PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P L Lopalco

Publications and source records attributed to P L Lopalco.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic study and cost analysis of an Slamonella enteritidis epidemic].

Salmonellosis is one of the most common forms of foodborne infection. An outbreak of gastroenteritidis associated with a wedding party was investigated, even to value the costs falling on individuals, the health services and society as a whole. One hundred and fifty nine wedding guests were interviewed by phone. Multivariate analysis was used to assess which food were significantly associated with infection. One hundred and thirteen cases were identified; ten stool samples were culture positive for Salmonella enteritidis. Handmade ice-cream and babà (a typical Italian pastry) were significantly associated with infection. The cost of a case was estimated to be between US $ 74 (for non hospitalised patients) and US $ 1,896 (for hospitalised patients). The outbreak was caused by a strain of Salmonella enteritidis and the vehicle of infection were unpasteurised eggs used to prepare the ice-cream. The economic impact of this outbreak was considerable and mainly due to the hospitalisation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative evaluation of 2 epidemiologic surveillance systems of hepatitis A].

Epidemiological surveillance represents an important tool for the prevention of hepatitis A. In Italy, the surveillance of hepatitis A is based on the routine notification system of infectious diseases (from 1996 it was replaced by SIMI, Computerised System of Infectious Diseases) and on SEIEVA (Epidemiological Integrated System of Acute Viral Hepatitis). From 1997 to 2000 the two surveillance systems have been compared in Puglia region to evaluate match rate, completeness and sensitivity. A total of 7.018 records from SIMI and 4.413 from SEIEVA have been analyzed. During this period, the 37.0% of cases notified to SIMI match SEIEVA records whereas the 58.8% of cases reported to SEIEVA match cases notified to SIMI. Therefore, the match rate between the two systems was 29.0%. The sensitivity of SIMI and SEIEVA resulted 79.4% and 49.9% respectively. The comparison of the two surveillance systems allowed to recognise problems in local organisation. Therefore, a more adequate training should be supplied to workers involved in the surveillance activities.

Hepatitis A↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the Surveillance System of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Puglia: 5 years of work].

Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is the milestone to monitor the progress toward poliomyelitis eradication aim, fixed by WHA in 1988. Active AFP surveillance started in Apulia in 1997; this work evaluates five-year period activities. In this period, the total number of cases notified was 48, 7 of which were resident out of Apulia. Twenty-five were males and 23 females; the age ranged between 1 month and 15 years. Any collected serum specimens showed protective antibody levels against polioviruses. Polioviruses type 1 and type 2 Sabin-like were isolated from stool samples collected from two AFP patients. AFP surveillance targets improved in the years, with only exception, in 2001, of second serum specimen collected within 14 days because of children were discharged earlier form the hospitals. Apulia experience demonstrates the achievement of good levels of AFP surveillance targets. System sensitivity has been optimal in 2001 with a number of notified cases threefold the expected value and adequate specimen sampling (80%). Additional involved hospitals and availability of increased and dedicated human resources contributed to this outcome. The effort to achieve WHO targets for AFP surveillance needs to be maintained in next years until global certification of eradication will be declared.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[General practitioners and mandatory surveillance of communicable diseases: a descriptive study in Puglia (South Italy)].

Public health passive surveillance systems are often affected by low sensitivity level. Enhancement of the reporting by general practitioners is important to improve the sensitivity of notification system. The aim of this work was to evaluate the mandatory notification activities of communicable diseases by general practitioners (GPs) and family pediatricians (FPs) in the Local Health Unit Bari/4, during the years 1999-2000. This study shows that GPs and FPs notified only 39% and 28% of notifiable diseases respectively in 1999 and 2000, although some of these diseases have a very low hospitalization rate. The majority of doctors never notified any case of infectious disease during the period. The study shows also that the doctors who was older and who had larger list of patients had a greater compliance regarding notification. Therefore, a specific training of family doctors and a better facility in the notification procedures (for example, by phone or e-mail) should be very important to improve the sensitivity of surveillance system.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Opinions of women regarding a planned home birth project in Apulia (Southern Italy)].

A growing desire among women to move away from interventions and hospitals to more "natural" childbirth has emerged over several years. The role and autonomy of midwives, a favourable opinion among women about home childbirth and better cooperation between hospitals and district health facilities are all fundamental in order to implement a home birth project. The opinion of women about "planned" home birth was investigated in the Puglia region through a survey conducted among a sample of women who had just delivered in hospital and a representative sample of the general female population. From 20 to 30% of women in the Puglia region would be basically in favour of home birth project. The main difference between the two groups of women concern the higher proportion of caesarean deliveries among mothers who had just delivered and their demand for more specific training of involved health personnel. Both samples are agreed on the specific training of women during pregnancy and on the presence of a specialist during home delivery. The results of the investigation seem to be in favour of planning a home birth project in the Puglia region.

Adolescent↗