In vitro activity of fosfomycin against 'problem' gram-positive cocci.

Fosfomycin was active in vitro against 54 of 60 'problem' Gram-positive cocci (20 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 20 coagulase-negative staphylococci and 20 enterococci). Its activity was significantly greater under anaerobic conditions, especially against coagulase-negative staphylococci. Mutants resistant to fosfomycin were readily demonstrated, but their growth was prevented by rifampicin or ciprofloxacin. The combinations rifampicin+fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin+fosfomycin showed MIC synergy. It is concluded that fosfomycin in an appropriate combination would be a valuable addition to the small and dwindling range of antibiotics active against problem Gram-positive cocci.     

Products of aminolysis and enzymic hydrolysis of the cephalosporins

1. The reaction of cephalosporins with ammonia, amino acids and other simple amino compounds in weakly alkaline aqueous solutions yields labile compounds with lambda(max.) 230nm. The reaction of deacetyl- and deacetoxy-cephalosporins under similar conditions yields compounds with lambda(max.) 260nm. 2. Hydrolysis with a beta-lactamase results in the formation of compounds with lambda(max.) 230nm from deacetylcephalosporins and cephalosporins, but not from deacetoxycephalosporins. 3. These different compounds decompose to give penaldates and penamaldates derived from the side chain and the carbon atoms of the beta-lactam ring. 4. Derivatives similar to those obtained with simple amino compounds appear to be formed when cephalosporins and their analogues react with lysine polymers. 5. Some of the chemical and physical properties of the various derivatives have been studied and tentative structures for them are proposed. 6. Possible implications of the results in relation to the immunological properties of the cephalosporins are discussed.     

Changes in proton-magnetic-resonance spectra during aminolysis and enzymic hydrolysis of cephalosporins

1. Changes in proton-magnetic-resonance spectra were followed during the reaction of cephalosporins, deacetylcephalosporins, deacetoxycephalosporins and a Δ²-cephalosporin with ND₃ in D₂O. 2. Changes in proton-magnetic-resonance spectra were also followed during the hydrolysis of a cephalosporin and a deacetylcephalosporin in D₂O with a β-lactamase. 3. Structures for the reaction products are proposed. 4. The signals obtained after aminolysis of the β-lactam ring of a cephalosporin indicate that the reaction is accompanied by expulsion of the acetoxy group as acetate, formation of a double bond in the Δ⁴-position and the appearance of an exocyclic methylene group. 5. Aminolysis of deacetyl- and deacetoxycephalosporins can occur without immediate structural changes in the dihydrothiazine ring. 6. In contrast, the ring structure of the first product of enzymic hydrolysis of a deacetylcephalosporin is apparently identical with that of the product of aminolysis of the cephalosporin itself.     

Damaging effects of ethylenediaminetetra-acetate and penicillins on permeability barriers in Gram-negative bacteria

1. The permeability barrier against benzylpenicillin has been found to be passive in four strains of penicillinase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (three of Klebsiella aerogenes and one of Escherichia coli). 2. If the three K. aerogenes strains are grown in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of benzylpenicillin, ampicillin or phenethicillin the resultant bacterial cells have deficient permeability barriers. Concentrations of ampicillin or benzylpenicillin less than one-tenth of those required to inhibit growth cause destruction of more than half the permeability barrier in these strains. 3. Benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and phenethicillin have no effect upon the permeability barriers of resting cells from the three K. aerogenes strains. 4. Treatment of resting cells with trisodium EDTA, although failing to sensitize K. aerogenes to lysozyme, severely damages permeability barriers in this species. 5. The magnesium and calcium salts of EDTA do not have the same capacity as the sodium salt for causing damage to permeability barriers in K. aerogenes and E. coli. Damage caused by trisodium EDTA can be at least partially reversed by treatment with Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) ions. It is suggested that EDTA damage is caused by removal of either Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) ions, or both, from the bacterial cell envelope. 6. Bacterial cells with deficient permeability barriers as a result of either growth in the presence of a penicillin or treatment with EDTA remain viable, and revert to their usual permeability after growth in nutrient broth.     

Chemistry and biology of the polyene macrolide antibiotics

[This corrects the article on p. 166 in vol. 37, PMID: 4578757.].     

VANCOMYCIN SUSCEPTIBILITY AS AN AID TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF LACTOBACILLI

Forty strains of lactobacilli isolated from probiotic supplements or functional foods, and two clinical isolates, have been identified by API 50 CHL and tested for susceptibility to vancomycin. All the Lactobacillus acidophilus (16) and Lact. delbreuckii (two) strains were sensitive to vancomycin, while all the other strains (mainly Lact. rhamnosus, 15) were resistant. Susceptibility to other antibiotics was not species-specific. Differential susceptibility to vancomycin may be helpful in speciation of lactobacilli.     

Trimethoprim resistance in enterococci: microbiological and biochemical aspects

Synergy was found between sulphonamide and trimethoprim in ratios 1:1 and 20:1 against both trimethoprim-sensitive enterococci (17 strains) and trimethoprim-resistant enterococci (23 strains). Many of these strains were resistant to kanamycin, tetracycline, streptomycin and/or erythromycin. Resistance to kanamycin, but not to trimethoprim, was clearly associated with the presence of a plasmid of molecular weight 35-45 Md. Elimination of this plasmid in three out of four highly trimethoprim resistant strains brought about loss of resistance to both kanamycin and trimethoprim. Furthermore, it was possible to transfer trimethoprim resistance from three of five highly resistant strains, but not from three strains with low-grade resistance. It is concluded that resistance to trimethoprim in enterococci can be encoded on a plasmid, and that the gene responsible may be on a transposon. No significant differences were found between the specific activities of dihydrofolate reductase from trimethoprim-sensitive and -resistant strains. The enzyme from resistant strains was several orders of magnitude less susceptible to inhibition by trimethoprim than was the enzyme from sensitive strains.