6 research outputs found
Toxoplasma antibodies and spontaneous abortion
One hundred and fifty-two women with spontaneous abortion were investigated by hemagglutination (HA) and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) tests for toxoplasmosis. In 48 cases, quantitive immunoglobulin (Ig) studies and mouse inoculation with gestational material were performed. Positive toxoplasma antibody titers were observed in 62 cases (40.8%) using HA and in 52 cases (38.2%) using IFA. This prevalence was significantly higher than that observed in 80 normal women who served as controls. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated in two cases. No correlation was found between antibody titers and IgG, IgM or IgA levels. We conclude that toxoplasmosis should be considered as the cause of abortion when a patient's antibody titer exceeds 1:256
The inhibitory effect of amniotic fluid on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus
In the late 1940s, some researchers found that amniotic fluid had an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth due, they believed, to the presence of lysozymes. Later other authorities asserted that amniotic fluid facilitates bacterial growth. More recently, studies have indicated that liquor amnii has a remarkable antibacterial activity. To further examine this antibacterial action, the present study of the effect of amniotic fluid on Staphylococcus aureus was undertaken
E. Coli Growth Inhibition by Amniotic Fluid
Abstract. Amniotic fluid samples were collected aseptically from 29 normal pregnancies, between the 38th and 41st week of gestation and checked for sterility in the laboratory, in order to investigate in vitro the effect of the liquor on the growth of E. coli. Brain Heart Infusion (B.H.I.) and Ringer solution were used as controls. E. coli cultures were inoculated in amniotic fluid, B.H.I., Ringer solution and amniotic fluid plus B.H.I. and incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. At 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours of incubation, surface viable counts were performed to estimate the number of E. coli viable cells. The growth of E. coli in B.H.I. started during the 1st hour after inoculation and continued over 48 hours; in Ringer solution the mean growth curve was almost identical to that of B.H.I. In amniotic fluid the growth of E. coli began from the 1st hour of inoculation but the growth curve was much lower, became static in 24 hours and a permanent inhibition was observed thereafter. The addition of a small amount of B.H.I. in amniotic fluid enhanced the growth of E. coli, but the growth curve was lower in comparison to the curves of the two controls studied. In conclusion, after 48 hours of inoculation in amniotic fluid, 26 of the 29 cases showed bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity of the liquor upon the growth of E. coli. 1976 Acta Obstet Gynecol Scan
PREVALENCE OF FLUOROQUINOLONE RESISTANCE IN EUROPE
Since 1984, when the first fluoroquinolone, norfloxacin, was marketed in
Europe, there has been a marked increase in the usage of this class of
drugs. In order to evaluate the influence of this drug usage on the
prevalence of resistance to fluoroquinolones in clinical isolates of the
family Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcuss
aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Enterococcus faecalis we
reviewed the susceptibility data from four collaborative surveys
conducted between 1983 and 1990 by the Study Group ‘Bacterial
Resistance’ of the Paul-Ehrlich-Society for Chemotherapy. All
participating laboratories used the same standardized methods. Miminal
inhibitory concentrations were determined by the broth microdilution
method. More than 20,000 bacterial strains were tested. The results are
presented for ciprofloxacin, which is regarded as the representative of
the fluoroquinolones. Using greater than or equal to 4 mg/l as a
breakpoint for resistance to ciprofloxacin, the prevalence of resistant
strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae in Central Europe between 1983
and 1990 remained below 1%. In contrast, the resistance rates in P.
aeruginosa were 0.7%, 1.0%, 3.8% and 7.0%, in S. aureus 0%, 0.5%,
6.6% and 6.8%, and in E. faecalis 2.2%, 0.7%, 4.9% and 7.7% in
1983, 1986, 1989 and 1990, respectively. The latest study carried out in
cooperation with 78 laboratories from 12 European countries revealed
great differences in the prevalence of resistance to fluoroquinolones
from one species to another ranging from 0% with Proteus vulgaris and
Salmonella spp. to 26.7% with Providencia stuartii. The highest rates
of resistance were recorded for oxacillin-resistant strains of S. aureus
(70.6%) and oxacillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci
(51.2%). Resistance levels for individual species varied between
countries, but they were consistently higher in Southern Europe than in
Northwest and Central Europe. Resistance in S. aureus and E. faecalis
was more prevalent in isolates from intensive care patients than in
isolates from patients on normal wards. In addition, S. aureus isolates
displayed a considerable difference in the resistance rates for blood
(9.3%) and urine (34.4%)