Comparative evaluation of New York City and modified Thayer-Martin media for isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Commercially manufactured New York City (NYC) medium and modified Thayer-Martin (MTM) medium were compared for their ability to isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens. Twenty-seven public health laboratories throughout California evaluated 4,802 specimens collected from patients attending either sexually transmitted disease or family planning clinics. Total of 726 and 737 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were recovered from NYC and MTM medium, respectively. Although less contamination was noted on NYC medium, MTM medium was equivalent to commercially prepared NYC medium for the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens.

An outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in a nursing home for the elderly.

An outbreak of pneumonia and febrile respiratory illness took place in a Los Angeles County nursing home for the elderly in February and March of 1979. Forty of 101 (40%) residents were affected. Twenty-two (55%) had pneumonia and eight (20%) died. The outbreak extended over a period of 6 weeks. Serological evidence implicated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the causative agent. Three patients had fourfold or greater rises in the titre of antibody to RSV, one had high titres in paired samples of serum, while nine had a titre of greater than or equal to 64 in a single convalescent sample. RSV may be a more important cause of lower respiratory illness among the elderly in residential institutions than previously recognised.