Journal of clinical microbiology
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 1976
Comparative StudyPrevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in white and black patients with diabetes mellitus.
The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) and antibody (anti-HBS) was determined in 531 white and 519 black diabetic outpatients and in appropriate white and black control populations. There was no difference between the prevalence of either HBSAg or anti-HBS in either the white or black diabetics and that in the white and black controls. These findings make it unlikely that the vast majority of patients with diabetes mellitus have either an increased susceptibility to infection by the hepatitis B virus or an impaired ability to clear the virus once they are infected.
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Apr 1976
Duodenal isolation of Salmonella typhi by string capsule in acute typhoid fever.
Three of seven volunteers with acute typhoid fever had Salmonella typhi isolated from the duodenum using a string capsule device. The string capsule device provides a simple method for culturing S. typhi from the duodenal contents. Its possible use in typhoid carriers is discussed.
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 1975
Nationwide epidemic of septicemia caused by contaminated intravenous products: mechanisms of intrinsic contamination.
Between 1 July 1970 and April 1971, in many hospitals in this country, there were outbreaks of nosocomial septicemia caused by Enterobacter cloacae of E. agglomerans (formerly Erwinia, herbicola-lathyri). All of these hospitals used infusion products manufactured by one company, Abbott Laboratories, and all affected patients had onset of septicemia while receiving the company's infusion products. ⋯ Investigations both in the laboratory and in the manufacturing plant into the mechanism of contamination of these products revealed the following. (i) Epidemic strains were present in numerous areas throughout the manufacturing plants. (ii) Viable microorganisms gained access to the interior of screw-cap closures after the autoclave step of production. (iii) Cooling closures actively drew moisture through the thread interstices into the inner-most depths of the closure. (iv) Transfer of contaminants from closures to fluid was easily effected by simple manipulations duplicating normal in-hospital use. (v) The red-rubber liner used in the company's screw-cap closures before the introduction of elastomer contained a broad-spectrum antimicrobial inhibitor. The findings from this epidemic and the associated studies show that the screw-cap closure as it is now designed cannot be considered secure for products that must remain sterile.