Publications by authors named "Heather Crewe-Brown"
Background: Non-typhoidal Salmonella are frequently food-borne zoonotic pathogens that may cause invasive disease in HIV-positive individuals.
Methodology: Invasive isolates (n = 652) of Salmonella Typhimurium from human patients in Gauteng Province of South Africa were investigated for the years 2006 and 2007. Bacteria were identified using standard microbiological techniques and serotyping was performed using commercially available antisera.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated the prevalence and epidemiology of cryptococcosis in Gauteng Province, South Africa, identifying 2,753 new cases from March 2002 to February 2004 through active surveillance.
- - The overall incidence rate was 15.6 cases per 100,000 people, significantly higher in individuals with HIV (95/100,000) and AIDS (14/1,000), predominantly affecting males and individuals aged around 34 years.
- - Nearly all cases (97%) involved meningitis, with a hospital mortality rate of 27%, underscoring the urgent need for improved early diagnosis and treatment in this population.
Background: Conflicting reports exist regarding the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the risk of severe malaria. We aimed to assess the effect of HIV infection status, advancing immunosuppression, and antimalarial immunity on the severity of malaria.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted.
Among 1022 adults with either pneumococcal bacteremia or meningitis, 85.5% of women and 74.7% of men were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) disease was evaluated in South African children. Records of 208/220 children in whom GBS was isolated between January 1997 and December 1999 were reviewed. These included 63%, 31.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines have successfully reduced the burden of invasive Hib disease in developed countries; however, their effectiveness in countries with a high incidence of pediatric HIV-1 is unknown.
Methods: The effectiveness of Hib conjugate vaccine was prospectively evaluated in South African children. The burden of invasive Hib disease in children < 1 year old was compared in 2 cohorts.