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SUMMARY Child bearing at an early age and prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis in pregnant women of advanced age, combined with selective abortion, make it possible to avoid the birth of many children with serious chromosomal anomalies. To see how many of such births were still avoidable in Europe, data from 16 regional EUROCAT registers of congenital anomalies in nine EEC countries were analysed. In the period 1979-1982 about 30% of children with unbalanced anomalies of autosomes were born (live-and still-births) to mothers over 35 years of age. This amounts to an estimated 1300 cases yearly in the entire population of the nine countries. The approach shows the possible use of registry data for monitoring effects of avoidance strategies.As women grow older their risk of having children with chromosomal anomalies increases.' This maternal age effect opens the way to reduction of the number of affected children, either by earlier child bearing or by prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis and selective abortion in older pregnant women.

The European Economic Community (EEC) is promoting a network of locally funded centers in the nine EEC countries, surveying a total of approximately 140,800 births per year for selected congenital malformations and multiple births. The objectives and aims of the study are explained and some of the methods to set guidelines detailed.

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The number of bacteria on the hands of nurses using 2 % hexachlorophene soap intermittently was compared with the numbers of bacteria on the hands of nurses using ordinary soap. No significant differences were observed.This study would not have been possible without the whole-hearted co-operation of the Matron, Miss M. Schurr, the Deputy Matron, Miss G. Davies and the Sisters and Nursing Staff of Fulham Hospital.We are also indebted to Mr T. Ridgewell, Mr T. F. Fletcher and Miss Julia Fisher for technical assistance, and to Messers Bibby and Co. For their generous gift of soap.