International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2014
ReviewMajor emerging and re-emerging zoonoses in China: a matter of global health and socioeconomic development for 1.3 billion.
Emerging and re-emerging zoonoses are a significant public health concern and cause considerable socioeconomic problems globally. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, avian influenza H7N9, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), and the re-emergence of rabies, brucellosis, and other zoonoses have had a significant effect on the national economy and public health in China, and have affected other countries. ⋯ The Chinese government has devised new strategies and has taken measures to deal with the challenges of these diseases, including the issuing of laws and regulations, establishment of disease reporting systems, implementation of special projects for major infectious diseases, interdisciplinary and international cooperation, exotic disease surveillance, and health education. These strategies and measures can serve as models for the surveillance and response to continuing threats from emerging and re-emerging zoonoses in other countries.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2014
Species identification of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus and Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii using rpoB and hsp65, and susceptibility testing to eight antibiotics.
To separate Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii from Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus using species identification, and to investigate the in vitro activity of amikacin, cefoxitin, imipenem, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and linezolid against Mycobacterium abscessus. ⋯ Using rpoB and hsp65, M. abscessus subsp. bolletii could be distinguished from M. abscessus subsp. abscessus. Amikacin and azithromycin showed excellent activity against M. abscessus in vitro. Imipenem, linezolid, cefoxitin, and moxifloxacin also showed good activity. Levofloxacin was inactive against M. abscessus. Although clarithromycin showed excellent activity against M. abscessus on day 3, inducible resistance occurred, and after 14 days clarithromycin showed little activity against M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, but still had good activity against M. abscessus subsp. bolletii.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2014
ReviewHuman metapneumovirus: review of an important respiratory pathogen.
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), discovered in 2001, most commonly causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections in young children, but is also a concern for elderly subjects and immune-compromised patients. hMPV is the major etiological agent responsible for about 5% to 10% of hospitalizations of children suffering from acute respiratory tract infections. hMPV infection can cause severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children, and its symptoms are indistinguishable from those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus. Initial infection with hMPV usually occurs during early childhood, but re-infections are common throughout life. ⋯ Our understanding of hMPV has undergone major changes in recent years and in this article we will review the currently available information on the molecular biology and epidemiology of hMPV. We will also review the current therapeutic interventions and strategies being used to control hMPV infection, with an emphasis on possible approaches that could be used to develop an effective vaccine against hMPV.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2014
Smoking and alcohol abuse are the most preventable risk factors for invasive pneumonia and other pneumococcal infections.
To determine the prevalence of smoking and alcohol abuse among patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in order to promote prevention strategies. ⋯ Smoking and alcohol abuse are the most preventable risk factors for IPD. Implementing smoking and alcohol abuse cessation programs and a pneumococcal vaccination schedule are essential to diminish the burden of pneumonia and other pneumococcal infections.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Aug 2014
Case ReportsA case of Mycobacterium sherrisii pneumonia diagnosed by PCR/ESI-MS method.
Mycobacterium sherrisii is an acid fast organism that is recently validated as a novel species. It is recognized to cause severe disease in immunosuppressed individuals especially in patients with HIV. We describe a case M. sherrisii pneumonia which was diagnosed using PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass-spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) technology.