A total of 204 strains of salmonella were isolated in blood cultures during the year 1991 outbreak of enteric fever in and around Bangalore. Out of this, 190 were S. typhi, 6 S. paratyphi A, 5 S. typhimurium and 3 S. choloraesuis. Antibiogram of 190 strains of S. typhi showed resistance of 94.7%, 95.8% and 96.9% to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and cotrimoxazole and sensitivity of 65.3%, 88.4% and 94.2% to gentamycin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of chloramphenicol were between 360 mcg and 640 mcg per ml. There was high degree (94.7%) of triple drug resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and cotrimoxazole.

The blood requisition practice for the most commonly performed spinal prolapsed disc surgery was assessed in a prospective manner for 18 months, in total 108 patients. It was observed that nearly 78% operations did not require any transfusion. Transfusion index (TI) was .4, showing a tendency of over ordering of blood for these procedures. The cross match: transfusion (C/T) ratio was very high 4.3. It is obvious that these procedures hardly require blood transfusion. Thus by introducing an ABO-Rh typing screening and immediate spin cross match scheme, can drastically reduce the patients agony, laboratory work load and patients treatment cost.

The autonomic functions were evaluated in uncomplicated chronic severe anaemia. Elevation of heart rate and systolic blood pressure without any alteration of diastolic blood pressure were observed in anaemics as compared to control group. Expiration/inspiration ratio and BVL did not show any significant difference in two groups. The results suggest possibility of increased activity of sympathetic part out of two divisions of autonomic nervous system.