Panel 4 : Report of the Microbiology Panel

Objective. To perform a comprehensive review of the literature from July 2011 until June 2015 on the virology and bacteriology of otitis media in children. Data Sources. PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine. Review Methods. Two subpanels comprising experts in the virology and bacteriology of otitis media were created. Each panel reviewed the relevant literature in the fields of virology and bacteriology and generated draft reviews. These initial reviews were distributed to all panel members prior to meeting together at the Post-symposium Research Conference of the 18th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media, National Harbor, Maryland, in June 2015. A final draft was created, circulated, and approved by all panel members. Conclusions. Excellent progress has been made in the past 4 years in advancing our understanding of the microbiology of otitis media. Numerous advances were made in basic laboratory studies, in animal models of otitis media, in better understanding the epidemiology of disease, and in clinical practice. Implications for Practice. (1) Many viruses cause acute otitis media without bacterial coinfection, and such cases do not require antibiotic treatment. (2) When respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, and influenza virus peak in the community, practitioners can expect to see an increase in clinical otitis media cases. (3) Biomarkers that predict which children with upper respiratory tract infections will develop otitis media may be available in the future. (4) Compounds that target newly identified bacterial virulence determinants may be available as future treatment options for children with otitis media.Peer reviewe

Evaluating pesticide use and safety practices among farmworkers in gallipoli peninsula, turkey

PubMed ID: 26513916Unsafe pesticide use among farmworkers is a major public health problem in Turkey. This study aimed to investigate pesticide use and safety practices of farmers in a village of Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. This cross sectional study was conducted with 117 farmers. The questionnaire included questions on demographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and safety practices concerning pesticides. The mean age of participants was 42.8 years, and 38.5% was female participants. Of the total 177 respondents, 77.8% reported that they prepared the chemical mixture at a public fountain, whereas 22.2% prepared it in their houses. Almost half (44.4%) reported that they experienced at least one health problem after pesticide application in the previous one year. Total scores for pesticide safety practices of the subjects, who declared that they experienced at least one health problem after the application in the previous one year, were statistically significantly lower (p<0.001). Their responses about safe use of pesticides and storage conditions were very striking. Our findings indicated that there is a need to increase health promotion activities through training, and the local administrations should promote safe use of pesticides by farm workers. © 2015, SEAMEO TROPMED Network. All rights reserved

Developing of health perception and psychosocial skills in disadventaged students: A school based interventional study from çanakkale [Dezavantajlı öğrencilerde sağlık algısının ve psikososyal becerilerin geliştirilmesi: Okul tabanlı bir müdahale çalışması]

AIM: The aim of this study was to develop health perception and psychosocial skills in disadvantaged students in a primary school. METHOD: This interventional study was conducted in a primary school between May 2012 and June 2012 in Kepez, Canakkale within the context of “Consultancy Application in Primary Schools”as the first step of “From Local to Cambridge and NASA: Development of Canakkale Values and Promotional Awareness in Disadvantaged Students” (TR22.11.SK01.0111) project. Fifteen students with different disadvantages at the 5th,6th,7th,and 8th grades in the second semester were included in the study. Training studies were performed to develop psychosocial skills and health perception of students. These studies were performed at the school library twice a week for three weeks. In this study, socio-demographic, health perception evaluation and psychosocial skill evaluation forms were used as material. Study data were analyzed using by SPSS, 15.00 version. RESULTS: Most students (66.6%) were female. Statistically significant difference was defined in psychosocial skill developments of students between the median values measured three weeks apart (p<0.001). When examined responses of students to the health perception scale, it was observed that favorable attitudes of students were increased, whereas unfavorable attitudes were decreased in the measurements during the training. CONCLUSION: Students with disadvantages gained physical, psychological and social skills (being interactive; sharing, communicating, enterprising) features of leadership and social supporting as well as the development of health perception. Two students, who successfully completed these training activities in our study group, were chosen to the project camp. One of these two students, who successfully completed the activities in the project camp and past the final exam was accepted by science trip in the United Kingdom. In conclusion, professional group trainings at early ages may be helpful for developing characteristics of health perception, psychosocial skills, enterprising in disadvantaged students. © 2015, TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED