International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jul 2006
Clinical correlates of tuberculosis co-infection in HIV-infected children hospitalized in Peru.
In developing countries, tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for almost 250,000 deaths among children yearly. Active TB in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is difficult to diagnose and progresses rapidly to death. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical correlates of TB-related illness among HIV-infected children admitted to an infectious diseases ward in Peru, a country where TB is highly endemic. ⋯ Weight loss may be used to identify high-risk HIV positive children who require more aggressive evaluation for tuberculosis. Radiological changes were common in both TB-positive and TB-negative groups.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jul 2006
Five years of nosocomial Gram-negative bacteremia in a general intensive care unit: epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and outcomes.
Nosocomial Gram-negative bacteremia in the critically ill is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study provides epidemiological and antimicrobial susceptibility data for nosocomial Gram-negative bacteremia in a general intensive care unit (ICU) over a five-year period. ⋯ Nosocomial Gram-negative bacteremia is associated with marked morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Significant resistance to ciprofloxacin was demonstrated. Empiric treatment regimens should be based on unit-specific data.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jul 2006
Hospital- and community-acquired infections: a point prevalence and risk factors survey in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.
Point prevalence studies are useful in revealing the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs). Such information allows prioritization of infection control resources and aids in overall hospital expenditure cut-backs. ⋯ The overall rate of HAIs in our hospital was 8%, with significant risk factors including a hospital stay exceeding eight days. A device-related infection was more likely in a patient with a venous or bladder catheter in place for more than eight days, or a patient mechanically ventilated for more than eight days. Catheter-related UTIs were identified as an important source of infection, requiring ongoing surveillance.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · May 2006
Prevalence of hepatitis B among Afghan refugees living in Balochistan, Pakistan.
Continued civil war and political instability in Afghanistan have lead to a huge influx of refugees into the neighboring provinces in Pakistan. This study was conducted to estimate seroprevalence of hepatitis B and to identify potential risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission among the refugees living in the camps of Balochistan Province, Pakistan. ⋯ Hepatitis B is highly endemic among Afghan refugees living in these camps. Unsafe injection practices will continue to cause a steady increase in the magnitude of this health problem until appropriate control measures are taken. The possibility of mother-to-child transmission underscores the need to include vaccination against hepatitis B as part of routine immunization in this population.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyDiagnosing pneumonia in rural Thailand: Digital cameras versus film digitizers for chest radiograph teleradiology.
Accurate surveillance for pneumonia requires standardized classification of chest radiographs. Digital imaging permits rapid electronic transfer of data to radiologists, and recent improvements in digital camera technology present high quality, yet cheaper, options. ⋯ Detection of pneumonia was not measurably compromised by using digital cameras compared with film digitizers. The 3-fold lower cost of the digital camera makes this technology an affordable and widely accessible alternative for surveillance systems, vaccine trials, and perhaps clinical use.