There are no published data regarding compliance with anti-tuberculosis preventive therapy among children in Australia and limited published data worldwide. This study aimed to determine the compliance rate among 6-year-old children prescribed preventive therapy for tuberculosis infection.
The investigation revealed an unusual summer outbreak of influenza A concurrent with subclinical pertussis infection. Surveillance of acute respiratory illness in nursing homes throughout the year, rather than solely during epidemic periods, in combination with appropriate public health laboratory support, would allow initiation of a timely public health response to outbreaks of acute respiratory illness in this setting.
.Abstract: A cross-sectional survey of 2044 Year 1 children enrolled in 24 primary schools was performed to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection. Of the 2044 children, 1458 (71 per cent) were Mantoux-tested and 1452 Mantoux reactions were read. Of the total, 6.5 per cent were Mantoux-positive; 17.8 per cent of overseas-born children and 2.8 per cent of Australian-born children were Mantoux-positive (relative risk for overseas-born 6.9, 95 per cent confidence interval 4.2 to 9.6). In the areas of Sydney where the study was conducted, there is a high prevalence of TB infection (noncontagious) among overseas-born children in the five-to seven-year age group. This indicates that there may be a large pool of infected children, a proportion of whom are at risk of developing active (contagious) adult-type TB in the future. These data, with other published data on TB infection rates in other age groups, can contribute to the estimation of the size of the infected pool in Australia to allow rational decisions regarding control of TB in Australia, including the possibility of introducing Mantoux screening and preventive therapy programs for high-risk groups. (Aust N ZJPublic Health 1996; 20: 123-8) HERE are no published data on tuberculosis (TB) infection rates of primary-schoolentry
almonellosis is a major cause of food poisoning both in Australia and S worldwide In NSW, there are approximately 1000 laboratory notifications of persons with salmonellosis annually, of which more than 200 involve hospitalisation.' Salmonella typhimurium is the most common serovar, and accounted for 37% of Australian acquired cases in 1994.2 Despite large numbers of notifications locally and overseas, reported cases of salmonellosis are likely to represent only 1% to 5% of community cases,3 and outbreaks are rarely identified through routine surveillance.In recent years, the consumption of raw and undercooked meat, particularly minced (ground) meat, has been frequently implicated as a vehicle for transmission of Salmonella and other organisms such as enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli. As a result, public health authonties have focused preventive messages on the thorough cooking of minced neat.^.^ To date, the hazards associated with consuming other types of undercooked meat which is likely to be internally contaminated have been poorly publicised.SinceApril 1995, we have interviewed reported Salmonella cases about risk factors using a standard telephone questionnaire.InAugust 1995, we received a laboratory report of Salmonella in a stool specimen from a 5-year-old boy hospitalised with gastroenteritis. The boy's mother said the family had attended a church camp (Camp A) between 18 and 20August 1995 and both the boy and his mother had suffered a diarrhoea1 illness shortly after leaving the camp. When interviewed, camp organisers reported that several other attendees had also become ill. The camp was held over a weekend at a semirural coastal town on the southern outskirts of Sydney. Ninety-nine persons attended the camp, mainly in family groups. All foods consumed were prepared and served on site, with water derived from Sydney mains water supply. Activities included indoor seminars and bushwalking. We conducted an investigation to determine the extent and source of a potential salmonellosis outbreak.
Methods
Epidemiological investigationWe obtained a list of names of camp attendees and food menus from the organisers and interviewed attendees between 28 August and 8 September 1995 using a structured telephone questionnaire. Questions included details of attendance at the camp, foods consumed and a history of recent illness.A cohort study was then conducted to determine whether any foods or drinks served at the camp over the two days were associated with illness. A case was defined as any camp attendee who suffered diarrhoea lasting at least two days or diarrhoea associated with vomiting, beginning within two days of the camp. We calculated food specific attack rates and relative risks of illness using Epi-info 6. Chi-squared analysis withYates' corrected or Fisher's exact test was used to determine differences between the proportion of persons who were ill and had consumed a specific food and the proportion of persons who were not ill and who consumed the same food. The Mantel-Haenszel Chisquared test was used...
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