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Biomedical subjects

R F Ullman

Publications and source records attributed to R F Ullman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Colonization and bacteremia related to duration of triple-lumen intravascular catheter placement.

The increased use of triple-lumen catheters has brought with it an increase in sepsis. We undertook a study to determine whether this increase was related to the length of time a catheter was in place. Culture of the fluid in each of the three lumens of all triple-lumen catheters in the medical intensive care units was done daily for a 6-month period. In 14 of 31 catheters, 28 of 93 lumens showed bacterial or fungal growth. A temporal relationship between the time a catheter was placed and the onset of catheter colonization and patient sepsis was established (p less than 0.01). Catheter colonization preceded sepsis in three of four patients who became bacteremic with the same organisms that were cultured from the lumens and the catheter tips. As a result of this study, centrally placed intravascular lines are now changed every 7 days in our institution with a noticeable decrease in line-related sepsis.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

Streptococcus mutans endocarditis: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Our findings indicate that S. mutans endocarditis is capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality, as exemplified by the prolonged and complicated hospital course of our patients and the ultimate death of one of them. S. mutans endocarditis is probably underreported because most clinical laboratories do not speciate the viridans streptococci. Isolates of S. mutans should be tested for tolerance that would require the addition of an aminoglycoside to the penicillin regimen. Our experience agrees with the literature and indicates that S. mutans is primarily a pathogen in elderly patients with heart disease and may be associated with IHSS.

Age Factors↗

Streptococcus mutans vertebral osteomyelitis.

Vertebral osteomyelitis is a disease most often encountered in the adult population, especially in the elderly. The usual etiologic agent is Staphylococcus aureus. We report a case of Streptococcus mutans endocarditis resulting in hematogenous osteomyelitis of the lumbar vertebrae.

Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial↗