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Biomedical subjects

P M Tierno

Publications and source records attributed to P M Tierno.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Efficacy of triclosan.

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Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of efficacy and cost-effectiveness of BIOMIC VIDEO and Vitek antimicrobial susceptibility test systems for use in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing expense may be a significant portion of a clinical microbiology laboratory's budget. This study compares the BIOMIC VIDEO system (Giles Scientific, Inc., New York, N.Y.) with the Vitek system (bioMérieux Vitek, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.), an established automated method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing with the ability to generate MIC data. The BIOMIC system is relatively inexpensive and automates the reading of the classical disk agar diffusion test to provide both qualitative (susceptibility interpretation) and quantitative (MIC) data. The overall MIC correlation between the two systems for the 2,913 drug-organism combinations tested was 92.6%. The overall agreement for susceptibility interpretation was 97.4%. The BIOMIC system offers a 57.4% savings per test over the Vitek system. The BIOMIC system utilizes an older technology which is more efficient and yet yields results comparable to those of established automated MIC methods. The savings achievable in laboratories and hospitals nationwide may contribute significantly to the containment of national health care expenditures.

Automation↗
PubMed1995

Detection of Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae bacteremia using BacT/Alert blood culture system.

Bartonella henselae was isolated from the blood of five febrile immunosuppressed patients using BacT/Alert (Organon Teknika, Durham, NC) automated microbial detection system. An immunofluorescence assay (using 1:1000 dilutions) was used to confirm identification of fastidious, pleomorphic, non-Gram staining, argyrophilic bacilli displaying rachety motility that had been presumptively identified as Bartonella spp. The practicality of identification of Bartonella henselae using goat antisera for use in a routine clinical microbiology laboratory was demonstrated by this study.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of new rapid commercial enzyme immunoassay for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in untreated stool specimens.

Sixty-six stool specimens were evaluated by the ProSpecTR Cryptosporidium rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Alexon, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Approximately 2 g of untreated stool suspended in buffer was filtered through membranes labelled with anti-Cryptosporidium-specific antigen antibody. Anti-Cryptosporidium-specific antigen antibody was labelled with biotin, horseradish peroxidase conjugated to streptavidin, and tetramethylbenzidine, and each labelled antibody was added in sequence to the membranes. Each membrane had a positive control and test area. EIA results were compared with those of the modified acid-fast procedure. Twenty-three specimens were positive by the initial acid-fast procedure and the EIA. Forty-two specimens were negative by the initial acid-fast test and the EIA. One specimen was negative by the initial acid-fast test and positive by the EIA (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98.5%). This technique is easy to use by comparison with the cumbersome, labor-intensive, and more subjective microscopic methods currently available, and its sensitivity equals that of current microscopic methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Clinical, histologic, microbiologic, and biochemical characterization of the causative agent of bacillary (epithelioid) angiomatosis: a rickettsial illness with features of bartonellosis.

It has been suggested that bacillary (epithelioid) angiomatosis (BEA) is a manifestation of cat scratch disease (CSD). Because of clinical similarity between this condition and the verruga peruana phase of bartonellosis, we sought to further characterize this disease as well as its causative agent and to compare it to bartonellosis. We isolated a small flagellated pleomorphic bacillus from skin lesions of two patients with BEA. Organisms were stained successfully with Warthin-Starry silver stains, but immunohistochemistry failed to demonstrate binding with a polyclonal antibody directed against the cat scratch bacillus. Whole cell fatty-acid gas chromatography performed on both BEA organisms and Bartonella bacilliformis demonstrated marked similarity between the two. Electron microscopy of BEA organisms in tissue and in suspension revealed features characteristic of a gram negative bacillus. Based on these findings, we propose that this unusual rickettsial infectious disease with vascular proliferation may represent an unusual variant of infection with a bartonella-like organism rather than a manifestation of cat scratch disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in patients with rhinosinusitis.

Toxic shock syndrome has been associated with rhinologic surgery and medical devices, and it has been linked to a circulating exotoxin of a toxogenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus. One hundred forty patients with rhinosinusitis were studied. Nasal cultures were obtained. The microbiological characteristics are described. The carrier rate for Staphylococcus aureus was 35%. Thirty percent of patients selected for surgery were Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Toxin-capable isolates were identified in 40% of those tested. Users of cocaine, topical decongestants, and steroid sprays had a statistically higher rate of Staphylococcus aureus carriage compared to nonusers. It is hoped that by identifying the population at risk and defining the factors associated with the development of toxic shock syndrome, a cogent policy of prevention can be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We describe three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with a bilateral coarse superficial epithelial keratitis due to infection with the protozoal parasite Microspora, Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Despite the extent of the corneal surface disease, conjunctival inflammation was minimal. Visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/200. In one patient, the keratitis was complicated by the development of a surface defect with secondary Pseudomonas species infection. All patients had a history of exposure to household pets. Standard cultures were negative. Diagnosis was established in two of the three cases based on characteristic appearance of the protozoan in conjunctival scrapings. Electron microscopy of a conjunctival biopsy specimen in one patient confirmed the species. No recognized effective treatment is available for this infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis occurring in an immunocompetent individual.

Within the last several years, a newly characterized condition known as bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis (BEA) has been described in a number of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. All cases heretofore described have been seen in patients with the HIV infection. We recently evaluated a 37-year-old healthy man who had a localized form of BEA confirmed by biopsy, special strains, electron microscopy, and culture. We conclude that BEA as previously defined may occur in healthy, non-HIV-infected individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Automated and rapid methods in clinical microbiology: past, present and future.

Instrument development in microbiology has focused on automating the traditional process of bacterial identification using growth-dependent technology. With the advent of genetic tools, advances in immunology, and engineering innovations microbiologists are moving away from the traditions of culture-dependent technology and are concentrating on the development of rapid, specific, nongrowth-dependent systems with a potential for automation.

Automation↗
PubMed1987

Toxic shock syndrome in nasal surgery: a physiochemical and microbiologic evaluation of Merocel and NuGauze nasal packing.

A prospective comparison of the microbiologic safety of Merocel versus NuGauze nasal packing in 119 surgical patients is presented. Presurgical and postsurgical nasal cultures were obtained, analyzed, and compared. The importance of a preoperative nasal culture isolate of Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin Number 1 (TSST-1) producing Staphylococcus aureus in predicting postoperative toxigenic S. aureus isolation and Toxic Shock Syndrome symptomatology is demonstrated. An in vitro comparison of the ability of NuGauze and Merocel to amplify TSST-1 production was performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Effects of toxic shock syndrome Staphylococcus aureus, endotoxin and tampons in a mouse model.

Synthetic tampons and toxic shock syndrome toxin-one (TSST-1)-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus have been linked to an increased incidence of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). While recent reports attempt to define the tampon connection as the creation of an optimal environment for the production of TSST-1, the role of other factors in disease expression in an animal model remain under investigation. To understand the role of tampons and bacteria, pools of Swiss mice were inoculated with permutations of effluents from TSS strains of S. aureus and Escherichia coli grown inside tampons. Depending on tampon brand, when all 3 factors were combined mortality ranged from 20-100%. In controls inoculated with single effluents, or effluents from growth in the presence of cotton, no deaths were observed. Likewise, when hairless mice were inoculated with exotoxin, endotoxin, and tampon leachables, mortality was 100%. In the absence of any 1 component, mortality ranged from 0-40%. Lethal toxicity can be the result of enhancement, since animal death in apparent shock was observed in all pools containing the 3 components, and in all pools containing effluents of TSS S. aureus and E. coli grown in the presence of synthetic tampons, but not in their absence. A retrospective analysis of fatal vs non-fatal TSS in humans supports the hypothesis of enhancement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

In vitro amplification of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 by intravaginal devices.

Super-absorbent tampons and an exotoxin of Staphylococcus aureus have been associated with the recent emergence of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). In the majority of cases, when a TSS strain of S. aureus was cultivated in the presence of various tampons and a contraceptive sponge, increased amounts of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) were observed to be produced into the blood medium by the bacterium. The amplification of toxin by these products adds support to the epidemiologic data in establishing the causal link between tampons and TSS.

Bacterial Toxins↗