Ovine chlamydiosis in an abattoir worker.

The strain of Chlamydia psittaci causing enzootic abortion in ewes (the EAE strain) may cause serious infection in pregnant women, often resulting in hepatic and renal dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation and fetal loss. The first case of such an infection in an abattoir worker is described and the possibility of human-to-human transmission considered. Direct handling of sheep or their products of conception can usually be established but this is not always so. There is much still to be learned about this uncommon but severe zoonosis.

Abortion due to infection with Chlamydia psittaci in a sheep farmer's wife.

A farmer's wife who had helped with lambing aborted spontaneously in March after a short febrile illness in the 28th week of her pregnancy. She developed disseminated intravascular coagulation post partum with acute renal failure and pulmonary oedema. Recovery was complete after two weeks of hospital care. A strain of Chlamydia psittaci, probably of ovine origin, was isolated from the placenta and fetus. The patient's serum showed rising titres of antibody against chlamydia group antigen; the placental and fetal isolates; and a known ovine abortion, but not a known avian, strain of C psittaci. IgG against both ovine abortion and enteric strains of C psittaci was detected, but IgM against only an abortion strain was detected. Histological examination showed pronounced intervillus placentitis with chlamydial inclusions in the trophoblast but no evidence of fetal infection or amnionitis. Laboratory evidence of chlamydial infection was found in an aborting ewe on the farm in January and in remaining sheep and lambs in July. Doctors should recognise the possible risk to pregnant women in rural areas where chlamydial infections in farm animals are widespread.

An open study of ceftazidime in the treatment of serious bacterial infection.

Ceftazidime, a new parenteral cephalosporin, was given by intravenous bolus injection to 50 patients admitted to hospital with a variety of serious infections. These included septicaemia, bronchopulmonary, urinary, gastro-intestinal and soft tissue infections. The drug proved to be effective against a wide range of organisms, notably opportunistic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. In the 32 patients with positive cultures there was a cure rate of 85%. All Ps. aeruginosa infections were eradicated, but two relapsed post treatment in patients with recurrent urinary infections related to indwelling catheters. The drug was well tolerated and no serious side effects occurred. Two patients with salmonella septicaemia relapsed after an initial clinical response, and one of these died.