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M Muscat

Publications and source records attributed to M Muscat.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Measles in Europe in 2001-2002.

A total of 17 928 measles cases were reported to EUVAC.NET in 2001-02, with a 41% increase between the 2 years, giving a crude incidence of 2.36 and 3.37 per 100 000 population respectively. Most reported cases were aged 1-9 years. Outbreak related measles cases amounted to 18% of reported cases in 2001 and 20% in 2002. Less than 1% of cases were known to be imported in 2001 and 2002. Encephalitis as a severe complication was reported in 21 in 2001 and 6 cases 2002. One death attributed to measles was reported in 2001. The proportion of reported cases with known vaccination status increased from 56% of cases in 2001 to 72% in 2002. Overall, the proportion of reported measles cases that were unvaccinated rose from 50% in 2001 to 66% in 2002.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Surveillance of wild polioviruses in patients with acute flaccid paralysis in Malta during 1998 and 1999.

Certification of global poliomyelitis eradication can only be accomplished when all countries have been certified as having achieved wild poliovirus eradication. In order to achieve certification of eradication of poliomyelitis in Malta an active acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance system comprising the whole population was set up. Surveillance became effective in January 1998. During 1998, there were nine reported cases of AFP (non-polio AFP rate: 2.38 per 100,000 population) two of whom were children under 15 years of age (non-polio AFP rate: 2.52 per 100,000 for the population aged <15 years). In 1999 five cases of AFP were reported (non-polio AFP rate: 1.32 per 100,000 population). One case occurred in a child under 15 years (non-polio AFP rate: 1.28 per 100,000 for population aged <15 years). Virological investigation did not detect any wild or Sabin-like polioviruses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology and prognostic factors in meningococcal disease in a small island population: Malta 1994-1998.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To review the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Malta over the period 1994-1998, and to identify factors at presentation and in the management of meningococcal disease which may influence mortality. DESIGN: All admissions with meningococcal disease to a national hospital in a population-based study over the period 1994-1998 were studied retrospectively. MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-six cases were diagnosed over 1994-1998, the incidence rising from 0.8/100,000 to 7.2/100,000 total population (p < 0.0001). The median time interval from arrival at hospital to administration of parenteral antibiotic decreased over the 5-year period from 4.4 to 1.2 hours (p = 0.025), with no significant change in the case-fatality rate. There was no association between the time interval from arrival at hospital to parenteral antibiotic administration, and mortality. The following features at presentation were associated with increased mortality: older age (p = 0.03), meningococcaemia compared with meningitis (p = 0.05), shock (p < 0.0001), disseminated intravascular coagulation (p = 0.0001), a normal/low white blood cell count (p = 0.0003), a low platelet count (p = 0.0001) and a high serum creatinine (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The upsurge of cases in the population was accompanied by a decrease in intervention time in the general hospital, probably due to increased awareness of the disease. This study did not show a positive relationship between early in-hospital administration of antibiotics and improved survival, probably because antibiotics were given earlier to those with fulminant disease and, with therefore, an inherently worse outcome. Stratification of cases by severity on admission is recommended in future studies.

Adolescent↗