AL Hoang for District for Health Insurance

Oxoid, a world leading microbiology brand, offers a range of valuable diagnostic tools for the detection of respiratory disease brought on by influenza virus Types A and B. Rapid diagnosis of Influenza A or B virus infections plays an important role in patient management, influencing the use of antiviral therapy and enabling successful management and control of outbreaks.

Influenza virus infections peak inside the winter months1 and remain a major well being concern. The diagnostic challenge is exacerbated by the fact that symptoms of viral respiratory infections such as Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Adenovirus are often difficult to differentiate from those caused by other pathogens, such as bacteria or fungi. Considering that antiviral agents are getting a lot more frequently used, rapid identification of the causative agent is increasingly important to allow the correct therapy option to be determined.

The Xpect? Flu A&B test detects and differentiates Influenza Types A and B directly from nose and throat swabs and provides a clearly visible result (see photograph) that is easily interpreted in just 20 minutes. No specialised equipment or expertise is required. The simplicity of the test makes it ideal for use in laboratories of any size or in a near patient setting, allowing medical experts to test patients quickly in surgeries, community hospitals and care houses.

The IMAGEN? Influenza virus A and B test can be a qualitative direct immunofluorescence test for the detection and differentiation of Influenza A virus and Influenza B virus in clinical specimens or for the confirmation and differentiation of Influenza virus A and B in cell cultures. Monoclonal antibodies, specific to either Influenza virus Types A or B virus, are conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). These are used in a one-step, direct immunofluorescence technique. Specimens are incubated using the FITC conjugated antibody reagents for 15 minutes. The stained areas are mounted and viewed microscopically using epifluorescence illumination. If either Influenza virus Types A or B virus is present, the corresponding reagent produces a characteristic bright apple green fluorescence within the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells, which contrasts with the red background staining of uninfected cells.

For further data please pay a visit to http://www.oxoid.com.

Oxoid is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science.

Reference:

1. HPA http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/default.htm2

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) will be the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of far more than $10 billion, we employ 30,000 individuals and serve over 350,000 customers inside pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers by means of two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a total portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific analysis, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike.

Source:
Val Kane
Thermo Fisher Scientific

4.67 (15 votes)5 (2 votes)

With the onset of winter, residents of Brent and Harrow are being reminded that antibiotics are not the solution for infections such as coughs, colds and sore throats.

Dr Bharat Patel, Consultant Microbiologist at the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, says:

“Antibiotics are successful only against bacterial infections. Taking antibiotics for the wrong causes has no benefit to the patient and can trigger nasty side effects such as diarrhoea. Not only that, taking or prescribing antibiotics incorrectly also causes bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics, therefore making them become ineffective within the future. “

The Trust is marking European Antibiotic Awareness Day (Tuesday 18 November) with a week of events and initiatives for staff and also the public.

The week aims to remind the public of the fact that antibiotics don’t work on most coughs, colds and sore throats, and to raise awareness amongst staff of the need for prescribing antibiotics responsibly.

Dr Patel says:

“The important thing for the public to remember is to always follow your doctor’s advice on when and how to use antibiotics, so they can be successful now and also in the future.”

Trust staff along with the public are encouraged to check out one of the information stands in the primary entrances of Northwick Park and Central Middlesex hospitals to find out a lot more.

For far more information about European Antibiotics Awareness Day go to http://antibiotic.ecdc.europa.eu/

The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust manages Northwick Park and St Mark’s Hospitals in Harrow and Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal. We employ 4,200 staff.

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

4 (1 votes)

As we enter flu season, and with reports of increased number of pertussis cases in some Illinois counties, Illinois Department of Public Wellness Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold is reminding folks of the significance of vaccinations and preventive measures that ought to be used to avoid getting sick.

“Some northern Illinois counties are reporting an increased number of pertussis, or whooping cough, cases this year compared to 2007. This can be a good reminder why vaccinations are so important,” said Dr. Arnold. “It’s also important to do simple things like cover your mouth with a tissue in case you cough or sneeze. Should you don’t have a tissue, try to cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and warm water will also prevent the spread of illness. Doing all these things will help keep you and your loved ones healthy.”

Lake County and Chicago are reporting an increased number of pertussis cases this year while other counties, including Cook, Lake, McHenry, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago, are reporting clusters of pertussis cases in school aged youngsters.

Pertussis, much more typically called whooping cough, is highly contagious and is easily spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing. An infected person is contagious from just prior to the onset of symptoms and up to three weeks after symptoms start off.

Symptoms normally appear 5 to 10 days after exposure, but can take as long as 21 days. The first symptoms are similar to those of a typical cold – a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild, occasional cough. The cough gradually becomes severe and, after a week or two, the patient has bursts of numerous, rapid coughs. The characteristic high-pitched “whoop,” which is more typical in youngsters, comes from breathing in after a coughing episode. Pertussis is generally treated with a multi-day course of appropriate antibiotics.

Every child need to get pertussis vaccine at two, four, six and 15 months of age and an additional dose at four to six years of age. This vaccine is given within the same shot with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and is required for child care and school attendance.

Patients with pertussis ought to not go to day care, school, work or public gatherings until at least five days after starting an antibiotic. Remedy is also recommended for anyone who has close get in touch with using the patient.

Keeping up to date on vaccinations and practicing good well being hygiene will help prevent the spread of pertussis, flu along with other illnesses.

Illinois Dept. of Public Wellness

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have synthetically reconstructed the bat variant of the SARS coronavirus (CoV) that triggered the SARS epidemic of 2003.

The scientists say designing and synthesizing the virus can be a major step forward in their ability to find powerful vaccines and treatments for any strain of SARS virus that might affect humans within the future.

A report of the work is due to appear inside the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition, which publishes papers on the internet and later in print.

“Only three other teams of researchers have synthetically reconstructed a virus. In this case we reconstructed the likely progenitor of the SARS-CoV epidemic,” stated Ralph Baric, Ph.D., epidemiology professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and 1 of the leaders on the project. “The bat SARS virus is about four times larger than any other virus that has been synthesized to date. It will allow us to test the pathways in which the virus emerges and understand the ways that animal coronaviruses move from one species to yet another.”

Baric and his team of epidemiology researchers worked with counterparts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center led by Mark Denison, M.D., professor of microbiology and pediatrics. The two teams collaborated closely to assessment the existing sequences of all bat SARS viruses; predict the actual sequence of the bat SARS-CoV that would be able to grow; design the synthesis of the genome; and recover and characterize the viruses that were synthetically reconstructed and rescued in the laboratory. They also studied the pathogenesis and the ability of therapeutics targeting epidemic strains to cure bat SARS-CoV infection.

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is believed to have very first emerged humans in Asia in late 2002. Over the next several months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia before the global outbreak was contained. Of the much more than 8,000 folks worldwide who had been diagnosed with SARS in 2003, 774 died.

Baric said SARS is believed to have originated in bats, and “jumped” to humans either directly or by way of raccoon dogs and palm civets, both considered delicacies for humans in China.

“Although the strains associated using the 2002-2003 epidemic no longer circulate in humans, the animal precursor strains are typical and will likely re-emerge within the future,” he stated. “The key problem is that many of the vaccines and therapeutics targeting the 2002-2003 epidemic strains might not work against future emergent strains.”

Baric said synthesizing the SARS co-variant that infects bats and then modifying it so that it can grow well in laboratory animals will allow researchers to search for vaccines and treatments that would be successful against any strain of SARS that might infect humans inside the future. Viruses that begin in animals and mutate to infect humans tend to be slightly different every year. An example may be the influenza virus, which is different each year and requires a different vaccine every single year to provide immunity.

“By reconstructing the synthetic bat SARS virus, we have a model that will allow us to design better vaccines and drugs that will treat any strain of this virus that infects humans,” Baric stated.

The value of the research goes beyond SARS, he added.

“Potentially, we can apply this technology to many other emerging viruses,” he said. “Then, perhaps we wouldn’t have to develop a new therapy each and every year, but can find treatments that will probably be effective against all of the root viruses.”

###

Source: Patric Lane
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

four (2 votes)3.five (2 votes)

In the same way that winter is commonly identified to be the “flu season,” a new study suggests that the dog days of summer may well be the “bacterial infection” season.

Researchers have discovered that serious infections caused by gram-negative bacteria can go up as much as 17 percent with every 10 degree increase in seasonal temperature. The findings, which were based on seven years of data from infections in a Baltimore hospital, suggest that the incidence there of some of these illnesses might be up to 46 percent higher in summer than in winter.

The cause is not recognized, scientists stated, but the seasonal variation is clear.

“Gram-negative bacteria are a frequent cause of urinary tract, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, as well as far more serious things like pneumonia, wound or blood infections,” stated Jessina McGregor, an assistant professor within the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. “Everyone knows there is certainly a seasonality to some viral infections such as influenza or the common cold, but we’re now finding that some of these bacterial infections peak inside the heat of summer.”

Recognition of these seasonal trends, the researchers said, could improve disease diagnosis, prompt treatments and better interventions to prevent the infections within the 1st place.

The findings had been made by scientists from OSU; Dr. Eli N. Perencevich, associate professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; and researchers from the University of Florida as well as the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. They were just published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, a professional journal.

The study examined infections caused by several gram-negative bacteria, which includes E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The greatest increases in infection due to greater temperatures were found with P. aeruginosa, a frequent trigger of burn, external ear, urinary tract and lung infections; and A. baumannii, an opportunistic pathogen that can cause death and serious illnesses, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems.

The study also found that there was no apparent seasonal increase in gram-positive bacterial infections, which have a slightly different cell structure and are the source of fewer pathogenic infections in humans.

“Bacterial infections in common have been rising for some time, probably due at least in part to increased antibiotic resistance,” McGregor said. “The more we can learn about what is causing them and when they are most likely to occur, the greater we can treat or prevent them.”

There are many possible causes for the summertime enhance in gram-negative bacterial infections, the researchers stated, but none are proven. P. aeruginosa is an aquatic organism, and infections caused by it could be linked to more individuals swimming in lakes or pools through the summer. Cattle have greater bacterial shedding rates within the summer, along with the peak of E. coli infections could be connected to higher consumption of ground beef or other factors during the “outdoor grill” season.

Several of these gram-negative bacteria cause urinary tract infections, and a known risk factor for that is recent sexual intercourse – the frequency of which also peaks in the summer, when there’s more sunlight.

“Regardless of the mechanisms responsible for infections, recognition of the link among the physical environment and also the incidences of pathogenic infection could aid in infection prevention interventions or the selection of optimal empirical antimicrobial therapy,” the researchers wrote in their report.

The link among this type of bacterial infections and heat, the study suggested, ought to also be considered along with the many other possible impacts of global climate change.

###

Source: Jessina McGregor
Oregon State University

1 (1 votes)1 (1 votes)

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) set a new record for its Mass Dispensing Flu Exercise and immunized 123,172 Arkansans against influenza last week. The shots were dispensed during the mass flu vaccination clinics held statewide in 81 health units. All 75 counties were involved again this year, but the totals significantly surpassed last year’s number of 103,541 vaccinations for the exercise.

Dr. William Mason, Director of the Emergency Response and Preparedness Branch, stated that the purpose of the drill was two-fold. “The very first goal was to exercise the state’s mass dispensing plan that is designed to insure that wellness professionals and volunteers are prepared to vaccinate or dispense medication to a large population in a very short period of time. If Arkansas had been ever to experience pandemic influenza or yet another such disaster, it might be necessary to distribute medicines to many citizens quickly. “The time to practice dispensing large amounts of medication is now, ahead of we have a disaster,” Mason said.

“The idea to use the drill to get a real jump-start on the coming flu season turns the opportunity into a special achievement,” Mason stated. “Combining the two goals really makes efficient use of our resources and lets us accomplish something that has attracted national attention.”

“Arkansas continues to lead the nation in this type of public wellness response,” Mason stated. “On a per capita basis, we have demonstrated that with the cooperation of our state, county, and municipal agencies along with citizen volunteers and local public well being units, we not only achieved, but exceeded our targeted goal of vaccinating 100,000 residents.”

“We can attribute the success of these clinics towards the collaborative effort among the local public well being units and the many citizen volunteers,” stated Randy Lee, director, ADH Center for Local Public Health. “This was a real community effort.”

“We have gotten off to a good start, but we need to continue the vigilance,” Mason stated. “If you missed the vaccination clinics, it is not too late to receive a flu shot. Your physician, pharmacist and local public well being unit can administer the vaccine. Shots cost $20 in the local wellness units for anyone not enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or the Vaccines for Young children Program.”

Influenza can be a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and results in 25-50 million infections and 36,000 deaths inside the United States every year.

Influenza symptoms include fever (generally high), headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, and occasionally stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

The influenza virus is spread via coughing or sneezing and by touching a hard surface with the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth. The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated every single year.

You cannot catch the flu from the vaccination. The vaccination uses a dead virus and cannot trigger you to get the flu. The vaccine normally becomes powerful two weeks after getting administered; therefore, the best time to be vaccinated is October to November. Even so, it can still be advantageous to get the vaccine even later as typical flu season runs from mid-December through March.

Though all persons over 6 months of age really should bet a flu shot every year, those most at risk for influenza illness complications are: those in nursing properties, individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung and kidneys, or who’ve diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; females who will be pregnant throughout flu season; youngsters and teens on long-term aspirin therapy. Kids six months via 5 years of age ought to receive the flu vaccine due towards the increased probability of severe illness in this age group. Daycare situations make these young children especially vulnerable. Wellness care workers are also at higher risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals and really should be vaccinated.

An influenza vaccination offers 70 percent to 90 percent protection against infection and can decrease the severity and side effects in the event you do get sick.

For far more info on seasonal influenza, click on http://www.cdc.gov/flu.

The Arkansas Department of Health

four.46 (13 votes)three.83 (6 votes)

If your stuffy nose and headache last for more than two weeks, it may possibly be much more serious than a cold. Winter is prime season for sinusitis, as the condition most often outcomes from the typical cold. Allergy sufferers are also far more likely to develop sinusitis.

An estimated 31 million Americans develop sinusitis each and every year, leading to 18 million physician visits and $5.8 billion in overall wellness expenditures based on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

“Early on, the symptoms of colds and sinusitis are similar,” said Anju Peters, MD, Chair of the AAAAI Rhinosinusitis Committee. “But if symptoms are worsening after 3-5 days, or if they are present for a lot more than 10 days, then sinusitis is the likely culprit.”

Sinusitis happens when drains inside the sinus cavities – hollow areas behind the forehead and cheeks – become blocked due to inflammation caused by a cold or allergies. The blockage prevents mucous from draining normally, leading to infection.

Sinusitis is easily recognized by a green or gray nasal discharge, foul tasting post-nasal drip, facial pain/pressure or light fever.

Sinusitis can last for months, or even years, if not properly treated. A physician will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and patients may possibly also use decongestants to relieve stuffiness.

An allergist/immunologist will be the best-qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat underlying allergies that contribute to sinusitis. Use the AAAAI Physician Referral Directory at http://www.aaaai.org to find an allergist/immunologist near you.

For more details about sinusitis and controlling allergies, visit http://www.aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied wellness experts and other people with a special interest in the investigation and remedy of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has practically 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

College students who’re vaccinated against influenza appear less likely to develop flu-like illnesses, require related health care visits or experience impairments in academic performance through flu season, based on a report in the December issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1 of the JAMA/Archives journals.

An estimated 9 percent to 20 percent of college and university students develop illness related to the influenza virus each year, according to background data in the article. “Some reports of influenza outbreaks on college and university campuses have documented even higher rates of illness amongst the students,” the authors write. “Undoubtedly, influenza is widespread amongst college and university students, and its prevention might have an important impact on their wellness and well-being.”

Kristin L. Nichol, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., and colleagues at the VA Medical Center and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, studied 12,975 students on two campuses and over four separate flu seasons among 2002 and 2006. Participants completed an initial questionnaire about demographic and wellness characteristics in the course of October, and then monthly follow-up surveys among November and April regarding influenza-like illnesses and their effects on daily life. Vaccination status was assessed in the last follow-up survey.

Overall, 30.2 percent of the students were vaccinated, and 24.1 percent experienced at least 1 flu-like illness through flu season. Those who had been vaccinated had been significantly less likely to develop such an illness than those who had been not vaccinated. “Vaccination was also associated with significant reductions in influenza-like illness – associated provider visits, antibiotic use, impaired school performance and numbers of days of missed class, missed work and illness through the influenza seasons,” the authors write.

When averaged over all the seasons, flu vaccination was associated with a reduction of one-half day of illnesses, so that 1 day of illness was prevented for every two students who had been vaccinated. In addition, for every 17 students vaccinated, one day of missed class was prevented; 11 vaccinations prevented one day of missed work; and six vaccinations prevented 1 day spent in bed.

“Current recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza encourage vaccination for all persons 6 months and older who wish to minimize their risk of influenza illness. Our findings highlight the kinds of benefits that could accrue to the practically 18 million college and university students in this country if they were vaccinated.”( Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162[12]:1113-1118.)

Editor’s Note: This was an investigator-initiated study that was supported in part by unrestricted grants from Aventis Pasteur and MedImmune. Dr. Nichol received other investigation funding from or served as a consultant to Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, CSL and Novartis. Please see the article for additional data, which includes other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine