Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R G Masterton

Publications and source records attributed to R G Masterton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

High-dosage co-amoxiclav in a single dose versus 7 days of co-trimoxazole as treatment of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women.

The efficacy and adverse event profile of a single 3.25 g dose of co-amoxiclav as treatment of acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection in women was compared with that of co-trimoxazole 960 mg bd for 7 days in a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicentre clinical trial. Of the 666 patients enrolled, 279 (144 in the co-amoxiclav group and 135 in the co-trimoxazole group) were eligible for evaluation of clinical and bacteriological responses. At the follow-up assessment 42 days after study entry, the successful clinical response rate was 73.8% for patients who received co-amoxiclav, compared with 85.1% for patients given co-trimoxazole (P < or = 0.05); the corresponding rates for successful bacteriological response were 64.1% and 79.6% (P < or = 0.05). Both treatment regimens were well-tolerated, with 15% of patients in the co amoxiclav group and 12% of patients in the co-trimoxazole group reporting adverse events (P > or = 0.05). The adverse event profiles for the two groups differed, gastrointestinal disturbances predominating amongst patients who received co-amoxiclav and rashes being commonest amongst those given co-trimoxazole.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Immunisation of armed service medical personnel against hepatitis B infection.

Clinical and laboratory staff of the Army and RAF medical services at risk of acquiring infection with hepatitis B were immunised against the virus with a recombinant vaccine. Vaccine was administered in Service hospitals and medical centres located throughout the world. After a primary course of vaccine, 73% of personnel developed anti-HBs titres > or = 100 IU/L to hepatitis B surface antigen and were considered protected; 11% were non-responders (anti-HBs < 10 IU/l). A significantly higher proportion of females than males, and vaccinees under 40 years of age, produced a good response. Among those achieving a good response, antibody titres were higher in the younger age group and in females. After a fourth (booster) dose of vaccine, 87.2% of the poor responders and 37% non-responders, developed anti-HBs titres > or = 100 IU/L.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of two automated quantitative immunoassays for the determination of C reactive protein concentrations.

Two quantitative, automated methods for the determination of C reactive protein (CRP) were compared: turbidimetry (Cobas Fara II, Roche, Welwyn Garden City, UK) and fluorescence polarisation TDx, Abbott, Wokingham, UK). One hundred and twenty routine serum samples submitted for measurement of CRP were tested using both procedures. The results were compared using regression line analysis and showed a high degree of correlation (r2 = 0.99, X coefficient = 1.01, constant = 0.11). C reactive protein can be accurately measured using the automated turbidimetric method which can be recommended as an alternative to fluorescence polarisation.

C-Reactive Protein↗
PubMed1994

Rapid organism identification from Bactec NR blood culture media in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory.

AIMS: To evaluate rapid organism identification on positive blood culture Bactec NR media (phial types 26, 27, 42 and 17), and to assess the usefulness of these procedures in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty, first positive, blood culture bottles from individual patients were tested by rapid identification methods selected on the basis of Gram film organism morphology. Tube coagulase and latex agglutination were applied to presumptive staphylococci; latex agglutination antigen detection methods to suspected pneumococci, Neisseria and Haemophilus sp; and latex agglutination grouping tests for cultures thought to be non-pneumococcal streptococci. RESULTS: Media type did not influence test performance (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Misapplication of methods occurred on eight occasions and there were 14 false positive results, nine involving the latex reagents for group C streptococci and pneumococci. The positive predictive values for tube coagulase tests and latex reactions for H influenzae type b, and N meningitidis groups B and C were 100%. The pneumococcal and staphylococcal latex tests gave positive predictive values of 94.1% and 62.5%, respectively, and the corresponding figure for streptococcal grouping reactions was 75.9%. With the exception of staphylococcal latex testing (80%) all investigation negative predictive values were > 90%. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the staphylococcal latex agglutination method was unsatisfactory and it is not appropriate for use with the media studied. In view of the cross-reactions observed with the tests used to identify group C streptococci and pneumococci, positive findings must be interpreted with caution. In all other regards the protocol evaluated produced rapid, reliable, clinically useful information and, subject to local experience, is recommended to users of Bactec NR media.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of immunity to hepatitis A in recruits to the British Army and Royal Air Force.

Between 1989 and 1992, 92% of a sample of 2790 Service recruits aged between 17 and 35 years (mean age 19 years 7 months) were found not to be immune to infection by hepatitis A virus. The proportion of males with immunity was consistently greater than that for females. There was a significantly increased probability of immunity if individuals originated from Northern England, the Midlands and Scotland, in particular the suburbs. Among male recruits there were significantly increased probabilities of immunity associated with travel to Southern and Eastern Europe or to the Tropics, and for females with travel to North West Europe or to Southern and Eastern Europe.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Sexually transmitted diseases in transient British forces in the tropics.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in British troops in the tropics with that in a standard population. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of STD clinic records over one calendar year. SETTING: A British Military Hospital in the Tropics serving 1441 resident personnel. SUBJECTS: All patients attending a STD clinic. MAIN FINDINGS: 815 cases of STD were recorded during the study period, giving incidence rate of 56,558 per 100,000 population per year. When compared with a matched population from England and Wales, the age standardised relative risk for STD amongst tropical troops was 25.0 (95% confidence interval 24.9 to 25.1). Thirty nine percent of cases reported prostitute contact as a source of their disease. Of patients questioned about condom usage, 70% reported that they did not normally use a condom. CONCLUSIONS: British troops spending short periods of time in a tropical environment are significantly more likely to acquire a STD than men in the same age groups in England and Wales. The proportions of cases who reported that they did not use condoms and the number who cited prostitute contact as a source of infection indicate that even greater sexual education of troops on deployment overseas may be required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cross infection in an intensive care unit by Klebsiella pneumoniae from ventilator condensate.

Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K28 was cultured from six patients over 5 weeks in a general Intensive Care Unit. Colonized condensate in the ventilator expiratory water traps was the probable source of the organism, and hand carriage the vehicle of transmission. Although the cross-infection hazard of ventilator tubing condensate is recognized, there is no report in the literature of an outbreak caused by such fluid. Ventilator tubing condensate should be viewed as contaminated clinical waste and dealt with accordingly.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of new streptococcal latex grouping kit.

AIMS: To evaluate a new streptococcal latex grouping kit (Shield Diagnostics Ltd) and compare it against an established latex agglutination method (Streptex; Wellcome Diagnostics). METHODS: Two hundred and forty seven strains of streptococci and enterococci were tested with each kit by one operator and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Strains failing to group or giving discordant results were identified to species level. RESULTS: Two discrepant grouping results were observed and 13 non-beta haemolytic streptococci failed to group with either product. The Shield kit successfully identified 232 isolates at 15 minutes of enzyme extraction incubation compared with 224 and 233 on short (15 minutes) and long (1 hour) incubations, respectively, for Streptex (p > 0.23 for both comparisons). On short incubation only, the Shield kit detected significantly more strains of Enterococcus faecium (p = 0.007). The reaction strengths were similar for both kits (p > 0.16). No cross-reactions were observed but the Streptex kit produced significantly fewer tests with visible granularity (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although the Shield product appeared to detect group D antigen more readily, overall no important differences in performance were observed. Prospective users of the new method should first become familiar with its characteristics.

Cross Reactions↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis A immunity and travel history.

Travel histories were taken from 1111 British travellers. Serological testing showed that increasing age and a past history of jaundice were associated with a greater likelihood of travellers being immune to hepatitis A. Neither travel to nor the duration of stay in areas of increased hepatitis A endemicity influenced the level of hepatitis A immunity. It is concluded that travel histories from British citizens normally resident in the U.K. cannot be used to identify those travellers in whom serological prescreening would be of value prior to immunoglobulin prophylaxis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Perineal cleansing and midstream urine specimens in ambulatory women.

A prospective trial is reported of an assessment of perineal cleansing as a means of reducing bacterial contamination of midstream urine samples. One hundred and ninety-two asymptomatic antenatal ambulatory patients were randomly allocated into cleansing and non-cleansing cohorts. Quantitative urine microscopy and culture showed no significant differences between the groups. It is concluded that perineal cleansing has no role to play in the collection of midstream urine specimens from ambulatory women.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1991

West African malaria.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria poses an increasing risk to travellers to West Africa. The development of chloroquine resistant in West Africa has further compounded the risk. Two cases of falciparum malaria from Sierra Leone are presented. One represents the classic missed case and the other a probable case of chloroquine resistant (RI vide infra) falciparum malaria. These cases highlight the danger of the missed or late diagnosis; the need for chemoprophylaxis, even in emigrants; the threat posed to the international traveller by malaria; and the problem of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum (CRPF) malaria from West Africa. The position of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in West Africa is reviewed along with the problem caused by chloroquine resistance.

Chloroquine↗