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Biomedical subjects

R P Wenzel

Publications and source records attributed to R P Wenzel.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Comparison of josamycin and erythromycin in the therapy of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

A controlled, double-blind study was performed to compare the efficacy of two macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin and josamycin, in the therapy of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Marine Corps recruit volunteers received one of the two antibiotics in a dosage of 2 g daily for 7 days. Twelve of 21 men treated with josamycin and 9 of 25 men treated with erythromycin had confirmed M. pneumoniae pneumonia. The josamycin-treated group remained hospitalized for 5.4 +/- 1.2 days compared to 5.1 +/- 2.0 days for the erythromycin-treated group (0.60 > P > 0.50). Fever days were similar for the josamycin-treated (1.4 +/- 0.4) and erythromycin-treated (1.2 +/- 0.3) groups (P = 0.95). There was no difference in resolution of signs and symptoms of illness in the two study populations. Thus, josamycin is as efficacious as erythromycin in the therapy of M. pneumoniae pneumonia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1976

Comparison of the sensitivity of two methods for isolation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Throat swab specimens from 1,494 Marine Corps recruits were inoculated into vials containing diphasic (broth/agar) mycoplasma medium and also onto PPLO agar plates, which were subsequently overlayed with sheep erythrocytes in saline agar. Strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were isolated from 89 (6%) of the specimens by one or both of the methods. Eight-one of the 89 (91%) positive specimens were cultured with diphasic medium, whereas only 42 (47%) were cultured with the overlay method (x2 = 7.44, P less than 0.01). The diphasic system for isolation of M. pneumoniae should be the method of choice in clinical and research application.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Acute viral hepatitis in adults. Comparison of the radioimmunoassay and counterimmunoelectrophoresis methods of detecting HbsAg.

We compared the radioimmunoassay (RIA) and counterimmunoelectrophoretic (CIE) methods in detecting hepatitis B antigen (HBsAG) in 407 acute and 336 convalescent sera of adults with viral hepatitis. The CIE method demonstrated that 41% of acute and 28% of 14-to 17-day serum specimens were HBsAg-positive. The RIA method demonstrated seropositivity in 60% of acute and 56% of convalescent specimens (P less than .001). Eighty-four percent of coded specimens initially positive for HBsAg by RIA were found to have subtype antigenic determinants d or y; 92% of the HBsAg-negative controls were negative for subtype antigens, confirming the specificity of the RIA test. RIA subtyping data corroborated earlier work with immunodiffusion techniques.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Minimizing tuberculosis risk to hospital personnel and students exposed to unsuspected disease.

A 15-month prospective study of the personnel and students exposed to initially unsuspected active cases of tuberculosis was undertaken to define the risk of their acquiring infection. Eight of 484 (1.65%) personnel exposed to 17 initially unsuspected tuberculosis patients and 5 of 2013 (0.25%) unexposed personnel with similar risk but no known exposures developed positive tuberculin skin tests. This greater than sixfold increase in conversion rate for the exposed group was significant (chi-2=14.83; P=0.0003). Delay in making the diagnosis in these patients was associated with failure to apply a tuberculin skin test on admission in 14 patients and radiologic misinterpretation in 15. A comprehensive surveillance method involving the Employee and Student Health Departments as well as the Public Health Department is suggested to minimize the risk of undiagnosed tuberculosis.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1974

Relationship of pre-existing antibody to subsequent infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in adults.

An extensive study of the epidemiological and serological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was carried out in a military population. There was an increase in the infection rate at Camp Lejeune during the summer months as indicated by a relative increase in isolations, seroconversions, and hospitalizations for M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Twenty-three percent of the trainees who later became infected had detectable, pre-existing antilipid antibody to M. pneumoniae. When the whole organism was used as antigen, a pre-existing complement fixation (CF) titer of 1:4 or greater correlated with resistance to M. pneumoniae disease as defined by the absence of a fourfold rise in CF antibody, shedding of organisms, and clinical illness. Pre-existing antilipid fraction CF antibody titers of 1:16 or greater correlated with protection against mild and severe M. pneumoniae disease. Antilipid CF antibody titers of 1:4 and 1:8 were related to protection against mild disease but were not associated with protection against pneumonia which required hospitalization. The severity of illness was directly related to the CF antibody response in trainees with acute respiratory disease and pneumonia due to M. pneumoniae. The findings provide a basis for the development of a M. pneumoniae vaccine.

Adult↗