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Biomedical subjects

E T Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to E T Thomas.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens in acute nonbacteremic pneumonia.

Commercially available latex agglutination and coagglutination reagents were evaluated for their ability to detect bacterial antigens in the sera of 165 patients to determine their suitability for rapid diagnosis of pneumonia. These reagents were used to detect the polysaccharide capsular antigens of Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae in nonbacteremic patients known to be respiratory culture positive for these organisms. The reagents were unable to detect the polysaccharide antigens in sera from nonbacteremic patients. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia who had respiratory or extrarespiratory infections with a variety of organisms were also tested. No evidence of cross-reactivity or of false-positive reactions was observed with either reagent. Because a negative agglutination test may occur during the course of a nonbacteremic infection, these reagents should not be used alone, and if used, they should be used only in conjunction with standard bacteriological tests.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a general hospital: a four-year study.

A retrospective study was done to determine the epidemiology of infection and/or colonization due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Brazilian general hospital. In 1966, 1968, and 1969, there were only two instances where probable cross-contamination was shown; the remaining isolates were unrelated. In late 1971 the hospital experienced a marked increase in P. aeruginosa isolation. Contaminated dextrose solutions used in the infant feeding were the apparent cause of the problem which occurred in the premature and special care nurseries. A contaminated oxygen humidifying bottle was the source of a different outbreak in surgery. There was also evidence in four instances that cross-infection and/or contamination had occurred. Pyocin and serological typing revealed that many strains were involved and led to a clear understanding of the complex epidemiological relationships among all the strains.

Adult↗
PubMed1974

Pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a simplified method.

A simplified method has been devised for typing Pseudomonas aeruginosa by pyocin production. Pyocins are produced as strains grow overnight in Trypticase soy broth (without glucose) plus 1% potassium nitrate. Because P. aeruginosa can use nitrate instead of oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor, mechanical shaking is not necessary, nor is induction by mitomycin C. Pyocins can now be produced in screw-cap tubes in a water bath or incubator. A total of 250 strains were tested as possible pyocin indicators, which included 60 strains already used in pyocin-typing systems. The final set contained 18 indicators which were chosen because (i) they had clear positive or clear negative reactions, thus eliminating reactions difficult to read, (ii) they had few zones due to bacteriophage lysis, and (iii) they were most sensitive in differentiating clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. The final typing method was tested in several studies and the results were clear; thus definitive epidemiological conclusions could be made. Because it is simple to perform and easily automated, the new method should have application in many hospitals; however, it should be used only in carefully planned epidemiological studies. The method and its application are described in detail, and some pitfalls are discussed.

Bacteriocins↗
PubMed1973

Simplified method for producing pyocins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Good yields of pyocin are obtained when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is grown in Trypticase soy broth (without glucose) (BBL) plus 1% potassium nitrate. As a result, pyocin production for routine epidemiological typing can be done in screw-cap tubes, without mechanical agitation or mitomycin C induction.

Bacteriocins↗