[Serological, molecular and virological analyses associated with yellow fever surveillance in Colombia].

Introduction: Yellow fever is an immunopreventable viral hemorrhagic fever that causes high morbidity and mortality in tropical and sub-tropical regions. In Colombia, approximately 5 million persons are at risk of becoming infected with yellow fever virus.

Objective: The serological, molecular and virological analyses on the yellow fever surveillance samples were summarized in order to indicate the importance of appropriate and timely sampling in the process of case confirmation.

[Permeability to phi chi 174 bacteriophages in polyolephin membrane condoms].

Membranes used for the manufacture of condoms eventually can develop tiny pores, thereby decreasing dramatically their effectiveness as a physical barrier against the transmission of infectious agents. A technique was designed that was based on the ability of bacteriophage viruses to trespass membranes and to infect certain bacteria species, and then developing lysis plaques in the colonies of the host bacteria. The effectiveness of 60 polyolefin condoms in preventing the diffusion of the bacteriophage phi chi 174(ATCC13706-B1), 27 nm diameter, was compared to 20 latex condoms.