Prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV among hospital staff

This study was performed on 494 medical and paramedical personnel at Police Force Hospital, as well as 100 individuals as controls. Sera from all test personnel were tested for liver functions, HBV, HCV, and HIV. The results showed that hospital staff had a higher rate of exposure to HBV and HCV than control. Among the hospital staff, the risk of exposure to these viruses depends on the type of work performed as assistants and lab. technicians demonstrated a significantly higher rate of infection [56 and 52%] respectivly. There were no cases of HIV infection

changes in the virulence factors of some bacteria when subjected to subminimal inhibitory concentrations of different antibiotics

In this study the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of various antibiotics on the virulence factors of Staph. aureus, Ps. aeruginosa and E. coli has been studied. Eight different strains of coagulase-positive strains were used. Coagulase production by each strain was estimated by a microhaemagglutination method, then they were allowed to grow in 1/2 and 1/4 [MIC] of clindamycin, gentamicin, cephalexin and erythromycin. Clindamycin reduces the amount of coagulase produced to a minimum whether at 1/2 or 1/4 [MIC]. Gentamicin lowered coagulase with concentrations equal to 1/2 its [MIC]. Cephalexin and erythromycin do not have any effect on coagulase. Eight different Strains of Ps. aeruginosa were subjected to subinhibitory concentrations of gentamicin, polymyxin [B] and carbenicillin. Gentamicin inhibited protease production a minimum. Polymyxin [B] decreased the amount of protease half its original level, whereas carbenicillin had insignificant effect. Nine different strains of E. coli were grown in 1/2 and 1/4 [MIC] of ampicillin, trimethoprin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and nitrofurantion. Their adherence ability was estimated by counting the organisms attached to exfoliated ureoepithelial cells. Organisms exposed to low concentrations of ampicillin, trimethoprim and streptomycin lost much of their adhesive capacity, where as those grown in the presence of chloramphenicol and nitrofurantion retained their adherence ability. So this study shows that some antibiotics at subinhibitory concentrations are still capable of modifying bacterial virulence factors. This effect combined with the host defenses might be able to eliminate the pathogen that is unable to fully express its virulence

Bacteriology of mucopurulent conjunctivitis [MPC]

This study included forty-six cases diagnosed clinically as MPC. Conjunctival samples were taken from each patient for a Gram-stained direct smear and for inoculation on blood agar and chocolate agar media. Identification of the isolated organisms was done by special tests specific for each organism. Haemophilus influenza was recovered from 13% of cases, H. aegyptius from 11% of cases. The serotyping of the Haemophilus strains yielded the following results% 19were H. influenzae type b, 9% were H. influenzae type a, c, d, e or f, 27% were untypeable H. influenzae, 45% were H. aegyptius. Pneumococci play a role in the aetiology of conjunctivitis in Egypt, especially in winter. They were isolated from 17% of cases. Also diphtheroids were isolated in pure form from 3 cases [7%] and B. catarrhalis from 2 cases [4%]. No inclusion bodies have been found in the 15 patients by Leishman stained film. However, this does not exclude the presence of trachoma since inclusion bodies may be very few to be detected