Molecular Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Northern Territory, Australia

Emerging Infectious Disease's an open access journal in the public domain. All content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution.Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a globally recognized health threat; new strategies are needed to enhance AMR surveillance. The Northern Territory of Australia is unique in that 2 different first-line therapies, based primarily on geographic location, are used for gonorrhea treatment. We tested 1,629 N. gonorrhoeae nucleic acid amplification test-positive clinical samples, collected from regions where ceftriaxone plus azithromycin or amoxicillin plus azithromycin are recommended first-line treatments, by using 8 N. gonorrhoeae AMR PCR assays. We compared results with those from routine culture-based surveillance data. PCR data confirmed an absence of ceftriaxone resistance and a low level of azithromycin resistance (0.2%), and that penicillin resistance was <5% in amoxicillin plus azithromycin regions. Rates of ciprofloxacin resistance and penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae were lower when molecular methods were used. Molecular methods to detect N. gonorrhoeae AMR can increase the evidence base for treatment guidelines, particularly in settings where culture-based surveillance is limited

The Use of Unusual Psychological Theories in Psychobiography: A Case Study and Discussion

This chapter argues for the use of ‘unusual’ theories in psychobiographical research through the presentation of a case study using such a theory. Historically, psychobiographical research has predominantly made use of the work of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theorists and developmental theorists, while more recent psychobiographical approaches have preferred more modern, empirically based. However, over reliance on a few theories within psychobiographical research creates the possibility for narrow explanations of complex lives. Given the proliferation of theoretical modes in psychology the current use of theory barely scratches the surface of available explanatory paradigms. This chapter argues for the value of casting the explanatory net wider, and for the inclusion of more psychological theories in psychobiographical work. Using a psychobiographical case study, the chapter illustrates how a ‘forgotten’ psychological theory (script theory, based on the work of Tomkins) can serve as an extremely useful explanatory paradigm for a complex religious figure. The case study focuses on Gordon Hinckley (b. 1910, d. 2008), the fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly referred to as the Mormon Church), who remains a prominent figure in contemporary Mormonism and played a key role in the rapid growth and increasingly positive public profile of the Religion throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Using Tomkins’ script theory in conjunction with a psychobiographical method and the analysis of data gathered from published speeches, this study explores Hinckley’s personality structure and identifies three core psychological scripts

Spiramicin

Concentrating on the treatment of infectious diseases, the content is divided into 4 sections: antibiotics, anti-fungal drugs,anti-parasitic drugs and anti-viral drugs, and is highly structured for ease of reference.Within each section, each chapter is structured to cover susceptibility, formulations and dosing (adult and paediatric), pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, toxicity and drug distribution, detailed discussion regarding clinical uses, a feature unique to this title

The role of immunomodulation in the management of infections of the CNS

Interactions between the immune and nervous systems are involved in many disease processes. Modulation of inflammation can provide an important opportunity to enhance regeneration within the central nervous system. This authoritative book defines the key cellular players in mounting an inflammatory response and highlights critical factors in the target organ that influence the nature of that response and its capacity either to damage or protect the brain. [From publisher\u27s website] ISBN: 978052188874

Pandemic influenza testing at the coalface: Time for reassessment?

Australian federal and state governments were advised several years ago that an influenza pandemic would overwhelm Australian public reference laboratories. It was proposed at the time that currently underused capacity in the private sector be used to enhance pandemic responses. The current outbreak of pandemic influenza has confirmed the predictions of advisors from the private sector. Future official pandemic plans should be adjusted to take into account these observations

Evidence that the gonococcal porA pseudogene is present in a broad range of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains; suitability as a diagnostic target

Aims: The primary aim of the study was to determine if the gonococcal porA pseudogene is a stable sequence target for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by PCR