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Biomedical subjects

C Starling

Publications and source records attributed to C Starling.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Antibacterial resistance of community-acquired respiratory tract pathogens recovered from patients in Latin America: results from the PROTEKT surveillance study (1999-2000).

PROTEKT (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin) is a global surveillance study established in 1999 to monitor antibacterial resistance of respiratory tract organisms. Thirteen centers from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico participated during 1999-2000; they collected 1806 isolates (Streptococcus pneumoniae 518, Haemophilus influenzae 520, Moraxella catarrhalis 140, Staphylococcus aureus 351, S. pyogenes 277). Overall, 218 (42.1%) of the S. pneumoniae isolates had reduced susceptibility to penicillin, 79 (15.3%) were penicillin-resistant and 79 (15.3%) were erythromycin-resistant. Mexico had the highest prevalence of penicillin (76.5%) and erythromycin (31.2%) resistance. Of 77 erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae tested for resistance genotype, 43 possessed mef(A), 33 possessed erm(B) and 1 possessed both erm(B) and mef(A) mechanism. All S. pneumoniae isolates were fully susceptible to telithromycin, linezolid, teicoplanin and vancomycin. Among H. influenzae isolates, 88 (16.9%) produced beta-lactamase, ranging from 11% (Brazil) to 24.5% (Mexico). Among M. catarrhalis isolates, 138 (98.6%) produced beta-lactamase. Twenty-four (8.7%) of the S. pyogenes isolates were erythromycin-resistant; resistance being attributable to mefA (n=18), ermTR (n=5) and ermB (n=1). All H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis and S. pyogenes were fully susceptible to telithromycin. Methicillin resistance was found in 26.5% of the S. aureus isolates (Argentina 15%; Mexico 20%; Brazil 31.3%). Telithromycin was effective against 97.7% of methicillin-susceptible isolates. PROTEKT confirms that antibacterial resistance is an emerging problem in Latin America. The previously reported high levels of pneumococcal resistance to the beta-lactam and macrolides were exceeded. New agents that do not induce resistance or that exert low selective pressure, e.g. telithromycin, are essential to safeguard future antibacterial efficacy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Infection control in developing countries.

Infection control activities in developing countries have increased substantially during the last decade, particularly in certain regions of the world. Pressure to improve hospital care cost-effectiveness, the emergence of highly resistant microorganisms, the perception of healthcare worker occupational hazards, and public claims for improved health assistance quality have been important factors responsible for this development. A major challenge for infection control personnel in developing countries is to sustain this development.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMed1993

Epitope mapping in proteins of hepatitis E virus.

A series of synthetic peptides derived from proteins encoded by open reading frames 2 and 3 (ORF2 and ORF3) of the hepatitis E virus was used in an enzyme immunoassay to determine the localization of epitopes in these proteins. Five peptides spanning almost the entire ORF3 protein sequence and 12 peptides from the ORF2 protein were synthesized. Serum samples collected from outbreaks in three different regions of the world (Turkmenistan, Kenya, and Mexico) were analyzed by a peptide-based enzyme immunoassay. Primary analysis of the peptides was accomplished with the use of serum samples obtained from Middle Asia. Four of 5 peptides from the ORF3 protein and 4 of 12 peptides from the ORF2 protein specifically reacted with antibody from sera of HEV-infected patients. Peptides representing immunodominant epitopes were used for the analysis of serum samples from outbreaks in Kenya and Mexico. The data indicate that these synthetic peptides may be used to develop a diagnostic test to detect antibody to the hepatitis E virus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1980

Medical records: a question of confidence.

Concern is growing about the number of requests for release of confidential personal information relating to the hospital treatment of patients. Colin Starling, administrator, Watford General Hospital, reviews some of the problems and offers some guidelines towards a general hospital policy.

Confidentiality↗