Inhibition of bacterial adhesion by subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) due to Escherichia coli is one of the most common diseases encountered in clinical practice. Most common recognised pathogenic factor in E.coli is adhesion. There is accumulating evidence that through subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of many antibiotics do not kill bacteria, they are able to interfere with some important aspects of bacterial cell function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was conducted to investigate the effect of sub MICs (1/2-1/8 MIC) of ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, gentamicin, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole on E. coli adhesiveness to human vaginal epithelial cells using three strains ATCC 25922, MTCC 729 and U 105. RESULTS: The 1/2 MIC of all the antibiotics tested produced the greatest inhibition of bacterial adhesion. Morphological changes were observed with ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and ampicillin at 1/2 MIC and to a lesser extent at 1/4 and 1/8 MIC. Co-trimoxazole caused the greatest suppression of adhesion at 1/2 MIC of E. coli strain MTCC 729 when compared with the controls, followed by ceftazidime. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that co-trimoxazole is the most effective antibiotic in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by uropathogenic E. coli.

Incidence of hepatitis B antigen in Mangalore.

A random survey of 360 patients suffering from hepatitis and 90 patients suffering from suspected glomerulonephritis was carried out for HBs Ag by micro ELISA method. One hundred and twenty-four positive results were obtained in case of hepatitis, out of which 76 (35.19 per cent) were males and 48 (33.33 per cent) were females. The highest prevalence of HBs Ag was found in the age group of 21-30 (62.5 per cent) followed by 31-40 (46.15 per cent) and least between 11-20 (11.11 per cent). Comparatively it was found more common in Hindus followed by Muslims and Christians. All 90 cases of glomerulonephritis were negative for HBs Ag. A comparative study of ELISA test with CIEP in detection of HBs Ag was done in all ELISA positive samples. ELISA was found far more sensitive than CIEP.