[Accidental cetirizine poisoning in a four-year-old boy]. / Accidentel cetirizinforgiftning hos en fireårig dreng.

Cetirizine is a commonly used non-sedating antihistamine for the symptomatic relief of allergic reactions. Few reports exist on the result of overdose in children. We would like to report the result of a 12 fold overdose of cetirizine in a four-year-old-boy (weight 20 kg) who accidentally ingested 60 mg. Vomiting was induced 1 1/2 hour after ingestion in the out-patient clinic at the local hospital because of severe drowsiness. Due to continued lethargy he was transferred to the referral paediatric department for further observation. He was fully recovered after five to six hours without any treatment. Electrocardiographic monitoring was normal. Five incidents of cetirizine overdose in children have been reported previously. Drowsiness and sedation were observed, but no other side effects. The risk of cardiac events related to an overdose of cetirizine is extremely small. A certain degree of sedation is to be expected.

Serological classification of conjugative plasmids by indirect haemagglutination.

The indirect haemagglutination reaction was evaluated in the classification of conjugative plasmids. A simple and sensitive method was worked out using pili and in some cases whole bacteria as antigens. Antibodies were prepared against pili coded for by plasmids from incompatibility groups IncFI, IncFII, IncI alpha and IncN. The antisera were tested against pili from 35 strains harbouring plasmids. The test differentiated clearly between plasmids from unrelated incompatibility groups, whereas cross-reaction occurred with closely related groups such as FI and FII. Minor antigenic variation could be seen within the IncFII group.

A possible association between CFA (I) fimbriae and K99 fimbriae on Escherichia coli and bacterial adherence to human lymphocytes.

We have explored a possible association between Escherichia coli binding to human lymphocytes and plasmid coded fimbriae on the bacterial surface. E. coli with or without the plasmid coded membrane CFA(I), K99 and K88 were mixed with freshly-drawn human peripheral blood lymphocytes. When the lymphocytes were mixed with E. coli possessing the CFA(I) fimbriae, 59% of the lymphocytes bound bacteria onto the surface, whereas only 22% of the lymphocytes bound the CFA(I)- derivative. The lymphocytes bound 53% and 56% of two K9+ strains, whereas 22% and 8% of the lymphocytes adhered the same strains without the K99 fimbriae. Twelve per cent and 7% of lymphocytes bound bacteria when the strain was K88+ or K88-, respectively. Likewise a low (8%) adherence to lymphocytes was found when the E. coli did not possess fimbriae or flagella.