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Biomedical subjects

C Bebear

Publications and source records attributed to C Bebear.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Typing of Chlamydia trachomatis by restriction endonuclease analysis of the amplified major outer membrane protein gene.

A procedure was developed for characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis strains by using restriction endonuclease analysis of amplified genes of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP). Reference strains of the 15 serovars (A through K and L1 through L3) and clinical isolates were tested. The nucleotide sequences of the MOMP genes of each of the 15 serovars were arbitrarily constructed by using the sequences of the four variable domains known for each serovar and the constant domains of serovar L1. Computer analysis of these sequences indicated that two restriction digestions performed in parallel, one with AluI and the other with IIpaII, followed by HinfI and EcoRI, would allow the theoretical differentiation of 13 serovars. Serovars Ba and L1 presented the same theoretical restriction profile. Our typing method consisted of polymerase chain reaction amplification of a fragment of about 1,200 bp of the MOMP gene, followed by restriction endonuclease digestion with the aforementioned enzymes. From the 15 serovars, we obtained 14 different patterns; 13 profiles were serovar specific, while serovars B and Ba presented the same pattern. Application of this typing method to C. trachomatis strains isolated from clinical material gave the same results as the immunotyping method for 14 of 17 strains. Furthermore, restriction endonuclease analysis detected differences within a serovar. This method seems to be promising for epidemiological studies.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Detection of Mycoplasma hominis antibodies by three different techniques, application to women with pelvic inflammatory disease.

Mycoplasma hominis, a mycoplasma potentially isolated from the genital tract of healthy women, seems to have some role in pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID). Three serologic techniques were developed to detect antibodies to M. hominis: ELISA (IgG, IgM), microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and Western blot. Rabbit and human control sera were used to establish the standard assay conditions. ELISA proved to be more sensitive but less specific than MIF. Cross-reactivity with antibodies to M. pneumoniae existed with ELISA but not with MIF. Twenty six and 60 kDa proteins were responsible for that cross-reactivity, as assessed by Western blot analysis. Among 33 patients with PID, 18 to 35 year old, 67% had antibodies to M. hominis by ELISA and 33% by MIF. Among 52 age comparable healthy women, 44 and 13% were positive for M. hominis by ELISA and MIF respectively. The Western blot analysis showed heterogeneity in the antibody response to M. hominis, but a 76 kDa protein reacted with half of the tested sera. Our study agrees with some role for M. hominis in PID. M. hominis was certainly the primary pathogen in one case, played a role that was probable in seven cases, and possible in three patients.

Adult↗

Benzoxazinone kanamycin A conjugate. A new fluorescent probe suitable to detect mycoplasmas in cell culture.

The synthesis of a new benzoxazinone derivative suitable to detect early infection of cultured cells with mycoplasmas is described. p-[beta-(7-dimethylamino 1,4-benzoxazin 2-one 3yl)-vinyl]- phenylpropenoic acid was coupled to kanamycin A, an aminoglycoside leading to a cationic fluorescent probe which fluoresces at 600 nm upon excitation at 490 nm. This fluorescent probe is shown to heavily label the glycocallix of all the mycoplasma strains tested which are found to be associated with contaminated cultured cells and to allow an easy and rapid detection of contamination by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.

Animals↗

[Evaluation of the Mycoplasma Plus and the SIR Mycoplasma kits for quantitative detection and antibiotic susceptibility testing of genital mycoplasma].

We compared the results obtained with two commercially available systems (Diagnostics Pasteur) for the quantitative identification and the antibiotic susceptibility testing of the genital mycoplasmas. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis with established methodologies, i.e. isolation on agar with enumeration by dilutions in broth medium and MIC determinations. The Mycoplasma Plus system, consisting of six cups, was designed for the identification and quantitation of genital mycoplasmas and the detection of yeasts. Used in parallel in 150 clinical specimens, it detected U. urealyticum in 42 out of 43 and M. hominis in 10 out of 11 specimens positive by the established methodology. The SIR Mycoplasma antibiogram, consisting of 16 cups, provided for the testing of 1 or 2 concentrations (micrograms/ml) of each of 8 antibiotics: doxycycline, minocycline and lymecycline (4-8); erythromycin (1-4); josamycin (2-8); clindamycin (2); pristinamycin (2); and ofloxacin (1-4). Using an inoculum of about 10(4)-10(5) organisms/ml, we found that major part of the results was in accord with those obtained with the MIC determined in broth for U. urealyticum and on agar for M. hominis. Strains intermediate or resistant to the tetracyclines were identified. Both systems seemed suitable for clinical laboratory use.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae by using the polymerase chain reaction.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A specific DNA sequence for M. pneumoniae was selected from a genomic library, and two oligonucleotides were chosen in this sequence to give an amplified fragment of 144 base pairs. We show that DNA from different M. pneumoniae strains can be detected by PCR, with DNA from other Mycoplasma species giving negative results. Analysis of biological samples (throat swabs) obtained from hamsters that were experimentally infected with M. pneumoniae showed that PCR was more sensitive and reliable than conventional culture techniques for the detection of M. pneumoniae. Initial experiments on artificially seeded human bronchoalveolar lavages showed that PCR can be used to detect 10(2) to 10(3) organisms.

Animals↗

[Methods of studying mycoplasma infections].

Mycoplasmas are most often responsible for respiratory and genital infections. At present, diagnosis is carried out by serology for infections caused by M. pneumoniae and by culture for infections due to genital mycoplasmas. For M. pneumoniae, new prospects may lead to a rapid diagnosis, detection by molecular hybridization and immunological detection. Also, the research of specific antibodies should benefit from a better knowledge of the major antigens. Culture of the genital mycoplasmas, U. urealyticum and M. hominis is simple, but the interpretation of their presence is difficult because they may be recovered in a commensal condition. The envisaged advances should lead to a better assessment of their pathogenicity. The role of M. genitalium, a species related to M. pneumoniae recently discovered in respiratory specimens, should be better determined by sensitive techniques developed to distinguish it from M. pneumoniae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in diarrhoeic stools of hospitalized patients. Toxigenic potential of the isolates.

Cytotoxin assay and culture for Clostridium difficile were performed on 303 diarrhoeic stools from 261 hospitalized patients. Specimens from 42 patients were positive by at least one of the methods, and 40 of them had an antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The cytotoxin assay was positive in 5 of 7 patients with pseudomembranous colitis. Thirteen had an appropriate response to specific therapy and the remainder have resolved of diarrhoea without C. difficile directed chemotherapy. These findings show the lack of reliability of the cytotoxin assay for the diagnosis of C. difficile antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The 6 strains isolated from patients with pseudomembranous colitis were examined for enterotoxin by the rabbit ileal loop test: 4 produced both toxins, 2 only enterotoxin. Both toxins could therefore not be essential for the clinical expression of the disease.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Actinobacillus ureae meningitis. Apropos of a case].

A case of Actinobacillus ureae meningitis in a 52 year old man with an history of chronic sinusitis and previous skull fractures is reported. Actinobacillus ureae, called for a long time Pasteurella ureae, is a rare cause of meningitis as shown by a short review of the literature (eight cases reported). We have searched the bacteria in the rhinopharynx of the patient's four dogs: this search was unsuccessful in agreement with the literature data which has not yet established an animal host for Actinobacillus ureae.

Actinobacillus Infections↗

[Clinical and bacteriological evaluation of cefmenoxime in the newborn infant].

Cefmenoxime (CMX) has been administered under parenteral injection to 39 neonates delivered at term, nearly always by monotherapy in an average dosage of 86.8 mg/kg/day. CMX has been used 31 times in first line therapy and 8 times after failure of association Ampicillin-Gentamicin. 25 strains have been identified: 16 E. coli (9 Ampicillin resistant), 7 P. mirabilis (1 Ampicillin resistant), 1 K. oxytoca and 1 Streptococcus B. The neonates group with septicaemia (1 with arthritis) has been cured without after-effects as urinary tract infections and systemic infections. 2 respiratory tract infections have been improved, the others have been cured. Bacterial samples have always been sterilized within 2 days. Local tolerance (IV or/and IM injection) has been very good. No clinical or biological abnormality has been imputed to treatment. Cefmenoxime appears very effective on enterobacteriaceae (MIC range 0.05-0.5 mg/l) and can be used in newborn infections.

Bacterial Infections↗

[In vitro activity of new quinolones against Mycoplasma pathogenic to humans].

The in vitro activity of new quinolones was evaluated against Mycoplasma pneumoniae (10 strains) and Mycoplasma hominis (approximately equal to 70 strains) by agar dilution, and against Ureaplasma urealyticum (approximately equal to 115 strains) by broth dilution. The static effect of pefloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin was investigated for all the strains. Rosoxacin was included in the tests for U. urealyticum and M. hominis. Pefloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and enoxacin were within the same range of sensitivity for M. pneumoniae; the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the 10 strains were 1 mg/l for ciprofloxacin, 2 mg/l for pefloxacin, MICs range was (0.05-1 mg/l) for ofloxacin and (0.5-4 mg/l) for enoxacin. Ciprofloxacin was the most active compound against M. hominis; MICs range and mode MICs were respectively in mg/l: (0.1-1) 0.5 for ciprofloxacin, (0.2-2) 0.5 for ofloxacin, (0.5-2) 1 for pefloxacin, (0.5-8) 2 for enoxacin, (2-16) 2 for rosoxacin. Ofloxacin was the most active compound against U. urealyticum; MICs range and mode MICs were respectively in mg/l: (0.2-2) 1 for ofloxacin, (0.1-8) 2 for rosoxacin, (0.5-8) 4 for pefloxacin, (1-16) 4 for ciprofloxacin, (2-32) 8 for enoxacin. No difference could be observed between tetracycline sensitive or resistant strains.

4-Quinolones↗

[Study of an epidemic of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea].

Twenty three Clostridium difficile strains isolated from diarrheic faecal samples of 22 patients in a neurosurgical department of the Pellegrin Hospital in Bordeaux between January 1984 and May 1987 (15 isolated in 1984, 2 in 1985, 3 in 1986 and 3 in 1987) and 15 strains isolated from 15 patients in other departments of the same hospital in 1984 have been compared using their antimicrobial susceptibility, cytotoxin production and electrophoretic pattern. Twelve of the 15 strains isolated in the neurosurgical department and 4 of the 15 strains isolated in other departments in 1984 were phenotypically identical. These findings suggest that the origin of C. difficile associated-diarrheas can be nosocomial.

Adolescent↗

Bacteriological and serological diagnosis of community-acquired acute pneumonia, specially Legionnaire's disease. Multicentric prospective study of 274 hospitalized patients.

In 1982 and 1983 a prospective study was carried out involving 274 adult patients hospitalized with community-acquired acute pneumonia. The results of the bacteriological and serological diagnoses are presented here. Conventional and standardized bacteriological methods were used. All the serodiagnoses of LD were carried out with the 13 antigens produced by the "Centre National de Référence" (L. pneumophila 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; L. micdadei; L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii, L. jordanis; L. gormanii; L. longbeachae 1 and 2). Standardized criteria were used for the interpretation of results. Conventional methods were used for the other serodiagnoses. Because the laboratory results had been interpreted very rigorously, an etiological diagnosis was established only in 51% of pneumonia cases. Other reasons, such as the frequent prescription of antibiotics prior to hospitalization, may explain why no aetiology could be determined in 49% of cases. The microbial agents responsible were: S. pneumoniae, Legionella and M. pneumoniae in 62% of cases; H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, Chlamydia and S. aureus in 21.6%; and viruses in 8.6%. 29 (10%) of the 274 pneumonia cases were caused by Legionella, being second to S. pneumoniae. The preponderance of L. pneumophila was striking (22 cases), 3 Legionella strains were isolated (L. pneumophila serogroup 1:2 strains, serogroup 6:1 strain). Three associated or successive infections were observed (influenza, Leptospirosis, Coxiella infection). As regards the other bacteria, implication of the strain isolated was based on its multiple occurrence in several samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

[Study of bactericidal effect of the spiramycin and minocycline on Mycoplasma pneumoniae].

This study was designed to determine if the inhibitory effect of a macrolide (spiramycin) and a tetracycline (minocycline) on the in vitro growth of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is due to a bacteriostatic or a bactericidal activity. M. pneumoniae, strain FH-Liu, susceptible to spiramycin and minocycline was exposed to various inhibitory concentrations of these antibiotics (within the range of 0.5-32 mg/l) for various periods of time (1-9 days). The bactericidal activity was determined by subculturing material from tubes using serial dilution. Spiramycin was bactericidal after 4 days (greater than or equal to 3 log10 decrease of the inoculum) only when high concentrations were used (16 mg/l). Minocycline was bactericidal after 4 days at a concentration of 32 mg/l. These results show a 64-fold difference between minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration for spiramycin and a 128-fold difference for minocycline. Our data confirm the bacteriostatic effect of these drugs on M. pneumoniae.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

[Determination of blood ceftriaxone. Comparison of microbiological and HPLC methods].

108 serum samples in 27 patients were collected after the first, before the second, after and before the fifth dose of 2 g every 24 h and assayed for ceftriaxone by microbiological method and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The statistical analysis of the results show a correlation coefficient equal to 0.95. The protein binding doesn't affect the microbiological method. The two methods are convenient for clinical use.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

In vitro activity of fosfomycin combined with rifampin, pefloxacin and imipenem against staphylococci: a study by the time-kill curve method.

The in vitro activity of fosfomycin alone and in combination with rifampin, pefloxacin and imipenem was studied by the time-kill method against staphylococci. Fosfomycin, pefloxacin and imipenem used at concentrations within the therapeutic range, exerted a bactericidal effect, whereas rifampin acted as a bacteriostatic drug. The combination of fosfomycin and rifampin was found to be antagonistic against rifampin-susceptible strains and indifferent for rifampin-resistant isolates. Fosfomycin combined with pefloxacin usually produced an indifferent effect. The interaction between fosfomycin and imipenem was mainly indifferent but synergism occurred with methicillin-resistant strains and antagonism was observed for one methicillin-susceptible isolate of Staphylococcus aureus.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗