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Biomedical subjects

A Meheus

Publications and source records attributed to A Meheus.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasmid patterns and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Bandung, Indonesia.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from female sex workers and from men with urethritis in Bandung, Indonesia, were determined by an agar dilution technique. Typing of the Tet M plasmid in tetracycline-resistant isolates (TRNG) was performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and plasmid profiles of penicillinase-producing isolates (PPNG) were determined. All PPNG possessed the 4.4 MDa beta-lactamase plasmid and all TRNG showed a PCR fragment characteristic of the 'Dutch' type Tet M plasmid. Of the 50 gonococci isolates tested, all were resistant to tetracycline; 47 were TRNG, 26 were PPNG, and 6 were resistant to thiamphenicol. Chromosomal resistance to penicillin was not detected. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, kanamycin, spectinomycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Spectinomycin and fluoroquinolones are useful primary drugs for treatment of gonococcal infection in Bandung. Continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance should be part of gonorrhoea control in Indonesia.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Integration of yaws control and primary health care.

Where a primary health care (PHC) system (e.g., a community health worker and a health center as the first referral level) is fully operational, control activities for yaws should be part of PHC. Where the whole population is adequately covered, the PHC system is responsible for early detection of cases of active clinical yaws, treatment and follow-up of these cases, treatment and follow-up of contacts, and health education related to yaws control. In circumstances where PHC is not as yet fully implemented, the structure for a yaws control program must be different. In areas with adequately functioning static health services or with a nascent PHC system, yaws control could be started as a vertical program--initial treatment survey and resurvey by a yaws team working in close collaboration with a health worker selected by the community. Subsequently, active yaws surveillance is taken over by that worker who also assumes the other functions of primary health care. In areas with nonexisting or poorly functioning static health services, a program for yaws control should not be implemented because control and effectiveness are likely to be poor.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Etiology of genital ulcerations in Swaziland.

The etiology of genital ulcer disease was determined among 155 consecutive new cases in Mbabane, Swaziland. In contrast to genital ulcerations in industrialized countries, chancroid was the most common diagnosis (44% of cases), as established on clinical grounds and by exclusion of other etiologies. Primary syphilis and genital herpes accounted for only 17% and 12% of the cases, respectively. Lymphogranuloma venereum was found in 13% of the patients, and in 15% of cases no diagnosis was made.

Chancroid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gonorrheal keratoconjunctivitis in African adults.

We describe six cases of keratoconjunctivitis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae in adults. All strains tested were penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG), and we conclude that the rising incidence of corneal involvement, a classic complication in the pre-antibiotic era, is due to ineffective treatment with penicillin. Indeed, the progression of the ocular lesions was stopped and microbiologic cure was obtained in all our patients after treatment with either spectinomycin or cefotaxime. These results demonstrate that early and effective treatment of adult gonococcal conjunctivitis is mandatory to avoid potentially blinding complications such as corneal ulceration and perforation of the eye.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexually transmitted disease in young people: the importance of health education.

In most cultures sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and unwanted pregnancy are major health problems for sexually active youths aged 15-24. Since the early 1970s contraceptive use has increased in developed countries, but as few as 4-6% of young people in developing countries have access to reliable, modern contraceptives. In most countries the age-specific rates for STD are highest in the younger age groups. One of the few methods available to limit the extent of these problems, and particularly the problem of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is health education directed toward behavioral change. The content, timing, and characteristics of the source presenting the information are all important. This article reviews international data on the problems of STD and AIDS in young people and the experience of various countries in preventive efforts through health education.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the rapid plasma reagin "teardrop" card test for screening of syphilis in field conditions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The availability of simple diagnostic methods may contribute to more efficient control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in developing countries. For the detection of syphilis, a simple rapid plasma reagin (RPR) "teardrop" assay for finger-prick blood samples was developed in 1962. The reliability of this test is compared with RPR, Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA), and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs) assays performed on venous blood samples. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To evaluate the potential usefulness of the finger-stick RPR teardrop assay for diagnosis of syphilis in settings with poor medical resources. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant women evaluated at two health centers in Pikine, Senegal were tested for STDs. The RPR teardrop assay was performed on plasma from blood samples obtained by finger prick, and standard RPR, TPHA, and FTA-Abs procedures were performed on serum obtained by vein puncture. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the finger-prick RPR teardrop assay were 69.7% and 96.5%, respectively, and its reactivity was correlated with RPR serum antibody titer. CONCLUSION: The finger-prick RPR teardrop assay is not a reliable alternative to the classic serum RPR test.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perinatal mortality and morbidity in rural West-Java, Indonesia. Part II: The results of a longitudinal survey on pregnant women.

The main objective of this prospective survey is to obtain more information on the natural history of pregnancy and its outcome, including low birth weights, and of the factors closely associated with it. During the survey period the birth rate was 40 per thousand and the perinatal death rate 48 per thousand. The main causes of neonatal deaths are infections (predominantly tetanus) and hypoxia/birth asphyxia. Perinatal mortality is significantly associated with the following risk factors: age of mother less than 20 years; birth interval shorter than 18 months, twins, and breech presentation. The incidence of low birth weight is 14.7%. Statistically significant associations have been found between low birth weight and several risk factors.

Birth Weight↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perinatal mortality and morbidity in rural West-Java, Indonesia. Part I: Vital statistics based on cross-sectional surveys.

The first part of this article gives the summary result of 4 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 3 rural villages in West Java. It is expected that these surveys provide the researchers with more precise data on perinatal mortality and its associated causes in order to plan and implement the Tanjungsari Intervention Study (1986-1990). This comprises a mapping and numbering survey, and a census survey. Based on a sampling frame of 7964 houses, a systematic sample (one in eleven) was drawn for the Household and for the Married Women Surveys. The survey results yield some basic demographic indicators, occupational information and data on education. Also data on environmental health and vital statistics are presented. It is shown that the crude birth rate is 40 per thousand and that the estimated infant mortality rate reaches a figure of 120%. Furthermore, during individual interviews data was collected on characteristics, attitudes habits as well as on reproductive behaviour, of all married women under 50 years of age.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of uncomplicated genital infections in women using oral contraception or an intrauterine device: a prospective study.

Over a period of 2 years, the authors prospectively followed a cohort of 123 women using an intrauterine device (IUD) and 108 women using oral contraception (OC) in one family practice. They found nine new episodes of cervical chlamydial infection in OC users (7/100 woman years (WY] as compared to 1 new episode in IUD users (0.8/100 WY), yielding a relative risk (RR) for OC users of 8.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-59.0). During the 24 months of observation, 15% of OC and 2% of IUD users acquired at least one episode of Chlamydia trachomatis infection (P = .01). Bacterial vaginosis occurred more frequently in IUD users (25/100 WY) than in OC users (9/100 WY) (RR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.5-5.1). During the 24-month period, 50% of women using an IUD had at least one episode of bacterial vaginosis, compared with 20% of the OC users (P = .001). Symptomatic bacterial vaginosis was associated with the use of an IUD (RR for IUD users was 7.7; 95% CI: 2.1-28.4), whereas asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis was associated with sexual promiscuity.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Review: endemic treponematoses are not always eradicated].

Yaws and other endemic treponematoses (bejel or endemic syphilis, pinta) are resurging in many countries of the tropical belt. Today there are more than 2.5 million cases of these diseases, 75% of them in children. More than 100 million additional children are at risk for these disabling and disfiguring infections which destroy tissue and bone. In the 1950's and 1960's, through concerted efforts and leadership of UNICEF and WHO, more than 50 million individuals in 46 countries were cured and the diseases were brought under control or even eliminated from large parts of the world. Despite the success, endemic foci remained and in the last years there has been an alarming resurgence of the endemic treponematoses, in particular in parts of West and Central Africa. Endemic treponematosis control is based on treatment with single-dose penicillin of the entire treponemal reservoir. No instances of penicillin-resistance have been documented and these infections should be eliminated while the organisms still remain sensitive to penicillin. An endemic treponematosis control programme must be fully integrated into the primary health care system and the persistence of endemic treponematoses in an area is an indicator of the failing effectiveness of primary health care.

Humans↗