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1.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control ; 9(1): 146, 2020 08 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32859255

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use (AMU) are important drivers of antimicrobial resistance, yet there is minimal data from the Pacific region. We sought to determine the point prevalence of HAIs and AMU at Fiji's largest hospital, the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva. A secondary aim was to evaluate the performance of European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC) HAI criteria in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: We conducted a point prevalence survey of HAIs and AMU at CWMH in October 2019. Survey methodology was adapted from the ECDC protocol. To evaluate the suitability of ECDC HAI criteria in our setting, we augmented the survey to identify patients with a clinician diagnosis of a HAI where diagnostic testing criteria were not met. We also assessed infection prevention and control (IPC) infrastructure on each ward. RESULTS: We surveyed 343 patients, with median (interquartile range) age 30 years (16-53), predominantly admitted under obstetrics/gynaecology (94, 27.4%) or paediatrics (83, 24.2%). Thirty patients had one or more HAIs, a point prevalence of 8.7% (95% CI 6.0% to 12.3%). The most common HAIs were surgical site infections (n = 13), skin and soft tissue infections (7) and neonatal clinical sepsis (6). Two additional patients were identified with physician-diagnosed HAIs that failed to meet ECDC criteria due to insufficient investigations. 206 (60.1%) patients were receiving at least one antimicrobial. Of the 325 antimicrobial prescriptions, the most common agents were ampicillin (58/325, 17.8%), cloxacillin (55/325, 16.9%) and metronidazole (53/325, 16.3%). Use of broad-spectrum agents such as piperacillin/tazobactam (n = 6) and meropenem (1) was low. The majority of prescriptions for surgical prophylaxis were for more than 1 day (45/76, 59.2%). Although the number of handwashing basins throughout the hospital exceeded World Health Organization recommendations, availability of alcohol-based handrub was limited and most concentrated within high-risk wards. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HAIs in Fiji was similar to neighbouring high-income countries, but may have been reduced by the high proportion of paediatric and obstetrics patients, or by lower rates of inpatient investigations. AMU was very high, with duration of surgical prophylaxis an important target for future antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.


Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Drug Resistance, Multiple , Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data , Sepsis/epidemiology , Skin Diseases, Infectious/epidemiology , Soft Tissue Infections/epidemiology , Surgical Wound Infection/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Fiji/epidemiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infection Control/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Prevalence , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tertiary Care Centers , Young Adult
2.
Int J Infect Dis ; 82: 73-76, 2019 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30853444

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The confirmation or analysis and exclusion of a diagnosis of neurosyphilis has long presented a challenge for infectious diseases clinicians. The authors reviewed the concordance between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and the subsequent antibiotic strategy for patients undergoing evaluation of a diagnosis of neurosyphilis. METHODS: All patients with positive serum syphilis serology referred for CSF analysis between January 2009 and May 2016 were included. Indications for CSF analysis were determined by review of the hospital electronic medical records. CSF parameters were determined from the hospital pathology database. Cases were defined as either 'confirmed', 'supportive' of, or 'not supportive' of a diagnosis of neurosyphilis based on existing definitions. Subsequent therapy was defined as for neurosyphilis, late latent primary syphilis or no therapy based on existing guidelines. RESULTS: Of 131 patients reviewed, 95.4% were male and HIV co-infected (74%). A confirmed diagnosis of neurosyphilis was met by fourteen patients (10.7%). All but two of these were treated with a neurosyphilis-directed regimen. Of the 58 patients treated with neurosyphilis antibiotics, 17.2% had no CSF findings suggestive of the diagnosis. Seventy-three patients were not treated for neurosyphilis; however 35 of these met the CSF criteria for a diagnosis supportive of neurosyphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of routine CSF analysis in patients with a possible diagnosis of neurosyphilis are inconsistently applied in the clinical setting, calling into question the value of routine CSF. Empirical neurosyphilis treatment should be considered up front in patients with high pre-test probability of the diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , HIV Infections/complications , Neurosyphilis/diagnosis , Treponema pallidum/immunology , Adult , Aged , Cohort Studies , Coinfection , Female , Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurosyphilis/cerebrospinal fluid , Neurosyphilis/complications , Neurosyphilis/diet therapy , Spinal Puncture , Syphilis Serodiagnosis
3.
J Hosp Infect ; 92(2): 183-90, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26778134

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Two meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones, sequence type (ST) 22 and ST239, have successfully spread globally. Across Australia, ST22 has supplanted ST239 as the main healthcare-associated MRSA. To understand the reasons underlying this shift, the epidemiology and clinical features of infections due to ST22 and ST239 MRSA isolates from a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia were compared. METHODS: Over six months, consecutive MRSA isolates with clinical data were collected from specimens referred to Alfred Health Pathology (AHP). Isolates were genotyped by a multi-locus-sequence-typing-based high-resolution melting method. FINDINGS: Three hundred and twenty-eight of 1079 (30%) S. aureus isolated by AHP were MRSA. Of these, 313 were genotyped; 78 (25%) were clonal complex (CC) 22 (representing ST22) and 142 (45%) were CC239 (representing ST239). Common clinical syndromes included skin or soft tissue, respiratory tract and osteo-articular infections. On multi-variate logistic regression, compared with CC239, CC22 was associated with older patients [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.04 for each year increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.07)], and patients from subacute hospitals (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.8) or long-term care facilities (LTCFs; aOR 5.5, 95% CI 2.0-14.5). Median time from patient admission to MRSA isolation was nine days for CC239 and one day for CC22 (P < 0.01). MRSA strain epidemiology varied according to hospital unit. CONCLUSIONS: CC22 and CC239 MRSA have differing ecological niches. CC22 is associated with elderly patients in LTCFs, and CC239 is associated with nosocomial acquisition. Infection control strategies involving LTCFs and their residents will likely be required to achieve continued MRSA control.


Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Genotype , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/classification , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Australia/epidemiology , Cross Infection/pathology , Ecosystem , Female , Humans , Infection Control , Male , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics , Middle Aged , Multilocus Sequence Typing , Staphylococcal Infections/pathology , Staphylococcus aureus , Tertiary Care Centers
4.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother ; 59(12): 7837-41, 2015 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26392488

ABSTRACT

A total of 421 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were tested for ceftaroline susceptibility by Etest (bioMérieux). A multidrug resistant phenotype was found in 40.9%, and clonal complex 239 (CC239) was found in 33.5%. Ceftaroline nonsusceptibility (MIC, >1.0 µg/ml) was 16.9% overall. Nonsusceptibility was significantly higher in CC239 (41.1%, 58/141) and in isolates with a multidrug resistant phenotype (35.5%, 61/172) compared with comparators (P < 0.0001). Nonsusceptibility of common multidrug resistant MRSA clones limits the empirical use of ceftaroline for these infections.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Cephalosporins/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Australia , Clone Cells , Humans , Methicillin/pharmacology , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Phenotype , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Ceftaroline
5.
Vaccine ; 28(18): 3086-94, 2010 Apr 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20199764

ABSTRACT

Fijian infants aged 6 weeks were stratified by ethnicity and randomized to receive 0, 1, 2, or 3 PCV-7 doses with or without the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) at 12 months. Strong booster effects for all 7 PCV-7 serotypes were elicited, and for 4/7 serotypes these responses were highest in the single PCV-7 group. There were fourfold rises in GMC for all non-PCV-7 serotypes. By 17 months the PPV-23 group still had significantly higher GMC (each p<0.001) for all serotypes. The PPV-23 was well tolerated and induced excellent responses for all serotypes which were greatest in the single PCV-7 group.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Immunization Schedule , Immunization, Secondary/methods , Pneumococcal Vaccines/adverse effects , Pneumococcal Vaccines/immunology , Child, Preschool , Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Infant
6.
Vaccine ; 28(19): 3341-9, 2010 Apr 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20206670

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the immunological impact of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPS) at 12 months, for children who have received zero to three infant doses of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), on responses to a subsequent exposure to a small dose of 23vPPS (mPPS). METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-two Fijian infants were stratified by ethnicity and randomized into eight groups to receive zero, one, two, or three PCV doses at 14 weeks, six and 14 weeks, or six, ten, and 14 weeks. Within each group, half received 23vPPS at 12 months and all received mPPS at 17 months. Sera were taken prior and one month post-mPPS. FINDINGS: By 17 months, geometric mean antibody concentrations (GMC) to all 23 serotypes in 23vPPS were significantly higher in children who had received 23vPPS at 12 months compared to those who had not. Post-mPPS, children who had not received the 12 month 23vPPS had a significantly higher GMC for all PCV serotypes compared with those who had (each p<0.02). For the non-PCV serotypes, children who had not received the 12 month 23vPPS had significantly higher GMC for six of 16 non-PCV serotypes (7F, 9N, 12F, 19A, 22F, 33F) than those who did (each p<0.02). After adjusting for the pre-mPPS level, exposure to 23vPPS was associated with a lower response to mPPS for all serotypes (each p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Despite higher antibody concentrations at 17 months in children who had received 23vPPS at 12 months, the response to a re-challenge was poor for all 23 serotypes compared to children who had not received the 12 month 23vPPS.


Subject(s)
Immunization, Secondary/methods , Pneumococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Pneumococcal Vaccines/immunology , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Female , Fiji , Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine , Humans , Infant , Male
7.
Vaccine ; 27(41): 5685-91, 2009 Sep 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19616498

ABSTRACT

The aim was to identify an appropriate infant pneumococcal vaccination strategy for resource poor countries. Fijian infants received zero, one, two, or three doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in early infancy. Following three PCV doses, geometric mean concentration (GMC) to all seven serotypes were > or = 1.0 microg/mL, and >85% of children achieved antibody levels > or = 0.35 microg/mL at 18 weeks. Following two doses, GMC were lower for 6B, 14, and 23F, but higher for 19F compared with three doses. Following a single dose, significant responses were seen for all serotypes post-primary series compared with the unvaccinated. By 12 months, differences between two and three doses persisted for serotype 14 only. Although GMC following three doses are higher than after two doses, the differences were small. A single dose may offer some protection for most serotypes.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Pneumococcal Infections/prevention & control , Pneumococcal Vaccines/immunology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine , Humans , Infant , Male
8.
Clin Microbiol Infect ; 13(6): 586-91, 2007 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17331125

ABSTRACT

There is growing evidence of the efficacy of treating early staphylococcal infections of prosthetic joints with surgical debridement and prosthesis retention, combined with oral antibiotic regimens that include rifampicin in combination with a fluoroquinolone. With rising rates of fluoroquinolone-resistant staphylococci, evidence concerning the efficacy of alternative combinations of antibiotics is required. Twenty patients with staphylococcal prosthetic joint infections who had been treated with surgical debridement and prosthesis retention, and a combination of rifampicin and fusidic acid were analysed. The mean duration of symptoms before initial debridement was 16 (range 2-75) days. The median time of follow-up was 32 (range 6-76) months. Treatment failure occurred in two patients. The cumulative risk of treatment failure after 1 year was 11.76% (95% CI 3.08-39.40%). Two patients had their treatment changed because of nausea. Ten of 11 patients with infections involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus had successful outcomes. Debridement without prosthesis removal, in combination with rifampicin and fusidic acid treatment, was effective and should be considered for patients with early staphylococcal prosthetic joint infections, including those with infections involving fluoroquinolone-resistant organisms.


Subject(s)
Debridement , Fusidic Acid/therapeutic use , Joint Prosthesis/microbiology , Prosthesis-Related Infections/therapy , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Staphylococcal Infections/therapy , Administration, Oral , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Device Removal , Female , Fusidic Acid/administration & dosage , Fusidic Acid/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prosthesis-Related Infections/drug therapy , Prosthesis-Related Infections/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Rifampin/administration & dosage , Rifampin/adverse effects , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy , Staphylococcal Infections/surgery , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
9.
ANZ J Surg ; 71(11): 662-4, 2001 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11736828

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the financial impact of surgical site infections (SSI) after major surgery. In order to calculate the cost of SSI following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGs), a 2-year retrospective case-control study was undertaken at Alfred Hospital, a university-affiliated tertiary referral centre. METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with SSI (cases) after CABGs and 108 patients without SSI (controls) were matched for gender, age, risk index (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System) and number of principal comorbidities. The patient's postoperative length of stay (LOS), in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and the non-ICU (general) ward, was obtained from the medical records and the cost of a day in each was provided by the hospital's finance department. The cost of antibiotics prescribed for SSI was provided by the hospital's pharmacy department. RESULTS: Postoperatively the cases were in ICU for a total of 313 days whereas the controls spent 165 days in ICU, a mean of 2.89 versus 1.53 days, respectively (P = 0.035). In general wards, cases were inpatients for a total of 1651 days and controls for 589 days. This is a mean of 10.8 days for cases and 4.7 days for controls (P = 0.0001). The extra LOS for 108 cases (compared to the controls) was costed at $1 299 082, a mean cost of $12 028 per patient. The total cost of antibiotics prescribed for these SSI was $42 270 (a cost per case of $391). The total excess cost related to increased LOS and antibiotic treatment was $12 419 per patient. In the subgroup analysis for deep sternal site infections the mean excess cost was $31 597 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative SSI result in significant patient morbidity and consume considerable resources. In the present study, patients with SSI following CABGs had significant prolongation of hospitalization (both in ICU and general wards). The present study illustrates the potential cost savings of introducing interventions to reduce SSI rates. This is the first time such a study has been undertaken in Australia.


Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Bypass , Hospital Costs/statistics & numerical data , Surgical Wound Infection/economics , Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/economics , Case-Control Studies , Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/economics , Length of Stay/economics , Male , Morbidity , Retrospective Studies
10.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil ; 82(11): 1630-2, 2001 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11689986

ABSTRACT

Bacterial infection is an uncommon cause of acute paraplegia. A 42-year-old Aboriginal man presented to a remote health clinic in northern Australia with myelitis associated with Burkholderia pseudomallei. He was treated with analgesia and intravenous flucloxacillin, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin and transferred to our hospital, where an urgent T12-L1 laminectomy and decompression was performed. Urine culture confirmed B. pseudomallei infection (melioidosis). Abdominopelvic computed tomography revealed left prostatic lobe and right periprostatic abscesses, which were managed conservatively. The patient was given intravenous ceftazidime (8g/d) for 2 months, followed by oral sulfamethoxazole (1600mg) and trimethoprim (320mg) twice daily for 8 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging 3 weeks after his admission confirmed transverse myelitis. His rehabilitation was complicated by his difficulty in adjusting to disability, by urinary retention and fecal incontinence, by communication barriers, and his isolation from a culture familiar to him. He returned to his community after 15 weeks, free of infection, with T10-11 paraplegia and an indwelling catheter.


Subject(s)
Burkholderia pseudomallei , Melioidosis/microbiology , Myelitis/microbiology , Paraplegia/microbiology , Adult , Humans , Male , Melioidosis/rehabilitation , Myelitis/rehabilitation , Paraplegia/rehabilitation
12.
J Travel Med ; 8(2): 76-81, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11285166

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Imported malaria is increasing in nonendemic countries, including Australia. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of travelers with imported malaria presenting to a specialist infectious diseases hospital. METHODS: A retrospective case series of 246 consecutively admitted inpatients with laboratory confirmed malaria. The main outcome measures were the proportion of patients infected with each malaria species, and relationship between species and country of birth, area of acquisition, adequacy of chemoprophylaxis, clinical features, laboratory investigations, and treatment. RESULTS: Plasmodium vivax caused 182 (68.9%) episodes, Plasmodium falciparum caused 71 (26.9%), Plasmodium ovale caused 5 (1.9%), and Plasmodium malariae 1 (0.4%). Fifty-six percent of patients reported chemoprophylaxis use. People born in a country with endemic malaria (36.6%) were less likely to have used chemoprophylaxis. Malaria was most commonly acquired in Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia. The median times to diagnosis after return to Australia for P. falciparum and P. vivax infections were 1 and 9 weeks respectively. The longest interval between last arrival in Australia and presentation with P. falciparum malaria was 32 weeks. Fever (96%), headache (74%), and a tender or palpable spleen (40%), were the most common clinical features. Diarrhea was more common in P. falciparum, and rigors in P. vivax infections. Thrombocytopenia (71%), abnormal liver function tests and an elevated C-reactive protein (85%) were common. Six patients had severe falciparum malaria but no deaths occurred during the study period. CONCLUSION: Malaria remains a health threat for those traveling in endemic areas and is associated with failure to use chemoprophylaxis appropriately. Nonspecific clinical features may lead to delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Malaria should be suspected in the febrile traveler, regardless of birthplace, prophylaxis, symptomatology, or the time that has elapsed since leaving the malarious area.


Subject(s)
Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Malaria/epidemiology , Travel/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Animals , Female , Humans , Malaria/pathology , Malaria/prevention & control , Male , Medical Records , Plasmodium/classification , Plasmodium/isolation & purification , Retrospective Studies , Victoria/epidemiology
14.
Int J Antimicrob Agents ; 17(2): 109-13, 2001 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11165114

ABSTRACT

From a prospective melioidosis study commencing in 1989 at Royal Darwin Hospital, 170 initial isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei were available for susceptibility testing. Of these 163 (96%) were susceptible to meropenem/imipenem, ceftazidime, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (SMX/TMP) and doxycycline. Seven (4%) showed primary resistance; three had low-level resistance to SMX/TMP, one to ceftriaxone and amoxycillin/clavulanate (AMOX/CA) and three to doxycycline. Of 167 patients who survived their initial presentation, seven (4%) had culture positive infections which persisted for greater than 3 months after start of therapy. All ultimately cleared carriage of B. pseudomallei though three required changing to SMX/TMP after development of doxycycline resistance. Nineteen (11%) of the initial survivors clinically relapsed and 17 of these had repeat isolates available for testing. Four of these had acquired resistance: one to doxycycline, one to AMOX/CA and ceftazidime, one to SMX/TMP and one to both SMX/TMP and doxycycline. Molecular typing using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed all but one relapse isolate to be the same as the original strain. These data are similar to published data from Thailand. As melioidosis has a high mortality (21% in this series) these results emphasize the need for prolonged eradication therapy and regular clinical and microbiological monitoring so that the emergence of resistance can be detected early and appropriate treatment modifications made.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Burkholderia pseudomallei/drug effects , Melioidosis/drug therapy , Melioidosis/microbiology , Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination/pharmacology , Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination/therapeutic use , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Australia , Burkholderia pseudomallei/isolation & purification , Ceftazidime/pharmacology , Ceftazidime/therapeutic use , Doxycycline/pharmacology , Doxycycline/therapeutic use , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Humans , Imipenem/pharmacology , Imipenem/therapeutic use , Meropenem , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Prospective Studies , Thienamycins/pharmacology , Thienamycins/therapeutic use , Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination/pharmacology , Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination/therapeutic use , Tropical Climate
15.
Scand J Infect Dis ; 30(2): 99-104, 1998.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9730291

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) is most commonly diagnosed as a pulmonary disease; however, haematogenous spread of the organism can cause disease in any organ system. We report the case of a 30-y-old woman, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibody-negative, who was diagnosed as having a pancreatic mass on computed tomographic (CT) scans. She underwent a laparotomy and the fluid drained from the mass was culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We review the clinical details of 37 similar cases of pancreatic TB in the literature, where each patient's HIV antibody status is negative or unknown. In this series 3 patients died (1 of these had commenced anti-TB therapy, the others had not) but the remaining 34 responded well to radiological-guided drainage and/or surgical intervention and anti-TB therapy. TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass, especially when associated with epigastric pain or discomfort and weight loss.


Subject(s)
Abdominal Abscess/diagnosis , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Pancreatic Diseases/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Endocrine/diagnosis , Abdominal Abscess/physiopathology , Abdominal Abscess/therapy , Adult , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Female , Follow-Up Studies , HIV Seronegativity , Humans , Laparotomy/methods , Pancreatic Diseases/physiopathology , Pancreatic Diseases/therapy , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Tuberculosis, Endocrine/physiopathology , Tuberculosis, Endocrine/therapy
16.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol ; 19(3): 191-3, 1998 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9552189

ABSTRACT

Although widely used outside the United States, bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) immunization generally is given scant consideration in the US literature. We believe that the recent resurgence of tuberculosis, including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, is a compelling argument for the use of BCG in healthcare workers and that BCG given to those at risk of exposure could be more effective than routine tuberculin skin testing and isoniazid prophylaxis


Subject(s)
Antibiotic Prophylaxis , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , BCG Vaccine , Health Personnel , Isoniazid/therapeutic use , Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/prevention & control , Australia , Humans , Tuberculin Test
17.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol ; 18(8): 576-9, 1997 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9324510

ABSTRACT

An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by Norwalk-like virus occurred in two areas of the hospital: area 1, consisting of three adjacent and interconnected wards, with mostly elderly patients; and area 22, an acute ward in a separate building with elderly patients. In area 1, 40 patients and 20 staff were affected; in area 2, 18 patients and 14 staff were affected. Infection control measures were instituted in consultation with the government health authority. These measures did not appear to affect the course of the outbreak, but may have prevented spreads to the other wards.


Subject(s)
Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Gastroenteritis/epidemiology , Norwalk virus , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Australia/epidemiology , Caliciviridae Infections/prevention & control , Caliciviridae Infections/transmission , Cross Infection/virology , Gastroenteritis/prevention & control , Gastroenteritis/virology , Hospitals , Humans , Nursing Homes
18.
Aust N Z J Surg ; 63(3): 231-4, 1993 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8311803

ABSTRACT

A 69 year old woman developed intractable episodic hepatic encephalopathy 12 years after an end-to-side portacaval shunt for variceal haemorrhage. Medical management was ineffective in preventing repeated episodes of encephalopathy and caused incapacitating faecal incontinence. A loop ileostomy was created with minimal morbidity and was effective in preventing further episodes of encephalopathy over a follow-up period of 33 months. The patient returned to a normal diet and was able to be discharged home from institutional care. Loop ileostomy is an alternative in the management of patients with hepatic encephalopathy who are poorly responsive to, and/or intolerant of, medical therapy following portasystemic shunt surgery.


Subject(s)
Hepatic Encephalopathy/surgery , Ileostomy , Portacaval Shunt, Surgical , Aged , Chronic Disease , Female , Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology , Humans , Postoperative Complications
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