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Biomedical subjects

D Schaberg

Publications and source records attributed to D Schaberg.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Campylobacter jejuni infection in broiler chickens.

Day-old, straight-run broiler chickens were procured from a hatchery located in the Pacific Northwest. The chickens were subdivided individually into nine groups of 20 chickens. The chickens were tagged, housed in isolation chambers on wire, fed commercial broiler feed, and given water ad libitum. Three isolates of Campylobacter jejuni of poultry origin and one of human origin were tested in this study. Various C. jejuni cultures were inoculated into 9-day-old chickens by crop gavage. Four groups of 20 chickens were inoculated at a dose level of 0.5 ml of 1 x 10(2) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml. The other four groups were inoculated with 0.5 ml of 1 X 10(4) CFU/ml. One group of 20 chickens was kept as an uninoculated control group. Four randomly selected chickens from each of the inoculated and uninoculated groups were necropsied at 5, 12, and 19 days postinoculation (DPI). The C. jejuni was cultured and enumerated from a composite of the upper and midintestine and the cecum. Body weights of all chicken groups at 7 days of age and at 5, 12, and 19 DPI were measured and statistically analyzed. No significant differences were present in the mean body weights (MBWs) of 7-day-old, 5 DPI, and 12 DPI male and female broiler chickens inoculated with C. jejuni at both dose levels compared with uninoculated controls. Differences in MBWs of the male and female broilers at 19 DPI were observed in some of the groups. Results of the C. jejuni culture enumeration mean (CEM) of composite intestine samples at 5 DPI from all inoculated chicken groups, irrespective of the dose level, ranged from (2.5 +/- 5.0) x 10(2) to (2.8 +/- 4.8) x 10(5) CFU/g (mean +/- SD). Results of cecum C. jejuni CEM at 5 DPI inoculated at both dose levels ranged from (2.5 +/- 5.0) x 10(6) to (1 +/- 0.0) x 10(7) CFU/g in all treatment groups irrespective of the dose level. CEM results from the composite intestine samples at 12 and 19 DPI increased by 1 log unit, or sometimes more. Results of cecum C. jejuni CEM at 5 DPI inoculated at both dose levels ranged from (2.5 +/- 5.0) x 10(6) to (1 +/- 0.0) x 10(7) CFU/g in all treatment groups irrespective of the dose level. Increases of 2-5 log units in C. jejuni CEM was present in chicken groups inoculated with 1 X 10(2) CFU of C. jejuni, and a 2- to 3-log increase was present in groups inoculated with a higher dose level of C. jejuni at 12 DPI. The results of C. jejuni CEM from cecal samples at 19 DPI were similar to chicken groups at 12 DPI. Campylobacterjejuni was not isolated from the uninoculated control chickens at 5, 12, and 19 DPI. Clinical signs of illness or gross pathologic lesions were not present in any of the chicken groups during this study. No lesions were present on histopathologic evaluations in C. jejuni-inoculated chickens or uninoculated control chickens.

Animals↗

Pathogenicity of environmental origin Salmonellas in specific pathogen-free chicks.

Two hundred sixty 1-d-old specific pathogen-free (SPF), Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were used in this study to determine pathology caused by Salmonella enteritidis (SE) isolated from a poultry environment. The chicks were subdivided into 10 equal groups of 26 chicks each. Eight groups of chicks were inoculated individually with 0.5 mL of brain heart infusion broth culture containing 1 x 10(6) cfu of SE phage type (PT) -8 (1, 2, 3), SE PT5 A (1, 2), or SE PT4 (Ch-env-CA, chicken-CA, and human) by crop gavage. One group of 26 chicks were inoculated with 1 x 10(6) cfu of Salmonella pullorum per bird by crop gavage. Another group of 26 chicks were kept as an uninoculated control group. All the chicks were observed daily for clinical signs and mortality. Salmonella was reisolated from different organs at 7, 14, 21, and 28 postinoculation (DPI). All of the chicks were weighed individually at each interval. Two chicks at random from each group were euthanised and necropsied at each DPI for gross pathology. Selected tissues were examined for histopathological changes at 7 and 14 DPI. Dead chicks were examined for gross and histopathological lesions. Mortality rates were 30.7, 15.3, and 7.6% in the groups inoculated with S. pullorum, SE PT5A, and SE PT4 (chicken-CA), respectively. No mortality or clinical sign were observed in other treatment groups or in uninoculated control groups. Cecal pouches were found to be the ideal organ for reisolation of Salmlonella at acute or chronic infection compared with other organs. Mean body weights were reduced to 1.8 to 12.6% in inoculated groups compared with the uninoculated control group. The consistent gross and hispathological lesions were of peritonitis, perihepatitis, yolk sac infection, and enteritis. Subclinical Salmlonella infection identified in this study resulted in reduced body weights of inoculated birds compared with uninoculated controls.

Animals↗

Enhanced extracellular growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of selected linear peptide fragments of human interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist.

Replication of Staphylococcus aureus is significantly enhanced in the presence of recombinant interleukin (IL)-1beta. In this study, specific binding of IL-1beta to the surface of S. aureus significantly increased growth of S. aureus in the presence of IL-1beta and IL-1ra in a concentration-dependent manner. Although IL-1ra enhanced the growth of S. aureus, there was a significant reduction in IL-1beta-mediated growth enhancement of S. aureus when 25-fold excess amounts of IL-1ra (in comparison with the IL-1beta concentration) were present in the culture medium. Thus, IL-1beta may influence the growth of S. aureus through a receptor-mediated event. By using 5 linear peptides spanning limited regions of IL-1beta, the growth-promoting regions were localized to amino acid residues 118-147 and 208-240. These results build on the newly evolved concept of direct interactions between the soluble mediators of inflammation and infectious agents.

Culture Media↗

Cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha enhance in vitro growth of bacteria.

We have previously reported that in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), nonsurvivors have persistent elevation in pulmonary and circulating proinflammatory cytokine levels over time and a high rate of nosocomial infections antemortem. In these patients, none of the proven or suspected nosocomial infections caused a transient or sustained increase in plasma proinflammatory cytokine levels above preinfection values. We hypothesized that cytokines secreted by the host during ARDS may favor the growth of bacteria. We conducted an in vitro study of the growth of three bacteria clinically relevant in nosocomial infections, evaluating their in vitro response to various concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6. We found that all three bacterial species showed concentration-dependent growth enhancement when incubated with one or more tested cytokines and that blockade by specific neutralizing cytokine MoAb significantly inhibited cytokine-induced growth. When compared with control, the 6-h growth response (cfu/ml) was maximal with IL-1beta at 1,000 pg for Staphylococcus aureus (36 +/- 16 versus 377 +/- 16; p = 0.0001) and Acinetobacter spp. (317 +/- 1,147 versus 1,124 +/- 147; p = 0.002) and with IL-6 at 1,000 pg for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (99 +/- 50 versus 509 +/- 50; p = 0.009). The effects of cytokines were seen only with fresh isolates and were lost with passage in vitro on bacteriologic medium without added cytokines. In this study we provide additional evidence for a newly described pathogenetic mechanism for bacterial proliferation in the presence of exaggerated and protracted inflammation.

Acinetobacter↗

Oral staphylococcus in older subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, etiologic bacterial agents to late prosthetic joint infections (LPJI), are more prevalent in the oral flora of older individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in an age and gender-matched nonarthritic control population (NA). DESIGN: Cultures were obtained from the nares, oropharynx, saliva, tongue, and gingival crevice, and the results were compared between older patients with RA and controls. SETTING: University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, VA Medical Center, and University of Michigan School of Dentistry. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 111 community-dwelling subjects with a diagnosis of RA and 83 gender-matched control subjects. MEASUREMENTS: Colistin nalidixic acid agar plates with 5% sheep's blood were inoculated and incubated. Isolates were speciated using the API Staph Trac micro method and catalase and coagulase tests. MAIN RESULTS: Individuals with RA had a higher prevalence of S. aureus isolated from the oral cavity. However, only the oropharynx and tongue revealed higher rates; all other sites were insignificant. The presence of oral S. aureus was associated with xerostomia. Staphylococcus epidermidis was not detected from any of the oral sites sampled. Sixty-two percent (10/16) of the S. aureus isolates from the RA subjects were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, whereas none were resistant to a cephalosporin. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis may be a risk factor for LPJI in older prosthetic joint patients undergoing invasive dental procedure in the posterior oral cavity. This increased risk is caused, in part, by a higher prevalence of S. aureus in the posterior oral cavity. The prevalence and the antibiotic resistance of S. aureus must be considered when determining the need for chemoprophylaxis.

Adult↗

The epidemiology of enterococci.

The enterococci are emerging as a significant cause of nosocomial infections, accounting for approximately 10% of hospital acquired infections. They are found as normal inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal tract, but may also colonize the oropharynx, vagina, perineal region and soft tissue wounds of asymptomatic patients. Until recently, evidence indicated that most enterococcal infections arose from patients' own endogenous flora. Recent studies, however, suggest that exogenous acquisition may occur and that person-to-person spread, probably on the hands of medical personnel, may be a significant mode of transmission of resistant enterococci within the hospital. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially cephalosporins, is another major factor in the increasing incidence of enterococcal infections. These findings suggest that barrier precautions, as applied with other resistant nosocomial pathogens, along with more judicial use of antibiotics may be beneficial in preventing nosocomial spread of resistant enterococci.

Cross Infection↗

Clostridium difficile plasmid isolation as an epidemiologic tool.

A large hospital outbreak of Clostridium difficile diarrhea at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center (MVAMC) was studied by plasmid profile typing. Plasmids were obtained from 30 (37%) of 82 clinical isolates from MVAMC patients and 10 (67%) of 15 non-MVAMC isolates. While bacteriophage plus bacteriocin typing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) plus bacterial agglutination typing proved more universally applicable, plasmid profiles may be useful for tracing isolated epidemic outbreaks, reinfections and relapses caused by plasmid-bearing strains.

Bacteriocins↗

In-vitro activity of Sch 34343 against nosocomial pathogens: methicillin-resistant staphylococci, gentamicin-susceptible and -resistant Streptococcus faecalis, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides fragilis.

The in-vitro activity of Sch 34343, a new beta-lactam antimicrobial, was studied in vitro by quantitative broth dilution methods. It was found to have good antibacterial activity against four emerging problem pathogens: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis isolates showing high level resistance to gentamicin (and other aminoglycosides), Clostridium difficile (the cause of pseudomembranous colitis), and Bacteroides fragilis. On the basis of these promising results, Sch 34343 merits further in-vitro and in-vivo study to define its potential usefulness in treatment of infections with these pathogens in humans.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Epidemic Shiga bacillus dysentery in Central Africa.

An outbreak of dysentery began late in 1979 in Central Africa and spread to involve a major portion of Zaire as well as Rwanda and Burundi. We traveled to a mission hospital in northeast Zaire during the epidemic and isolated Shigella dysenteriae, type 1, from most of the patients studied. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfathiazole, and streptomycin but sensitive to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Antimicrobial resistance was transferable to Escherichia coli, and at least three plasmids were identified in the donor Shigella isolates by using agarose gel electrophoresis. One was coded for ampicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol resistance while a second conferred resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol but not tetracycline. A third large plasmid of approximately 120 megadaltons could not be transferred to E. coli recipients. All S. dysenteriae isolates yielded identical kinetic growth curves when analyzed on the Abbot MS-2 Research System. This is the most extensive outbreak of dysentery caused by S. dysenteriae reported since the Central American epidemic of 1969, and the first epidemic caused by a strain resistant to ampicillin.

Adolescent↗

Effects of subinhibitory antibiotics on bactericidal activity of chronic granulomatous disease granulocytes in vitro.

Experiments were performed on leukocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), incubated with subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics (clindamycin, methicillin and N-demethyl-lincomycin). Results indicate a minor enhancement of bactericidal activity. This improvement occurred in both CGD homozygotes and one heterozygote and may indicate a future role for the use of low dose antibiotics to augment immune defences such as granulocyte function.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Epidemic occurrence of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

In case-control studies of three epidemics of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in three different high-risk nurseries in three states, no particular risk factor was associated with affected infants or their mothers. Epidemic cases had higher birth weights and Apgar scores and fewer perinatal difficulties than those previously reported for sporadic cases. Seven infants fed primarily breast milk were not protected against disease. Early antibiotic therapy was associated with a significantly decreased risk of disease in one outbreak. In two hospitals, affected infants who received antibiotic therapy during the first three days of life had a significantly later disease onset. The occurrence of the disease in epidemics and the decreased risk or modification of disease with antibiotic therapy support an infectious etiology for NEC.

Ampicillin↗

Inhibitory effect of heparin on gentamicin concentrations in blood.

In monitoring gentamicin concentrations in the blood of patients with renal insufficiency, the assayed antibiotic concentration was found to be lower when the sample was drawn as heparinized plasma rather than as serum. This lowering of gentamicin concentrations by heparin was studied further by adding increasing doses of heparin and various amounts of gentamicin to human serum. With a range of 2 to 100 units of heparin per ml, gentamicin concentrations in the serum were lowered by 9 to 14%; with higher heparin concentrations, an even greater and increasing inhibition was noticed, reaching 56% for 1,000 units/ml. This inhibitory effect of heparin on gentamicin was reversible by dilution, indicating that it was not due to degradation or to formation of an inactive chemical complex. Underestimation by the laboratory of gentamicin concentrations in blood is likely to be greatest with capillary tubes, with which the concentration of heparin is especially high. With clinical heparinization, the amount of active heparin in the blood does not exceed 10 units/ml and is for the most part under 3 units/ml; thus, therapeutically significant inhibition of the antibiotic is unlikely in patients receiving anticoagulation.

Gentamicins↗

Pathogenicity of Salmonella enteritidis phage types 4, 8, and 23 in broiler chicks.

Four hundred fifty day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were subdivided into 15 groups of 30 chicks each. Six groups of chicks received 0.5 ml of broth culture containing 5 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) phage types (PTs) 4, 8, and 23 by crop gavage. Similarly, six other groups received 0.5 ml containing 5 x 10(8) CFU of SE. One group was inoculated with 0.5 ml containing 5 x 10(6) CFU of Salmonella pullorum, and another group received 0.5 ml containing 5 x 10(8) CFU of S. pullorum. A group of 30 chicks were kept as uninoculated controls. Chicks were observed daily for clinical signs and mortality. All birds were weighed at 7, 14, and 21 days postinoculation 21 (DPI). Four chicks were randomly selected from each treatment group, euthanatized, and necropsied at 7 and 14 DPI. Gross lesions were recorded and selected tissues were collected for histopathology. The higher rates of illness and mortality were observed in chicks inoculated with 5 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(8) CFU of S. pullorum, followed by SE PT4 of human origin and SE PT4 of chicken origin. Moderate to high mortality was observed in chicks inoculated with the higher dose of SE isolates that belonged to PT8 and one SE of PT23. Variable mortality was evident in groups inoculated with the lower dose of salmonella. The most consistent gross and histopathologic changes, including fibrinous pericarditis and perihepatitis, were seen in the dead birds from various treatment groups. The lower mean body weights were present in all treatment groups compared with uninoculated controls. No illness or mortality was observed in uninoculated control groups.

Animals↗