Anogenital carriage of group B streptococci was found in 46% (57/125) of men and 38% (68/179) of women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic. Colonisation with group B streptococci was more common in patients who had a history of more than one sexual partner in the preceding three months, but was not related to any previous sexually transmitted infection. Group B streptococci were isolated ...

This study explored the utility of sputum colour in clinically stable patients with bronchiectasis. Interpretation of sputum colour between the doctor and the patient was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.83 (95% confidence interval 0.76-0.89). Sputum colour predicted bacterial colonisation (5% in mucoid sputum; 43.5% in mucopurulent sputum; 86.4% in purulent sputum; p<0.0001). On ...

A process is described by which hydrocephalus shunt catheters can be impregnated with antimicrobials. The processed catheters showed antimicrobial activity at their surfaces for long periods and could be sterilised by autoclaving. When tested in vitro in a model of catheter colonisation using large challenge doses of Staphylococcus epidermidis and prolonged perfusion, some antimicrobials failed...