Infectious Diseases

Priority setting of ICU resources in an influenza pandemic: a qualitative study of the Canadian public’s perspectives

by Diego S. Silva

Diego S Silva, Jennifer L Gibson, Ann Robertson, Cécile M Bensimon, Sachin Sahni, Laena Maunula and Maxwell J Smith

Silva et al. BMC Public Health 2012, 12:241
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/241

Background: Pandemic influenza may exacerbate existing scarcity of life-saving medical resources. As a result,... more Background: Pandemic influenza may exacerbate existing scarcity of life-saving medical resources. As a result, decision-makers may be faced with making tough choices about who will receive care and who will have to wait or go without. Although previous studies have explored ethical issues in priority setting from the perspective of clinicians and policymakers, there has been little investigation into how the public views priority setting during a pandemic influenza, in particular related to intensive care resources.

Methods: To bridge this gap, we conducted three public town hall meetings across Canada to explore Canadian’s perspectives on this ethical challenge. Town hall discussions group discussions were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Six interrelated themes emerged from the town hall discussions related to: ethical and empirical starting points for deliberation; criteria for setting priorities; pre-crisis planning; in crisis decision-making; the need for public deliberation and input; and participants’ deliberative struggle with the ethical issues.

Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of public consultation in pandemic planning for sustaining public trust in a public health emergency. Participants appreciated the empirical and ethical uncertainty of decision-making in an influenza pandemic and demonstrated nuanced ethical reasoning about priority setting of intensive care resources in an influenza pandemic. Policymakers may benefit from a better understanding the public’s empirical and ethical ‘starting points’ in developing effective pandemic plans.

Mapping populations a risk: improving spatial demographic data for infectious disease modeling and metric derivation

by Audrey Dorelien

Infection rates of Triatoma protracta (Uhler) with Trypanosoma cruzi in Southern California and molecular identification of trypanosomes

by Guanyang Zhang

Published in 'The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene'

We report Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates of the native kissing bug Triatoma protracta in southern California. The... more We report Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates of the native kissing bug Triatoma protracta in southern California. The rates are within the historically reported range, but differ significantly between the two sites (19% in Escondido and 36% in Glendora). Identification of T. cruzi in T. protracta was conducted for the first time by using partial 18S ribosomal RNA and 24Sα ribosomal RNA sequences. Incongruence of 24Sα ribosomal RNA phylogeny with current T. cruzi genotype classification supports non-clonality of some T. cruzi genotypes.

Predicting health care associated infections (HAI) in a high incidence low cost intensive care unit

by Gautam George

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 14, Supplement 1, March 2010, Pages e259
http://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(10)02103-X/abstract

Mammalian Diversity, Evolution and Potential Reservoir of Diseases. 2011

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES BANGKOK, 6-7 OCTOBER 2011.

Key words: Biodiversity, Diseases, Zoonosis, Climate Change, Evolution Key words: Biodiversity, Diseases, Zoonosis, Climate Change, Evolution

Climate Change and Biodiversity in Malaysia. 2010

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Impact, gaps and future of biodiversity in the face of climate change in Malaysia. Impact, gaps and future of biodiversity in the face of climate change in Malaysia.

Escherichia coli in wildlife from disturbed habitat in Sarawak, Malaysia. 2011

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Ectoparasites of small mammals in Malaysia. 2010

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense are of known medical importance.

http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2011-42-4/06-4984.pdf

A total of 16 animals comprising 5 species of hosts were caught and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined... more A total of 16 animals comprising 5 species of hosts were caught and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined were Maxomys rajah, Maxomys whiteheadi, Leopoldamys sabanus, Lariscus insignis and Tupaia glis. Of these hosts, 9 genera, consisting of 14 species of ectoparasites were extracted. Three species of ticks (Ixodidae), 7 species of mesostigmatid mites (Laelaptidae), 3 species of chiggers (Trombiculidae) and 1 species of listrophorid mites (Listrophoriidae) were identified. The infestation rate of ectoparasites observed ranged from 12.5% to 62.5%. Among the ectoparasites found, Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense are of known medical importance.

Keywords: ectoparasites, small mammals, wildlife reserves, Peninsular Malaysia.

A Madinah, A Fatimah, A Mariana and MT Abdullah

Origin of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in gorillas

by Alexander Georgiev

Requesting Aid: State Applications for Global Fund Grants

by Patrick Theiner

In my second working paper, the question is what explains whether or not states apply to the Global Fund for grants.... more In my second working paper, the question is what explains whether or not states apply to the Global Fund for grants. Since the payoffs from seeing a grant approved far outweigh the costs of filing the application, it would make sense for states to apply as often as they can. Yet the average developing nation was eligible for 23.7 grants in nine years, but only decided to apply 6.4 times. I find that these decisions are mainly based on economic considerations, and on the prior relationship with the Fund, rather than actual public health pressures. An updated version of this paper will be presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the European Political Science Association, Berlin, June 2012.

Decision-Making in Multilateral Development Aid: The Case of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

by Patrick Theiner

In this first paper, I analyze Global Fund grant decision-making using a principal-agent framework. I find that the... more In this first paper, I analyze Global Fund grant decision-making using a principal-agent framework. I find that the decision of whether or not to recommend a grant for funding is dependent on the preferences of the Global Fund's experts, and so is the size of these grants. However, grant discrepancy (the difference between proposed and approved amounts) is significantly affected by the strategic and economic preferences of the Fund's six largest state donors.

Previous versions of this paper were presented at the Annual National Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, March 2011; and at the SGIR 7th Pan-European Conference on IR, Stockholm, September 2010.

eMedicine Specialties> Neurology> Neurological Infections

by Mohammed Zafar

The Vibrio cholerae Pst2 phosphate transport system is upregulated in biofilms and contributes to biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity

by Ben Mudrak

Co-authored with Rita Tamayo

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the deadly diarrheal disease cholera. As part of its life cycle, V. cholerae... more Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the deadly diarrheal disease cholera. As part of its life cycle, V. cholerae persists in marine environments, where it forms surface-attached communities commonly described as biofilms. Evidence indicates that these biofilms constitute the infectious form of the pathogen during outbreaks. Previous work has shown that biofilm-derived V. cholerae cells, even when fully dispersed from the biofilm matrix, are vastly more infectious than planktonic (free-living) cells. Here, we sought to identify factors that contribute to biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity in V. cholerae, and we present evidence for one aspect of the molecular basis of this phenotype. We identified proteins upregulated during growth in biofilms and determined their contribution to the hyperinfectivity phenotype. We found that PstS2, the periplasmic component of the Pst2 phosphate uptake system, was enriched in biofilms. Another gene in the pst2 locus was transcriptionally upregulated in biofilms. Using the infant mouse model, we found that mutation of two pst2 components results in impaired colonization. Importantly, deletion of the Pst2 inner membrane complex caused a greater colonization defect after growth in a biofilm as compared to shaking culture. Based on these data, we propose that V. cholerae cells in biofilms upregulate the Pst2 system and therefore gain an advantage upon entry into the host. Further characterization of factors contributing to biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity in V. cholerae will improve our understanding of the transmission of the bacteria from natural aquatic habitats to the human host.

Flu vaccination prevents nosocomial outbreaks

by Alan Card

Card AJ. Flu vaccination prevents nosocomial outbreaks. BMJ. 2011 Nov 8;343(nov08 1):d7203-d7203.

Association between major histocompatibility complex class IIB alleles and resistance to Aeromonas salmonicida in Atlantic salmon

by Mats Grahn

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Surveillance In Marginalized Populations, Tijuana, Mexico

by Angela M Robertson

Rodwell TC, Robertson AM, Aguirre N, Vera A, Anderson CM, Lozada R, Chait L, Schooley RT, Zhang XQ, Strathdee SA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Aug;16(8):1292-5.

To detect early cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection, in 2009 we surveyed 303 persons from marginalized populations... more To detect early cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection, in 2009 we surveyed 303 persons from marginalized populations of drug users, sex workers, and homeless persons in Tijuana, Mexico. Six confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were detected, and the use of rapid, mobile influenza testing was demonstrated.

H1N1 Influenza: Global Pandemic, Global Vulnerabilities

by Diego S. Silva

Although the media glare has subsided, the H1N1 pandemic continues to have disproportionately higher rates of... more Although the media glare has subsided, the H1N1 pandemic continues to have disproportionately higher rates of morbidity in persons of lower socioeconomic status (SES) relative to those of
higher SES, requiring a global response rooted in solidarity. Decision-makers and the public, in both economically rich and poor countries, need to address the material and social inequalities that make certain populations particularly susceptible to severe cases of H1N1. Although the global prevalence of H1N1 is higher in young and healthy individuals, the morbidity and mortality caused by the virus disproportionately affects persons who suffer from chronic lung and cardiac diseases, diabetes, and obesity all risk factors more commonly found in persons of lower SES than in the general.
population.

The Molecular Epidemiology of Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia in Nigeria

by Pwaveno Bamaiyi

Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia (CBPP) is an old debilitating highly contagious disease of cattle and buffaloes... more Contagious Bovine PleuroPneumonia (CBPP) is an old debilitating highly contagious disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony biotype (MmmSC). The disease is responsible for lots of economic losses in Nigeria. To have a good understanding of the trend of the disease epidemiologically many tools have been employed. But in recent times the advent of molecular tools is proving useful for the study of the disease that is threatening the cattle population of Africa and in particular Nigeria. Molecular epidemiology is an indispensable tool now in tracing disease outbreak and ensuring disease control and its potentials must be fully utilized if CBPP is to be eradicated in Nigeria

Strategies for Targeting Tetraspanin Proteins: Potential Therapeutic Applications in Microbial Infections

by Peter Monk

Firenze al tempo della peste. Cronache di un contagio annunciato (1630-1631)

by Alessandro Monti

Published in 'Microstoria', n. 12 (2000): pp. 20-22.
ISSN 1826-1485