[ level of knowledge among Shahid Beheshti University students about genital herpes]

Genital herpes is increasing in Asia and the world. Based on other studies, knowledge has an important role in reducing high risk sexual behavior. In this study we evaluated knowledge among Shahid Beheshti University students as a sample of young and educated population of Iran. This cross-sectional study carried out on 409 of Shahid Beheshti University students in Tehran - Iran at Autumn 2004. Research material was questionnaire and data analyzed by SPSS-13, T-student, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis Tests. Mean +/- SD of level of knowledge, nature and transmission of genital herpes was 26.5 +/- 26%, 23.7 +/- 24.2% and 30.56 +/- 36.8%, respectively. The level of knowledge about signs, treatment and prevention of disease was 18.8%, 16.4% and 46.2%, respectively. There was a significant relation between age, marital status and education with knowledge [P < 0.05]. The level of knowledge among engineering students was higher than humman sciences students [P < 0.05]. Based on our study, most of participants had no enough knowledge about genital herpes. Most of participants were willing to know more about it as they obviously welcomed to our pamphlets. It seems that educations about genital herpes should be added to educational programs

Antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic analysis of klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from the respiratory tract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogenic bacterium causing nosocomial infections in particular severe respiratory tract infections. Little information is available on the antibiotic susceptibility of pulmonary isolates of Klebsiella spp. The aims of this study were to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns and prevalence of extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase [ESBLs] producing Kleb. Among the respiratory isolates and to detect the possible clonal outbreaks associated with them. The respiratory isolates of K. pneumoniae [n=33] received from two Tehran hospitals during 2002-2005 were evaluated. Disk diffusion was used to determine the susceptibility of isolates to 14 antibiotics. Phenotypic confirmatory and double disk synergy methods were used to detect extended spectrum ?-lactamase producing isolates [ESBLs]. Respiratory isolates were then analyzed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis [MLEE]. ESBL phenotype was detected in 75.75% of the isolates. The most effective antibiotic was imipenem followed by tazobactam/piperacillin. MLEE analysis revealed 13 electrophoretic types [ETs]. The locus leucine-tyrosine peptidase showed the highest genetic diversity [0.733]. These 33 respiratory isolates consisted of 16.5% Klebsiella pneumoniae. This rate is lower than the neighboring country, Turkey [35%]. However, ESBL-producing strains belonging to different genetic lineages are serious concerns at Tehran hospitals. Carbapenem is still considered one of the most effective antibiotics against multi-drug resistant isolates