Seroprevalence of brucellosis and risk factors related to high risk occupational groups in kazeroon, south of Iran

Brucellosis is a major zoonosis worldwide. Many people for their professions are at higher risk of contracting the disease. To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors in a group of high risk professions. In a cross-sectional study, all personnel or students of veterinary schools, slaughters and butchers working in the city were invited to participate [n=141]. A comparison group [n=44] randomly selected from patients who were selected at random from people attended our healthcare center for reasons other than the infectious diseases. 4 veterinarians, 15 veterinary assistants, 42 veterinarian students, 52 butchers, 17 slaughters, 8 slaughterhouse workers and 3 chefs made the first group and 14 storekeepers, 5 students of engineering, 11 clerks, 13 freelance workers, and 1 high school student made the comparison group. While the rate of consumption of most of the studied dairy products was almost similar in both groups, comparison group patients consumed more often milk [p<0.001] and cream [p<0.001] than the high risk group. 11 [7.8%; 95% CI: 3.4%-12.2%] cases from high risk group and none of the comparison group were found seropositive for Brucella. Profession is the main factor in seropositivity. Consumption of dairy products and raw milk is not associated with a higher risk of seropositivity

Investigation of bacterial agents prevalence and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in acute diffuse otitis externa in Semnan [2000-2003]

Acute diffuse otitis externa is one of the most common type of the otitis externa, also known as "Swimmers ear". In most cases bacterial agents are pathogens associated with this infection. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are most common bacterial agents. In creasing antimicrobial resistance to many antibiotics, adds to the challeng of optimizing empric treatment for complicated otitis externa. The subject of this study is to determine the bacteriology of acute otitis externa and the susceptibility profiles of isolated bacteria to selected antibiotics External ear canal discharg swabs, collected from 70 acute otitis externa were inculated [at 35°C for 14 hrs] in thiologycolat broth, sheep blood and mac conkyagar. All isolates recovered were identified to species level by grams staning and biochemical media. Antibiotic susceptibility test has been done using Kirby-bauer method 89.2% of patients were women. 73 bacterial agents were isolated from 70 samples. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were the most common recovered organism. 94.5% of isolated bacterial agents were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and 89% to Gentamycin. The least antibiotic susceptibility was to Amoxicillin [5.5%], Cloxacillin [10.9%] and Ampicillin [15.7%] Our study showed that prevalence of acute diffuse otitis externa is higher in female sex [89.2%] and was seen in ages of 20-29 years. About 90% of isolated bactrial agents were susceptible to both Amoxicilin and Gentamycin. Findings [sex and age of infection] of this study were different from those of similar study. The underling causes of observed contraversy were discussed

Brucellosis in Iran: the Fars province experience

Over a 10-year period, 130 consecutive cases of brucellosis were encountered and were prospectively treated and followed. Twenty-one cases were children and the remainder were adults. There were 93 males and 37 females with a male: female ratio of 2.5 to one. The age range of the patients was from 2 to 74 years with a mean of 30 years. Fifty-five% of cases were from rural areas and the rest from major cities of the Fars province. The disease was most frequently seen during spring and summer. Although it was seen in ranchers and farmers who usually deal with small ruminants in our country, it was also frequently seen in those with other professions. Animal contact was common [33%] as well as consumption of raw unpasteurized milk and fresh cheese which was seen in almost half of the cases. Fever and sweating were the most common complaints and arthritis and splenomegaly were the most frequent physical findings. Bilateral sacroiliac joint involvement was the most common arthritic disorder and was exclusively seen in adults. Knee and ankle joint involvement was commonly seen in children. They were unilateral and monoarticular in their presentation. Seven cases had orchitis and one pregnant lady developed second trimester abortion. Treatment with conventionally recommended antibiotics was successful in all except two cases who had relapse secondary to an inadequate course of drug therapy. The two, however, responded to another course of full term antibiotic therapy with full recovery. In contrast to western countries were cattle and swine are the most frequent sources for human brucellosis, sheep and goats are the most common source of infection in our country. Here, the disease is not an exclusively occupational one for young adult males and an indirect oral route of disease transmission is quite frequent. Brucellosis, therefore, affects both children and adults of either sex, with a wide age range. Prohibition of ingestion of raw milk and fresh cheese as well as control of Brucella melitensis infection in sheep and goats can significantly reduce the burden of disease in our country

Diastolic blood pressure response of apparently healthy pilots to exercise testing

The purpose of our study was to examine the diastolic blood pressure response of apparently healthy pilots to exercise testing. Method: A treadmill exercise testing according to Bruce's protocol was performed on randomly selected group of 39 apparently healthy pilots as cases and 36 non-pilot air port personnel as controls. All of the subjects were more than 35 years old, without any history of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and any abnormal paraclinical finding. The mean total exercise time was not significantly different from the pilots [695.94 sec.[SD=117. 77]] in the controls [693.22sec. [SD=104.22]] [P=0.91].The mean systolic blood pressure and heart rate did not differ significantly between the two groups. The mean diastolic blood pressure at the end of the test was 84.35mmHg [SD=8.3] for the pilots and 82.63mmHg [SD=7.2] for the controls [p=0.34]. The mean change in diastolic blood pressure [maximum and at rest] was significantly higher in pilots [5.76mmHg [SD=7.97]] than in controls [1.86mmHg [SD=6.94]] [P=0.027]. 15 Pilots [38.5%] had increased diastolic blood pressure more than 10mmHg in comparison with 7 non-pilots [19.4%] [P=0.08]. The exercise testing was stopped due to fatigue in all of the pilots and controls. Increased diastolic blood pressure after exercise testing is greater in pilots than controls. This is in part due to chronic stress and increased baseline cathecolamines. This increase may be associated with the risk of ischemic heart disease, hypertension and sudden incapacitation. Paying more attention to diastolic blood pressure after exercise testing as a periodic fitness examination for pilots is warranted. In the case of increased diastolic blood pressure more than 10 mmHg, closer observation of the person is recommended