Chewable pyrantel pamoate tablets were administered to children randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Individuals in each group were instructed either to swallow whole, to chew and swallow, or to swallow previously pulverized tablets. With respect to Ascaris, results of posttreatment stool examinations indicated no differences in cure rates and egg reduction rates between the different modes of treatment. However, for both hookworm and Trichuris, mean egg counts increased for both swallow and chew groups, but decreased in the pulverized group. In addition to the highest egg reduction rates, the most parasitological cures were also seen in the pulverized group for these two worms. The status of standards for chewable tablets is discussed. Until the standards are changed it is recommended that all chewable tablets be crushed before swallowing.
Adolescent, Ascariasis - drug therapy, Hookworm Infections - drug therapy

Coinfection/drug therapy* ; HIV ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B/drug therapy* ; Hepatitis C/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Prevalence

Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria has become a worldwide problem. Available data suggest that the resistance problem is comparatively more serious in Korea. In large hospitals, the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been reported at over 70%, and of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae at around 70%. Infection or colonization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci has started to increase. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae has become widespread and even carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been increasing. Community-acquired pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are often resistant to various antimicrobial agents. The prevalence of resistant bacteria can lead to erroneous empirical selection of either noneffective or expensive drugs, prolonging hospitalization and higher mortality. The emergence and spread of resistant bacteria are unavoidable unless antimicrobial agents are not used at all. The high prevalence of resistant bacteria in Korea seems to be related to antibiotic usage: 1) easy availability without prescription at drug stores, 2) injudicious use in hospitals, and 3) uncontrolled use in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Nosocomial infection is an important factor in the spread of resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance problems should be regarded as the major public health concern in Korea. It is urgently required to ban the sale of antibiotics without prescription, to use antibiotics more judiciously in hospitals by intensive teaching of the principles of the use of antibiotics, and to establish better control measures of nosocomial infections. Regulation of antimicrobials for other than human use should also be required. These issues are not easy to address and require the collective action of governments, the pharmaceutical industry, health care providers, and consumers.
Bacterial Infections/drug therapy ; Bacterial Physiology* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/physiology* ; Enterococcus/drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/drug therapy ; Human ; Korea ; Pneumococcal Infections/drug therapy ; Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; China ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; HIV ; drug effects ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; Humans

Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Peritonitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features and antimicrobial resistance of community-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in infants.

METHODSThe clinical data of 65 infants with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae between 2007 and 2011 were retrospectively studied.

RESULTSOf the 65 infants, 37 cases (57%) were aged ≤3 months, 17 cases (26%) over 4 months, 7 cases (11%) over 7 months and 4 cases (6%) between 13 and 24 months. There were no significant differences in clinical manifestations and chest X-ray features between the infants with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and those with other bacterial pneumonia. Forty strains (62%) of ESBLs-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected. Klebsiella pneumoniae was 100% sensitive to imipenem, meropenem and amikacin but resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins. The resistance rates of ESBLs-producing strains to penicillins, cephalosporins, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin/sulbactam, compound sulfamethoxazole, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin and aztreonam were significantly higher than for non-ESBLs-producing strains. ESBLs-producing strains also showed multiple-drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONSCommunity-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is common in infants aged ≤3 months. ESBLs-producing strains are prevalent in community-acquired pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and demonstrate both high rates of drug resistance and multiple-drug resistance.

Community-Acquired Infections ; drug therapy ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Klebsiella Infections ; drug therapy ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; Male ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; drug therapy

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is an infectious pathogen which can easily infringe gastric mucosa. If the body is infected by HP, it can release cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6. These cytokines can regulate the absorption and transformation of bone, promote the formation of osteoclast, and then cause localized or systemic osteoporosis. HP infection may decrease the level of estrogen and vitamin B12, which is considered as a risk factor for osteoporosis. Helicobacter pylori infection is related with the occurrence of gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric malignancies, and these diseases and treatments are associated with osteoporosis. Meanwhile the application of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) can influence absorption of calcium, decrease the level of serum calcium and increase the risk of fracture. Gastrostomy may cause bone metabolism disorders.
Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; etiology

A massive depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes has been described in early and acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leading to an imbalance between the human microbiome and immune responses. In recent years, a growing interest in the alterations in gut microbiota in HIV infection has led to many studies; however, only few studies have been conducted to explore the importance of oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals. Evidence has indicated the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in people living with HIV (PLWH). Potential mechanisms might be related to the immunodeficiency in the oral cavity of HIV-infected individuals, including changes in secretory components such as reduced levels of enzymes and proteins in saliva and altered cellular components involved in the reduction and dysfunction of innate and adaptive immune cells. As a result, disrupted oral immunity in HIV-infected individuals leads to an imbalance between the oral microbiome and local immune responses, which may contribute to the development of HIV-related diseases and HIV-associated non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome comorbidities. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a significant decrease in occurrence of the opportunistic oral infections in HIV-infected individuals, the dysbiosis in oral microbiome persists. Furthermore, several studies with the aim to investigate the ability of probiotics to regulate the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in HIV-infected individuals are ongoing. However, the effects of ART and probiotics on oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals remain unclear. In this article, we review the composition of the oral microbiome in healthy and HIV-infected individuals and the possible effect of oral microbiome on HIV-associated oral diseases. We also discuss how ART and probiotics influence the oral microbiome in HIV infection. We believe that a deeper understanding of composition and function of the oral microbiome is critical for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for HIV infection.
Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Mouth

Humans ; Dyslipidemias ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Risk Factors