Differential Action of Oxidizing Agents on Certain Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Organisms

1930 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 500-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Stearn ◽  
A. E. Stearn
Author(s):  
Erum Malik ◽  
David A. Phoenix ◽  
Timothy J. Snape ◽  
Frederick Harris ◽  
Jaipaul Singh ◽  
...  

AbstractHere the hypothesis that linearized esculentin 2EM (E2EM-lin) from Glandirana emeljanovi possesses pH dependent activity is investigated. The peptide showed weak activity against Gram-negative bacteria (MLCs ≥ 75.0 μM) but potent efficacy towards Gram-positive bacteria (MLCs ≤ 6.25 μM). E2EM-lin adopted an α-helical structure in the presence of bacterial membranes that increased as pH was increased from 6 to 8 (↑ 15.5–26.9%), whilst similar increases in pH enhanced the ability of the peptide to penetrate (↑ 2.3–5.1 mN m−1) and lyse (↑ 15.1–32.5%) these membranes. Theoretical analysis predicted that this membranolytic mechanism involved a tilted segment, that increased along the α-helical long axis of E2EM-lin (1–23) in the N → C direction, with −  < µH > increasing overall from circa − 0.8 to − 0.3. In combination, these data showed that E2EM-lin killed bacteria via novel mechanisms that were enhanced by alkaline conditions and involved the formation of tilted and membranolytic, α-helical structure. The preference of E2EM-lin for Gram-positive bacteria over Gram-negative organisms was primarily driven by the superior ability of phosphatidylglycerol to induce α-helical structure in the peptide as compared to phosphatidylethanolamine. These data were used to generate a novel pore-forming model for the membranolytic activity of E2EM-lin, which would appear to be the first, major reported instance of pH dependent AMPs with alkaline optima using tilted structure to drive a pore-forming process. It is proposed that E2EM-lin has the potential for development to serve purposes ranging from therapeutic usage, such as chronic wound disinfection, to food preservation by killing food spoilage organisms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S777-S778
Author(s):  
Arsheena Yassin ◽  
Christine Stavropoulos ◽  
Krystina L Woods ◽  
Jiashan Xu ◽  
Justin Carale ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hand infections represent a major source of morbidity, which can result in hand stiffness and amputation. Early appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen may reduce the associated morbidity, hence the importance to examine local epidemiology. The aim of this study was to define the current epidemiology of adult hand infections at two urban hospitals in New York City. Methods We performed a double center, retrospective study of adult patients hospitalized from March 2018 to May 2020. Patients with positive cultures associated with the hand infections were included. Retrospectively, 100 patients were reviewed. Data on baseline demographic, clinical, surgical, microbiology, and treatment parameters were collected. Results Of the 100 patients, 76% were male, with median age of 47.5 years (35, 58.25) and average C-reactive protein (CRP) of 50.66 mg/L (± 64.64) on admission (see Table 1). Previous hospitalization within 1 year (38%), previous surgical procedures (39%) and recent IV medication use (26%) were common. 130 bacterial isolates were identified (see Table 2). The most frequent organisms were Gram-positive, with Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, 25.38%), Streptococcus species (20.08%), and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 15.38%) being the most common. Gram-negative organisms were infrequent, with Haemophilus parainfluenzae (3.85%), Enterobacter cloacae (3.85) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.08%) being the most prevalent. Of the 100 patients, 27% had polymicrobial infections, associated with trauma (6%), illicit IV use (6%) and unknown (7%) etiologies. Table 1: Baseline demographics and co-morbid conditions Table 2: Types and numbers of organisms in relation to etiologies Conclusion Within our population, the most common organisms associated with hand infections were Gram-positive, with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species being the most prevalent. Gram-negative pathogens were infrequently isolated. The results within this study can provide guidance to clinicians on assessing the appropriate empiric antibiotic regimen in patients with hand infections, and can serve as a basis for further studies identifying risk factors associated with isolation of organisms associated with hand infections. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Sien Ombelet ◽  
Alessandra Natale ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ronat ◽  
Olivier Vandenberg ◽  
Liselotte Hardy ◽  
...  

Bacterial identification is challenging in low-resource settings (LRS). We evaluated the MicroScan identification panels (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) as part of Médecins Sans Frontières’ Mini-lab Project. The MicroScan Dried Overnight Positive ID Type 3 (PID3) panels for Gram-positive organisms and Dried Overnight Negative ID Type 2 (NID2) panels for Gram-negative organisms were assessed with 367 clinical isolates from LRS. Robustness was studied by inoculating Gram-negative species on the Gram-positive panel and vice versa. The ease of use of the panels and readability of the instructions for use (IFU) were evaluated. Of species represented in the MicroScan database, 94.6% (185/195) of Gram-negative and 85.9% (110/128) of Gram-positive isolates were correctly identified up to species level. Of species not represented in the database (e.g., Streptococcus suis and Bacillus spp.), 53.1% out of 49 isolates were incorrectly identified as non-related bacterial species. Testing of Gram-positive isolates on Gram-negative panels and vice versa (n = 144) resulted in incorrect identifications for 38.2% of tested isolates. The readability level of the IFU was considered too high for LRS. Inoculation of the panels was favorably evaluated, whereas the visual reading of the panels was considered error-prone. In conclusion, the accuracy of the MicroScan identification panels was excellent for Gram-negative species and good for Gram-positive species. Improvements in stability, robustness, and ease of use have been identified to assure adaptation to LRS constraints.


CHEST Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 45S
Author(s):  
Abhijit Duggal ◽  
Konstantinos Marmagkiolis ◽  
Lawrence Goldstein

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Borg Cauchi ◽  
Maria Angela Gauci ◽  
Theresia Dalli ◽  
James Gauci ◽  
James Farrugia ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Infections related to peritoneal dialysis (PD) are still a cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe an overview of PD peritonitis and catheter-related infections (CRI) in Malta over a period of eleven years. We also describe trends in dialysis modality over the years. Method All patients undergoing PD in Malta during 2008 and 2018 were analysed. Data from 2008-2012 was retrospective, shown as mean, that from 2013-2018 prospective. International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) definitions were used. Results for categorical responses were summarized using absolute numbers and percentages. Medians (range) were used to describe continuous non-normally distributed data. Results The total number of patients undergoing PD from 2008 till 2018 were 137 (2008-2012), 91, 80, 126, 117, 102, 103 respectively. There was an overall male predominance of 63.5% (61-67). Patient years at risk were 85.80, 85.25, 89.71, 83.70, 79.69, 72.88 since 2013 respectively. The overall incidence of diabetes mellitus was 45.3% (41.8-50), cardiovascular disease 34.2% (33.8-35), hypertension 79.3% (73.8-84.6). PD was used in 50% of dialysis modality prior to 2012, 39% in 2018. Initially 51% used Automated PD (APD), with 21% assisted PD, in 2018 39% used APD, with 6% assisted PD. PD peritonitis rates from 2008 were 0.38, 0.31, 0.35, 0.46, 0.43, 0.57, 0.54, 0.43, 0.39, 0.40, 0.46 episodes/patient year respectively There was marked dominance of Gram-positive peritonitis, mainly Staphylococcal, with a reduction of coagulase-negative-Staphylococcus from 0.26 episodes/patient in 2013 to 0.03 in 2017, 0.11 in 2018. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) peritonitis decreased from 0.03 episodes/patient to nil in 2016, 2017, 0.01 episodes/patient in 2018. Amongst Gram-negative peritonitis, Pseudomonas rates decreased from 0.06 to 0.03 episodes/patient in 2018, nil in 2016. Escherichia coli rates decreased from 0.02 episodes/patient to nil in the last three years. Fungal rates from 0.03 to 0.01 episodes/patient/year, with nil in 2016, 2017. Catheter-related infection rates were 0.39 (2008-2012), 0.35, 0.91, 0.37, 0.38, 0.25, 0.50 episodes/patient/year respectively. There was a higher incidence of recurrent infections in 2014, none in 2015 and 2016. Gram-negative organisms accounted for 57% of all CRI, predominantly Pseudomonas at 0.12 (2008-2012), 0.06, 0.09, 0.09, 0.14, 0.03, 017 episodes/patient/year respectively. Gram-positive CRI were mostly Staphylococcus aureus, peaking in 2014 at 0.38 episodes/patient/year. MRSA rates declined from 0.15 to 0.01 episodes/patient/year in 2018. Conclusion PD peritonitis rates in Malta between 2008 and 2018 were below the ISPD recommended threshold. There were no episodes of MRSA in 2016, 2017, no Pseudomonas in 2016, no E coli in the last three years and no fungal PD peritonitis in 2016, 2017. CRI rates also declined, with an overall predominance of Gram-negative infections.


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 627-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Candela ◽  
Marie Moya ◽  
Michel Haustant ◽  
Agnès Fouet

Poly-γ-glutamate has been described in many Gram-positive organisms. When anchored to the surface, it is a capsule and as such a virulence factor. Based on sequence similarities, few Gram-negative organisms have been suggested to synthesize poly-γ-glutamate. For the first time, a Gram-negative bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum , is shown to produce and secrete poly-γ-glutamate. Putative poly-γ-glutamate-synthesizing genes from Gram-negative organisms have been compared with their Gram-positive homologs by in silico analysis, i.e., gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Clusters of three instead of four genes were highlighted by our screen. The products of the first two genes display similarity with their Gram-positive equivalents, yet the sequences from the Gram-negative organisms can be distinguished from those of the Gram-positives. Interestingly, the sequence of the predicted product of the third gene is conserved among Gram-negative bacteria but displays no similarity to that of either the third or fourth gene of the Gram-positive operons. It is suggested that, like for Gram-positive bacteria, poly-γ-glutamate has a role in virulence for pathogens and one in survival for other Gram-negative bacteria.


1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-12

Rifampicin (Rifadin-Lepetit; Rimactane-Ciba) is a semi-synthetic antibiotic derived from Streptomyces mediterranei which inhibits the synthesis of bacterial messenger-RNA. In vitro it is active against Gram-positive organisms and mycobacteria in low concentrations (0.0002 – 0.5 mcg/ml); and against Gram-negative organisms in higher concentrations (1 – 10 mcg/ml). Drug-resistant mutants readily emerge if rifampicin is used alone.1 It is already established as an important agent in the treatment of tuberculosis. Its usefulness in other bacterial and in viral infections is uncertain.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Aragón-Sánchez ◽  
Benjamin A. Lipsky ◽  
Jose L. Lázaro-Martínez

Osteomyelitis frequently complicates infections in the feet of patients with diabetes. Gram-positive cocci, especially Staphylococcus aureus, are the most commonly isolated pathogens, but gram-negative bacteria also cause some cases of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO). These gram-negatives require different antibiotic regimens than those commonly directed at gram-positives. There are, however, few data on factors related to their presence and how they influence the clinical picture. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the variables associated with the isolation of gram-negative bacteria from bone samples in cases of DFO and the clinical presentation of these infections. Among 341 cases of DFO, 150 had a gram-negative isolate (alone or combined with a gram-positive isolate) comprising 44.0% of all patients and 50.8% of those with a positive bone culture. Compared with gram-positive infections, wounds with gram-negative organisms more often had a fetid odor, necrotic tissue, signs of soft tissue infection accompanying osteomyelitis, and clinically severe infection. By multivariate analysis, the predictive variables related to an increased likelihood of isolating gram-negatives from bone samples were glycated hemoglobin <7% (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-3.5) and a wound caused by traumatic injury (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0-3.9). Overall, patients whose bone samples contained gram-negatives had a statistically significantly higher prevalence of leukocytosis and higher white blood cell counts than those without gram-negatives. In conclusion, gram-negative organisms were isolated in nearly half of our cases of DFO and were associated with more severe infections, higher white blood cell counts, lower glycated hemoglobin levels, and wounds of traumatic etiology.


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