Drugs commonly used in intensive care settings were assayed for their ability to affect the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis in a minimal salts medium containing 30% serum. Of 28 compounds tested, the inotropic catecholamines adrenaline, dobutamine, dopamine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline significantly stimulated bacterial growth. These drugs, but not structurally similar compounds lacking a dihydroxybenzoyl moiety (such as tyramine, phenylephrine and salbutamol), were able to remove iron from iron-saturated transferrin and to supply transferrin-bound 55 Fe to S. epidermidis cells. Similar results were observed with a range of coagulase-negative staphylococci associated with line infections, but not with Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA). ß

References1 Lund JN, Scholefield JH. Aetiology and treatment of anal fissure. Br J Surg 1996; 83: 1335-44. 2 Hananel N, Gordon PH. Re-examination of clinical manifestations and response to therapy of fissure-in-ano. Dis Colon

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