The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · May 2011
ReviewThe epidemiology, prevention, investigation and treatment of Lyme borreliosis in United Kingdom patients: a position statement by the British Infection Association.
This paper is a position statement of the British Infection Association on the epidemiology, prevention, investigation and treatment of Lyme borreliosis in United Kingdom patients. It is written to help patients and their doctors to understand the present state of knowledge concerning Lyme borreliosis and to attempt to allay the anxiety that is sometimes associated with this disease.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2011
Review Meta AnalysisDiagnostic accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid lactate for differentiating bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis: a meta-analysis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate is produced by bacterial anaerobic metabolism and is not affected by blood lactate concentration, an advantage over CSF glucose in differentiating bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis. However, the previous investigations have shown mixed results of the sensitivity and specificity. Our study's purpose was to assess the utility of CSF lactate in differentiating bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis. ⋯ CSF lactate's high negative likelihood ratio may make it useful for ruling out bacterial meningitis though pretreatment with antibiotics reduces clinical accuracy. CSF lactate of 35 mg/dl could be optimal cut-off value for distinguishing bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis.
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The Journal of infection · Mar 2011
Effect of immunomodulatory therapies in patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 complicated by pneumonia.
To determine the effect of immunomodulatory therapies on the development of severe disease in hospitalized adults with laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 complicated by pneumonia. ⋯ Immunomodulatory therapies use since hospital admission did not prevent the development of severe disease in adults with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 complicated by pneumonia.
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2011
Multicenter StudyEvaluation of the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy.
To evaluate the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy, including HBsAg screening of pregnant women and immunization of newborns to infected mothers. ⋯ In this study compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B was very good. Further efforts are needed to improve adherence to prenatal screening in public hospitals, in hospital located in southern Italy and among foreign women. HBV spread in Italy is progressively declining, also involving immigrant population.