Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand.

  • New Zealand. Department of Health
Date:
[1959]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Department of Health / New Zealand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    126/144 page 126
    Phage Typing Laboratory 9,575 specimens were examined. These consisted of cultures sent for typing and specimens sent for isolation of staphylococci. In all, 7,275 strains of staphylococci were typed. Table 63 shows phage type distri¬ bution of these staphylococci after repeat cultures from the same patient and other duplicate results have been excluded. Table 63—Distribution of Staphylococcal Phage Types Group I Group II Group III Group IV 80/81 Untypable Unclassi¬ fied Total Tested Adult infections 97 174 203 7 728 134 17 1,360 (7%) (13%) (15%) (53%) (10%) (1%) • 482 Adult swabs .. 94 82 118 0 73 102 13 (20%) (17%) (25%) * (15%) (21%) (2%) 500 Baby infections 24 47 69 0 306 50 4 (5%) (9%) (15%) (61%) (10%) (1%) 1,438 Baby swabs 118 124 348 4 560 273 15 (8%) (9%) (23%) (38%) (19%) (1%) 260 Hospital stall' infections .. 15 15 10 0 211 6 3 (6%) (6%) (4%) (81%) (2%) d%) 1,775 Hospital stall swabs 256 138 413 2 583 349 34 (14%) (8%) (23%) (33%) (20%) (2%) 722 Dust and air samples 86 46 128 5 274 147 36 (11%) (6%) (17%) d%) (38%) (22%) (5%) 308 Miscellaneous 33 42 59 0 104 63 7 (11%) (14%) (19%) (33%) (20%) (2%) As is shown in the table, type 80/81 is still the commonest infecting type. The types acquired by babies in hospitals (baby swabs) closely reflect the types found in their environment (dust and air samples). The miscellaneous category includes strains from fingernail swabs, blankets, napkins, safety pins, and other equipment. The Research Officer, Dr G. M. Richardson, has been engaged in: 1. A study of the growth of staphylococcus in media in which the nature and concentration of metal ions are controlled by the use of a mixture of a metal complex with excess of the complexing agent. A number of different chelating agents have been used. Apart from the fundamental interest of this study, it has led to the development of a very promising selective medium for isolating coagulase-positive sta¬ phylococci from a mixed culture. 2. Determination of choline esterase in blood in persons exposed to organo phosphorus compounds. Studies have been made of the stability of the enzymes. 3. A continuation of the work on the nutrition of leptospirae and on the preservation of complement fixation test reagents. Vaccines Forty thousand ml. of TAB vaccine were prepared, tested, and dis¬ pensed : 33,200 doses of smallpox vaccine were issued. Conclusion I wish to thank all the members of the staff for the willing and efficient manner in which they have worked throughout the year. J. D. Manning, Director, National Health Institute.
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