Anti-HBs levels after hepatitis B immunisation depend on test reagents: routinely determined 10 and 100 IU/l seroprotection levels unreliable.

In a large series of post-vaccination samples we compared the result of three commercially available anti-HBs assays (AxSYM, Architect and Access) on the quantitation of anti-HBs after immunisation with Engerix-B (HBsAg/ad) and GenHevacB (HBsAg/ay) vaccine. Two of the assays (AxSYM, Architect: Abbott Laboratories) gave related but not identical results with HBsAg from different sources. The result of the third assay (Access, Beckman Coulter) was related to that of AxSYM and Architect only for GenHevacB anti-HBs but differed for Engerix-B anti-HBs (P<0.

Unexpected high risk of contamination with staphylococci species attributable to standard preparation of syringes for continuous intravenous drug administration in a simulation model in intensive care units.

Objective: To determine the risk of bacterial contamination of the infusate in a simulation model of syringes prepared for continuous intravenous drug administration by intensive care unit nurses. Widely accepted standard procedures in the intensive care unit were compared with syringes prepared by pharmaceutical technicians working under standard aseptic conditions according to national guidelines.

Design: Prospective study.

Clinical relevance of herpes simplex virus in the throat of elderly with Salmonella enteritidis gastroenteritis.

It is not known whether the presence of Herpes simplex virus in the throat of elderly patients with severe gastroenteritis and pulmonary implications is of clinical relevance. We cultured throat swabs and faeces of elderly patients with (n = 11) and without (n = 12) severe Salmonella gastroenteritis for viruses and bacteria to study the aetiology of respiratory complications. Complement fixation titers for anti-Herpes simplex antibodies in paired sera were also ascertained.

Control of an epidemic spread of a multi-resistant strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in a hospital.

The spread of a multi-resistant glucose-acidifying Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain in a community hospital was studied. After admission of a colonized patient to the hospital the strain was found in clinical specimens from ICU patients and subsequently from several of these patients after transfer to medical wards. Environmental specimens from the ICU and medical wards were analysed in order to investigate the mode of spread of the strain.