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Biomedical subjects

P M Kelly

Publications and source records attributed to P M Kelly.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in acute injuries of the spinal cord.

Injuries to the spinal cord may be associated with increased healing of fractures. This can be of benefit, but excessive bone growth can also cause considerable adverse effects. We evaluated two groups of patients with fractures of the spinal column, those with neurological compromise (n=10) and those without (n=15), and also a control group with an isolated fracture of a long bone (n=12). The level of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), was measured at five time points after injury (days 1, 5, 10, 42 and 84). The peak level of 142.79 ng/ml was found at day 84 in the neurology group (p<0.001 vs other time points). The other groups peaked at day 42 and had a decrease at day 84 after injury (p<or=0.001). Our findings suggest that TGF-beta may have a role in the increased bone turnover and attendant complications seen in patients with acute injuries to the spinal cord.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Effect of milk protein standardization using different methods on the composition and yields of Cheddar cheese.

Two sets of Cheddar cheese were made in which the milk protein level (%, wt/wt) was increased from 3.3 (Control A, CA) to 3.6 (set A) or from 3.3 (control B, CB) to 4.0 (set B) by the addition of phosphocasein (PC), milk protein concentrate (MPC), or freshly prepared ultrafiltered milk retentate (UFR). The cheeses were denoted CA, PCA, MPCA, and UFRA from set A, and CB, PCB, MPCB, and UFRB, from set B, respectively. The level of cheese moisture decreased significantly on increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 3.6 or 4.0% (wt/wt), but was not affected significantly by the method of protein standardization. The percentage milk fat recovered to cheese increased significantly on increasing the level of milk protein from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with PC, and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR. Increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC significantly increased the percentage of milk protein recovered to cheese. Actual cheese yield increased significantly with milk protein level. The yield of cheese per 100 kg of milk normalized to reference levels of fat (3.4%, wt/wt) and casein (2.53%, wt/wt) indicated no significant effects of protein content or standardization treatment on yield. However, the moisture-adjusted yield per 100 kg of milk with reference levels of fat and casein increased significantly on increasing the protein content from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with MPC and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A community-based TB drug susceptibility study in Mimika District, Papua Province, Indonesia.

SETTING: A district level tuberculosis (TB) control programme in Papua Province, Indonesia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature and extent of drug-resistant TB in newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive patients. METHODS: Sputum was collected from previously untreated smear-positive pulmonary TB patients diagnosed in the district over a 10-month period. Sputum specimens were processed and inoculated into a BACTEC MGIT960 tube. Isolates were identified by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, hybridisation with nucleic acid probes and biochemical investigations. Susceptibility testing was performed using the radiometric proportion method. Pyrazinamide testing was performed using the Wayne indirect method. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients had sputum sent to a reference laboratory; 101 (94.4%) were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with 87 (86.1%) fully sensitive to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Two per cent were multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and 12 (11.9%) had other drug resistance. Each of the MDR-TB isolates was susceptible to amikacin, capreomycin, ciprofloxacin and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), but were resistant to rifabutin. One isolate was also resistant to ethionamide. CONCLUSIONS: MDR-TB is present in Indonesia but is not a major problem for TB control in this district. Generalisability to other districts in Indonesia, particularly large urban areas, needs to be confirmed by future studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

An alternative method for sputum storage and transport for mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance surveys.

SETTING: A district level tuberculosis (TB) programme in Indonesia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a single sputum specimen could be stored by refrigeration for an extended period of time, then transported to a reference laboratory and successfully cultured for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: Single sputum specimens were collected from newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB patients, refrigerated at the study site without addition of 1% cetylpyridinium chloride, batched and sent to the reference laboratory, where they were decontaminated and inoculated into BACTEC MGIT 960 liquid media. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients were enrolled. The median specimen storage time was 12 days (range 1-38) and median transportation time was 4 days (2-12). The median time from specimen collection until processing was 18 days (4-42). Only 4 (3.7%) specimens failed to grow Mycobacterium species and M. tuberculosis was isolated from 101 (94.4%) specimens. Six specimens with breakthrough contamination successfully grew M. tuberculosis after a second decontamination procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Single sputum specimens collected at a remote setting, refrigerated for relatively long periods without preservatives and transported without refrigeration to a reference laboratory can yield a high positive culture rate. These findings offer potential logistic simplification and cost savings for drug resistance surveys in low-resource countries.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2006

Tuberculosis control in conflict-affected East Timor, 1996-2004.

SETTING: East Timor has undergone major political changes in the past 10 years. Tuberculosis (TB) control has flourished, despite chronic low tension conflict, a brief but intense period of high-level conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: To assess TB control in East Timor from 1996 to 2004. DESIGN: Data were collected from a variety of sources. Key TB programme indicators were analysed with reference to WHO targets to assess the performance of the three TB control programmes that operated during the study period. RESULTS: Before 1999, a non-governmental TB control programme was established in several districts in parallel with the government TB programme, and showed optimistic results. External donor funds, technical assistance and local control strategies were key components. In 1999, conflict led to complete disruption of both programmes. In 2000, a National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) was established from the non-governmental programme in collaboration with other partners. The smear-positive TB case notification rate of 108 per 100000 population is the highest in the region and reflects high population coverage. The cure rate of 81% is close to reaching the WHO target. CONCLUSION: High-quality TB control has been introduced in conflict-affected East Timor. Further research is needed to examine Timorese approaches to inform other, similar settings.

Directly Observed Therapy↗
PubMed2005

Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from treatment failure patients living in East Timor.

SETTING: In the first 2 years of the East Timor National TB Control Programme, 7960 new patients were treated (2RHZE/6HE) and 224 received a retreatment regimen (2SRHZE/1RHZE/4R3H3Z3E3). OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature and extent of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in treatment failure cases in East Timor. METHODS: Sputum specimens from retreatment failure cases were processed and inoculated into a BACTEC MGIT960 tube and onto Löwenstein-Jensen media. Isolates were identified by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, hybridisation with nucleic acid probes and biochemical investigations. Susceptibility testing was performed using the radiometric proportion method. Pyrazinamide testing was performed using the Wayne indirect method. RESULTS: Eighteen patients failed retreatment (0.7% of new cases) and 14 were available for analysis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from all specimens, despite considerable transport delays. Nine (64.3%) had multiple drug resistance (MDR-TB) and four (28.6%) had other drug resistance. All MDR-TB isolates were susceptible to amikacin, capreomycin and ethionamide, with most also susceptible to ciprofloxacin and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS). CONCLUSIONS: An excellent TB control programme has been established in East Timor. If funds are available, East Timor provides an ideal setting for a small-scale DOTS-Plus programme to treat prevalent cases of MDR-TB, and this study could inform the second-line drug regimen.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2005

Seroprevalence of Burkholderia pseudomallei in East Timorese refugees: implications for healthcare in East Timor.

Melioidosis is a disease with protean clinical manifestations caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is endemic in countries surrounding the newly independent East Timor, but has yet to be isolated or demonstrated serologically in that country. One illness that can be clinically indistinguishable from melioidosis is pulmonary tuberculosis, a condition with a very high prevalence in East Timor. We used an indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) to measure antibodies to B. pseudomallei in 407 East Timorese evacuated to Darwin, Australia, in September 1999. Assuming a positive IHA titer as > or = 1:40, the overall seroprevalence rate was 17.0%, in keeping with other seroprevalence studies from the region. The IHA titres ranged up to 1:320. After adjusting for age, females were 2.5 times more likely to be seropositive than males (p = 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between seropositivity and age. This study shows that exposure to B. pseudomallei occurs in East Timor melioidosis is also likely to occur. Due to the lack of laboratory facilities at present, it may be some time before a laboratory-confirmed case proves that melioidosis occurs. In the meantime, clinicians in East Timor should include melioidosis in the differential diagnosis of the many conditions that it may mimic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Local problems, local solutions: improving tuberculosis control at the district level in Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the causes of a low cure rate at the district level of a tuberculosis (TB) control programme and to formulate, implement, and evaluate an intervention to improve the situation. METHODS: The study setting was Mzuzu (population 60,000), where the annual smear-positive pulmonary TB incidence was 160 per 100,000 and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence was 67% among TB patients. There is one TB treatment unit, but several other organizations are involved with TB control. An examination of case-holding activities was carried out, potential areas for improvement were identified, and interventions performed. FINDINGS: In 1990-91, the cure rate was 24% among smear-positive cases (29% among survivors to end of treatment). Problems identified included a fragmented TB control programme; inadequate training and supervision; suboptimal recording of patients' addresses; and nonadherence to national TB control programme protocols. These problems were addressed, and in 1992-93 the cure rate rose to 68% (relative risk (RR) = 2.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.63, 4.96)) and to 92% among survivors to the end of treatment (RR = 3.12 (95% CI = 1.84, 5.29)). High cure rates are therefore achievable despite high HIV prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Simple, inexpensive, local programmatic interventions can dramatically improve TB case holding. This study demonstrates the need for evaluation, training, and supervision at all levels of the programme.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2002

Tuberculosis in east timorese refugees: implications for health care needs in East Timor.

SETTING: East Timorese refugees evacuated to Darwin, Australia, September 1999. OBJECTIVE: Presentation of the process and results of tuberculosis (TB) screening in a previously unscreened refugee population. DESIGN: Screening for TB by clinical examination (all persons) and chest X-ray (CXR) (persons over 12 years of age and those of any age with respiratory symptoms) and sputum microscopy and mycobacterial culture (abnormal CXR). RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were diagnosed with TB (38 culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including 11 sputum smear-positive). Of 89 positive mycobacterial cultures, 51 were non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Of the M. tuberculosis isolates, 82.2% were fully sensitive, 17.2% were resistant to isoniazid and 8.6% were resistant to isoniazid and streptomycin. Fifty-three consecutively diagnosed patients with TB were HIV-negative. The TB burden in this population was very high (point prevalence of 542/100,000 for smear-positive and 2,060/100,000 for culture-positive cases). Rates of culture for NTM were also high. Information from this study assisted the implementation of a National TB Control Programme for East Timor in February 2000. CONCLUSION: The challenges for public health authorities in East Timor to provide a successful TB control programme are enormous. The apparently low prevalence of drug resistance and HIV co-infection in the population is encouraging.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Quality control Lactobacillus strains for use with the API 50CH and API ZYM systems at 37 degrees C.

The API 50CH and API ZYM systems fulfil an important role in the polyphasic taxonomic identification of lactobacilli. When the API 50CH fermentation profile of the quality control Lactobacillus casei var. alactosus (Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei) strain NCFB 206 was determined at 37 degrees C, it was found to differ from that determined at 30 degrees C by BioMéreiux SA (Montalieu Vercieu, France) and the National Collection of Food Bacteria (Aberdeen, Scotland). In addition, the API 50CH fermentation and API ZYM profiles of Lb. casei strain ATCC 334T determined at 37 degrees C differed from those determined at 30 degrees C by Lee and Simard (1984). Strains NCFB 206 and ATCC 334T were thus assumed to exhibit temperature-dependent variation in fermentation profile, a phenomenon recently described by Nigatu et al. (2000). In contrast, Lb. rhamnosus strain ATCC 243T did not exhibit temperature-dependent variation in fermentation profile. Moreover, the fermentation profile obtained at 37 degrees C differed in only one respect (positive beta-gentiobiose utilisation) from that published by Collins et al. (1989). In addition, Lactobacillus strain GG produced a stable and reproducible API ZYM profile at 37 degrees C, although some variation in the level of enzyme activity was evident. Thus, strain NCFB 206 was replaced by strain ATCC 243T as the quality control strain of choice for use with the API 50CH fermentation system, and Lactobacillus strain GG adopted for use as a quality control strain with the API ZYM system for strain identification of lactobacilli at 37 degrees C. The API 50CH and API ZYM profiles of the commercially important Lactobacillus strains NCFB 1748, GG, KLD, F19, and ACA-DC 212.3 were determined at 37 degrees C after anaerobic growth in MRS broth. The fermentation and enzyme profiles of strain NCFB 1748 were almost identical to those of Lb. crispatus ATCC 33820T, those of strain GG were found to be more similar to those of Lb. rhamnosus strain 243T than Lb. zeae strain ATCC 15820T, those of strain KLD were most similar to those of Lb. fermentum DSM 20052T, while those of strains F19 and ACA-DC 212.3 were similar to those of Lb. casei strain ATCC 334T.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2001

Gradient diffusion antibiotic susceptibility testing of potentially probiotic lactobacilli.

Minimum inhibitory contentrations (MICs) of selected inhibitors of cell wall synthesis (benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, and vancomycin), protein synthesis (gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin), and nucleic acid synthesis (co-trimoxazole, rifampicin, and metronidazole) were determined by gradient diffusion (E test; AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden) on deMan, Rogosa, Sharpe (MRS) agar for Lactobacillus strain GG and 11 closely related, rapidly growing, facultatively anaerobic, potentially probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains. All strains were resistant to vancomycin (MIC90 > or = 256 microg/ml), co-trimoxazole (MIC90 > or = 32 microg/ml), metronidazole (MIC90 > or = 32 microg/ml), gentamicin (MIC90 > or = 128 microg/ml), and streptomycin (MIC90 > or = 256 microg/ml), and sensitive to pencillin G (MIC90 > 0.375 microg/ml), ampicillin (MIC90 > 0.750 microg/ml), rifampicin (MIC90 > 0.375 microg/ml), tetracycline (MIC90 > 1.5 microg/ml), chloramphenicol (MIC90 > 8 microg/ml), and erythromycin (MIC90 > 2 microg/ml). E test MICs were also determined for L. acidophilus National Collection of Food Bacteria (NCFB) 1748 and L. reuteri Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen 20016T by the inoculum application method recommended by the manufacturer (swabbing), with and without antibiotic prediffusion for 1 h at room temperature, and by an alternative inoculum application (agar overlay) method, without antibiotic prediffusion. Antibiotic prediffusion increased the MICs for penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol by up to 2 log2 MIC dilutions without changing antibiotic susceptibility category. Agar overlay application also increased the MICs for these antibiotics as well as for gentamicin by up to 3 log2 MIC dilutions without changing antibiotic susceptibility category. Exact agreement between MICs determined by swab and agar overlay application without antibiotic prediffusion was strain dependent: 54.5% for strain DSM 20016T and 72.7% for strain NCFB 1748. The swab and agar overlay gradient diffusion methods provide a reliable basis for antibiotic susceptibility testing of rapidly growing, facultatively anaerobic lactobacilli, using MRS agar as test medium and are readily applicable for testing individual isolates as needed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

Bioavailability of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in foods enriched with microencapsulated fish oil.

OBJECTIVE: Incorporation of fish oil into food products provides a means of increasing n-3 fatty acid intake, particularly in populations where fish consumption remains low. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioavailability of n-3 PUFA in microencapsulated fish-oil-enriched foods compared with an equal amount of n-3 PUFAs contained in fish oil capsules. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy female volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups for the 4-week intervention: one group received 0.9 g of n-3 PUFA/day as fish oil capsule (capsule group), while the second group (food group) received an equal amount of n-3 PUFA/day from enriched foods. Baseline and post-intervention samples were analysed for platelet fatty acid composition. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the change in platelet arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) between the two groups following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that n-3 PUFA from microencapsulated fish-oil-enriched foods are as bioavailable as n-3 PUFA in a capsule. Fortification of foods with microencapsulated fish oil, therefore, offers an effective way of increasing n-3 PUFA intakes and status in line with current dietary recommendations.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Fourth toe flexion sign: a new clinical sign for identification of the superficial peroneal nerve.

We describe a clinical sign for identification of the superficial peroneal nerve. Flexion of the fourth toe accentuates the subcutaneous course of the cutaneous branches of the superficial peroneal nerve. Thirty feet from 15 volunteers were examined for presence of this sign. Twenty-six of 30 feet had a positive sign that was confirmed by infiltrating the observed nerve with 1% lignocaine and correlating the consequent area of hypoaesthesia with the known distribution of the superficial peroneal nerve.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of conjugated bile salts on antibiotic susceptibility of bile salt-tolerant Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium isolates.

Virtually every antibiotic may cause in vivo alterations in the number, level, and composition of the indigenous microbiotae. The degree to which the microbiotae are disturbed depends on many factors. Although bile may augment antibiotic activity, studies on the effect of bile on the antibiotic susceptibility of indigenous and exogenous probiotic microorganisms are lacking. It was against this background that the antibiotic susceptibility of 37 bile salt-tolerant Lactobacillus and 11 Bifidobacterium isolates from human and other sources was determined in the presence of 0.5% wt/wt oxgall (conjugated bile salts). Oxgall did not affect the intrinsic resistance of lactobacilli to metronidazole (5 microg), vancomycin (30 microg), and cotrimoxazole (25 microg), whereas it resulted in a complete loss of resistance to polymyxin B (300 microg) and the aminoglycosides gentamicin (10 microg), kanamycin (30 microg), and streptomycin (10 microg) for most strains studied (P < 0.001). Oxgall did not affect the intrinsic resistance of bifidobacteria to metronidazole and vancomycin, whereas polymyxin B and co-trimoxazole resistance was diminished (P < 0.05) and aminoglycoside resistance was lost (P < 0.001). Seven lactobacilli, but no bifidobacteria strain, showed unaltered intrinsic antibiotic resistance profiles in the presence of oxgall. Oxgall affected the extrinsic susceptibility of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria to penicillin G (10 microg), ampicillin (10 microg), tetracycline (30 microg), chloramphenicol (30 microg), erythromycin (15 microg), and rifampicin (5 microg) in a source- and strain-dependent manner. Human strain-drug combinations of lactobacilli (P < 0.05) and bifidobacteria (P < 0.01) were more likely to show no change or decreased susceptibility compared with other strain-drug combinations. The antimicrobial activity spectra of polymyxin B and the aminoglycosides should not be considered limited to gram-negative bacteria but extended to include gram-positive genera of the indigenous and transiting microbiotae in the presence of conjugated bile salts. Those lactobacilli (7 of 37) that show unaltered intrinsic and diminished extrinsic antibiotic susceptibility in the presence of oxgall may possess greater upper gastrointestinal tract transit tolerance in the presence of antibiotics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

A new, clinically-based algorithm for the diagnosis of HIV in African tuberculosis patients: cross-sectional analysis from Mzuzu, Malawi.

We aimed to create an improved, clinically-based algorithm for the diagnosis of HIV in tuberculosis (TB) patients. Cross-sectional analysis was performed on data from adult TB patients consecutively diagnosed at a Malawian district level hospital. Of 225 patients, 187 with valid HIV results were included in the study. Sixty-seven per cent were HIV seropositive. Urban address, history of skin rash and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and, on examination, oral candidiasis and lymphadenopathy, were associated with HIV co-infection. Using these clinical characteristics, a case definition for HIV was constructed. The Mzuzu clinical case definition was highly sensitive (86%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.81, significantly larger than existing World Health Organization (WHO) clinical case definitions. The Mzuzu definition is proposed for further evaluation in settings where HIV serological testing is not readily available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Development and application of an in vitro methodology to determine the transit tolerance of potentially probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species in the upper human gastrointestinal tract.

An in vitro methodology which mimics in vivo human upper gastrointestinal transit was developed. The transit tolerance of potentially probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species was determined by exposing washed cell suspensions at 37 degrees C to a simulated gastric juice (pH 2.0), containing pepsin (0.3% w/v) and sodium chloride (0.5% w/v), and a simulated small intestinal juice (pH 8.0), containing pancreatin USP (1 g l-1) and sodium chloride (5 g l-1), and monitoring changes in total viable count periodically. The methodology was also employed to determine the effect of adding milk proteins (1 g l-1), hog gastric mucin (1 g l-1) and soyabean trypsinchymotrypsin inhibitor [SBTCI] (1 g l-1) on transit tolerance. The majority (14 of 15) of isolates lost > 90% viability during simulated gastric transit. Only one isolate, Lactobacillus fermentum KLD, was considered intrinsically resistant. The addition of milk proteins, singly and in combination, generally improved gastric transit tolerance. In this regard, two isolates, Lact. casei 212.3 and Bifidobacterium infantis 25962, exhibited 100% gastric transit tolerance in the presence of milk proteins. In general, the addition of hog gastric mucin did not influence simulated gastric transit tolerance of lactobacilli but tended to increase that of bifidobacteria. However, it increased that of Lact. casei 242 and Lact. salivarius 43338 but diminished that of B. bifidum 2715 and B. animalis Bo. Selected bile salts-resistant isolates were intrinsically tolerant to simulated small intestinal transit. Only Lact. casei F19 and B. adolescentis 15703T showed significant reduction in viability after 240 min. In general, the addition of milk proteins and SBTCI did not affect simulated small intestinal transit tolerance. However, they significantly improved the intrinsic resistance of Lact. casei F19 but diminished that of B. breve 15700T. It is concluded that, whereas the majority of bile salts-resistant lactobacilli and bifidobacteria may be intrinsically sensitive to gastric transit, they are intrinsically resistant to small intestinal transit. In addition, it is postulated that milk proteins and mucin may function as both buffering agents and inhibitors of digestive protease activity in vivo, thereby protecting ingested bacterial strains during upper gastrointestinal transit.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Antibiotic susceptibility of potentially probiotic Bifidobacterium isolates from the human gastrointestinal tract.

Sixteen Bifidobacterium isolates from the human gastrointestinal tract were assayed for susceptibility to 44 antibiotics by soft agar overlay disc diffusion on TPY agar. Five isolates (3/7 B. bifidum and 2/3 B. breve) exhibited atypical antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Poor growth in the agar overlay accounted for susceptibility of B. bifidum but not B. breve isolates. All other isolates were resistant to cefoxitin (30 micrograms), aztreonam (30 micrograms), vancomycin (30 micrograms), amikacin (30 micrograms), gentamicin (10 micrograms), kanamycin (30 micrograms), streptomycin (10 micrograms), fusidic acid (10 micrograms), trimethoprim (5 micrograms), norfloxacin (10 micrograms), nalidixic acid (30 micrograms), metronidazole (5 micrograms), polymyxin B (300 micrograms) and colistin sulphate (10 micrograms), and they were susceptible to the six penicillins studied, cephalothin (30 micrograms), cefuroxime (30 micrograms), cefaclor (30 micrograms), ceftizoxime (30 micrograms), cefotaxime (30 micrograms), bacitracin (10 micrograms), chloramphenicol (30 micrograms), erythromycin (15 micrograms), clindamycin (2 micrograms), rifampicin (5 micrograms) and nitrofurantoin (300 micrograms). In addition, they varied in their susceptibility to cephradine (30 micrograms), cephazolin (30 micrograms), cefoperazone (75 micrograms), ceftriaxone (30 micrograms), ofloxacin (5 micrograms) and furazolidone (15 micrograms). They were resistant, or only marginally moderately susceptible, to ceftazidime (30 micrograms), netilmicin (10 micrograms), sulphamethoxazole (100 micrograms), cotrimoxazole (25 micrograms) and ciprofloxacin (5 micrograms), and susceptible or marginally moderately susceptible to tetracycline (30 micrograms). All B. bifidum isolates were susceptible to cefixime (5 micrograms). Four microorganism-drug combinations were evaluated for beta-lactamase activity but its absence suggested that cell wall impermeability was responsible for cephalosporin resistance among bifidobacteria. The antibiotic susceptibility of B. animalis 25527T was similar to that of the human isolates.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗