[Prevention of neonatal conjunctivitis. A comparative clinical and bacteriologic study of 2 eyedrops: silver nitrate and oxytetracycline chlorhydrate]. / Prévention des conjonctivites néonatales. Etude comparative clinique et bactériologique de deux collyres: nitrate d'argent et chlorhydrate d'oxytétracycline.

This study carried out at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Hospital maternity ward included all the neonates delivered between February and September 1989 who exhibited no abnormal manifestations during their stay in the ward, except for ocular symptoms in some subjects. Nine hundred neonates were enrolled. Each day, one of two eyedrop preparations for the prevention of neonatal ocular infections was selected at random. Investigators were blinded to the preparation used. Study subjects were evaluated twice, between D1 and D7 (900 infants) and between D15 and D30 (407 infants). Ocular findings were classified as follows: normal, minimally abnormal (isolated swelling of the eyelids, clear discharge), or frankly abnormal (conjunctivitis, purulent discharge). A bacteriologic study was performed in all patients with minimally abnormal or abnormal findings. Between D1 and D7, ocular symptoms were significantly (p less than 0.05) more prevalent in neonates treated with silver nitrate than in neonates treated with oxytetracycline hydrochloride. This difference was no longer present between D15 and D30. Bacteriologic studies recovered no gonococci. One enfant in the oxytetracycline group had bacteriologically confirmed Chlamydia trachomatis ocular infection. The other organisms recovered were mainly Staphylococcus aureus and non-hemolytic streptococci. In inclusion, no currently available eyedrop preparation offers complete protection against C. trachomatis but tolerance is considerably better with oxytetracycline hydrochlorate than with silver nitrate.

[Prospective study of rotavirus infection in a maternity unit. Demonstration of a nosocomial infection]. / Etude prospective sur l'infection à rotavirus dans une maternité. Mise en évidence d'une infection nosocomiale.

Eighty-eight children born at the maternity hospital in Saint-Germain-en-Laye between May 24 and June 7, 1983 were followed clinically, with a special supervision concerning stools, weight curves and the way of feeding. Stool samplings looking for Rotavirus were performed in all the children and their mothers, at the 3rd and 6th days of life. No mother was found with Rotavirus infection. In neonates, Rotavirus excretion was significantly related to a slow down in weight curves and the occurrence of diarrhea. All rotaviruses had the same electrophoretype. Breast-feeding had an undeniable protective effect.

Epidemiology of human rotaviruses in a maternity unit as studied by electrophoresis of genomic RNA.

An epidemiological survey of Rotavirus infections in a maternity unit was carried out between May 1983 and August 1984. Rotaviruses have been detected throughout the survey in 184 of 528 fecal samples obtained from 3 and 6 day-old newborns. Rotavirus excretion could be detected neither from the mothers nor from the medical attendants. Rotavirus RNA was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All the strains isolated exhibited the same electropherotype. This result contrasts with the genomic variability amongst Rotavirus strains usually observed in pediatric wards, and is in agreement with some other studies conducted in maternity wards; in these locations Rotavirus infection seems to have a special epidemic status as compared with other communities.

[Pericarditis occurring in the course of meningococcal meningitis. Description of a case and review of literary data. (author's transl)]. / Les péricardites au cours des méningites à méningocoques. Description d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

The authors report a new case of acute pericarditis in a 21 month-old girl, occurring on the fourth day of a meningococcal meningitis. The patient's recovery from the pericarditis was achieved thanks to a surgical drain in association with antibiotherapy, and despite a relapse after a puncture. On the basis of this case and the literary data reviewed, they endeavor to assess the frequency of this rare complication, to examine the most likely physiopathological hypothesis and to study the most effective treatment.

[Relapse of insulin dependent diabetes after a 12 year remission (author's transl)]. / Reprise évolutive d'un diabète insulino-dépendant aprés douze ans de rémission.

A 2 1/2 month old child presented with a insulin dependent diabetes that required treatment for more than 3 months. He then went into remission but relapsed again 12 years later.