were determined for E . coli and P . vulgaris . A potentiation effect on E . coli (greater than 50% decrease MIC) was observed when EDTA-Tris was combined with penicillin, oxytetracycline or chloramphenicol . A similar effect was observed with P . vulgaris when combinations of EDTA-Tris plus gentamicin, oxytetracycline, polymyxin-B or triple sulfa were used . The results of this study indicate that EDTA-Tris appears to have merit in selected cases of otitis externa, cystitis or other persistent infections where lavage might be used. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Jun, 23(6), 944 - 6 Clinical trial of cefonicid for treatment of skin infections; Gremillion DH et al.; Twenty patients with skin and soft-tissue infections were treated with parenteral cefonicid . Cultures obtained in cellulitis cases from an aspirate of a leading edge of inflammation were positive in 42% of these patients . Pathogens isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (six strains), Proteus mirabilis (one strain), and Streptococcus agalactiae . Adverse effects were pain on intramuscular injection (two patients), rash (one patient), and positive Coombs test (one patient) . All side effects were mild and none required discontinuing antibiotic therapy . A single treatment failure occurred in a patient with an undrained perirectal abscess . Cefonicid may be a useful drug in the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections . The long half-life of cefonicid (4.8 h) is a valuable advantage and may facilitate patient compliance and convenience. Trop Geogr Med, 1983 Jun, 35(2), 133 - 8 Frequency and resistance patterns of bacterial isolates from surgical patients in a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa; Gedebou M et al.; Specimens from surgical patients in a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa were processed for aerobic culture; 2654 isolates were tested for their sensitivities to 11 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer technique . Proteus, E . coli, S . aureus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas comprised over 80% of the isolates . Only gentamicin, polymyxin B, kanamycin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole were effective against the majority (over 70%) of the Gram-negative isolates . Over 85% of the S . aureus strains were susceptible to gentamicin, kanamycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, cephalothin and lincomycin . All B-haemolytic streptococci were susceptible to penicillin and 77% to tetracycline . Between 70% and 90% of the Gram-negatives were multiple resistant, with greatly varied resistance patterns . A few types occurred more frequently . The findings of high rates of resistance to the many antibiotics underscore the need for a policy that should promote a more rational use of antibiotics. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1983 Jun, 31(6), 536 - 9 {Frequency of isolation and antibiotic sensitivity of strains of coli bacilli from urinary tract infections isolated in private laboratories}; Bourlioux P et al.; Frequency of isolation and antibiotic susceptibility of E . coli strains isolated from urinary tract infections in private laboratory . The urinary tract infections are not the most frequent infections in man . However cytobacteriological analysis are often required for the diagnosis . The critical evaluation of 3000 analysis brings the followed conclusions: 1) 16% of the analysis correspond to a urinary tract infection; 2) the most frequently isolated germs are E . coli (65%) and Proteus mirabilis (11%); 3) E . coli is always very susceptible to antibiotics especially aminosides (100%) polymyxine E (92%), cotrimoxazole (91%) and quinolones (90%); 4) hospital bacteria can be found with a low frequency . However, in our study, Staphylococcus aureus has been isolated in 6% of the cases . This seems to be in relation with the passage of patients in an obstetric clinic. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Jun, 36(6), 1544 - 52 {Clinical study of cefmenoxime in acute peritonitis: clinical effect and tissue concentration of cefmenoxime}; Hashimoto I et al.; A new antibiotic drug of cephalosporin group, with marked resistance of beta-lactamase, cefmenoxime (CMX) for parenteral use was tested in 15 patients with acute peritonitis . CMX in a dose of 500 mg was given intramusculary before the operation, to 8 cases with appendicitis, and 2 cases with intestinal obstruction . In 3 cases with appendicitis and a case with intestinal perforation, CMX in a dose of 500-1,000 mg was given by intravenous injection before or during the operation . And in a case with appendicitis, CMX in a dose of 1 g was given by intravenous drip infusion before the operation . Tissue specimens of different sites or body fluids were taken during the operation and from the removed organs . The materials of purulent ascites were subsequently taken at intervals . Determination of CMX concentration was performed according to cup bioassay method with Proteus mirabilis ATCC 21100 strain . The peak of CMX concentration in purulent ascites of patient with panperitonitis for intestinal perforation was 39.5 microgram/ml at 41 minutes after 1 g intravenous administration . Concentration of CMX in pus in the appendix was 52.5 microgram/ml at 20 minutes after 1 g intravenous administration . In 15 patients with acute peritonitis, 11 patients were given CMX in a dose of 500 mg by intramuscular administration twice a day, and the serious 4 patients were given in a dose of 500 mg to 1 g by intravenous drip infusion twice a day . Clinical response was excellent in 10 cases, good in 5 cases, fair and poor were none.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infect Immun, 1983 Jun, 40(3), 930 - 5 Effect of anaerobic bacteria on killing of Proteus mirabilis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Namavar F et al.; Killing of Proteus mirabilis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was tested in the presence of different Bacteroides species . In vitro experiments showed that anaerobic bacteria interfered with the killing of aerobic bacteria . However, this inhibitory effect was not a property of all Bacteroides species . Bacteroides gingivalis W83 showed the greatest inhibitory effect of the five Bacteroides strains tested . Killing of P . mirabilis was inhibited by the culture supernatant of B . gingivalis but not by washed cells . Two factors were found in the supernatant of B . gingivalis to account for the inhibitory effect . One was heat stable with a molecular weight of less than 3,500 and inhibited the killing activity of leukocytes, and the other was heat labile and partly inactivated the complement system . The killing experiments paralleled chemiluminescence measurements. J Chromatogr, 1983 May 13, 274, 37 - 44 Gas chromatographic analysis of bacterial amines as their free bases; Tavakkol A et al.; Columns of Chromosorb 103, Tenax-GC, Amine 220 plus potassium hydroxide on Chromosorb W, and Carbowax 20M plus potassium hydroxide on Chromosorb W were compared for their ability to separate bacterial amines as their free bases in aqueous solution . A 1.52 m X 0.6 cm O.D . column of Chromosorb 103 separated eleven amines when operated isothermally at 185 degrees C . A further four high-boiling amines could be separated at 240 degrees C . The other packings separated only eight amines isothermally, except for Tenax-GC which separated seven of the free bases . Chromosorb 103 performed less well than Carbowax 20 M plus potassium hydroxide with respect to number of plates or peak resolution . The maximum number of amines separated, thirteen, required Chromosorb 103 programmed from 170 degrees C to 230 degrees C at 3 degrees C min-1 after an initial holding time of 20 min . It was possible tentatively to identify amines in culture supernatant fluid of Proteus mirabilis, viz . ethylamine, isobutylamine and isoamylamine, after direct injection of culture supernatant fluid. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 May, 11(5), 473 - 80 Susceptibility of blood isolates to various antibiotics, in particular to cephalosporins; Ling J et al.; Of 760 bacterial pathogens isolated from blood cultures of acutely ill patients in a general hospital in Hong Kong for 1 year, 69.9% of the isolates were Gram-negative aerobes mainly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 22.0% were Gram-positive aerobes mainly Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci and 8.1% were anaerobes mainly Bacteroides spp . The susceptibility of the aerobic isolates to various antibiotics was tested . Ampicillin was found to be active mainly against the enterococci and some other Gram-positive organisms while most isolates of Staph . aureus and the Gram-negative bacteria were resistant . In contrast, cephalothin was found only slightly less active than the second generation cephalosporins against Gram-negative blood isolates but considerably more active against Staph . aureus and other Gram-positive isolates . The three aminoglycosides tested, i.e., gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin, showed similar good activity against E . coli, K . pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis, but amikacin had the broadest spectrum of activity in inhibiting most of the other Gram-negative isolates as well as isolates of Staph . aureus . The third generation cephalosporins, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, latamoxef (moxalactam), ceftriaxone and ceftazidime, all had a high activity against the Gram-negative but a reduced activity against the Gram-positive bacteria . Ceftazidime had the broadest spectrum of activity in inhibiting all the Gram-negative isolates including Pseudomonas aeruginosa,