Chemotherapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis. A study of carbenicillin, azlocillin or piperacillin in combination with tobramycin.

A comparative study was made on tobramycin combined with either carbenicillin (500 mg/kg/day) or one of the new penicillins: azlocillin or piperacillin (both 300 mg/kg/day) in 50 cystic fibrosis patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Average 2-h levels of penicillins in serum were 46 micrograms/ml (piperacillin), 88 micrograms/ml (azlocillin) and 66 micrograms/ml (carbenicillin). The Pseudomonas strains were significantly more sensitive to piperacillin and azlocillin than to carbenicillin (minimal inhibitory concentrations 1.9, 2.3 and 4.2 micrograms/ml). In 21 of 54 treatment course temporary eradication of Pseudomonas was achieved. Improved ventilatory capacity and diminished proteolytic activity in sputum were seen in most patients with or without bacteriological treatment success. Resistant strains - often belonging to other types - appeared in the patients with treatment failure. With increased number of precipitating antibodies against Pseudomonas and with increased minimal inhibitory concentrations, the chance of eradication was smaller. Seven out of 20 treated with azlocillin and 14 out of 30 treated with piperacillin developed fever and exanthema by the end of treatment. Our experience suggests caution in the use of the new penicillins.

The Copenhagen spraymatic. A sterile spraymatic for oral surgery.

An apparatus is described which supplies sterile, air-free physiologic saline as coolant at the tip of the handpiece. The device is activated by the foot control of the dental engine and the bur is flooded with saline the very moment the rotations begin. In the same way is stops instantaneously without afterdrip and without suckback. The components are either disposable or autoclavable. Metallic components are stainless steel.

An outbreak of periporitis staphylogenes of complex origin.

During the summer 1971 an outbreak of periporitis staphylogenes occurred among newborn in Horsens Hospital. 23 babies (16 boys and 7 girls) were infected with Staphylococcus aureus resistant to penicillin. Some of them also developed pemphigus neonatorum and sweat gland abscesses. Phage typing of staphylococci from the infected babies indicated, that some had acquired bacteria from the hand-eczema of a midwife and others from a doctor carrying Staphylococcus aureus, in his nose.

Successful nonsibling bone marrow transplantation in severe combined immunodeficiency.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) was diagnosed in a girl immediately after birth; her older brother had SCID and was successfully reconstituted by bone marrow transplantation from his uncle. She was isolated in a laminar air flow bench and decontaminated. The father differed by one HLA-A antigen but was HLA-Dw2 homozygous like the patient; his lymphocytes showed a slight response to the patient's cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). At the age of 2 1/2 months and again at 5 months, she was given a bone marrow transplant from the father. During the entire course the patient had no infections, and apart from a transient eosinophilia she had no signs of graft-versus-host reaction. Immunological reconstitution was nearly complete at 9 months of age, when she was recontaminated. One year later plasma immunoglobulin concentrations are in the low normal range (IgG and IgM) or decreased (IgA); tests of cell-mediated immunity are normal. Apart from slight upper respiratory infections, the patient has been healthy. Physical and psychological development have been normal.

Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in Danish hospitals from January 1st, 1966, to December 31st, 1974.

During the years 1966-1974, 167,297 strains isolated from 167,297 patients or staff members in Danish hospitals were registered at Staten Seruminstitu. All the strains were phage-typed and examined for production of a 'Tween'-80-splitting enzyme and resistance to mercuric chloride. 158,236 strains were examined for resistance to antibiotics. Since 1968, a steep decrease in the number of strains resistant to three or more antibiotics (multiple-resistant) and in strains of the 83A complex was noticed. In recent years an increase in strains belonging to phage-group I and in those referred to as miscellaneous and non-identified was registered. The increase in the non-typable strains might be explained by the shift of the concentration of the typing phages from 1000 X RTD to 100 X RTD. It is concluded that at least two factors may have contributed to the reduction of the multiple-resistant strains: an altered antibiotic policy, restricting the use of streptomycin and tetracyclines, and an improved hospital hygiene, diminishing the spread of identical strains within the various departments. However, it is emphasized that the consumption of methicillin is still increasing.