Prevalence of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydial infections in women attending Maternal and Child Health Care Centres in Hlaing Tharyar Township

A total of 105 subjects comprising 74 pregnant women, 26 STD patients and 5 commercial sex workers were randomly selected to detect the prevalence of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydial infections. Syphilis was most prevalent among MCH clinic attendants with overall seroprevalence of 15.2 per cent; 10.8 per cent of antenatal cases, 19.2 per cent of STD patients and 60 per cent of CSWs were observed to be either TPHA reactive or both VDRL and TPHA positive. Gonorrhoea was detected in 6.7 per cent of total tested group. Gonococcal infection was not observed in antenatal cases. Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated were found to be less sensitive to Penicillin, susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone. Beta lactamase producing strains and Tetracycline resistant N. gonorrhoeae were not observed. Chlamydial antigen detected by ELISA was observed in 4.8 per cent of total tested group. 5.4 per cent of antenatal cases (4/74) and 3.8 per cent of STD patients (1/26) were positive for chlamydial antigen. 22.9 per cent of clinic attendants were found to be infected with one or more sexually transmitted diseases.

Bacteriological findings in lake, river and well water supplies of Rangoon

Water samples, both unchlorinated and chlorinated, from 20 natural water sources in Rangoon town comprising lakes, river and wells were examined during the period July 1966 to July 1968 for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the presence of presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from MacConkey bile salt lactose peptone water (Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay and Norton, 1947) primary cultures were identified. Using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella aerogenes and/or Streptococcus faecalis, 18 out of 20 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The bacteria isolated were E. coli, K. aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, a Bacillus sp., Proteus mirabilis, P. morganii, P. vulgaris, a Providencia Etrain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescent and s. faecalis.

The bacteriology of the water supplies of Rangoon.II.Cool dry and hot dry seasons

Water samples from 19 piped and natural sources in Rangoon were examined bacteriologically during the cool dry season of 1966-67 and the hot dry season of 1967 for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the presence of Presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from Mac Conkey bile salt lactose peptone water (Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay and Norton, 1947) primary cultures were identified. Using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella aerogenes and for Streptococcusfaeca.zis, for the cool dry season, all of the 15 samples tested were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. Again, for tile cool dry season, all of the 16 samples tested were found unsatisfactory.

The bacteriology of the water supplies of Rangoon.1.Monsoon and post-monsoon seasons

38 water samples taken from piped and natural sources in Rangoon during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 1966 were examined bacteriologically using Mac Conkey broth as a primary culture medium. 31 of the 38 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The species isolated included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, an Entero-bacter sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Chromobacterium janthinum, Proteur, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Serratia marcescens. Viabilities at 4C of E. coli, the Enterobacter strain, A. faecalis and P.fluorescens varied from 7-56 days, that of C. janthinum and s. marcescens was a minimum of 7 days. At room temperature (22.8C to 31.1C) E. coli and P. fluorescens were viable for 28, and K. aerogenes for less than 7 days.