ABSTRACT
The diphtheria epidemic that began in Russia in 1990 reached Kazakhstan in 1992 when 45 case-patients (a 50% increase over 1991) were reported. In 1993, 82 case-patients were reported, and 489 were reported in 1994. The epidemic peaked in 1995 when 1105 case-patients were reported (incidence rate=6.7/100,000 population). In 1996, after public health practice modifications and several mass vaccinations, 455 case-patients were reported. From 1990 to 1996, children
Subject(s)
Diphtheria/epidemiology , Diphtheria/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks , Immunization Programs , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Diphtheria Toxoid/administration & dosage , Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine/administration & dosage , Disease Notification/statistics & numerical data , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Kazakhstan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Vaccination/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
A selection of 100 Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates from asymptomatic carriers and clinical cases from five regions in northwestern Russia were examined. Six additional isolates from patients in Finland and Estonia with epidemiological links to Russia were also examined. All isolates were characterized by biotyping, toxigenicity testing, ribotyping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Hybridization of genomic DNA digested with BstEII revealed five ribotype patterns among the biotype gravis isolates (G1 through G5) and two patterns among the biotype mitis isolates (M1 and M2). PFGE using SfiI was not able to distinguish between ribotypes G1, G2, and G4. The predominant ribotype pattern, G1, found in cases of disease in all the areas studied, appears to be disseminating, in view of the isolates received from imported cases in Finland and Estonia. Among the 106 isolates examined, 68 produced pattern G1 and 24 produced pattern M1. Most of the M1 isolates were from the Leningrad Oblast region. Distinct ribotypes such as G2, G3, G4, G5, and M2 could represent endemic disease.
Subject(s)
Corynebacterium diphtheriae/genetics , Diphtheria/epidemiology , Bacterial Typing Techniques , Carrier State/epidemiology , Carrier State/microbiology , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/classification , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/isolation & purification , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Diphtheria/microbiology , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field , Estonia/epidemiology , Finland/epidemiology , Humans , Molecular Epidemiology , RNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Russia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The in-vitro activities of ten antibiotics against 83 toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae recently isolated in northwestern Russia and surrounding areas were determined by an agar dilution method. All of the strains were susceptible to erythromycin, penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and tetracycline. Trimethoprim and rifampicin were each active against 81 isolates, the two strains resistant to the latter agent having been isolated from two members of the same family.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/drug effects , Baltic States , Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology , Erythromycin/pharmacology , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Rifampin/pharmacology , RussiaABSTRACT
The data on the epidemiological effectiveness of the mass booster immunization of students of high schools, as well as professional and technical schools, against measles are presented. Booster immunization is considered to be a highly effective antiepidemic measure aimed at decreasing morbidity rate in measles.
