The prevalence of tuberculosis among military health system (MHS) and Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands has not been previously reported. Our analysis evaluates the prevalence of M. tuberculosis (MTB) among acid fast bacilli culture(s) (AFB) tested at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) on Oahu, HI and describes demographic factors associated with positive samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mycoplasma genitalium is an important emerging sexually transmitted pathogen commonly causing urethritis in men, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease in women with potential of infertility. Accumulating evidence identifies the prevalence of M. genitalium similar to long recognized pathogens, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman brucellosis can be caused by different Brucella spp. When conducting operations in a country with high rates of brucellosis, extra precautions should be taken. Appropriate personal protective measures should be used in situations when close contact with animal carcasses cannot be avoided.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeishmaniasis is a parasitic infection that can involve the skin, mucosal membranes, and internal organs. Soldiers are at highrisk of leishmaniasis when conducting operations in endemic regions. Medical providers should have a low threshold to consider Leishmaniasis as the cause of persisting skin lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeptospirosis is caused by an infection with bacteria of the Leptospira species. These spirochetes are carried by a variety of wild and domestic animals. Humans can become infected with these bacteria; leptospirosis most commonly occurs in the tropics and subtropics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasles is a significant concern with approximately 10 million people infected annually causing over 100,000 deaths worldwide. In the US before use of the measles vaccine, there were estimated to be 3 to 4 million people infected with measles annually, causing 400 to 500 deaths. Complications of measles include otitis media, diarrhea, pneumonia, and acute encephalitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScrub typhus, also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is caused by Orientia sp. and approximately 1 million new cases are reported annually. This article discusses the importance of scrub typhus and its clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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