Emergence and Spread of Streptococcus pneumoniae with erm(B) and mef(A) Resistance

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates (N = 31,001) were collected from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections during the PROTEKT US surveillance study (2000–2003). While the macrolide (erythromycin) resistance rate remained stable at ≈29%, the prevalence of resistant isolates containing both erm(B) and mef(A) increased from 9.7% in year 1 to 16.4% in year 3, with substantial regional variability. Almost all (99.2%) dual erm(B)+mef(A) macrolide-resistant isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, whereas 98.6% and 99.0% were levofloxacin- and telithromycin-susceptible, respectively. These strains were most commonly isolated from the ear or middle-ear fluid of children. Of 152 representative erm(B)+mef(A) isolates, >90% were clonally related to the multidrug-resistant international Taiwan19F-14 clonal complex 271 (CC271). Of 366 erm(B)+mef(A) isolates from the PROTEKT global study (1999–2003), 83.3% were CC271, with the highest prevalence seen in South Africa, South Korea, and the United States. This study confirms the increasing global emergence and rapidly increasing US prevalence of this multidrug-resistant pneumococcal clone

Innovation, science, environment: Canadian policies and performance, 2007/2008

The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly obvious around the world but different levels of the Canadian government are failing to respond cohesively. For example, the Harper government immediately cut several liberal-era environmental research programs and admitted that Canada has been moving away from Kyoto Protocol targets and that the Kyoto Protocol is not central to its idea of either good environmental or good energy policy. Meanwhile, a Quebec liberal government announced that it would introduce a carbon tax to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 million tons by 2012 while Canada's mayors introduced their own climate change initiatives, linking them to local infrastructure development. This second volume in the ISE series examines the reshaping of ISE policy in the context of multi-level governance and policy. Contributors examine climate change policy, innovation in the natural resources sector, the internet pharmacy trade, biotechnology policy and governance, provincial government renewable energy policies, the psychological and human nature connection with sustainable development policies, procurement policy and innovation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the commercialization of Canada's universities

How Ottawa spends, 2004-2005: Mandate change in the Paul Martin era

The twenty-fifth edition of "How Ottawa Spends" assesses the priorities, initial spending, and policy initiatives of the new Paul Martin era. Writing in the context of the Liberal Party's internal regime change and the formation of a new Conservative Party, contributors to this volume examine key issues of Canadian national politics and policy, including Canada-U.S. relations; the cities agenda; social policy, ethics and public trust; policies on children, energy, sustainable development policy and implementing the Kyoto Protocol; smart regulation and natural resources; Atlantic Canada fisheries; innovation policy and the services sector; the central agencies and governing from the centre; and next-generation renewal of the federal public service. Drawing on the work of academics and other experts from across Canada, Carleton University's School of Public Policy and Administration's annual book takes a focused and robust look at an era where a political coronation seemed inevitable but high expectations had to be managed downwards almost immediately. A less-than-buoyant fiscal surplus, escalating concerns about liberal ethics and corruption, and a growing volatility in public opinion are examined as are Canadians' increasingly uncertain views about the new Liberal leadership versus the old Liberal Party's ten-year hold on power. A new Conservative Party and a suddenly feisty New Democratic Party are also a central part of the new 2004-2005 Canadian political and policy milieu