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Biomedical subjects

A L Truant

Publications and source records attributed to A L Truant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effect of pre-stain viability on the acid-fast staining characteristics of Mycobacterium species.

Five species of mycobacteria were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen, Kinyoun and Auramine-Rhodamine after either routine autoclaving, or exposure to rifabutin and ciprofloxacin. Organisms from each treatment group were stained and compared to viable controls. ATCC strains and fresh clinical isolates of all five species were evaluated. All species in both treatment protocols presented similar staining characteristics. Viability of mycobacteria, therefore, must be established by culture.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1999

The detection of positive blood cultures by the AccuMed ESP-384 system: the clinical significance of three-day testing.

A total of 805 positive blood cultures obtained over a 4-month period during 1997 by the AccuMed ESP-384 system were evaluated and compared with 471 positive blood cultures obtained during 1989. Of the 805 microorganisms isolated in 5-day culture and testing by the ESP-384, 671 (83.4%) were detected within the first 2 days and 758 (94.2%) within 3 days. There were 47 (5.7%) microorganisms detected in culture Days 4 and 5 from 42 patients and review of the medical records from these patients demonstrated that no significant changes in clinical management were instituted as a result of detection and identification of these isolates. These 47 organisms were considered to be zero to equivocal clinical relevance. These data suggest that a 3-day routine blood culture incubation protocol with the ESP-384 system may be sufficient when considering detection rate, clinical relevance, and cost-effectiveness. The microbial spectrum and relative frequencies in this study were found to be similar to those of positive blood cultures obtained during 1989.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of the RapID Yeast Plus System for the identification of yeast.

We evaluated the RapID Yeast Plus System using 117 fresh and frozen clinical yeast isolates. The Uni-Yeast-Tek System was used to establish the correct identification. The Vitek System was used as the arbiter for any discrepant results, along with morphology. Of 117 isolates tested, the RapID Yeast Plus System identified 96.6% correctly. The RapID Yeast Plus System is an accurate and reliable alternative to other commonly used yeast identification systems.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Morphine induces sepsis in mice.

Gram-negative sepsis and subsequent endotoxic shock remain major health problems in the United States. The present study examined the role of morphine in inducing sepsis. Mice administered morphine by the subcutaneous implantation of a slow-release pellet developed colonization of the liver, spleen, and peritoneal cavity with gram-negative and other enteric bacteria. In addition, the mice became hypersusceptible to sublethal endotoxin challenge. The effects were blocked by the simultaneous implantation of a pellet containing the opioid antagonist naltrexone. These findings show that morphine pellet implantation in mice results in the escape of gram-negative organisms from the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the hypothesis that morphine used postoperatively or chronically for analgesia may serve as a cofactor in the precipitation of sepsis and shock. In addition, morphine-induced sepsis may provide a physiologically relevant model of gram-negative sepsis and endotoxic shock.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1995

In vitro activity of beta-lactamase inhibitors against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter species.

Acinetobacter is an important cause of nosocomial infections, and it is often resistant to many antibiotics. In a search for alternative agents, three beta-lactamase inhibitors (sulbactam, clavulanate, and tazobactam) and five beta-lactam antibiotics (imipenem, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and piperacillin) were tested against 68 unique clinical isolates of Acinetobacter species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by a broth microdilution method. Using temperature sensitivity testing, we identified 59 strains as Acinetobacter baumannii, one as Acinetobacter haemolyticus, and eight as indeterminate biotype species. We demonstrated 41 of 59 (70%) strains of A. baumannii to be multiply resistant (susceptible only to amikacin and imipenem), whereas all the nonbaumannii strains were not. Imipenem was the most active agent among the compounds investigated. All three beta-lactamase inhibitors had strong intrinsic activity, with sulbactam being the most active agent among the beta-lactamase inhibitors studied.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of Streptex versus PathoDx for group D typing of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci recently isolated from patient specimens were tested with both Streptex and PathoDx group D latex agglutination antisera. Using routine protocols, all isolates from patients at Temple University Hospital were positive with the PathoDx reagents and were negative with the Streptex reagents. Isolates required extensive boiling for positive reactions to occur using Streptex reagents.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1992

Development of new antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant but not methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.

The frequency of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus continues to increase while the numbers of alternative therapeutic agents remain limited. To investigate the changing patterns of in-vitro susceptibility of S. aureus to 16 antibiotics, 190 clinical isolates from two different years were studied. The MICs of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains isolated in 1987 were compared with those of similar numbers of strains isolated in 1989. For MRSA > or = 90% of isolates from both years were resistant to clindamycin, gentamicin and erythromycin. These strains remained highly susceptible to vancomycin (100%), minocycline (90%) and rifampicin (100%). The greatest increase in resistance was observed for ofloxacin (2% in 1987 vs 62% in 1989); cross-resistance to all of the quinolones tested was demonstrated. MSSA strains remained susceptible to vancomycin (100%), minocycline (98%), rifampicin (100%), clindamycin (90%), gentamicin (90%) and ciprofloxacin (98%). It is concluded that methicillin susceptibility is a useful marker for selecting potential agents for the treatment of infections caused by S. aureus. A combination of minocycline and rifampicin may be a useful alternative to vancomycin for treating MRSA infections.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
PubMed1990

Treatment of recurrent urinary tract infection with norfloxacin versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Norfloxacin, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial analog of nalidixic acid, was evaluated by comparing it to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in 93 office patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. In this prospective randomized study, norfloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were given on the same dosage schedule with the former drug given as a 400-mg tablet twice daily and the latter drug given as a double strength tablet twice daily. Overall, 50 patients received norfloxacin and 43 patients received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with a cure rate of 96 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Whether a patient had one infection or multiple previous infections, norfloxacin appeared to be superior to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Only minor side effects were noted in either group, and no patient withdrew from this study as a direct result of these side effects. Minor complaints of nausea, dizziness, and headache were found in the norfloxacin group (24%) and in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group (16%). Both agents are effective in treating urinary tract infections but norfloxacin is superior to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in patients with either recurrent complicated infections or one previous uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Presence of respiratory viruses in middle ear fluids and nasal wash specimens from children with acute otitis media.

During a 28-month period, 84 children with acute otitis media were studied by viral and bacterial cultures of middle ear fluid and viral cultures of nasal lavage fluid. Viruses were isolated from the middle ear fluid of 17 (20%) patients. Evidence of viral infection was demonstrated by positive viral cultures of middle ear fluid and/or nasal lavage fluid in 33 (39%) patients. Rhinovirus in one patient and influenza b virus in another were the only pathogens isolated. Influenza virus, enterovirus, and rhinovirus were the most common viruses found in middle ear fluids. Parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus were found less often. In 82% of cases, the virus isolated from middle ear fluid was also isolated from nasal lavage fluid, but only 44% of viruses found in nasal lavage fluid were also found in middle ear fluid. Mixed bacterial and combined viral-bacterial infections were common. Only 15% of patients had no pathogen isolated from middle ear fluids. Using tissue culture techniques, we demonstrated that enterovirus and rhinovirus are also common middle ear pathogens. Our data reemphasize the significance of viruses as etiologic agents of acute otitis media and propose several questions regarding the viral-bacterial interactions and the types of viruses involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with indirect hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition for determination of rubella virus antibody: evaluation of immune status with commercial reagents in a clinical laboratory.

Comparative evaluations of immune status for rubella virus are described for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hemagglutination inhibition, and indirect hemagglutination. A 92.1% agreement between enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect hemagglutination assay was demonstrated for rubella immune status. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and hemagglutination inhibition demonstrated a 92.6% agreement and were compared in an attempt to define the quantitative usefulness of comparisons of single sera for determining immune status. These data support the relative lack of correlation between single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and hemagglutination inhibition quantitative values. Enzyme immunoassay was, however, an acceptable alternative to hemagglutination inhibition for the determination of immune status to rubella virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Fusobacterium nucleatum pericarditis.

A pericardial effusion was diagnosed by echocardiography in a 49 year old man who suffered acute cough, orthopnea, and chest pain. Because of a positive tuberculin skin test, mycobacteria were initially suspected as the cause of the pericarditis. The patient was therefore treated with antituberculosis drugs. The pericardial effusion failed to resolve, however, and pericardiectomy was performed. Culture of the pericardial fluid yielded pure Fusobacterium nucleatum growth. The patient responded to antibiotic therapy and was in good health 3 weeks after being discharged from the hospital. This represents the first report of F. nucleatum pericarditis.

Fusobacterium Infections↗
PubMed1983

Development of an immunofluorescence focus assay for Ebola virus.

A 48-h indirect immunofluorescence focus assay for the quantitation of Ebola virus was developed, utilizing HeLa-229 cell monolayers. The dose dependency and the sensitivity of this assay as compared with conventional assays are reported. This indirect immunofluorescence focus assay can be used as a rapid, quantitative test for the detection of Ebola virus, an agent from Africa known to cause hemorrhagic fever.

Antibodies, Viral↗