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Public Health Significance (public + health_significance)
Selected AbstractsSIDEROPHORE PRODUCTION, SERUM RESISTANCE, HEMOLYTIC ACTIVITY AND EXTENDED-SPECTRUM ,-LACTAMASE-PRODUCING KLEBSIELLA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM MILK AND MILK PRODUCTSJOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 3 2007HAN GUNDOGAN ABSTRACT This study aimed at the isolation and identification of Klebsiella spp. from dairy product to establish their public health significance by determining their virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum ,-lactamase (ESBL). Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis were identified in 25 (58%), 11 (26%) and 7 (16%) isolates, respectively. A high prevalence of Klebsiella isolates had virulence factors such as siderophore production (63%), serum resistance (32.5%) and hemolytic activity (58%). ESBL - producing Klebsiella spp. was detected in 35% of the isolates. Resistance to the antimicrobial agents tested was found to be much higher in the ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp. than in non-ESBL-producing isolates. All ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp. showed high-level resistance to cephalosporins and monobactams. The majority of the serum resistant, siderophore, hemolysin and ESBL producers were K. pneumoniae. [source] Under the Microscope: ArcobacterLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006W.J. Snelling Abstract This review describes characteristics of the genus Arcobacter. Unlike its close phenotypically related neighbour Campylobacter, Arcobacter is not currently a major public health concern, but is considered as an emerging human pathogen, and is of significance towards animal health. This review focuses on the public health significance, culturing and typing, reservoirs, and antimicrobial studies of Arcobacter. Collectively, increasing knowledge in these areas will help to develop measures, which can be used to control this emerging pathogen. [source] The health of Arctic populations: Does cold matter?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010T. Kue Young The objective of the study was to examine whether cold climate is associated with poorer health in diverse Arctic populations. With climate change increasingly affecting the Arctic, the association between climate and population health status is of public health significance. The mean January and July temperatures were determined for 27 Arctic regions based on weather station data for the period 1961,1990 and their association with a variety of health outcomes assessed by correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Mean January temperature was inversely associated with infant and perinatal mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate from respiratory diseases, and age-specific fertility rate for teens and directly associated with life expectancy at birth in both males and females, independent of a variety of socioeconomic, demographic, and health care factors. Mean July temperature was also associated with infant mortality and mortality from respiratory diseases, and with total fertility rate. For every 10°C increase in mean January temperature, the life expectancy at birth among males increased by about 6 years and infant mortality rate decreased by about 4 deaths/1,000 livebirths. Cold climate is significantly associated with higher mortality and fertility in Arctic populations and should be recognized in public health planning. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Matching health needs of refugee children with services: how big is the gap?AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 5 2009Shanti Raman Abstract Objectives: To document the health needs of refugee children accessing comprehensive refugee health services in New South Wales (NSW), to match needs with available services and establish gaps in services. Methods: We collated clinical data on all children aged under 14 years attending the three refugee specific clinics seeing children in NSW in 2005. We compared these data to the number of refugee children settling in NSW in 2005. Results: NSW received 1,557 refugee children (<14 years) in 2005. Around one in five (n=331) was seen in a refugee specific clinic. Most were asymptomatic. Of those tested, 25% had anaemia, 27% were serology positive for schistosomiasis, 16% had evidence of current or recent malaria, 25% were tuberculin skin test positive, 69% were hepatitis B non-immune and 20% had low vitamin D levels. Most children needed catch up immunisation. Other problems included chronic health, developmental and behavioural problems. Screening tests varied across sites. Follow up was problematic for most. Conclusions: A small proportion of refugee children arriving in NSW have access to comprehensive screening and assessment, in spite of significant health needs. There is variation in screening practices, and follow up is poor. There is a high pick up rate for diseases of personal and public health significance. Implications: There is a strong moral and public health imperative to provide appropriately resourced, culturally competent and comprehensive health care to optimise refugee children's wellbeing. [source] Impacts of climate change on aeroallergens: past and futureCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 10 2004P. J. Beggs Summary Human activities are resulting in increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and changes in global climate. These, in turn, are likely to have had, and will continue to have, impacts on human health. While such impacts have received increasing attention in recent years, the impacts of climate change on aeroallergens and related allergic diseases have been somewhat neglected. Despite this, a number of studies have revealed potential impacts of climate change on aeroallergens that may have enormous clinical and public health significance. The purpose of this review is to synthesize this work and to outline a number of research challenges in this area. There is now considerable evidence to suggest that climate change will have, and has already had, impacts on aeroallergens. These include impacts on pollen amount, pollen allergenicity, pollen season, plant and pollen distribution, and other plant attributes. There is also some evidence of impacts on other aeroallergens, such as mould spores. There are many research challenges along the road to a more complete understanding of the impacts of climate change on aeroallergens and allergic diseases such as asthma and hayfever. It is important that public health authorities and allergy practitioners be aware of these changes in the environment, and that research scientists embrace the challenges that face further work in this area. [source] | |||||||||||||