Fluorescence-labeled wheat germ agglutinin binds specifically to N-acetylglucosamine in the outer peptidoglycan layer of gram-positive bacteria. The peptidoglycan layer of gram-negative bacteria is covered by a membrane and is not labeled by the lectin. By exploiting this phenomenon, an alternative Gram staining technique has been developed.

A 36-year-old woman was diagnosed with a sellar-suprasellar craniopharyngioma and underwent transsphenoidal resection of the tumor. A lumbar drain was placed to minimize intracranial pressure and was removed on postoperative day 6. On postoperative day 9, the patient began to leak cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from her right nostril. A second lumbar drain was placed. One day later, the patient deve...

In view of the importance of a rapid aetiological diagnosis in septicaemia, we compared the results of subculture, Gram staining and acridine orange staining in the detection of positive blood cultures. The study was based on 1013 blood cultures of which 138 were positive by culture. The three techniques were applied 12 h after the specimen was taken in 210 instances, at 24 h in 540 instances a...

The examination of a well-stained film of either clinical material or organisms grown in laboratory media constitutes an important part of most investigations in hospital microbiology laboratories. The staining of large numbers of microscope slides, usually by Gram's method, is however timeconsuming, and a number of reports have been made on methods mechanising this procedure. Cremer (1968) and...

Gemella morbillorum and Gemella haemolysans are opportunistic pathogens which cause endocarditis and other severe infections. We report on three patients with endocarditis, one with endocarditis caused by G. haemolysans and two with endocarditis caused by G. morbillorum. The paucity of reports concerning these bacteria is probably related to the difficulties associated with their identification...

Gram stains of positive blood cultures are the most important factor influencing appropriate therapy. The sooner appropriate therapy is initiated, the better. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the sooner Gram stains are performed, the better. To determine the value of timely Gram stains and whether improvement in Gram stain turnaround time (TAT) is feasible, we compared data for matche...

Five techniques for Gram staining bacteria in paraffin sections were compared on serial sections of pulmonary tissues from eight bacteriological necropsies. Brown and Hopp's method was the most satisfactory for distinguishing Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However, this method cannot be recommended as the preparations were frequently overstained, and the Gram-negative bacteria were s...

The microscopic examination of Gram-stained sputum specimens is very helpful in the evaluation of patients with community-acquired pneumonia and has also been recommended for use in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate that recommendation. One hundred one sputum samples from CF patients were cultured for gram-negative bacilli and examined by Gram staining for bot...

conclusions based on our study, plca and hlya played a key role in the virulence determination of l. monocytogenes. data analysis also showed that l. monocytogenes could be a causative agent of abortion in pregnant women. results out of 96 samples, 16 isolates of l. monocytogenes by pcr (plca and hlya) and four isolates by culture were identified. there was a significant difference between pcr ...

Mastitis is one of the causes diseases that can reduce livestock production. be caused by various types bacteria cause a decrease in production difficult to cure with antibiotics has been reported resistance. This study aims determine gram-negative mastitis cows. The used samples taken from folk farms means udder swabs. Bacterial isolation carried out planting Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) media and...