MIC versus MBEC to determine the antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus in peritoneal dialysis peritonitis.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is a common and morbid complication of PD. Bacteria are able to create a biofilm on the PD catheter, which can be a source of recurrent infection. Biofilms undergo a phenotypic change resulting in increased antibiotic resistance.

Use of a minimally invasive donor nephrectomy program to select technique for live donor nephrectomy.

Background: Live donor nephrectomy (LDN) is a major surgical procedure with an accepted low mortality and morbidity. Minimally invasive donor nephrectomy (MIDN) has been shown to decrease the wound morbidity associated with the lumbotomy of the classic open technique. Transplant programs face the challenge of initiating their MIDN programs without jeopardizing the safety of the donor and the graft quality.

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) versus minimum biofilm eliminating concentration (MBEC) in evaluation of antibiotic sensitivity of gram-negative bacilli causing peritonitis.

Objective: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biofilm eliminating concentration (MBEC) results were compared to determine changes in the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity of gram-negative bacilli from the planktonic to the biofilm phase of growth.

Methodology: The MIC and MBEC assays were conducted on stored isolates obtained from patients presenting with peritoneal dialysis-related gram-negative peritonitis with Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas.

Results: The antibiotic sensitivities of planktonic organisms tested by the MIC assays were significantly higher than the antibiotic sensitivities of the same organisms in their biofilm state, as tested by the MBEC assays.

Correlation between Neoral 2 hours post-dose levels and histologic findings on surveillance biopsies.

Use of 2-hour postdose (C2) monitoring has been a major step in optimizing immunosuppression following kidney transplantation, and extensive data has confirmed the superiority of C2 monitoring over the conventional trough monitoring (C0) in reducing the occurrence of acute rejection early after transplantation. In this retrospective study, we explored the relationship between Neoral pharmacokinetic parameters and the presence of subclinical rejections (ScRj). In the absence of acute rejection, lower C2 level was associated with more frequent episodes of ScRj.