Digestibility, intake and mineral utilization of combinations of grasses and legumes by lambs.

Defined mixtures of two grass (orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass) and two legume (alfalfa, red clover) hays, harvested in two cuttings in 2 yr, were fed in digestibility, intake and mineral balance trials to wether lambs. Each mixture was fed in ad libitum amounts to six crossbred wether lambs weighing 35 to 45 kg. The effect of increasing proportion of legume in mixtures on dry matter digestibility (DMD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (DNDF) and digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) differed with species combination. For all combinations, a quadratic regression (P less than .05) for DMD and DNDF indicated a small, negative associative effect for mixtures of grasses and legumes compared with pure species. Dry matter intake (DMI) showed a quadratic increase with level of legume inclusion, indicating a positive associative effect. The observed increase of DMI was approximately 6 to 7% over predicted values with 25 or 50% legume in the mixture. Intake of NDF also showed a quadratic response to level of legume, but lambs tended to eat to a fairly constant intake of 42 to 43 g NDF/kg wt.75. Mineral utilization (apparent absorption, retention) differed (P less than .05) with cutting but not species combination, and generally improved with increasing legume content in the mixture. With the exception of calcium retention (negative quadratic effect), there was little evidence for significant associative effects between grasses and legumes in mineral utilization.

Pubic osteomyelitis due to anaerobic bacteria.

Osteomyelitis of the pubic bone due to anaerobic bacteria has been reported infrequently, although an entity known as "sterile" osteitis pubis is common to the literature. We have described two cases of pubic osteomyelitis due to anaerobic bacteria, discussed two previously reported cases, and suggested that most cases of what has previously been termed sterile osteitis pubis may actually have been due to anaerobic bacteria that were not isolated because of deficiencies in collection, transport, and culture of clinical specimens. Included are the pathogenesis and an approach to the treatment of this entity.

Anaerobic osteomyelitis of long bones.

Nine cases of anaerobic osteomyelitis of long bones are reviewed, and data are tabulated for an additional 52 cases from the literature. Three major clinical presentations of this disease entity include an acute hematogenous form usually involving previously normal bones in younger patients; a chronic infection in which the anaerobic bacteria superinfect a fracture site already compromised by osteomyelitis due to aerobic organisms, usually Staphylococcus aureus; and an indolent infection at the site of indwelling prosthetic devices. This last form appears to be initiated at the time of surgery by the introduction of normal cutaneous anaerobic flora into the wound, but disease does not become apparent until months to years later. The responsible organisms, pathophysiology, and clinical presentations of these three forms are discussed; and the therapeutic necessity to remove all devitalized tissues, reestablish vascularity, graft bony defects, and combine this with long-term antibiotic therapy, preferably bactericidal against the causative organisms, is emphasized.

Serratia keratitis transmitted by contaminated eyedroppers.

Serratia marcescens keratitis developed in three patients after keratoplasty. Two patients were using prednisolone sodium phosphate eyedrops and the third was using 0.5% timolol maleate eyedrops. All three cases resolved after treatment with topically and subconjunctivally administered antibiotics. Although S. marcescens was isolated from the outer grooves of the bottletops and from the inner surfaces of the eyedropper caps, it was not cultured from the solutions in the bottles. Moisture collecting in the dead space between the cap and bottle was apparently a culture medium for Serratia. When eyedrops were expressed into the patient's eyes, the eyes were inoculated with Serratia from the contaminated liquid flowing down the eyedropper shaft.

Branhamella catarrhalis pneumonia: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Branhamella (Neisseria) catarrhalis is a saprophytic inhabitant of the human oropharynx with the capacity to cause infection, particularly in immunodeficient hosts. There have been 2 cases of Branhamella catarrhalis pneumonia reported in the literature. Two additional cases are described and the subject reviewed. An 80-yr-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with left lower lobe pneumonia. Gram stain of transtracheal aspirate revealed intraleukocytic and extraleukocytic gram-negative diplococci, and a beta-lactamase producing strain of Branhamella catarrhalis was cultured. Therapy with erythromycin resulted in resolution of symptoms and eradication of the organism. A 64-ye-old alcoholic man presented with fever and multiple seizures. Chest roentgenogram revealed left lower lobe pneumonia. Cultures of endotracheal aspirate and blood grew a strain of Branhamella catarrhalis sensitive to penicillin. Penicillin treatment resulted in resolution of pulmonary infiltrate and eradication of the organism. The potential for Branhamella catarrhalis to produce pneumonia and the choice of antimicrobial therapy is discussed. It is emphasized that this organism should not be assumed to be a "normal" isolate and that penicillin may be ineffective in the treatment of Branhamella catarrhalis infections.