Forty-one strains of adenovirus type 19/37 (Ad19/37) mainly isolatedI from patients with keratoconjunetivitis or conjunctive between 1974 and 1984 were re-evaluated by serum neutralization (SN), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and DNA restriction analysis. Of 19 isolates which were neutralized to high titre by antiserum prepared against prototype Ad19, 5 showed cross-reactivity with 32–64 units of Ad37 antiserum, while of 22 strains neutralizedto high titre by Ad37 antiserum, 3 showed eross-reaetivity with 32 units of Ad19 antiserum By DNA restriction analysis, all Ad19 isolates were identieal to each other and to Ad19A virus. Using endonuclease Bgl 1, three variants were observed among the Ad37 isolates.

This paper describes a microbiological study of 84 young adult men with clinical otitic infections. Gram-negative aerobic bacilli were frequently isolated from these patients diagnosed as having otitis externa or chronic suppurative otitis media, of which Pseudomonasspecies predominated.

Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and aerobic Corynebacterium species (diphtheroids) were also found. About 40% of ear infections were attributed to otomycoses, chiefly from Aspergillus species and Candida parapsilosis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the bacterial isolates revealed that Pseudomonas species were generally resistant to antibiotics commonly employed in general practice: ampicillin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, tetracycline and cephaloridine. However, polymjwin B, gentamicin and neomycin were active against some Pseudomonas isolates. Other Gram-negative bacilli were also mainly sensitiveto gentamicin, neomycin as well as co-trimoxazole. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitor concentration studies demonstrated good activity of ceftazidime, cefoperazone, tobramycin and carbenicillin against strains of Pseudomonas species and other Gram-negative rods. Cefotaxime and cefoxitin were active against Gram-negative bacilli other than Pseudomonas species. Beta-lactamase production did not appear to be the main mechanism of resistance in these communityacquired Gram-negative bacillary isolates. The antimicrobial therapy of otological infections is reviewed.