Lay constructions of HIV and complementary therapy use.

This study examines the meanings that individuals with HIV attach to their use of complementary therapies. A qualitative analysis of 66 interviews completed between 1993 and 1998 showed that complementary therapies represent different things for these individuals--a health maintenance strategy, a healing strategy, an alternative to Western medicine, a way of mitigating the side-effects of drug therapies, a strategy for maximizing quality of life, a coping strategy, and a form of political resistance. We found that the meanings individuals ascribe to complementary therapies and the benefits they expect to derive from them are not idiosyncratic, but linked to social characteristics--sexuality, ethnocultural background, gender--and to beliefs about health and illness, values and experiences. We found as well that these meanings are neither mutually exclusive nor fixed. The therapies often appeal to individuals on different levels and their appeal may change over time.

[Bacterial flora in urinary tract infections of children and susceptibility to drugs]. / Flora bakteryjna w zakazeniach dróg moczowych u dzieci i jej lekowrazliwosc.

The material consisted of 902 strains isolated from children with urinary tract infection with significant bacteriuria. Among isolated strains, Enterobacteriaceae consisted 67.4%, Gram-positive cocci 18.8% and non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (both against Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci), appeared aminoglycosides and III generation cephalosporins (from 63 to 83% of susceptible strains). K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were most resistant to antimicrobials tested. The authors point out that empiric antibiotic therapy of bacterial urinary tract infections in children which is not preceded by identification of the pathogen and determination of its drug susceptibility, can be ineffective in over 50% of cases.

[Susceptibility of bacteria to selected cephalosporins of the II and III generation]. / Wrazliwosc drobnoustrojów na wybrane cefalosporyny II i III generacji.

Susceptibility of 1893 strains of bacteria responsible for infections in children treated in the Institute of Mother and Child in 1991 was investigated. Sensitivity to cefuroxime, cefamandole, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime were tested by application of discs produced by Bio-Mérieux. MIC for cefuroxime against selected clinical strains was determined by a solid medium dilution method. Cefamandole in comparison with cefuroxime was more effective for S. aureus (94.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (93.1%), P. rettger (87.5%), M. morganii (76.9%) and P. vulgaris (63.6%). Cefuroxime was more active against P. mirabilis and C. freundii. Percentages of Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-positive cocci sensitive to III generation cephalosporins were high and amounted to 60-100%. Cefotaxime was active against higher percentages of S. marcescens (94.1%), C. freundii (76.0%), K. pneumoniae (54.8%), S. aureus (79.0%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (82.2%) when compared with ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. P. aeruginosa, other non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria and A. calcoaceticus were most susceptible to ceftazidime. Comparison of MIC50 and MIC ranges for cefotaxime and cefuroxime indicates significantly higher activity of cefotaxime toward all tested strains of Enterobacteriaceae.

[Bacterial and clinical evaluation of axetil cefuroxime in suspension]. / Bakteriologiczna i kliniczna ocena aksetylu cefuroksymu w zawiesinie.

For determination of cefuroxime activity, MIC was determined for 320 strains and by a diffusion-disc method susceptibility to this antibiotic of 3321 microorganisms isolated from children treated in Institute of Mother and Child was tested. Therapeutic value of axetil cefuroxime in suspension (Zinnat-Glaxo) was determined basing on specific and bacteriologically monitored treatment of 30 children (22 with respiratory tract infections and 8 with urinary tract infections). Etiological agents of these infections were: M. catarrhalis, H. parainfluenzae, S. aureus, P. rettgeri, E. coli and K. pneumoniae. MIC 50 of cefuroxime in mg/l was following: K. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes--0.12; M. catarrhalis--1; S. aureus and P. mirabilis--2; E. coli--4; K. pneumoniae--8, C. freundii--16; P. vulgaris--32, S. marcescens--128 and E. cloacae--256. Correlation was found between MIC values and percentages of susceptible strains. In 25 children full therapeutic effect was obtained. In 3 children partial recovery was noted, but they required application of an additional antibiotic. These studies demonstrated that majority of microorganisms responsible for infection of respiratory and urinary tract is susceptible to cefuroxime and that axetil cefuroxime in suspension presents as a very useful antibiotic, especially in pediatric ambulatory treatment.