762 of
outcome in schizophrenia,’ so the placebo group would be expected to be less responsive. This argument would unfortunately seem to weaken the conclusion in favour of the beneficial effects of propranolol. E. R. Squibb and Sons Ltd, Twickenham TW1 3QT
A. A. SCHIFF
Even in patients without vascular disease the greatest care should be taken with dopamine infusions, especially if they are given via a peripheral vein.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Groningen, Netherlands.
TJ. EBELS J. N. HOMAN VAN DER HEIDE
"MICROCOCCI" AND URINARY INFECTION
SIR,-Linda Pead and Dr Maskell (Sept. 10, p. 565) isolated novobiocin-resistant staphylococci, especially BairdParker M3 biotypes, from rectal swabs taken from females and noted a high rate of isolation in 16-25-year-olds. They suggested that these bacteria which are associated with some urinary-tract infections may be fsecal commensals and/or sexually transmitted to young females by their partners. BAIRD-PARKER BIOTYPES OF
STAPHYLOCOCCUS/MICROCOCCUS
IN
MALE URETHRAL SPECIMENS
*Meatal swabs and first flow urine sediments.
Faecal
carriage and endogenous infection of the urinary M3 cocci is an interesting possibility, but I do not think that isolation of bacteria from rectal swabs is conclusive evidence that those bacteria originate, or normally reside, in the fseces. Bosscher-Zonderman and Smith found high levels of M3 cocci associated with surgical lesions below the waist, which also suggests a faecal source, but neither of these findings rules out the possibility that the M3 cocci originates not in faeces but in the anal canal or on perianal skin. In our work3.4 on the microbial ecology of urethritis we found in a study of six men with gonorrhoea, six men with nonspecific urethritis, and six symptom-free males attending a tract
by
rlinir
a
hich TiT’fB7tfnr nf M ctrainc in l1rpthritic;:
outcome in schizophrenia,’ so the placebo group would be expected to be less responsive. This argument would unfortunately seem to weaken the conclusion in favour of the beneficial effects of propranolol. E. R. Squibb and Sons Ltd, Twickenham TW1 3QT
A. A. SCHIFF
Even in patients without vascular disease the greatest care should be taken with dopamine infusions, especially if they are given via a peripheral vein.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Groningen, Netherlands.
TJ. EBELS J. N. HOMAN VAN DER HEIDE
"MICROCOCCI" AND URINARY INFECTION
SIR,-Linda Pead and Dr Maskell (Sept. 10, p. 565) isolated novobiocin-resistant staphylococci, especially BairdParker M3 biotypes, from rectal swabs taken from females and noted a high rate of isolation in 16-25-year-olds. They suggested that these bacteria which are associated with some urinary-tract infections may be fsecal commensals and/or sexually transmitted to young females by their partners. BAIRD-PARKER BIOTYPES OF
STAPHYLOCOCCUS/MICROCOCCUS
IN
MALE URETHRAL SPECIMENS
*Meatal swabs and first flow urine sediments.
Faecal
carriage and endogenous infection of the urinary M3 cocci is an interesting possibility, but I do not think that isolation of bacteria from rectal swabs is conclusive evidence that those bacteria originate, or normally reside, in the fseces. Bosscher-Zonderman and Smith found high levels of M3 cocci associated with surgical lesions below the waist, which also suggests a faecal source, but neither of these findings rules out the possibility that the M3 cocci originates not in faeces but in the anal canal or on perianal skin. In our work3.4 on the microbial ecology of urethritis we found in a study of six men with gonorrhoea, six men with nonspecific urethritis, and six symptom-free males attending a tract
by
rlinir
a
hich TiT’fB7tfnr nf M ctrainc in l1rpthritic;:
