Respiratory tract infections due to Branhamella catarrhalis: epidemiological data from Western Australia.

During a 3-year period Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated in significant numbers from 239 (1.3%) of 19,488 specimens of sputum sent for routine microbiological examination at a 700-bed general hospital. The majority of patients (83%) were over 60 years of age and 65% were male.

Susceptibility of Branhamella catarrhalis to sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

Fifty strains of Branhamella catarrhalis were examined for susceptibility to sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim and a combination of the two by determinating minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs). All strains were susceptible to sulphamethoxazole and resistant to trimethoprim. On the basis of the MIC results it was predicted that greater synergy between sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim would be observed with approximately equal proportions of each component.