The bactericidal activity of the novel beta-defensin hBD-3 against 28 species and 55 strains of gram-positive cocci and gram-negative fermentative and nonfermentative rods was tested. All strains proved to be highly or intermediately susceptible to hBD-3 (minimal bactericidal concentration [MBC], 1...

Among nine patients with bacteremia caused by Granulicatella or Gemella in a 6-year period (July 1995 to June 2001), three had bacteremia caused by erythromycin-resistant Granulicatella adiacens and one had bacteremia caused by erythromycin-resistant Gemella haemolysans. All four isolates possessed mef genes, whereas none possessed ermT, ermTR, or ermB genes.

Eight coagulase-negative, enterotoxigenic strains of cocci and one weakly coagulase-positive strain isolated from a number of different sources, including cases of food poisoning incidents, were evaluated for their relationship to Staphylococcus aureus on the basis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) buoyant density and physiological studies. One strain of cocci produced enterotoxins A and C, two st...

One hundred and thirteen strains of motile, Gram-positive, catalase-positive, cluster-forming cocci were isolated from patients with urinary infection attending a private surgery. They constituted 1% of the total 11 302 positive cultures. The biochemical characteristics and the drug sensitivities of the strains are described. The significance of motility for organisms which cause urinary infect...

The in vitro activities of the lipopeptides palmitoyl (Pal)-Lys-Lys-NH(2) and Pal-Lys-Lys against gram-positive cocci were investigated. Enterococci and streptococci demonstrated higher susceptibilities than staphylococci and Rhodococcus equi. A positive interaction was shown when the lipopeptides were combined with beta-lactams and vancomycin. These results suggest that lipopeptides are promis...

The diversity of bacterial isolates from soil in response to different plants (control, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Cajanus cajan), fertilization (control, simple superphosphate and rock phosphate) and liming (with and without lime) was evaluated. Phenotypic and physiological characteristics of the isolates were recorded and organized in a file to identify the bacteria. Among the isolates, 95% w...

Teichomycin A2 was evaluated in vitro against clinical isolates, and its activity was compared with that of other antibiotics. This compound was very active against all organisms tested; its activity was comparable to that of vancomycin, and it was superior to several other antibiotics when tested against gram-positive cocci. Because of its in vitro activity, it deserves clinical evaluation.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a well-characterized, nonfastidious, aerobic gram-positive coccus commonly isolated in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Although coagulase-negative staphylococci, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, are often considered a contaminant in the clinical laboratory, an increasing number of reports describe their pathogenesis, in particular in infections of prosth...

A preponderance of clusters seen on direct Gram stain of blood cultures positive for gram-positive cocci was 98% sensitive and 100% specific for identification of staphylococcal species or of Peptococcus. A preponderance of chains, pairs, or both was 100% sensitive and 98% specific for identifying streptococci. Further presumptive identification of either staphylococci or streptococci based on ...

One hundred and fourty episodes of septicemic children seen at Songklanagarind Hospital during a period of two years were reviewed to determine factors related to mortality. One hundred episodes (70.4%) of septicemia were hospital-acquired in which 98 (69%) were caused by gram negative bacilli, with Pseudomonas being the most common agent. Thirty episodes were from gram-positive cocci and eight...