M 115
C.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
(1) Faeces. Four hundred and fifteen samples of faeces were cultured for the presence of enteric organisms. It will be noted that of the number cultured for dysentery organisms specifically, 36.29% gave a growth of B. dysenteriae.
The number of cases in which report for the presence of dysentery organisms is specifically asked for is however somewhat greater than the number which were actually subjected to culture, our custom being only to culture those stools which show the typical bacillary exudate. The remainder of these cases are shown under the head of Intestinal Parasites, for which they were examined routinely. In none of the cases quoted under this head (Bacteriological Examinations) were E. histolytica or its cysts found.
Looking at the figures in another way, if one takes the actual number of stools forwarded with a request for a diagnosis of "dysentery" (i.e. either bacillary or amoebic), in which presumably the clinical picture suggested such a diagnosis, we find as follows: of 702 specimens examined 67 were positive by culture for B. dysenteriae, a further 85 showed the typical bacillary exudate but failed to grow the organism, making a total of 152 cases in which the diagnosis may be assumed reasonably proved. Nineteen only showed the presence of E. histolytica or its cysts. Thus, of the 702 diarrhoeic cases, 21.65% were proved of bacillary origin and 2.70% amoebic; while of the proved total positives (171) the proportion of bacillary to amoebic was 88.88% and 11.11%. Even bearing in mind the obvious statistical weaknesses, the fact that these figures were obtained by highly skilled workers, checked in every instance, goes to show something of the true relative incidence of the two types of dysentery in Hong Kong.
The writer is in cordial agreement with the word of warning sounded by Scott recently (Tropical Diseases Bulletin, Vol. 32, Nov. 1935, Supplement) against the indiscriminate diagnosis of amoebic infection; clinical diagnosis is more often wrong than right and laboratory diagnosis should only be made by highly trained men.
The proportionate distribution of the positive cases is roughly the same as it was last year:
B. dysenteriae, Flexner 77.61% Shiga 5.97% Schmitz 16.42%M 115
C.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
(1) Faeces. Four hundred and fifteen samples of faeces were cultured for the presence of enteric organisms. It will be noted that of the number cultured for dysentery organisms specifically, 36.29% gave a growth of B. dysenteriae.
The number of cases in which report for the presence of dysentery organisms is specifically asked for is however some- what greater than the number which were actually subjected to culture, our custom being only to culture those stools which show the typical bacillary exudate. The remainder of these cases are shown under the head of Intestinal Parasites, for which they were examined routinely. In none of the cases quoted under this head (Bacteriological Examinations) were E. histoly- tica or its cysts found.
Looking at the figures in another way, if one takes the actual number of stools forwarded with a request for a diagnosis of "dysentery" (i.e. either bacillary or anoebic), in which pre- sumably the clinical picture suggested such a diagnosis, we find as follows: of 702 specimens examined 67 were positive by culture for B. dysenteriae, a further 85 showed the typical bacillary exudate but failed to grow the organism, making a total of 152 cases in which the diagnosis may be assumed reasonably proved. Nineteen only showed the presence of E. histolytica or its cysts. Thus, of the 702 diarrhoeic cases, 21.65% were proved of bacillary origin and 2.70% amoebic; while of the proved total positives (171) the proportion of bacillary to amoebic was 88.88% and 11.11%. Even bearing in mind the obvious statistical weaknesses, the fact that these figures were obtained by highly skilled workers, checked in every instance, goes to show something of the true relative incidence of the two types of dysentery in Hong Kong.
The writer is in cordial agreement with the word of warning sounded by Scott recently (Tropical Diseases Bulletin, Vol. 32, Nov. 1935, Supplement) against the indiscriminate diagnosis of amoebic infection; clinical diagnosis is more often wrong than right and laboratory diagnosis should only be made by highly trained men.
The proportionate distribution of the positive cases is roughly the same as it was last year:
L
B. dysenteriae, Flexner
B.
B.
77.61%
Shiga
5.97%
Schmitz
16.42%
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