Nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) increases the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). We first (1) determined the prevalence of asymptomatic nasal colonization with SA, (2) assessed trends in methicillin resistance with time, (3) ascertained risk factors for nasal colonization; and (4) correlated SSI to nasal colonization status and procedure. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of SA nasal colonization among healthy preoperative orthopaedic outpatients between 2003-2005 who were within 2 weeks of surgery. Of 284 patients, 86 (30%) carried SA; of these, 81 (94%) were colonized with methicillin-sensitive and five (6%) with methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA). Total SA colonization increased from 25/ 78 (32%) in 2003 to 37/97 (38%) in 2005, and colonization with MRSA increased from 0/78 (0%) to four of 97 (4%), respectively. We found no associations between nasal carriage and demographics or procedures. Surgical site infection occurred in nine of 282 (3%), four of which were attributable to SA; these included 0/43 (0%) carriers who received decolonization with 2% mupirocin, two of 43 (4.7%) who declined decolonization, and two of 196 (1.0%) who were noncarriers. Nasal colonization with SA, including MRSA, among preoperative orthopaedic outpatients is increasing and their rates reflect community rates. Knowledge of colonization status may be important in decolonization, choosing perioperative or any subsequent empiric antibiotics.

In this study the effect of gonadectomy and steroid treatment on the dorsal component of the incertohypothalamic dopamine system or nucleus A13 was assessed by immunocytochemistry using an antibody raised to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). A computer graphic system interfaced to a microscope was used to count and measure the diameters of TH-positive neurons and display the data in the three-dimensional space of the nucleus. In males, castration resulted in a dramatic decrease in the reaction product representative of TH. The number of TH-positive cells in the A13 DA nucleus decreased to 25% of intact levels. In females, ovariectomy also caused an impressive loss in the TH-immunostainable material, but this was not indicated by a change in the total number of TH-positive neurons. In both sexes the loss in TH immunostain was confined mainly to the mid-portion of the nucleus. Hormone treatment restored the TH immunostain (cell number and size) to and/or above intact levels in both sexes. These data suggest that A13 TH immunostain is stimulated by gonadal steroids in male and female rats.

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small, and suggested non-acid-fast cocci surrounded by a mere wisp of cytoplasm.Smears taken from 2% -to-4%-weeks-old cultures showed few granule forms, many non-acid-fast bacilli and acid-fast bacilli as well. Many were rather light red in color, and in some instances contained one or more deeply stained acid-fast bodies. Occasional forms were noted which appeared to be transitional between the nonacid-fast and acid-fast stage. These transitional bacilli contained one acid-fast body and one or more non-acid-fast bodies lying within the same bacillus. Both of the transitional forms described above indicate that the granules or bodies of the tubercle bacillus are the last portions of the organism to lose acid-fastness, and the first portions to regain or reacquire acid-fast properties.Each of the 4 strains, including both R and S forms, followed the same course of development. P

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