Laboratory manual for physicians : aids in diagnosis and treatment.

  • New York (State). Department of Health. Division of Laboratories and Research.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Laboratory manual for physicians : aids in diagnosis and treatment. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    32/92 (page 24)
    be effective must be undertaken promptly on the basis of clinical and x-ray findings. Product Supplied by the Laboratory Gas gangrene antitoxin. Clinical reports received have indicated the value of serum therapy in the treat- ment of cases of gas gangrene due to the presence in the wound of one or more species of anaerobic bacteria. Treatment should be commenced im- mediately and in high dosage. Further experience with the use of sulfonamide drugs has determined the value of these agents in the treatment of gas gan- erene, either alone or in combination with serum and surgery and penicillin. A small supply of gas gangrene an- titoxin is purchased and held for emer- gency use at the State laboratory, Al- bany, the Binghamton City Hospital, the Ulster County Health Department, Kingston, and the Erie County Labora- tories, Buffalo. Requests should be made by telephone or telegraph to the Division of Laboratories and Research, Albany, the Branch Laboratory, 339 East 25th Street, New York City, or to the nearest district supply station. The antitoxin, which is multivalent, is pro- duced against the toxins of Cl. welchit (Cl. perfringens) and certain other species of pathogenic anaerobes. The material is not furnished for prophy- lactic use. If the patient is able to pay for the material or the case is covered by com- pensation, it is expected that the amount supplied will be replaced promptly. Administration. An initial intraven- ous injection of the contents of four bottles is recommended to overcome as far as possible the general toxemia. The dose may be repeated every two hours or more often depending upon the condition of the patient. Detailed directions and a report form accom- pany each package. For precautions against anaphylactic reactions, see p. 9-10. 24 If a prophylactic injection of tetanus antitoxin has not already been given, from 1,500 to 3,000 units should be administered at once and the dose re- peated if the wound continues favor- able for the development of tetanus infection. Glanders Glanders, primarily a disease of horses, can be transmitted to man. The incitant, Bacterium mallei, is found in the nasal secretions, pus from nodules, blood, and at times in the urine, saliva, and milk. In man, the mode of infec- tion is usually through an abrasion of the skin, but may be through the mu- cosa of the mouth and nose. A nodule appears at the site of infection, accom- panied by lymphangitis and swelling. A general pustular eruption may occur. While the disease is usually acquired from contact with horses, it may be transmitted from man to man. Bacteriologic examination of dis- charge is important, although serologic tests may aid in diagnosis especially if two or more blood specimens are ex: amined to determine fluctuation in titer. Specimens for Laboratory Examination In accordance with the requirements of Chap. II, Reg. 9, of the Sanitary Code, the following material should be submitted for examination to a labora tory approved for the purpose: (1) IC ml. of blood in the outfit designed fo: blood for agglutination tests (tube out fit with green label) ; (2) a specimen of discharge on a sterile swab (tubs outfit with swab); (3) films of dis charge on glass slides (slide outfit). Gonorrhea Laboratory aids in the diagnosis & gonorrhea have proved especially help ful. In acute or active cases of gono? rhea, the incitant, Netsseria gonov rhoeae, is nearly always demonstrate microscopically in large numbers 1