J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1984 Jan 15, 184(2), 175 - 8 Blood culture of the canine patient; Hirsh DC et al.; Blood for bacteriologic culture was obtained from 581 sick dogs . Of these, 134 (23%) were considered to have bacteremia . The conditions most frequently associated with bacteremia were malignant neoplasms and infections of the skeletal, cardiovascular, and urogenital systems . The most frequently isolated bacteria were members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and coagulase-positive staphylococci, in sum accounting for more than 50% of the 150 isolates . Most of the dogs with bacteremia had high proportions of immature neutrophils, segmented neutrophils, and monocytes in blood . Dogs with bacteremia and osteomyelitis due to staphylococci had normal hemograms . Blood from dogs with bacteremia due to gram-negative bacteria was more likely to have a high proportion of immature and segmented neutrophil leukocytes than was blood from dogs with bacteremia due to a gram-positive species . Toxic neutrophils were observed more often in blood obtained from patients with bacteremia due to gram-negative bacteria . The development of fever correlated with the bacteremic state regardless of the species of bacteria in the blood. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(1), 1 - 6 Enterobacteriaceae as indicators of good manufacturing practices in rendering plants; van Schothorst M et al.; Finished products and samples from the environment of the production line in rendering plants were checked for Enterobacteriaceae and salmonellae . Improvements in hygiene and measures taken to limit multiplication of microorganisms in the dry area of the production lines resulted in reduction of both numbers of Enterobacteriaceae in environmental samples and frequency of their occurrence in finished products . Simultaneously, there was an equivalent reduction of salmonellae positives in environmental samples and finished products . Consequently, the determination of Enterobacteriaceae can be used as an effective tool to assess the improvements in good manufacturing practices. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 142 - 4 Effect of temocillin in combination with other beta-lactam antibiotics; Verbist L et al.; The antibacterial interactions of temocillin with other beta-lactams were tested by checkerboard combination in Mueller-Hinton agar against 146 strains of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, 35 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and 35 Staphylococcus aureus strains . Most combinations showed a moderate degree of synergism . In only one Klebsiella strain was minor antagonism observed between temocillin and ampicillin. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 56 - 60 Bacterial interference with coliform colony sheen production on membrane filters; Burlingame GA et al.; The membrane filter (MF) method for detection and enumeration of coliform bacteria in drinking water requires that the coliforms both grow and produce a green metallic sheen when the filter is incubated on modified Endo medium at 35 degrees C for 22 h . Large numbers of noncoliform bacteria, which are enumerated by the standard plate count (SPC) technique, can interfere with the detection of coliforms on MF . This paper presents quantitative evidence from laboratory experiments on the interference of specific SPC bacteria on coliform colony sheen production on MF . Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila caused significant reductions in Escherichia coli sheen colony counts when present at 3,000 and 220 per filter, respectively . The Flavobacterium sp . and Bacillus sp . selected for this study from SPC did not interfere with coliform colony sheen production . Excessive crowding of E . coli and Enterobacter cloacae colonies on MF also caused a reduction in the number of colonies that produced sheen . Even when there was no crowding (14 colonies per filter), only a fraction of the E . cloacae colonies produced sheen colonies on modified Endo medium. J Infect Dis, 1984 Jan, 149(1), 48 - 57 Killing of fabric-associated bacteria in hospital laundry by low-temperature washing; Blaser MJ et al.; Hospitals using 71.1 C water for laundering consume vast amounts of energy . We studied whether washing at 22 C would result in fabric-associated bacterial counts significantly different from those remaining after the high-temperature wash procedure in general use . Using a standard method to enumerate fabric-associated bacteria, we found that soiled sheets and terry cloth items were contaminated, respectively, with 10(6) and 10(8) cfu/100 cm2 of fabric area, predominantly gram-negative rods (especially Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae) . Staphylococcus species were the most common gram-positive organisms . A standard low-temperature washing cycle without laundry chemicals removed 3 log10 of bacteria by agitation, dilution, and drainage . When low-temperature laundry chemicals were used, 3 log10 of bacteria were killed after the bleach was added, and sheets and terry cloth items had postwash colony counts of 10(1)-10(2) cfu/100 cm2 . Drying removed an additional 1-2 log10 organisms . Bacterial counts and species from low- and high-temperature washed fabrics were comparable . Low-temperature washing is therefore as effective as high-temperature washing for eliminating pathogenic bacteria from hospital laundry. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(3), 158 - 64 Comparison of in vitro activities of eight new beta-lactam compounds against cephalothin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from hospital patients; Costopoulos C et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activity of eight newer beta-lactam antibiotics (mecillinam, piperacillin, mezlocillin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, moxalactam, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime) was determined against 87 cephalothin-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated during 6 months in a general hospital . Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, moxalactam and ceftazidime proved to be highly active; only a minority of strains required higher concentrations than 0.125 microgram/ml for inhibition of growth . Cefoxitin, mecillinam, mezlocillin and piperacillin were less active . Mecillinam displayed greater efficacy against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter spp., while the same was the case for piperacillin against Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens, and for cefoxitin against indole-positive Proteus spp . The production of beta-lactamase was correlated with a reduced activity of mecillinam, mezlocillin and piperacillin but not of cefoxitin or the other beta-lactamase-stable cephalosporins . However, some strains, mainly those of Proteus, Enterobacter and Serratia, though resistant to mecillinam, mezlocillin and piperacillin did not produce beta-lactamases . This observation might indicate that ceftriaxone, moxalactam, cefotaxime and ceftazidime, besides their indifference to beta-lactamases, are characterized also by a high degree of intrinsic activity. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jan, 13(1), 5 - 13 In-vitro evaluation of miokamycin: bactericidal activity against streptococci; Lacey RW et al.; Miokamycin is a diacetyl derivative of the macrolide antibiotic, midecamycin . In vitro, it has an unusual spectrum, inhibiting the growth of Gram-positive cocci and anaerobes, but few Haemophilus spp; enterobacteria are highly resistant . Most erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive (MIC approximately 0.8 mg/l) . Resistance to miokamycin in Staph . aureus and streptococci was difficult to select, unless the staphylococci were already resistant to erythromycin . Both miokamycin and erythromycin were bactericidal towards groups A,B,C and G streptococci . Clinical trials of the drug in pelvic, upper respiratory, skin and soft tissue and other staphylococcal infections may be worthwhile. Clin Exp Immunol, 1984 Jan, 55(1), 74 - 80 HLA-B27 and the immune response to enterobacterial antigens in ankylosing spondylitis; Trull A et al.; Total serum immunoglobulins and class specific serum antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were measured in 107 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 110 healthy tissue typed controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . The specificity of this technique was confirmed by the use of specific bacterial murine antisera and by cross-absorption of human sera by specific bacteria . Total serum IgA in AS patients correlated with both erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P less than 0.001) and C-reactive protein (P less than 0.05) and was significantly elevated compared to healthy individuals (P less than 0.001) . A significant elevation of IgA antibodies to K . pneumoniae was detected in the serum of AS patients with active disease when compared to healthy controls (P less than 0.01) . These studies support the involvement of an enterobacterial micro-organism in the pathogenesis of AS and further relate to the role of HLA-B27 in this disease. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 42, 50 - 63 Basic design of beta-lactam antibiotics--cephalosporins; Price KE et al.; Since the introduction of cephaloglycin and cephalothin as the first commercially available cephalosporin C derivatives, there has been a proliferation of new agents, predominantly injectables . These have provided compounds with increased potency, improved spectrum, and/or pharmacokinetic advantages . The nature of the modifications producing these changes is the subject of the present report . The pathway generally followed by chemists working on a nucleus suitable for modification is initially a combination of trial and error and application of analogies from related areas . Once a moiety conferring a desirable effect has been identified, it or its analogs will be widely utilized in an effort to achieve further improvements . The choice of derivatives to be made is appreciably influenced by potential patentability and the feasibility of synthesis . For oral cephalosporins, to achieve adequate intrinsic bioavailability, the 7 beta-side chain has almost invariably been found to require a primary amino group on the alpha-carbon (D-configuration) . This has limited potential changes at the 7 beta-position and leaves the 3-position as the major site for introducing novel substituents . Among thousands of derivatives prepared, only a few have actually been developed for clinical use . For injectables, where oral absorption is not a factor, there are no such specific preferred entities for either the 3- or 7 beta-position . Because of this, cephalosporin derivatives containing a large and diverse group of substituents at these positions have been prepared . In addition, another substitution site was identified upon discovery of the cephamycins, antibiotics which differ from cephalosporins by the presence of a methoxy group at the 7 alpha-position . Substitution at this site confers remarkable beta-lactamase stability, but only methoxy has given acceptable potency . First generation injectables which have in the 3-position the naturally occurring acetoxymethyl group or other relatively simply substituents are very active against Gram-positive organisms and a few species of Gram-negatives . As new 3- and 7 beta-side chain moieties were studied, appropriate combinations yielded compounds active vs . a broader spectrum of Enterobacteriaceae and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Bacteroides fragilis . Furthermore, dramatic changes in pharmacokinetics (longer half-lives) were achieved by both 3- and 7 beta-side chain modifications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 42, 129 - 34 Beta-lactam antibiotics in lower respiratory tract infections; Schreiner A; Like in any infection, the choice of antibacterials in pulmonary infections of known bacterial etiology is simple . When etiology is not known, the choice must rest upon knowledge of the epidemiology of lower respiratory infections and the antibacterial spectrum of the antibiotics in question . The epidemiology of community-acquired lower respiratory infections is not too well studied . However, some studies indicate that approximately 50% of lower respiratory infections are caused by bacteria among which Streptococcus pneumoniae prevails, followed by Haemophilus influenzae . Streptococci, Branhamella catarrhalis and other Neisseria species, staphylococci and Enterobacteriaceae account for less than 10% each . The prevalence of Legionella pneumophila is unknown, but it is of limited significance . Mycoplasma pneumoniae varies in prevalence according to time and geographic area . In acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, the epidemiology is similar, except that H . influenzae is more commonly found than pneumococci . The traditional strong position of penicillin in the blind, primary treatment of community-acquired lower respiratory infections is challenged by the increasing frequency of penicillin-resistant H . influenzae and the discovery of new agents not sensitive to penicillins . The same can be said for the more recently introduced primary treatment with erythromycin . However, most community-acquired infections in the lower respiratory tract respond to penicillin; tetracycline or erythromycin may be used for treatment when the clinical response is unsatisfactory . In patients who are known or suspected to have compromised host defense, beta-lactams such as ureido-penicillins and the new cephalosporins should be used as primary therapy . In hospital-acquired lower respiratory tract infections, the etiological diagnosis is more likely to be made.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(6), 387 - 91 In vitro combination effects of cefotetan with four aminoglycosides, piperacillin and mezlocillin on gram-positive and gram-negative nosocomial bacteria; Just HM et al.; The in vitro efficacy of cefotetan in combination with gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, netilmicin against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterobacter cloacae and with piperacillin and mezlocillin against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae was compared by use of the checkerboard agar dilution technique . On average, 60% of the gram-negative and 46% of the gram-positive strains were inhibited by additive, but only 22% of the gram-negative and 2% of the gram-positive bacteria were inhibited by synergistic cefotetan-aminoglycoside combinations . Netilmicin combinations were least active . On gram-negative bacteria, 63% of the cefotetan-penicillin combinations were additive and 11% synergistic . No antagonism occurred with any of the combinations. Ciba Found Symp, 1984, 102, 219 - 32 Evolutionary relationships among genes for antibiotic resistance; Davies J et al.; The genes that determine resistance to antibiotics are commonly found encoded by extrachromosomal elements in bacteria . These were described first in Enterobacteriaceae and subsequently in a variety of other genera; their spread is associated with the increased use of antibiotics in human and animal medicine . Antibiotic-resistance genes that determine the production of enzymes which modify (detoxify) the antibiotics have been detected in antibiotic-producing organisms . It has been suggested that the producing strains provided the source of antibiotic-resistance genes that were then 'picked-up' by recombination . Recent studies of the nucleotide sequence of certain antibiotic-resistance genes indicate regions of strong homology in the encoded proteins . The implications of these similarities are discussed. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(1), 44 - 8 Azthreonam activity against gram-negative bacilli; Bremner DA; The in vitro activity of azthreonam - a monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic - was compared with the activities of ampicillin, cephalothin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, lamoxactam, ceftazidime, and N-formimidoyl thienamycin against 249 clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli . Azthreonam was as active or more active than all the third-generation cephalosporins against all the Enterobacteriaceae except Klebsiella . Against Klebsiella azthreonam was more active than cefoperazone but less active than the other third-generation cephalosporins . Azthreonam, ceftazidime, and piperacillin were equally active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(4), 435 - 40 Enterobacter sakazakii: a tween 80 esterase-positive representative of the genus Enterobacter isolated from powdered milk specimens; Postupa R et al.; Enterobacter sakazakii is the new species name introduced in 1977 for yellow-pigmented strains originally designated as yellow Enterobacter cloacae . All of the six E.sakazakii strains isolated from powdered milk specimens were found to produce Tween 80 esterase after 7 days of incubation at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C . From E.cloacae it is distinguishable by reactions in four, or even three, biochemical tests, i.e . by production of yellow pigment, positive production of Tween 80 esterase and by non-fermentation of sorbite and mucate; from the Serratia species it can be differentiated by the negative test for lecithinase production. Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(11), 1169 - 79 Composition of O-antigenic lipopolysaccharides from Enterobacter cloacae; White PJ et al.; Analyses have been carried out on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 14 strains of Enterobacter cloacae representing different O serotypes . All of the products appeared to have a composition and architecture typical of enterobacterial LPS, but points of interest include the absence of phosphate residues from the core oligosaccharide, the presence of both L-glycero-D-mannoheptose and D-glycero-D-mannoheptose (ratio usually about 4:1), and the presence in lipid A of small amounts of fatty acids with odd numbers of carbon atoms (mainly C13) in addition to tetradecanoic acid and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid . Monosaccharides identified as components of polymeric fractions from the LPS were glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose, glucosamine, galactosamine, fucosamine, and galacturonic acid . Most polymeric fractions also probably contained an O-acetyl substituent . Closely similar chemotypes found for the polymeric fractions from the LPS of cross-reacting serotypes support the view that these fractions contain the O-antigenic determinants and represent the side chains of the LPS. Urol Int, 1984, 39(5), 303 - 7 Effect of estrogen on the formation of struvite calculi in female rats; Matsushita K; The administration of 1 mg estradiol every other week for 12 weeks to female rats resulted in a high incidence (about 50%) of bladder stones . Most calculi were struvite, suggesting the predisposition to urinary tract infection . Enterobacteria, staphylococcus and streptococcus were identified as infecting organisms . Metaplasia of the transitional bladder epithelium by estrogen to a stratified or pseudostratified columnar epithelium may be involved in the underlying cause of urinary tract infection. Intensive Care Med, 1984, 10(5), 233 - 7 Oropharyngeal flora as a source of bacteria colonizing the lower airways in patients on artificial ventilation; van Uffelen R et al.; During 1 year 27 patients admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit were monitored bacteriologically for a minimum of 10 days (mean: 26.7 days) . Oropharyngeal swabs and tracheal aspirates were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively cultured twice weekly . A correlation between oropharyngeal and tracheal flora was found: once a bacterial species colonized the oropharyngeal cavity in high numbers, the identical microorganism was frequently isolated (greater than 50%) from the lower respiratory tract . Six of the 27 patients acquired an infection of the lower airways in the respiratory intensive care unit . The bacteria involved belonged to the patients oropharyngeal flora: S . aureus, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae . As a result of this study showing the oropharynx to be the source of lower airway colonization/infection, a policy for infection prevention has been outlined . This policy is based on the concept of source elimination by means of oropharyngeal decontamination. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(5), 297 - 304 Diffusion of metioprim, tetroxoprim and sulphadiazine in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with healthy meninges and dogs with experimental meningitis; Vergin H et al.; The diffusion of metioprim (MTP), tetroxoprim (TXP) and sulphadiazine (SDZ) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), following single intravenous doses and continuous infusions, was studied in dogs . The drugs penetrated well into the CSF of animals with and without experimental Staphylococcus aureus meningitis . In dogs with healthy meninges, the CSF bioavailability - expressed as the ratio of CSF/plasma area under the curve 0-5-hour values - following continuous infusion was determined to be 86.7% for MTP, 58.2% for TXP and 38.8% for SDZ . In infected animals, CSF availability following continuous infusion increases slightly to ratios of 96% (MTP), 70% (TXP) and 50% (SDZ) . For all drugs, the concentrations reached in CSF were above the minimum inhibition concentrations for the majority of Enterobacteriaceae, indicating their potential value in treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 28(2), 161 - 6 Transferable resistance to gentamicin and other antibiotics in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from municipal wastewater; Kralikova K et al.; In two sets of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas bacteria resistant to at least two antibiotics a distinctly upward trend was found in the incidence of strains resistant to gentamicin . The strains examined were either routine isolates from three municipal wastewater treatment facilities or from the Danube river samples collected near the outlet of municipal sewerage . The resistance to gentamicin points to the representation of strains originating from hospitalized patients and its incidence among wastewater strains is recordable since the summer of 1981 . Gentamicin resistance transfer could be demonstrated in a sewage sludge strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to seven antibiotics and in two multiresistant isolates from the river Danube . Resistance transfers in the case of other antibiotics, especially those susceptible to beta-lactamase (ampicillin, carbenicillin), were demonstrated in 10 out of the 24 di- and multiresistant strains tested . These findings show that both municipal wastewater and water in streams may function as the reservoirs of strains bearing the determinants of transferable resistance . Such strains may play an important role not only in the ecology and epidemiology of R plasmids, but also in the accidental spread of the so-called DNA recombinants that might escape during gene manipulations. Clin Ther, 1984, 6(4), 560 - 70 Five cephalosporins: pharmacokinetics and their relation to antibacterial potency; Sohn C et al.; In a group of adult volunteers, pharmacokinetic profiles of five cephalosporins were correlated with their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs90) against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter aerogenes . Subjects received the following intravenous regimens in a randomized, crossover fashion: (1) 0.5 gm, 1 gm, or 2 gm of cefazolin; (2) 2 gm of cephalothin; (3) 1 gm of cephapirin; (4) 1 gm of cefoxitin; or (5) 0.5 gm of cefamandole . The 500-mg dose of cefazolin produced serum concentrations that exceeded those of any of the other cephalosporins at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after administration . The area under the curve for this dose of cefazolin was at least twice that of any of the other antibiotics . Two hours after a 500-mg dose of cefazolin, serum levels exceeded the MIC90 for all seven groups of pathogens; at six hours, the 500-mg dose of cefazolin continued to achieve serum levels above the MIC90 against the majority of bacterial groups . In contrast, at two hours after administration none of the other cephalosporins maintained serum levels above the MIC90 for all pathogens; at six hours, the levels of cephapirin were adequate to inhibit the two streptococci, but serum levels of all other cephalosporins were inadequate to inhibit any of the pathogens . These data indicate that a 500-mg dose of cefazolin maintains serum levels above the MICs90 longer than any of the other cephalosporins tested and support the use of a 500-mg dose of cefazolin every eight hours for surgical prophylaxis and treatment of most community-acquired infections . Such a comparatively low dosage offers substantial savings to both patient and hospital. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 29(3), 311 - 5 Antimicrobial profile of ceftazidime: the situation in three larger hospitals in Prague between 1981 and 1983; Hejzlar M et al.; As a part of preclinical trials of 2,996 clinical isolates from three larger hospitals in Prague were qualitatively and quantitatively assayed for in vitro sensitivity to ceftazidime . In gramnegative bacteria the incidence of resistance to ceftazidime in strain of Enterobacter, Serratia Proteus and Pseudomonas species ranged from 4% to 6% of strains . In grampositive bacteria only strains of enterococci, listeriae and anaerobic bacteria are excluded from the action of this broad-spectrum antibiotic . According to present experiences the antipseudomonal activity of ceftazidime is approximately the same as that of cefsulodine and cefoperazone . Alarmingly, one of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was found to show a distinct multiresistance to all available lactam, aminoglycoside and broad-spectrum antimicrobials, including ceftazidime. J Mol Evol, 1984-85, 21(4), 317 - 22 Selection against dam methylation sites in the genomes of DNA of enterobacteriophages; McClelland M; Postreplicative methylation of adenine in Escherichia coli DNA to produce G6m ATC (where 6mA is 6-methyladenine) has been associated with preferential daughter-strand repair and possibly regulation of replication . An analysis was undertaken to determine if these, or other, as yet unknown roles of GATC, have had an effect on the frequency of GATC in E . coli or bacteriophage DNA . It was first ascertained that the most accurate predictions of GATC frequency were based on the observed frequencies of GAT and ATC, which would be expected since these predictors take into account preferences in codon usage . The predicted frequencies were compared with observed GATC frequencies in all available bacterial and phage nucleotide sequences . The frequency of GATC was close to the predicted frequency in most genes of E . coli and its RNA bacteriophages and in the genes of nonenteric bacteria and their bacteriophages . However, for DNA enterobacteriophages the observed frequency of GATC was generally significantly lower than predicted when assessed by the chi square test . No elevation in the rate of mutation of 6mA in GATC relative to other bases was found when pairs of DNA sequences from closely related phages or pairs of homologous genes from enterobacteria were compared, nor was any preferred pathway for mutation of 6mA evident in the E . coli DNA bacteriophages . This situation contrasts with that of 5-methylcytosine, which is hypermutable, with a preferred pathway to thymine . Thus, the low level of GATC in enterobacteriophages is probably due not to 6mA hypermutability, but no selection against GATC in order to bypass a GATC-mediated host function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1984 Jan, 2(1), 55 - 63 Temocillin: in vitro activity against 734 selected clinical isolates, including beta-lactamase-producing strains; Fuchs PC et al.; The in vitro activity of temocillin against 734 clinical isolates was tested by broth microdilution . Good activity was demonstrated against Enterobacteriaceae and both beta-lactamase-positive and -negative strains of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae . There was little to no activity against gram-positive cocci and nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli . Bactericidal activity and effect of inoculum size on temocillin activity were comparable to that of ticarcillin . Temocillin was stable to commonly encountered beta-lactamases and significantly inhibited Richmond-Sykes type 1 enzymes of Enterobacter cloacae. Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(12), 1775 - 8 Experience with ciprofloxacin in vitro and in vivo; Giamarellou H et al.; 1-Cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-1,4-dihydro-3- quinolinecarboxylic acid (ciprofloxacin, Bay-o 9867) a new quinoline carboxylic acid derivative, was tested in vitro against 233 various Gram-negative microorganisms, mostly resistant to nalidixic acid . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against the Enterobacteriaceae and P . aeruginosa ranged between less than 0.003 to 1 mg/l and less than 0.003 to 8 mg/l respectively with MIC90 of 2 mg/l . However, when sensitivities were repeated with an acid broth they were increased by greater than or equal to 32 fold . This effect was more prominent when as nutrient pooled human urine was used and particularly for P . aeruginosa strains . Ciprofloxacin at a dose of 250 mg, or 500 mg, 12-hourly for 10 days was randomly given to 40 patients aged 23-76 years, suffering from upper (27) and lower (13) urinary tract infections (UTI) as proved from the "antibody coated bacteria" (ACB) test . Pathogens included E . coli (20), Proteus sp . (13), K . pneumoniae (1), C . freundii (1) and P . aeruginosa (5), with MICs between less than 0.06 to 2 mg/l . During treatment all but one of the patients responded favorably both clinically and bacteriologically, while at a six-week follow-up, nine patients with upper UTIs and underlying chronic pyelonephritis or/and structural abnormalities had relapsed, while only one became reinfected . Treatment schedule did not influence the results . No appreciable side effect or toxicity was observed . It is concluded that ciprofloxacin should have an important role to play in the treatment of UTI as well as in systemic infections whenever multiresistant pathogens are implicated. Immunol Commun, 1984, 13(2), 151 - 60 Carbohydrate exposure on salmonella and E . coli bacteria after reaction with antibody IgG and secretory IgA (SIgA) assessed with fluorescent lectins; Magnusson KE et al.; The carbohydrate moieties exposed on enterobacteria before and after antibody binding have been tested with fluorescent lectins . Salmonella typhimurium 395 MS (S-type) and its Rd-mutant MR10 were coated with hyperimmune anti-MS and anti-MR 10 IgG, respectively . MR 10 bacteria and Escherichia coli O86 bacteria were coated with human colostral secretory IgA (SIgA) . There was a conspicuous binding of some of the lectins to untreated bacteria not always closely related to the sugar composition of the outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or other known sugar residues . Antibody IgG and SIgA binding modified the affinity for the lectins . The binding of some lectins was reduced, presumably by masking the bacterial sugars . Antibody IgG binding to S . typhimurium MS and R 10 enhanced the affinity for RCA-I (Gal) and to a smaller extent for WGA (GlcNAc) which may be explained by exposure of IgG oligosaccharide . Antibody SIgA binding to S . typhimurium R 10 and E . coli O86 enhanced the affinity for the above lectins to a larger extent as well as for Con A (Man, Glc) . The corresponding sugars N-acetylglucosamine, mannose and glucose are present in the carbohydrate chain of the secretory component as well as in IgA indicating that when SIgA antibody binds its sugar components are exposed. Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(2), 181 - 5 The dialysis catheter and infectious peritonitis in intermittent peritoneal dialysis; Kolmos HJ et al.; 118 episodes of infectious peritonitis registered among 156 patients treated with intermittent peritoneal dialysis over a 5-yr period were analysed with special reference to potential routes of infection associated with the dialysis catheter . Peritonitis was randomly distributed among the patients, and the change of keeping free of peritonitis declined exponentially with time . The main factor determining the individual number of episodes was the total space of time, in which a patient had been wearing a dialysis catheter, whereas the number of catheter disconnections played no significant role . A relative preponderance of cases due to Enterobacteriaceae was noted within the first week after catheter implantation . In contrast with this, peritonitis with skin microorganisms was not associated with the implantation of catheters. Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(1), 62 - 5 {Parallel resistance between cephalosporins and penicillins}; Grimm H; Resistance of Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cefotaxime, cefoperazone, mezlocillin, azlocillin and piperacillin was induced by 15 culture transfers at subinhibitory concentrations . Information about a possible cross resistance between cephalosporins and penicillins was obtained by determining the MIC's of the five beta-lactam antibiotics studied before and after resistance was induced . The highest homologous resistance is induced in Enterobacter and Ps . aeruginosa by cefotaxime (factors 2021 and 42.2, respectively), and in Klebsiella by cefoperazone (factor 64) . The lowest increase in homologous resistance is induced in Ps . aeruginosa by cefoperazone (factor 9.9), and in Enterobacter and Klebsiella by mezlocillin (factor 10.6 and 4.6 respectively) . Resistance induced by cephalosporins is often accompanied by resistance to penicillins . Such cross resistance is observed especially in Ps . aeruginosa and Enterobacter . Resistance to cephalosporins is, however, only rarely induced by penicillins . These findings permit the conclusion that the use of all beta-lactam antibiotics may be prohibited by uncritical treatment with cephalosporins . Preference should therefore be given to acylureidopenicillins in primary treatment of emergency cases. Arch Intern Med, 1984 Jan, 144(1), 57 - 62 Clinical efficacy of ceftazidime . Treatment of serious infection due to multiresistant Pseudomonas and other gram-negative bacteria; Scully BE et al.; Ceftazidime, a beta-lactamase stable cephalosporin, was administered to 57 patients . Substantial underlying disease was present in the majority of patients, and 50% were in critical or poor condition . Ceftazidime inhibited all initial isolates of Enterobacteriaceae at 8 mg/L or less, regardless of resistance to other antibiotics and the majority of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 12 mg/L or less . The mean serum level after infusion of 1 g during 30 minutes was 62 mg/L . Overall clinical response was 84%, and the bacteriological response was 72% excluding cystic fibrosis patients . No major adverse effects were encountered . Resistance developed in Pseudomonas from patients with cystic fibrosis and in Enterobacter from two other patients . Ceftazidime was an effective, safe therapy for serious infection due to multiply resistant Pseudomonas and other aerobic gram-negative bacilli including aminoglycoside-resistant Serratia and Klebsiella. J Med, 1984, 15(5-6), 437 - 40 Legionella and the enterobacterial common antigen; LaScolea LS et al.; Legionella pneumophilia Philadelphia 1 and Knoxville 1 were examined by in vitro hemagglutination and dermal hypersensitivity reactions in guinea pigs for the presence of the enterobacterial common antigen . No ECA was found and no cross reactivity was demonstrated between ECA and the proteinaceous cross reacting antigen. Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(10), 67 - 74 {Proteolytic activity of the microflora of meat}; Enikova R et al.; Naturally occurring microflora and its proteolytic activity were studied in a water extract from raw untreated pork under various storing conditions . The dynamic was also followed up of th proteolytic activity in Enterobacteriaceae cultures isolated from the extract in succession during the period of storage at room and refrigerator temperature . It was found that the meat contained a good diversity of organisms of various potential capacity of producing proteolytic exoenzymes that changed dynamically at different intervals according to the period of staying for different time in different conditions within the meat extract . The activity of proteases as directly determined in the extract rose considerably in the process of storing at room temperature, while at refrigerator temperature it was but rarely determined within the range of sensitivity of the method employed . Stated is the importance of the microflora for the deterioration of meat as the organisms were the basic source of the respective enzymes along with the rate of the enzyme production associated with the natural microbial content of meat and the inductive nature of the bacterial exoproteases. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(5-6), 701 - 10 Host-parasite interaction in serious infections due to gram-negative bacteria; Schellekens JF et al.; Gram-negative rods such as Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae are normal habitants of the digestive tract . However, if defense mechanisms of the host are compromised by underlying diseases such as malignant neoplasms, renal insufficiency, extensive traumata, or immunosuppressive therapy, invasion of the blood-stream can occur . Gram-negative septicaemia is associated with high morbidity and mortality, despite intensive care and administration of potent antibiotics . A central role in the pathophysiology of life-threatening bacteriaemia is attributed to endotoxin, a constituent of the gram-negative cell wall . This paper reviews current concepts of septic shock, the acquisition of gram-negative bacteraemia and the role of endotoxin . It also deals with a new approach to prevention and control of severe gram-negative infections using serotherapy based on the structure of endotoxin. Clin Ther, 1984, 7(1), 49 - 59 Multicenter clinical trials of cefoperazone in Japan; Saito A et al.; The safety and clinical efficacy of cefoperazone were evaluated at 149 institutions in Japan . A total of 979 hospitalized patients were treated with cefoperazone alone for 1,059 infections . In the 984 infections evaluated, there was an overall satisfactory clinical response in 824 (83.7%) . Cefoperazone was effective in 83.0% of the respiratory tract infections, 84.9% of urinary tract infections, and 89.6% of hepatobiliary tract infections . Clinical response was satisfactory in 90% or more of the cases in which Escherichia coli, Serratia sp, Haemophilus influenzae or Staphylococcus sp were isolated . Sixty percent to 90% of the infections with Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, Proteus sp, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa responded satisfactorily to cefoperazone . Cefoperazone was effective in 76.2% of 260 evaluated cases that had failed to respond to prior treatment with other cephalosporins . The adverse reactions that occurred in 19 (1.9%) of the 979 patients included rash (1%), diarrhea (0.6%), and fever (0.4%) . Cefoperazone appears to be extremely useful in the treatment of various infections in hospitalized patients. Eksp Onkol, 1984, 6(2), 8 - 14 {Possible approaches to the study of the immunological status of cancer patients and healthy people}; Montsevichiute-Eringene EV; The paper is a review of the investigations on the immunological status in patients and healthy people in the light of old and new ideas of immunological surveillance in cases of malignant growth . A discrepancy between peculiarities of malignant growth and changes in the immunological function of the organism is estimated . Some data are given in favour of the importance of revealing nonspecific immunological mechanisms of surveillance when malignant cells appear . The author shows her methods of determining the immunological status of an individual by means of normal antibodies to one of common enterobacterial antigens and the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood . The immunological functions of the organism are classified . The tests and classification may be suitable for determining the immunological status of population . The last stage of the work can be carried out by means of a suitable mathematical model. Ann Rech Vet, 1984, 15(1), 75 - 95 {Role of nonenterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains (K99-,ST-) in the neonatal pathology of the calf}; De Rycke J; Enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli have been extensively studied over the last ten years, especially in the calf . On the other hand, septicemic strains have received much less attention during the same period, in spite of a lack of information about their pathogenicity in the calf and about the attributes of their virulence . Virulence of septicemic E . coli includes invasion from the portal entry into the blood, multiplication in blood and organs, resistance to phagocytosis and lethal action of serum, and production of lesions by toxins . Most information obtained recently concerns the last phases of microbial pathogenicity, i.e . multiplication and production of lesions . Antigens K are considered to be mainly responsible for the resistance to phagocytosis . Antigens O would play the major role, qualitatively and quantitatively, in the resistance to bactericidal effect of serum . The ability to grow in iron-deficient medium would constitute a decisive advantage . This ability is attributed to proteins of the outer membrane, some of them being coded by plasmids . Endotoxin is the basic toxic principle that accounts for the production of lesions in the host . It is generally admitted that its toxic effect is due to the lipid A portion of LPS . The biochemical composition of lipid A being very homogeneous in Enterobacteriaceae, its pathological effect is considered to be directly related to the concentration in serum, i.e . without specific endotoxic activity exerted by some serotypes . Numerous clinical and experimental arguments suggest the occurrence of an enterotoxemic form of colibacillosis in calves . Enterotoxemic colibacillosis would result from the strictly intestinal multiplication of some strains of E . coli and the systemic diffusion of corresponding endotoxins . Such a syndrome has been well-documented in piglets, namely oedema disease . Oedema disease is attributed to a limited number of serotypes . Experimental reproduction has led to the evidence that two toxic principles are needed to fully produce the disease: the endotoxin and a neurotoxin, called EDP . These results, together with observations on humans and other animal species, raise two major questions: 1) what are the circumstances that favour the passage of endotoxins through intestinal epithelium ? 2) could a specific endotoxic activity be attributed to some serotypes of E . coli? Swed Dent J, 1984, 8(2), 73 - 80 Denture stomatitis in nursing home patients; Palmqvist S et al.; All 352 patients in two nursing-homes in Orebro were examined . In one of the homes microbiological tests could be done on the patients with full upper dentures . The samples were taken both from the denture and the oral mucosa . Candida albicans, Yeast, Staph . aureus, B-hemolytic streptococci and Klebsiella/Enterobacter were controlled . In samples from the oral mucosa a correlation was found between stomatitis, Candida albicans and Staph . aureus (P less than 0.01) . A weak correlation was also found between stomatitis and Klebsiella/Enterobacter (0.01 less than P less than 0.05) . In samples from the dentures there were only a weaker correlation between Stomatitis, Candida albicans and Staph . aureus (0.1 less than P less than 0.05). Microbios, 1984, 41(160), 79 - 86 Agglutinogens, White's 'Q' substance and the common proteins of Enterobacteriaceae; Barber C; Reassessment of the antigens involved in the cross-relation of Enterobacteriaceae point to the common proteins first discovered by White (1932) and named substance Q . All the serological characteristics of substance Q, as described by White, are identical with those obtained with pure enterobacterial proteins. Clin Pharm, 1984 Jan-Feb, 3(1), 49 - 55 Treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis; Hanus PM et al.; The pathogenesis, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) are reviewed . The most common organism associated with CBP is Escherichia coli, although infections with Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and enterococci have also been documented . The only symptoms of CBP may be those of an acute urinary-tract infection . The use of simultaneous quantitative urine cultures represents the most accurate method for diagnosing CBP . The use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the current drug of choice for CBP, is based on results in animals showing good penetration of trimethoprim into acidic prostatic fluid and the knowledge that normal human prostatic fluid is acidic . Studies in patients with CBP, who have alkaline prostatic fluid, have demonstrated poor penetration of trimethoprim into prostatic fluid, which may explain the cure rate of about 40% seen with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole . A few patients have been treated successfully with kanamycin and streptomycin, but these drugs must be given by injection . Carbenicillin indanyl sodium has been associated with cure rates of almost 70% in a small number of studies . Both doxycycline and minocycline have been used to treat CBP, but inadequate urine-culture data make these studies difficult to evaluate . Erythromycin produced a cure rate of 88% in one study in patients who received 500 mg (as the stearate salt) four times daily for 14 days . Local injection of antibiotics into the prostate has been reported to be effective in a few cases . Although controlled comparative trials with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are needed, carbenicillin indanyl sodium and erythromycin appear to be the drugs of choice for treating CBP; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole should be reserved for patients with CBP unable to tolerate or unresponsive to therapy with these agents. J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 19(1), 17 - 20 Bacterial growth and endotoxin production in lipid emulsion; Jarvis WR et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae serotypes 21 and 24 and Enterobacter cloacae were responsible for an outbreak of polymicrobial bacteremia associated with the receipt of lipid emulsion . Since it is recommended that lipid emulsion be kept refrigerated between uses, we undertook a study to determine the growth characteristics of these organisms in lipid emulsion at 5 and 25 degrees C and to examine the use of alternative measurements (pH and endotoxin) to determine contamination by viable and nonviable microorganisms . The bacteria survived but did not proliferate at 5 degrees C; no endotoxin was detected, and the pH remained unchanged . In contrast, after a 2-h lag phase, all three organisms proliferated rapidly when incubated at 25 degrees C and reached concentrations of greater than or equal to 10(7) CFU/ml at 24 h . A decrease in pH was detected after proliferation to 10(7) CFU/ml . Endotoxin was detected after proliferation reached 10(2) CFU/ml . The amount of endotoxin elaborated by the three organisms differed and ranged from 0.013 ng per 8 X 10(2) CFU/ml to 1.3 ng per 2 X 10(3) CFU/ml at 8 h . Our findings show that these microorganisms do not proliferate at refrigerator temperature in lipid emulsion, but can reach significant levels at room temperature . It is, therefore, important to keep lipid emulsion refrigerated between uses . Furthermore, when lipid emulsion contamination is suspected, endotoxin and pH determinations should be considered as possible adjunctive tests while results of bacterial cultures are pending . The results of the present study are applicable to only selected gram-negative bacteria and may not apply to gram-positive bacteria and fungi . However, these data demonstrate that measurement of pH and detection of endotoxin is quite useful when lipid emulsion contamination occurs with selected gram-negative bacteria. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1984, 63(5), 447 - 52 {Combined antibacterial activity of clavulanic acid with amoxicillin and ampicillin against Gram-negative strains}; Mascellino MT et al.; Clavulanic acid was tested for in vitro synergistic activity with Ampicillin and Amoxycillin against 41 Gram-negative strains beta-lactamase positive or negative . Clavulanic acid provides progressive inhibition of the beta-lactamases of many bacteria . The better protective effect of CA on AM or AMX is at concentration of 100 mcg . Some synergy was seen against E . coli, Klebsiella and Proteus . Enterobacter and Pseudomonas remained resistant to the combination of AMX and AM with clavulanic acid . We have seen no synergistic effect when non beta-lactamase producing organisms were tested . Although CA alone has a broad antibacterial spectrum, the degree of activity is generally rather poor. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(6), 398 - 407 Interaction of Ro 17-2301 (AMA-1080) with beta-lactamases; Then RL; Against a variety of beta-lactamases tested, mostly of chromosomal origin, Ro 17-2301 (AMA-1080) proved to be more stable than the new cephalosporins and thus resembles aztreonam . Against the beta-lactamases from Klebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas vulgaris, however, Ro 17-2301 proved to be much more stable than aztreonam . Enzymatic hydrolysis, performed with the K . oxytoca beta-lactamase, yielded a single compound, viz . the microbiologically inactive, ring-opened structure . Ro 17-2301 is a potent and progressive inhibitor of cephalosporinases found, e.g., in Enterobacter cloacae and other gram-negative organisms . The IC50 and Ki values, however, showed that the affinity for these enzymes is lower than that of aztreonam. Infection, 1984 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 40 - 5 Ceftizoxime (FK 749) in vitro antibacterial activity; Husson MO et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations of ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, moxalactam, cefoperazone, cefotiam and cefamandole were determined against various species of gram-negative bacteria and against Staphylococcus aureus . Ceftizoxime was more active against Enterobacteriaceae than cefamandole, cefotiam and cefoperazone and slightly more active than or similar to moxalactam and cefotaxime . Like cefotaxime and moxalactam, ceftizoxime was less active than cefoperazone against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and less active than cefamandole against S . aureus . Ceftizoxime was active against cephalosporinase-producing Enterobacteriaceae with a mean MIC of 0.19 mg/l . However, some isolates had an MIC above 32 mg/l. Eur J Pediatr, 1984 Jan, 141(3), 143 - 6 The cephalosporin compounds in severe neonatal infection; Schaad UB; The new cephalosporin compounds have increased in vitro activity against gram-negative enteric bacilli and penetrate well into cerebrospinal fluid . Moreover, their pharmacokinetic properties are favorable and their safety seems adequate, although insufficiently evaluated to date . Interest has been focused on them as therapeutic agents for neonatal sepsis and meningitis caused by Enterobacteriaceae . In this review the third generation cephalosporins are evaluated for their possible use in the neonates; opinions are based on currently available data . It is concluded that moxalactam and cefotaxime and probably also ceftriaxone and ceftazidime represent valuable alternatives to aminoglycosides for therapy of severe neonatal infection. J Bacteriol, 1984 Jan, 157(1), 89 - 94 Transfer of the chromosomal bla gene from Enterobacter cloacae to Escherichia coli by RP4::mini-Mu; Seeberg AH et al.; The resistance gene for beta-lactamase-stable cephalosporins from Enterobacter cloacae was transferred to Escherichia coli by the aid of RP4::mini-Mu . The R-prime plasmids generated carried 60 to 80 kilobases (kb) of E . cloacae DNA and coded for the chromosomal E . cloacae beta-lactamase . The gene was fully expressed in the recipient . Restriction endonuclease EcoRI fragments of the R-prime plasmid pBP100 were cloned into the vector pBP328, yielding the plasmid pBP102 with a size of 14 kb . A restriction map of this plasmid was constructed . By digesting pBP102 into seven PstI fragments, ligating the fragments, and looking for the smallest plasmid generated, pBP103 was isolated . It consisted of three PstI fragments, two of them (together 4.2 kb) necessary for resistance . During the experiment (performed in a recA+ background) the largest PstI fragment had undergone a substitution of a 0.3-kb segment of pBP102 by a 0.7-kb segment in pBP103 (as deduced by heteroduplex analysis) . The bla gene of resistant E . cloacae strains was dominant over the gene of susceptible organisms. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(5), 308 - 21 Characterization of two clinical, multiple-drug-resistant isolates of Enterobacter cloacae; Traub WH et al.; Two multiple drug resistant Enterobacter cloacae isolates (Nos . 460 and 493) varied phenotypically in bacteriocin susceptibility in the absence of significant O antigen variation . Both isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, polymyxin B, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, and enoxacin only . One isolate carried a non-conjugative resistance (R) plasmid, whereas the other isolate contained a conjugative, 'curable' R plasmid and a cryptic plasmid . Both wild-type isolates constitutively produced a chromosomal cephalosporinase (nitrocefin hydrolysis); 'cured' variants of E . cloacae isolate No . 493, which had become susceptible for lamoxactam, produced a cefazolin-inducible beta-lactamase . The two E . cloacae isolates, including their 'cured' variants, were of low-grade virulence for outbred NMRI mice . Both isolates differed somewhat in susceptibility to defibrinated human blood . Inhibitory (0.25 microgram/ml), but not subinhibitory (0.125 microgram/ml) concentrations of norfloxacin and enoxacin combined with human blood yielded additive effects against both E . cloacae isolates. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1984 Jan, 2(1), 65 - 8 Cefotaxime, cephalothin, and cephapirin: antimicrobial activity and synergy studies of cephalosporins with significant in vivo desacetyl metabolite concentrations; Jones RN et al.; The desacetyl metabolites of cefotaxime, cephalothin, and cephapirin were 5-55% as active as the parent drug, depending upon the bacterial species tested . Synergy or partial synergy was demonstrated in 64% of 25 strains of Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus tested against cephalothin/desacetylcephalothin and cephapirin/desacetylcephapirin combinations . Some species variations were identified that influenced synergy rates, particularly among the S . aureus strains (for example, highest rates for cephapirin). Annu Rev Genet, 1984, 18, 31 - 68 The population genetics of Escherichia coli; Hartl DL et al.; E . coli is a successful and diverse group of organisms, well defined by DNA hybridization within the Enterobacteriacae and including the closely related organisms Shigella and the Alkalescens-Dispar biogroup . The primary habitat of E . coli is the lower intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, which is colonized shortly after birth . At any one time, most normal individuals carry several strains of E . coli in their intestinal tract, including a small number of resident clones exhibiting a rate of replacement measured in weeks or months and a much larger number of transient clones that are replaced in a matter of days or weeks . The secondary habitats of E . coli are soil, sediment, and water, where its half life is thought to be only a few days . Pathogenic forms of E . coli are associated with diarrheal diseases, urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis, nosocomial infections, and in infections of domesticated animals . E . coli populations contain much genetic diversity, more than is found in most eukaryotes . Genetic diversity has been studied from the standpoint of (a) serology with respect to surface antigens, (b) biogrouping with respect to variable characters such as nutritional versatility, antibiotic resistance, and bacteriophage susceptibility, (c) electrophoresis of enzymes of intermediary metabolism or outer membrane proteins, (d) DNA hybridization, (e) restriction-fragment length polymorphisms, (f) DNA sequences, (g) insertion sequences, and (h) plasmids . However identified, strains of E . coli appear to have a wide, but not totally indiscriminate, host range . Aside from genes directly associated with virulence, genetic divergence between pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains, although statistically significant, is not pronounced . Electrophoretic studies indicate that, while some serotypes may represent a single genetic clone almost exclusively, other serotypes may represent two or more genetically unrelated clones . Unrelated clones may therefore converge to the same or very similar serotypes . Electrophoresis has also been used to define three groups of clones among natural isolates, perhaps corresponding to subspecies of E . coli . These groups are worldwide in distribution and have a wide host range . E . coli populations exhibit great linkage disequilibrium, which occurs as highly nonrandom combinations of alleles at different loci . Reproduction is evidently largely asexual, with insufficient genetic recombination to dissipate linkage disequilibrium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1984, 18(3), 187 - 92 Species distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated pre- and postoperatively from patients undergoing transurethral prostatic resection; Grabe M et al.; The identity and antibiotic sensitivity of the isolated bacteria from 179 patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate were analysed . The patients were randomized into a group receiving a short course of cefotaxime in conjunction with the operation and a control group given no antibiotics . Preoperatively 70 patients had bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(7) CFU/l) with a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria (57 isolates, mainly Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella ssp, Proteus ssp), although Gram-positive species (24 isolates, mainly enterococci and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were also frequently encountered . Preoperatively isolated pathogens were evenly distributed in both groups and the sensitivity pattern was comparable . In the cefotaxime group postoperative recurrence of the preoperatively identified bacteria occurred in a lower frequency (11/43) than persistence in the control group (24/38) . Only Gram-negative pathogens were isolated from patients with postoperative septicemia and upper urinary tract infections indicating that it is most important to direct prophylaxis against Gram-negative bacteria . A high degree of sensitivity against cefotaxime, gentamicin, trimethoprim, co-trimazine and a combination of ampicillin and mecillinam was recorded among both pre- and postoperatively isolated bacteria. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 195(1-2), 321 - 8 DNA sequence analysis of the Serratia marcescens ompA gene: implications for the organisation of an enterobacterial outer membrane protein; Braun G et al.; The cloned ompA gene from Serratia marcescens was fully expressed in Escherichia coli and its product correctly assembled into the outer membrane . The S . marcescens polypeptide was not functionally equivalent to the E . coli OmpA protein, which serves as a phage receptor and as a component of several colicin uptake systems . DNA sequence analysis of the gene showed that three regions of the protein likely to be exposed on the cell surface not only differed extensively from the corresponding regions of the E . coli polypeptide but also from all other sequenced OmpA proteins . It is suggested that this sequence polymorphism represents a safety mechanism by which the various enterobacterial species can avoid cross-infection by noxious agents such as phages or colicins. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 195(1-2), 215 - 8 Evidence for clustering of RNA polymerase and ribosomal protein genes in six species of Enterobacteria; Tittawella IP; 32P-labelled DNA fragments from the E . coli beta operon were used as hybridisation probes for homologous DNA sequences in chromosomal digests of six species of Enterobacteria . In all species the hybridisation pattern suggested clustering of the genes comprising the beta operon. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Dec 15, 137(3), 495 - 500 Molecular characterization of the gene coding for major outer membrane protein OmpA from Enterobacter aerogenes; Braun G et al.; The ompA gene from Enterobacter aerogenes was subcloned into a low-copy-number plasmid vector and the resultant plasmid, pTU7En, used to study its expression in Escherichia coli K12 . Although the gene was strongly expressed and large amounts of OmpA protein were present in the outer membrane its product was not functionally identical to the E . coli polypeptide . In particular, the E . aerogenes OmpA protein was unable to confer sensitivity to OmpA-specific phages of E . coli . When the primary structure of the protein was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of its gene it was found that three domains differed extensively from the corresponding regions of the E . coli protein . As two of these are known to be exposed on the cell surface we inferred that these alterations are responsible for differences in the biological activity of the two proteins. Nature, 1983 Dec 8-14, 306(5943), 616 - 7 Plasmids of the same Inc groups in Enterobacteria before and after the medical use of antibiotics; Datta N et al.; Conjugative plasmids were common in enterobacteria isolated before the medical use of antibiotics . Plasmid F of Escherichia coli K-12 was one example and we identified others in over 20% of a collection of strains isolated between 1917 and 1954, the Murray collection . In the past 25 years, conjugative plasmids encoding antibiotic resistances have become common in bacteria of the same genera as those of the Murray Collection--Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Escherichia . The present study was made to show whether the 'pre-antibiotic' plasmids belonged to the same groups, as defined by incompatibility tests (Inc groups), as modern R plasmids . Of 84 such plasmids established in E . coli K-12, none with antibiotic resistance determinants, 65 belonged to the same groups as present resistance (R) plasmids . Thus the remarkable way in which medically important bacteria have acquired antibiotic resistance in the past 25 years seems to have been by the insertion of new genes into existing plasmids rather than by the spread of previously rare plasmids. J Mol Biol, 1983 Dec 5, 171(2), 237 - 8 Crystallographic data for the beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae P99; Charlier P et al.; The beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae P99 has been crystallized from polyethylene glycol solution at pH 7 . X-ray examination of the orthorhombic crystals shows the space group is P2(1)2(1)2 with unit cell dimensions a = 77.4 A, b = 69.4 A, and c = 63.6 A . There is one molecule of molecular weight 39,000 in the asymmetric unit. Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 1983 Dec, 50(4), 271 - 4 Retardation of wool growth in Merino sheep caused by bacteria; Jansen BC et al.; A condition evidenced by retarded growth of wool with alteration of the yolk into a yellow, sticky, wax-like substance was investigated . The condition was associated with hyperaemia and cellular infiltration into the dermis in the affected areas . Three bacterial species, viz . Enterobacter aerogenes, E . agglomerans and Hafnia alvei, which could grow on the water-extractable component of wool-yolk, were incriminated as the cause of the condition. J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1983 Dec, 6(4), 281 - 92 Clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of flumequine after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration in pigeons (Columba livia); Dorrestein GM et al.; The in-vitro activity of flumequine against 157 strains of bacteria isolated from birds was determined . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 96.3% of the Enterobacteriaceae, Proteus spp . and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis studied (n = 135) was less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . Pharmacokinetics of flumequine in pigeons (Columba livia) was investigated after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration . From the blood disappearance curves after i.v . bolus injection (10 mg/kg body weight) clearance rate, blood half-time and distribution volume were calculated . The recovery of unchanged flumequine from the droppings in 24 h was 37 +/- 10% of the administered dose . Flumequine was also given i.m . at two dose levels, 10 and 60 mg/kg body weight . The availability of flumequine as intact drug was 22 and 23%, respectively, in 24 h . Therapeutic blood levels were maintained for 4 and 10 h, respectively . After an oral dose of flumequine (60 mg/kg body weight) an availability of 6.7 +/- 2.5% and a peak blood concentration of 2.68 +/- 0.92 microgram/ml at 2 h after administration were found . The recovery of unchanged flumequine from the droppings in 24 h was 1.55 +/- 0.79% of the administered dose . With the exception of the i.m . dose of 10 mg/kg, all flumequine administrations made the pigeons vomit . It appears that blood concentrations below 3 micrograms/ml will not induce vomiting . On the basis of the present data, a dosage regimen for flumequine in pigeons of a priming dose of 30 mg/kg i.m., followed after 8 h by oral administration of 30 mg/kg, this dose being repeated every 8-12 h, would be expected to give blood concentrations between 1.44 and 2.88 micrograms/ml. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1983 Dec, 131(12), 853 - 6 {Bacterial colonization of the stomach in newborn infants with gastrostomy}; Kraeft H et al.; Quantitative bacterial cultures were carried out in 137 gastric aspirates of 52 neonates with gastrostomies due to intestinal malformations . In 28% there was no growth of any organism, in 72% we found one to four bacterial species . Most often enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus epidermidis and candida albicans could be cultured . We could not find any influence of systemic antibiotic therapy on bacterial colonization of the stomach . On the other hand nystatin given orally significantly decreased colonization by candida albicans . Different types of formulas or breast milk had no influence on types of species isolated . Clinically it was interesting to note that 12/52 children developed diarrhea and that 6 newborns developed septicaemia caused by the same organisms as we had found in elevated numbers in their gastric aspirates. J Hyg (Lond), 1983 Dec, 91(3), 535 - 41 Exposure of water consumers to mesophilic actinomycetes; Ojanen TH et al.; In autumn 1978 an epidemic of respiratory disease resembling allergic alveolitis occurred in a small Finnish community . The disease was caused by repeated exposures to tap water aerosol . The raw water of the community and the sand filters of the purification system were heavily contaminated with mesophilic actinomycetes . Fourteen different strains of actinomycetes were isolated . Exposed persons with and without symptoms as well as unexposed control persons were tested for antibodies against five of these actinomycetes and against Enterobacter agglomerans . Both the exposed and the control persons had antibodies to actinomycetes but the exposed persons had antibodies against more actinomycete strains than the control persons . Precipitating antibodies against E . agglomerans were also found in control persons as well as in patients . There was a significant difference between the patients and the exposed healthy persons in bacterial agglutination tests with flagellar antigen of one E . agglomerans strain . However, the role of mesophilic actinomycetes and E . agglomerans in the aetiology of the disease could not be firmly established. South Med J, 1983 Dec, 76(12), 1591 - 2 Serratia ficaria isolated from a leg ulcer; Pien FD et al.; Serratia ficaria was isolated from culture of a leg ulcer of a 44-year-old woman who had venous insufficiency and alcoholic cirrhosis . Although Pseudomonas maltophilia, P acidovorans, and Enterobacter cloacae were also present, S ficaria was isolated in large numbers and was considered to contribute significantly to this infection . This represents the third known clinical isolation of this bacterium. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Dec, 36(12), 3437 - 43 {In vitro antibacterial activity of cefoperazone}; Watanabe Y et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activities of cefoperazone (CPZ) against clinical isolates including various beta-lactamase-producing strains were studied and compared with those of cefotiam (CTM) . CPZ had a broad spectrum against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria . Especially, CPZ showed apparently more potent antibacterial activities than CTM against Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . However, CPZ was less active than CTM against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis . The stability and affinity of CPZ for various types of beta-lactamase were also studied . CPZ was more resistant to hydrolysis by typical cephalosporinase (CSase) and cefuroximase (CXase) than CTM, but was less stable to penicillinase (PCase) . CPZ often showed higher affinity to beta-lactamases than CTM . The study for the inducer-activity revealed that CPZ hardly induced CSase production in E . cloacae and Proteus vulgaris while CTM highly induced in both strains . CPZ was more active against CSase-producers than CTM, especially against strains which inducibly produced the enzyme . It was speculated that this activity was responsible for the superior stability to CSase and low inducer-activity for CSase production. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 2(6), 541 - 7 Susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus to combinations of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid; Casey P et al.; Four hundred and fifty-nine blood culture isolates were tested for susceptibility to ticarcillin alone and ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid, a potent beta-lactamase inhibitor . The susceptibilities of the Staphylococcus aureus strains to cloxacillin, methicillin, vancomycin, rifampicin, cefoperazone, ceftriaxone and moxalactam and of the gram-negative strains to Augmentin, azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin, cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefsulodin and tobramycin were also measured . Seventy-one percent of staphylococcal strains were beta-lactamase positive . In the presence of clavulanic acid the ticarcillin spectrum was extended to include beta-lactamase producing Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens and Klebsiella . All the ticarcillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were rendered ticarcillin-sensitive by clavulanic acid . The anti-Pseudomonas activity of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid differed little from that of azlocillin and piperacillin and was comparable to that of the third generation cephalosporins . The combination of ticarcillin with clavulanic acid should be tested in the treatment of patients with infections caused by ticarcillin-sensitive and ticarcillin-resistant bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 46(6), 1423 - 5 Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonas hydrophila in Minnesota frogs and tadpoles (Rana pipiens); Hird DW et al.; In 222 Rana pipiens frogs and 34 tadpoles captured in and near Minnesota, Aeromonas hydrophila and 29 species of Enterobacteriaceae, including yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella arizonae, were isolated from intestines . The prevalence of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae was lowest in frogs captured in early spring and highest in frogs captured in late summer. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Dec, 24(6), 909 - 14 Comparison of in vitro activity of FCE 22101, a new penem, with those of other beta-lactam antibiotics; Wise R et al.; The in vitro activity of FCE 22101, a new semisynthetic penem derivative, was compared with that of ceftriaxone, moxalactam, imipenem (formerly imipemide, N-formimidoyl thienamycin, or MK 0787), cefuroxime, ceftazidime, and other beta-lactams, when appropriate, against 472 recent isolates and known beta-lactam-resistant strains . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of FCE 22101 against 90% of the members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Lancefield group D streptococci, and Bacteroides spp . were between 0.5 and 4 micrograms/ml . Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible . Ninety percent of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were susceptible to 0.25 microgram of FCE 22101 per ml . Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were resistant to FCE 22101 (minimum inhibitory concentration, greater than 128 micrograms/ml) . The susceptibility of known, characterized beta-lactamase-producing strains of the Enterobacteriaceae suggested that FCE 22101 is resistant to many beta-lactamases . Generally, FCE 22101 was slightly less active than imipenem, moxalactam, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime against members of the Enterobacteriaceae and considerably more active than the cephalosporins (including moxalactam) against Staphylococcus aureus . The human serum protein binding of FCE 22101 was about 40%, and human serum had little effect on the activity. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 18(6), 1301 - 9 Comparison of two automated instrument systems for rapid susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli; Johnson JE et al.; The Vitek AutoMicrobic System with GSC-plus cards and the Abbott MS-2 system were tested in parallel and the results were compared directly with those of a reference microdilution minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) procedure on a group of 262 clinical isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Results of both systems were compared with the reference MIC for category agreement, and in addition, the Vitek MICs were compared with those obtained by the reference procedure . The Vitek system provided an essential category correlation of 89.4% for enteric bacteria and 97.0% for P . aeruginosa . Vitek MICs agreed within 1 twofold dilutional increment for 86.3% of the enteric bacteria tested and for 96.2% of the P . aeruginosa isolates . The Abbott MS-2 essential categoric agreement was 92.0% for enteric bacteria and 92.4% for P . aeruginosa . If only aminoglycosides or carbenicillin were considered for P . aeruginosa isolates, the essential category agreement was 92.5% for the Vitek and 93.3% for the MS-2 . The majority of MS-2 category errors (13 of 19) with P . aeruginosa involved gentamicin results on isolates whose reference MICs were 8 micrograms/ml and whose MS-2 results were susceptible (MIC less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml) . Retesting of the P . aeruginosa isolates in calcium-supplemented MS-2 broth increased the essential agreement for the aminoglycosides to 97.5%. Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1983 Dec, 19(4), 455 - 62 {Chemobiotic sensitivity of common Gram-negative bacteria in urinary tract infections, 1981-1982}; Mastandrea P et al.; 751 stems of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from urinary samples with bacterial charge greater than or equal to 100,000 CFU (Colony Forming Units)/ml gathered from January 1981 to December 1982 have been examined . The sensitivity to the following chemoantibiotics has been tested: ampicillin, cefuroxime, amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, nitrofurantoin, co-trimoxazole . A very good sensitivity to pipemidic acid, amikacin, from all species considered (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, gr . Klebsiella-Enterobacter, Pseudomonas) and a good sensitivity to co-trimoxazole (with the exception of Pseudomonas) have been found . A decidedly low sensitivity has been found to nitrofurantoin and ampicillin from all species considered . It is also pointed out how the stems isolated in hospital patients are more resistant (with statistical significance by analysis of variance) than the corresponding species isolated in ambulatory patients. J Dairy Sci, 1983 Dec, 66(12), 2507 - 14 Production of 2,3-butylene glycol from whey by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes; Barrett EL et al.; Production of 2,3-butylene glycol from whey with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes was studied . Sterilization of the whey was unnecessary . Acid whey required neutralization, but sweet whey did not . Butylene glycol production was most efficient at 33 degrees C for Klebsiella pneumoniae and at 37 degrees C for Enterobacter aerogenes . Aeration significantly improved yields . Klebsiella pneumoniae produced more butylene glycol than did Enterobacter aerogenes in unsupplemented whey . The addition of 50 mM sodium acetate to whey increased the production of butylene glycol and acetoin by Enterobacter aerogenes; it also increased the production of glycol by Klebsiella pneumoniae, but the increase in this case was offset by a decrease of production of acetoin . Maximal yields of the glycol plus acetoin in whey were obtained in 48 to 64 h, but Enterobacter aerogenes required about 160 h for complete utilization of the lactose . Highest yields were about .3 M butylene glycol plus acetoin, which corresponds to the production of about 10 kg of glycol from 380 liters of whey. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 2(6), 529 - 33 Performance of two four-hour identification systems with atypical strains of Enterobacteriaceae; Altwegg M; Two four-hour systems (Rapid 20E and Micro-ID) for identification of Enterobacteriaceae were evaluated using 66 strains isolated from clinical specimens which could not be identified by conventional methods . API 20E was used as reference method . Both systems had an acceptable identification rate (84.8% for Rapid 20E and 74.2% for Micro-ID) . After referral to API's computer facilities the identification rate of Rapid 20E rose to 92.4% . Micro-ID incorrectly identified 16.7% of the strains and Rapid 20E only 1.5% . On the other hand, no identification was achieved in 13.6% of the strains using Rapid 20E versus 6% using Micro-ID . On the basis of these findings Rapid 20E is considered the more suitable system for the rapid identification of Enterobacteriaceae strains which cannot be identified by conventional methods. Isr J Med Sci, 1983 Dec, 19(12), 1039 - 45 Urinary tract infection and drug-resistant bacteria in different patient populations; Nitzan Y et al.; A 1-year survey of the pathogens causing urinary tract infections was conducted in three institutions: a rehabilitation hospital, a general hospital and outpatient clinics . Gram-negative rods accounted for 96% of the infections . In the general hospital and the outpatient clinics, Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen, while Proteus sp . were most prevalent in the rehabilitation hospital . The frequency of drug-resistant isolates was significantly higher in the rehabilitation hospital than in the general hospital and the outpatient clinics . This was most conspicuous in the use of the beta-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides and sulfonamides against such organisms as E . coli, Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp . and Proteus sp . Urinary E . coli were more sensitive to antimicrobial drugs than were other urinary pathogens . Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were highly resistant to most antibiotics . About half of the isolates were resistant to gentamicin and another half to carbenicillin . In some instances the frequency of drug-resistant isolates was higher in the general hospital than in the outpatient clinics, reflecting the greater usage of antimicrobials in the general hospital. Am J Surg, 1983 Dec, 146(6), 762 - 5 Preoperative antibiotics for abdominal gunshot wounds . A prospective, randomized study; Moore FA et al.; In an effort to define the optimal preventive antibiotics for gunshot wounds to the abdomen, 100 consecutive patients were randomized while in the emergency department to receive either combination ampicillin, amikacin, and clindamycin, combination doxycycline and penicillin, or carbenicillin (Groups I, II, and III, respectively) . Antibiotics were continued for 5 days in the presence of distal ileal or colonic injury . The study groups were comparable in age, sex, incidence of shock, degree of peritoneal contamination, and abdominal trauma index . The incidence of infection was not statistically different among the groups . Enterobacteriacea were the predominant offenders, although anaerobes were identified in all groups . The critical risk factor was distal ileal or colon injury . This study indicates that a regimen employing a single agent whose spectrum includes both aerobes and anaerobes is as effective as more expensive and potentially toxic multiagent regimens. Infect Immun, 1983 Dec, 42(3), 1086 - 91 Enterobacterial common antigen-tetanus toxoid conjugate as immunogen; Lugowski C et al.; The methods of limited periodate oxidation and reductive amination were used to obtain covalently linked enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) with tetanus toxoid . This procedure is simple and gives a good yield of the conjugate with high ECA content (molecular ratio of ECA to tetanus toxoid, 6:1) . The ECA-tetanus toxoid conjugate is immunogenic in rabbits, in contrast to free ECA or a mixture of ECA with proteins . This conjugate produces high levels of ECA-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies, which can be used as a standard serum. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Dec, 36(12), 3450 - 5 {In vivo effects of cefoperazone in local infection}; Kumano K et al.; The in vivo antibacterial activity and the penetration into inflammatory tissues of cefoperazone (CPZ) were compared with those of cefotiam (CTM) in local infection systems using mouse subcutaneous abscess and rat granuloma pouch . The serum levels of CPZ in subcutaneous abscess in mice caused by Staphylococcus aureus F-230 (penicillinase producing strain) were lower than that of CTM, but there was no significance between the therapeutic effects of both drugs . The same results were obtained using Staphylococcus aureus F-196 (penicillinase non-producing strain) . When infected with Enterobacter cloacae H-27 (cephalosporinase producing strain) in rat granuloma pouch, the exudate levels of CTM were lower than those of CPZ . Judging from these results, it was suggested that CPZ was a useful antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial-inflammatory tissues. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Dec, 256(2), 202 - 10 In vitro activity of temocillin, moxalactam and cefotaxime against gram negative bacteria sensitive or resistant to ureidopenicillins and/or cefacedone; Bartmann K et al.; Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) of temocillin, cefotaxime and moxalactam were determined by agar dilution technique for 225 strains belonging to various species of Enterobacteriaceae and for 58 strains of H . influenzae and H . parainfluenzae . For Enterobacteriaceae, the MIC's of temocillin are distinctly higher than that of cefotaxime and moxalactam . But temocillin activity was not affected by resistance against ureidopenicillins and/or cefacedone . No resistant strains were encountered among E . coli, K . pneumoniae, Proteus spp . except one strain of P . vulgaris . In E . cloacae- strains with resistance against cefotaxime, temocillin was more active than moxalactam . S . marcescens- strains with a high MIC of temocillin were sensitive to cefotaxime and moxalactam . Temocillin is of the same order of activity as ampicillin against ampicillin-sensitive strains of H . influenzae and H . parainfluenzae . Its MIC is not influenced by beta-lactamases of these species. J Bacteriol, 1983 Dec, 156(3), 1006 - 11 Purification and reconstitution in lipid bilayer membranes of an outer membrane, pore-forming protein of Aeromonas salmonicida; Darveau RP et al.; We have purified a major outer membrane protein from Aeromonas salmonicida . This 42-kilodalton protein shared several physical characteristics with enterobacterial porins in that it was noncovalently associated with the peptidoglycan, it was released from the peptidoglycan in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl and sodium dodecyl sulfate, and its mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels was dependent on the solubilization temperature before electrophoresis . When added to the aqueous solution bathing a planar bilayer membrane it caused the conductance of the membrane to increase by several orders of magnitude . At lower protein concentrations, single channels with an average conductance of 1.6 nS in 1 M KCl were incorporated into the membrane in a stepwise fashion . Evidence that the protein formed a large, relatively nonselective, water-filled channel was obtained by performing single-channel experiments at different NaCl concentrations and in a variety of different salts . Current through the channel was a linear function of the applied voltage, and no evidence of voltage gating was observed . In addition, we obtained evidence for a 43-kilodalton channel-forming protein in the outer membrane of A . hydrophila with a similar single-channel conductance as the 42-kilodalton protein in 1 M NaCl. Infect Immun, 1983 Dec, 42(3), 1092 - 101 Effects of growth temperature, 47-megadalton plasmid, and calcium deficiency on the outer membrane protein porin and lipopolysaccharide composition of Yersinia pestis EV76; Darveau RP et al.; The expression of several virulence determinants of Yersinia pestis is known to be dependent on the in vitro growth temperature . One of these, calcium dependence, is associated with the presence of a 47-megadalton plasmid . We have examined the effects of incubation temperature, calcium in the growth medium, the presence of the 47-megadalton plasmid on the outer membrane protein, and the lipopolysaccharide composition of Y . pestis EV76 . When cells were grown at 37 degrees C as opposed to 26 degrees C, a change in lipopolysaccharide composition and a decrease in the amount of an outer membrane protein (protein E) were observed . The lipopolysaccharide obtained from cells incubated at 37 degrees C had a lower proportion of 2 keto-3-deoxyoctanate, a lower phosphate to 2-keto-3-deoxyoctanate ratio, and an increased gel mobility upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis when compared with lipopolysaccharide obtained from cells grown at 26 degrees C . Because of its growth temperature-related abundance, we investigated the nature of protein E . This protein had physical properties similar to those of other enterobacterial porins, including apparent formation of an oligomer on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels when solubilized at low temperature, acidic isoelectric point, and strong noncovalent association with the peptidoglycan . Protein E was purified and shown to form an aqueous channel in planar lipid membranes with a conductance of 1.1 nS in 1 M KCl . In addition to growth temperature-related alterations in the lipopolysaccharide and porin components of the outer membrane, the amount of three spots in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels was shown to be related to the temperature or the presence of calcium during growth . One of these spots was shown to contain residual unmodified portions of two major heat-modifiable proteins which failed to shift to their heat-modified positions on gels, despite solubilization at 100 degrees C for 10 min before electrophoresis . The other two spots were the heat-modified and unmodified forms of another outer membrane protein (J) which did not appear in the isoelectric focusing gel of cells grown at 37 degrees C . It is proposed that the appearance of these spots in two-dimensional analyses is related to the lipopolysaccharide composition of the cells from which the outer membrane is derived and reflects lipopolysaccharide-protein interactions or calcium-protein interactions. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 2(6), 548 - 53 Comparison of the antibacterial in vitro and in vivo activity of ofloxacin (HOE 280 DL 8280) and nalidixic acid analogues; Seibert G et al.; The in vitro and in vivo activity of ofloxacin (DL 8280, HOE 280) was compared with that of other antibacterial compounds . Ofloxacin was found to have a broad antibacterial spectrum which includes both gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic species . Its activity is generally higher than that of pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid . Against staphylococci and streptococci, ofloxacin proved to be more active than norfloxacin . In the case of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae, ofloxacin and norfloxacin possess comparable activities . Ofloxacin was the most active compound against a number of aerobic isolates which are resistant to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone . Of the compounds compared, ofloxacin was the only one which exhibited reasonable activity against anaerobes . It inhibited all strains of Bacteroides fragilis at a concentration of 3.125 mg/l and the gram-positive anaerobes at 0.5 mg/l . In mice experimentally infected with various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, ofloxacin was more active than norfloxacin and pipemidic acid . With the gram-negative pathogens, orally administered ofloxacin was as active as gentamicin used parenterally . We conclude from our studies that ofloxacin could be a valuable therapeutic agent with a variety of indications. Sci Sin {B}, 1983 Dec, 26(12), 1258 - 68 Effect of nifA product on suppression of Nif- phenotype of gln mutation and constitutive synthesis of nitrogenase in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Zhu JB et al.; This paper describes the role of nifA product on the ammonia regulation of nitrogen fixation in K . pneumoniae . A plasmid carrying nifA gene under the promoter of tetracycline resistance gene was constructed . When this nifA carrying plasmid was introduced into a glnAG mutant, the Nif- phenotype of this gln mutant was suppressed . Furthermore, when the plasmid was introduced into the wild type and glnAG mutant, derepression of nitrogenase synthesis in ammonia occurred in both strains and the products of nif genes can be detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in the extracts of these ammonia-grown bacterial cells . The constitutive synthesis of nitrogenase in NH4+ was also demonstrated in free living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Enterobacter cloacae, when the bacteria received the plasmid carrying nifA gene from K . pneumoniae. Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1983 Nov, 50(11), 719 - 22 {Intestinal bacteria incriminated in reactive arthritis}; Lemeland JF; Amongst the numerous microbial species which constitute the intestinal flora, three bacteria belonging to the family of Enterobacteria have been incriminated in cases of reactive arthritis: the Salmonellae, the Shigellae and the Klebsiellae . These bacteria are easy to isolate and identify, but they are difficult to classify because of the multiplicity of serotypes and species . The participation of these bacteria in reactive arthritis is far from being clear: their isolation does not always have pathological significance, as these bacteria are usually opportunistic pathogens . The serological reactions must be interpreted with great reservation: antibody titers vary greatly between subjects and crossed reactions are common. Isr J Med Sci, 1983 Nov, 19(11), 963 - 6 Neonatal bacteremia . A 4-year prospective study; Karpuch J et al.; During the 4-year period 1978-81, 14,527 neonates were born at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, including 793 (5.5%) premature infants . During the same period, 41 bacteremias were recorded, making an overall incidence rate of 2.8/1,000 live births . Thirty of the 41 bloodstream infections occurred in premature infants (incidence rate 38/1,000) and 11 in full-term infants (incidence rate 0.8/1,000) . The overall case fatality rate was 19.5%, and in the premature group it was 26.7% . Aside from prematurity, the most common underlying conditions were respiratory distress syndrome and prolonged rupture of membranes . Premature infants were at much greater risk of becoming bacteremic (relative risk 47) than were full-term infants . The risk increased with a decrease in the weight of the infants . Of 43 pathogens, 31 were gram-negative (72.3%), and 11 were gram-positive (25.4%) . The most common of the gram-negative pathogens belonged to the Klebsiella-Enterobacter group--19 of 43 (44.2%) . Among the gram-positive pathogens, Enterococcus was most common--4 of 43 (9.3%) . No increased incidence of Group B Streptococcus infections was noted . The Klebsiella-Enterobacter group had by far the highest incidence in our hospital, and the bacteremia caused by these pathogens was nosocomial in nature in all but one case. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Nov, 256(1), 103 - 8 Tween-esterase activity in Enterobacter sakazakii; Aldova E et al.; Seventy-one of 73 E . sakazakii strains isolated in Czechoslovakia produced Tween 80 esterase; its production was slower and less intensive than in Serratia, vibrios and aeromonads . The E . sakazakii strains did not produce lecithinase (yolk reaction was negative for 8 days) . The following set of tests was recommended for verification of E . sakazakii identification: pigment (was produced by 100% of strains), Tween 80 esterase (was positive in 97.3%), mucate (negative in 100%) and sorbitol (negative in 100%). Poult Sci, 1983 Nov, 62(11), 2169 - 75 Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae found in commercial poultry feed; Cox NA et al.; Poultry feed (mash and pelleted) and meat and bone meal samples were collected from commercial mills . All samples were analyzed for Enterobacteriaceae count (ENT) and Salmonella . The genus and species of the various Enterobacteriaceae present were also determined . The average ENT for mash, pelleted, and meal samples was log 4.1, .8, and 1.8/g, respectively . Enterobacteriaceae were present in 100, 60, and 92% and Salmonella in 58, 0, and 92% of the mash, pelleted, and meal samples, respectively . Overall, the Enterobacteriaceae most frequently isolated from all samples were Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter cloacae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Although no Salmonella were found in the pelleted samples, the presence of other Enterobacteriaceae suggests that commercial pelleting may not totally destroy Salmonella since their heat resistance is similar to the other organisms found. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 18(5), 1079 - 83 O serotyping scheme for Enterobacter cloacae; Gaston MA et al.; A serotyping scheme for Enterobacter cloacae based on heat-stable somatic antigens is described . A total of 28 antisera were prepared in rabbits, and titers of agglutinins were high (greater than 640) . Some cross-reactions were observed, and 11 sera required absorption before routine use . Of 300 clinical isolates from 66 hospitals, 77.6% were typable, 11.4% were not agglutinated by any of the sera, and 11.0% were autoagglutinable in saline . The eight most frequent serotypes were O3 (21.3%), O8 (13.3%), O1 (7.6%), O13 (5.0%), O9 (4.7%), O10 (3.0%), O16 (3.0%), and O25 (3.0%). Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1983 Nov, 10(11), 2377 - 81 {Sulbenicillin and amikacin for febrile patients with cancer--with special reference to granulocytopenia}; Sampi K et al.; Between March 1978 and March 1983 ninety-four episodes of fever in 56 mainly granulocytopenic patients with cancer were treated empirically with a combination of sulbenicillin (5.0 g, every 6 hours) and amikacin (200 mg, every 6 hours) in Saitama Cancer Center . Profound granulocytopenia at the beginning of treatment (less than 100/mm3 of granulocytes) was present in 66% of the patients . Oral absorbable or nonabsorbable antibiotics were used in 59 febrile episodes . WBC transfusion was not given . The response rate for all documented infections was 75%, including 10 of 13 (77%) of bacteremias . The majority of infections with identified organisms were caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli: the major gram-negative pathogens being Ps . aeruginosa (11 cases), Klebsiella spp . (7 cases), E . coli (7 cases) and Enterobacter spp . (7 cases) . The response rate of gram-negative bacilliary infections was 74% . Pneumonia responded less satisfactorily than all other types of infection with the response rate of 20% . The response rate of 69% for profound persistent granulocytopenia (less than 100/mm3 of granulocytes without a rise during therapy) is higher than that of any other reports . The most common adverse effect was hepatotoxicity (19%), whereas oliguria or anuria occurred in two patients, by which they eventually expired. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Nov, 12(5), 507 - 10 Plasmid-determined beta-lactamases identified in a group of 204 ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae; Roy C et al.; Information is presented on the plasmid-determined beta-lactamases identified in 204 strains of ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae . The type most frequently identified was TEM-1 (in 85.3% of the strains), followed by SHV-1 (14.70%) . Two types of plasmid-determined beta-lactamase were identified in 20 strains; in 18 of them one of the two was TEM-1 and in 13, SHV-1 (the TEM-1 + SHV-1 combination was observed in 12 strains) . In the 41 Klebsiella strains the most frequently identified enzyme was SHV-1 (in 28 of the strains) and the proportion of strains with two plasmid-determined beta-lactamases was higher than in the other species studied. Infect Control, 1983 Nov-Dec, 4(6), 444 - 7 Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and their dissemination of resistance genes in the hospital environment; Wiedemann B; The dissemination of resistance determinants among bacterial populations depends on ecological and epidemiological properties as well as additional factors: 1) the mechanism of resistance or its specificity toward a certain drug, and 2) the genetic basis in relation to the mobility of the genetic material and its survival in bacteria . From two resistance mechanisms directed toward old-fashioned drugs, namely sulfonamides (Su) and streptomycin (Sm), we can deduce that a resistance mechanism is encoded by a special sort of genetic material . Thus the linked SmSu resistance mediated by a sulfonamide-resistant dihydropteroatsynthetase II and the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase APH-(3") is always located on very small pBP1-like plasmids . Such plasmids survive without selective pressure of drugs in Enterobacteriaceae in the bowel flora of humans and animals . Both resistance determinants can be mediated by a transposon which codes for the production of a dihydropteroatsynthetase I in connection with an aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase AAD-(3") . These two mechanisms are genetically linked as well . The basic structure is a transposon designated Tn2411, which belongs to a whole family of transposons, all including the basic structure; however, their genetic exchange and substitution leads to structures coding for many different enzymatic characters: ANT-(2") (Gentamicin resistance), CAT (Chloramphenicol resistance), AAC-(6') (resistance to all modern aminoglycosides), TEM-1, OXA-1, OXA-2, or PSE (beta-lactam resistance) . Resistance to the modern beta-lactamase-stable antibiotics is mediated by mutation in the regulatory genes of chromosomally-determined beta-lactamases . A spread of these resistance mechanisms can be avoided as long as the responsible genes are not located on sufficient structures like small plasmids or efficient transposons. Infection, 1983 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 326 - 8 Activity of ciprofloxacin (BAYo 9867) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae; Roy C et al.; We studied the in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin against 570 strains of ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and 286 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains . 95.26% of the Enterobacteriaceae and 53.45% of the P . aeruginosa were inhibited by 0.1 mg/l of ciprofloxacin . 2 mg/l of ciprofloxacin inhibited all of the Enterobacteriaceae strains and 4 mg/l all of the P . aeruginosa . We compared the activity of ciprofloxacin with that of temocillin in the Enterobacteriaceae strains . In the P . aeruginosa strains, classified according to their susceptibility to carbenicillin and gentamicin, we compared the activity of ciprofloxacin with that of ceftazidime . In the strains studied, the in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin is superior to that of temocillin against the Enterobacteriaceae and to that of ceftazidime against the P . aeruginosa strains. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1983 Nov, 5(1), 65 - 76 Failure of Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to activate the alternative pathway of complement; Hoffmann EM et al.; Bovine erythrocytes (E) coated with either crude or purified preparations of Brucella abortus LPS were not lysed by human complement (C) in the presence of the chelating agent ethyleneglycol-bis-N, N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) . On the other hand, bovine red cells coated with Salmonella typhimurium LPS were lysed by human C in EGTA . B . abortus LPS preparations did not cause fluid phase human C consumption in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions . However, as expected, S . typhimurium LPS consumed C from human serum in a dose-dependent fashion . The results of these experiments indicate that B . abortus LPS differs from the Enterobacterial LPSs in that it cannot activate the alternative pathway of C in human serum . Furthermore, the failure of B . abortus LPS to consume C in the fluid phase in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions suggests that the LPS cannot cause antibody-independent activation of the classical pathway. Arch Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 136(2), 131 - 6 On the redox control of synthesis of anaerobically induced enzymes in enterobacteriaceae; Pecher A et al.; Mutants of Escherichia coli were isolated in which transcription of the structural genes for hydrogenase (hyd) and for one of the components of formate dehydrogenase (fdh) (of the formate hydrogen-lyase complex) is coupled with that of the lacZ gene . They were--together with lac fusions of the nifH and nifL genes from Klebsiella--used to study regulation by redox control, of the expression of the respective structural genes . The following results were obtained: (i) beta-galactosidase synthesis was fully repressed in the presence of O2 or nitrate (anaerobically), and induced in the absence of an external electron acceptor . Fumarate as terminal electron acceptor only marginally affected nif expression and partially repressed hyd and fdh expression . Redox control of the synthesis of hydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase, therefore, (as well as that of nif) acts at the level of transcription; the size of the redox potential seems to be correlated with the amount of repression; (ii) beta-galactosidase synthesis in the hyd:: lac and fdh::lac fusion strains is induced by formate . At high concentrations formate reverses the repression by nitrate and fumarate but not that by oxygen. Infection, 1983 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 315 - 7 Transferable resistance to cefotaxime, cefoxitin, cefamandole and cefuroxime in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens; Knothe H et al.; In conjugational crosses, three Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and one Serratia marcescens strain have been demonstrated to transfer resistance determinants to newer types of cephalosporins . While Klebsiella strains donated cefotaxime, cefamandole and cefuroxime resistance to Escherichia coli K-12 recipients, the genetic analysis of exconjugants after the transfer of plasmids from Serratia strains to Proteus or Salmonella recipients showed that the cefoxitin resistance determinant was also co-transferred . In subsequent transfer cycles of this plasmid, cefotaxime and cefoxitin resistance determinants segregated in contrast to the relative stability of plasmids derived from Klebsiella strains in subsequent transfer cycles . From results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that in some strains of nosocomial Enterobacteriaceae, resistance to newer cephalosporins could be transmissible and thus plasmid-located. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1983 Nov, 36(11), 1507 - 15 N-(functionalized alkyl) derivatives of 6-aminopenicillanic acid: a new series of specific inhibitors of beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae P99; Calverley MJ et al.; Eight of nine new N-alkylaminopenicillanic acids (7a approximately c, e approximately j), prepared via efficient direct monoalkylation reactions, were found to be specific inhibitors of cephalosporinase P99 with IC50 less than or equal to 4 mg/liter, while representative corresponding S-oxidized derivatives were less active. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Nov, 24(5), 754 - 63 In vitro activity of enoxacin, a quinolone carboxylic acid, compared with those of norfloxacin, new beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim; Chin NX et al.; Enoxacin is a new quinolone carboxylic acid compound . Its activity against 740 bacterial isolates was determined . It inhibited 90% Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Aeromonas sp., Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp., Proteus mirabilis, and Morganella morganii at less than or equal to 0.8 micrograms/ml . The majority of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inhibited by less than or equal to 3.1 micrograms/ml . Haemophilus spp . and Neisseria spp . were inhibited by less than 0.1 micrograms/ml . Although most Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited by 3.1 micrograms/ml, some streptococcal species had minimal inhibitory concentrations of 6.3 to 12.5 micrograms/ml and Bacteroides sp . had minimal inhibitory concentrations greater than or equal to 25 micrograms/ml . Activity of enoxacin and norfloxacin was similar . Enoxacin inhibited organisms resistant to cefotaxime, moxalactam, gentamicin, and piperacillin . Enoxacin was less active in urine at an acid pH than in broth, but serum did not decrease minimal inhibitory concentrations or minimal bactericidal concentrations . There was no major difference between minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations . Resistance frequency development was less than 10(-9) for most bacterial species. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Nov-Dec, 5 Suppl 5, S941 - 9 Composition and structure of lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wilkinson SG; Lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa seem to have the same general architecture as those from enterobacteria . Points of difference include the fatty acid composition and the unusually high degree of phosphorylation (triphosphate residues have been detected) . The outer region of the core oligosaccharides is also distinctive; its components are D-glucose, L-rhamnose, D-galactosamine, and possibly L-alanine . Lipopolysaccharide preparations contain a relatively low proportion of complete (S-form) molecules, but in some cases contain a significant proportion of molecules that have a single O-specific repeating unit attached to the core oligosaccharide . The O-specific side chains are typically rich in amino sugars, including novel types . Components identified so far are 2-amino-2-deoxyglucose, 2-amino-2-deoxygalactose, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxyglucose, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxygalactose, 2-amino-2-deoxygalacturonic acid, 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxyglucose, 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyhexuronic acids (with the D-gluco-, D-manno-, and L-gulo-configurations), and 2,3-(2-methyl-2-imidazolino-5,4)-2,3-dideoxymannuronic acid . In some cases, polymeric material enriched in neutral sugars can be isolated from the O-specific fractions of partly degraded polysaccharides. Jikken Dobutsu, 1983 Oct, 32(4), 213 - 6 {Change in the vaginal smear cycle following conventionalization and monocontamination of germ-free rats with Enterobacter cloacae}; Shinoda M et al.; The relationship between the microbial organism infection and the vaginal smear cycle was investigated using 12 germfree Wistar Imamichi rats at 50 days of age . Germfree rats exhibited continuous vaginal cornification which occasionally interrupted by the appearance of nucleated epithelial cells . However, leukocytes which are characteristic of the metestrus and diestrus stage in conventional rats were not observed in the vaginal smear of these animals . At 70 days of age, 8 animals were taken out from the germfree isolator and conventionalized . In other 4 animals, the vaginal lumen was contaminated with Enterobacter cloacae in the isolator . Within 3 days after the treatments, leukocytes appeared in the vaginal smear of all animals in both groups . Thereafter, these animals continued the regular 4 days vaginal cycle to 90 days of age, at which the observation was terminated . The above results suggested that the appearance of leukocytes in the vaginal smear in the rat is closely related to the bacterial colonization in the lumen, together with the action of the progesterone secreted from the ovary. Microbiologica, 1983 Oct, 6(4), 355 - 8 Possible diagnostic value of aminopeptidases detected by chromogenic substrates in Enterobacteriaceae; Giammanco G et al.; The presence of aminopeptidases revealed by three chromogenic substrates (chromozym PL, chromozym TH, and carbobenzoxy-glycyl-prolyl-arginine-p-nitranilide) has been investigated by a simple method in 153 strains of different genera and species of the family Enterobacteriaceae . The results suggest that the AP-PL, AP-TH, and AP-CGPA tests can be of diagnostic value for the identification of enterobacteria. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1983 Oct, 36(10), 1252 - 7 Two new monobactam antibiotics produced by a Flexibacter sp . I . Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological properties; Cooper R et al.; Two new beta-lactam antibiotics, namely SQ 28,502 and SQ 28,503, have been isolated from fermentations of a Flexibacter sp . They are demethoxy monobactams with oligopeptide side chains and have molecular weights of 1,462 and 1,446, respectively . These beta-lactams show a high degree of stability to a variety of beta-lactamases and act as potent irreversible inactivators of P99 beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae . They exhibit weak antibacterial activity. J Trauma, 1983 Oct, 23(10), 882 - 90 Effect of circulating fibronectin on stimulation of leukocyte oxygen consumption and serum opsonizing function in burned patients; Dobke MK et al.; In a study of 27 thermally burned patients (mean TBSA, 58%; range, 32-96%) serum fibronectin levels were decreased with parallel decreased oxygen consumption of stimulated peripheral blood phagocytes and decreased EGTA-blocked burn serum opsonizing activity which correlated with serum fibronectin changes postburn . Normal and burn sera fibronectin content also correlated with the opsonizing times for zymosan and Staphylococcus aureus but not for Enterobacteriaceae . Although in vivo 14 cases showed circulating fibronectin 140 micrograms/ml or lower and a marked decrease in Staphylococcus aureus opsonization, only two patients from this group revealed positive Staphylococcus aureus blood cultures and serum fibronectin levels were higher in patients with Staphylococcus aureus sepsis than in patients with Enterobacteriaceae sepsis . Supplementary experiments on leukocyte oxidative response after zymosan stimulation in normal, fibronectin-depleted, and fibronectin-reconstituted serum demonstrated that the lag period of oxygen burst is a fibronectin-dependent reaction. Am J Gastroenterol, 1983 Oct, 78(10), 641 - 4 Antibiotic penetration in liver infection: a case of tobramycin failure responsive to moxalactam; Schentag JJ et al.; A 23-year-old man sustained a severe liver laceration which subsequently became infected with Enterobacter aerogenes . Blood cultures were positive for this organism and the patient experienced sepsis . Over the course of 18 days, his bilirubin and serum creatinine increased from normal to 40 and 2.7 mg/dl, respectively . Tobramycin, clindamycin, and penicillin failed to control the infection despite in vitro sensitivity of the organism to tobramycin . Moxalactam was started as a last resort, and the symptoms of infection resolved in 12 h . Both hepatic and renal function returned to normal, and the patient was discharged without complications . Moxalactam concentrations in wound fluid exceeded serum concentrations and the usual minimum inhibitory concentration of the infecting organism . A likely explanation for response to moxalactam, in face of tobramycin failure, was that moxalactam was able to reach the site of infection. J Infect Dis . 1983 Oct;148(4):765. Nonspecific induction of beta-lactamase in Enterobacter cloacae; Cullmann W et al.; Since the introduction of the new beta-lactamase-stable beta-lactam compounds, inducible beta-lactamases have become increasingly important clinically {1} . It has recently been pointed out that most beta-lactam antibiotics appear to be affected by these derepressed enzymes either by hydrolysis or by the nonhydrolytic barrier mechanism {2} . Until now, it has generally been assumed that beta-lactamases are induced only by the beta-lactam compounds themselves . We investigated an E cloacae strain that exhibited high levels of resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics . (MICs were greater than 32 micrograms/ml, except for N-formimidoyl thienamycin and the penem compound Sch 29482) . Spontaneous production of beta-lactamase (after overnight culture in Isosensitest broth) was only marginal . However, the induction potency of Schaedler's broth even exceeded that of cefoxitin, which is known to be a good inducer {2} . We evaluated the induction potency of various cyclic compounds, such as amino acids, vitamins, purine derivatives, and steroid hormones . Only tryptophane, thiamine, folic acid, and hemine proved to be effacious inducers . Consequently, we explored the possibility that biological fluids also e