Leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency is a rare syndrome with autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. An eleven-month-old boy, whose parents were first degree relatives, was referred to clinic with recurrent episodes of pneumonia, otitis and extensive necrotic wounds of perianal area since neonatal period. His umbilical cord had separated 30 days after birth. Laboratory findings included marked leukocytosis, chemotaxis abnormality, and very low levels of CD 11 (0.5%) and CD 18 (2%). Leukocyte Adhesion Defect (LAD) is rare genetic defect of a group of leukocyte membrane glycoproteins. LAD affects nearly one out of every million individuals and is characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections of skin and mucous membranes, diminished pus formation, delayed umbilical cord separation, granulocytosis, poor wound healing and progressive periodontitis. This is the first report of a case of LAD in Isfahan of Iran.

Influenza outbreak detection and control measures in nursing homes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of influenza vaccine, rapid influenza testing, and influenza antiviral medication in nursing homes in the US to prevent and control outbreaks. METHODS: Survey questionnaires were sent to 1017 randomly selected nursing homes in nine states. Information was collected on influenza prevention, detection and control practices, and on outbreaks during three influenza seasons (1995-1998). RESULTS: The survey response rate was 78%. Influenza vaccine was offered to residents and staff by 99% and 86%, respectively, of nursing homes. Among nursing homes offering the influenza vaccine, the average vaccination rate was 83% for residents and 46% for staff. Sixty-seven percent of the nursing homes reported having access to laboratories with rapid antigen testing capabilities, and 19% reported having a written policy for the use of influenza antiviral medications for outbreak control. Nursing homes from New York, where organized education programs on influenza detection and control have been conducted for many years, were more likely to have reported a suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreak (51% vs 10%, P = .01), to have access to rapid antigen testing for influenza (92% vs 63%, P = .01), and to use antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A for their nursing home residents (94% vs 55%, P = .01) compared with nursing homes from the other eight states. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza outbreaks among nursing home residents can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality when prevention measures are not rapidly instituted. However, many nursing homes in this survey were neither prepared to detect nor to control influenza A outbreaks. Targeted, sustained educational efforts can improve the detection and control of outbreaks in nursing homes.

Seismic vulnerability of equipment in critical facilities : Life-safety and operational consequences

This study is part of a multi-year program aimed toward reducing earthquake risk for critical facility equipment and components. The program goal is to determine which equipment components are critical to life safety and normal operations, and how equipment systems have perfomed in past earthquakes. This report represents the dirst program phase, in which equipment data were collected and reviewed in the context of four sample facility types and six equipment systems. Subsequent program phases will: (i) develop a simplified method to assess and improve the reliability of equipment systems, (ii) apply the methodology to example building and component inventories, and (iii) disseminate component fragility and system reliability models in a format that can be used by codewriting bodies, emergency-response facility owners, and operators of economically valuable facilities.(AU)