Journal of Hygiene
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Published By Cambridge University Press

0022-1724, 0022-1724

1993 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Masurel ◽  
R. A. Heijtin

SUMMARYSera from people born between 1883 and 1930 and collected in 1977 were tested for the presence of HI antibodies to A/FM/1/47 (H1N1) virus and three recently (1977 and 1978) isolated influenza A-H1N1 viruses. The highest frequency of high-titred antibody to the four H1N1 viruses was detected in sera from people born in 1903–4, i.e. 42,54,38, and 22% had antibody against A/FM/1/47, A/Hong Kong/117/77, A/Brazil/11/78, and A/Fukushima/103/78 respectively. The birthdate groups 1896–1907 showed a higher percentage of HI antibody titres ≥18, ≥50, ≥100 or ≥1600 against the four H1N1 viruses than the birthdate groups 1907–30. This indicates the existence of an era, 1908–18, in which, apart from the H3N2 virus (1900–18), the H1N1 virus was epidemic among the human population.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Lafong ◽  
K. B. Bamford

SUMMARYIn a prospective survey carried out over 9 months in 1984 in the Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 24 out of 1200 faecal specimens (2%) from patients with acute diarrhoea. This isolation rate is much lower than that from other parts of mainland Britain which report an isolation rate of between 8 and 15%. It is difficult to explain this large discrepancy but the limited availability of unpasteurized milk and the generally worse summer here (fewer barbecues, picnics) may be some reasons to explain this low incidence in N. Ireland.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Krikler

SUMMARYThe carriage ofStaphylococcus aureuswas studied in a group of 28 men living in a totally isolated environment for a year. Initially, nasal, axillary and perineal swabs were taken at weekly intervals, but from week 24 throat swabs were taken from known nasal carriers. Several attempts were made during the study to eradicateS. aureus. Eight subjects consistently carried their own phage type throughout the study, despite the application of antibacterial agents. In three subjects strains were isolated late in the study of a phage type which had either not been isolated before in this study, or had not been found for a prolonged period. Nine of the 12 nasal carriers also yieldedS. aureusfrom the throat. It is apparent that following attempted eradication,S. aureusmay seem to disappear, only to reappear some time later; ‘eradication’ in this case would be an erroneous appellation.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Timbury ◽  
J. R. Donaldson ◽  
A. C. McCartney ◽  
R. J. Fallon ◽  
J. D. Sleigh ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe bacteriological investigation of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Glasgow Royal Infirmary affecting 16 patients is described. Most of the patients had been treated in high-dependency areas on two floors of the hospital supplied by the same two air-conditioned ventilation systems. The source of infection was traced to contamination of a cooling tower from which a plume of spray discharged into the intake vents of the two ventilation systems. Rubber grommets within the cooling tower probably provided a nidus of infection there. The control and management of the outbreak are discussed: a policy of frankness about the course and progress of the investigations was adopted and helped to allay anxiety on the part of both staff and media.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. M. Lidwell

SUMMARYThe apparent reduction in the incidence of subsequent joint sepsis and of re-operation without evidence of infection during the course of a prospective study was an artifact of the analysis method.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Hawkey ◽  
J. L. Penner ◽  
A. H. Linton ◽  
C. A. Hawkey ◽  
L. J. Crisp ◽  
...  

SUMMARYA survey was undertaken of the occurrence, serotype, antimicrobial sensitivity and plasmid content of members of the tribe Proteeae in the environment of two calf-rearing units in the county of Avon in South West England. Examples of the following species were found:Proteus mirabilis, Prot. vulgaris, Prot. vulgarisBiogroup 2,Morganella morganii, Providencia stuartii, Prov. alcalifaciensandProv. rettgeri. A wide range of sero types was found, many having been previously reported from nosocomial isolates. A total of 15% of isolates carried plasmids; six pairs of isolates were identified which had identical sero typesbut different patterns of plasmid carriage. The antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolates was generally similar to isolates of Proteeae from humans. Although no truly aminoglycosideresistantisolates were found, some isolates ofProv. stuartiiandProv. rettgerihad MIC's higher than the other isolates to gentamicin and netilmicin, suggesting the presence of lowlevels of the enzyme AAC 2′. The study demonstrates that there is a considerable diversityof species and types of Proteeae associated with calves and their environment. It seems likely that a potential cause of colonization of the human gut by Proteeae is the consumption of meat.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Eliasen ◽  
P. B. Nielsen ◽  
F. Espersen

SUMMARYA 1-year prospective study of nosocomial bacteraemia was performed at Hvidovre Hospital with special reference to frequency, focus of infection and prognosis. All patients were examined clinically in order to confirm the bacteraemia. In total, 98 hospital-acquired bacteraemias were observed, giving an incidence rate of 0·28%. Bacteraemia due to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis predominated. The overall mortality was 38%; 65% of the patients with S. aureus bacteraemia died, 25% due to the bacteraemia. The most common types of infection were urinary tract infections and intravenous catheter infections. Fifty-five of the bacteraemias were caused by foreign bodies, mostly urinary catheters and intravenous catheters, and in 14 cases the focus was unknown. The patient population was severely ill patients. We conclude that nosocomial bacteraemia occurs specially in severely ill patients often preceded by indwelling urinary or intravenous catheters. The patients seldom die due to the bacteraemia, but they die with concomitant bacteraemia.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Wathes ◽  
K. Howard ◽  
A. J. F. Webster

SUMMARYThe survival ofEscherichia coliin an aerosol was studied at several temperatures and over a range of relative humidities using a Henderson apparatus.Death occurred in two phases, the first lasting approximately 1 min; in the second the number of viable microorganisms declined exponentially.E. coliwas robust and remained viable for many hours. Death was most rapid at low humidities (< 50% r.h.) at 15 and 30 °C, with half-lives of 14 and 3 min respectively. In humid conditions the half-lives were much longer, approximately 83 and 14 min respectively.Based on this work, preliminary recommendations for the climate of livestock buildings can now be given to control the airborne spread ofE. coli.


1986 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Threlfall ◽  
B. Rowe ◽  
J. L. Ferguson ◽  
L. R. Ward

SUMMARYInSalmonella typhimuriumphage type 204c isolated in Britain, gentamicin resistance is specified by plasmids of the I1compatibility group which also confer resistance to apramycin. These plasmids have been subdivided into three types within the I1group on the basis of their antibiotic resistance specificity, their ability to produce colicin Ib and their restriction enzyme digest fragmentation patterns. All three have been identified in strains from cattle, but as yet only two types have been found in strains from humans.It is suggested that the use of apramyein in animal husbandry is responsible for the appearance of gentamicin resistance in multiresistant strains of phage type 204 c, a phage type already epidemic in bovine animals and with an increasing incidence in humans.


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