Search

Cerebral infarction is one of the three main causes of death in most countries. It is very frequent and, since it is more often disabiliting rather than fatal, it is of high social impact. The correct classification of patients and the accurate diagnostic definition of the various subtypes of stroke is of great prognostic and therapeutic importance since cerebral infarction is not a single entity. In this study we report our findings concerning 244 patients with embolic infarction recorded in the Parma Stroke Data Bank hospital register. Clinical features were studied (risk factors, symptomatology of the onset, degree of severity within 3 days of the onset, post-stroke complications) as were instruments readings (TAC) and evolution (outcome, mortality, personal performance and environmental integration, both 4 weeks after the clinical onset and after one year).

In an epidemiological research about stroke, we studied 235 patients with atherothrombotic brain infarctions and 81 patients with lacunes. It was a longitudinal study concerning patients admitted to our Medical Division during the acute phase and followed up for one year after the onset. We report some anamnestic data, the frequency of positive brain CT scan, main risk factors, symptoms at the onset, severity degree of the stroke within the first 72 hours, complications during, and outcome after, the first four weeks, including personal performances and environmental fitness, mortality rate and frequency of relapses. We also report some of these data after one year from the acute episode.

An investigation has been carried out on healthy carriers of "positive Staphylococcus coagulase" and "occasional pathogenic" strains among kitchen, canteen and dispensary staff in the IVth Geriatric Division and First Aid Clinic of the Bologna "M. Malpighi" Hospital. All stains of "positive Staphylococcus coagulase" and "occasional pathogens" considered (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter) were put through antibiotic and chemotherapeutic sensitivity tests. The results are reported in detail.

A study was made of 1050 urine specimens from the Nephro-Urological and Geriatric Departments of the Malpighi Hospital to see how many percent contained antibacterial substances and the incidence of bacteria species. 26.5% contained antibacterial substances. Proteus rettgeri was significantly more frequent in specimens containing such substances, whereas staphylococci were significantly more frequent in the remainder.

A study was made of the kitchen staff of the M. Malpighi Hospital of Bologna to identify healthy carriers of staphylococcus aureus. It was isolated in 19 out of 104 people, a frequency of 18.2%. Sensitivity tests to the commonest antibiotics and chemotherapeutic drugs carried out on the isolated strains of staphylococcus aureus showed average percentages fluctuating between 31.5% for penicillin to 88.5% for cephalosporin.

Data relating to a study of the activity of 70 percent methylated spirits on some bacterial strains isolated in a hospital environment are reported. It was found that the spirit had very little effect over times of 30'' or less, a good bactericidal power for time of 1', and an excellent bactericidal power for times of more than 1'.

A comparative search was made for healthy carriers of pathogenic staphylococcus among the kitchen, canteen and scullery staff of the Malpighi Hospital and the paramedical personnel of its geriatrics, out-patient and nephrology sections. The following percentages of healthy carriers were observed: out-patient section 37.5%, nephrodialysis section 23%, kitchen 17.9%, and geriatrics section 14.2%. All staphylococcus strains were tested for their sensitivity to antibiotics. 25% were resistant to ampicillin, 21.8% to penicillin, and 21.8% to streptomycin.