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L D Regensberg

Publications and source records attributed to L D Regensberg.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Control of an amoebiasis outbreak in the Philippi area near Cape Town.

Previous studies in Durban have shown that serological investigations, in combination with iso-enzyme electrophoresis, are invaluable for monitoring the endemicity of pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica. We therefore proposed that antibody profiles could be used to detect epidemic situations. An outbreak of amoebiasis in the normally non-endemic Philippi area near Cape Town provided an opportunity for testing this hypothesis. Seven of 9 patients presenting at a district hospital with invasive amoebiasis originated from a single farm in Philippi. Iso-enzyme electrophoresis and serological investigations were used to monitor the endemicity of amoebiasis on 16 of the 49 farms in this district. In an attempt to contain disease transmission all inhabitants on farms from which patients came (including those where cyst-passers were identified) and all seropositive subjects were treated. The antibody profiles proved invaluable for confirming that the farm from which the hospitalised patients originated was the central focus of the outbreak, and also identified subjects infected with pathogenic zymodemes of E. histolytica on the adjacent 4 farms. On all 5 of these farms, 62.5-100% of seropositive subjects were strongly positive. In contrast weak to negative serological responses occurred on the remaining 11 farms. In addition the success of treatment was indicated by a notable drop in strong seropositive responses on the affected 5 farms to 11.5% within 9 months. The infection pathways implied that the pathogenic strain of E. histolytica was introduced into this non-endemic area by a foreigner from an endemic area; this suggests that the pathogenicity of E. histolytica is an immutable stable feature.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Are we telling elderly patients enough about their medication?

A survey was carried out among 200 elderly outpatients to determine the amount of information they had received about their medication, the source of their information and whether they wanted to know more about their treatment. Seventy-one per cent (142) indicated that the reasons for the medication had been explained, although only 13% (26) had been warned about side-effects; most of this information was obtained from their doctors. Thirty-six subjects (18%) claimed that no-one had given them any information about their drugs. More information about their drugs was requested by 114 patients (57%). Forty-eight subjects (24%) were taking additional medications, mostly obtained 'over the counter'. Lack of information about drug therapy makes prescribing hazardous and not fully effective. Various ways of improving patient knowledge about medication are discussed.

Aged↗