Objective To determine the clinical, physical, sperm and hormonal status during adulthood in cryptorchid patients operated on during childhood, and to assess these variables according to the age at surgery and preoperative testicular position. Patients and methods A letter was sent to all 890 patients > 18 years old who underwent surgery for cryptorchidism during childhood; 274 responded and were assessed using a sexual history, physical examination, pituitary axis study and sperm analysis. Data were complete for 251 patients (mean age 21 years, range 18±30); 196 had unilateral (25 anorchic) and 55 had bilateral cryptorchidism. Clinical, surgical and anatomopathological records at surgery during childhood were also reviewed. Results The mean (SD) age at orchidopexy was 6.4 (3.3) years and the mean age at assessment 21.1 (2.7) years. Semen samples generally showed abnormalities; 10 patients (4%) with bilateral and 57 (23%) with unilateral cryptorchidism had semen values within the normal range. There was no correlation between the sperm count and age at surgery for unilateral or bilateral cases (Spearman test). There was a signi®cant correlation (r = x 0.41) between the sperm count and level of folliclestimulating hormone (FSH). There were no signi®cant differences in the sperm count for patients with different testicular locations (ANOVA) or in those treated or untreated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (Student's t-test). The only signi®cant relationship (P < 0.001) was between the sperm count and unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Conclusions The sperm quality of adults operated on for cryptorchidism during childhood is independent of the age at surgery or testicular location, but is in¯uenced by whether the cryptorchidism was unilateral or bilateral. FSH levels were negatively correlated with sperm density.

It was reported that two mechanics working on a cargo ship under repair in the port of Barcelona had died after having fever.An investigation was made into the possibility of any additional cases and the presence ofLegionella pneumophilain the ship they were repairing and in their hotel. The contaminated water system was treated with sodium hypochlorite.Both patients died after having been repeatedly diagnosed as having influenza. The two cases occurred among those who had been working with the pump of the ship's water system, while no cases were observed among the other workers (p=0.02). Various serogroups ofL. pneumophilawere isolated from the ship's water pump and distribution system. However, organism of serogroup 1, subgroup Pontiac (Knoxville) were identified with identical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) patterns in the lung tissue of one patient and in the cooling water circuit valve of the ship's water pump. The first postintervention control water samples showed no further growth of legionella, but serogrups 4 and 8 were identified 8 months later.This legionellosis outbreak, although small, was highly lethal, probably due to the high levels of bacteria to which the patients were exposed and also because of the failure of correct diagnosis. International recommendations on prevention and control of legionellosis, which include ships under repair, are required.

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