Addition of isovitalex in chocolate agar for the isolation of Haemophilus influenzae.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The reason for lack of data on burden of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in developing countries was mainly failure of detection of this fastidious organism in laboratories. Use of isovitalex (IVX) was suggested as an essential supplement for growing this organism. This study was carried out to investigate the impact of IVX supplementation to chocolate agar for detection of Hib. METHODS: Chocolate agar with and without supplementation of IVX was prepared. Clinical samples as well as reference strains of Hib were simultaneously cultured on both the media. RESULTS: H. influenzae isolates (N=194) were simultaneously grown on chocolate agar (CA) with and without isovitalex (IVX). Average colony size of H. influenzae on CA with IVX (CA-IVX) was larger only by 0.10 cm (range 0.05 to 0.16 cm) compared to CA alone. Addition of IVX to CA increased the cost of media by 2.1-fold. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Isovitalex is not essential for the isolation and growth of H. influenzae almost halving the cost.

Effects of combination therapy with low dose fluconazole and flucytosine against cryptococcal; meningitis (CM) in patients in Uganda

From January through July 1994; 58 AIDS patients were enrolled at Mulago Hospital; Makerere Medical School. Of these 58 patients; 30 were assigned to a primary therapy with fluconazole (FLCZ) at a dose of 200mg/day for 2 months and flucytosine (5FC; 150/mg/Kg) for 2 weeks and 28 were assigned to month therapy with FLCZ at the same doze. All the patients who survived for 2 months continued to administrate FLCZ at a doze of 200mg three times per week as a maintenance therapy for 4 months. Fifty patients were evaluated for the survival rate at the end of the therapy for six months. The combination therapy prevented the early death of these patients; while half of patients who received monotherapy died within the first two weeks. The survival rate (32) of 25 patients receiving the combination therapy was significantly higher than that (12) of 25 patients receiving the monotherapy at the end of therapy for 6 months (P0.05). No serious adverse reactions were observed. These data suggest the combination therapy with low dose FLCZ and short course 5FC is cost-effective and safe regimen against CM in AIDS patients in developing countries

Effects of combination therapy with low dose fluconazole and flucytosine against cryptococcal; meningitis (CM) in patients in Uganda

From January through July 1994; 58 AIDS patients were enrolled at Mulago Hospital; Makerere Medical School. Of these 58 patients; 30 were assigned to a primary therapy with fluconazole (FLCZ) at a dose of 200mg/day for 2 months and flucytosine (5FC; 150/mg/Kg) for 2 weeks and 28 were assigned to month therapy with FLCZ at the same doze. All the patients who survived for 2 months continued to administrate FLCZ at a doze of 200mg three times per week as a maintenance therapy for 4 months. Fifty patients were evaluated for the survival rate at the end of the therapy for six months. The combination therapy prevented the early death of these patients; while half of patients who received monotherapy dided within the first two weeks. The survival rate (32) of 25 patients receiving the combination therapy was significantly higher than that (12) of 25 patients receiving the monotherapy at the end of therapy for 6 months (P0.05). No serious adverse reactions were observed. These data suggest the combination therapy with low dose FLCZ and short course 5FC is cost-effective and safe regimen against CM in AIDS patients in developing countries