Risk groups for clinical complications of norovirus infections: an outbreak investigation

Norovirus infections have been described as self-limiting diseases of short duration. An investigation of a norovirus outbreak in a university hospital provided evidence for severe clinical features in patients with several underlying diseases. Clinical outcomes of norovirus infection were defined. Risk-factor analysis targeting underlying diseases and medication was performed using multivariate analyses. In five outbreak wards, 84 patients and 60 nurses were infected (an overall attack rate of 32% in patients, and 76% in nurses). The causative agent was the new variant Grimsby virus. Severe clinical features, including acute renal failure, arrhythmia and signs of acute graft organ rejection in renal transplant patients, were observed in seven (8.3%) patients. In multivariate analyses, cardiovascular disease (OR 17.1, 95% CI 2.17-403) and renal transplant (OR 13.0, 95% CI 1.63-281) were risk-factors for a potassium decrease of >20%. Age >65 years (OR 11.6, 95% CI 1.89-224) was a risk-factor for diarrhoea lasting >2 days. Immunosuppression (OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.78-20.1) was a risk-factor for a creatinine increase of >10%. Norovirus infections in patients with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, renal transplant and immunosuppressive therapy may lead to severe consequences typified by decreased potassium levels, increased levels of C-reactive protein and creatine phosphokinase. In the elderly, norovirus infection may lead to an increased duration of diarrhoea. Therefore patients at risk should be hospitalised early and monitored frequently. Strict preventional measures should be implemented as early as possible to minimise the risk of nosocomial outbreaks.     

湖南省衡阳地区STD患者病原体检测

目的 了解衡阳地区性传播疾病(STD)患者病原体感染情况。方法 对2420例可疑STD患者进行检测：淋病奈瑟菌(NG)、解脲脲原体(UU)、人型支原体(MH)采用培养法；沙眼衣原体(CT)、人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)、单纯疱疹病毒(HSV)核酸采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)法；梅毒螺旋体(TP)采用快速血浆反应素环状卡片试验(RPR)和TP-PA法。结果 STD病原体阳性检出率为38．1％(922／2420)。在922例中UU占29．6％，CT20．8％，HPV17．8％，NG17．4％，MH6．3％，HSV4．2％，TP3．9％。结论 衡阳地区STD患者中UU感染率最高，CT和HPV次之，TP感染率最低。     

医院内下呼吸道革兰阴性杆菌感染59例临床分析

目的：探讨医院内下呼吸道革兰阴性杆菌感染的病原菌谱、药物敏感性及主要危险因素。方法：回顾性分析我院1998年1月～2001年12月医院内获得性下呼吸道感染，所取痰标本行细菌学培养，阳性菌以K—B纸片法行药物敏感性测定。结果：共获73株革兰阴性杆菌，其中，铜绿假单胞菌(28．77％)，克雷伯杆菌(26．03％)，大肠埃希菌(23．28％)等，共同构成我院医院内下呼吸道感染的主要致病菌。基础疾病以气管插管或气管切开机械通气、昏迷、患有慢性阻塞性肺疾病、使用广谱抗生素以及高龄患者是造成医院内感染的主要危险因素。第三代头孢菌素、氟喹诺酮类和氨基甙类抗生素为治疗革兰阴性杆菌的有效抗生素。结论：抵抗力低下、不合理应用抗生素及基础疾病严重是造成医院内下呼吸道感染的主要危险因素。下呼吸道感染以革兰阴性杆菌感染为主。出现多重耐药菌，应根据药敏选择抗生素，必要时联合用药。     

外生殖器部位非性传播性皮肤疾病的诊断

我国由于人口流动性高,加之无任何保护措施的性行为不断增加的趋势,性传播性疾患的发病快速增长。然而,同时也要认识到在外生殖器部位的非性传播性皮肤疾病,根据病因,分为23类,约200种皮肤病,为避免不必要的医疗纠纷,必须关注外生殖器部位非性传播性皮肤疾病的鉴别诊断。     

国产与进口头孢他啶治疗小儿细菌性下呼吸道感染的成本-效果分析

目的对国产与进口头孢他啶治疗小儿细菌性下呼吸道感染进行成本—效果分析。方法对我院2008年10月-2009年10月间患小儿细菌性下呼吸道感染且单用头孢他啶治疗的住院患者136例进行回顾性分析,根据药品不同产地将其分为A、B两组,A组给与头孢他啶（国产）60mg/（kg·d）,分2次静脉滴注;B组给与头孢他啶（进口）60mg/（kg·d）,分2次静脉滴注,两组疗程均为7d,分别计算两组病人治疗后的细菌清除率、不良反应发生率,两组的治疗有效率和总成本,计算成本-效果比。结果疗程结束后A、B两组的药物治疗成本分别为：A组236.4元、B组982.5元,组间比较存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）;治疗有效率分别为：91.30%、94.03%;A、B两组的细菌清除率分别为：86.36%、90.70%;两组不良反应发生率分别为：5.80%、2.99%,组间比较差异均无显著性（P〈0.05）;两组成本-效果比分别为：2.59、10.45。结论国产头孢他啶的成本-效果比优于进口头孢他啶,为较佳的治疗方案。     

Emerging diseases, zoonoses and vaccines to control them

Vaccination, when available, is undoubtedly the most cost-effective means of preventing and controlling, and even eradicating, infectious diseases. In recent years vaccination has also been used for other purposes in animal health, production and welfare, e.g. immunocastration.Vaccination of animals serves many different purposes, such as controlling animal infections and infestations, thus improving animal health and welfare; controlling anthropozoonoses and food poisoning in humans, thereby protecting public health; solving problems associated with antibiotic and anthelmintic resistance; helping to leave food-producing animals free of chemical residues; protecting the environment and biodiversity and ensuring animal farming sustainability. The problem is nevertheless more complex when facing emerging or re-emerging infections particularly zoonotic ones.     

Hepatitis B and Delta virus infection among heterosexuals,homosexuals and bisexual men

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection rates were estimated in patients attending a venereal disease outpatient clinic: 759 heterosexuals and 154 homosexual-bisexual men. The anti-HBC prevalence was higher in homo-bisexual men (68.8 per 100) than in heterosexuals (41.8 per 100), whereas HBsAg was roughly the same in the two groups (about 6 per 100). The anti-HBc prevalence rate among heterosexuals was higher than that estimated in hospital personnel from the same geographical area. A positive association between anti-HBc prevalence and present or past sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was found among homo-bisexual men. Anti-HBc was also positively associated with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies in both heterosexuals and homo-bisexual men. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual behavior also plays a role in the spread of infection among heterosexuals. Ten of the 46 HBsAg-positive subjects were anti-HDV positive: 6 of the 36 heterosexuals and 4 of the 10 homosexuals. All HDV-positive subjects had present or past STDs. These findings suggest sexual transmission of HDV infection.     

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) in acute leukaemia: IL1RA is both secreted spontaneously by myelogenous leukaemia blasts and is a part of the acute phase reaction in patients with chemotherapy- induced leucopenia

Abstract: Blast cells derived from peripheral blood of patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) were cultured in vitro and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) concentrations determined in culture supernatants. AML blasts derived from patients classified as AML-M4 and AML-M5 subtype showed an increased release of IL1RA. IL1α and IL1β caused a similar increase in AML blast release of IL1RA, and addition of anti-ILl antibodies decreased IL1RA release. IL1RA release from AML blasts was also increased by stem cell factor, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor, whereas interleukin 3, interleukin 6, leukaemia inhibitory factor and granulocyte colony- stimulating factor did not significantly alter IL1RA release. When investigating IL1RA serum levels, serum concentrations were decreased in acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy-induced cytopenia compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of both IL1RA as well as IL1β and soluble TNFα receptors increased when the leucopenic patients developed complicating bacterial infections.     

Candidaemia: a 10-year study in an Indian teaching hospital

Retrospective evaluation of candidaemia patients was performed in an Indian teaching hospital over a 10-year period. The incidence of patients with candidaemia increased eleven-fold in the second half of the study period (55 patients) compared with the first half (5 patients). Haematological malignancies (11 patients), neonatal septicaemia (9), cardiac abnormalities and cardiac surgery (9) were the commonest underlying diseases in these patients. Candida albicans (50%), C. guilliermondii (17%), C. tropicalis (15%) and C. parapsilosis (8%) were the most common fungal pathogens isolated from blood culture. Therapy with two or more antibiotics (92%), corticosteroid administration (25%), intravascular catheter use for over 24 h (78%) and neutropenia (48%) were the accountable predisposing factors. Prolonged hospitalization (mean average 22.2 days as compared with 11.2 days in other patients) was an added risk factor in these patients.