coagulase-negative staphylococci (cons) have been identified as a major cause of nosocomial infections. nasal carriage of cons in nurses and physicians is known to be an important risk factor for potential hospital infections. this study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of nasal carriage of uncommon coagulase-negative staphylococci among nurse and physician staffs of tehran univers...

A healthy 22-year-old man developed acute varicella pericarditis, characterised by an enanthem with diagnostic rising titres of varicella zoster antibodies but without the typical exanthem. This, the third reported case of varicella pericarditis, is the first to be documented without a typical varicella eruption.

BACKGROUND Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a member of herpes family viruses, which causes varicella (chickenpox) after primary infection and herpes zoster (shingles) because of latent virus reactivation from dorsal root ganglia. Generally, prevalence of varicella antibodies increases with age. We aimed to compare the prevalence of anti-VZV antibody in children under seven years old, in order t...

OBJECTIVES Data on the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in healthcare workers (HCW) in Oman and the Arabian Gulf is scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis (LTB) among HCW exposed to active TB in one of the tertiary care hospitals in Muscat. METHODS Exposed HCW were screened for LTB from January to June 2012 using skin tuberculin and serum interferon...

QUESTION UNDER STUDY In Switzerland, vaccination against varicella is not recommended in the basic immunisation schedule. However, for individuals aged 11-40 years who do not have a reliable varicella history the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recommends either (i) a vaccination or (ii) a serology test and vaccination of those with a negative result. In the Travel Clinic of the Universit...

An indirect hemagglutination test has been adapted for use with varicella-zoster serology. Antigen was made in infected WI-38 human diploid cell line. The indirect hemagglutination antigen seemed to be a subunit of the virus particle. The antibodies measured in the test are well correlated with neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies in cases of zoster but not in cases of varicella.

An indirect peroxidase technique was developed for determination of IgA antibodies to varicella zoster virus (VZV). The antigen consisted of acetone-fixed trypsinised VZV-infected cells. Rabbit antihuman IgA peroxidase conjugate was used to detect human IgA antibodies bound to viral antigen. In parallel IgG antibodies to VZV were determined by an immunoperoxidase antibody to membrane antigen (I...

BACKGROUND Many individuals together in semi-confined settings increase the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases. A single case of varicella on a cruise ship can thus result in rapid spread and elevated costs for the cruise provider in terms of repatriation, ship diversion, law suits, and loss in current and potential future revenue. Control of varicella involves attention to good personal ...