The use of hygiene, cohorting and antimicrobial therapy to control an outbreak of shigellosis

Article Abstract:

Outbreaks of diarrhea in day care centers are often caused by the organism Shigella. The current recommendations are to isolate the child, treat him or her with antibiotics, and repeat stool cultures after completion of antibiotic therapy. By following these recommendations the child may isolated for a minimum of eight days. This length of time away from the day care center may place an inordinate burden on working parents, such that they do not reveal the child's illness to the center in an attempt to avoid loss of day care services. A new method of shigellosis control in a day care center is described. This control method used antibiotics to control the diarrhea and reduce the potential for infection; the now asymptomatic but still infected children were then grouped within the day care center and careful attention was paid to hygiene and a clean environment. As part of the control measures, new admissions to the center were not permitted for two weeks after the last shigella onset and the community was notified of the outbreak. This method of control was successful in preventing spread of the condition. It also met the needs of working parents and they were less likely to take their still infectious child to another day care center. The system was well accepted both by parents and day care center staff, and appears to be both successful and practical. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Control, Day care centers, Shigellosis, Bacillary dysentery, Communicable diseases in children, Pediatric communicable diseases

---

Comparison of partner notification at anonymous and confidential HIV test sites in Colorado

Article Abstract:

There appear to be benefits to both anonymous HIV testing policies and confidential HIV testing policies. At anonymous testing sites (ATS) those having tests are not required to give any personal information. At confidential testing sites (CTS) personal information is collected. Partner-notification statistics during an 18-month period were compared for one ATS and 13 CTS in Colorado. A total of 236 cases of HIV infection were identified at the ATS and 316 were identified at the CTS. At the ATS only 46.1% of those testing HIV-positive named at least one in-state partner at-risk for HIV compared to 61.4% at all CTS statewide. Almost 57% of at-risk partners named at statewide CTS were notified compared to 51.4% of at-risk partners of people tested at the ATS. There was no significant difference in the proportion of at-risk partners who agreed to HIV testing. Because several studies have shown that many people will only agree to testing if it is anonymous, it appears that both CTS and ATS are necessary.

Social aspects, HIV testing, HIV tests

---

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during corticotropin therapy for infantile spasms: a clinical and echocardiographic study

Article Abstract:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) appears to be a frequent complication of corticotropin therapy for infantile spasms. HCM is a form of heart disease characterized by an enlargement of the left ventricle. Infantile spasms is a seizure disorder that does not respond to treatment with most anticonvulsants but does respond to corticotropin. Eighteen infants with infantile spasms and normal hearts were treated with high-dose corticotropin for up to six months. Thirteen of them developed abnormal enlargement of the heart, and five developed HCM. All developed significant high blood pressure, and the 13 with abnormal thickening of the heart tended to have the highest blood pressure. Blood pressure was controlled with the use of propanolol. In all 13 affected infants, heart size returned to normal within six months after cessation of corticotropin treatment.

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ACTH, Corticotropin

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The effect of intensive diabetes therapy on the development and progression of neuropathy
• Abstracts: The coexistence of lymphangiosarcoma and Kaposi's sarcoma in a renal transplant recipient. Kaposi's sarcoma in Colombia
• Abstracts: Reactions of mothers and medical professionals to a film about Down Syndrome. Insulinlike growth factors in patients with active nephrotic syndrome
• Abstracts: Surgical treatment of extramammary Paget's disease: a report of six cases and a reexamination of Mohs micrographic surgery compared with conventional surgical excision
• Abstracts: The temporal association of the implementation of a fetal diagnostic and surveillance program and decreased fetal mortality in a private hospital

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.