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W Sokol

Publications and source records attributed to W Sokol.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Epidemiology of sinusitis in the primary care setting: results from the 1999-2000 respiratory surveillance program.

The Respiratory Surveillance Program (RESP) was undertaken over a 10-month period (July to April) during the 1999-2000 respiratory infection season. A total of 16,213 nasal swab samples were taken by primary care physicians in outpatient settings from patients diagnosed as having acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. The samples were sent to a central laboratory where a pathogen was identified and antibiotic susceptibilities were determined. A pathogen could be isolated from 34% of the samples submitted. Four pathogens accounted for 79.7% of all identifiable isolates: Streptococcus pneumoniae (11.3%), Haemophilus influenzae (21.7%), Moraxella catarrhalis (28.9%), and Staphylococcus aureus (17.9%). Resistance to penicillin was found for S pneumoniae (16% fully resistant, 20% intermediate resistance). S pneumoniae had a 32% to 35% rate of resistance to erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin. H influenzae showed a high rate of resistance to clarithromycin (36%). M catarrhalis had a 15% rate of resistance to erythromycin and a 91.5% rate of resistance to penicillin. Low levels of resistance were seen to the newer fluoroquinolones levofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC](90) = 2 microg/mL) and gatifloxacin (MIC(90) = 0.5 microg/mL), with the 4 major bacterial isolates having a 95% to 100% rate of susceptibility to these medications. The results from the RESP study can give practicing physicians vital information about pathogen profiles and susceptibilities within their communities and help them in making appropriate treatment choices for their patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Patients with previous antibiotic exposure had a higher incidence of nonsusceptible strains than patients who did not receive prior therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens in California patients with respiratory allergy. Allergy Skin Test Project Team.

BACKGROUND: The number of allergy skin tests required to evaluate patients with respiratory allergy has recently been challenged by the managed care community. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine which aeroallergens are prevalent in patients with respiratory allergy (allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma) in California. METHODS: Utilizing aeroallergens thought to be relevant from recent aerobiologic and botanic data, 141 allergic and 17 asymptomatic control subjects were tested for the prevalence of 103 allergens. A standardized prick puncture technique and standardized interpretation of wheal/flare responses were utilized using the same lot of allergen for 13 allergy practices distributed throughout California. Frequency curves based on prevalence were established to determine the number of tests required to give up to 90% of positive responses for tree, weed and grass pollen, mold spores, and miscellaneous allergens which included house dust mite, cat, dog, and cockroach allergens. RESULTS: Positive responses in allergic subjects for grasses ranged from 46% to 54%, for weeds 19% to 37%, and for trees 10% to 42%. For molds the range was from 11% to 22%. The response rate for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was 53%, for Dermatophagoides farinae 42%, for cat pelt 39% and cat hair 37%, for cockroach 23% and dog dander 19%. Asymptomatic control subjects responded to only 4% of all allergens tested. Ninety percent of all positive tests required three miscellaneous allergens (house dust mite, cat, and cockroach), 9 molds, 2 grasses, 16 weeds, and 27 trees for a total of 57 allergens (56% of total tested). There was no clear relationship between locale and specific allergen response, probably related to the limited number of subjects tested and variability within the same geographic region. Several seldom tested tree and weed allergens showed a higher prevalence rate than several commonly tested for allergens. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that approximately 57 aeroalleroens might be adequate to detect 90% of all positive responses in patients with respiratory allergy in California. This study was limited by subject number and variability between study sites. It is hoped a standardized model can be developed from this pilot study to definitively determine which aeroallergens are relevant in the United States.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extended evaluation of diagnostic skin testing practices in Orange County, California.

In an effort to evaluate conformity with published guidelines for diagnostic allergy skin testing in their locality, a committee of members of the Orange County (California) Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology surveyed their membership for the number, identity, and rates of sensitization of aeroallergens in a selected patient population. Test data were analyzed on patients who were judged appropriate to undergo immunotherapy. Complete test results of 271 patients were obtained from one third of local allergy specialists. A total of 115 different aeroallergen extracts were identified. By category, tree pollen allergens (32) were followed in declining order by weed pollens (28), molds (22), environmentals (18), and grass pollen extracts (15), for the total of 115. The average number of aeroallergens used by a practice in a comprehensive evaluation was 77 (range, 47-114). When only unequivocally positive reactions were considered (3+ equivalent or greater), Bermuda grass pollen extracts elicited the highest rate, 85%, and the environmental, rat dander, was the lowest at 1.8%. At least 20% of the patients reacted strongly on skin tests to 97% of the extracts. The disparity between the recommendations of a maximum of 30 aeroallergens for a comprehensive evaluation and actual practice procedures merits efforts at resolution.

Adult↗