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Oxidant solutions of mostly free chlorine can be electrochemically produced on-site from brine (NaCl) solution and used to disinfect water at the household or community level. In this study electrochemical oxidant (ECO) from brine and free chlorine were evaluated under laboratory conditions for inactivation of test microbes. Purified suspensions of Escherichia coli, the rugose strain of Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium perfringens spores, MS2 coliphage and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were treated with 2 mg/L or 5 mg/L solutions of ECO or free chlorine at 5°C and 25°C and pH 6, 8, and 10 (pH 7 and 25°C only for C. parvum oocysts) for contact times <60 min. Under nearly all conditions, inactivation kinetics were more rapid for E. coli, V. cholerae, C. perfringens spores and MS2 coliphage with ECO than with free chlorine. ECO reduced E. coli, V. cholerae and MS2 by >4 log10 within 30 min and C. perfringens spores by >2 log10 within 10 min at pH 8 and 25°C. Contrary to previous results, however, C. parvum oocysts were not inactivated by ECO, and the reasons for this difference are uncertain. The on-site electrolytic generation of oxidants from brine provided a convenient and inexpensive disinfectant containing free chlorine that was effective against many enteric microbes, for the treatment of household and community drinking-water supplies worldwide. However, the effectiveness of such oxidants for inactivating C. parvum oocysts was variable and sometimes ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1996 and 1997, cyclosporiasis outbreaks in North America were linked to eating Guatemalan raspberries. We conducted a study in health-care facilities and among raspberry farm workers, as well as a case-control study, to assess risk factors for the disease in Guatemala. From April 6, 1997, to March 19, 1998, 126 (2.3%) of 5, 552 surveillance specimens tested positive for Cyclospora; prevalence peaked in June (6.7%). Infection was most common among children 1.5 to 9 years old and among persons with gastroenteritis. Among 182 raspberry farm workers and family members monitored from April 6 to May 29, six had Cyclospora infection. In the case-control analysis, 62 (91%) of 68 persons with Cyclospora infection reported drinking untreated water in the 2 weeks before illness, compared with 88 (73%) of 120 controls (odds ratio [OR] 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4, 10.8 by univariate analysis). Other risk factors included water source, type of sewage drainage, ownership of chickens or other fowl, and contact with soil (among children younger than 2 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a report that summarizes measles circulation patterns and efforts to interrupt measles transmission in the Americas during 2001. Description of the measles vaccination strategy recommended by the Pan American Health Organization; Number of measles cases reported in 2001 in various countries.

Presents a summary of a report on measles control strategies implemented in South American regions. Measles vaccination; Confirmation of measles cases in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic; How to maintain effective measles control; Editorial note from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abstract Background The impact of vertical programs on health systems is a much-debated topic, and more evidence on this complex relationship is needed. This article describes a research protocol developed to assess the relationship between the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, routine immunization, and primary health care in multiple settings. Methods/Design This protocol was designed as a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, making use of comparative ethnographies. The study evaluates the impact of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on routine immunization and primary health care by: (a) combining quantitative and qualitative work into one coherent study design; (b) using purposively selected qualitative case studies to systematically evaluate the impact of key contextual variables; and (c) making extensive use of the method of participant observation to create comparative ethnographies of the impact of a single vertical program administered in varied contexts. Discussion The study design has four major benefits: (1) the careful selection of a range of qualitative case studies allowed for systematic comparison; (2) the use of participant observation yielded important insights on how policy is put into practice; (3) results from our quantitative analysis could be explained by results from qualitative work; and (4) this research protocol can inform the creation of actionable recommendations. Here, recommendations for how to overcome potential challenges in carrying out such research are presented. This study illustrates the utility of mixed-methods research designs in which qualitative data are not just used to embellish quantitative results, but are an integral component of the analysis.

Bevezetés: A lokálisan előrehaladott vagy recidív kismedencei daganatok kezelésére a totális (TPE) vagy parciális kismedencei exenteráció (PPE) lehet az egyetlen kuratív műtét, mely a beteg túlélését növelheti. A mortalitáscsökkenés ellenére a morbiditás még mindig magas, az R0 reszekció elérése sokszor nehéz., Anyag És Módszer: Retrospektív módon elemeztük az osztályunkon 2016. 09. 01. és 2022. 10. 31. között végzett kismedencei exenteráció (PE) műtéti adatait a morbiditás, mortalitás, specimenhisztológia tekintetében. Az életminőségét az EORTC-QLQ-C30 általános és CR29 vastagbél műtétekhez adaptált kérdéssor segítségével mértük., Eredmények: 32 betegen történt PE. 20 (62,5%) volt nő és 12 (37,5%) férfi. A medián életkor 60 év volt (41-82 év, IQR: 13). 7 műtét laparoszkópos (21,8%) és 25 nyitott módon történt (78,2%). 27 esetben (84,3%) primer lokálisan előrehaladott és 5 (15,7%) esetben pedig recidív, lokálisan előrehaladott végbél tumor miatt végeztük a műtétet. A 13 TPE-ből (40,6%), 8 supralevatoricus, záróizom megtartással (SLTPE) és 5 infralevatoricus, záróizom eltávolítással (ILTPE) történt. Supralevatoricus poszterior exenterációt (SLPPE) 16 esetben (50%), infralevatoricus poszterior exenterációt (ILPPE) 3 esetben (9,4%) és S4/5 szintű sacrum reszekciót 5 esetben (15,6%) végeztünk. A kiterjedt medencei és gáti defektus zárása egy vagy kétoldali gluteus maximus musculocutan lebeny alkalmazásával 6 esetben történt (18,75%), anasztomózist 15 betegnél (46,87%) készítettünk. A vizelet-deviáció minden esetben izolált ileum szegmentum alkalmazásával történt Bricker szerint. R0 reszekciót 27 (84,3%), R1 reszekciót 2 (6,25%) esetben igazolt a szövettani vizsgálat, míg 3 esetben (9,375%) R2 reszekció történt. A medián műtéti idő 170 perc volt (60-360 perc, IQR: 97,5). Clavien Dindo ≥ 3 szövődményt összesen 8 esetben (25%) észleltünk. Hasűri tályog 2 esetben, bélelzáródás 1 esetben, rektum csonk nekrózis 1 esetben, vékonybél-perforáció 1 esetben, uretersérülés 1 esetben, beforgatott gluteus maximus musculocutan lebeny részleges elhalása 1 esetben és biológiai háló fölé nyelezett gracilis izomlebenylebeny elhalása 1 esetben fordult elő. Egy beteget veszítettünk el 30 napon belül (3,1%) posztoperatív hasűri vérzés okozta hypovolemias shock miatt. Átlagos kórházi tartózkodás 14,4 nap volt (7-39 nap, SD: 9). A medián túlélés 16,5 hónap (0,67-74 hónap, IQR: 28,5), a medián betegségmentes túlélés 15,5 hónap (0,67-74 hónap, IQR: 29) volt. A QLQ-CR29 vastagbél műtétekhez adaptált életminőség felmérés alapján a funkcionalitást 73%-nak, a panaszokat pedig 15%-nak mértük., Következtetések: A kezdetben palliatív műtétként végzett beavatkozás kuratívvá vált. A radioterápia növeli a negatív reszekciós szél valószínűségét, ami szignifikáns prediktora a betegségmentes túlélésnek (DFS), ugyanakkor pedig a morbiditás, szövődményi kockázat növelésének is a leggyakoribb szignifikáns oka. A PE potenciálisan kuratív műtét lehet lokálisan előrehaladott végbéldaganatok esetén túlélési előnnyel és lokális recidíva csökkenéssel, elfogadható életminőséggel.

Introduction: The bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery is a controversial topic in the surgical practice. During the last 15 years numerous publications concerning the necessity and options of the bowel preparation were published. The aim of our team was to perform a survey about the current, domestic practice as well as to give a short overview of the relevant literature and recommendations., Methods: 50 surgical departments performing colorectal surgeries routinely were asked to fill out an online, anonymous survey. The data of the survey filled out by 40 surgical departments were analyzed separately for the surgeries of the right colon, the left colon, and the rectum., Results: Based on the results, there is a high heterogeneity concerning the mode of the bowel preparation: in case of the right colon 7 different combinations, in case of the left colon and rectum 3-3 different combinations of bowel preparation methods are used., Conclusions: In the current domestic practice there is a high heterogeneity regarding the modes of the bowel preparation before the elective colorectal surgery, which are presumably based mainly on individual experience. The methods of the bowel preparation used by the majority of the surgical centers are not in accordance with the current international recommendations. A preparation of a Hungarian consensus document in this topic would be beneficial.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Napjainkban az őrszemnyirokcsomó felkeresésének legelterjedtebb módszere a radioizotópos és kék festékes kettős jelölés, emellett azonban több más jelölés is alkalmazható. Az indociánzöld-fluoreszcencia ígéretes nyirokút-térképezési módszer, mely a találati arányát tekintve - irodalmi adatok alapján - összevethető a radioizotópos módszerrel. Módszer: Osztályunkon 2020. 03. 31. és 2020. 04. 15. között 10, emlőrák miatt operált betegünknél alkalmaztuk az indociánzöld és a kék festékes kettős jelölés módszerét az őrszemnyirokcsomó felkeresésére. Eredmények: A 10 operált betegünknél összesen 17 őrszemnyirokcsomót azonosítottunk és távolítottunk el. 16 őrszemnyirokcsomó jól festődött indociánzölddel (találati arány: 0,94; 95%-os konfidenciaintervallum [CI ]: 0,73-0,99), míg kék festékkel 9 jelölődött (találati arány: 0,53; 95%-os CI: 0,31-0,74). A szövettani feldolgozás során összesen 2 őrszemnyirokcsomó bizonyult áttétesnek, ezek közül 1 kék és fluoreszcens volt, 1 pedig csak kék festékkel jelölődött. Következtetés: Kezdeti, kis esetszámnál nyert tapasztalataink alapján az indociánzöld jelölés emlőrák során végzett őrszemnyirokcsomó-biopszia esetén jól használható kettős jelölési módszer részeként, kék festékkel kiegészítve. A módszer találati aránya, valamint fals negatív aránya irodalmi adatok alapján nem különbözik szignifikánsan a radioizotópos jelölés módszerétől. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(8): 293-297., Introduction: The current practice in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer is the radioisotope and blue dye dual labelling technique, however, other mapping methods are also available. Indocyanine green fluorescence is one of the best alternatives of the standard technique, with detection rates comparable to those of the radioisotope method., Method: Between 31. 03. 2020 and 15. 04. 2020, a total of 10 sentinel lymph node biopsies for breast cancer were performed using the indocyanine green fluorescence and blue dye dual technique., Results: 17 sentinel lymph nodes were detected and removed in total, from which 16 showed explicit fluorescence activity (detection rate: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.99), whilst 9 where blue (detection rate: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.31-0.74). During histopathological examination, 2 sentinel lymph nodes proved to be metastatic, from which 1 was fluorescent and blue, the other was blue only., Conclusion: Regarding our early experience based on a small number of patients, indocyanine green fluorescence, used together with blue dye as part of a dual technique, is a usable method for sentinel lymph node mapping. Based on data from the literature, the detection rate and the false-negative rate of the indocyanine green fluorescence method shows no significant difference from the radioisotope mapping technique. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(8): 293-297.

Three electrosurgical tissue-sealing devices (EnSeal ETSDRC-01, LigaSure LS1500 and Thunderbeat TB-0535PC) were compared regarding sealing time (ST), maximum working temperature (WTmax) and the total (MTZtotal) as well as the collateral microscopic thermal injury zone (MTZcollat) using laparoscopic handpieces 5 mm in diameter on four types of tissue (liver, mesentery, cross striated muscle and spleen) in an in vivo porcine model. LigaSure had the lowest mean ST in spleen, mesentery, muscle and liver, followed by Thunderbeat and EnSeal with significant differences between all types of tissues and devices. The significantly lowest mean WTmax was obtained for EnSeal in mesentery, muscle and liver. LigaSure and EnSeal operated at the lowest temperature in spleen without a significant difference between them. Thunderbeat produced significantly higher temperature peaks in all cases. The lowest mean MTZtotal was caused by LigaSure and EnSeal in spleen, mesentery and muscle without significant differences between them, followed by the significantly higher values of Thunderbeat. Nevertheless, Thunderbeat produced the significantly lowest mean MTZtotal in the liver. EnSeal produced the lowest mean MTZcollat in the liver, followed by LigaSure and Thunderbeat showing significant differences. EnSeal and LigaSure produced the lowest mean MTZcollat in the spleen, mesentery and muscle without significant differences between them, followed by the significantly higher values of Thunderbeat. Based on the results of this study, Thunderbeat seems to be more invasive to tissue integrity (even without the activation of the ultrasonic scissor function) than EnSeal or LigaSure, that operate at lower temperatures and were found to cause negligible collateral thermal damage.

Introduction: The introduction of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has led to a significant decrease of axillary lymph node dissections (ALND). The importance of the extracapsular extension (ECE) in the sentinel lymph node (SN) remains unclear. Method: The data of 635 patients with T1-T2N0M0 invasive breast cancer who underwent SNB between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed. 25% of the SNB patients (158) had metastasis in the SNs. These patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of ECE. The main objective of our study was to analyse the occurrence of massive (>3) node metastasis in the case of ECE negative and ECE positive patients, where ALND was performed. Results: There were 91/158 patients (58%) in the ECE negative group and 67/158 patients (42%) in the ECE positive group. ALND was performed in 42% of the ECE negative and in 69% of the ECE positive patients. There were no significant differences in the mean age of the patients; size, histological type and grade of the tumours, presence of lymphovascular invasion and proportion of hormone and HER2 receptor positivities. In the ECE negative ALND group, pN1 involvement was 82%, pN2+pN3 involvement represented 18% of cases. In the ECE positive ALND group, pN1 involvement was 60%, pN2+pN3 involvement was found in 40% of cases. The presence of ECE was associated with greater axillary disease burden. These results show a significant difference ( p = 0.038). Conclusions: ECE of the SN is an important predictor for non-sentinel lymph node involvement. These data suggest, when ECE is confirmed, it is a further factor to be considered in deciding about ALND.

The family Picornaviridae is a large and diverse group of viruses that infect humans and animals. Picornaviruses are among the most common infections of humans and cause a wide spectrum of acute human disease. This study began as an investigation of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in a small area of eastern Bolivia, where surveillance had identified a persistently high AFP rate in children. Stools were collected and diagnostic studies ruled out poliovirus. We tested stool specimens from 51 AFP cases and 34 healthy household or community contacts collected during 2002-2003 using real-time and semi-nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays for enterovirus, parechovirus, cardiovirus, kobuvirus, salivirus and cosavirus. Anecdotal reports suggested a temporal association with neurological disease in domestic pigs, so six porcine stools were also collected and tested with the same set of assays, with the addition of an assay for porcine teschovirus. A total of 126 picornaviruses were detected in 73 of 85 human individuals, consisting of 53 different picornavirus types encompassing five genera (all except Kobuvirus). All six porcine stools contained porcine and/or human picornaviruses. No single virus, or combination of viruses, specifically correlated with AFP; however, the study revealed a surprising complexity of enteric picornaviruses in a single community.

The success of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative promises to bring large benefits, including sustained improvements in quality of life (i.e., cases of paralytic disease and deaths avoided) and costs saved from cessation of vaccination. Obtaining and maintaining these benefits requires that policymakers manage the transition from the current massive use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) to a world without OPV and free of the risks of potential future reintroductions of live polioviruses. This article describes the analytical journey that began in 2001 with a retrospective case study on polio risk management and led to development of dynamic integrated risk, economic, and decision analysis tools to inform global policies for managing the risks of polio. This analytical journey has provided several key insights and lessons learned that will be useful to future analysts involved in similar complex decision-making processes.

We performed splenectomy combined with spleen autotransplantation after blunt abdominal trauma by minimally invasive technique at the County Teaching Hospital in Kecskemét. In case of advanced post traumatic spleen injury, spleen autotransplantation (Furka's spleen chips) is a well-known method to try to avoid postsplenectomy syndrome. During the operation, when in situ preservation of the spleen is not possible, chips of spleen tissue are transplanted into the omentum. Function of the transplanted spleen tissue was monitored by scintigraphy. We describe two different types of spleen scintigraphy to check the viability of spleen chips.

The region of the Americas has shown extraordinary progress in its fight to interrupt measles transmission. The Pan American Health Organization's recommended strategy includes the following: a 1-time nationwide campaign targeting 1- to 14-year-old children; routine vaccination among 1-year-olds; and nationwide campaigns conducted every 4 years, targeting all 1- to 4-year-olds. Rapid house-to-house monitoring of vaccination and measles surveillance are other essential components of the strategy. During 2001, only 541 cases were confirmed in the region. In 2002, only Venezuela and Colombia had indigenous transmission. After important vaccination efforts in both countries, the last reported case occurred on 20 September 2002, in Venezuela. Since then, no confirmation exists of indigenous measles circulation anywhere else in the region. Nonetheless, important challenges remain, including insufficient coverage during routine and campaign vaccination and inadequate investigation of some cases.

Twenty-one cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were reported on the island of Hispaniola in 2000. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) type 1 in stool samples obtained from patients. As a complement to the active search for cases of AFP, environmental sampling was conducted during November and December 2000, to test for cVDPV in sewage, streams, canals, and public latrines. Fifty-five environmental samples were obtained and analyzed for the presence of polioviruses by use of cell culture followed by neutralization and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Of the 23 positive samples, 10 tested positive for poliovirus type 1, 7 tested positive for poliovirus type 2, 5 tested positive for poliovirus type 3, and 1 tested positive for both poliovirus type 2 and type 3. By sequence analysis of the complete viral capsid gene 1 (VP1), a 2.1%-3.7% genetic sequence difference between 7 type 1 strains and Sabin type 1 vaccine strain was found. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these viruses are highly related to cVDPV isolated from clinical cases and form distinct subclusters related to geographic region. Our findings demonstrate a useful role for environmental surveillance of neurovirulent polioviruses in the overall polio eradication program.

Measles incidence in Bolivia declined after the introduction of campaign strategies in the 1980s. From 1990 to 1993, the peak incidence of measles (59 cases/100,000 population) was in 1992. In 1994, after the goal of interruption of measles transmission was adopted, a national vaccination campaign targeting children <15 years old was conducted and achieved 96% coverage. During 1995-1997, cases declined, although routine coverage was <90% in most years. During 1998-2000, a nationwide epidemic occurred among 2567 case-patients, most of whom were unvaccinated. A national vaccination campaign, with strong supervision, was conducted during November and December 1999 and targeted areas with low coverage. Only 122 cases were confirmed in 2000, with the last confirmed case occurring in October. Crucial to the control of the outbreak were sufficient resources and political support, intensive local planning, door-to-door vaccination with strict supervision, and rapid house-to-house coverage monitoring that improved accountability at the local level and timely and thorough outbreak investigations.

On 8 March 2000 a case of laboratory-confirmed measles was detected in Haiti. Over the ensuing months, an explosive epidemic occurred that spread to 8 of the 9 departments of Haiti, including the nation's capital, Port au Prince. After peaking in the last half of November 2000, the epidemic began a rapid decline. The date of onset for the last confirmed case was 26 September 2001. During the 18 months of the epidemic, 1149 cases were confirmed. To control the epidemic, various strategies were employed, including vaccination campaigns that used fixed posts and door-to-door activities. Critical factors in the success of these campaigns were thorough training and supervision of field staff; a high-quality door-to-door vaccination strategy; multiple visits to homes; and monitoring of vaccine coverage by household during the course of the campaigns.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss methods recommended and used by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to monitor the interruption of indigenous measles transmission in the Region of the Americas. The methods used include house-to-house monitoring of vaccination coverage as a supervisory tool during both campaigns and routine vaccination; thoroughly investigating all measles outbreaks; performing routine surveillance, including weekly reporting from at least 80% of reporting units; and validating routine surveillance through active-case searches at health care institutions and schools and in the community. The strategies described have helped PAHO to increase the authority and accountability of vaccine program managers at the local, provincial, and national levels. Their efforts have permitted the Region of the Americas to reduce to three the number of countries with indigenous measles transmission and to reach a record low of 503 measles cases in 2001.

The success of measles eradication depends upon a laboratory network to rapidly analyze samples obtained as part of surveillance and case investigation. The Pan American Measles Laboratory Network was established in 1995. Major activities of the 22 participating laboratories include the rapid testing of serum samples to diagnose measles, analysis and recommendation of techniques to be used in serologic testing, training in virus isolation, and procurement and distribution of laboratory materials. In addition, a comprehensive quality-control program and an electronic communication network have been developed. Testing for rubella has also been incorporated. The Network has been crucial to the great progress made toward eradicating measles from the Western Hemisphere. The priority given to the laboratories in the Network must continue in order to ensure that the eradication goal is reached and that validation of the interruption of endemic transmission of measles is documented.

Background: Wastewater (WW) workers could have opportunity for direct contact with raw sewage, which might contain hepatitis A virus (HAV)., Methods: A serologic survey of WW workers and a comparison population of roads and drainage workers (RD). Factors potentially associated with anti-HAV positivity were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Among the 365 WW workers, overall anti-HAV prevalence was 38%, similar to that (35%) of the 166 RD workers (P = 0.5). Prevalence varied by wastewater job type from 45% among the 164 field crew workers to 32% among the 201 treatment plant workers. In multivariate modeling, factors associated with anti-HAV positivity included age > or = 40 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.6-3.7), black compared to other races (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.5-3.8), birth outside the United States (OR = 7.5; 95% CI = 3.0-18.6), a high school education or less (OR 2.1; 95% CI = 1.4-3.2) and work on the field crew compared to RD work (OR 1.6; 95% CI = 1.1-2.4)., Conclusions: These results are consistent with no or a small increased risk of hepatitis A among WW workers, and do not provide a clear mandate for hepatitis A vaccination of these workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43: 172-178, 2003., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

An outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in the Dominican Republic (13 confirmed cases) and Haiti (8 confirmed cases, including 2 fatal cases) during 2000-2001. All but one of the patients were either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children, and cases occurred in communities with very low (7 to 40%) rates of coverage with oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). The outbreak was associated with the circulation of a derivative of the type 1 OPV strain, probably originating from a single OPV dose given in 1998-1999. The vaccine-derived poliovirus associated with the outbreak had biological properties indistinguishable from those of wild poliovirus.

Objective: To evaluate the role of child care centers in a community-wide hepatitis A epidemic., Methods: We analyzed surveillance data during an epidemic in Maricopa County, Arizona, from January to October 1997 and conducted a case-control study using a sample of cases reported from June to November. Cases were physician-diagnosed and laboratory confirmed; control subjects were frequency matched by age and neighborhood. Information regarding hepatitis A risk factors, including child care-related exposures, was collected. Characteristics of all licensed child care centers in the county were obtained through review of computerized lists from the Arizona Office of Child Day Care Licensing. Surveillance data were linked to the child care list to determine which centers had reported hepatitis A cases. We conducted univariate and multivariate conditional logistic analyses and calculated population attributable risks (PAR)., Results: In total, 1242 cases (50/100 000 population) were reported. The highest rates occurred among people aged 0 to 4 (76/100 000), 5 to 14 (95/100 000), and 15 to 29 (79/100 000) years. The most frequently reported risk factor was contact with a hepatitis A patient (45%). However, nearly 80% of these contacts were with individuals who attended or worked in a child care center. Overall, child care center-related contact could have been the source of infection for 34% of case-patients. In the case-control study, case-patients (n = 116) and control subjects (n = 116) did not differ with respect to demographic characteristics. A total of 51% of case-patients compared with 18% of control subjects reported attending or working in a child care setting (direct contact; adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 6.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-23.0) or being a household contact of such a person (indirect contact; OR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.3-8.0). In age-stratified analyses, the association between hepatitis A and direct or indirect contact with child care settings was strongest for children <6 years old and adults aged 18 to 34 years. Household contact with a person with hepatitis A also was associated with hepatitis A (OR: 9.2; 95% CI: 2.6-58.2). The presence of a child <5 years old in the household was not associated with hepatitis A. The estimated PAR for direct child care contact was 23% (95% CI: 16-34), for indirect child care contact was 21% (95% CI: 13-35), and for any child care contact was 40% (95% CI: 30-53). Information on 1243 licensed child care centers was obtained, with capacity ranging from 5 to 479 slots (mean: 87). Thirty-four (2.7%) centers reported hepatitis A cases. Centers that had a mean capacity of >50 children were more than twice as likely to have had a reported case of hepatitis A (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1-6.7). Among the 747 centers that accepted >50 children, having infant (OR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.6-8.3), toddler (OR: 6.3; 95% CI: 2.2-20.0), or full-day service (OR; undefined; 95% CI: 1.7- ~) was associated with having a reported case of hepatitis A., Conclusions: In Maricopa County, people associated with child care settings are at increased risk of hepatitis A, and child care attendees may be an appropriate target group for hepatitis A vaccination. Considering the estimated proportion of children who attended child care and were old enough to receive hepatitis A vaccine (>/=2 years of age) and the calculated PAR, approximately 40% of cases might have been prevented if child care center attendees and staff had been vaccinated. However, epidemiologic studies indicate that the proportion of cases that are attributable to child care center exposure varies considerably among counties, suggesting that this exposure may be associated with an increased risk of hepatitis A in some communities but not in others. To prevent and control hepatitis A epidemics in communities, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics have adopted a long-term strategy of routine vaccination of children who live in areas with consistently elevated hepatitis A rates. After demonstrating cost-effectiveness, a rule was implemented in January 1999 to require hepatitis A vaccination of all children who are aged 2 to 5 years and enrolled in a licensed child care facility in Maricopa County. Other communities with similar epidemiologic features might consider routine vaccination of child care center attendees as a long-term hepatitis A prevention strategy. Consistent with current recommendations, in communities with persistently elevated hepatitis A rates where child care center attendance does not play an important role in hepatitis A virus transmission in the community, child care centers may nonetheless provide a convenient access point for delivering hepatitis A as well as other routine childhood vaccinations.

In October 2000, the Ministries of Health of the Dominican Republic and Haiti notified two cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in rural areas, one of them in a 9-month-old female, and the other in a 2-year-old female, respectively. Stool samples that were obtained from these cases, which occurred in July and August 2000, after a 9-year interruption of wild poliovirus circulation in the Western Hemisphere, revealed the presence of type 1 poliovirus. Genetic sequencing, which was later performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, revealed an atypical descendant of the virus used in the manufacture of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), but with 3% genetic divergence with respect to the parent strain. Normally, viral isolates that derive from vaccine components show 99.5% genetic agreement with the parent strain; in wild polioviruses, on the other hand, this agreement is usually less than 82.0%. Thus, the 3% genetic divergence detected in this study suggests that, in areas with low vaccine coverage, the virus used in the vaccine remained in circulation for at least two years, during which it recovered the neurovirulence and communicability of wild poliovirus type 1. This report describes the characteristics and results of the active search for cases of AFP that was sparked by the detection of the two index cases. It also looks at the public health implications of this outbreak for the entire Region of the Americas.

Epidemiologic investigations of the Latin America cholera epidemic have repeatedly implicated untreated drinking water and water touched by hands during storage as important vehicles for disease transmission. To prevent such transmission, we provided a new narrow-mouthed, plastic, water storage vessel and 5% calcium hypochlorite solution for home disinfection of stored water to a Bolivian Aymara Indian community at risk for cholera. We evaluated acceptance of this intervention and its effect on water quality. Each of 42 families in the study obtained water from a household well; fecal coliform bacteria were found in water from 39 (93%) of 42 wells and 33 (79%) of 42 usual water storage vessels. One group of families received the special vessels and chlorine (group A), a second received only the special vessels (group B), and a third served as a control group (group C). Water samples collected every three weeks from group A special vessels had lower geometric mean fecal coliform colony counts (P < 0.0001) and lower geometric mean Escherichia coli colony counts (P < 0.0001) than water from group B or C vessels. Adequate levels of free chlorine persisted in these vessels for at least 5 hr. The special vessels and chlorine solution were well accepted and continued to be used for at least six months. Use of the vessel and chlorine solution produced drinking water from nonpotable sources that met World Health Organization standards for microbiologic quality.

A very large segment of the world's population is without a microbiologically safe water supply. It is estimated that in Latin America more than 40% of the population is utilizing water of dubious quality for human consumption. This figure is probably even higher in Africa and areas of southeast Asia. Water used for drinking and food preparation can be an important route of transmission for many of the most widespread and debilitating of the diseases that afflict humans. The cholera pandemic which struck Latin America in January 1991, and has become endemic in many of the countries, continues to exemplify the public health significance of contaminated drinking water. Ideally, this neglected segment of the world's population should be served with piped water systems that provide a continuous supply of microbiologically safe water, but this would require such enormous investments of financial and human resources that it is not reasonable to expect that it will be accomplished. Interim practical measures to assure microbiologically safe water are necessary. The public health intervention to accomplish this is described in this paper and has an annual per family cost of which ranges between $1.50 and $4. It consists of providing individual households with one or preferably two suitable water containers in which to disinfect and store the essential quantities of water that need to be free of pathogens, with the containers of a design that will preclude recontamination of the contents and enable the production and distribution of the water disinfectants to be managed at the local level. It includes the necessary component of public education, promotion and involvement to establish the sustainability of the measures as a community-based endeavor. Investigation and demonstration projects are being carried out in II countries to determine and perfect and appropriate intervention, and it has been proven that it is economically, technically and socially feasible to assure microbiologically safe water for the world's population that is threatened by waterborne diseases. Carefully controlled microbiological analysis of the untreated and treated water shows that waterborne pathogens can be destroyed or inactivated, and carefully controlled epidemiological studies being carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that this intervention achieves considerable reduction in the incidence of water borne disease. It is recommended that all developing countries initiate programs to replicate the health measure described in this paper in order to test its validity and to adapt it to their local conditions.