Shoko Namura

Antimicrobial effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in vivo and in vitro.

Summary We investigated the antimicrobial effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy in vivo and in vitro. First, Staphylococcus aureus samples were obtained using stamp agar medium from inflammatory lesions of 29 adult patients with atopic dermatitis before and after a single photochemotherapy. Therapy was oral PUVA (30 mg 8‐methoxypsoralen, 8MOP plus 5 J/cm2UVA), topical PUVA (0·3% 8MOP plus 200mJ/cm2UVA) or UVB (80mJ/cm2) irradiation. The number of S. aureus on the lesions was significantly reduced, even after a single treatment with all therapies. Reductions (mean± SD) were 69·3 ± 26.9%, 76·3 ± 31·3% and 83·8 ± 18·5%. respectively. Secondly, we investigated the effect of PUVA (0·001% 8MOP plus 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mJ/cm2UVA) and UVB (10, 30, 50, or 100 mJ/cm2) irradiation on the proliferation of S. aureus in vitro. PUVA and UVB treatment markedly inhibited the proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner. These results seem to indicate the possibility that the antimicrobial effect of UV radiation contributes to successful photochemotherapy in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The Incidence of Isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strains from Skin Infections during the Past Three Years (1989–1991)

We did a statistical study of 294 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from skin infections during the period from January of 1989 to December of 1991 in the Department of Dermatology, Kansai Medical University Hospital. We especially examined methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from the point of view of incidence, variety of skin infections with MRSA, coagulase type, phase type, and resistance against antimicrobial agents. The frequency of isolation of MRSA has been increasing. In 1991, the proportion of MRSA isolates among all S. aureus strains isolated from skin infections was 41.5%. MRSA was isolated most often from infectious decubitus. Coagulase type II and phage group NT (not typable) MRSA were most frequently isolated. The resistance of MRSA to OFLX and IMP/CS had remarkably increased. Notably, the resistance to MINO was low before 1991.

Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Nostril Anteriors and Subungual Spaces of the Hand: Comparative Study of Medical Staff, Patients, and Normal Controls

An epidemiologic investigation of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization was conducted at Kansai Medical University Hospital between 1990 and 1991. The incidence of nasal and subungual positivity for S. aureus was examined in a total of 156 subjects including inpatients, physicians, and nurses at a ward for dermatology, plastic surgery, and emergency patients, outpatients with atopic dermatitis and other skin diseases, and normal controls. Inpatients were most heavily colonized with MRSA (40.8%), but S. aureus colonization was most frequent in outpatients with atopic dermatitis (95.5%). Not only nostrils, which have been much discussed as a reservoir of S. aureus, but also subungual spaces seemed to be havens of S. aureus. Twelve out of 22 atopic dermatitis patients were positive for S. aureus on skin regions, and coagulase and phage testing showed a correlation between the nasal and skin‐colonizing S. aureus. Coagulase type II and phase type NT (not typable) were the predominant types of S. aureus, including MRSA.

Suppressive effect of ultraviolet (UVB and PUVA) radiation on superantigen production by Staphylococcus aureus

It is well known that Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) proliferates on the moist skin lesion of atopic dermatitis. Reduction of bacteria colonization from skin lesions by antibiotics has been reported to be effective for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. S. aureus produces superantigens which can activate T cells and possibly enhance the inflammatory reaction. Photo(chemo)therapy has been successfully used for the treatment of severe cases of atopic dermatitis. We have previously reported that photo(chemo)therapy had bacteriostatic effect on S. aureus. Now we examined the effect of UVB and psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) on superantigen production from S. aureus. We isolated S. aureus from six atopic dermatitis patients. S. aureus was irradiated in vitro with UVB (0, 5, 10 mJ/cm2) or PUVA (0.001% psoralen plus 0, 5, 10 mJ/cm2 UVA) and incubated 4 h with 100 strokes per min. After incubation, the amounts of superantigens in the supernatant were measured using ELISA kit. The production of superantigens decreased in an ultraviolet dose-dependent manner. The suppressive effects of UV radiation on superantigen production may be involved in the therapeutic efficacy of photo(chemo)therapy for atopic dermatitis.

Staphylococcus aureus on hand surface and nasal carriage in patients with atopic dermatitis

access “file system” that comprehensively catalogs content with a menu of references.2 It is not intended to (nor can it) substitute for direct interaction with 2. CruzPD Jr, Knipper JE, Black AA, et al. 1992 AAD award for excellence in education: the integrated basic and clinical science conference series at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. J AM ACAD DERMATOL patients or faculty members. 1993;29:761-72.

A Study of the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Detergents for Hand Washing: Using the Full‐hand Touch Plates Method

We studied the effects of four kinds of antimicrobial detergents, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), chlorbenzarconium (CBC), 10% povidone‐iodine (PVI), 0.3% triclosan (TRI), and one non‐medicated detergent (NMD) using the full‐hand touch plates method.

An evaluation of the residual activity of antiseptic handrub lotions: an 'in use' setting study.

An evaluation of the residual activity of quick‐drying agents (alcoholic solutions) used for hygienic hand disinfection is described. We looked for residual efficacy following hand disinfection with soap and water alone or followed by one of two alcoholic handrub lotions supplied from an automatic hand washing machine. The bacterial counts on the hands obtained before and within 2 successive hours after disinfection showed that alcoholic chlorhexidine was the most effective for 10 minutes after contamination of the hands. WELPAS® (alcoholic chlorbenzarconium) followed this in its immediate effect and was better than soap and water alone. There were no significant differences after 30‘ or 120‘ between the three disinfecting methods.

Sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes Isolated from Skin Infections in 1992 to Antimicrobial Agents

We studied the efficacy of antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) isolated from skin infections in 1992.

Activity of Eight Fluoroquinolones against Both Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Skin Infections

The in vitro susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to eight fluoroquinolones, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, tosufloxacin, sparfloxacin, and nadifloxacin was established by agar dilution tests, 71 isolates of methicillin‐susceptible (MSSA) and 74 isolates of ‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated from skin infections. Among all of the fluoroquinolones, nadifloxacin exhibited the lowest MIC for both MSSA and MRSA. In addition, there were no resistant S. aureus, neither MSSA and MRSA, to nadifloxacin. With the exception of nadifloxacin, the incidence of MRSA resistant to fluoroquinolones has gradually increased in recent years. Over half of the MRSA strains were resistant to norfloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, ciprofloxacin, and lomefloxacin.

In Vitro Activity of Nadifloxacin against both Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Patients with Skin Infections

The most common causative pathogen in patients with skin infections is Staphylococcus aureusPl The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. au reus (MRSA), which causes serious infections in immunocompromised patients, has increased in recent years at the Department of Dermatology at Kansai Medical UniversityPl In addition, the incidence of multiply-resistant strains of S. au reus has been increasing. Fluoroquinolones are a group of oral antimicrobial agents with broad spectrum activity, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus species (MSSA) and some MRSA strains. The object of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of MSSA and MRSA clinical isolates from patients with skin infections to nadifloxacin and 7 other fluoroquinolones. Nadifloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone that has been developed for use as a topical acne medicationp.41