The influence of hexachlorophane disinfection on the bacterial hand flora of hospital personnel has been examined. Hexachlorophane effectively reduced the total number of bacteria and the staphylococcal carriage. Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from 18.8% of the personnel, and 13% of the carriers continued to carry Gram-negative bacilli for more than six months. The carrier rate was signifi...

BACKGROUND Lower respiratory tract infections are among important causes of morbidity and mortality for all age groups. The emergence of multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacilli is an issue of increasing concern. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study including respiratory specimens (sputum and BAL) was conducted in our tertiary care centre. Samples were processed for microscopy, cultur...

BACKGROUND Spontaneous meningitis caused by gram-negative bacilli in adult patients is uncommon and poorly characterized. Our objective is to describe and compare the characteristics and the outcome of adult patients with spontaneous gram-negative bacilli meningitis (GNBM) and spontaneous meningitis due to other pathogens. METHODS Prospective single hospital-based observational cohort study c...

Comparisons were made in Lusaka and in London between manual staining and staining in an automatic machine with auramine-phenol of direct smears of sputum and other types of specimen for acid-fast bacilli. No evidence was obtained of carry-over of acid-fast bacilli from positive to negative smears during machine staining. There was improved contrast between bacilli and the background in smears ...