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Biomedical subjects

R H Latham

Publications and source records attributed to R H Latham.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Bacterial flora of the vagina during the menstrual cycle: findings in users of tampons, napkins, and sea sponges.

The recent association of menstruation, tampon use, and staphylococcal infection with toxic shock syndrome led us to study the association of menstruation and catamenial product use with changes in vaginal flora. Cultures of the cervical os were obtained in midcycle and during menstruation from 12 women who used napkins and 40 women who used tampons. Staphylococcus aureus was found during midcycle and menstruation in three women, during menstruation alone in six, and during midcycle alone in none, indicating a significant association of S. aureus with menstruation (p = 0.04). No difference was found in the rate of S. aureus colonization during menstruation in tampon users (18%) and napkin users (17%). In a similar study, cultures were taken for S. aureus and other aerobic bacteria from 58 tampon users and 25 users of sea sponges. Staphylococcal colonization was found to be increased during menstruation in both groups. Among the cultures done during menstruation, those from users of sea sponges were found to have significantly higher colonization rates with S. aureus, Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae. The association of sea sponges with a high rate of S. aureus colonization suggests that they are not an alternative to tampons for women seeking to decrease the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Risk factors for staphylococcal toxic-shock syndrome.

Fifty-two cases of toxic-shock syndrome that occurred in January 1, 1976 through August 31, 1980, were reported to the Utah State Health Department between February 1 and August 31, 1980. The annual attack rate for Utah based on a six-month surveillance period was 14.4 per 100,000 women ages 12-49 years. All cases were in women who had onset of illness within two days of menses. Potential risk factors were investigated with a case-control study utilizing 29 women hospitalized with toxic-shock syndrome and 91 neighborhood female controls. Nine of the 29 (31%) women reported recurrences of similar illness. Use of tampons (p = 0.012) and use of a single brand of tampon-Rely-during the month of illness (p less than 0.005, RR =6.11) were associated with a significantly increased risk of acquiring toxic-shock syndrome. More controls were sexually active than women who had toxic-shock syndrome (p less than 0.05, RR - 0.277). This epidemiologic investigation of toxic-shock syndrome in menstrual-age women has identified tampons generally and a single brand specifically as significant risk factors in acquiring toxic-shock syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis following the excavation of a bird roost.

The clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis, as compared with the more familiar acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, are relatively unknown. Opinions vary as to the pathogenesis, and only the severe forms of the disease are readily recognized. Over a 22 month period following the excavation of blackbird roost, an unusual outbreak of chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis occurred in a town in southern Kentucky. Thirteen of the cases developed over a span of only four months. An associated outbreak of acute pulmonary histoplasmosis did not occur. During the course of the ensuing investigation, the residential addresses of the affected persons were noted to be clustered about the previously excavated blackbird roost. A case-control study was initiated; the median distance of the residential addresses of the affected persons was found to be 1.0 miles from the roost, compared with 3.2 miles for the control subjects (P less than 0.001). It was concluded that (1) the excavated blackbird roost had served as the common source of the epidemic; (2) the inhalation of exogenous spores accounted for the infections; (3) the spectrum of clinical illness ranged from asymptomatic and mild illness to cavitary disease with considerable morbidity; and (4) following excavation, blackbird roosts may remain an infection hazard for an indefinite period of time.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A factitious case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 27-year-old man presented with a history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the new onset of weakness and numbness of the lower extremities. During the course of a prolonged and extensive evaluation fraught with iatrogenic complications, it was discovered that his complaints were fabricated and his history of having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was factitious.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗