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C V Sanders

Publications and source records attributed to C V Sanders.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Current antimicrobial therapy of anaerobic infections.

The treatment of many anaerobic infections involves antimicrobial therapy, appropriate surgical drainage of abscesses, and debridement of devitalized tissue. Most anaerobic infections are polymicrobial and require treatment with agents active against an array of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial resistance, especially to penicillins and tetracyclines, but also to newer agents of other classes, continues to increase. As a result, treatment with more than one drug is often required. Combination therapy is often necessary in serious infection, and is indicated for empiric treatment before receiving culture results. In the past combination therapy has been the mainstay of antimicrobial therapy, but more recent studies suggest that monotherapy for anaerobic infections may dominate the future. Selection of an agent requires consideration of the site of infection and the most likely etiologic agents. In vitro susceptibility is important, but it is not the only determinant of antimicrobial effectiveness. The pharmacology of the drug--absorption, distribution, concentrations in body fluids and tissues, excretion and metabolism--also plays an important role. The nature and severity of the underlying illness are important factors in selecting empiric therapy. Although it is a clinical judgement, in patients considered to have mild to moderate infections, several factors in selecting antimicrobial agents may be considered, including cost, whereas in patients judged to have severe or life-threatening infections, the most potent agents should be chosen as initial therapy, regardless of cost. Finally, the toxicities of the agent must also be considered.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Unusual manifestations of pneumococcal infection in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals: the past revisited.

Although AIDS was largely recognized and defined because of the increased presence of diseases that reflect deficiencies in cell-mediated immunity, susceptibility to common extracellular bacterial pathogens has also been shown to be increased. To our knowledge, adults with concurrent infection due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Streptococcus pneumoniae whose cases have been described to date have all had pneumococcal pneumonia and/or bacteremia. We describe five cases of HIV-infected patients who had unusual manifestations of pneumococcal infection, which include recurrent exudative pleural effusion, pyopneumothorax, purpura fulminans, mediastinitis with chest wall abscess, and multiple brain abscesses. Such complications of pneumococcal infection occurred more or less commonly in the preantibiotic era, but on the basis of our experience and an exhaustive literature search, these complications have been exceedingly rare in the past few decades. In four of our five patients, the unusual, complicated pneumococcal disease preceded and prompted a search for HIV infection. Because concurrent HIV infection increases the susceptibility to pneumococcal disease, other such cases are likely to be seen.

Adult

Anaerobic disease of the lung.

Anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections present in various ways. Aspiration pneumonitis occurs first and may be quite difficult to distinguish from the acute bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and other organisms. Although aspiration pneumonitis may be self-limiting, sequelae such as lung abscess, necrotizing pneumonia, and empyema can develop. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is now acceptable. The initial choice of antimicrobial agents is based on which pathogens are likely to be involved.

Bacteria, Anaerobic

Role of newer antimicrobial agents in the treatment of mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections.

Mixed infections with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are being recognized with increasing frequency in clinical practice. Several concepts regarding such infections are clinically significant for the physician. These include the presence and significance of species in the Bacteroides fragilis group at clinical sites of infection, the facilitation of B. fragilis virulence by beta-lactamase producing aerobic bacteria and the role of enterococci in such infections. In response to the need for new forms of therapy for mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections, several new classes of antimicrobial agents have been introduced. Some of these allow for the potential option of monotherapy in certain clinical settings. In addition to clinical and microbiologic efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness are factors that must be addressed with regard to these agents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Antimicrobial therapy of anaerobic infections, 1991.

Most anaerobic infections are polymicrobial and must be treated with agents active against a variety of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Antimicrobial therapy is used both to contain infections and to treat those that have not been contained (bacteremia). Bacterial resistance, especially to penicillins and tetracyclines, but also to newer agents of other classes, continues to increase and often requires treatment with more than one drug. Combination therapy is also frequently necessary in serious infections, and is indicated for empiric management before receiving results of in vitro microbiology laboratory tests. However, recent results suggest that monotherapy for anaerobic infections may dominate in the future, although combination therapy has been the mainstay of antimicrobial therapy. Selection of an agent must take into account the site of infection and thus the bacteria most likely to be found. It should be kept in mind that in vitro susceptibility is not the only determinant of antimicrobial effectiveness. The pharmacology of the drug--absorption, distribution, concentration in body fluids and tissues, and metabolism--also plays an important role. Finally, the nature and severity of the underlying illness, the toxicity of the agent, and costs must be considered.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Hepatitis B presenting with tenosynovitis.

A 31-year-old nurse's aide developed fever, malaise, migratory arthralgias, arthritis, and severe tenosynovitis six weeks after pricking her finger with a needle contaminated by blood from a patient having type B viral hepatitis. Although disseminated Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection was the initial diagnosis, her symptoms worsened on treatment with ampicillin. While the patient was on aspirin therapy, her symptoms improved dramatically and eventually resolved as she showed evidence, through laboratory findings, of an anicteric hepatitis B infection. Evidently tenosynovitis can be part of the hepatitis B prodrome.

Adult

Intravenous metronidazole therapy for Bacteroides fragilis meningitis.

A 69-year-old man developed meningitis due to Bacteroides fragilis and Streptococcus MG-intermedius, which progressed during chloramphenicol and nafcillin therapy to the extent that he seemed near death, with frank pus covering the spinal cord at surgery. Treatment with intravenous metronidazole and penicillin G was curative. After multiple trauma, a 20-year-old man developed meningitis due to Escherichia coli and B fragilis. He failed to respond to chloramphenicol alone, but responded to combined treatment with chloramphenicol and metronidazole. The right frontal sinus and epidural space abscesses were drained and a right frontal lobe abscess was excised. Metronidazole may be a uniquely effective agent for treatment of meningitis due to susceptible strains of Bacteroides fragilis.

Adult

Spondylitis caused by Brucella abortus.

A case of severe chronic spondylitis of the lumbar spine caused by Brucella abortus is presented. Infection was probably associated with ingestion of raw cow's milk. A technetium bone scan provided evidence of activity as early as two years before the radiographic abnormalities were evident. Although rarely seen in brucellosis, a large left psoas abscess formed. After extensive resection and debridement of all necrotic tissue, along with prolonged use of oral doxycycline, the patient recovered completely. The clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and pathogenic aspects of Brucella spondylitis are discussed.

Abscess

Cefamandole therapy in anaerobic infections.

Thirty-one adult patients with infections due to anaerobic bacteria were treated with cefamandole. Bacteroides fragilis group (17) and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (13) were the most frequent anaerobes isolated. Duration of therapy varied from 2 to 49 days. Results were judged satisfactory in 26 cases, and unsatisfactory in 1 case. Four cases could not be evaluated. Adverse reactions occurred in 16 patients and included positive direct Coombs' test without hemolysis, transient liver function abnormalities, phlebitis, reversible neutropenia, fever, eosinophilia, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The more significant reactions were associated with prolonged therapy. None was lethal. These data suggest that cefamandole is effective in treatment of most anaerobic infections.

Adult

Metronidazole in the treatment of anaerobic infections.

Using metronidazole in oral dosages of 1.5 to 2 g daily, we treated 13 adults who had anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections, including 11 with lung abscess, one with necrotizing pneumonia, and one with thoracic empyema. Five patients (four with lung abscess and one with necrotizing pneumonia) were cured. The lung abscesses of 5 patients did not respond. For 3 patients (one with epigastric distress who refused metronidazole, one with undrained empyema, and one who died while receiving metronidazole), therapy could not be evaluated. Side effects included leukopenia (2 patients), leukopenia and neutropenia (one), neutropenia (one), dark urine (two), bitter taste (two), and epigastric distress (one). In light of our findings, metronidazole is not uniformly effective in the treatment of anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections.

Adult

Microbiologic and antibiotic aspects of infections in the oral and maxillofacial region.

An overview of infection as it applies to the oral and maxillofacial region has been provided. The following conclusions are drawn: odontogenic infections are caused by microbes found in the host's oral flora; cultures of purulent material generally will yield three to six anaerobes and one aerobe, (the aerobe is usually a Streptococcus species); Gram stains of purulent material can aid in therapeutic strategies; anaerobic as well as aerobic cultures are necessary to isolate all pathogens; pathogens found in infections of bite wounds reflect the oral flora of the aggressor; early postoperative wound infections are caused by the host's own flora, whereas later infections may be caused by hospital-acquired bacteria; and hepatitis B and herpes simplex virus are occupational hazards. Recommendations have been made for antimicrobial prophylaxis and for treatment. We recognize that some of these selections may be controversial. For instance, the value of prophylactic antibiotics in orthognathic surgery is not well defined; recommendations were made only in certain instances. However, in severe penetrating maxillofacial injuries with devitalized tissue, recommendations for antibiotics were for broad and prolonged coverage. In this instance, use of antibiotics is considered therapeutic and not prophylactic. In each instance, we tried to validate the selection. Our rationale has been to choose the antibiotics most active against the likely pathogens; additionally, consideration was given to drug toxicity and adverse reactions. We regard penicillin as the preferred agent for prophylaxis and treatment of most odontogenic infections. Alternative drugs include cephalosporins, doxycycline, and clindamycin. Erythoromycin and tetracycline are considered less effective than the former agents. Finally, we believe that successful treatment of infection depends as much on changing the microenvironment of the infected tissue by debridement and drainage as on appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Actinomycosis

In vitro sensitivity of Mycobacterium marinum to minocycline and doxycycline.

Using a Steers replicator technique the in vitro sensitivities of 32 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium marinum to doxycycline and minocycline were tested. Of 32 strains, sensitivity to doxycycline ranged from 3 strains (9%) with a drug concentration of 2 microgram/ml to 11 strains (34%) at a concentration of 6 microgram/ml. Sensitivity to minocycline ranged from 2 strains (6%) at the 2microgram/ml concentration to 23 strains (72%) at the 8 microgram/ml concentration. Our data suggest that a significant percentage of M. marinum strains are sensitive to therapeutically achievable levels of doxycycline and minocycline. These drugs may prove clinically useful in treating infections caused by sensitive strains of M. marinum.

Doxycycline

Methicillin hemorrhagic cystitis.

Interstitial nephritis is a recognized complication of methicillin therapy. Hemorrhagic cystitis due to methicillin has not been emphasized. Evidence of hemorrhagic cystitis developed in six patients receiving methicillin therapy and was confirmed by cystoscopy in three of them.

Adult

Acute meningococcemia without meningitis in association with influenza-like illness.

An outbreak of meningococcal disease in a family of six resulted in four simultaneous cases of meningococcemia without meningitis. Although no definite explanation for this unusual collection of meningococcemia cases could be identified, a preceding influenza-like illness in the family may have increased their susceptibility to meningococcemia.

Adult