Occurrence of enteric viruses in shellfish and relation to climatic-environmental factors.

AIMS: To investigate the presence of enteric viruses [hepatitis A (HAV) and norovirus (NoV)] in shellfish harvested from the deltaic area of the Po river in relation to environmental factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fortnightly sampling of shellfish was carried out in two lagoon areas (category B production areas) and one sea area (category A). Environmental parameters in the lagoon and hydrometric level of the tributary river were monitored throughout the sampling period. Samples (n = 120) were analysed for bacterial (E. coli and Salmonella) and viral (HAV and NoV) contamination; samples from category B areas were analysed before and after purification treatment. All the samples were negative for HAV whereas 10 samples (8.3%), all harvested in the lagoon areas, were positive for NoV. Sequencing identified the strains as genotypes II.4 and II.b. None of the samples was found to be contaminated after depuration. CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring showed a low frequency of NoV presence; viral contamination, detected exclusively in shellfish collected from the deltaic area (category B), could be influenced by the flow of the tributary river. The data collected are useful for the design of targeted prevention strategies and for the modulation of control plans after meteorological events.

[Pseudomonas: microbiological aspects and sensitivity to tobramycin and gentamycin]. / Pseudomonas: aspetti microbiologici e sensibilità a tobramicina e gentamicina.

97 Strains of Pseudomonas, which were isolated from patients at the hospital of Cremona, have been examined in order to evaluate the validity of some identification tests together with the API 20 system. The authors have also compared the activity of gentamicin with that of tobramycin against these strains isolated recently and strains that had been previously isolated (1976) at the same hospital. The decrease in tobramycin's activity was higher than that of gentamicin.

[In vitro activity of fosfomycin]. / Attività in vitro della fosfomicina.

The in vitro activity of phosphomycin has been compared with other antibiotics in 1703 bacterial strains isolated from pathological specimens sent to the Laboratory from various divisions of the hospital. Results were first class on both gram-positive and gram-negative flora. It was in first place as regards staphylococcus (97.4% sensitive strains), citrobacter (68.6%), proteus mirabilis (73.1%), indole positive proteus (48.2%). It also predominated in pseudomonas (54.6%) and E. coli (86.7%). In view of the fact that gram-negative infections are taking on a predominant position within the hospital environment, it is considered that phosphomycin should be rightfully included among the antibacterial drugs in routine use.