bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
National study on the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery, Belgium, 1986
Authors: Mertens R. , Verbist L. , Gordts B. , Lauwers S. , Potvliege C. , Reybrouck G. , Verschraegen G. , Wauters G. , Berghmans L. , Dondeyne F. , Stroobant A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuring the last week of May 1986, a 1-week prospective study on antibiotic utilization in surgical patients was held in 104 (42%) of the 247 Belgian acute care hospitals. All surgical patients with a post-operative stay of at least 3 days were studied, involving 3112 patients. Each patient was observed for 7 days, starting from the day before surgery. Antibiotics were administered to 71·9% of all patients; 21·9% received therapeutic antibiotics and 52·9% prophylactic antibiotics; 2·9% received both. Of the 1285 patients undergoing a surgical procedure with no indication for antimicrobial prophylaxis, 50·7% nevertheless received prophylaxis; 92·8% of patients with a generally recognized indication for prophylaxis received antibiotic prophylaxis. Less than one fifth (17·1 %) of all prophylactic courses were stopped on the day of the intervention whilst 26·3% were continued up to the fifth post-operative day or beyond. The most frequently prescribed drugs for this indication included first and second generation cephalosporins and nitroimidazoles. The number of different generic drugs utilized per hospital ranged from 1 to 18 (mean: 7·7).
Investigation of the immune status of mice during and following selective decontamination of the digestive tract
Authors: Speekenbrink A. B. J. , Alcock S. R. , Parrott D. M. V. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYSelective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) employs oral antibiotics to eliminate aerobic Gram-negative bacilli while retaining the anaerobic flora. A combination of SDD and parenteral cefotaxime has recently been reported to strikingly reduce the incidence of infection in patients treated in an intensive therapy unit. The present study describes the effects of SDB and of cefotaxime on the immune response of mice to protein antigens. The in vivo cellular response to ovalbumin and sheep red blood cells was unchanged. However, SDD appeared to decrease the in vitro mitogenic response of spleen cells to phytohaemagglutinin, and cefotaxime similarly affected the response to Concanavalin A. The antibody response to sheep red blood cells was increased in the period after discontinuation of SDD. The antibody response was otherwise not affected. These results indicate that SDD is unlikely to have adverse effects on the immune response to protein antigens.
Concurrent outbreaks of influenza and parvovirus B19 in a boys' boarding school
Authors: Grilli E. A. , Anderson M. J. , Hoskins T. W. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn the spring term of 1985 there was a protracted outbreak of upper respiratory tract febrile illness consistent with a clinical diagnosis of influenza in a boys' boarding school, which lasted from 23 January to 29 March. Although influenza virus infection was confirmed in 89% of cases in the first half of the term, 53% of the cases which occurred in the second half of the term had no evidence of infection with influenza virus. Between 5 February and 31 March 28 boys presented with skin rashes consistent with a clinical diagnosis of erythema infectiosum; 68% of these were associated with parvovirus B19. Investigation of the cases of clinical influenza with no identified respiratory pathogen revealed a 58% infection rate with B19. B19 DNA was identified in either throat swabs or acute stage bloods of nine pupils with influenza-like symptoms.Cohort studies revealed that 44% of pupils aged 15–16 years were immune before the outbreak compared with only 17% of pupils aged 11–12 years. Infection in the younger group was common and was associated with influenzalike illnesses as well as rashes. Forty-eight per cent of those who did not report any symptoms were also infected with B19.
Investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A simplified by salivary antibody testing
Authors: Bull A.R. , Kimmance K. J. , Parry J. V. , Perry K. R. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn March 1988 a general practitioner notified two cases of hepatitis A in a private boarding school. Epidemiological investigation, including testing for salivary antibodies revealed a further five cases and established immunity to, and recent infection with, hepatitis A virus (HAV). The pattern of the outbreak was described. A number of practices which would encourage cross-infection were corrected. Normal human immunoglobulin was given to contacts.Repeat salivary testing 10 weeks later revealed that two more boys had becomereactive for anti-HAV, though at a low titre. These may have been serologicalresponses to HAV infection modified by the passive immunization.
A large outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 associated with eggs from overseas
Authors: Stevens A. , Joseph C. , Bruce J. , Fenton D. , O'Mahony M. , Cunningham D. , O'Connor B. , Rowe B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn February 1989 the largest reported outbreak to date in the United Kingdom of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4) infection occurred following a wedding reception at a hotel. One hundred and seventy-three people met the case definition of illness of whom 118 had the organism isolated from their stools. A further 17 were found to be S. enteritidis PT4 positive, but were asymptomatic. Lightly-cooked, egg-based sauces were the epidemiologically proven vehicles of infection. Investigations showed this outbreak to be the first to implicate imported European eggs as the source of infection. An unusual feature of this outbreak was a reported incubation period of less than 3 h for some of the confirmed cases of salmonellosis.
Numerical index of the discriminatory ability of biotyping for strains ofSalmonella typhimuriumandSalmonella paratyphiB
Authors: Old D.C , Barker R.M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn index of discrimination was used to assess the discriminatory power of biotyping for salmonellas of selected serotypes. Three collections of phage-typed strains ofSalmonella typhimuriumandSalmonella paratyphiB, previously tested for biotype, were examined. The results established that the discrimination index was high when full biotyping alone was used for differentiation of strains from international series. When biotyping was combined with phage typing, the discrimination achieved was greater than for either method used alone. These findings confirm that biotyping affords excellent discrimination of strains ofS. typhimuriumandS. paratyphiB and indicate that the results obtained from biotyping can be interpreted with confidence.
Staphylococcal food poisoning from sheep milk cheese
Authors: Bone F. J. , Bogie D. , Morgan-Jones S. C. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYCheese made from sheep milk was implicated in food-poisoning incidents in December 1984 and January 1985. Bacteriological examination of batches of cheese failed to reveal a viable pathogen but enterotoxin A produced byStaphylococcus aureuswas present. This was the first time that enterotoxin was detected in a food produced in the UK which was associated with poisoning and from which viableStaph. aureuscould not be isolated. Subsequent detailed examination of milk, yoghurt and cheese from the same producer revealed that contamination withStaph. aureuswas associated with post-infection carriage as well as clinical illness in ewes on the farm. Strains producing enterotoxin A were still intermittently present in the bulk milk used for cheese production nearly 2 years afterwards, apparently in the absence of clinical illness in the sheep. The possible effects of heat treatment are discussed. Any changes in legislation should cover all non-human mammalian milk used for human consumption.
Some observations on the faecal carriage of mesophilicAeromonasspecies in cows and pigs
Authors: Gray S. J. , Stickler D. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYReplicate faecal samples from healthy individual pigs and cows were examined for the presence ofAeromonassp. over a 12-month period. Aeromonads were found to be minor components of the faecal flora, only 8·8 % of 520 samples from pigs and 4·6% of 481 samples from cows proving positive. Isolation rates in both groups of animals were seasonal.A. hydrophila(62% of the isolates) was the predominant species in cows, followed byA. caviae(32%) andA. sobria(15%). This pattern was also recorded in the natural waters that the animals drank from during the period when the faecal carriage rate was at its highest. In pigs,A. caviae(59%) was more common thanA. hydrophila(41%).A. sobriawas not found in any of the pig-associated samples. It seems that cattle acquire their faecal aeromonads from drinking water. The source of the organisms in pigs is less clear.
The effectiveness of a prenatal education programme for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis
Authors: Carter A. O. , Gelmon S. B. , Wells G. A. , Toepell A. P. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA 10 min education programme was developed which, if effective in changing the behaviour of pregnant women, would eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis. It was taught in 26 randomly selected (case) prenatal classes offered to women early in their pregnancy. The remaining 26 (control) classes received routine class material which did not mention toxoplasmosis. A questionnaire was administered to all women prior to this early class (pre-test) and again after the last prenatal class, held just prior to delivery (post-test). Changes in pet, food and personal hygiene behaviour between the pre- and post-test were determined and a score calculated by adding points for change towards those behaviours recommended in the programme and subtracting points for change in the opposite direction. Cat owners in case classes had a significantly higher score in pet hygiene behaviour than those in control classes (P < 0·05). No significant difference was found between the food or personal hygiene scores of women in case and control classes, possibly because of low power. However, although behaviours did not differ on the pre-test, women in case classes had significantly better cooking methods for roast beef and hamburger on the post-test (P < 0·05 and P < 0·01 respectively). It is concluded that this programme is effective and should be offered to all women in order to reduce congenital toxoplasmosis incidence.
Genotyping ofPseudomonas aeruginosasputum and stool isolates from cystic fibrosis patients: evidence for intestinal colonization and spreading into toilets
Authors: Döring G. , Bareth H. , Gairing A. , Wolz C. , Botzenhart K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThree hundred and fifty-eight stool and 131 sputum specimens from 40 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and 100 toilet sinks were investigated for occurrence ofPseudomonas aeruginosa; 67% (21/31) of the patients with chronicP. aeruginosalung infections carried the organism repeatedly in the stool but the organism was found only once in the stools of nine uninfected patients.P. aeruginosastool carriage was correlated to highP. aeruginosanumbers in patients' sputa. Typing ofP. aeruginosawith a DNA probe showed identity of sputum and stool strains. Seven patients repeatedly carried additional stool strains, not found in the sputum, suggesting intestinal colonization. No differences were seen in the clinical state of patients withP. aeruginosa-negative stool samples and patients with positive stool samples. Toilets in households ofP. aeruginosa-infected CF patients were significantly more often contaminated withP. aeruginosa(42%) than toilets in households of non-infected CF patients (20%;P< 0·03). The study shows thatP. aeruginosa-infected CF patients may harbour the organisms also in the intestinal tract, and may spread the bacteria into toilets.
The time course of the humoral immune response to rhinovirus infection
Authors: Barclay W. S. , Al-Nakib W. , Higgins P. G. , Tyrrell D. A. J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe specific humoral immune response of 17 volunteers to infection with human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV-2) has been measured both by neutralization and by ELISA. Six volunteers who had HRV-2-specific antibodies in either serum or nasal secretions before HRV-2 inoculation were resistant to infection and illness. Of the remaining 11 volunteers who had little pre-existing HRV-2-specific antibody, one was immune but 10 became infected and displayed increases in HRV-2-specific antibodies. These antibodies first increased 1–2 weeks after infection and reached a maximum at 5 weeks. All six resistant volunteers who had high pre-existing antibody and eight of the volunteers who became infected maintained their HRV-2-specific antibody for at least 1 year. At this time they were protected against reinfection. Two volunteers showed decreases in HRV-2-specific antibodies from either serum or nasal secretions. They became infected but not ill after HRV-2 inoculation 1 year later.
Restricted variability of a 17 nucleotide stretch within the 5′-noncoding region of poliovirus genome
Authors: Pöyry T. , Kinnunen L. , Hovi T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThe outbreak of poliomyelitis in Finland in 1984 was caused by a wild strain of poliovirus 3 with uncommon molecular and antigenic properties. We prepared a synthetic oligonucleotide probe complementary to nucleotides 494–510 in the 5′-noncoding part of the genome of a representative strain of the outbreak. This short nucleotide stretch was found to be relatively well conserved within the outbreak and uncommon among 82 independent poliovirus isolates. It may thus be a useful marker for screening isolates to identify those requiring more detailed genetic comparison. The sequences of the corresponding region of the genome are known for 32 separate poliovirus strains and 3 coxsackie B virus strains and show 6 fully conserved nucleotides that could assume a constant hairpin-loop position in a hypothetical secondary structure of the RNA. This could explain the persistence of a particular 17 nucleotide sequence for 40 years in nature in this highly variable region of the poliovirus genome.
Further studies on the inhibition of colonization of the chicken alimentary tract withSalmonella typhimuriumby pre–colonization with an avirulent mutant
Authors: Berchieri A. , Barrow P. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYOral administration to newly hatched chickens or to chicks up to 5 days of age with an avirulent, rough, spectinomycin–resistant mutant ofSalmonella typhimuriumstrain F98 inhibited the colonization of a nalidixic acid–resistant mutant of the same strain administered by the same route 1 day later. The second strain passed rapidly through the alimentary tract and persisted in the caeca of only a few chickens. Resistance to colonization did not develop until 24 h after inoculation of the first strain but was still evident if the second strain was inoculated up to 7 days later. Resistance occurred in 5 different breeds of chicken and in chickens reared on 5 different diets. Protection was evident against a very high challenge dose and could be produced by the introduction of small numbers of the first strain. Pre–colonization of chicks with the first strain of F98 reduced faecal excretion of the second strain over many weeks, whether chickens were challenged directly or by contact with other infected chickens. The rough strain F98 produced protection against only a few S.typhimuriumstrains and not against other serotypes. However, strains of S.infantisandS. heidelberg, chosen because they colonized the chicken alimentary tract better than did F98, produced inhibition of a wider range of serotypes.
Molecular characterization of trimethoprim resistance inShigella sonneiin Sicily
Authors: Agodi A. , Jones C. , Threlfall E. J. , D'Angelo M. , Marranzano M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDuring the 3-year period 1985–7, all strains ofShigella sonneiisolated in Catania, Sicily, showed a high level of resistance to trimethoprim (Tp) which was invariably associated with resistance to other antibiotics.Plasmid analysis showed 18 different electropherotypes: 35 of 37 strains harboured a plasmid of 70 Megadaltons (MDa), and 29 of 37 strains a plasmid of 130 MDa.Restriction endonuclease fingerprinting of purified 70 MDa plasmid DNA from different strains demonstrated that these plasmids were similar but not identical.In some strains with transferable Tp resistance, DNA hybridization analysis demonstrated the presence of genes coding for the production of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) type V. In contrast, there was no detectable hybridization with DNA probes specific for genes coding for DHFR types I, II and IV. This is the first report of the DHFR type V gene outside Sri Lanka.
Molecular epidemiology of shigella infection in Central Australia
Authors: Albert M. John , Singh K. V. , Murray B. E. , Erlich J. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYShigellosis is endemic in Central Australia and the infections are predominantly due toShigella flexneri6,Shigella flexneri2a andShigella sonnei. Plasmid profiles of isolates collected from 1985–9, suggested that infections caused byShigella flexneri6 were predominantly due to a single clone, whereas those caused byShigella flexneri2a andShigella sonneiwere due to several genetically diverse strains, although strains with identical plasmid profiles were found in widely separated geographical areas and in different years.
A serological survey of rinderpest antibody in wildlife and sheep and goats in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Anderson E. C. , Jago M. , Mlengeya T. , Timms C. , Payne A. , Hirji K. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYAn extensive serological survey for rinderpest antibody in wildlife, principally buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and sheep and goats has been undertaken in the previously endemic region of Northern Tanzania to determine whether or not the virus has continued to cycle in susceptible species since the last occurrence of overt disease in 1982. The results show that infection but not disease has occurred at least until 1987 in buffalo in parts of the Serengeti National Park but not in the other game areas of Tanzania where samples were taken. Sero-positive sheep and goats were widely distributed and have been found in 10 of the 14 districts sampled but there have been no reports of disease. These findings bring into question the possibility of eradicating the disease from Africa and continuous annual monitoring of this and other similar ecological zones will be required.
Outbreaks of infection with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureuson neonatal and burns units of a new hospital
Authors: Farrington M. , Ling J. , Ling T. , French G. L. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYMultiple introductions of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) strains occurred to a new hospital in Hong Kong. Two years of clinical microbiological surveillance of the resulting outbreaks was combined with laboratory investigation by phage and antibiogram typing, and plasmid profiling. The outbreaks on the special care baby (SCBU) and burns (BU) units were studied in detail, and colonization of staff and contamination of the environment were investigated. MRSA were spread by the hands of staff on the SCBU, where long-term colonization of dermatitis was important, but were probably transmitted on the BU by a combination of the airborne, transient hand-borne and environmental routes. Simple control measures to restrict hand-borne spread on the SCBU were highly effective, but control was not successful on the BU.
DNA restriction digest and ribosomal RNA gene patterns ofCampylobacter jejuni: a comparison with bio-, sero-, and bacteriophage-types of United Kingdom outbreak strains
Authors: Owen R. J. , Hernandez J. , Bolton F. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYDNA restriction endonuclease (HaeIII andHindIII) total digest and 16S and 23S ribosomal (r)RNA gene patterns (ribopatterns) were determined for 18 isolates ofCampylobacter jejunifrom three separate outbreaks of diarrhoea in the north of England. Strains were also characterized by biotyping, serotyping and phage typing. Comparisons of the DNA patterns by visual and numerical methods revealed five distinct strain groupings with clear differences between isolates from different outbreaks as well as some heterogeneity between strains within the community outbreak and one of the school outbreaks. An excellent correlation was observed between the genomic DNA fingerprints data and the Preston bacteriophage group, both of which gave better discrimination than biotyping and serotyping alone or in combination. Only one phage group (PG 37) was not confirmed by the DNA data. DNA fingerprints therefore provide additional information of value in studying the epidemiology of outbreaks ofC. jejuni.
Infection with bacterial enteropathogens in Swedish travellers to South-East Asia–a prospective study
Authors: Åhrén C. M. , Jertborn M. , Herclik L. , Kaijser B. , Svennerholm A.-M. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYInfection with potential bacterial enteropathogens was studied prospectively in 94 Swedish travellers. Three faecal samples were collected, regardless of diarrhoeal symptoms, after each of three 1-week stays in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. The specimens were analysed for salmonella, shigella, yersinia, campylobacter and different enterotoxin-producing bacteria. A potential enteropathogen was identified in 30% (28/94) of the participants, i.e. in 26% of the healthy and in 39% of the travellers with diarrhoea. The most common isolates were enterotoxigenic bacteria of different species (14%), salmonella (11%) and campylobacter (7%). By performing enterotoxin-tests on six different colonies from the primary culture of each specimen enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) as well as enterotoxin-producingKlebsiellasp.,Citrobactersp. andMorganella morganiiwere identified. The latter strains were as prevalent as ETEC. In the 33 participants with diarrhoea enterotoxigenic bacteria (18%) and campylobacter (18%) were the most common isolates. Campylobacter-infected travellers developed symptomatic disease (6/7) significantly (P>0·02) more often than those infected with salmonella (3/10) or enterotoxigenic bacteria (6/13; 2 ETEC, 4 other species).
A review of outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales 1979–88
Authors: Joseph C. , Noah N. , White J. , Hoskins T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYIn this review of 66 outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales between 1979–88, 27 were reported from independent and 39 from maintained schools. Altogether, over 8000 children and nearly 500 adults were affected. Most of the outbreaks investigated were due to gastrointestinal infections which affected about 5000 children; respiratory infections affected a further 2000 children. Fifty-two children and seven adults were admitted to hospital and one child with measles died. Vaccination policies and use of immunoglobulin for control and prevention of outbreaks in schools have been discussed.