The 11th edition of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine welcomes Anthony Fauci to its editorial staff, in addition to more than 85 new contributors. While the organization of the book is similar to previous editions, major emphasis has been placed on disorders that affect multiple organ systems. Important advances in genetics, immunology, and oncology are emphasized. Many chapters of the book have been rewritten and describe major advances in internal medicine. Subjects that received only a paragraph or two of attention in previous editions are now covered in entire chapters. Among the chapters that have been extensively revised are the chapters on infections in the compromised host, on skin rashes in infections, on many of the viral infections, including cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, on sexually transmitted diseases, on diabetes mellitus, on disorders of bone and mineral metabolism, and on lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The major revisions in these chapters and many

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine

Campylobacter is a leading foodborne bacterial pathogen, which causes gastroenteritis in humans. This pathogenic organism is increasingly resistant to antibiotics, especially fluoroquinolones and macrolides, which are the most frequently used antimicrobials for the treatment of campylobacteriosis when clinical therapy is warranted. As a zoonotic pathogen, Campylobacter has a broad animal reservoir and infects humans via contaminated food, water or milk. Antibiotic usage in both animal agriculture and human medicine, can influence the development of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter. This review will describe the trend in fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance in Campylobacter, summarize the mechanisms underlying the resistance to various antibiotics and discuss the unique features associated with the emergence, transmission and persistence of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter. Special attention will be given to recent findings and emphasis will be placed on Campylobacter resistance to fluoroquinolones...

/pdf/antibiotic-resistance-in-campylobacter-emergence-1nxcjhd3vc.pdf

Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter: emergence, transmission and persistence.

The details of all steps involved in the quantification of
biofilm formation in microtiter plates are described. The
presented protocol incorporates information on assessment of
biofilm production by staphylococci, gained both by direct
experience as well as by analysis of methods for assaying
biofilm production. The obtained results should simplify
quantification of biofilm formation in microtiter plates, and
make it more reliable and comparable among different
laboratories.

Quantification of biofilm in microtiter plates: overview oftesting conditions and practical recommendations for assessmentof biofilm production by staphylococci.

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

The objective of this report is to present data and expert knowledge on poverty and zoonoses hotspots to inform prioritisation of study areas on the transmission of disease in emerging livestock systems in the developing world, where prevention of zoonotic disease might bring greatest benefit to poor people

Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses hotspots

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections cause serious public health problem in Ethiopia. They are more prevalent in the poor segments of the population with low household income, poor handling of personal and environmental sanitation, overcrowding and limited access to clean water. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude and pattern of intestinal parasitism in urban communities of southwest Ethiopia. Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken in Jimma town from October 2004-January 2005. Study subjects were selected using systematic sampling method. Data were gathered through house to house survey using standardized questionnaire. Stool specimens were examined microscopically for the presence of parasite eggs, cysts and trophozoites using direct saline thin smear and formol-ether concentration methods. Results: Of the total, 754 (83%) had one or more intestinal parasitic infections. T. trichiura, A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni were detected in single infection in 124 (16.4%), 44 (5.8%) and 11 (1.5%) of the infected study subjects, respectively. Polyparasitism was found in 515 (56.7%) of the total examined. Up to 5 parasites were detected in some individuals. T. trichiura with A. lumbricoides, hookworm and S. mansoni constituted 102 (13.5%), 33 (4.3%) and 17 (2.2%) of the double infections, respectively. H. nana and S. mansoni predominantly affected males than females (P<0.05). The prevalence of Giardia trophozites and H. nana were significantly higher in pre-school children than other age groups (P<0.05). Higher proportions of teenagers were infected by A. lumbricoides and S. mansoni. Taeniasis was also dominant in teenagers. Conclusion: Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent in the study area. Public education on how to handle personal hygiene and proper use of latrines should be given to reduce the prevalence of infection. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev.

/pdf/prevalence-of-intestinal-parasitic-infections-among-urban-1pkxpwoofx.pdf

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among urban dwellers in southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Parasitic infection of the intestinal tract is a major source of disease in patients with HIV particularly in the tropics, where diarrhea is a common complaint with variable severity and specific pathogens are be identified in more than half of the HIV/AIDS patients with persistent diarrhea. 
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their association with diarrhea of HIV infected patients. 
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 372 consecutive patients from Feb.-July, 2001, on HIV infected and non-infected patients which were confirmed by Wellcozyme ELISA(Murex, UK). Chronic diarrhea was defined as three or more lose stool passed daily for more than two weeks. Parasite infections were diagnosed by examination of single stool specimen which were examined as fresh wet mounts, formol-ether concentration technique and Modified acid fast stain. 
Result: Diarrhea was more prevalent in HIV infected 99(51.1%) than in HIV non infected patients 53(29.5%). Regardless of their diarrhea status, the general prevalence of intestinal parasites in HIV infected and HIV non-infected were 44.8% and 34.4% respectively. Among the 192 HIV infected patients 54 (28.1%) and 45(23.4%) of them had chronic and acute diarrhea respectively. The prevalence of intestinal parasites were 28(51.9%)in patients with chronic and 17(37.8%) in those acute with diarrhea. C. parvum, I. belli, and C. catyenesis oocyst were detected only in HIV infected patients with chronic diarrhea (P 
Conclusion: This study re-affirms the previously held view that in more of HIV patients with chronic diarrhea etiologic agent can be identified. Diarrhea and intestinal parasites prevalence were higher in HIV infected than HIV non-infected patients. Intestinal coccidian are opportunist infections which are found exclusively in HIV patients with chronic diarrhea. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2003;17(1):71-78] 
The retirement of malaria control workers as a critical problem for vector control in Oromia, Ethiopia 
Wakgari Deressa, Dereje Olana, Shelleme Chibsa 
: 
A retrospective record review for the period of seven years was done on retirement and death in February 2001 to assess the current status of malaria control workers in Oromia Regional State. The number of malaria control workers who left Malaria Control Programme due to retirement and death has dramatically increased across the last seven years with an average of about 15 workers annually. Among 106 malaria workers who left the programme during the period, 60% of them were retired and 26% deceased. It was also found that 89% of them were malaria technicians with specialized technical expertise in vector control, while the remaining 11% were highly experienced microscopists. Training of health professionals on malaria control through incorporating the malaria curriculum into the health training schools and institutions seems mandatory. [Ethio.J.Health Dev. 2003;17(1):79-83]

/pdf/prevalence-of-intestinal-parasites-in-hiv-infected-adult-62j0tzq79i.pdf

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in HIV-Infected adult Patients in Southwestern Ethiopia.

Hospital acquired infections are recognized as critical public health problems. Infections are frequently caused by organisms residing in healthcare environment, including contaminated medical equipment like Stethoscopes. To determine bacterial contamination, bacterial profile and anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of the isolates from stethoscopes at Jimma University Specialized Hospital. Cross-sectional study conducted from May to September 2011 at Jimma University Specialized Hospital. One hundred seventy-six stethoscopes owned by Health Care Workers (HCWs) and Medical students were randomly selected and studied. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data. Specimen was collected using moisten sterile cotton swab and 1 ml normal saline was used to transport the specimen, all laboratory investigations were done following standard microbiological techniques, at Microbiology Laboratory, Jimma University. SPSS windows version 16 used for data analysis and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: A total, of 151 (85.8%) stethoscopes were contaminated. A total of 256 bacterial strains and a mean of 1.44×104 CFUs/diaphragm of stethoscopes was isolated. Of the 256 isolates, 133 (52%) were potential pathogens like S. aureus, Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., P. aeruginosa and E. coli. All strains were resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics (two to eight classes of antibiotics). Disinfection practice was poor. Disinfection practice was found to be associated with bacterial contamination of stethoscopes (P < 0.05). High contamination rate 100 (90.9%) was observed among stethoscopes that had never been disinfected; while the least contamination 29 (72.2%) was found on those disinfected a week or less before the survey. Bacterial contamination of the stethoscope was significant. The isolates were potential pathogens and resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. Stethoscope is potential vehicle in the transmission of infections between patients and Healthcare Workers. Stethoscope diaphragm should be disinfected before and after each patient contact.

/pdf/bacterial-contamination-bacterial-profile-and-antimicrobial-467z9wh1u5.pdf

Bacterial contamination, bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from stethoscopes at Jimma University Specialized Hospital

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of thermotolerant Campylobacter strains isolated from food animals in Ethiopia.

Background : Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. is known to occur in the intestinal systems of a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Although Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli cause acute diarrhoeal diseases in humans worldwide, they mostly manifest themselves in an apparently healthy carrier state in other mammalian species. However, little is known about the presence of campylobacter bacteria in various food animals as possible sources of infection to humans in Ethiopia. Objective : The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in various food animals in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban and rural farm animal settings in Jimma, southwest Ethiopia in the period between January 2004 to April 2004. Fecal specimens were collected from 485 various food animals (cattle, n=205; poultry, n=191; pigs, n=18; sheep n=71) and cultured using standard methods. Results : Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 192 (39.6%) out of 485 fecal specimens taken from various urban and rural farm animals. The highest isolation rate was recorded among chickens (68.1%), followed by pigs (50.0%), sheep (38.0%) and cattle (12.7%). Among the 192 thermophilic campylobacters isolated, 135 (70.3%) were identified to be C. jejuni , 51 (26.6%) were C. coli and 6 (3.1%) were C. lari. C. jejuni was the most prevalent species in chickens (80.8%), followed by sheep (59.3%) and cattle (53.8%). All isolates found in pigs were identified to be C. coli (100%). Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that thermophilic campylobacters are very frequent among various food animals in Ethiopia, suggesting possible risks of infection to people through the consumption of contaminated animal products or through contact with infected animals. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 19(3) 2005: 225-229

/pdf/the-prevalence-of-thermotolerant-campylobacter-species-in-54wtb64774.pdf

Tesfaye Kassa

Papers

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among urban dwellers in southwest Ethiopia.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in HIV-Infected adult Patients in Southwestern Ethiopia.

Bacterial contamination, bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from stethoscopes at Jimma University Specialized Hospital

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of thermotolerant Campylobacter strains isolated from food animals in Ethiopia.

The prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in food animals in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia