BACKGROUND Current guidelines for prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal disease recommend diagnostic evaluations and empirical antibiotic therapy for well-appearing, chorioamnionitis-exposed newborns. Some clinicians question these recommendations, citing the decline in early-onset group B streptococcal disease rates since widespread intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis implementation and ...

Individuals who carry the sickle cell trait (S-gene) have a greatly reduced risk of experiencing symptomatic malaria infections. However, previous studies suggest that the sickle cell trait does not protect against acquiring asymptomatic malaria infections, although the proportion of symptomatic infections is up to 50% in areas where malaria is endemic. To examine the differential impact of the...

Background: Infections due to the hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses constitute a global public health problem. Although screening of these infections remains a pivotal tool for timely detection and management of carriers, this preventive measure has been neglected in Africa. Objective: The current study determined the prevalence of hepatitis...

Asymptomatic enteric infections are important where sequelae or protection from subsequent illness is an outcome measure. The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify asymptomatic enteric infections in a birth cohort followed for rotaviral infections in a south Indian urban slum is reported. Of 1191 non-diarrhoeal samples from 371 children collected in May-Jun...

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites are endemic in most developing countries due to inadequate provision of safe water supplies, sanitation, and hygiene. To investigate the enteric pathogens infecting people living in Côte d'Ivoire, the Luminex Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (xTAG GPP) assay was used to analyze 34 human fecal samples. This study ...

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) remains a serious burden in many high-sexual-activity, undertreated populations. Using empirical data from a 2009 study of GC burden among pastoralists in Kaokoveld, Namibia, we expand the standard gonorrhoea transmission model by using locally derived sexual contact data to explore transmission dynamics in a population with high rates of partner exchange and low trea...

OBJECTIVE To explore the possibility that mild inflammatory changes exist in asymptomatic adults during bouts of acute respiratory tract infections in the general population, and may mediate atherothrombotic events. METHODS An epidemiological study that enrolled 5315 males and 2795 females attending a routine screening health program between the years 2003 and 2007. We correlated the concentr...

BACKGROUND The characteristics, determinants, and potential contribution to transmission of asymptomatic cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection have not been well described. METHODS A cohort of 47 households (493 individuals) in coastal Kenya was recruited and followed for a 26-week period spanning a complete RSV season. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were requested weekly, durin...

Nosocomial infection (infection acquired after 48 hours of hospitalization, or within 2 weeks of a previous hospitalization) is becoming a problem of global significance. In human hospitals, prevention of nosocomial infection has become paramount, and the emergence of multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacteria has made prevention even more difficult. According to the World Health Organization repor...

Since global availability of vaccine and antiviral agents against influenza caused by novel human subtypes is insufficient, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends non-pharmaceutical public health interventions to contain infection, delay spread, and reduce the impact of pandemic disease. Virus transmission characteristics will not be completely known in advance, but difficulties in infl...