Background and Purpose-We sought to study overall and domain-specific quality of life in stroke survivors 1 year after stroke and to identify variables that could predict quality of life after stroke. Methods-We followed up for 1 year a cohort of 118 patients consecutively admitted to our stroke unit at San Carlos University Hospital in Madrid, Spain.

The objective of the study was to assess the utility of the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) to measure instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and functional recovery in stroke patients compared to other measures such as Barthel Index (BI) and Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS). A cross-sectional descriptive analysis design was done. Ninety stroke survivors (41 women, 49 men; mean age 68 years) discharged from the Stroke Unit at San Carlos Hospital, Madrid, were assessed by BI at discharge and by BI and FAI 1-year after stroke. At discharge, 40% had total or severe disability (BI < or =60) and at 1-year 11.1%. FAI (mean value 36 +/ 11) correlated with Barthel index, capacity for walking, strength in upper limb and total SSS 1-year after stroke (p < 0.0001). Fifty-two per cent of stroke patients became independent in their ADL during the first year. BI was the strongest predictor of independence in FAI Social activities-category.

Despite the low viral load and the lack of clinical correlation, and given the biological characteristics of the virus, our results suggest that there was active HHV-6A infection in 14.6% of patients with MS. Further quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction studies will help us understand the clinical significance of such a low viral load.

To our knowledge, we report the first failure of cefotaxime in the treatment of meningitis due to relatively resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MICs of penicillin and cefotaxime, 1 microgram/mL). Cure was achieved with a 14-day course of intravenous and intrathecal vancomycin. We recommend that in cases of meningitis caused by strains of S. pneumoniae for which MICs are > or = 1 microgram/mL, cefotaxime should be used with caution; however, if therapeutic failure is suspected therapy should be changed to intravenous and intrathecal vancomycin.

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