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Biomedical subjects

R M Bannatyne

Publications and source records attributed to R M Bannatyne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Endophlebitis of the leg caused by brucella infection.

Brucellosis is hyperendemic in Saudi Arabia where, despite rapid urbanisation, a large segment of the population has a nomadic background and clings to cultural traditions such as the drinking of raw milk. We report here an unusual complication of brucellosis in a microbiology technologist. A 41-year-old male presented with an 8-day history of right ankle pain which, over a 3-day period, extended up to his calf where swelling and tightness developed. The leg symptomatology occurred on a background of fever, seats and rigors. X-ray of the limb was normal but a venogram revealed thrombosis of the deep veins of the right calf. Although his blood culture was negative, he developed high brucella antibody titres. Treatment with anticoagulants combined with a course of doxycycline and rifampin produced a full recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Outbreak of Acinetobacter baumannii in an intensive care unit associated with tracheostomy.

A case-control study was conducted to determine risk factors for acquisition of an epidemic strain of Acinetobacter baumannii in an intensive care unit. The epidemic strain was identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and was isolated from tracheal secretions in 13 (87%) of 15 patients. In a logistic regression analysis, presence of a tracheostomy was an independent risk for Acinetobacter sp acquisition (odds ratio, 421; 95% confidence interval, 13.8-12925; P =.001) and the strength of the association was inversely related to the duration of mechanical ventilation. The outbreak coincided with the introduction of a policy of early percutaneous tracheostomy in the intensive care unit and probably resulted from inadequate infection control practices during respiratory care. No environmental reservoir was found. Institution of contact precautions, enhanced handwashing, and staff education was associated with resolution of the outbreak.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed2001

The use of direct susceptibility tests from BACTEC 9240 to Microscan Walkaway.

Using a straight-from-the-bottle into-the-instrument technique, a series of direct susceptibility tests were performed with the BACTEC 9240 and Microscan Walkaway systems. Although rapid, unacceptably high error rates were obtained when compared with a standardized method. This procedure is not sufficiently accurate for clinical use.

Cell Culture Techniques↗
PubMed2001

The cost-saving potential of prevaccination antibody tests when implementing a mass immunization program.

A seroprevalence study of hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was carried out among Saudi Arabian National Guard soldiers with the objective of determining the cost-saving potential of prevaccination antibody tests when implementing an immunization program for the soldiers. A systematic sampling of 450 blood samples from 1,350 soldiers who donated blood at our hospital was carried out. Antibody tests were performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The seropositivity rates for antibodies to HAV, HBV, and VZV were 97.5, 17.8, and 88.5%, respectively. Comparing the cost of prevaccine screening with that of universal vaccination, it was estimated that savings of 76 and 32% could be effected for HAV and VZV. Conversely, screening for HBV before immunization could increase the cost of vaccinating against the disease by 49%. A seroprevalence study could be a useful cost-saving approach to a mass immunization program against endemic, natural immunity-conferring diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Clinico-diagnostic experience with tuberculous lymphadenitis in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the diagnosis and outcomes of tuberculous lymphadenitis in a low HIV-seroprevalence population at a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Retrospective case series of tuberculous lymphadenitis from 1983 to 1998 were examined. RESULTS: There were 99 cases with a median age of 38 years and a female preponderance (female/male ratio of 1.3 : 1). Eighty per cent had cervical involvement and 36% had systemic symptoms. Eighty-nine per cent had their lymphadenopathy for more than 1 month. The diagnostic yield of tuberculin skin testing was 83%, of chest X-ray was 27%, of fine-needle aspiration was 46%, and of excisional lymph node biopsy was 97%. Only one-third of patients received a tuberculin test. There was no significant difference in outcome between 6 and 9 months of chemotherapy, and paradoxical enlargement of nodes occurred in only 6%. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous lymphadenitis in our study population was predominantly cervical in location. The diagnostic yield of FNA was lower than that reported in the literature, and might be improved by more frequent tuberculin skin testing, multiple aspirations of lymph nodes, or use of excisional biopsy as the initial diagnostic procedure. Most patients responded well to chemotherapy, with few complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Metronidazole, its bioactive metabolites and acne.

Metronidazole's activity has been established in both acneiform rosacea and acne vulgaris. Recent research indicating that the breakdown products of several antibiotics, including metronidazole, may have considerably greater activity than the parent compound, prompted a re-examination of the susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes, the organism involved in the fundamental pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Although the organism was marginally more sensitive to the hydroxy derivative, MIC levels were still outside the readily attainable therapeutic range. The beneficial effects of metronidazole in acne vulgaris are attributable to its anti-inflammatory activities rather than its antibacterial ones.

Acne Vulgaris↗