Characterisation and pure culture of putative health-associated oral bacterium BU063 (Tannerella sp. HOT-286) reveals presence of a potentially novel glycosylated S-layer.

Tannerella HOT-286 (phylotype BU063) is a recently identified novel filamentous Gram-negative anaerobic oral bacterium cultured for the first time recently in co-culture with Propionibacterium acnes. In contrast to the related periodontal disease-associated pathobiont Tannerella forsythia, it is considered a putative health-associated bacterium. In this paper, we identified that this organism could be grown in pure culture if N-acetyl muramic acid (NAM) was provided in the media, although surprisingly the genetic basis of this phenomenon is not likely to be due to a lack of NAM synthesis genes. During further microbiological investigations, we showed for the first time that T. HOT-286 possesses a prominent extracellular S-layer with a novel morphology putatively made up of two proteins modified with an unknown glycan. These data further our knowledge of this poorly understood organism and genus that is an important part of the oral and human microbiome.

Inhibition of sialidase activity and cellular invasion by the bacterial vaginosis pathogen Gardnerella vaginalis.

Bacterial vaginosis is a genital tract infection, thought to be caused by transformation of a lactobacillus-rich flora to a dysbiotic microbiota enriched in mixed anaerobes. The most prominent of these is Gardnerella vaginalis (GV), an anaerobic pathogen that produces sialidase enzyme to cleave terminal sialic acid residues from human glycans. Notably, high sialidase activity is associated with preterm birth and low birthweight. We explored the potential of the sialidase inhibitor Zanamavir against GV whole cell sialidase activity using methyl-umbelliferyl neuraminic acid (MU-NANA) cleavage assays, with Zanamavir causing a 30% reduction in whole cell GV sialidase activity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cellular invasion assays using HeLa cervical epithelial cells, infected with GV, demonstrated that Zanamivir elicited a 50% reduction in cell association and invasion (p < 0.05). Our data thus highlight that pharmacological sialidase inhibitors are able to modify BV-associated sialidase activity and influence host-pathogen interactions and may represent novel therapeutic adjuncts.

Success rates for peripheral i.v. insertion in a children's hospital. Financial implications.

Although many publications have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of using i.v. nurse specialists with adult patients, very few have explored this topic in the pediatric population. Many agencies choose to use staff RNs and physicians, with minimal training and experience, to place i.v.s in both pediatric and adult patients. This article demonstrates i.v. insertion success rates for various healthcare providers: staff RNs, physicians, and an i.v. nurse specialist in an urban pediatric hospital. The number of unsuccessful i.v. attempts for each group is calculated and further applied to costs of labor and equipment. From the data presented in this article, it may be concluded that the use of one or more i.v. specialist nurses for placement of peripheral i.v.s in children is more cost effective than using staff RNs or physicians for provision of this service. These data were collected while the author was the i.v. nurse clinician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

Pediatric peripherally inserted central catheter program report: a summary of 4,536 catheter days.

Data were collected on all peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) inserted by one i.v. nurse clinician from July, 1989 to June, 1992 in an urban pediatric teaching hospital of more than 100 beds. Growth of this PICC program, as well as outcome of patients with PICCs, was recorded and compared to published reports. During the surveillance period, 269 PICCs were successfully inserted in 226 patients out of 330 patients referred for PICC placement. This article contains the outcome of that program. Catheter duration and rate of PICC complication at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was comparable to eight other published reports. PICCs are an efficacious and safe method of i.v. access for intermediate to long-term use in children.

The immune system. Part II, Intravenous administration of immune globulin.

Part I of this article, published in the September/October 1991 issue of the Journal of Intravenous Nursing, reviews normal immune function, immune disorders, and diagnosis. The main treatment modality discussed in Part II is therapy with immune globulin IgG. History, indications, administration technique, and nursing care are highlighted.

The immune system and intravenous administration of immune globulin. Part I, The immune system.

Interest in the immune response has greatly increased, mostly because of the discovery of the AIDS virus. An understanding of the basic function of the normal human immune system is vital knowledge for today's nurse. Part 1 of this article describes normal immune response as well as abnormal immune system function, and correlates this information with the clinical picture of the patient.