"MUCOMYST" AS A POSSIBLE GROWTH FACTOR FOR LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA.
Contributors: Union Institute (U.S.)
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 47
Subjects: Biology, Microbiology.; Health Sciences, Health Care Management.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.
Description: The bacterium Legionella pneumophila is one cause of pneumonia, of which a high percentage are nosocomially acquired. This bacterium has a well documented history of growing in water fixtures.

The laboratory isolation of the bacterium proved to be difficult, as it was discovered that L. pneumophila requires the addition of a growth factor such as the amino acid cysteine.

This study was an investigation of "Mucomyst," a therapeutic solution used in the respiratory therapy of patients with pneumonia. The therapeutic activity of the solution is to break up the mucous secretions. "Mucomyst" may actually predispose certain patients to pneumonia caused by L. pneumophila, by substituting for an essential growth factor. The primary component of "Mucomyst" is N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The scenario of a hospital atmosphere, the frequent presence of the bacterium in water supplies, and the therapeutic administration of a potential growth factor presented an issue worthy of study.

Growth curves were carried out to determine the generation time of L. pneumophila (ATCC #33153) in the presence of the essential growth factor cysteine, at the standard recommended concentration of 400 mg / liter. After establishing the base line generation time, growth curve trials were carried out using the following concentrations of cysteine: 200, 600, 800 mg / liter. The next phase of the study involved replacing the cysteine with "Mucomyst" concentrations of: 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg / liter. As a control, the bacterium was checked to ascertain that it could not grow in the absence of either compound.

Analysis of the growth curves revealed that the generation times for the two separate compounds were statistically similar at all concentrations except at the 800 mg / liter level. At the 800 mg / liter level there appears to be an inhibiting effect on the growth of the bacterium as the generation times are longer in the presence of "Mucomyst.".

This study indicates that the primary component of a solution used in the respiratory therapy of patients with a pneumonia can serve as a growth factor for a bacterium that is present in most hospital supplies.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-11, Section: B, page: 4897.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNION INSTITUTE, 1989.

School code: 1033.