Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation in respiratory tract secretions of military personnel.

Respiratory tract infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among military personnel. A sensitive method is needed to determine the prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonisation in respiratory secretions, as well as its role in pneumonia without an established aetiology.

Clinical and laboratory features of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: is it really new?

Objective: To review the epidemiologic and molecular characteristics of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in Detroit, Michigan, to assess the risk factors for infection and the response to therapy.

Design: Prospective clinical and laboratory study of 2003-2004 CA-MRSA isolates. Molecular features were compared with CA-MRSA isolates from 1980.

Antimicrobial activity and a comparison of published pharmacodynamics of gemifloxacin and eight fluoroquinolones against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Gemifloxacin was evaluated for its in vitro activity and was compared with eight fluoroquinolones. Pharmacodynamic comparisons were made based on published pharmacokinetic information. Gemifloxacin demonstrated excellent in vitro activity (minimum inhibitory concentration necessary to inhibit 90% of the strains tested, MIC90 = 0.

Changing epidemiology of community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Objectives: To review cases of community-onset Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and to evaluate whether the risk factors and epidemiology of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia have changed from early reports.

Design: Retrospective case-comparison study of community-onset MRSA (n = 26) and methicillin-susceptible S.

Broad-range bacterial polymerase chain reaction for early detection of bacterial meningitis.

The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis often depends on isolation of bacteria on culture, which may take 24-48 h. DNA amplification techniques could provide rapid diagnosis, which would guide the clinician in antimicrobial therapy decisions. This study determined the clinical utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of meningitis with use of a broad range of bacterial primers.

Antimicrobial activity of moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin and six fluoroquinolones against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The in vitro and pharmacodynamic effects of moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae were compared with six other fluoroquinolones. Organisms included penicillin-susceptible (54) and penicillin-non-susceptible (145) isolates from 1998-1999. Moxifloxacin and clinafloxacin demonstrated the greatest in vitro activity, with MIC90s of 0.

In-vitro activity of 29 antimicrobial agents against penicillin-resistant and -intermediate isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Antibiotic resistance among isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae is increasing worldwide. Optimal therapy, though unknown, should be guided by in-vitro susceptibility testing. Currently, vancomycin is the only approved antibiotic that is universally active against multiresistant S.

Recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia: 34 episodes in 15 patients.

Thirty-four episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia were identified in 15 patients over 5 years in 10 hospitals in Franklin County, Ohio. Twelve patients each had 2 episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia, 2 had 3, and 1 had 4. All patients had predisposing conditions, with lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being the most frequent.

Comparison of HIV type 1 RNA plasma viremia, p24 antigenemia, and unintegrated DNA as viral load markers in pediatric patients.

Better surrogate markers need to be developed to evaluate therapy in HIV-infected children. This study evaluated plasma RNA, immune complex-dissociated p24 antigenemia, and unintegrated DNA (uDNA) in HIV-infected pediatric patients. Ten children were followed from initiation of nucleoside antiretroviral therapy at intervals up to 24 months.

Increased detection of human immunodeficiency virus antigenemia after dissociation of immune complexes at low pH.

This study compared the number of patients with detectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigenemia after immune complex (IC) dissociation by established methods using either 0.5 NCl or 1.5 M glycine buffer.