ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus infection is common in institutions caring for the mentally handicapped. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus share routes of transmission but the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in this population is unknown. We have tested 101 patients from two institutions in South-East England caring for adults with mental handicap for the presence of hepatitis C antibody, hepatitis B core antibody, and if necessary hepatitis B surface antigen. None tested positive for hepatitis C antibody, but 43 had hepatitis B core antibody of whom 14 were chronic carriers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Unlike hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus infection appears to be uncommon in UK institutions.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Intellectual Disability/complications , Adult , Aged , England/epidemiology , Female , Hepatitis B/complications , Hepatitis C/complications , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Two cases are presented of Haemophilus endocarditis in patients with presumed normal valves. One case was due to H. influenzae presenting as a typical case of infective endocarditis and the other was due to H. para-influenzae presenting as an acute pyrexia of unknown origin. The difficulties in making the diagnosis and the optimal treatment are discussed.
