Abstract: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity amongst adults in the Asia-Pacific region. Literature published between 1990 and May 2010 on the clinical and economic burden of CAP amongst adults in this region was reviewed. CAP is a significant health burden with significant economic impact in this region. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and advanced age were risk factors for CAP. Aetiological agents included Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Gram-negative bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Staphylococcus aureus and atypical pathogens (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Legionella spp.), with important differences in the prevalence of...
Monday, 21 November 2011
Clinical and economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia amongst adults in the Asia-Pacific region
Electronic faucets unsafe for use in high-risk patient hospital settings
(Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America) Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have determined that electronic faucets are more likely to become contaminated with unacceptably high levels of bacteria, including Legionella spp., compared with traditional manually operated faucets. The study will be presented on Saturday at the annual meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Study Shows Automatic Faucets Carry High Levels Of Bacteria, Unsafe For Use In High-Risk Patient Hospital Settings
Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have determined that electronic faucets are more likely to become contaminated with unacceptably high levels of bacteria, including Legionella spp., compared with traditional manually operated faucets. The study will be presented on Saturday at the annual meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). Electronic-eye, non-touch faucets have been increasingly utilized in healthcare settings to lower water consumption and in an attempt to reduce recontamination of the hands of healthcare personnel... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Epidemiology of Respiratory Infections Caused by Atypical Bacteria in Two Kenyan Refugee Camps
Abstract Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. are common causes of atypical pneumonia; however, data about these atypical pathogens are limited in the refugee setting. Paired nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens were collected from patients with respiratory illness presenting to healthcare centers in two refugee camps in Kenya. The specimens were tested for C. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. as well as eight respiratory viruses. Atypical pathogens were detected in 5.5% of the specimens of which 54% were co-infected with at least one of the eight viruses tested. Patients positive for atypical bacteria co-infected with virus were significantly more likely to have severe acute respiratory illness than patients infected with onl...
FDA Warns of New Infections With TNF Blockers
(MedPage Today) -- The Food and Drug Administration has updated the boxed warning for all tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibiting drugs to reflect the risk of infection from the bacteria Legionella and Listeria. (Source: MedPage Today Rheumatology)
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Illness traced to Playboy Mansion hot tub
Los Angeles County health officials say the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease was found in a hot tub at the Playboy Mansion where scores ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)
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Two signal models in innate immunity
Summary: Two-signal models have a rich history in immunology. In the classic two-signal model of T-cell activation, signal one consists of engagement of the T-cell receptor by antigen/major histocompatibility complex, whereas signal two arises from costimulatory ligands on antigen-presenting cells. A requirement for two independent signals helps to ensure that T-cell responses are initiated only in response to bona fide infectious threats. Our studies have led us to conclude that initiation of innate immune responses to pathogens also often requires two signals: signal one is initiated by a microbe-derived ligand, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or flagellin, whereas signal two conveys additional contextual information that often accompanies infectious microbes. Although ...
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