Susceptibility of rapidly growing mycobacteria isolated from Australian cats to ivermectin, moxidectin, ceftiofur and florfenicol.

OBJECTIVES: Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) infections in cats typically manifest as a panniculitis, requiring long-term antimicrobial therapy for resolution. The search for novel antimicrobial therapies to reduce treatment duration and improve the rate of clinical resolution is imperative. Accordingly, RGM isolates underwent susceptibility testing to some avermectins and other antibacterial drugs currently available. METHODS: Five Mycobacterium fortuitum and six Mycobacterium smegmatis isolates obtained from Australian cats underwent susceptibility testing by microbroth dilution to ivermectin, moxidectin, ceftiofur and florfenicol. RESULTS: All isolates were resistant to the highest concentrations of ivermectin, moxidectin and ceftiofur tested (1024 µg/ml, 256 µg/ml and 32 µg/ml, respectively). All isolates of M fortuitum were resistant to the highest concentration of florfenicol tested (128 µg/ml). The minimum inhibitory concentration range of florfenicol that inhibited growth of M smegmatis isolates was 32-64 µg/ml. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: All drugs appear to have no efficacy in vitro for the treatment of RGM infections.

Nasofacial infection in a cat due to a novel bacterium in Neisseriaceae.

CASE SUMMARY: A 2-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented for a progressive subcutaneous nasofacial swelling. Histology of biopsy tissue revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation and large numbers of gram-negative capsulated bacterial coccobacilli within macrophages. The isolate was fastidious and grew after 6 days under microaerophilic conditions in a candle jar. The molecular identity of the isolate, from comparative sequence analysis of the 16s rRNA gene, is an as yet to be classified bacterial species within a novel genus of Neisseria. Infection resolved after 7 months of antimicrobial therapy with doxycycline and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. There has been no further recurrence of clinical signs in a 3 year follow-up period. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: Cats are susceptible to nasofacial infections as a result of traumatic inoculation of environmental bacteria, fungi and protozoa. We report a novel pathogen in the Neisseriaceae family, identified by 16 sRNA comparative sequence analysis, as a cause of nasofacial infection in a cat, and its subsequent successful treatment with combination antimicrobial therapy.

Concurrent infection with Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex and Mycobacterium avium affecting the subcutis and bone of a pelvic limb in a cat.

This paper describes a cat with severe localised infections with Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex and Mycobacterium avium affecting the subcutis and underlying fascia and bone of the right pelvic limb. The simultaneous isolation of both pathogens in this patient was unexpected and posed unique issues concerning both diagnosis and clinical management. The aetiopathogenesis of this infection is discussed in relation to aspects of diagnosis and therapy.

Registered nurse empowerment and intent to leave current position and/or profession.

AIM: This study explored the relationship between Registered Nurses' (RN) empowerment and intent to leave their current position and/or profession. BACKGROUND: While there is documentation of the relationship between job satisfaction and retention, little is known about the relationship between empowerment and intent to leave either the current position and/or profession. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted in which 1355 respondents completed measures of personal demographics, empowerment, intent to leave their current position and the profession. RESULTS: Relationships were found between empowerment and intent to leave the current position (F = 80.08, P < 0.001) and intent to leave the profession (F = 75.99, P < 0.001). IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The results of this study contribute to the limited body of knowledge in this area. It is suggested that nursing leaders utilize empowerment and intent to leave the position and/or profession as new concepts to measure future retention within the nursing workforce. CONCLUSION: Retention strategies need to focus on strategies for nurse empowerment.

Evaluation of the cytologic diagnosis of canine prostatic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Canine prostatic disease is commonly investigated using cytologic techniques, especially now that ultrasound-guided fine needle cell aspiration (US-FNA) is widely available. Few studies, however, have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of prostatic cytology. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cytologic investigation of prostatic disease using US-FNA and other methods in comparison with histopathologic diagnosis. METHODS: Cytologic and histopathologic specimens of prostate or paraprostatic tissue from 25 adult dogs were retrospectively evaluated. Cytologic samples were obtained by US-FNA, prostatic massage, or direct impression smears or aspirates of tissue at surgery. Histopathologic sections were obtained from tissue collected by biopsy or at necropsy. RESULTS: Cytologic diagnoses were categorized as nondiagnostic (n = 2); cyst (n = 1); squamous metaplasia (n = 2); inflammation (n = 4); benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; n = 5); inflammation and BPH (n = 3); inflammation, BPH, and neoplasia (n = 1); inflammation and neoplasia (n = 3); and neoplasia (n = 4). Cytologic diagnoses agreed with final histologic diagnoses in 20 of the 25 cases (80%). Of those samples collected by US-FNA, 75% were concordant. Four samples obtained by US-FNA and 1 sample obtained by prostatic massage and wash had discordant results. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest strong agreement between cytologic and histopathologic diagnoses for prostatic conditions. Discordance in results obtained by US-FNA usually was the result of the pathologic process rather than a failure to obtain an appropriate sample.

Organizational dimensions of hospital nursing practice: longitudinal results.

Assessment of nurses' perceptions regarding key aspects of their work environment informs nurse administrators and helps keep a finger on the organizational pulse so that they can plan effectively for staffing needs and quality care. Longitudinal assessment of nurses' perceptions of the realities of the work environment is even more critical to inform nurse administrators for decision making and planning, especially during turbulent times. The authors report on a hospital's experience in selecting, evaluating, and, at times, discarding instruments to attain the best information on their nurses' perceptions regarding their work environment. These longitudinal findings can help nurse administrators design a more positive work environment for their nurses.

Autopsy experience in Barbados

Although there is world-wide concern about the decrease in autopsy rates, to the authors' knowledge, the rates in Barbados have never been documented. The calculation of the non-coroner's autopsy rates and accordance score, and the possible value of these autopies performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital constitute this paper (AU)

Preliminary investigation into the effect of fulvine on rat and human chromosomes - abstract

Some pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been shown to have nuclear toxicity in vitro. Fulvine was therefore investigated for its effect on mitotic chromosomes in the rat and in man. In vitro studies were performed on rat fibroblasts and human and rat peripheral blood cultures. In vivo studies were performed by injecting mature rats subcutaneously with 0.08mg/gm body weight in fulvine. Control animals received the identical dilutant. Blood cultures were established 24 and 48 hours, and 8 days later. Nine children with histologically proven veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and eight controls were studied by 48-hour blood cultures, for changes in chromosome number and morphology. The in vitro studies were negative. In vivo studies in rats showed marked mitotic depression at 24 and 48 hours. On the seventh day, breaks, gaps exchanges and rearrangements were seen in 24 percent of cells. VOD was found in 5 rats. Of the children, three sibs, and two others showed similar abnormalities marked in the former and less so in the latter. These findings are very suggestive of induction of chromosome abnormalities by fulvine or by VOD. The frequency of these changes may be related to dosage levels, intervals between ingestion and examination, or to familial reactions to the drug (AU)

Cytogenetic studies in mentally retarded Jamaican children - abstract

A cytogenetic study of the children attending the school and home of the Jamaican association for Mentally Handicapped Children was undertaken in order to ascertain paritcular sex chromosome abnormalities in males. Eighty-five unselected children were studied. To this group were added 18 children had referred from Paediatric Clinics over the age of 3 because of mental retardation. These were selected, as not all retarded are referred. The children had a physical examination, buccal smears and chromosome studies. The age range was 30-40 years. An attempt at assessment of mental development was made, to divide them into mildly retarded, moderately retarded and severely retarded. There were 75 males and 28 females of which 14 were mildly retarded, 83 moderately retarded and 6 severely retarded. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 25 children. Of these 18 had trisomy 21, one had 47, XXY and one 47, XYY. Two children with apparently balanced translocations, and 2 with anomalies involving the short arms of the aerocentric chromosomes were found. There was one boy with Fanconi's syndrome of pancytopenia and congenital anomalies. In addition clinical diagnosis of Turner's syndrome in the male, Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome and congenital rubella were made in children without chromosome abnormalities. As might be expected, the mildly retarded group yeild only sex chromosome abnormalities and Fanconi's anaemia, the numbers being too small to draw any conclusions. All the remaining patients with autosomal anomalies occured in the moderately retarded group making up 25 percent of this group, of which 22 percent were mongols. Excluding the mongols from the total number of children, 6 percent of the children had autosomal anomalies, twice the percentage found in surveys of "unselected normal" adults (AU)

Cytogenetic investigation of the effect of cannabis resin - abstract

Recently there has been increasing interest in cannabis because of its widespread consumption and a request for medical research on the drug has been made. Like L.S.D., cannabis is a psychotomimetic hallucinogen as well as a potent teratogen in some experimental animals. The possibility of the existence of a teratogenic effect of L.S.D. and cannabis in humans has been raised independently by investigators in this area. Studies on the in vivo and in vitro effect of L.S.D. on chromosomes indicate elevated frequencies of chromosomal breaks by the drug and radiomimetic properties with breaks persisting after many weeks of ingestion. In view of the harmful consequences of chromosomal breaks, namely foetal wastage, malignant tumours and congenital malformations, it was though that the effect of cannabis on chromosomal division should be investigated. RESULTS: The addition of cannabis of cultured rat and human leukocytes at high concentration resulted in mitotic inhibition. However, there was no significant increase of chromosomal abnormalities. In tissue culture of embryonic rat fibroblasts, mitotic inhibition also occurred. From in vivo studies of embryos whose motheres were treated with teratogenic dosage of cannabis, no chromosomal abnormalities were detected after short-term tissue culture of the embryos. CONCLUSION: It seems likely from the above that the teratogenic effect of cannabis in rats is not due to the production of chromosomal abnormalities, but it might be due to inhibition of mitosis affecting the proliferation of cells(AU)