Endotoxin levels in sera of elderly individuals.

The endotoxin levels in serum of 377 72-year-old individuals were quantitated. The study population was a representative sample of this age group and was participating in a general study of health and disease among the elderly in Göteborg, Sweden. The endotoxin levels in serum were quantified by the chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay and were correlated with the health status and laboratory findings for each individual.

Hemagglutination (fimbriae) and hydrophobicity in adherence of Serratia marcescens to urinary tract epithelium and contact lenses.

The capacity of 59 isolates of Serratia marcescens, obtained from urinary tract infections, wounds, and contact lenses or their paraphernalia, to agglutinate erythrocytes from different animal species was tested. Three main patterns were found: mannose-sensitive agglutination of guinea-pig, fowl or horse erythrocyte; mannose-resistant agglutination of chicken or pigeon erythrocytes alone or in combination with mannose-sensitive agglutination; and no agglutination. Hemagglutination capacity was associated with isolates from urinary tract infection, but not with isolates associated with contact lenses.

Effects of anti-inflammatory agents on mucosal inflammation induced by infection with gram-negative bacteria.

Gram-negative bacterial infections of the urinary tract elicit a mucosal inflammatory response. Interleukin-6 is secreted into the urine, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) are recruited. In the present study we examined the effect of anti-inflammatory agents on these parameters and on bacterial clearance from the kidneys.

Glycosphingolipid receptors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The binding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to glycosphingolipids and to buccal and bronchial epithelial cells was analyzed. Three independently expressed specificities were found by bacterial binding to glycosphingolipids separated by thin-layer chromatography. All strains bound gangliotria- and gangliotetrasylceramide.

Outbreak of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in a day care center.

Three cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis in a Swedish day care center prompted the investigation of the nasopharyngeal carriage in attendees of that day care center (I), and among children in another day center (II) in the same city, but without meningitis cases. Because the evaluation of the spread of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) isolates through a population, such as children in day care centers, requires stable identification markers for the bacteria, this study used multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to separate Hib carried by day care attendees from the disease-associated Hib clone. The three meningitis episodes were caused by the same clone of Hib (ET14).