Contribution of high-performance liquid chromatography to the identification of some Corynebacterium species by comparison of their corynomycolic acid patterns.

Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of corynomycolic acids provided a specific pattern for each Corynebacterium species studied. These data suggest that a fast and reproducible procedure is now available for bacteriological identification at the genus and at the species level of corynomycolic-acid-containing bacteria. Mass spectrometry analysis of post-column collected fractions provided the order of elution of some corynomycolic acids and isomers and showed the high specificity of the chromatographic assay which could be used for the routine bacteriological identification of some species belonging to the genus Corynebacterium.

Multiresistant corynebacteria in bacteriuria: a comparative study of the role of Corynebacterium group D2 and Corynebacterium jeikeium.

During an 11-month prospective study, urine cultures were performed on 5685 samples obtained in three hospital units. The use of a selective medium improved the recovery of antibiotic-multiresistant corynebacteria (AMC): 703 isolates (12.4%) compared with 88 isolates (1.6%) on sheep blood agar. Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) was isolated in 80.5% of urines yielding greater than or equal to 10(5) AMC ml-1 whereas Corynebacterium jeikeium represented 80.2% of isolates with less than 10(5) AMC ml-1. Among 16 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) ml-1 C. jeikeium none had signs of urinary tract infection. In contrast, among 56 patients with greater than or equal to 10(5) CGD2, 40 (71%) had abnormal urinary sediment (mainly apatite or struvite crystals) and 29 (52%) had clinical signs of urinary tract infections sometimes complicated by lithiasis (seven cases) and alkaline-encrusted cystitis (two cases).

[Peroxidase activity of urinary cell elements, leucocyturia and urinary tract infection]. / Activité peroxydasique des éléments figurés urinaires, leucocyturie et infection urinaire.

Peroxidase activity determination of urinary formed elements is proposed as a new leucocyturia detection method. Enzymatic activity is evidenced by hydrogen peroxide 0.54 mM in Trinder reagent. The reaction can be performed in filtrative microplate or in standard microplate. Results are formulated semi-quantitatively or using arbitrary units (UA/ml) respectively. Reproducibility of the peroxidase activity assay (n = 31, m = 754 UA/ml, CV = 6.8%) is higher than microscopic evaluation methods (direct microscopic examination: n = 31, m = 3, CV = 66%; standard sediment method: n = 31, m = 7, CV = 71%). Urine conservation is suitable during about 20 hours at 4 degrees C. In case of microscopic hematuria (less than 1.5 x 10(6) red blood cells/ml) only few interference was observed. On the other hand, macroscopic hematuria may be inhibitory for the enzymatic reaction. Peroxidase activity determination, microscopic leucocyte count and bacterial numeration were performed on 2,004, 1,589 and 1,709 urine samples, respectively. The low correlation between peroxidase activity and microscopic leucocyte count is discussed. This new enzymatic method contributes to detect urine samples with significant bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(5) UFC/ml): about 90 p. cent sensitivity and 95 p. cent negative predictive value.

[Treatment with a piperacillin and netilmicin combination of patients with agranulocytosis]. / Traitement par l'association pipéracilline et nétilmicine chez les patients agranulocytaires.

Sixty infections episodes in granulocytopenic patients have been treated in first line with a piperacillin and netilmicin combination. Treatment has been successful in 78% bacterial infections. So, this antibiotic combination appears as a very effective therapy of infection in neutropenic patients.