Streptococcus pneumonia serotype 19A bacteremia in a child fully immunized with 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

postprin

Increase in the nasopharyngeal carriage of non-vaccine serogroup 15 Streptococcus pneumoniae after introduction of children pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Hong Kong

This study assessed pneumococcal carriage in the early periods after routine use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Hong Kong. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 1110 children (<5 years) admitted with acute illness during September 2010–August 2013. Pneumococcal carriage rate was 13.5% in unvaccinated children, 14.1% in children who had ≥1 PCV dose and 15.3% in children who had ≥3 PCV doses. Nonv-PCV13 serotypes comprised 56.4% of all isolates. The most common serogroup/types were 15 (15A, 5.1%; 15B, 10.3%; 15C, 9.6%; 15F, 0.6%), 19F (17.9%), 6A (7.1%) and 6C (7.1%). Carriage of serogroup 15 was more common among vaccinated children (4.1% versus 0.6%, P = 0.033). Molecular typing revealed that expansion of several clones (clonal complex, CC63, CC199, CC1262, CC3397) was responsible for the increase in serogroup 15. Almost all CC63 and CC3397 isolates were nonsusceptible to both penicillin and erythromycin. The finding highlights the emergence of serogroup 15 following PCV13 use.postprin

Proceedings of The First Current Topic in Infectious Diseases: Consensus Meeting on Conjugate Vaccines of the Center of Infection

Titles include: 1. Invasive Haemophilus Influenzae b Disease: Overview and Disease Burden in Hong Kong (YL LAU) ; 2. Overview and Disease Burden of Haemophilus Influenzae Type b in China (YH YANG) ; 3. Factors to Consider in the Routine Use of Hib in Hong Kong (THF TSANG) ; 4. Burden of Pneumococcal Disease in Hong Kong (CB CHOW) ; 5. Overview and Disease Burden of Streptococcus Pneumoniae in China (YH YANG) ; 6. Resistance in Pediatric Isolates of Pneumococci. Results from a Territorywide Carriage Study (SSS CHIU) ; 7. Serotype Distribution of Invasive and Noninvasive Strains of Pneumococci in Hong Kong (PL HO) ; 8. Overview of Conjugate Pneumococcal Vaccine: Serotype Coverage, Efficacy and Status of Usage in other Countries (SSY WONG)Conference Theme: The First Current Topic in Infectious Diseasespublished_or_final_versio

Parameters affecting in-liquid drying microencapsulation and release rate of cefaclor

An in-liquid drying microencapsulation method for producing sustained release cefaclor (CF) microspheres has been developed. Sieved fractions of CF monohydrate particles together with polyvinylpyrrolidone (M-w similar to 40 000) were dispersed in a solvent mixture of dichloromethane with cyclohexane (40:60 v/v) containing dissolved ethylcellulose (EC; 48-49.5% ethoxy content). Encapsulation was effected by adding the dispersion to a stirred aqueous medium saturated with CF. The resulting microspheres (collected overnight and oven-dried at 40 degrees C) were examined for size and surface features by scanning electron microscopy, and for solid-state interactions and phase changes using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis and powder X-ray diffractometry. The rate and extent of CF release in aqueous medium was measured at 37 degrees C using the USP rotating basket method at 100 rpm. The size, degree of sphericity, and rate of CF release of the microspheres were all shown to depend on the CF to EC mass ratio and the stirring speed employed in encapsulation. Higher EC to CF mass ratio and lower stirring speed afforded microspheres with slower release rate of CF. The rate of CF release from the microspheres fit the simplified Higuchi's planar model equation, and for the samples prepared at various EC:CF ratios, exhibited a strong correlation with drug loading (r =0.98; n=4 (mean values); p <0.05). DSC studies on the samples indicated an absence of molecular interactions between EC and CF in the microspheres. The results demonstrate that the in-liquid drying method, if appropriately optimized, could be used to produce sustained-release CF microspheres with the desired release pattern and physical properties. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

An outcomes-based approach to curriculum development in pharmacy

Objective. To implement an outcomes-based approach to pharmacy curriculum development. Design. Desired learning outcomes were identified; course content, learning activities, and assessment instruments were designed; and evaluation was conducted and feedback obtained to refine the curriculum. Assessment. All professional skills, 4 generic capabilities, and the coherence of the curriculum scales showed significant improvement compared to graduates' performance under both the old and transitional curriculum. Conclusion. An outcomes-based approach to pharmacy curriculum development provided convincing evidence of enhancement to the curriculum. Such an approach should be considered when implementing or revising pharmacy curriculum.link_to_subscribed_fulltex