Biomedical subjects

Sherry P Smith

Publications and source records attributed to Sherry P Smith.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Possible animal origin of human-associated, multidrug-resistant, uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: The multistate occurrence of cases of urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)-resistant Escherichia coli strains belonging to a single clonal group (designated as clonal group A [CgA]) in the United States has raised an intriguing hypothesis that these infections may have been spread by contaminated food products. The present study attempted to determine if CgA strains could be traced to food animals. METHODS: A total of 495 animal and environmental E. coli isolates, which belonged to serogroups O11, O17, O73, and O77 and were collected between 1965 and 2002 by the Gastroenteric Disease Center at Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA), were further subtyped by antimicrobial drug susceptibility, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC2) PCR, random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and virulence profile pattern. RESULTS: Of 495 isolates, 128 (26%) had an ERIC2 PCR electrophoretic pattern indistinguishable from that of the human prototype CgA strain, and 14 CgA isolates were resistant to TMP-SMZ. Cluster analysis of PFGE patterns showed that 1 of these 14 isolates, obtained from a cow in 1988, was 94% similar to a CgA uropathogenic human-associated E. coli strain. The pattern for this isolate was included among a cluster of PFGE patterns for 5 human-associated UTI isolates that were >80% similar to each other. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that drug-resistant, uropathogenic human-associated E. coli strains potentially have an animal origin. The possibility that human drug-resistant UTI could be a foodborne illness has serious public health implications.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

An analysis of computerization in primary care practices.

To remain profitable, primary care practices, the front-line health care providers, must provide excellent patient care and reduce expenses while providing payers with accurate data. Many primary care practices have turned to computer technology to achieve these goals. This study examined the degree of computerization of primary care providers in the Augusta, Georgia, metropolitan area as well as the level of awareness of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by primary care providers and its potential effect on their future computerization plans. The study's findings are presented and discussed as well as a number of recommendations for practice managers.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗

PubMedDate not supplied

HIPAA compliance: deadlines and beyond.

The deadline has passed for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and the Transactions and Code Sets Rule. With that in mind, many health care professionals feel that they can sit back and take a deep breath. But do not be fooled, both rules require continuous follow-up and monitoring. Additionally, the Security Rule requires compliance by April 2005. During implementation of future HIPAA regulations, health care professionals can benefit greatly from their experiences in meeting requirements of the Privacy Rule and the Transactions and Code Sets Rule. Many of the same tools and techniques may be used to ensure compliance with future HIPAA regulations. This article will discuss the need for ongoing compliance with the Privacy Rule, the Transactions and Code Sets Rule, and the implementation of the Security Rule.

Confidentiality↗