Biomedical subjects

P B Fourie

Publications and source records attributed to P B Fourie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Activity of 7-methyljuglone in combination with antituberculous drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The recent increase in the incidence of tuberculosis with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cases has lead to the search for new drugs that are effective against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can augment the potential of existing drugs against tuberculosis. In the present study, we investigated the activities of a naphthoquinone, 7-methyljuglone, isolated from the roots of Euclea natalensis alone and in combination with other antituberculous drugs against extracellular and intracellular M. tuberculosis. Combinations of 7-methyljuglone with isoniazid or rifampicin resulted in a four to six-fold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of each compound. Fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indexes obtained were 0.2 and 0.5, respectively, for rifampicin and isoniazid, suggesting a synergistic interaction between 7-methyljuglone and these anti-TB drugs. The ability of 7-methyljuglone to enhance the activity of isoniazid and rifampicin against both extracellular and intracellular organisms suggests that 7-methyljuglone may serve as a promising compound for development as an anti-tuberculous agent.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2004

Antimicrobial activity of clofazimine is not dependent on mycobacterial C-type phospholipases.

We have used a phospholipase C (PLC)-deletion mutant (plcABC) of the H37Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), as well as a plcA-insertion mutant of Mycobacterium smegmatis, to investigate the possible involvement of PLCs in clofazimine-mediated inhibition of mycobacterial K(+) transport and growth. Inactivation of the PLCs of MTB and insertion of the plcA gene into M. smegmatis resulted in a substantial reduction and increase in hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), respectively. However, both the mutant and wild-type strains of MTB and M. smegmatis were equally sensitive to the inhibitory effects of clofazimine on K(+) uptake and growth. These observations demonstrate that the PLCs of MTB are not involved in the antimicrobial activity of clofazimine.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed2004

Effect of Mycobacterium vaccae (SRL172) immunotherapy on radiographic healing in tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Controlled trials have failed to show an effect of Mycobacterium vaccae immunotherapy on treatment outcome and mortality in patients with tuberculosis (TB); however, several studies have suggested improvement in radiographic clearing and resolution of cavitary disease. METHODS: To assess the effect of M. vaccae immunotherapy on radiographic healing in pulmonary TB, chest X-rays from three randomized placebo-controlled trials of M. vaccae given as a single injection during the first 2 weeks of treatment were interpreted by a single, masked assessor using a standard scheme. Endpoints were the overall degree of radiographic improvement or deterioration and changes in cavitary disease at the end of antituberculosis treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Of 1018 patients (478 HIV-infected; 540 HIV-uninfected) with an end of treatment or end of follow-up X-ray analyzed, 496 received M. vaccae and 522 received placebo. There was no difference in radiographic improvement or deterioration or cavitary disease at the end of treatment or follow-up comparing the M. vaccae and placebo groups. Results were similar comparing HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive immunotherapy of drug-susceptible pulmonary TB with M. vaccae during the first 2 weeks of treatment did not improve radiographic responses to treatment or resolution of cavitary disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Early bactericidal activity of antituberculosis agents.

The early bactericidal activity (EBA) of an antituberculosis agent is arbitrarily defined as the fall in log(10) colony forming units (cfu) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis per ml sputum per day during the first 2 days of treatment. Determining the EBA is an important preliminary step in the clinical evaluation of an antituberculosis agent. We review the results of eight published studies of the EBA of different antituberculosis agents, the impact of these results on our understanding of the actions of the respective agents, the clinical characteristics and sputum findings of patients included in these studies, and explore sources of variation in the EBA results. Patients in these studies had a mean age of 31-36 years, a mean weight of 50-57 kg, 67% were male and 56% had lung involvement covering an area of more than one lung, and 90% had multicavitary disease. None of these findings were related to EBA in any study. The mean log(10) cfu per ml sputum in the first specimen was 6.474. This was related to radiological extent of disease and cavity size in one study (p < 0.001) and, in the case of isoniazid to EBA with a rise in EBA of 0.094 (95% CL 0.029-0.158) for each tenfold rise in cfu counts/ml sputum. The overall variation in EBA in these studies was 0.0303, that due to laboratory processing of specimens was 0.0011, and due to patient characteristics and sputum sampling 0.0212. The EBA is a reproducible investigation that has contributed significantly to our knowledge of the actions and characteristics of both established and new antituberculosis agents. The greatest source of variation in EBA results appears to be that due to interpatient variation in disease characteristics and sputum sampling.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2001

The potential use of urinary excretion data for assessing the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in fixed dose combination anti-tuberculosis formulations.

SETTING: The perceived need for simple, non-invasive methods of assessing the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in fixed-dose combination (FDC) anti-tuberculosis formulations. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of methods based on urinary excretion data with those utilising plasma concentration-time profiles to assess the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in combined and single-drug formulations. DESIGN: A two-period randomised crossover bioequivalence study in healthy male volunteers with a 1 week washout period between treatments. Plasma rifampicin concentrations were measured at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after each drug administration using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The rifampicin and desacetylrifampicin content of complete urinary collections made from 0-4 and 4-8 hours after dosage were determined using both the HPLC and a much simpler colorimetric procedure. RESULTS: There was good agreement between the relative bioavailability of the formulations using plasma and urinary excretion data, although the precision of the urinary-based estimates was slightly less than those derived from the plasma findings. There was also good agreement between the HPLC and colorimetric estimates of the combined urinary excretion of rifampicin plus desacetylrifampicin. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary excretion data may be used for ongoing quality control to confirm that commercial combined rifampicin-containing formulations that were initially shown to be satisfactory continue to be so.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of a rapid test for HIV antibodies in saliva and blood.

OBJECTIVE: To test whole blood and saliva for HIV antibodies (anti-HIV) using a rapid test strip capillary flow immunoassay, and to correlate the test strip results with blood specimen results obtained from routine diagnostic anti-HIV assays. DESIGN: A prospective pilot study of selected HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals, children and medico-legal cases from Gauteng, South Africa. METHODS: Whole blood specimens taken from every individual and medico-legal case (total study population 153) and saliva specimens taken from 76 selected cases were tested for anti-HIV using the respective Hema-Strip HIV-1/2, Sero-Strip HIV-1/2 and Saliva-Strip HIV-1/2 (Saliva Diagnostic Systems Inc.) rapid test strip methodology. All results were correlated with the currently recommended anti-HIV assays. RESULTS: The whole blood test strip results correlated 100% with the traditional diagnostic results. Only two saliva test strip results tested false-negative, both from marasmic and severely dehydrated babies, while the other results were in concordance. All test strip results on postmortem blood and saliva were fully concordant with the diagnostic assay results. CONCLUSION: The anti-HIV test strip methodology for whole blood and saliva specimens is rapid, reliable and easy to perform and interpret. Saliva specimens can be readily collected from any individual, and there is a reduction in hazard risk. Anti-HIV saliva testing using the test strip methodology is recommended for South Africa, particularly in high-risk situations such as the paediatric and forensic medicine settings. A large field study obtaining specimens from different regions in South Africa is advised.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Universal pattern of RpoB gene mutations among multidrug-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from Africa.

SETTING: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) presents an increasing burden in Southern Africa. Rapid diagnostic tests for drug resistance to rifampicin have been developed based on mutation analysis of the rpoB gene. However, geographic differences of underlying mutations have recently been suggested. OBJECTIVE: Drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from Africa were analysed for geographic differences in frequency and location of rpoB mutations. DESIGN: A random sample of rifampicin-resistant strains was collected from 87 patients with pulmonary MDR-TB treated in 12 hospitals from six different regions of South Africa. In addition, 18 isolates of M. tuberculosis complex from Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, including 13 isolates of M. africanum, were analyzed. Point mutations were detected by direct sequence analysis of the rpoB gene. RESULTS: Missense mutations were identified for 91 isolates (87%). Double mutations were present in eight (8%) MDR-TB isolates, two of which carried one mutation outside a previously described diagnostic region. We found no geographic differences regarding the frequency and pattern of single rpoB gene mutations. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that molecular genetic analysis of rifampicin resistance based on a core region within the rpoB gene is universally applicable to strains of M. tuberculosis complex from different geographic regions.

Africa↗

PubMed1999

Rifampicin bioavailability: a review of its pharmacology and the chemotherapeutic necessity for ensuring optimal absorption.

The World Health Organization encourages the use of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid together with pyrazinamide or pyrazinamide plus ethambutol for the treatment of tuberculosis. The main advantages of such FDCs are the simplification of procurement and prescribing practices and the protection they afford against the potential selection of RMP-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There is convincing evidence, however, that the rifampicin absorption from FDCs manufactured under suboptimal conditions may be significantly impaired, and this appears to be especially problematic with combined formulations of rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. In view of the marked dose-dependence of rifampicin's bacterial sterilizing action, it is therefore essential that tuberculosis control programmes only use rifampicin-containing FDCs with proven rifampicin bioavailability. The comprehensive literature on the pharmacology of rifampicin is reviewed, together with the methods employed for determining it and its most important metabolite, desacetyl-rifampicin, in either serum or urine. By contrast, published information concerning the absorption of rifampicin from currently marketed combined formulations and on laboratory methods for precisely assessing their bioavailability is very sparse. There is therefore a crucial need to establish the quality of currently marketed rifampicin-containing FDCs in studies using adequate numbers of volunteers, precise analytical techniques and sophisticated statistical techniques.

Absorption↗

PubMed1999

Recent bioequivalence studies on fixed-dose combination anti-tuberculosis drug formulations available on the global market.

SETTING: Concern has been expressed about the bioavailability of rifampicin in some fixed-dose combination (FDC) anti-tuberculosis formulations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in various FDC formulations currently in use in tuberculosis control programmes in the global market. DESIGN: A two-period randomised crossover bioequivalence study in healthy male volunteers, with a 1 week washout period between treatments. Plasma rifampicin concentrations were measured at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 hours after each drug administration. RESULTS: The AUC0-8, AUC0-12 and Cmax for rifampicin in seven of 10 FDC formulations was not found to be bioequivalent to the reference administered as loose (separate) formulations. This was confirmed using parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. CONCLUSIONS: The poor relative bioavailability of rifampicin from some FDCs has been documented. The implications for tuberculosis programmes are extremely serious and warrant urgent attention.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗

PubMed1999

The development of a standardised screening protocol for the in vivo assessment of rifampicin bioavailability.

SETTING: The prerequisite for in vivo bioavailability testing of rifampicin in fixed-dose combination (FDC) formulations is widely accepted. However, many smaller drug regulatory authorities and drug manufacturers have difficulty implementing costly and cumbersome testing procedures. OBJECTIVE: To test whether a simplified blood sampling schedule can be used for the determination of drug bioequivalence in randomised, single dose, crossover studies of FDCs and appropriate reference formulations. METHOD: The results of three bioavailability and bioequivalence studies of different rifampicin-containing FDCs were analysed. The relationship between the number of time points employed and precision of estimated relative bioavailability was explored. The relative bioavailabilities of the drug components in the test FDCs were calculated using maximal concentration and area under the curve estimates based on an extended blood sampling schedule of up to 15 time points over 48 hours, and a contracted sampling scheme with only six blood samples over 8 hours. RESULTS: Estimates of relative bioavailability calculated using the contracted blood sampling protocol were closely similar to those derived using the extended sampling schedules. CONCLUSION: Considerable cost and convenience benefits can be gained by using the contracted sampling schedule with only a minor reduction in the precision of the estimation of relative rifampicin bioavailability.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Proposed minimum registration requirements for fixed-dose combination anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Registration requirements for combined pharmaceutical preparations have been published before, but not specifically for fixed-dose combination (FDC) anti-tuberculosis preparations. With tuberculosis being a high priority disease world-wide and concerns being raised over substandard FDC anti-tuberculosis preparations being marketed on a wide scale, specific guidelines for industry seem to be indicated. This is predominantly necessitated by the fact that rifampicin bioavailability can be adversely affected when put in combination with isoniazid and pyrazinamide, and by the need for standardisation of the formulations to only a few essential combinations in order to better control quality. This paper proposes certain minimum requirements to be met when standardising dose in the combinations and when ensuring bioavailability of the preparations. Nine rifampicin-containing combinations are listed as essential. Furthermore, bioavailability testing of the rifampicin component only by a restricted assay protocol of six sample times over 8 hours is advocated, whilst in vitro procedures for other actives in the combination would suffice for registration purposes.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Structures required, roles and responsibilities in maintaining laboratories for quality assurance of anti-tuberculosis fixed-dose combinations in accordance with the IUATLD/WHO statement.

Combining rifampicin in the same tablet with isoniazid, with or without pyrazinamide, is known to affect the bioavailability of the drug. It is also known that many fixed-dose combination (FDC) preparations exist in the market which are of inferior quality, but are unknowingly used extensively in tuberculosis treatment programmes in low-income countries with high tuberculosis caseloads. This has led to joint statements by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Health Organization (WHO) pointing out that anti-tuberculosis FDCs should only be used in National Tuberculosis Programmes if the bioavailability of at least the rifampicin component has been demonstrated. Through the FDC Quality Assurance Project launched by the WHO in 1997, a strategy was proposed which aimed to provide specific guidance to ensure the improved quality of such preparations, and in particular the bioavailability of the rifampicin component. A crucial component of drug quality assurance is to ensure that the infrastructure and logistics required to carry out the operational aspects of quality assurance are adequate and sustainable. This paper describes the structures and management responsibilities required to meet this objective, based on general WHO guidelines for the quality assurance of pharmaceuticals.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗

PubMed1999

Mycobacterium bovis as a zoonosis in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

SETTING: The Kruger National Park (KNP), Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis exceeds 70% in African buffalo in the southern region of the KNP. Inter-species transmission (lion, cheetah, baboon, antelope) has also been confirmed. Regular culling of emaciated buffalo and processing of meat and hides constitute routine control policy. Following extensive media coverage of the problem, public health concerns about the transmission of M. bovis to humans, including visitors to the KNP, prompted this investigation. DESIGN: The study was designed to determine the prevalence of infection and/or active disease due to M. bovis among KNP employees selected from three defined risk groups based on occupation category. RESULTS: Of 206 persons screened for active disease by sputum bacteriology, two persons with disease due to M. tuberculosis were identified. No isolate of M. bovis was found. Differential skin testing using three antigens failed to show any degree of M. bovis infection risk, even among high risk occupations. Reasons for these results are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Bovine tuberculosis was not indicated as an occupational zoonosis in the KNP, nor was aerosol transmission implicated as a mechanism for human infection. Concerns about the public health implications of tuberculosis in buffalo in the KNP have therefore not been validated.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Procedures for developing a simple scoring method based on unsophisticated criteria for screening children for tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a scoring system for screening children for tuberculosis (TB) and for selecting suspects for further investigation in tuberculosis control programmes. Application of the score model, which would not require sophisticated or expensive technology, would be directed towards resource-poor countries with high prevalences of tuberculosis, where health care workers have to deal with diagnostic problems away from district hospitals or diagnostic facilities. DESIGN: Based on contributions from members of an IUATLD task group from 10 countries on the use of diagnostic criteria in childhood tuberculosis, criteria were selected to be used as elements in a score model. Data were collected by standardised questionnaire on 879 subjects aged under 15 years. Of these, 794 were considered probable or confirmed cases of tuberculosis by the diagnosing doctors. From each record, the criteria/procedures used in the diagnosis of probable/confirmed TB and regarded by the doctors as relevant criteria were selected. Bacteriology, histology and chest radiography were used either singly or collectively as the definitive reference (gold standard) against which the more subjective criteria (symptoms, clinical signs, skin test) would be evaluated. The latter criteria cited as relevant were then ranked and further explored for inclusion in the score model. The relative importance of each criterion to every other criterion on the list was expressed as weights, determined by employing a logarithmic least squares method to solve the ratio scale estimation problem which underlies decision-making involving more than one criterion. The resultant values were then assigned to each criterion in the final score model. RESULTS: The five clinical criteria thought to be most relevant as predictors of disease in children were history of contact with a case of tuberculosis, positive skin test, persistent cough, low weight for age, and unexplained/prolonged fever. In selecting the optimal cut-off points for the model at which tuberculosis would be suspected, low sensitivity and specificity (below 70%) but reasonably good positive predictive values (60%-77%) were obtained, depending on age group and epidemiological setting. In low tuberculosis prevalence settings, heavy reliance is placed by the model on a history of contact with a household case of tuberculosis and on a positive skin test, both of which have to be true. For high prevalence settings, more or less equal weighting is assigned to all five elements. Case contact and skin tests are less important, with low body weight, prolonged fever and cough being more indicative of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: The model provides for epidemiological differences between target populations and should prove successful as a screening tool to select children for further investigation by radiography and bacteriology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Molecular analysis of katG gene mutations in strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from Africa.

A sample of 124 isoniazid (INH)-resistant and 88 susceptible strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from south, central, and west Africa was analyzed by direct sequence analysis and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of their catalase-peroxidase (katG) genes. Point mutations at codon 315 were found in the genomes of 64% of INH-resistant strains, but no complete deletions were identified. Mutations at codon 463 were independent of INH resistance and were linked to the geographic origins of the strains.

Africa↗

PubMed1996

Efficacy and safety of rifabutin in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis.

The efficacy and safety of rifabutin (RBT) and rifampicin (RMP) were compared in 298 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. In the initial 8-wk phase, all patients received isoniazid 400 mg/d, ethambutol 1200 mg/d, and pyrazinamide 2 g/d and were randomly allocated to receive either RMP 600 mg/d or RBT 300 mg/d. In the 16-wk continuation phase, patients received intermittent treatment (twice weekly) with isoniazid 600 mg/d, ethambutol 2400 mg/d and either RMP 600 mg/d or RBT 300 mg/d. Two hundred twenty-five (RMP = 118; RBT = 107) patients completed the 24-wk treatment period (evaluable patient population). Bacteriologic conversion rates in the RMP and RBT groups were 87.7 versus 92.0% at Week 8, 99.1 versus 99.0% at Week 12, 93.5 versus 93.8% at Week 24, and 89.8 versus 95.3% at the last valid observation. The mean time to first bacteriologic conversion was 14.1 wk in the RMP group and 14.3 wk in the RBT group. None of these differences was significant. Adverse events were reported by four patients (five events) in the RMP group and six patients (six events) in the RBT group. Those events thought to be associated with RMP were increased SGOT and leucopenia and, with RBT, increased SGOT and thrombocytopenia. Two hundred four patients entered the follow-up phase, and, of these, 95 (RMP = 49; RBT = 46) completed the scheduled 24-mo period. The overall rate of relapse was 3.8% (4/106) for the RMP group and 5.1% (5/98) for the RBT group. These differences were not significant. All relapsed patients, except for two who could not be traced, were successfully retreated. We conclude that the efficacy and tolerability of RBT is equivalent to that of RMP in the treatment of newly diagnosed uncomplicated tuberculosis, and that RBT can be effectively administered in a part-daily, part-intermittent dosage schedule.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Diagnostic efficiency of the disposable Monotest in detecting tuberculosis infection by setting objective-specific cut-off points for positivity.

The disposable multiple-puncture tuberculin test device, Monotest, was recently introduced in South Africa for tuberculin test screening of tuberculosis infections. Three studies were carried out to compare the intradermal Mantoux test with the Monotest. In the first study, conducted on confirmed hospitalised tuberculosis patients, 307 subjects underwent a 2 TU RT 23 (Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen) Mantoux test, 155 a 5 TU test of the same antigen, and 111 a Monotest. In the second study, another group of 98 confirmed tuberculosis patients was double-tested with 5 TU RT 23 by Mantoux test and Monotest. In the first study, 100% of 5 TU Mantoux tests resulted in indurations > or = 5 mm, 97% of 2 TU Mantoux indurations were > or = 10mm, and 96% of Monotests produced indurations > or = 2 mm (manufacturer's recommended cut-off point). In the second study, 99% of the 5 TU Mantoux tests measured > or = 5 mm, and 100% of Monotest indurations were > or = 2 mm. In both studies, raising the cut-off point for the Monotest to > or = 4 mm produced sensitivities of 95% and and 100% respectively. All these tests may therefore be regarded as highly sensitive. In a third study, 58 healthy schoolchildren were double tested with 2 TU RT 23 and with Monotest. Results indicated that if the positivity cut-off point of the Monotest is set a 8 mm instead of at 2 mm, sensitivity suffers slightly, decreasing from 100% to 90%, while specificity increases considerably from 8% to well over 80%. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated the high likelihood that the Monotest as well as the Mantoux test could discriminate between infected and uninfected subjects. For both tests the Wilcoxon statistic exceeded 0.8. The Monotest is a useful alternative to the Mantoux test. It is recommended that if tuberculosis is suspected, reaction > or = 4 mm be interpreted as positive. For screening purposes, a cut-off point of 8 mm seems to distinguish best between the infected and the uninfected individual.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Intravenous immunoglobulin prophylaxis in neonates on artificial ventilation.

The efficacy of the prophylactic use of intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 21 pairs of ventilated neonates weighing more than 1,500 g. Each infant received 0.4 g/kg/day of intravenous Ig or a similar volume of placebo daily for 5 days. Criteria used to assess the efficacy of intravenous Ig were the number of infections, the duration of ventilation therapy and time to clinical recovery. There were no significant differences in the treated and placebo groups with regard to the frequency of positive blood cultures (28.6% and 14.3%), endotracheal cultures (57.1% and 66.7%) and abnormal white cell counts (52.4% and 57.1%). On entry to the study there was no significant difference in IgG levels between the treated (974.5 mg/dl; SD 575.3) and placebo groups (818 mg/dl; SD 516.9). However, on day 6 the treated group had a mean level of 1,400.3 mg/dl (SD 426.7) versus 710.9 mg/dl (SD 377.4) in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Clinical improvement occurred within 3 days in both groups. Ventilatory support was required for 11.8 days (SD 8.3) in the treated and 11.8 days (SD 7.3) in the placebo group. Both groups required 3-4 antibiotic treatments over a period of 14-15 days. Two patients died in the treated and 4 in the placebo group, with 1 infant in each group developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The patients who recovered did so within 14 days. Analyses of subgroups of patients with different diagnoses revealed no differences except a trend suggesting fewer infections in term babies treated with intravenous Ig. The organisms cultured in the intravenous Ig groups were Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus and in the placebo group Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Enterobacter. The above has shown that, except for a trend in the older neonates, intravenous Ig is not of prophylactic benefit in ventilated neonates. Newer adjuncts in immunotherapy such as hyperimmune gammaglobulin or monoclonal antibodies may prove of greater value in the treatment of neonatal sepsis.

Bacterial Infections↗