In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 122 Neisseria gonorrheae isolates obtained from 400 sex workers in Jakarta, Indonesia, and susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and spectinomycin were found. All isolates were resistant to tetracycline. A number of the isolates demonstrated decreased susceptibilities to erythromycin (MIC >/= 1.0 microg/ml), thiamphenicol (MIC >/= 1.0 microg/ml), kanamycin (MIC >/= 16.0 microg/ml), penicillin (MIC >/= 2.0 microg/ml), gentamicin (MIC >/= 16.0 microg/ml), and norfloxacin (MIC = 0.5 microg/ml). These data showed that certain antibiotics previously used in the treatment of gonorrhea are no longer effective.

Short report: impact of traveler's diarrhea on United States troops deployed to Thailand.

Among a United States military unit of 170 personnel deployed to Utapao, Thailand for a three-week training exercise, 40% experienced diarrheal disease, and 12% sought medical treatment for diarrhea. Most illness clustered within the first two weeks of arrival and individuals were ill an average of 3.6 days. Fifty-five percent of cases lost two days of work and 15% required treatment with intravenous fluids. Bacterial pathogens were recovered from 38% of 16 stools submitted, with Campylobacter jejuni the most common. Four (12.5%) of 32 persons who voluntarily submitted paired sera exhibited a four-fold increase in IgG antibody titer to C. jejuni. Traveler's diarrhea continues to be an important problem with a serious potential to impact the mission readiness of even small military units deployed overseas.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea in children less than five years of age in central Java.

A community-based prospective study was performed from December 1993 through March 31, 1994 in Indonesia in children less than five years of age. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was identified in diarrheic stool by colony hybridization assay, using toxin probes, and this bacterium was isolated from 19% of 340 episodes of diarrhea. Sixty-one percent of ETEC produced heat-labile toxin (LT) only, 325 LT and heat-stable toxin (ST), and 75 ST only. The age-specific incidence rates of diarrhea among children 0-1 and 2-3 years of age were 77% and 61%, respectively, during the study period; ETEC was isolated from 26% of children 0-1 years of age versus 53% for children 2-3 years of age. As many as seven episodes of diarrhea were repeatedly experienced by a single child during the four-month study period; however, only two children had more than one episode of known ETEC-associated diarrheal disease during the period of observation.

Simple differentiation of Vibrio cholerae O139 from V. cholerae O1 and non-O1, non-O139 by modified CAMP test.

Strong positive CAMP reactions were demonstrated by 121 Vibrio cholerae O139 and 504 El Tor isolates, and weak positive CAMP reactions were shown by 235 non-O1, non O139 isolates when these isolates were tested by a modified CAMP technique. Thirty-five classical biotype V. cholerae O1 isolates included in the tests were all CAMP negative.

Inhibition of Growth and Aflatoxin Production of Aspergilli in Medium Containing Phosphates.

Mycelial growth and mycotoxin production of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus were studied in Sabouraud dextrose agar containing pure or blended pyro-, poly- or meta-phosphates during 9 d of incubation at 30°C. Pure tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) and sodium polyphosphate, glassy (SPG, formerly hexametaphosphate), as well as a commercial phosphate blend and three combinations all containing various proportions of sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP), TSPP and SPG were tested. Inhibition of growth of aspergilli was observed in media containing 2.0% TSPP and 1.0 and 2.0% SPG and 2.0% of the commercial phosphate blend. Lower concentrations of single or blended phosphates allowed only limited, atypical mycelial growth. Sporulation was totally inhibited by 2.0% concentrations of single or blended phosphates, and so was production of aflatoxins B1 and G1. TSPP or SPG at 1.0% reduced (P<0.05) aflatoxin production from parts per million (controls) to parts per billion.

Inhibition of Mold Growth and Mycotoxin Production in High-Moisture Corn Treated with Phosphates.

Mold growth and mycotoxin production were studied in high-moisture (20%) corn treated with tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP); acid and alkaline sodium polyphosphate, glassy (SPG), also known as sodium hexametaphosphate; sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP); and tricalcium phosphate. Six mold cultures belonging to the genera Aspergillus , Fusarium , and Penicillium were tested in corn varieties highly resistant or highly susceptible to mold infection in the field, and in a mixture of five other varieties of corn. The acidic SPG, as well as TSPP and STPP totally prevented or reduced mold growth when added in powder form to corn at 1.0% or 2.0% (w/w), regardless of corn variety and high moisture content. Phosphates afforded protection in whole and damaged kernels. Similar results were obtained with 2.0% acidic SPG and TSPP when added in spray form. Whenever mold growth occurred, treatment of corn with 1.0% or 2.0% (w/w) TSPP and acidic or alkaline SPG inhibited (P<0.01) aflatoxin production by aspergilli.