[Vaginal bacterial flora under normal conditions and in frequently encountered gynecological pathologies]. / Studio della flora batterica vaginale in condizioni normali e in quadri patologici di frequente riscontro ginecologico.

The bacterial flora of the female reproductive tract is a central point for the study of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology. The vaginal flora contains a large variety of bacterial species, including both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. The reading of the cultures obtained from vaginal specimens in women with genital tract infections is often hard, because some organisms which are normally present in vagina may sometimes involve infectious processes. Bacterial flora was studied in 126 healthy women, in 120 with symptoms of vaginitis, in 28 with inflammation of the cervix and in 102 women previously treated for vaginitis. Comparison among the groups shows little differences in the microbial population between healthy women and patients with genital tract infections. The use of a questionnaire and the obstetrical examination were very important. As quantitative studies are fundamental, the use of methods for semiquantitative bacteriology at least have been necessary to evaluate relationships among vaginal organisms.

[Modifications of the fluorescence method for detecting salmonella in feces]. / Modifiche al metodo a fluorescenza per la ricerca delle salmonelle nelle feci.

The Authors illustrate two modifications of the indirect method for identifying Salmonellae on faeces using fluorescent antibodies. They compare a Commercial polyvalent serum with serum containing only the fundamental antigens of groups B, C and D of Kauffmann-White with the aim of reducing the phenomenon of aspecificity. In order to reduce the time required for this test they substitute the enrichment of the specimen in broth by filtering, first the specimen of faeces and then, successively, centrifuging the filtrate. These two modifications have been demonstrated satisfactorily when the test is carried out in children with active gastroenteritis.