International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyDiagnosing pneumonia in rural Thailand: Digital cameras versus film digitizers for chest radiograph teleradiology.
Accurate surveillance for pneumonia requires standardized classification of chest radiographs. Digital imaging permits rapid electronic transfer of data to radiologists, and recent improvements in digital camera technology present high quality, yet cheaper, options. ⋯ Detection of pneumonia was not measurably compromised by using digital cameras compared with film digitizers. The 3-fold lower cost of the digital camera makes this technology an affordable and widely accessible alternative for surveillance systems, vaccine trials, and perhaps clinical use.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDecreased protein C, protein S, and antithrombin levels are predictive of poor outcome in Gram-negative sepsis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei.
Acute septicemic melioidosis is associated with systemic release of endotoxin and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6. Excessive release of these cytokines may lead to endothelial injury, depletion of naturally occurring endothelial modulators, microvascular thrombosis, organ failure, and death. ⋯ The inflammatory response to systemic Burkholderia pseudomallei infection leads to depletion of the natural endothelial modulators protein C, protein S, and antithrombin. Both baseline and continued deficiency of these endothelial modulators is predictive of poor outcome in melioidosis.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2005
Review Case ReportsStaphylococcus capitis endocarditis due to a transvenous endocardial pacemaker infection: case report and review of Staphylococcus capitis endocarditis.
Newer microbiologic methods to determine the species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have evolved which have shown that most endocarditis due to CoNS is caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, and far fewer by Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus lugdunensis. ⋯ CoNS as a cause of endocarditis appears to be increasing and the current ability to determine the species of these organisms should elicit the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and biomolecular mechanisms involved in the induction of valvular disease.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Nov 2004
Routine lumbar puncture in children with febrile seizures in Ghana: should it continue?
Performing routine lumbar punctures in children with febrile seizures has been controversial. This study aimed to determine the positive yield of lumbar punctures in a setting where routine lumbar puncture is routinely carried out and to determine if any other parameter could help differentiate bacterial meningitis from the various other diagnoses of children who presented with a febrile seizure. ⋯ Performing routine lumbar punctures may still have a role to play in the management of children with febrile seizures.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2004
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran, a case-control study on epidemiological characteristics.
Several cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), an arboviral disease, have been reported since summer 1999 in different areas of Iran. The main objectives of this research were to determine the most important means and patterns of transmission and the epidemiologic characteristics of this disease. ⋯ The results of this study confirm that the scheme of risk factors and risk groups for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Iran do not differ substantially from the other parts of the world. Even though tick bite is one of the most important risk factors for CCHF, it cannot explain all cases and there are other important risk factors such as high-risk occupations and having contact with livestock. Even taking care of livestock for a short period at home can increase the chance of contracting CCHF.