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Biomedical subjects

W G Barnes

Publications and source records attributed to W G Barnes.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Complications with heparin-lock needles. A prospective evaluation.

Because the frequency of complications related to heparin-lock needle usage is unknown, 221 heparin-lock needle insertions in 78 patients were observed for the development of complications. Upon removal of 119 heparin-lock needles from 42 patients, specimens were obtained for culture. Phlebitis was associated with 27 (12%) heparin-lock needle insertions. Only a positive flush culture of the heparin-lock needle system correlated with the development of phlebitis. Phlebitis developed during the first 4 days after heparin-lock needle insertion in two instances and later than 4 days after insertion in 25 instances. All positive flush cultures were obtained from heparin-lock needles in use for longer than 4 days. No patient developed clinically apparent systemic infection. These data suggest that heparin-lock needles should not be used for more than 4 days because, after 4 days of use, there is a significant risk of developing phlebitis, a lesser risk of developing contamination of the infusate in the heparin-lock needle system, and a potential risk of developing nosocomial infection.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1976

Determination of serum gentamicin sulfate levels: ordering patterns and use as a guide to therapy.

Determination of serum gentamicin levels (SGLs) is helpful in monitoring therapy in patients receiving this drug because there is a narrow therapeutic margin and serum levels may vary greatly between patients receiving similar doses. During a ten-month period, definite indications for obtaining SGL determinations were present for 189 of 212 serum samples (89.2%) submitted to the laboratory. However, 110 samples (51.9%) were improperly drawn and results of 85 samples (40.1%) were ignored. Only 26 of the 62 correctly drawn and not ignored samples (41.9%) were appropriately acted on. At most, 42 of the 212 samples (19.8%) were appropriately used in making patient-care decisions. Thus, in this study, an inordinatley large number of SGLs were incorrectly drawn, apparently ignored, or inappropriately used in making patient-care decisions.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1971

Scanning electron microscopic studies of Candida albicans.

A scanning electron microscopic study of selected morphological stages of Candida albicans is presented. Stages represented are budding yeast cells, mycelial-like forms, chlamydospores, germ tube formation, and an unusual rough cell type.

Agar↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates from serial nasopharyngeal cultures of premature infants.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether very low birth weight infants in a neonatal intensive care unit became colonized with virulent strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci (C-S) over time (i.e., those characterized as Staphylococcus epidermidis, slime positive, and/or multiply antibiotic resistant), and if so, whether the initial colonizing strains developed these characteristics or whether the strains themselves changed. Nasopharyngeal (NP) cultures were obtained weekly on 28 very low birth weight (less than 1750 g) infants hospitalized for a mean of 8 wk (range 4-15 wk). There were 105 isolates of C-S recovered from 96 cultures that were characterized by species, biotype, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and slime production (screening parameters). Isolates from the same infant with highly similar screening parameters then underwent phage typing and plasmid analysis to increase the likelihood of establishing strain identity. C-S colonization rose from 12% on admission to 75% by wk 2, then gradually declined to 30% by wk 6 and remained stable through wk 10. There were no significant differences among C-S isolates from wk 1 compared with wk 10 of hospital stay with respect to distribution of species, slime positive, or multiply antibiotic resistant strains. One biotype of S. epidermidis was recovered from 46% of study infants, but only one infant was colonized with a predominant biotype of S. epidermidis throughout hospitalization. Thirteen pairs of isolates recovered from 12 of the infants on two or more wk were found to be identical by phage typing and plasmid analysis. Only seven of these 13 pairs of isolates had concordant results for all the screening parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hemophilus influenzae type F pneumonia in adults.

A 69-year-old man was hospitalized with fatal bacteremic Hemophilus influenzae type F pneumonia. Three cases of type F pneumonia have been reported previously. When compared with 22 reported cases of bacteremic type B pneumonia, patients with type F infection were more likely to be elderly males who succumbed to their infection (p less than 0.05). Statistically significant differences in the incidence of underlying conditions or in the extent of pneumonia were not present.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Group B streptococcal infections in adult males.

A 19-month study of group B streptococcal infection was performed to investigate the spectrum of such infections in adult males, the relation of serotypes to clinical illnesses, the effects of previous antibiotic therapy on infection and colonization, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these organisms. Twenty-four patients had definite or possible infections while 41 patients were colonized with group B streptococci. The most frequent infections encountered were pneumonia (ten cases) and soft tissue infections (nine cases). Five infections (21%) were nosocomial in origin. The most frequent serotypes were Ia and II. No correlation of serotype and type of infection was observed. Patients receiving previous antibiotic therapy were significantly more likely to be colonized than infected with group B streptococci. Penicillin was the antibiotic to which these organisms were most susceptible; tetracycline and gentamicin showed the least activity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case report. Disseminated sporotrichosis presenting as sarcoidosis: electron microscopic and immunologic studies.

A 50-year-old black man with constitutional symptoms, cutaneous nodules, and bilateral hilar adenopathy was found to have non-caseating granulomata on bronchial biopsy. He was treated with corticosteroids for sarcoidosis. Within five months he was found to have disseminated sporotrichosis. Electron microscopy revealed mycelial forms of S. schenckii in superficial lesions and yeast forms from deep tissue sites: no novel forms were seen. Blood mononuclear cell studies revealed hyperactive suppressor cells with respect to non-specific T cell targets and the antigen specific target. Examination of the initial biopsy material after digestion with diastase before PAS staining revealed budding yeast consistent with S. schenckii. This case emphasizes the need for careful histopathologic examination of clinical material before a diagnosis of sarcoidosis is made, and reveals an immunologic abnormality which may account for the patient's anergic state and susceptibility to S. schenckii infection.

Bronchial Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral histoplasmosis.

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Adrenal Gland Diseases↗