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Biomedical subjects

S Staszewski

Publications and source records attributed to S Staszewski.

83 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Infections caused by intravascular catheters].

Microbiological investigations showed a positive culture in 430 out of 1540 venous catheters and shunts for dialysis. In 21 cases, a mixed culture with two different specific organisms was present. Of the total of 451 isolated organisms, 362 were gram-positive cocci and only 56 gram-negative bacillaceae. Staphylococcus epidermidis was by far the most frequent pathogen (n = 228), staphylococcus aureus in second place (n = 94). Among the gram-negative organisms, germs of the Klebsiella-Enterobacter group and Pseudomonas aeruginosa dominated. Staphylococcus aureus represented 31% of all germs isolated from Scribner shunts and Brescia fistulas. On the other hand the causative organism could be isolated in only 18% of the infected venous catheters. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen in septicemia due to catheters; in 16 out of 24 patients this microorganism was found in both cultures drawn from the blood and from the catheter. In 16 cases, a venous catheter led to septicemia, a shunt for chronical dialysis in 2 cases only. The frequency of infections caused by catheters can be significantly lowered by prudent care of the site of insertion, sterile handling and short indwelling time.

Candidiasis↗

[Subinhibitory activity of cefaclor and cephalexin (author's transl)].

The determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), which is usually performed after 18 to 24 hours of incubation, results in the case of cefaclor in a false picture of the actual activity. Cefaclor is chemically so unstable that after 24 hours only 2-5% of the substance is microbiologically active. In order to compare the activity of cefaclor and cephalexin, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of both antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains was studied by means of turbidimetry. After eight hours the absolute inhibitory concentration of cefaclor was lower than that of cephalexin with both methods. At the same time the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of both antibiotics was equal. Automatic measurement over 20 hours showed at the end of the experiment a higher MIC, and also a higher subinhibitory range, for cefaclor than for cephalexin. In our opinion the absolute inhibitory concentration after eight hours should be the criterion used to evaluate the effectiveness of cefaclor and cephalexin, and not the MIC which is usually used. The eight-hour criterion should also be applied in clinical use.

Cefaclor↗