Delores M. Gries

Growth in Cecal Mucus Facilitates Colonization of the Mouse Intestinal Tract by Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Intestinal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is common in some groups of hospitalized patients and has been associated with an increased risk of staphylococcal infection. We tested the hypothesis that growth of MRSA in the colonic mucus layer is required for establishment of intestinal colonization. Mice treated with oral streptomycin before oral administration of MRSA developed persistent intestinal colonization, and the cecal mucus layer contained high concentrations of MRSA. MRSA strains grew rapidly when inoculated into cecal mucus in vitro but were unable to replicate under anaerobic conditions in cecal contents of saline- or streptomycin-treated mice. Oral vancomycin treatment reduced the density of 1 MRSA strain in stool but had no effect on a second strain. These results suggest that the cecal mucus layer provides an important niche that facilitates intestinal colonization by MRSA. Oral nonabsorbed antibiotics may be ineffective in eradicating some MRSA strains from the intestinal tract.

A pilot study to assess frequency of carriage and routes of acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus by healthy infants

Healthy infants frequently acquire Staphylococcus aureus colonization; however, the modes of transmission are not well defined. In this study, 8 of 23 (35%) infants cultured at age 2 weeks acquired S aureus carriage, but only 1 infant had a family member with nasal carriage of the same clone, suggesting that sources other than colonized family members may account for a significant proportion of cases.

Loop diuretics and in vitro relaxation of human fetal and newborn mouse airways.

This study was designed to test the hypotheses that furosemide directly causes relaxation in human fetal airway and that delivery of loop diuretics to either the adventitial or epithelial surface of newborn mouse airway results in equivalent relaxation. Isometric tension changes were measured in human fetal (11–16 wk) trachea and mainstem bronchus rings exposed to furosemide (300 μM) or saline after acetylcholine or leukotriene D4 constriction. Significant decreases in isometric tension to furosemide were demonstrated after constriction with acetylcholine or leukotriene D4. To examine the site of effect and mimic aerosolized and systemic administration, furosemide (3–300 μM) and bumetanide (0.3–30 μM) were applied separately to epithelial and adventitial surfaces of newborn mouse airways. No differences in airway diameter changes to epithelial or adventitial furosemide or bumetanide were observed, but a 10-fold difference in potency was found. In summary, human fetal airway relaxed to furosemide when constricted with either neurotransmitter or inflammatory mediator in vitro. Further, no differences in relaxation to equimolar epithelial and adventitial furosemide were observed in isolated newborn mouse airway. Taken together, this provides evidence that furosemide has a direct, nonepithelial-dependent effect on airway smooth muscle tone.

Actinomyces Species and Cerclage Placement in Neonatal Sepsis: A Case Report

A 26-year-old female with a history of preterm labor and cerclage placement presented at 29 weeks gestation. Twin girls were delivered at 29 weeks. Twin A presented with clinical sepsis at birth. Twin As blood cultures became positive for Actinomyces species on day of life 15. Despite aggressive medical management twin A died at 35 days of life.

Cost consequences of implementation of an early obstetrical discharge program in a military teaching hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the cost consequence of an early obstetrical discharge program in a military teaching hospital.Methods: The study involved a control group of routine obstetrical discharge patients with uncomplicated vaginal delivery from March to August 1994 and the study group of early obstetrical discharge (24-48 hours) patients with uncomplicated vaginal delivery from March to August 1996.Results: There were 1,042 total control patients with routine vaginal delivery from March to August 1994 totaling 2,668 hospital days with a mean number of hospital days of 2.56 per patient. The study group of early obstetrical discharge patients from March to August 1996 with uncomplicated vaginal delivery encompassed 1,050 patients with 1,965 days with mean hospital days of 1.87 per patient. The total cost of admissions (cost calculation of

Evaluation of an Early Discharge Program of Mothers and Infants Following Childbirth in a Military Population. 894

1,221/hospital day) fell from

Acquisition of nosocomial pathogens on hands after contact with environmental surfaces near hospitalized patients

3,257,628 in the routine discharge group to

Evaluation of an Early Discharge Program for Infants after Childbirth in a Military Population

2,399,625 in the early discharge cohort showing a total cost savings of

m-Hydroxy Benzoylecgonine Recovery in Fetal Guinea Pigs

858,003 over the 6-month study period. The average cost per admission fell from

The Influence of Nitric Oxide on Newborn Guinea Pig Lung Function

3,126/day to