Single, intravenously administered doses of cefoxitin and cefamandole did not penetrate into cerebrospinal fluid of normal humans. Multiple-dose administration with or without probenecid facilitated penetration of both antibiotics into the cerebrospinal fluid. Preliminary data showed that cefoxitin penetrated into cerebrospinal fluid of patients with inflamed meninges even when administered in a single dose without probenecid. However, the concentrations of cefoxitin in the cerebrospinal fluid of the individuals studied were not within the therapeutic range.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mixed bacterial meningitis.

Two recent cases of mixed bacterial meningitis at the Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center were studied. A review of the literature suggests that 1% of all cases of meningitis are caused by more than one bacterial species. Before 1950 such cases occurred predominantly in children and were caused by combinations of bacteria commonly associated with meningitis. Since 1950 a largely adult population has been affected by mixed bacterial meningitis, with a higher incidence of gram-negative bacillary organisms cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid. Common predisposing factors in this older group of patients include infection at contiguous foci, tumors in close proximity to the central nervous system, or fistulous communications with the central nervous system. Mortality was 26% for cases occurring before 1950 and 63% for those occurring after 1950. Failure to recognize one of the organisms present in the cerebrospinal fluid may result in the initiation of inadequate therapy in as many as 67% of cases. Empiric broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy is indicated in symptomatic patients predisposed to mixed bacterial meningitis until culture results become available.

Bacterial Infections↗

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Acute bacterial meningitis: an analysis of factors influencing prognosis.

Three-hundred and forty-nine cases of acute bacterial meningitis treated during a 25-year period (1949 through 1973) were reviewed to determine the prognostic significance of initial historical, physical and laboratory findings. A poor prognosis was associated with age greater than or equal to 40 years (p less than 0.01), presence of predisposing illness (p less than 0.01), associated illness (p less than 0.01), absence of nuchal ridity (p less than 0.05), and derangement of cerebral function (p less than 0.01). The effects of predisposing illness and moderate cerebral dysfunction were dependent upon age. In contrast, the effects of associated illness, mild or severe cerebral dysfunction, and absent nuchal rigidity were independent of age. Laboratory studies associated with a poor prognosis included an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein (p less than 0.05), a positive CSF smear (p less than 0.05), or culture (p less than 0.01), or bacteremia (p less than 0.01). No prognostic significance could be attributed to race (p greater than 0.05), sex (p greater than 0.05), prior antibiotic therapy (p greater than 0.05), duration of illness before institution of adequate therapy (p greater than 0.05), CSF leukocyte count (p greater than 0.05), frequency of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in CSF (p greater than 0.05), CSF sugar less than or equal to 40 mg/100 ml (p greater than 0.05), or a CSF sugar-simultaneous blood sugar ratio less than or equal to 0.40 (p greater than 0.05).

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tobramycin: in vitro and clinical evaluation in 30 patients.

Clinical evaluation of intramuscular tobramycin was accomplished in 30 patients with respiratory, soft tissue, urinary tract, bone or septicemic infections due to gram negative bacilli. Median sensitivity to tobramycin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (19 strains) was 0.62 mug/ml and range 0.31-2.5 mug/ml; less activity was observed for Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter species isolates but median minimum inhibitory concentrations were less than or equal to 2.5 mug/ml. Therapy resulted in clinical and bacteriologic cures in 16 patients (53 per cent) including 13 of 16 (181 per cent) with urinary tract infections; 9 of the 14 patients who did not obtain bacteriologic cure had satisfactory clinical responses. Tobramycin was effective for selected gram negative bacillary infections and particularly for P. aeruginosa.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital-associated bacterial meningitis.

Eighteen of 349 cases (5.2 per cent) of bacterial meningitis seen between 1949 and 1973 were hospital-associated (developed after admission to the hospital). The patients were adults, usually males, and developed symptoms and signs of meningitis from 2 to 23 days (mean, 10.1 days) after hospital admission. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was made from less than 1 day to 15 days (mean, 4.8 days) after the onset of symptoms. Fourteen of the 18 patients had received antibiotics during the week prior to developing meningitis. Nine (50 per cent) had a chronic, noninfection, underlying illness. Diagnostic or surgical procedures involving the neuraxis or adjacent structures preceded the development of meningitis in 10 of the 18 patients (56 per cent). Only 6 of the 18 patients survived their infection. Prompt recognition, diagnosis, and therapy of hospital-associated meningitis in high-risk patients may reduce the significant mortality.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Examination of pharyngeal secretions to determine the etiology of pharyngitis.

Wright-stained throat smears from 174 outpatients with a chief complaint of sore throat were examined. In the presence of tonsillar and/or pharyngeal exudate, cervical lymphadenitis, temperature greater than or equal to 24 less than or equal to 72h, examination of the throat smears would have doubled the accuracy of differentiating streptococcal pharyngitis (SP) from nonstreptococcal pharyngitis (NSP). In the presence of one, two, three, or all four of the preceding presenting characteristics, examination of throat smears would have increased the diagnostic accuracy by 46, 50, 13, and 14 per cent, respectively. Examination of a Wright-stained throat smear may help distinguish SP from NSP among patients in an outpatient setting where follow-up and, therefore, treatment based on culture results may not be optimal.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of cefamandole nafate.

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hemophilus influenzae type F pneumonia in adults.

A 69-year-old man was hospitalized with fatal bacteremic Hemophilus influenzae type F pneumonia. Three cases of type F pneumonia have been reported previously. When compared with 22 reported cases of bacteremic type B pneumonia, patients with type F infection were more likely to be elderly males who succumbed to their infection (p less than 0.05). Statistically significant differences in the incidence of underlying conditions or in the extent of pneumonia were not present.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recent experiences with nocardial infections.

A review of Nocardia isolates at two Kansas City hospitals from 1968 to 1976 revealed isolates from 42 different patients. Data were available for analysis from 36 patients. According to strict criteria, only 17(47%) were infected. Infection increased from zero to one yearly from 1968 through 1973 to five and seven in 1974 and 1975, respectively. Commensal isolates varied from zero to five yearly with no recent increase. Analysis of underlying disease and predisposing factors suggests that bronchopulmonary abnormalities predispose to colonization but infection is unusual without immunosuppression. Primary nocardial infection without known underlying disease accounted for only 4 of the 17(24%) infections. Fever and leukocytosis were not helpful in distinguishing nocardial infection from colonization. A history of prior steroid use and a smear showing gram-positive filamentous organisms correlated highly with infection. Mortality correlated with pulmonary and brain involvement, prior use of steroids, and inappropriate therapy. Nosocomial infection was noted in five patients with a mortality of 60%. Overall mortality was only 29%.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Group B streptococcal infections in adult males.

A 19-month study of group B streptococcal infection was performed to investigate the spectrum of such infections in adult males, the relation of serotypes to clinical illnesses, the effects of previous antibiotic therapy on infection and colonization, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these organisms. Twenty-four patients had definite or possible infections while 41 patients were colonized with group B streptococci. The most frequent infections encountered were pneumonia (ten cases) and soft tissue infections (nine cases). Five infections (21%) were nosocomial in origin. The most frequent serotypes were Ia and II. No correlation of serotype and type of infection was observed. Patients receiving previous antibiotic therapy were significantly more likely to be colonized than infected with group B streptococci. Penicillin was the antibiotic to which these organisms were most susceptible; tetracycline and gentamicin showed the least activity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Case report. Disseminated sporotrichosis presenting as sarcoidosis: electron microscopic and immunologic studies.

A 50-year-old black man with constitutional symptoms, cutaneous nodules, and bilateral hilar adenopathy was found to have non-caseating granulomata on bronchial biopsy. He was treated with corticosteroids for sarcoidosis. Within five months he was found to have disseminated sporotrichosis. Electron microscopy revealed mycelial forms of S. schenckii in superficial lesions and yeast forms from deep tissue sites: no novel forms were seen. Blood mononuclear cell studies revealed hyperactive suppressor cells with respect to non-specific T cell targets and the antigen specific target. Examination of the initial biopsy material after digestion with diastase before PAS staining revealed budding yeast consistent with S. schenckii. This case emphasizes the need for careful histopathologic examination of clinical material before a diagnosis of sarcoidosis is made, and reveals an immunologic abnormality which may account for the patient's anergic state and susceptibility to S. schenckii infection.

Bronchial Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Administration of Gancyclovir: treatment of cytomegalovirus infection.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗