In vitro activity of ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ofloxacin, amikacin and rifampicin against Ghanaian isolates of Mycobacterium ulcerans.

MICs of ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ofloxacin, amikacin and rifampicin were determined for 14 primary clinical isolates and three reference isolates of Mycobacterium ulcerans by modifying a standard agar dilution method for testing Mycobacterium tuberculosis sensitivity. All these antimicrobials were active against every isolate of M. ulcerans. Sparfloxacin exhibited the highest activity and ofloxacin was the least effective. Rifampicin exhibited the broadest range of activity.

Excretion of viable tubercle bacilli by Blatta orientalis (the oriental cockroach) following ingestion of heat-fixed sputum smears: a laboratory investigation.

Adult Blatta orientalis were allowed to feed on heat-fixed tuberculous sputum smears and the faeces collected for examination by microscopy and culture. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was repeatedly isolated from homogenized faecal pellets using liquid and solid selective culture media. Faeces remained positive both microscopically and on culture even after storing for 8 weeks at room temperature. It is recommended that smears, prepared from clinical material which may contain M. tuberculosis or M. leprae, are stored in a closed container and not left exposed to nocturnal omnivorous insects which frequently infest hospitals and laboratories.

The penetration of dapsone, rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide into peripheral nerves.

1 Dapsone, rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide were shown to penetrate readily into the sciatic nerves of the dog and sheep. 2 These findings suggest that the continued persistence of viable drug-sensitive leprosy bacilli in the peripheral nerves of patients treated for long periods with either dapsone or rifampicin is not due to inadequate intraneural drug penetration.