Microbiology laboratory management

Additional recommendations also are made for individuals providing care to AIDS patients and for individuals performing studies with experimental animals that use specimens obtained from AIDS patients. The

exact cause of AIDS remains unknown, and these precautions have been recommended because of the distinct possibility that AIDS may be caused by an infectious agent.

Reference 1. U.S. Department of Ilealth and lluman Services. 1982. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS): precautions for clinical and laboratory staffs. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 31:577-580.

sor Reber's letter in volume 4(20) concerning the statistical expression of the distribution of results, I wish to indicate that the information did not show a normal population distribution. Publication of the actual graphic displays would have required too much space. Perhaps we should have reported only the mean, and/or median, and range of values. If

anyone would like a copy of the actual graphic display of the distributions, they may be obtained by writing directly to me.

been missed initially because of concomitant spots due to Malassezia infection. He had absconded from the hostel for immigrants before examination by a local specialist and lived with relatives. Test results in all the members of the family proved negative. It is important to keep in mind that given an incubation period of several years leprosy may continue to appear in immigrants whose health has been

cleared after thorough examination at the time of arrival. The table in the paper would have been even more helpful if the total number of persons at risk in each group was specified.

i

Letters to the Editor

Microbiology L a b o r a t o r y Management To the Editors: With regard to the "Results of the Survey of Microbiology Laboratory Management: Summary and Comments" in volume 4(14) of the Newsletter, specifically in response to Profes-

L e p r o s y in

Refugee

To the Editors: I read Dr. Gruninger's feature on infectious disease in Indo-Chinese refugees (October 1, 1982) with great interest because we have just diagnosed our first case of leprosy in a Kampuchean engineer, who had arrived in this country three months ago. His borderline extensive skin lesions might have

Raymond C. Bartlett, M.D. Director, Division of Microbiology Department of Pathology Hartford Hospital Hartford, Connecticut 06115

H. K. Ghosh, M.B.B.S., PhD, F.R.C.P.A. Clinical Microbiology Department The Royal Newcastle Hospital Newcastle, N.S.IV., Australia 2300

|

Workshops and Meetings

I n f e c t i o n C o n t r o l for Extended C a r e Facilities. Columbia, Missouri. February 9 - 1 1 . Contact: Continuing Education Program, UMC School of Nursing, Columbia, MO 65212.

A S M A n n u a l M e e t i n g (83rd). New Orleans, Louisiana. March 6 - 1 1 . Contact: Meetings Dept., American Society for Microbiology, 1913 I St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006.

and Molecular Biology, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064.

I n f e c t i o n C o n t r o l : Basic Concepts. Columbia, Missouri. February 2 1 - 2 5 . Contact: Continuing Education Program,-UMC School of Nursing, Columbia, MO 65212.

Laboratory Safety: Management and Responsibility. Washington,

New York City. March 1 7 - 1 8 . Contact: Charlene Landis, Conference Planner, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021.

C o n t r o v e r s i e s in M a n a g e m e n t o f Infectious Complications

of Neoplastic Diseases. D.C. March 1 7 - 1 8 . Contact: Dr. Roland M. Nardone, The Center for Advanced Training in Cell