Axillary Ultrasound in the Management of the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patient

Axillary lymph node status remains an important prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) is an important tool in the workup of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and also has an emerging role evaluating the axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This review discusses the value of AUS in the workup and management of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and describes its role given the recent changes in axillary management.     

Epidemiology and population structure of Staphylococcus aureus in various population groups from a rural and semi urban area in Gabon, Central Africa

Little data is available on the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in Africa. In the present study we aim at characterizing the population structure of S. aureus in healthy subjects from a rural and a semi-urban area in Lambaréné, Gabon as well as in hospital staff and inpatients. In total, 500 subjects were screened for S. aureus colonization of the nares, axillae and inguinal region. Overall, 146 (29%) were positive. We found 46 different spa types. The most frequent spa types were t084 (35%) and the agr II was the most prevalent subtype of the accessory gene regulator (56%, n=82). Five isolates (3%) were methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Carriage rates of S. aureus in Gabon are comparable to developed countries. MRSA is for the first time described and could pose a significant health threat in this region with limited access to microbiological laboratory facilities and to adequate antimicrobial agents.