LiF Reduces MICs of Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-growing problem yet the development of new antibiotics has slowed to a trickle, giving rise to the use of combination therapy to eradicate infections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined inhibitory effect of lithium fluoride (LiF) and commonly used antimicrobials on the growth of the following bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphyloccoccus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The in vitro activities of ceftazidime, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, streptomycin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, alone or combined with LiF were performed by microdilution method.

Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients by different typing methods.

Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa strains isolated from the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients (CFP) are frequently difficult to type by conventional typing methods. The purpose of this study was to develop a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis for the routine typing of these strains.

Prevalence of and risk factors for sexually-transmitted infections in hidden female sex workers.

Objectives: We wanted to determine the age-specific prevalence of selected sexually transmitted infections while assessing the risk factors among hidden female sex workers (HFSW).

Methods: One hundred HFSW over 15 years of age were recruited in an impoverished area of Antananarivo, Madagascar. After oral informed consent, blood and endocervical swabs were tested for specific antigens, antibodies, and pathogens using molecular, serologic, and microscopic examinations.

Sexual behaviour and condom use among university students in Madagascar.

Although the number of known HIV-infected students in Madagascar increased significantly between 1989 and 1995, very little is known about student behaviour with regard to AIDS. The study objectives were: to describe Malagasy students' sexual behaviour and condom use; to document students' perceptions about condoms; and to study the relationships between students' socio-demographic characteristics, their perceptions about condoms, and their condom use. The survey used a cross-sectional design and was conducted at the Antananarivo's university campus sites.

[Various typing methods of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients].

Typing methods are essential to understand the epidemiology of bacterial infections. Strain typing is important for the detection of sources or routes of infections, identification between endemic and epidemic strains and prevention of transmission between patients. Some Pseudomonas aeruginosa cystic-fibrosis strains could not be typed with conventional typing methods.