Bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa is acquired by cultured human monocyte-derived macrophages after uptake of myeloperoxidase.

in Experientia (1996), 52(2), 167-74

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme located within polymorphonuclear neutrophils capable of producing cytotoxic oxidant species that are particularly active against bacteria with polysaccharide capsules ... [more ▼]

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme located within polymorphonuclear neutrophils capable of producing cytotoxic oxidant species that are particularly active against bacteria with polysaccharide capsules. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10(6) bacteria per 1ml) are killed within 1 h in vitro by a MPO/H2O2/C1- system (48mU=132ng of MPO). The question arose as to whether human macrophages would acquire cytotoxic activity when loaded with this enzyme. Monocytes were therefore isolated from human blood and cultured for up to ten days to induce maturation to macrophages. These cells lost endogenous MPO within five days while H2O2 production in response to stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (10(-6)M) decreased to 23% within ten days. On the other hand, their capacity to take up exogenous MPO increased fourfold from day three to day ten. Human macrophages cultured from eight days (when both H2O2 production and MPO uptake were sufficient) were therefore used to study the effects of MPO uptake on cytocidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. After a 1 h MPO loading period, macrophages (5X10(5) cells per ml) were incubated in the presence of bacteria (0.5 to 2X10(6) bacteria per ml) for 2 h at 37 degrees C. At a bacteria/macrophage ratio of 1, only 34.8+/-7.0% of bacteria survived (compared to killing by non-loaded macrophages), while 74.4+/-9.3% survived at a ratio of 4. From these results, we conclude that loading macrophages with exogenous MPO could enhance their microbicidal activity, suggesting a potentially useful therapeutic application. [less ▲]

In vitro activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate and ticarcillin/clavulanate compared with that of other antibiotics against anaerobic bacteria: comparison with the results of the 1987 survey

in Acta Clinica Belgica (1996), 51(2), 70-9

The activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) and ticarcillin/ clavulanate (Timentin) was tested against 351 strict anaerobic clinical isolates collected from September 1993 to April 1994 in eight ... [more ▼]

The activity of amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) and ticarcillin/ clavulanate (Timentin) was tested against 351 strict anaerobic clinical isolates collected from September 1993 to April 1994 in eight Belgian university hospitals and compared with that of 8 other antibiotics using the NCCLS reference agar dilution procedure. Production of beta-lactamase was detected by the nitrocefin test in 48% of the isolates. At NCCLS-recommended breakpoints, more than 90% of isolates were susceptible to amoxycillin/clavulanate, ticarcillin/clavulanate, piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, chloramphenicol and metronidazole but only 77%, 72% and 48% to cefoxitin, clindamycin and penicillin, respectively. In comparison with the results of a similar survey conducted in 1987 no major changes in susceptibility were observed except for the susceptibility to clindamycin that declined from 83% to 72% overall, and from 83% to 66% in the B. fragilis group. Furthermore one isolate of Clostridium clostridioforme was found produce beta-lactamase and few B. fragilis group isolates showed reduced susceptibility to metronidazole. [less ▲]

Etude de la sensibilité de 100 souches hospitalières d'entérobactéries productrices de beta-lactamases à spectre élargi

Poster (1995, October)

Discrimination of epidemic and sporadic isolates of Serratia marcescens by three typing methods

Poster (1995, September)

Treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis. Summary of a round table held in Brussels on March, 3rd, 1994.

in Acta Clinica Belgica (1995), 50(2), 114-6

Due to the growing incidence and the severity of infections due to vancomycin resistant enterococci, it is now recommended to treat mild to moderate cases of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea ... [more ▼]

Due to the growing incidence and the severity of infections due to vancomycin resistant enterococci, it is now recommended to treat mild to moderate cases of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea with metronidazole while maintaining the use of oral vancomycin in serious or life-threatening colitis. Clostridium difficile is a common cause of diarrhoea after antibiotic therapy and induces a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild diarrhoea to pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). It is considered to be the first cause of diarrhoea occurring among hospitalized patients (1). [less ▲]

MRSA, une menace réelle, un défit persistant !

Scientific conference (1994, April)

Problèmes de prélèvement, de transport et de microbiologie des pus

Conference (1992, June)

Evaluation des techniques de diagnostic rapide des colonisations intravaginales par le Streptococcus agalactiae B chez les parturientes

in Gynécologie Internationale (1992), 1

Evaluation de techniques rapides de diagnostic de colonisation vaginale par le streptocoque béta-hémolytique du groupe B chez les parturientes

Conference (1990, October)

Les méningites bactériennes

Conference (1990, March 10)