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B Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to B Rowe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Reports on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in individual countries.

In preparation for the meeting of the World Health Organization Working Group on Monitoring and Management of Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobial Agents, representatives of 10 countries were asked to provide brief reports on the status of surveillance in their countries. Some gave extensive information on the methods used to test susceptibility of nosocomial pathogens to a variety of antibiotics; some described in detail the network of reference laboratories available to hospitals and individual clinicians for monitoring, identifying, and testing infectious agents; others chose to describe how their countries deal with the resistance of the most frequently isolated pathogen to a commonly used drug. The following summary of these reports shows the broad range of problems encountered and solutions undertaken by these 10 countries in dealing with the increasingly alarming problem of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Algeria↗
PubMed1997

Serological response of patients infected with Salmonella typhi.

AIMS: To evaluate a rapid immunoblotting procedure for providing evidence of infection with Salmonella typhi using 73 sera from patients infected with S typhi. METHODS: A sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)/immunoblotting procedure using lipopolysaccharide (LPS, O = 9,12) and flagellar (H = d) antigens was used. RESULTS: Seventy two of 73 sera contained antibodies to LPS, 40 sera also contained antibodies to H = d flagellar antigens. Analysis of acute and convalescent sera showed that only 62% of patients produced antibodies to flagellar antigens. CONCLUSIONS: The SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting procedure provided a rapid method for providing serological evidence of infection with S typhi.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Resistance to ciprofloxacin in pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae in England and Wales in 1996.

In 1996, 6% of Escherichia coli from extraintestinal infections were resistant to ciprofloxacin with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) > or = 2 mg/l (high level resistance). Low level resistance (MIC 0.125-1 mg/l) was also identified in 7% of Salmonella typhi, 4% of S paratyphi A, and 4% of non-typhoidal salmonellas. However, resistance to ciprofloxacin was rarely identified in shigellas. For E coli, physicians should be aware that treatment failures may occur when patients with invasive illness are treated with ciprofloxacin before the results of laboratory sensitivity tests are available. For salmonellas an increasing number of treatment failures have been recorded for patients infected with strains with low level resistance. Because of the increasing incidence of Enterobacteriaceae with low level resistance to ciprofloxacin, it is recommended that for this group of organisms a breakpoint of 0.125 mg/l should be included in laboratory sensitivity tests.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1996

Outer membrane characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni grown in chickens.

A type of in vivo phenotype of Campylobacter jejuni was obtained by maintaining bacteria in the peritoneal cavities of chickens for one week. These bacteria, which had not been subcultured on laboratory media, were used to prepare outer membranes for comparison with C. jejuni grown in vitro. Flagella with subunits of 65 kDa and a single porin with a protein subunit of 49 kDa were expressed constitutively; however, outer membrane proteins of 55, 35 and 20 kDa, and intermediate-chain lipopolysaccharide were only expressed by bacteria maintained in chickens.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Risk factors for outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease linked to domestic catering.

The epidemiology of general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease associated with domestic catering for large numbers is described and compared with foodborne outbreaks in other settings. From 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994, the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre identified 101 foodborne general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease associated with domestic catering in England and Wales (16% of all foodborne outbreaks). Salmonella species were associated with 77 of the 101 outbreaks and S. enteriditis phage type 4 accounted for 57. Small round structured viruses were implicated in five outbreaks, Clostridium perfringens in four, Bacillus cereus in two, and Campylobacter sp and Escherichia coli in one each. No pathogen was identified in 11 outbreaks. Outbreaks occurred most commonly in summer. The commonest vehicles implicated were poultry/eggs in 44 outbreaks, desserts in 13, and meat/meat products in nine. Salad/vegetables, sauces, and fish/shellfish were each implicated in eight outbreaks. Raw shell eggs were implicated in a fifth of outbreaks. Inappropriate storage was the commonest fault, reported in association with 50 outbreaks (ambient temperature for long periods before serving in 29), inadequate heat treatment was reported in 35, cross contamination in 28, an infected food handler in 11, and other faults in 14. Outbreaks associated with catering on domestic premises were independently more likely than outbreaks in other settings to be associated with salmonellas, inappropriate storage of food, and consumption of poultry, eggs, or sauces. Public health services need to direct messages about the use, preparation, and storage of food to those who cater on domestic premises.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1996

International epidemiological and microbiological study of outbreak of Salmonella agona infection from a ready to eat savoury snack--I: England and Wales and the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the source of an international outbreak of food poisoning due to Salmonella agona phage type 15 and to measure how long the underlying cause persisted. DESIGN: Case-control study of 16 primary household cases and 32 controls of similar age and dietary habit. Packets of the implicated foodstuff manufactured on a range of days were examined for salmonella. All isolates of the epidemic phage type were further characterised by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: 27 cases were identified, of which 26 were in children. The case-control study showed a strong association between infection with S agona phage type 15 and consumption of a peanut flavoured ready to eat kosher savoury snack imported from Israel. S agona phage type 15 was isolated from samples of this snack. The combined food sampling results from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Israel showed that contaminated snacks were manufactured on at least seven separate dates during a four month period between October 1994 and February 1995. Voluntary recalls of the product successfully interrupted transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid international exchanges of information led to the identification of the source of a major outbreak of S agona in Israel and of associated cases in North America. The outbreak showed the value of the Salm-Net surveillance system and its links outside Europe, both for increasing case ascertainment and for improving the information on the duration of the fault at the manufacturing plant.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1996

Epidemiological application of differentiating multiresistant Salmonella typhimurium DT104 by plasmid profile.

Human isolates of multiresistant Salmonella typhimurium definitive phage type (DT) 104 in England and Wales are currently second in number only to those of S. enteritidis phage type 4. Differentiation of strains is essential in epidemiological investigations and the value of one method, plasmid profile typing, has been assessed in a study of 600 isolates of S. typhimurium DT 104 with multiresistant antibiograms (R-types) ACSSuT, ACSSuTCp and ACSSuTTm from humans, food animals, human food, pets, and animal feed made in England and Wales from January 1990 to April 1996. Twenty plasmid profile (PP) types have been identified in isolates of R-type ACSSuT and ACSSuTCp. One profile type, with a single plasmid of 60 megadaltons-PP type A-has predominated, but identification of PP type has proved useful in some epidemiological investigations. A further four PP types have been identified in isolates of DT 104 R-type ACSSuTTm, in which resistance to trimethoprim is encoded by a plasmid of 4.6 megadaltons and the two commonest PP types are related to those also common in DT 104 R-type ACSSuT. Methods of differentiating within the commonest profile type are now needed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

PHLS begins a national case control study of Escherichia coli O157 infection in England.

Infection with Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) is a growing public health problem and the commonest cause of acute renal failure in children in the United Kingdom. Foodborne outbreaks of VTEC O157 infection have been reported in the United Kingdom, other European countries, and North America. Most cases of infection are sporadic, however, and the contribution of food vehicles, animal contact, and person to person spread in the acquisition of infection needs to be clarified. The PHLS is starting a case control study in England to identify and estimate the relative importance of risk factors for the acquisition of VTEC O157 infection. The study will run for 12 months. This article describes its objectives and asks microbiologists, public health physicians, clinicians, and others who may be asked for details about cases or to find suitable controls for their help in achieving a successful outcome.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1996

Salm-Net facilitates collaborative investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella tosamanga infection in Europe.

Twenty-eight cases of Salmonella tosamanga infection were identified in six western European countries during the first half of 1995. Salm-Net, a European system for collaborative surveillance of gastrointestinal infection, detected the outbreak and coordinated its investigation. There were 28 cases, 14 of each sex, with a broad age distribution. Interviews with cases to identify common food and other exposures failed to generate a working hypothesis. The initial cluster occurred in a period of eight weeks and, since only one further case occurred in June, the investigation was closed. This incident shows that Salm-Net is effective in identifying international outbreaks of human salmonellosis. Practical difficulties in the field investigation of the outbreak are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Food poisoning: notifications, laboratory reports, and outbreaks--where do the statistics come from and what do they mean?

Three main routine sources of data on food poisoning are used in England and Wales. The first is the statutory notification system, in which clinicians notify the 'proper officer' of their local authorities of cases or suspected cases of food poisoning, and the data are collated by the Office for National Statistics. Second and third are the reporting schemes for laboratory confirmed infections and general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease, both of which are coordinated by the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. This review discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the three sources.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1996

General outbreaks of vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 in England and Wales from 1992 to 1994.

We have reviewed all general outbreaks of infection due to Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 reported in England and Wales from 1992 to 1994. One hundred and seventy-three people were affected in 18 outbreaks, compared with 76 people in seven outbreaks in the preceding three years (1989 to 1991). Outbreaks occurred throughout England and Wales. Thirty-eight per cent of cases were admitted to hospital, 21% developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome, and 3% died. VTEC O157 infection causes particular concern because of its serious complications--haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome, its capacity to spread from person to person as well as by food and water, and its reservoir in dairy and beef cattle.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Outbreaks of salmonellosis in hospitals in England and Wales: 1992-1994.

Data from the surveillance scheme of general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease in England and Wales were used to describe the epidemiology of outbreaks of salmonellosis in hospitals from 1992-1994. Outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease in hospitals accounted for 15% (189/1275) of all outbreaks. A salmonella was the implicated pathogen in 12% (22/189). The mode of transmission was described as mainly person to person in 12 outbreaks, mainly foodborne in eight and equal or unknown proportions of foodborne and person to person in two. The most common strain involved was Salmonella enteritidis PT4 (11 outbreaks). The mean duration of outbreaks was 16 days. The mean attack rate in patients was 25% but varied from 2-67%. Illness was reported in 260 patients, of whom 130 had a laboratory confirmed infection. Eight hundred and twenty-six asymptomatic patients were tested, 31 of whom were positive. The salmonella infection was believed to have contributed to the deaths of five patients. Ill staff (115) were tested and 68 were positive; 1508 well staff were tested and 33 were positive. Outbreaks of salmonellosis in hospitals are preventable. Attack rates can be high and outbreaks are often prolonged, with high morbidity and associated disruption of hospital services. There is need for effective infection control policies, appropriate training of staff, simple surveillance systems and readily available expert advice to ensure outbreaks are rapidly controlled.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1996

Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli, particularly serogroup O157, associated with human infections in England and Wales: 1992-4.

Investigations were performed by the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens on Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in England and Wales from 1992-4. Bacterial isolates, faeces and sera obtained from patients with diarrhoea, bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome were examined. Using serotyping, Vero cytotoxin gene probing and serodiagnostic tests for E. coli O157, evidence of infection was detected in 543, 434 and 491 individuals in 1992, 1993 and 1994 respectively; VTEC of serogroup O157 were isolated from 470, 385 and 411 cases. The O157 VTEC strains belonged to at least 19 different phage types (PT) although 84% belonged to PT2, PT49, PT8, PT1 or PT4. Antibodies to E. coli O157 lipopolysaccharide were detected in 13% of the cases. The average annual rate of infection with O157 VTEC was 0.83/100000 and 12% of the 1458 individuals with evidence of infection with VTEC or E. coli O157 developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome. There were at least 18 general outbreaks and many family outbreaks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Phage typing and drug resistance of Shigella sonnei isolated in England and Wales.

Phage typing of Shigella sonnei has been used to examine isolates from the 1991-2 sonnei dysentery outbreak in England and Wales and compare them with strains isolated during and following a widespread foodborne outbreak in 1994 which was associated with consumption of imported lettuce. The distribution of phage types was different in the three periods studied with PT 3 predominating during 1991-2, PT 2 during the 'lettuce' outbreak in the summer months and PT 6 during the subsequent months. PT 6 was frequently associated with travel outside the UK. Variation was also seen in the distribution of drug resistance patterns.

Adult↗