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P F Unsworth

Publications and source records attributed to P F Unsworth.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Hyaluronidase production in Streptococcus milleri in relation to infection.

One hundred and seven (41%) of 262 isolates of Streptococcus milleri, from human sources, produced hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase production was commoner in beta haemolytic isolates 32 of 39 (82%), many of which were of Lancefield group F. But hyaluronidase was also found in alpha and non-haemolytic isolates, and in groups A, C, G, and non-groupable isolates. There was a strong association between hyaluronidase production and isolation from known internal abscesses (48/58, 83%) compared with isolates from the normal flora of uninfected sites (24/97, 25%). Isolates from 15 patients with endocarditis were uniformly negative, although 13 of 25 (52%) isolates from dental plaque produced the enzyme. Production of hyaluronidase may therefore be an important determinant in the pathogenicity of infection by S milleri and could be helpful in predicting the likelihood of deep purulent lesions in isolates from blood culture.

Antigens, Bacterial

An assessment of the Microcult-GC culture test.

Microcult-GC, a miniaturised culture test, was compared with an established selective culture method for laboratory confirmation of gonorrhoea. Microcult-GC correlated 94% with the control method in identifying gonococci in male urethral specimens. Microcult-GC testing of 130 gonococci-negative vaginal swabs gave only 4.6% false-positive oxidase results, which could probably have been readily refuted by Microcult Gram stain. The test may be difficult to interpret for rectal specimens and is not appropriate for pharyngeal cultures.

Adult

Flucloxacillin in bone.

Ten patients undergoing total hip replacement for osteoarthritis were each given intramuscular flucloxacillin about two hours preoperatively; bone and serum were sampled simultaneously at operation. Trabecular and compact bone were separated, partly dried, reduced to powders, and then extracted with buffer. The concentration of flucloxacillin in bone washings and serum was determined by well-diffusion assay. The mean concentration of flucloxacillin in serum was 8.9 mg/l, in trabecular bone washings, 1.3 mg/l, and in compact bone washings 0.9 mg/l. The amount of blood contaminating the bone washings was measured, and was calculated to account for at most 26% of the flucloxacillin present. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the prophylactic use of flucloxacillin in hip replacement surgery.

Aged