Decreasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella isolated from children with bacteraemia in a rural district hospital, Kenya

We analysed 336 non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) isolated from children <13 years of age with bacteraemia admitted to a rural district hospital in Kenya from 1994 to 2005. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to determine genetic relatedness of strains, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was also performed. Most NTS were either Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (n=114; 33.9%) or S. enterica serovar Enteritidis (n=128; 38.1%), with minimal genotypic diversity over the study period. The NTS showed a remarkable decrease in levels of resistance especially to two commonly available antimicrobials (amoxicillin and co-trimoxazole), from high of 69.2% and 68.4% during 1994-1997 to 11% and 13%, respectively, in 2002-2005 (P<0.01). All NTS remained fully susceptible to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. Our findings show that commonly available drugs may still be useful for treatment of invasive NTS infections in this rural population.     

Reviewers for Pharmaceutical Research (January 1, 1994 - November 30, 1994)

Reviewers for Pharmaceutical Research (January 1, 1994 - November 30, 1994)     

Increasing prevalence of coeliac disease over time

BACKGROUND: The number of coeliac disease diagnoses has increased in the recent past and according to screening studies, the total prevalence of the disorder is around 1%. AIM: To establish whether the increased number of coeliac disease cases reflects a true rise in disease frequency. METHODS: The total prevalence of coeliac disease was determined in two population-based samples representing the Finnish adult population in 1978-80 and 2000-01 and comprising 8000 and 8028 individuals, respectively. Both clinically-diagnosed coeliac disease patients and previously unrecognized cases identified by serum endomysial antibodies were taken into account. RESULTS: Only two (clinical prevalence of 0.03%) patients had been diagnosed on clinical grounds in 1978-80, in contrast to 32 (0.52%) in 2000-01. The prevalence of earlier unrecognized cases increased statistically significantly from 1.03% to 1.47% during the same period. This yields a total prevalence of coeliac disease of 1.05% in 1978-80 and 1.99% in 2000-01. CONCLUSIONS: The total prevalence of coeliac disease seems to have doubled in Finland during the last two decades, and the increase cannot be attributed to the better detection rate. The environmental factors responsible for the increasing prevalence of the disorder are issues for further studies.     

Paracetamol-related deaths in Scotland, 1994-2000

AIMS: To investigate the death rate due to paracetamol poisoning in Scotland and what effect the reduction in over-the-counter paracetamol pack sizes in 1998 had on the death rate. METHODS: Records from 1994 to 2000 were examined to identify the number and annual incidence of paracetamol-related deaths. Numbers of deaths before and after the pack size reduction were compared. RESULTS: No significant differences were shown due to the pack size reduction. The Scottish paracetamol-related death rate was twice as high as in England and Wales. CONCLUSIONS: Further measures to reduce paracetamol-related morbidity and mortality in Scotland should be considered.     

Maori work-related fatal injury, 1985-1994

AIMS: To document the rate of work-related fatal injury for Maori; to establish whether a difference exists between Maori and non-Maori; and to examine possible explanations in the event that differences did occur. METHODS: Coronial files collected as part of the examination of work-related fatal injuries occurring between 1985 and 1994, excluding motor vehicle fatalities on public roads, were reviewed. Maori were identified by either the classification recorded upon death certificates or if they were identified as Maori within coroner's files. RESULTS: 89 Maori were identified within the 741 worker fatalities. Agreement between the data sources used to identify ethnic status was approximately 52%. The crude rate for the decade was significantly higher for Maori than non-Maori. A significant linear decline across years was evident for the non-Maori rates but not for Maori rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study, the first to specifically investigate work-related injury for Maori, confirms that an overall disparity exists between Maori and non-Maori, and that it is probably due to differences in employment patterns.     

European Reviewers for Pharmaceutical Research (January 1, 1994 - November 23, 1994)

European Reviewers for Pharmaceutical Research (January 1, 1994 - November 23, 1994)     

A bibliography of drug discrimination research, 1992-1994

The major content of this publication is a comprehensive bibliography of research into the discriminative stimulus effects of drugs in animal and human subjects for the period 1991-1994. The bibliography is accompanied by a detailed cross-index that facilitates access to this literature through keywords based on the drugs studied, how the drugs were used, and numerous other methodological variables such as species of subject and schedule of reinforcement. The article also explains how users may obtain access to the present and earlier versions of the database, which are available as computer disks and over the Internet. The easy access to this literature made possible by the database should increase the working efficiency of the many groups that employ drug discrimination methods and should also support dissemination of the knowledge acquired to a wider scientific community.     

Antibiotic resistance and class 1 integron patterns of non-typhoidal human Salmonella serotypes isolated in Hungary in 2002 and 2003

The antibiotic resistance profiles of 5178 Salmonella strains representing 19 non-typhoidal serotypes isolated from human salmonellosis cases in Hungary in 2002 and 2003 were analysed for resistance to 10 antibiotic agents. The most frequent resistances were to nalidixic acid (Nx), streptomycin (S), tetracycline (Tc), ampicillin (Amp) and chloramphenicol (Cm) (ranging from 27% to 13%). Forty-five percent of the Salmonella Typhimurium strains were multiple resistant and belonged mainly to the definitive phage types 104 and U302. A prevalence of 83-94% of strains of serotypes S. Infantis, S. Hadar and S. Virchow was observed with the NxSTc resistance pattern, sometimes complemented with other resistances. Multiple resistance was uncommon in S. Enteritidis; nevertheless, 20% of the strains, most of which belonged to phage type 4, were nalidixic acid resistant. One strain of S. Typhimurium was found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin. Four S. Typhimurium strains were resistant to cefotaxime and produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Selected isolates were screened for the presence of class 1 integrons by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products revealed nine different variable regions. One resistance gene was identified in five variable regions (aadA1, aadA2, aadA23, dfrV and pse-1), and four variable regions carried two resistance gene cassettes (aadB-catB3, dhfrI-aadA, dfrA17-aadA5 and oxa-1-aadA1).     

1994～2003年某基层医院头孢菌素应用分析

目的：了解某基层医院头孢菌素的使用情况，为临床合理用药提供科学依据。方法：对该院1994～2003年头孢菌素用量、销售金额、DDDs进行统计分析。结果：第一代头孢菌素用量逐年减少，第三代头孢菌素自2002年起用量逐年增长。而用量、用药金额及DDDs排序前5位的药品每年均不相同。结论：该院应用头孢菌素总体看较合理，但口服制剂及第三代头孢菌素的使用管理有待进一步规范化。     

《药物生物技术》1994～2003论文统计分析

依据文献计量学原理，利用数理统计法以1994～2003年刊载的论文作为统计源，对《药物生物技术》载文量、引文、著者等进行了客观的定量分析与评价。