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A prospective study of hepatitis in 20 dialysis units in the United Kingdom showed that the number of units with outbreaks increased from one in 1968 to three in 1969 and the overall attack rate rose from 1·7 to 5·3% in patients and from 0·5 to 1·3% in staff. In July 1969 a pilot study of patients' sera showed that all of the outbreaks were associated with Australia (Au) antigen. Au antigen was not detected in the unaffected units or in one unit in which there were several patients with abnormal liver function. In January 1970 systematic prospective testing for Au antigen was begun. Au antigen was detected in single patients in five more of the 20 units. The transfer of the affected patients to isolation for dialysis seemed to prevent the spread of infection in the units. The incidence of hepatitis in 1970 was 5·6% in patients and 0·4% in staff. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Focuses on the evolution of poliovirus since the introduction of attenuated vaccine in Great Britain. Proportions of poliovirus isolates available; Number of strains tested and prevalence of each serotype.

Sera from 87 patients with acute sporadic viral hepatitis were tested for the presence of the Australia-SH antigen. Forty-three were positive by the complement-fixation test, but only 24 of these reacted in the gel-diffusion test. The antigen was equally distributed in infectious and serum hepatitis. The relationship of naturally occurring antigen-positive hepatitis to the Willow-brook MS-2 type is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]