ABSTRACT
El tifus epidémico, está causado por Rickettsia Prowazekii, y es transmitido por el piojo del cuerpo. Durante siglos, ha producido epidemias devastadoras, considerándose que esta infección ha causado más muertes que todas las guerras juntas. La primera epidemia de la que existe constancia tuvo lugar durante el cerco de Granada por los Reyes Católicos, en 1489. Desde entonces hasta el siglo XX, ha acompañado en numerosas ocasiones a los ejércitos, habiendo sido la enfermedad decisiva en algunos casos, para el resultado de los conflictos, debido al número de fallecidos que ocasionó. Algunas situaciones concretas, como guerras, campamentos de refugiados, hacinamiento e inadecuadas condiciones higiénicas, favorecen el desarrollo de la enfermedad. El descubrimiento por Charles Nicolle (1856-1936) del vector de transmisión, el piojo del cuerpo, supuso un avance sustancial en el control de la misma y la llegada de los antibióticos hizo posible su curación
Epidemic typhus is caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and it is transmitted through body lice. For centuries, due to devastating epidemics it has caused more casualties than all wars known in humanity. The first epidemic of which we have record, took place during the siege of Granada by the Spanish Catholic King and Queen in 1489. Since then, and up to the 20th. century, typhus has been linked to armies in combat. Given the large number of deaths caused by this disease, its presence has been crucial in the results of certain conflicts. Certain situations favor the development of typhus epidemics such as wars, overcrowding, refugee camps and inadecuate hygienic conditions. The discovery by Charles Nicolle (1856-1936) of the transmission mechanism by body lice, was a substantial step towards controlling the disease. The appearance of antibiotics determined its definite healing
Subject(s)
Humans , Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne/epidemiology , Rickettsia prowazekii/pathogenicity , Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne/prevention & control , Epidemics/historyABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR BSI) reduction programme and healthcare workers' compliance with recommendations. A 3-year surveillance programme of CR BSIs in all hospital settings was implemented. As part of the programme, there was a direct observation of insertion and maintenance of central venous catheters (CVCs) to determine performance. A total of 38 education courses were held over the study period and feedback reports with the results of surveillance and recommendations were delivered to healthcare workers every 6 months. A total of 6722 short-term CVCs were inserted in 4982 patients for 58 763 catheter-days. Improvements of compliance with hand hygiene was verified at the insertion (87·1-100%, P < 0·001) and maintenance (51·1-72·1%, P = 0·029) of CVCs; and the use of chlorhexidine for skin disinfection was implemented at insertion (35·7-65·4%, P < 0·001) and maintenance (33·3-45·9%, P < 0·197) of CVCs. There were 266 CR BSI incidents recorded with an annual incidence density of 5·75/1000 catheter-days in the first year, 4·38 in the second year [rate ratio (RR) 0·76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·57-1·01] and 3·46 in the third year (RR 0·60, 95% CI 0·44-0·81). The education programme clearly improved compliance with recommendations for CVC handling, and was effective in reducing the burden of CR BSIs.
Subject(s)
Catheter-Related Infections/epidemiology , Catheter-Related Infections/prevention & control , Health Services Research , Infection Control/methods , Sepsis/epidemiology , Sepsis/prevention & control , Adult , Aged , Attitude of Health Personnel , Catheterization/adverse effects , Central Venous Catheters/adverse effects , Disinfection/methods , Disinfection/statistics & numerical data , Education, Medical , Female , Guideline Adherence , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
La tos ferina es una enfermedad infecciosa, desconocida durante siglos, a la que no se hace referencia en la Grecia clásica y en Roma, habiéndose realizado su primera descripción en el s. XVI. En los últimos años, se ha observado un incremento en el número de casos, incluso en países que han logrado buenas en lactantes, especialmente en aquellos que no han iniciado o completado la primovacunación, ocupando de acuerdo con la OMS, el quinto lugar entre las causas de muerte prevenibles por vacuna. Aunque se dispone de una profilaxis eficaz desde hace más de medio siglo, no se ha logrado aún el control de la enfermedad, por lo que se han propuesto algunas estrategias, como la vacunación de adolescentes y adultos, de la embarazada y de los contactos del lactante, con el fin contribuir a mejorar el control de la misma
The whooping cough is an infectious disease. Unknown for centuries, there are no references of this disease in classic Greece nor in Rome, and its first description appears only in the WVI century. There has been an increase in the number of cases in the latter years, even in countries with good vaccine - coverage. This disease presents a high mortality rate in infants, especially in those that have not started or completed primal vaccination. According to WHO, this disease is fifth among the different causes of death that could be prevented by the use of the vaccine. In spite of having and efficient prophylaxis for oven fifty years, control of the disease has not been yet achieved. For this reason, some strategies have been proposed such as vaccination of adolescents and adults, pregnant women, and those in contact with infants so that these may contribute to the control of the disease
