Pyogenic meningitis in Ahmedabad.

One hundred and thirty five cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children clinically diagnosed Pyogenic meningitis (in and around Ahmedabad) were subjected to physical, bacteriological, cytological and biochemical examinations. It was found that all CSF specimens were turbid, the culture positivity varied form 12.12 to 56%. The highest percentage was found in children of less than one year of age. The average percentage of culture positivity was 28.68%. The result of gram stain was more than that of cultural examination. Gram stain of CSF was specific, accurate and highly valuable in the diagnosis of pyogenic meningitis. Among gram positive organisms isolated, Staphylococcus aureus was highest (8.8%) followed by Diplococcus pneumoniae (3.7%), but Klebsiella was predominant (6.6%) among gram negative bacilli. Staph. aureus was 100% sensitive to erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin and ampicillin. The results of cytological and biochemical tests correlated (67.1%). There was increase in polymorphs and protein, sugar levels decreased.

[Anti-brucella agglutinins in aborted women]. / Les agglutinines anti-brucelliennes chez les femmes avortées.

52 (6.46 per cent) out of 805 women who aborted spontaneously in Gujarat state, India, were found to have positive Brucella agglutin. Infection with brucella was further confirmed by various serological tests (Rapid plate test, standard agglutination test, Rose Bengal test, Coombs' test, complement fixation test, indirect bacterial haemagglutination test, gel diffusion test and determination of C-reactive protein). Culturing 650 blood clots, 300 placentae and 800 samples of urine of women who aborted gave totally negative results. Women who were selected for this study immediately after admission to the Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, India, came from rural areas and belonged to the farming community. They had a history of contact with animals and were of the lower socio-economic group. The relationship between brucellosis and spontaneous abortion is discussed. The aborted women would most probably have contracted the infection from their domesticated animals, since brucellosis is prevalent amongst the animals in the State of Gujerat.