In Northern Ireland over the last 7 years, there is a mean of 41.9 laboratory reports per annum of human gastrointestinal infection (range 19-54) caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7. In the preceding years 1992-1996, reports were 5.4 per annum, whereas in 1997-2000, reports increased from 30 to 54 per annum. This high level has continued on an annual basis to date. The aim of this study was therefore to retrospectively examine this period of exponential increase in reports to help ascertain the genetic relatedness of strains employing pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), as no data on the molecular epidemiology of E. coli O157:H7 in Northern Ireland has yet been published. Clinical isolates (n=84) were PFGE typed employing XbaI digestion and resulting band profiles demonstrated the presence of 13, 9 and 16 clonal types, for 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. In 1998, five clonal types remained from 1997 with the introduction of 4 new clonal types, whereas in 1999, 10 new clonal types were observed, accounting for over half (58%) of the E. coli O157 isolates for that year. These data suggest that, unlike gastrointestinal infections due to thermophilic campylobacters, there was considerable genetic evolution ofPFGE clonal types of E. coli O157, through the displacement and emergence of genotypes. Further studies are now required to find the environmental reservoirs of these common clonal types of clinical E. coli O157:H7 in Northern Ireland to help define sources and routes of transmission of this infection locally.
The popularity of open farms and petting zoos has increased markedly over the last 5 years, with most children in developed countries now having the opportunity to visit such a facility at some stage in their childhood, either through school or family visits. The open access policy of these establishments allows visitors to be in direct contact with animals such as sheep (lambs), goats, cats (kittens), dogs (puppies), and birds and to have the opportunity to feed such animals. This contact may lead to the transmission of microbial pathogens from animals to humans, e.g., Escherichia coli O157:H7, resulting in human disease. This review outlines the causal organisms associated with such zoonoses, a description of previous outbreaks at farms and zoos, as well as infection control measures to help prevent such zoonotic infections.
(2006). Genetic heterogeneity of the cytolethal distending toxin B (cdtB) gene locus among isolates of Campylobacter lari. British Journal of Biomedical Science: Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 179-181.
Negative experiences with medical care have long-term effects on family members’ attitudes and emotions. However, the impact of family members’ experiences on patients’ trust in their physicians and in physicians generally is poorly understood. We aimed to quantify these associations. Our cross-sectional online survey, conducted in Japan during April 2020, involved adults with non-communicable diseases (cardiac disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and rheumatic disease). The main exposure variable was dissatisfaction with the medical care that family members had received. The main outcomes were patients’ (N=661) trust in their personal physicians and in physicians generally. The study adopted the Japanese version of the Abbreviated Wake Forest Physician Trust Scales. We translated and validated both 5-item scales (general and individual physician trust) for the study. The results showed a lower rating for trust in physicians generally compared to trust in the respondent’s personal physician. Furthermore, dissatisfaction with a family member’s medical care was associated with lower trust in physicians generally. Interestingly, dissatisfaction with a family member’s care was also associated with lower trust in the respondent’s personal physician, but the magnitude of this association was weaker. The lower trust in personal physicians may be mediated by reduced trust in physicians generally. We suggest that physicians enquire about past patients’ negative experiences, including dissatisfaction with family members’ medical care, to repair hidden loss of trust, when they sense that patients doubt them or physicians generally.
Infection is a common complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease. Current treatment approaches include early intervention with the intent to eradicate pathogens in the hope of delaying the development of chronic infection and the chronic use of aerosolized antibiotics to suppress infection. The use of molecules that help restore CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) function, modulate pulmonary inflammation, or improve pulmonary clearance may also influence the microbial communities in the airways. As the pipeline of these new entities continues to expand, it is important to define when key pathogens are eradicated from the lungs of CF patients and, equally important, when new pathogens might emerge as a result of these novel therapies.
ABSTRACT Thirty-one urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter (UPTC) isolates, including three reference strains (NCTC12892, NCTC12895 and NCTC12896), and three Campylobacter lari isolates, which were isolated from several countries and sources, were compared genotypically by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). We examined allelic variation around seven enzyme loci, including the adenylate kinase, alkaline phosphatase, catalase, fumarase, malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, and l -phenylalanyl- l -leucine peptidase loci. MLEE typing revealed the presence of 23 different electrophoretic types (ETs) among the 31 UPTC isolates, and 14 isolates shared six electrophoretic profiles. Three different ETs were identified for the three C. lari isolates examined, and no ETs were shared by UPTC and C. lari isolates. Quantitative analyses were subsequently performed by using allelic variation data, and the results demonstrated that the mean genetic diversity was 0.655. In conclusion, MLEE demonstrated that the UPTC isolates examined are genetically hypervariable and form a cluster separate from the C. lari cluster.
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