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Biomedical subjects

W M McCormack

Publications and source records attributed to W M McCormack.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Infection with Mycoplasma hominis in postpartum fever.

A follow-up of 535 patients after vaginal delivery showed that 9% had a fever of 37.7 degrees C or greater, and 2% had a fever of 38 degrees C or more, on two days. The commonest cause of both categories of fever was Mycoplasma hominis infection as defined by a fourfold or greater rise in mycoplasmacidal antibody titre. Among women for whom sera were available this agent caused 50% (14/28) of all fevers and 71% (5/7) of the higher fevers. Absence or low titre (< 1:8) of antibody against M. hominis was the strongest single predictor of otherwise unexplained fever (16/40 patients with low antibody titre were febrile vs 7/50 with high antibody titre, p < 0.01). Among women with absent or low antibody titres, both rise in titre of antibody to this organism and lochial colonisation by it were significantly associated with fever (p < 0.001, p < 0.025, respectively). Standard microbiological and clinical techniques identified probable causes in only 18% (5/28) of all fevers and 29% (2/7) of higher fevers. Patients who had postpartum infection caused by M. hominis remained in hospital 31% longer than the non-infected patients (4.57 vs 3.49 days, p < 0.001). Low antibody to and lochial colonisation with M. hominis occurred together in 17% of patients, who accounted for 71% of all higher fevers. Since these risk factors for postpartum fever can be identified before delivery, prophylactic measures applied selectively to women with these risk factors may prevent a large proportion of postpartum fevers and the excess hospital stay associated with them.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Pelvic inflammatory disease among women presenting to emergency rooms of hospitals in Massachusetts.

We obtained reports prospectively from the emergency rooms of 24 hospitals for 1 year. Nine percent of 3,505 women examined for genital infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae were infected with this organism. Two thirds of the infected women had gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease. The ratio of gonococcal PID to nongonococcal PID was 1:4.6 N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from 20% of women with PID in cities where the rate of all reported gonococcal infection was higher than the rate for the entire state (200 per 100,000 population). In contrast N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from only 13.4% of women with PID in cities with gonococcal infection rates lower than the rate for the state as a whole (p less than 0.01).

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of four methods for isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Bio-Bag (Marion Laboratories, Kansas City, Mo.) type C is made up of a ziplock plastic bag which contains a Thayer-Martin plate and a crushable CO2-generating ampoule. This system was compared with the candle extinction jar, Gono-Pak (Nasco, Fort Atkinson, Wis.), and JEMBEC (GIBCO Diagnostics, Lawrence, Mass.) systems to determine their efficiency and reliability for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A total of 191 anal and 130 urethral specimens were tested. There were 104 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae (24 anal and 80 urethral). The candle jar and Bio-Bag systems each detected 98 (94%) of the isolates. The Gono-Pak and JEMBEC systems detected 102 (98%) and 100 (96%) of the 104 isolates, respectively. These differences are not statistically significant. The Bio-Bag has the advantage of immediate CO2 release as compared with the Gono-Pak and JEMBEC systems, where CO2 production is dependent on the release of moisture from the medium. The Bio-Bag is a useful system, especially in situations where it is not convenient to use a candle jar.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Chlamydia trachomatis in women: antibody in cervical secretions as a possible indicator of genital infection.

One hundred eighty-five women college students were examined for genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This organism was isolated from nine (5%) of the 185 women. Antibody was demonstrated in the genital secretions of 26 (14%) and in the serum of 70 (38%) of the women. None of the sexually inexperienced women was infected. Among those sexually experienced, the prevalence of isolation of C. trachomatis and of detection of local antibodies in cervical secretions and serum antibodies to C. trachomatis increased in relation to the number of life-time sexual partners. Local antibody appeared to be a more reliable indicator of infection with C. trachomatis than serum antibody in this college population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Prospective study of maternal and infantile infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.

We examined the prevalence of chlamydial infection in a population of pregnant women and observed their infants to determine the risk of development of ocular or respiratory infection. We examined endocervical and serum specimens from 322 pregnant women for Chlamydia trachomatis and chlamydial antibody. The cultures were obtained at the first prenatal visit. Six (2%) of the women were infected with C trachomatis. Chlamydial antibody was present in the genital secretions of 47% and 73% of the serum samples. The six infants born to infected women, 61 infants born to women who were culture-negative, but local antibody-positive, and 28 control infants born to culture-negative, antibody-negative women were followed for up to six months. Four of six infants born to infected women developed chlamydial infection: two developed culture-positive conjunctivitis, one had asymptomatic nasopharyngeal infection, and one infant developed pneumonitis. Three of 61 infants born to mothers who were culture-negative and local antibody-positive developed conjunctivitis due to C trachomatis. None of the 28 control infants developed chlamydial infection. Most (79%) of the infants had chamydial antibody in their serum at 2 to 4 weeks of age. The correlation between maternal and infant serum antibody titer was r=0.71 suggesting that antibody was placentally transferred.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Anaerobic microflora of the vagina in children.

Vaginal cultures from 25 healthy girls from two months to 15 years of age were examined for aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, and obligately anaerobic bacteria. An average of 8.7 species (3.7 aerobic and facultatively anaerobic species; 5.3 obligately anaerobic species) were isolated from these cultures. Staphylococcus epidermidis (21), diphtheroids (20), bacteroides (19), peptococci (19), peptostreptococci (14), and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (14) were most prevalent organisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Clinical and microbiological investigation of men with urethritis.

Of 377 men attending clinics for the treatment of sexually transmitted disease, 104 had gonococcal urethritis, 72 had definite nongonococcal urethritis, 53 had possible nongonococcal urethritis, and 123 had no urethritis. A purulent urethral discharge was noted in 78% and 14% of patients with gonococcal urethritis and definite nongonococcal urethritis, respectively (P less than 0.001). In contrast, 4% and 64% of men with gonococcal urethritis and definite nongonococcal urethritis, respectively, had a clear urethral discharge (P less than 0.001). Black men with urethritis were more likely to have gonococcal infection, whereas white men were more likely to have nongonococcal urethritis. Homosexual and bisexual white men with urethritis were more likely to have gonorrhea, whereas heterosexual white men with urethritis were more likely to have nongonococcal urethritis. Heterosexual men were more likely than homosexual men to be colonized with Ureaplasma urealyticum. There were no differences in the rates of colonization with Mycoplasma hominis among heterosexual and homosexual men.

Adolescent↗