Epidemiologically Relevant Container Types, Indices of Abundance and Risk Conditions for Aedes aegypti in Salto (Uruguay), a City under Threat of Dengue Disease

The world health organization (WHO) has estimated that 50-100 million of dengue virus infections occur annually while a recent study calculated that the true figure may be closer to 400 million. 

Dengue is endemic throughout the tropics and it has been confirmed in 128 countries worldwide. The geographic extension of dengue is essentially determined by the distribution of its primary vector, the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera, Culicidae). This species is commonly found in high numbers in urban areas, living close to human dwellings, where females usually breed in man-made containers. Read more>>>>>

The Orthopaedic Consequences of Childhood Meningococcal Septicaemia

Meningococcal septicaemia is caused by the Gram-negative diplococcus, Neisseria meningitides. The bacterium is found exclusively in humans, existing as a commensal in the nasopharynx and transmitted by respiratory secretions. Meningoccoal septicaemia is the most severe form of meningococcal infection and is the most common infective cause of death in children. 

Differing hospital settings, patient populations and disease presentations make generalising mortality rates following meningococcal septicaemia difficult to calculate. There has however been an overall decline in the death rate, with earlier studies reporting a rate of 18-53%, while more recent estimates are as low as 5%. Improved treatment protocols and centralisation of paediatric intensive care is thought to have had a major effect. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ATP Measurement in the Last Rinse Water of Automated Washer-Disinfectors

Cleaning and disinfection are essential steps in the reprocessing of medical devices. Automated Washer-Disinfectors (AWDs) are widely used in healthcare settings to obtain both clean and disinfected medical devices. 

 

 The use of AWD is advocated in literature and in standards for minimizing processing variability and infective risk for the staff of the central sterile supply department (CSSD). According to the European Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC and subsequent amendments by 2007/47/EC a claim made on a product or procedure has to be proven. Therefore the person responsible for the AWD production should document that processed devices are washed and disinfected according to minimal requirements. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Occupational Health Hazards Prevailing among Healthcare Workers in Developing Countries

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 160 million people from the world’s workforce suffer from work-related diseases such as musculoskeletal diseases and mental health problems, while 270 million fatal and non-fatalwork-related accidents results in over 350, 000 casualties and over two million work-related deaths each year which are all attributable to occupational hazards. 

These findings are similar to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO) which estimated occupational diseases worldwide to be 217 million cases. Evidence shows that many of these diseases are preventable but problems like under reporting, poor surveillance and several other factors have been known to influence occupational health hazards. The burden caused by work-related accidents and illnesses on workers’ health are incalculable. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hepatitis Delta Virus: Epidemiology, Natural Course and Treatment

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective hepatotropic virus that affects only patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. These 2 viruses share the same routes of transmission (parenteral, sexual, and mother to child). HDV antigen was first detected in hepatocytes of HBV-infected patients with HBc antigen expression but distinct from the latter. 

The more severe prognosis of HDV infection in the setting of human immunodeficience virus (HIV) coinfection seems questionable today, even if HDV infection is observed in 12% of HIVcoinfected patients compared to 4% in HBV-monoinfected patients, which come from high or moderate endemic areas for majority. Interferon treatment is less efficient in HDV infection than in HBV infection with only 25% of sustained virological response and more than 50% of relapse after discontinuation of therapy. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anti-malarial activity of Andrographolide

Andrographis paniculata, leaf extract possess antimicrobial activity against in vitro P. falciparum culture and P. berghei in vivo. Andrographolide is a primary bioactive compound present in Andrographis paniculata that possess antimicrobial activity. In addition Andrographolide will protect liver, renal injuries induced by P. berghei infection, Control blood glucose levels, prevents body weight loss and hemolysis induced by malaria infection. 

The secondary metabolites of Andrographis paniculata, possess pharmacological activities such as anti-hemolysis, anti-malarial, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective etc.. These finding adds important information to the area 1 of malaria research, which always is in need of alternative antimalarial drugs to combat the malaria, especially drug resistant parasites. Even though it is premature to conclude at this time that A. paniculata can be used as effective antimalarial, these finding provides a foundation for further exploration of new effective medicinal extracts for protection and treatment from the development of resistance among malaria parasites. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tularemia: A Case Report

Tularemia is a serious and potentially life-threatening zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis , an aerobic catalase-positive, gram negative coccobacilli. It is widespread in the northern hemisphere and it is transmitted by skin contact with infected animals, inhalation, arthropod bites or ingestion of contaminated meat or water.

Over the past few years there is new evidence suggesting that tularemia has reemerged worldwide. Tularemia outbreaks occurred in northwesternSpain in 1997-1998 and 2007-2008. We present a case recently attended at our Department.

Case Report: A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a week history of sudden onset of cutaneous lesion on the second finger in her right hand, accompanied by fever, chills, headache and axillary lymphadenopathy. Initial antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin clavulanate was ineffective.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>

Candida Albicans Ventriculitis Post Trans-Sphenoidal Surgery

Candida infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is relatively unusual in children. It is commonly reported among premature neonates and immunocompromised or post-surgical patients. Patients undergone neurosurgical procedure are at particular risk as the use of CSF shunt devices is a common practice in neurosurgery and infection of the shunt is the most frequently reported complication. Herein, we report an unusual presentation of Candida albicans meningitis and ventriculitis in a young child who underwent transsphenoidal surgery.

Case report:

A four and half-year-old female child was admitted to the pediatric ward of our hospital with fever and excessive sleep since one week. Two weeks before admission she underwent trans-sphenoidal removal of suprasellar pilocytic astrocytoma complicated by ventricular dilatation. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4q- Deletion Syndrome: Psychiatric Symptoms in a Rare Chromosomal Disorder

Developmental disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by an interruption in normal development during childhood with many etiologies. These include individuals with genetic syndromes, autism spectrum disorders and individuals who have suffered medical or environmental insults in the prenatal period or during childhood.

The prevalence of depression, anxiety and psychosis is high in this population, with 30-64% of patients developing comorbid psychiatric conditions. We report the case of an 18 years old man with karyotype 46, XY, del (4)(q21.1q21.3), and describe his psychiatric symptoms and respective management. The term 4q- syndrome was used for the first time by Townes and colleagues referring to chromosome deletions at the breakpoint 4q31, and was later extended to include terminal deletions. Read more>>>>>>>>>>

Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Approach

One Health is not a new concept. Hippocrates, the famous ancient Greek physician, wrote “Airs, Waters, and Places” promoting the concept of health through a clean environment. Rudolf Virchow, the German physician considered the father of pathology, coined the term, “zoonosis.” 

He stated, “Between animal and human medicine there are no dividing lines- nor should there be.”This recognition that human and animal health are linked is as important now as ever. More than 60% of pathogens that cause diseases in humans are zoonotic- diseases of animals that can infect people. And over 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic as well. Zoonotic diseases are emerging into human populations as the natural world is being increasingly disrupted and degraded.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>