The nasopharyngeal microflora was monitored during a prospective study of 52 otitis-prone children and 33 age-matched controls up to the age of 30 months. The relation between nasopharyngeal culture results and corresponding otoscopic findings was investigated. In contrast to pneumococci, the rate of H. influenzae isolation was correlated to the degree of otologic disease, thus it was found more often in connection with AOM than with a normal otologic status, with OME in an intermediate position. Also in contrast to pneumococci, in children with AOM, H. influenzae was commoner in the otitis-prone group than in the control group. H. influenzae biotype II was found in 77% in association with AOM in the control group. In the otitis-prone group the difference in frequency of biotypes I, II and III causing AOM were less pronounced. Turnover of H. influenzae strains as judged by change in biotype was found to occur more often in connection with treatments with penicillin-V than treatments with amoxicillin.

One hundred and thirty eight penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and 239 non-PPNG strains were characterised serologically using a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies directed against protein IA and seven against protein lB. An association between serovar and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, auxotype, and plasmid content was observed. Serogroup WI strains were more sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, cefoxitin, and cefuroxime. Sixty five (82%) of the 79 WI strains were typed as being serovar Aedgkih, and 47 (72%) of these strains required arginine, uracil, and hypoxanthine for growth (AUH-). Seventy one (44%) of 160 WII/WIII strains were serovar Bacejk, and 42 (59%) of these required proline, citrulline, and uracil for growth (PCU-) and were plasmid free. Serovars Bcgk, Beghjk, Bacjk, and Bajk were associated with resistance to antimicrobial agents. Analysis of PPNG isolates showed a new serovar, Af, which was associated with strains imported from Malaysia and Singapore that required proline and omithine for growth (Pro-Orn-) and carried the 24.5 megadalton transfer plasmid, the 2*6 megadalton cryptic plasmid, and the 4.5 megadalton penicillinase producing plasmid. Other associations between serovar and geographical location were noted.

No abstract

Consecutively isolated gonococcal strains from 10 representative geographical areas in Sweden were serogrouped according to the previously described W antigen class. The majority of the strains were antibiotic susceptibility tested and approximately one fourth of them were auxotyped. Statistically significant differences of the serogroup patterns were demonstrated between the 2 largest towns, which represented highly urbanized areas where serogroup W II dominated, and the middle sized towns with adjoining rural districts, where serogroup W I dominated. The serogroup patterns of the strains isolated in 3 university towns were representative for Sweden as a whole. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between urban and rural areas with regard to the susceptibility of gonococci to beta-lactam antibiotics. About 95% of serogroup W I strains were highly sensitive to ampicillin whereas about 65% and 90% of W II and W III strains, respectively, showed decreased susceptibility. The majority of the auxotyped strains belonged to 4 main types: Pro-, Pro-Arg-Ura-, AHU- and prototrophic. The majority of the AHU- strains belonged to serogroup W I and were highly susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics and tetracycline. Many of the Pro-Arg-Ura-strains belonged to 2 particular subserogroups within serogroup W II and showed increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Serological classification of gonococci by co-agglutination is a simple and rapid technique without need of special equipment. It could serve 2 purposes: 1) as a confirmation test for gonococci cultured from clinical specimens; 2) for serogrouping of gonococcal isolates to study the epidemiology of gonorrhoea with regard to geographical areas, race, sexual preference, treatment failure and other demographic and medical factors.

A total of 155 prostitutes inhabiting 4 different districts in Mogadishu, Somalia, were enrolled in a 6 month prospective study of syphilis and HIV infection. Blood samples were taken on entry, at 3 months and at 6 months. Differences were seen between the prostitutes in the 4 districts regarding possible risk factors for the acquisition of STDs. Initially 107 (69%) were found to have syphilis serum markers and 47% had active syphilis as judged by positivity in both Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination (TPHA) test and non-treponemal (VDRL and RPR) tests. TPHA positivity was correlated to the number of sexual partners. Sixty-nine prostitutes were followed for 6 months. Two of the 16 initially TPHA negative women seroconverted for syphilis during the follow-up. HIV antibodies were detected in one (0.6%) of the 155 prostitutes at the start of the study and one out of 68 seroconverted during the 6 months follow-up. To control the spread of HIV infection health education targeting the risk groups like prostitutes must be given a high priority.