Antibiotic sensitivity of Helicobacter pylori in Jamaica

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the commonest chronic infections worldwide. Eradication regimes usually contain two antibiotics, however resistance is increasing and this decreases treatment success. This study reports on the sensitivity and resistance of H pylori to several antibiotics in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Jamaica. The rapid urease test (CLO) was positive in 128 (38) of 336 patients. Fifty patients (39; 50/128) with positive CLO tests had positive cultures for H pylori. Two-thirds (32/48) of islolates were sensitive to metronidazole and one-third (16/48) were resistant. Ninety-seven per cent of isolates (31/32) were sensitive to erythromycin. The sensitivity for clarithromycin was 92 (11/12) with one isolate (8) resistant. All strains of H pylori (48/48) were sensitive to ampicillin and amoxicillin - clavulanate. Metronidazole resistance is present in one-third of H pylori isolates and resistance to macrolides is relatively low in Jamaican patients. It is important to monitor antibiotic resistance in order to provide clinicians with data on the most appropriate and cost effective eradication regimes for H pylori

Evaluacion de un neuroleptico de accion prolongada: penfluridol. Evolucion clinica y psicosocial en un ano de seguimiento. / Evaluation of a long-action neuroleptic: penfluridol. Clinical and psychosocial evolution during a one-year follow-up

Con el objeto de evaluar el efecto antipsicotico y resocializador del neuroleptico de accion prolongada penfluridol, veinte pacientes esquizofrenicos fueron tratados durante un ano, y paralelamente al seguimiento clinico se efectuo una evaluacion de los aspectos psicosociales a cargo de una asistente social psiquiatrica. Se analizo la reinsercion del paciente en su medio familiar, su comportamiento social y su reincorporacion laboral, para lo que se disenaron instrumentos especificos. Despues de un ano de tratamiento se observo que junto con la mejoria clinica, se produjeron cambios muy significativos en todos los aspectos del comportamiento social estudiados. Se senala ademas, que el manejo familiar reduce el abandono del tratamiento y con ello la frecuencia de recaida.Se resumen, por ultimo,algumas observaciones preliminares sobre la estructura y dinamica y los cambios que ocurren en esta con el tratamiento del paciente psicotico