Cotrimoxazole-resistant Escherichia coli bacteremia in neutropenic patients at a regional oncology hospital.

In a regional oncology hospital using cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole) prophylaxis during chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, a single strain of Escherichia coli (indole negative) caused 15 of 27 episodes of Gram-negative rod bacteremia in 1987, and four of 32 such episodes in 1988. This biotype had not been recovered in 1986. Investigations during this 'outbreak' of bacteremias revealed enteric colonization with this strain of E coli in 37% of patients on leukemia or bone marrow transplant wards and in several staff members in July 1987.

Cloning the cDNA for horse growth hormone and expression in Escherichia coli.

A 514 bp cDNA transcript coding for 78% of horse (Equus caballus.) GH has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence corresponded precisely to that previously obtained by protein sequencing and, in addition, provided new sequence information for the signal peptide.

Complications associated with Ommaya reservoirs in patients with cancer. The Princess Margaret Hospital experience and a review of the literature.

The complications associated with the use of Ommaya reservoirs in 106 patients with meningeal involvement due to malignant disease are reviewed. Twenty-seven patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 12 acute myelogenous leukemia, 3 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 34 lymphoma, 29 carcinoma, and 1 chronic myelocytic leukemia. There were 11 technical complications, including 1 death due to misplacement of the catheter, 2 mild intraventricular hemorrhages, and 5 malfunctioning reservoirs; 3 required craniotomies (1 for subdural hematoma and 2 for subdural hygroma); 13 cases of bacterial meningitis occurred in 10 patients.

Hepatic candidiasis: an increasing problem in immunocompromised patients.

Hepatic candidiasis has been increasingly recognized as a variant of disseminated candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. Five leukemic patients with antemortem diagnosis of hepatic candidiasis are described, and 32 additional cases reported in the literature are reviewed. Cultures of the liver and/or spleen and blood cultures usually give negative results; histopathologic demonstration of Candida organisms in tissue specimens is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.

Limitations of urinary mutagen assays for monitoring occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs.

The sensitivity of the Salmonella reversion test of Ames as a screen for accidental absorption of 17 antineoplastic agents by drug handlers was evaluated. Dilutions of each drug were added to agar inoculated with each of two Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA98 and TA100); control plates contained no test drug. Colonies were counted after incubation at 36 degrees C for 48 hours.