The first non-metallic oxygen carrier, tetrachlorodecaoxide (TCDO), showed in vitro antibacterial activity among aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The lethal dose for Escherichia coli, for example, was 150 micrograms/ml whereas 15 micrograms/ml reduced the bacterial amount after a latent period of two hours, but regrowth started after four hours. The bactericidal effect of TCDO, however, was dose-dependent and species-specific. This suggests that some aerobic bacterial species might not be able to produce sufficient amounts of protecting enzymes like catalase or superoxide dismutase. The computer controlled measurement of chemiluminescence was used as a model for the phagocytic activity. With isolated human granulocytes and opsonized zymosan as antigen no increase in peak counts per minute was observed compared with controls without TCDO. However, with human whole blood, positive effects were seen using TCDO together with zymosan as well as specific and non-specific opsonized Klebsiella pneumoniae K 17. It seems that whole blood possesses additional, but as yet unknown biocatalysers to split TCDO into oxygen and chloride.

Bacteria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on lamoxactam penetration into the aqueous humor of the human eye.

Eighteen patients scheduled for surgical lens removal were assigned to six groups of three patients each. These patients received 25 mg/kg lamoxactam i. v. 30 to 180 min prior to surgery. In the course of the operation, aqueous humor was obtained and a serum sample taken to determine the antibiotic concentration. The mean peak serum level was 154.5 mg/l after 30 min; it was still 46.4 mg/l after 3 h. The lamoxactam concentrations in the aqueous humor increased slowly. Peak levels after 2 h were 4.2 mg/l. The ratio of aqueous humor level: serum level after 1 h was 4.7%, after 1.5 h 5.3% and after 2 h 6.9%. The ratio then remained constant up to the third hour. Aside from some gram-positive bacterial species and Pseudomonas species, all relevant microorganisms which cause eye infections are included in lamoxactam's spectrum of susceptibility.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Synergism between ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin in vitro.

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Ciprofloxacin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of imipenem and cilastatin in serum and tissue by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of Ly146032 on chemotaxis, chemiluminescence of PMN and lymphocyte transformation in vitro.

The influence of Ly146032, a new acidic lipopeptide, on chemotaxis, luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and phythemagglutinin induced lymphocyte transformation of murine cells was investigated. At therapeutic range there was no remarkable effect on the parameters tested. Incubation with more than 20 mg/l Ly146032 was followed by depression of chemiluminescence, whilst transformation of maximally PHA stimulated lymphocytes was suppressed by more than 32 mg/l Ly146032.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics of imipenem in patients undergoing major colon surgery.

Ten patients about to undergo a colorectal operation lasting an average of three hours received 500 mg each of imipenem and cilastatin i.v. preoperatively. During the operation blood and tissue samples were taken in order to determine the serum kinetics of the substances as well as the levels of imipenem in the cutis, subcutis, fascia, muscle, parietal peritoneum and colon. The imipenem concentrations were measured by HPLC. The mean peak serum concentration was 26 mg/l, the mean half-life 55 min and the AUC 40 mg/l/h-1. The serum pharmacokinetics of imipenem was subject to substantially larger fluctuations in this patient group than in subjects or patients without surgery. Imipenem rapidly penetrates into tissue, with peak concentrations being reached after 10-25 min. The highest imipenem concentrations were found in the colon, the lowest in the cutis and subcutis. After 1 h a level of 8 mg/kg imipenem was still found in the colon. The concentrations were greater than 1 mg/kg in all tissues for more than 3 h p. a. and thus within this period exceeded the MICs of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis, the indicator organisms of intraabdominal infections.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New aspects on the pathophysiology of wound infection and wound healing--the problem of lowered oxygen pressure in the tissue.

There is a correlation between tissue oxygen tension, incidence of infection and disturbance of wound healing. Scientific investigations in recent years have documented that infection and tissue repair are processes consuming oxygen. Animal experiments have shown that oxygenation of the tissue is essential for the elimination of pathogens, the stimulation of phagocytosis as well as for the degradation of dead tissue structures and the synthesis of new tissue structures. Hypoxia and hypovolemia are of crucial significance for the impairment of organ functions. An effective therapy for disorders of oxygenation has not been feasible so far, except for clinical anesthesiological efforts to increase the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, it has recently been possible to synthesize an oxygen carrier which supports respiratory oxygen physiologically. With tetrachlorodecaoxide (TCDO), a causal therapeutic concept for the topical treatment of infected hypoxic wounds with chronic disturbance of wound healing has been introduced for the first time.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Activity of 18 antimicrobial agents against multi-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from intensive care patients.

During an outbreak of infections with multiple-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 22 strains were isolated from 12 patients between November 1983 and March 1984 on two surgical intensive care units at Kiel University Hospital. Susceptibility of all strains was tested with the disc diffusion method and a microdilution test using different inocula of 10(2) and 10(5) cfu/ml. All strains were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, including thienamycin as well as to gentamicin, clindamycin, doxycycline, erythromycin and fosfomycin. Rifampicin was the most active substance in terms of w/v, followed by fusidic acid, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Netilmicin and chloramphenicol showed only moderate activity in relation to the antibiotic breakpoint, but were considered sensitive according to the disc diffusion test. Caution should be reserved for the use of imipenem against multiply-resistant staphylococci.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical relevance of CagA-specific antibodies related to CagA status of Helicobacter pylori isolates using immunofluorescence test and PCR.

BACKGROUND: The cagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A) protein is found in about 50% of Helicobacter pylori strains; its clinical relevance in gastroduodenal disease is uncertain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The frequency of IgG antibodies to cagA was studied by using a commercial Western blot assay in sera of 189 patients with endoscopically and histologically confirmed gastroduodenal disease. In addition, 38 H. pylori strains isolated from biopsies were analyzed by immunofluorescence test (IFT) and PCR for detection of cagA protein and cagA gene sequences, respectively. RESULTS: 54.3-60.0% of all patients with gastrointestinal diseases (chronic gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer and chronic duodenitis) and 28.6% with a normal mucosa were found to be positive for anti-cagA IgG antibodies. There was no significant difference in anti-cagA IgG seroprevalence between the different clinical entities. CagA-positive (cagA+) H. pylori strains were detected in 44.7% and 50% of the 38 isolates by PCR and IFT, respectively. 22 of 23 patients infected with cagA+ strains had anti-cagA antibodies. Using PCR as a gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the cagA IgG Western blot were 100.0% and 35.0%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the cagA IFT were 76.5% and 71.4%, respectively. The incidence of the cagA+ H. pylori strains detected either by PCR or IFT was significantly higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectiveLy) in patients with chronic duodenitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer compared to patients with chronic gastritis (66.7%, 80% and 30.4%, respectiveLy). CONCLUSION: In this study the cagA-specific serological status in H. pylori infections as diagnosed by IgG Western blot was of no predictive value for severity of disease. In contrast, the cagA status of H. pylori isolates, diagnosed by IFT or PCR, was a predictive marker for severe disease and, therefore, also of clinical relevance in the assessment of the virulence of the infecting strain.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of quinolones against slowly growing bacteria.

Bacteria growing in vivo multiply much more slowly than in vitro. If the bactericidal activity of quinolones may be affected by an increase in generation time (g) was studied in batch cultures as well as under the well-controlled conditions of a continuous-flow culture. By limiting the nutrient supply, generation times were lengthened from approximately 0.45 to 1.5 h up to 3.9 h. Three recent clinical isolates each of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exposed to twice the MIC of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, fleroxacin and ofloxacin. The 'killing rates' were calculated in analogy to the growth rate. The bactericidal activity of the quinolones tested against E. coli was minimally influenced by the reduced generation time and the effect against S. aureus was moderate. As compared to their rapidly growing counterparts (g = 0.4 h) slowly growing (g = 1.3 h) P. aeruginosa were killed even more effectively by ciprofloxacin (176% increase) fleroxacin (48% increase) norfloxacin (36% increase) and ofloxacin (86% increase). These changes may likely be due to adaptive responses of the outer membranes of the bacteria to the limited nutrient supply thereby sensitizing the bacteria to the bactericidal activity of quinolones.

Anti-Infective Agents↗