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W Landau

Publications and source records attributed to W Landau.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The chain of survival.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support↗
PubMed1994

Detection of bacteremia by Difco ESP blood culture system.

In a multicenter study, the Difco ESP blood culture system (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) was compared with the BACTEC NR660 system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems, Sparks, Md.). The ESP system monitors each blood culture bottle every 12 to 24 min to detect changes in oxygen consumption and gas production by microbes. Equal volumes of blood were inoculated into aerobic ESP-80A and BACTEC 6A, 16A, or PEDS Plus broths and anaerobic ESP-80N and BACTEC 7A or 17A broths and were incubated for up to 7 days. ESP bottles contain supplemented tryptic soy broth without antimicrobial agent-adsorbing resins. From 7,532 aerobic compliant sets, the ESP system detected 356 clinically significant positive cultures and the BACTEC NR660 system detected 329. From 6,007 anaerobic cultures, the ESP system detected 234 clinically significant positive cultures and the BACTEC NR660 system detected 198. In aerobic broths, 292 organisms were isolated from both systems and 78 organisms were isolated from the ESP system alone, whereas 54 organisms were isolated from the BACTEC NR660 system alone (P < 0.05). Among individual organisms, pneumococci were isolated significantly more often in ESP aerobic broths. In anaerobic broths, 180 organisms were isolated from both systems and 68 organisms were isolated from the ESP system alone, whereas 35 organisms were isolated from the BACTEC NR660 system alone (P < 0.05). Aerobic gram-positive organisms as a group and Candida spp. were isolated significantly more often in ESP anaerobic broths. Both systems detected 207 clinically significant bacteremic episodes and the ESP system alone detected 63, whereas the BACTEC NR660 system alone detected 32 (P < 0.05). Significantly more episodes of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis and anaerobes were detected by the ESP system. The differences in the numbers of organisms detected >6h earlier in ESP broths compared with BACTNEC NR660 broths were significant, as were earlier times to detection. Although the total number of organisms detected was not significantly different, the ESP system alone detected more organisms in a shorter time than did the BACTEC NR660 system alone. The continuous monitoring capability of the ESP system makes it an attractive alternative to the BACTEC NR660 system.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Empiric antimicrobial therapy of domestically acquired acute diarrhea in urban adults.

From June 1985 to September 1987, 202 adults were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded study comparing ciprofloxacin (500 mg) with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (160 mg/800 mg) or placebo for adults with acute diarrhea. All patients were treated on the day of presentation and received medication on a twice-daily schedule (every 12 hours) for 5 days. Bacterial isolates from these patients included 35 Campylobacter, 18 Shigella, and 15 Salmonella. Treatment at the time of presentation with ciprofloxacin compared with placebo shortened the duration of diarrhea (2.4 vs 3.4 days), and increased the percentage of patients cured or improved by treatment days 1, 3, 4, and 5. Similar significant differences for sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim compared with placebo were not seen.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Clinical impact of rapid identification and susceptibility testing of bacterial blood culture isolates.

Two hundred twenty-six patients with bacteremia were prospectively enrolled in a randomized trial that was performed to determine the clinical impact of the receipt of in vitro microbiological data by the physician soon after organism detection as opposed to having the physicians wait until similar data were available by routine methods. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 110 isolates were determined by direct inoculation of the Vitek AutoMicrobic system (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) with a sample from a positive blood culture vial. One hundred sixteen isolates were processed by routine methods. Microbiological results were available within an average of 8.8 h by the direct method versus an average of 48 h by the routine method. In both groups an infectious disease fellow used the information to make therapeutic recommendations to the responsible physician. When compared with that provided by the routine method, the information provided by the direct method was significantly more likely to result in an initiation of antibiotic therapy, a change to more effective therapy, or a change to less expensive therapy. Recommendations were significantly more likely to be followed in patients whose isolates were processed by the direct method versus the routine method. A projected savings of $158 per patient was estimated for the patients who were changed to less expensive therapy or in whom antibiotics were discontinued because results were available sooner. These cost savings, coupled with changes in therapy made for reasons of efficacy, support the usefulness of the earlier reporting of the identity and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial blood culture isolates.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1985

Results of a screening method used in a 12-month stool survey for Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 has been epidemiologically linked to outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis associated with fast-food restaurants and nursing homes. Sporadic cases now exceed those associated with outbreaks. The incidence of the organism in patients with common diarrhea syndromes and in asymptomatic persons is unknown. Routine serotyping of E. coli isolates is impractical for most clinical microbiology laboratories. We developed a screening plate by utilizing sorbitol fermentation as a biochemical marker to identify organisms for serotyping. A total of 2,552 stool samples were screened. In 106 (4.1%), sorbitol-negative E. coli were identified. Of these, two were serotype O157:H7, and both produced a Vero cell toxin. One patient had hemorrhagic colitis and the other a mild, febrile, self-limited diarrhea with no other bacterial pathogen identified. This plate provides an easy, effective method of screening for sorbitol-negative E. coli, a process facilitating the selection of organisms for serotyping and one that may help clarify this organism's role in human disease.

Canada↗
PubMed1985

A urine preservative system to maintain bacterial counts. A laboratory and clinical evaluation.

The urinary tract is a common site of infection in the hospitalized, institutionalized, or ambulatory patient population. Ideally, urine should be cultured immediately or refrigerated up to 24 hours for quantitative examination for microorganisms. In the evaluation of patients at their homes or in long-term care facilities, rapid plating or refrigeration may not be practical. This is also true when evaluating small children in whom external collection devices are required to obtain a specimen. Because of these limitations, we evaluated a urine preservative and transport system, the Sage Products Urine Culture Tube, in a study of 1469 clinical specimens. This tube utilizes boric acid (1.1% final concentration) as a preservative. The Urine Culture Tube was easy to use and was as effective as refrigeration in maintaining bacterial counts. This system may be particularly useful where rapid transport or refrigeration is limited.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1982

Speciation and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

During a six month period, 191 isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci from blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and heart valves were identified to species level and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Seventy-one percent of isolates were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 8% Staphylococcus warneri, 7% Staphylococcus hominis, 7% Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 4% Staphylococcus capitis, 2% Staphylococcus saprophyticus and 1% Staphylococcus cohnii. Approximately 4% of isolates were felt to be associated with infection. Overall, 18% of isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, 61% oxacillin, 98% cephalothin, 98% cefamandole, 72% cefotaxime, 95% cefsulodin, 76% gentamicin, 64% clindamycin and 98% rifampicin. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Vancomycin, rifampicin, cephalothin and cefamandole showed excellent activity against oxacillin-resistant isolates. With one exception, speciation was not helpful in determining whether or not an isolate was associated with infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1976

The effects of copper in heated nebulizers.

The antibacterial potential of copper mesh in heated nebulizers was evaluated by simulating clnical usage in the laboratory and comparing the relationship between the copper levels achieved in nebulizer water and the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms. Mesh size, length of immersion, temperature, water replacement, and nebulization all affected copper concentration. Antibacterial acitivity was demonstrated over a wide range of copper levels for as long as three weeks. Nebulizers driven for one hour by 10 L/min of gas flow and containing 8 gm of copper mesh were inoculated with more than 31,000 organisms and became sterile within 60 minutes of inoculation. Units without copper showed a much slower decline in colony counts. Solutions of copper salts also proved to be effective antibacterial substances but only in much higher concentrations than those achieved with copper mesh. It it is concluded that metallic copper mesh is an effective antibacterial substance when used in water-containing heated nebulizers. Attempts to quantitate aerosolization of copper were not sucessful, and potential upper-airway deposition and human toxicity with this technique remain to be defined.

Copper↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni: experience in a large Chicago medical center.

From January 1979 through December 1979, 2069 stool specimens received by our laboratory for enteric culturing were additionally examined for the presence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni. The study population included inpatients, outpatients and hospital food handlers. Patients were included regardless of symptoms. Enteric pathogens were identified as follows: Salmonella, 27 isolates; Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni, 26 isolates; and Shigella, 11 isolates. Twenty-five of 26 patients with stool cultures positive for Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni had an acute diarrheal illness. Diarrhea, fever and chills were the most common symptoms. In most patients the disease was self-limited, requiring only supportive therapy. A seasonal variation was noted, with 14 of the 26 patients presenting between July and September.

Adult↗