The epidemiology of nosocomial Pseudomonas cepacia infections: Endemic infections

Pseudomonas cepacia has recently emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. We analyzed a national nosocomial infections database, the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system, to describe the epidemiology of endemic nosocomial P. cepacia infections. Between 1980 and 1985, the P. cepacia nosocomial infection rate was 2.4 per 100,000 patient discharges. During this period, there was a significant increase in the P. cepacia infection rate. The highest infection rate was reported from large medical school-affiliated hospitals. Over 90% of the infections were reported from medicine and surgery services. The most frequently reported site of infection was the lower respiratory tract (31%), followed by blood (20%) and the urinary tract (20%). Nosocomial P. cepacia infections are often associated with mortality, particularly when they involve the lung. These data confirm the hypothesis that P. cepacia is an emerging nosocomial pathogen and suggest that the epidemiology of endemic infections differs from that reported for epidemic inflections.     

咽旁间隙原发性肿块流行病学分析

目的：对咽旁间隙原发性肿块进行流行病学分析。方法：对咽旁间隙原发性239例肿块进行统计分析。结果：原发良性肿瘤患病比为61．09％，其中上皮源性肿瘤患病比最高，占19.25％；神经源性肿瘤第二位，占17．57％。原发性恶性肿瘤的患病比为35．15％，其中上皮源性恶性肿瘤的患病比最高，占21.76％；恶性淋巴瘤第2位，占7．95％。炎症的患病比为3．77％，其中淋巴结反应性增生最高。结论：咽旁间隙原发性肿块良性肿瘤的患病比最高，恶性肿瘤次之，炎症居第3位，比例约为17：9：1。     

某社区老年人支气管哮喘流行病学调查

目的　了解社区老年人支气管哮喘的患病情况 ,为哮喘防治奠定基础。　方法　采用整群抽样 ,对南海市桂城社区 2 481名 60岁以上老年人进行哮喘的流行病学调查。　结果　确诊老年人哮喘 98例 ,患病率为 3 .95 % (男4.91%、女 2 .92 % ) ,男性高于女性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;工业区老年人哮喘的患病率高于文化区 (患病率分别为 5 .12 %、3 .2 6% ,P<0 .0 5 ) ;有遗传家族史者 45例 ,占 45 .92 % ;78%的患者发病年龄 >14岁 ;诱发因素前 3位分别是上呼吸道感染、气候变化和刺激性气体 ;合并COPD2 5例 ,占 2 5 .5 1%。　结论　老年人哮喘是不容忽视的疾病 ,需加强对社区哮喘的管理和教育。     

广西5个县（市）级医院腹泻病门诊病人的调查分析

为了解医院腹泻病门诊病人分布、诊断和治疗情况，对广西５个腹泻病控制规划县（市）级医院１９９５年６月１日￣１５日腹泻病门诊登记的资料进行分析。５个医院腹泻病人共１０５１人，其中男性占５２．０％，女性占４７．９％；以肠炎最高占７９．７％，其次痢疾占２０．２％；轻度脱水病人占４６．７％，无脱水病人占３７．９％；以〈５岁儿童发病数最高，占２８．８％，静脉输液使用率为１８．８５％，口服补液盐（ＯＲＳ）使用率     

Small-airways dysfunction in never smoking asbestos exposed Danish plumbers

Summary Among 701 Copenhagen plumbers we examined the lung function of 23 never smokers, who had removed asbestos insulation and intermittently been exposed to high levels of asbestos for about 25 years without being exposed to welding fume. The plumbers had significantly lower TLC, MEF₂₅, MEF₅₀, closing volume and closing capacity in comparison to 23 never smoking electricians without asbestos exposure. There was no reduction in TL_CO. Pulmonary clearance of aerosolized ^99mTc-DTPA was normal indicating that the asbestos had not induced increases in pulmonary epithelial permeability. However, in 11 of the 23 plumbers the ^99m-Tc-DTPA ventilation scintigrams had a slightly irregular and spotty appearance, which together with the results of the lung function tests are suggestive of small airways' dysfunction. None of the subjects had symptoms or clinical signs of lung disease.     

Features of pediatric head injury in Hong Kong

Head injury in children causes special concern in most communities. From 1989 to 1994, 2,785 children younger than 16 years old were admitted to our neurosurgical service because of head injury. Fall from a height was the major cause of head injury leading to admission in infants and children in preschool age groups, whereas traffic-related or bicycle-related accidents were more likely to be the cause of head injury for those aged 11–15 years. In all age groups there was a male preponderance. The overall mortality was 0.6%. Traffic-ralated accidents caused more severe injury and accounted for 67% of all fatalities. For patients under 6 years old, about 40% of head injuries occurred at home. Preventive measures for pediatric head injury in Hong Kong are suggested.     

Back pain from the epidemiological point of view

Summary In the last decades back pain has reached dramatic proportions in industrialized countries. Disorders of the back are nowadays the leading cause of direct and indirect health care costs. Accurate prevalence estimates are needed to serve as a basis for health care evaluations. A review of epidemiologic studies in the general population reveals that back pain has reached a prevalence of 40 % for current pain. 7 to 18 % are “frequently”, “often”, “daily” or “constantly” affected. 75 % of the adult population suffers from back pain during the last year. 80 to 90 % of the adult population in industrialized countries experience back pain ever. Gender specific differences are only present in severe, chronic forms which are more often experienced by women. Back pain has a prevalence maximum at 50 to 64 years. Older persons display lower prevalence estimates. The prevalence maximum in men is one decade earlier than in women. There are several potential explanations for this prevalence pattern that are discussed in the article. Back pain can be classified by location, temporal characteristics, pain intensity and pain history. Currently, for none of these dimensions generally accepted, uniformly employed and validated definitions are available. In most of the industrialized countries back pain is one of the most expensive symptoms. 75–90 % of the direct and indirect health care costs were caused by those 5–10 % of patients who are disabled. As predictors of back pain a history of back pain and job satisfaction play by far a more important role than the extensively studied mechanical factors. For a first episode of back pain the prognosis is favorable. If the pain persist for more than three months the prognosis is unfavorable. After six months of absenteeism because of back pain more than half of the afflicted never return to work. Rarely back pain is present as a single symptom. In more than 80 % back pain is associated with pain in at least one joint. It remains to be studied if back pain may be viewed as an entity or as part of a more complex pain syndrome.      

Hip fracture incidence in the canton of Vaud,Switzerland, 1986–1991

The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of hip fracture in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland (total population 584 000), for the period 1986–1991 using routine hospital discharge data collected by the Cantonal Service of Statistical Research and Information (SCRIS). For the survey period, the estimated average annual crude incidence rate of hip fractures was 167 per 100 000 persons aged 20 or older (241 for women and 84 for men). For the population aged 50 years or older, the crude incidence rate was 388 per 100 000 persons (546 for women and 185 for men). The average annual age-specific rates rose exponentially by successive 5-year age groups. The median age of patients at the time of the fracture was 82 years in women and 74 years in men. There was no significant difference between the total number of cervical and trochanteric fractures. Between the ages of 20 and 84 years, the cumulative risk for a woman to be admitted to hospital with a hip fracture was twice that of a man (15.8% vs 7.8%). From 1986 to 1991, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence, like the ratio of cervical to trochanteric fractures, did not show any significant trend, although it was consistent with an increase in men (p=0.09). However, the annual number of fractures rose from 644 to 776, particularly among very aged men. The mean length of stay in the acute care hospital fell from 38 days in 1986 to 25 days in 1991. Finally, the comparison of these results with those obtained in 1986 for the same population from more exhaustive sources has confirmed the provision of a consistent, although overestimated, assessment of hip fracture incidence by means of these routine hospital statistics in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.     

Serologic evidence for human ehrlichiosis in Africa

Human ehrlichiosis is a recently recognized rickettsial disease. It is caused byEhrlichia chaffeensis, an intraleucocytic Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium, grouped within the genusEhrlichiae. Most human cases of ehrlichiosis have been diagnosed in the USA. Two cases have been reported outside of the USA, one in Europe and one in Africa. From 1 January to 30 June 1992, 765 sera from blood donors or other asymptomatic subjects in 8 African countries, including Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Commores Islands, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence ofE. chaffeensis antibodies. Positive sera were confirmed by Western immunoblotting. Only two of 765 sera tested were positive. One serum obtained from Burkina Faso had an IgG titer of 1:200 and one from Mozambique had an IgG titer of 1:80. Human ehrlichiosis seems to occur infrequently in Africa, although many more sera from additional African countries need to be evaluated.     

广东省传染性非典型肺炎流行病学特征初步调查

目的 了解广东省局部地区流行的传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)的流行病学特征，为制定预防控制对策和措施提供科学依据。方法 采用统一的流行病学个案调查表对病例进行调查。利用EPI6．0软件分析SARS病例在广东省的流行过程，地区、时间、人群分布及聚集性等特征。结果 SARS在广东省的发病率为1．72／10万，病死率为3．64％。发病主要集中在1月下旬至2月下旬(2月上旬达到高峰)，占病例总数的61．88％。地区分布以经济发达、人口流动频繁的珠江三角洲地区为主，占病例总数的96．66％；患者以青壮年居多；医务人员是高发人群，占病例总数的24．9％；有明显的家庭和医院聚集，聚集性病例占37．1％。结论 SARS是一种呼吸道传播为主的传染病，目前发现传染源是人，潜伏期1—12天，中位数4天；通过短距离飞沫和密切接触传播；人群普遍易感，病例主要集中在经济发达、人口流动频繁的珠江三角洲地区。