Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from poultry farms in southeastern United States.

Salmonella spp. are among the most common foodborne pathogens, and increase in the occurrence of antimicrobial drug-resistant Salmonella poses a severe risk to public health. The main objective of this study was to determine changes in Salmonella prevalence and their antimicrobial resistance on poultry farms following recommendations to changes in biosecurity practices. Four poultry farms were sampled by collecting cloacal swabs, drag swabs, and litter samples prior to recommended biosecurity changes (March-April) and post recommendations (October-November). Prevalence of Salmonella was 3 to 4% during pre-recommendations, while the prevalence was higher (P > 0.05), ranging from 5 to 14% during post recommendations. Higher Salmonella prevalence was observed for pre- and post-recommendation phases by sample type in cloacal and drag samples -5% for farm 1, drag swab -6% on farm 2, cloacal swab -6% for farm 3, and drag swab -17% on farm 4. The PCR confirmed Salmonella were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial resistance. Six serotypes of Salmonella were identified with S. Enteritidis (52%) being the most prevalent, followed by S. Berta (38%), S. Mbandaka (7%), S. Typhimurium (2%), S. Kentucky (0.4%), and S. Tennessee (0.4%). A total of 7% isolates exhibited resistance to at least one of the 8 antimicrobials. Higher resistance was observed for tetracycline, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid. A single isolate of S. Mbandaka exhibited multidrug resistance to tetracycline, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and ampicillin. Based on these prevalence results, it can be inferred that, irrespective of implementation of improved biosecurity practices, seasonal variation can cause changes in the prevalence of Salmonella on the farms. Resistance to clinically important antimicrobials used to treat salmonellosis is a concern to public health.

[High prevalence of subclinical thyroidal disease among individuals attended in health control]. / Alta prevalencia de enfermedad tiroidea subclínica en sujetos que concurren a control de salud.

BACKGROUND: There is no information about the prevalence of thyroidal diseases in the general Chilean population. AIM: To assess the prevalence of thyroidal diseases in individuals attended in occupational health examinations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four hundred seventy two individuals were examined between 1998 and 1999. In all, serum levels of thyroid hormones, TSH and anti thyroidal antibodies (anti microsomal, anti thyroid peroxidase and anti thyroglobulin) were measured. RESULTS: Forty four subjects were excluded from the study due to an incomplete medical record and 18 due to a personal history of thyroidal disease. Abnormal serum levels of thyroid hormones or TSH were detected in 28 subjects (6.8%). Four (1%) had hypothyroidism, 23 a subclinical hypothyroidism (5.6%) and one (0.2%) had hyperthyroidism. In 87 subjects (21.2%) at least one of the antibodies was positive. Positive anti thyroid antibodies were found in 14 of 28 subjects (50%) with abnormal thyroid hormone levels, compared with 73 of 382 subjects (19.1%) with normal thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid dysfunction was twice as frequent in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, a 6.8% prevalence of abnormal thyroid function tests was detected.

Hiperplasia suprarrenal congenita virilizante por deficit de 21 - hidroxilasa: diagnostico precoz y respuesta a dos esquemas de tratamiento. / Virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21 - hydroxylase deficiency: early diagnosis and response to 2 treatment schedules

Se presentan 12 pacientes con hiperplasia suprarrenal congenita virilizante por deficit de 21 hidroxilasa. Se comparan los indices de laboratorio utiles para el diagnostico precoz (< 10 dias de vida) y tardio de esta patologia y se estudia la respuesta a dos esquemas terapeuticos usados en forma consecutiva, iguales en la dosis diaria de cortisol (20-30 mg/m2/dia) pero diferentes en su distribucion horaria en el dia (esquema I: dos dosis iguales a las 08:00 y 16.00 horas; esquema II: 1/4 de la dosis a las 08:00 y 16:00 horas y 1/2 dosis del total a las 23:00 horas). Se evidencio una baja sensibilidad diagnostica para los esteroides urinarios antes de los 4 casos en que se midio y los 17 cetoesteroides en 2 de 5 pacientes. Por el contrario, la 17 OH Progesterona siempre estuvo anormal antes y despues de los 10 dias de vida. Solo el esquema de tres dosis diarias (esquema II) acerco a la normalidad las concentraciones plasmaticas de 17 OH Progesterona (esquema I: 32.1 +/- 9.5 ng/ml vs esquema II: 4.6 +/- 4.1 ng/ ml; p < 0.0001); el potasio serico tambien bajo mas con el esquema II que con el esquema I (esquema I: 5.2 +/- 0.4 mEq/1 vs esquema II: 4.5 +/- 0.6 mE/q1; p < 0.025).El mejor resultado del esquema II sugiere que la redistribucion de las dosis diarias de cortisol puede conseguir un mejor control hormonal y mejorar las expectativas de crecimiento de estos ninos