Update: Interim recommendations for antimicrobial prophylaxis for children and breastfeeding mothers and treatment of children with anthrax.
(49/514)
Ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is recommended for antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment of adults and children with Bacillus anthracis infection associated with the recent bioterrorist attacks in the United States. Amoxicillin is an option for antimicrobial prophylaxis for children and pregnant women and to complete treatment of cutaneous disease when B. anthracis is susceptible to penicillin, as is the case in the recent attacks. Use of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline might be associated with adverse effects in children, and liquid formulations of these drugs are not widely available. This notice provides further information about prophylaxis and treatment of children and breastfeeding mothers, including the use of amoxicillin. (+info)
Biological and chemical terrorism: recognition and management.
(50/514)
Primary care physicians will be on the front line in detecting and managing any future terrorist attacks that use chemical or biological agents. This article reviews how to recognize and treat disease caused by exposure to nerve agents, blistering agents, hydrogen cyanide, ricin, anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulinum toxin. (+info)
Update: Investigation of bioterrorism-related anthrax--Connecticut, 2001.
(51/514)
CDC and state and local health departments continue investigating cases of bioterrorism-related anthrax. This report revises the number of suspected cases and updates the investigation of a 94-year-old Connecticut (CT) resident who died from inhalational anthrax. (+info)
A randomized controlled clinical trial on etimicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, versus netilmicin in the treatment of bacterial infections.
(52/514)
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of two aminoglycoside antibiotics, etimicin and netilmicin, in the treatment of bacterial infections. METHODS: A randomized, open label, controlled clinical trial was conducted for the treatment of 65 patients hospitalized with respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and skin and tissue infections. Thirty-four patients received etimicin and thirty-one patients received netilmicin at a dose of 100 mg every 12 hours by intravenous infusion. The duration of treatment was 7-10 days in both groups. RESULTS: 47 patients were enrolled in the etimicin group; 35 patients were assessable for safety and 34 patients were assessable for efficacy, 46 patients were enrolled in the netilmicin group; 32 patients were assessable for safety and 31 patients were assessable for efficacy. The results show that overall efficacy was 85.3% for the etimicin group and 83.9% for the netilmicin group, whereas bacterial clearance rates were 87.5% for the etimicin group and 89.7% for the netilmicin group. The incidence of adverse reactions was 8.6% (3/35) and 9.4% (3/32), respectively. CONCLUSION: Etimicin and netilmicin were effective and safe for the treatment of respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and skin and tissue infections. The results show there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). (+info)
Effects of 2 different anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents in a primate model of subcutaneous abscess formation.
(53/514)
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha exerts both physiologic and pathologic effects in response to infection, conferring the benefit of host defense against infection at the risk of eliciting severe pathology if the response is excessive or inappropriate. In the present study, the effects of an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody (MAb) and a TNF-alpha receptor construct (p75-Fc) were compared with that of saline in a primate model of subcutaneous abscess induced with Staphylococcus aureus. Intravenous administration of anti-TNF-alpha MAb delayed the onset and reduced the incidence and the severity of abscess formation in response to inoculation with S. aureus at concentrations of 10(9) and 10(10) cfu/mL, compared with administration of saline. In contrast, no improvement in abscess formation was observed in animals treated with p75-Fc. These results supply initial evidence that anti-TNF-alpha MAb, unlike p75-Fc, provides a beneficial effect in this abscess model. (+info)
Update: investigation of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax--Connecticut, 2001.
(54/514)
Since October 3, 2001, CDC and state and local public health authorities have been investigating cases of bioterrorism-related anthrax. As of November 28, a total of 23 cases have been identified; 11 were confirmed as inhalational anthrax, and 12 (seven confirmed and five suspected) were cutaneous. Epidemiologic investigations to identify the source of exposure to Bacillus anthracis continue for a case of inhalational anthrax in a hospital stockroom worker in New York City (NYC) and, most recently, a case of inhalational anthrax in an elderly woman in Connecticut (CT). Antimicrobial prophylaxis is continuing in persons exposed to B. anthracis, and surveillance to detect new cases of bioterrorism-related anthrax is ongoing. This report summarizes the findings of the case investigation in CT. (+info)
Update: adverse events associated with anthrax prophylaxis among postal employees--New Jersey, New York City, and the District of Columbia metropolitan area, 2001.
(55/514)
Antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent inhalational anthrax has been recommended for persons potentially exposed to Bacillus anthracis as a result of the recent bioterrorist attacks. During October 26-November 6, 2001, an epidemiologic evaluation to detect adverse events associated with antimicrobial prophylaxis was conducted among 8,424 postal employees who had been offered antimicrobial prophylaxis for 60 days in New Jersey (NJ), New York City (NYC), and one postal facility in the District of Columbia (DC). This report summarizes preliminary results of that evaluation, which found that few employees receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis sought medical attention for symptoms that may have been associated with anaphylaxis. Persons with exposures to B. anthracis related to the bioterrorist attacks should complete the full 60-day course of antimicrobial prophylaxis. (+info)
Buruli ulcer in Ghana: results of a national case search.
(56/514)
A national search for cases of Buruli ulcer in Ghana identified 5,619 patients, with 6,332 clinical lesions at various stages. The overall crude national prevalence rate of active lesions was 20.7 per 100,000, but the rate was 150.8 per 100,000 in the most disease-endemic district. The case search demonstrated widespread disease and gross underreporting compared with the routine reporting system. The epidemiologic information gathered will contribute to the design of control programs for Buruli ulcer. (+info)