Biomedical subjects

J Louwers

Publications and source records attributed to J Louwers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Exclusion of vanA, vanB and vanC type glycopeptide resistance in strains of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus used as probiotics by polymerase chain reaction and hybridization methods.

Strains of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lact. rhamnosus are used as probiotics in man and animal. The aim of this study was to determine whether the glycopeptide resistance in these lactobacilli has a similar genetic basis as in enterococci. Five Lact. reuteri strains and one Lact. rhamnosus, as well as four Enterococcus control strains, were probed for the vanA gene cluster, the vanB gene and the vanC gene by PCR and Southern hybridization, and DNA/DNA hybridization. Their resistance and plasmid patterns were also investigated. All Lactobacillus strains were resistant to vancomycin but susceptible to a broad range of antibiotics. Four of the Lactobacillus strains (including the Lact. rhamnosus strain) did not harbour any plasmid and two of them contained five and 6 plasmid bands respectively. None of the Lactobacillus strains possessed the vanA, vanB or vanC gene. These findings indicate that the glycopeptide resistance of the Lactobacillus strains analysed is different from the enterococcal type. The study provides reassurance on the safety of the Lactobacillus strains used as probiotics with regard to their vancomycin resistance.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1998

Peritonitis associated with vancomycin-resistant Lactobacillus rhamnosus in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient: organism identification, antibiotic therapy, and case report.

A case of Lactobacillus rhamnosus-associated peritonitis in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is reported. The patient was treated with vancomycin after isolation of glycopeptide-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci. After a skin rash developed, vancomycin was discontinued and replaced with teicoplanin. Seven weeks after the glycopeptide therapy was discontinued, a Lactobacillus strain was isolated in pure cultures. The isolate was identified first incorrectly as L. acidophilus but later correctly as L. rhamnosus. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that the isolate was resistant to glycopeptides but susceptible to several other antibiotics. The antibiotic treatment was then switched to imipenem and was successful.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1994

[Microbiological quality of fresh and stored ground meat from commercial production].

In the last quarter of 1993 we investigated 295 samples of minced meat on 59 days of production (5 samples each day). EC-regulations (88/657/EEC, changed by 92/110/EEC) were considered. We looked for the total aerobic count, E. coli, Staph. aureus and Salmonella. Factors that could influence the results were examined as day of sampling, storage under defined conditions, ph-value etc. Most important for the microbiological quality of the product was the quality of the processed meat. In most cases samples fulfilled the strict microbiological requirements of the EC-regulation. After storage for 2 days at 2 degrees C there was no detectable alteration of the microflora of minced meat. Beginning with the third day total aerobic count increased significantly explainable by the increase of pseudomonads. There were problems with minced meat produced from beef, that was of lower quality and not fresh. EC-regulations can be fulfilled and are reasonable in case of industrial production when considering the quality of the processed meat and seasonal differences. Therefore microbiological quality control is justified.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

[Suitability of sampling methods for environmental studies in meat rendering and processing plants with European Community licenses].

In EC-licensed meat rendering and processing plants microbiological test results obtained through contact slides and a highly precise swab method were compared. It was revealed that when using contact slides the absolute cfu can be determined only after prior verification with a reference method. The key provided by the manufacturer for data interpretation does not always match with results obtained by swab technique. Nevertheless, contact plates are suitable to determine the microbiological status. However, their technical deficiencies must be compensated. A simple swab method is well suited for use in meat rendering and processing plants. It is very economical due to low material costs and easy to apply by plant hygienists. The use of a seven step scale listing results up to 10(3) cfu/cm2 enables even non-experts to interpret their results reasonably.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fear of blushing: effects of task concentration training versus exposure in vivo on fear and physiology.

Patients with fear of blushing as the predominant complaint (N = 31) were randomly assigned to (1) exposure in vivo (EXP), or (2) task concentration training (TCT), in order to test the effect of redirecting attention above exposure only. In addition, it was investigated whether treatment reduced actual blush behavior; therefore, physiological parameters of blushing were measured during two behavioral tests. Half of the patients served as waiting-list controls first. Assessments were held before and after treatment, at 6-weeks, and at 1-year follow-up. Both treatments appeared to be effective in reducing fear of blushing and realizing cognitive change. Yet, at posttest, TCT tended to produce better results with respect to fear of blushing. At 6-weeks follow-up, TCT produced significantly more cognitive change. At 1-year follow-up, patients further improved, while differential effects had disappeared. The reduction in fear of blushing was not paralleled by a reduction in actual blush behavior during the behavioral assessments. Thus, it seems that fear of blushing reflects a fearful preoccupation, irrespective of actual facial coloration.

Adult↗