Sexually transmitted diseases in Canada: an overview.

At least 26 sexually transmissible infections have been identified to date. Only five of these, however, are currently reportable on a national basis. While the true incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is underrestimated because of the number that are non-notifiable, it has become increasingly clear that these non-reportable STDs are at least as common as those that are reportable.

Comparison of measles antihemolysin test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and hemagglutination inhibition test with neutralization test for determination of immune status.

Sera were collected from 238 high-school students in Prince Edward Island for the determination of immune status before an anticipated measles outbreak. In addition, history of vaccination status and measles infection was obtained. In the subsequent outbreak, 28 students did contract measles.

Trends in ectopic pregnancy in Canada.

The incidence in Canada of one complication of sexually transmitted disease, ectopic pregnancy, was examined by age group for the years 1971 through 1980 by means of hospital statistics provided by Statistics Canada. The denominator was "reported pregnancies"--the total of live births, stillbirths, legal abortions and ectopic pregnancies in a given year. In 1980, 4123 ectopic pregnancies (9.

Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada.

The incidence of infection with penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) reported to the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control in Ottawa has steadily increased since the first Canadian isolation of such a strain in 1976. As of September 1980 a total of 66 PPNG isolates had been referred for biological and genetic characterization as well as for central documentation of the epidemiologic aspects of each case. Over 90% of the infections were firmly traced to patients or contacts who had acquired the infection abroad; this indicates that Canada does not, as yet, have an epidemic focus of PPNG infection.

Therapeutic efficacy of rifampin in newly detected pulmonary tuberculosis.

A comparison was made of the therapeutic efficiency and tolerance of rifampin-based regimens and that of the standard triple-drug combination in the treatment of 92 newly diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. The three drug regimens investigated were: A, rifampin-INH; B, rifampin-INH-streptomycin; and C, INH-PAS-streptomycin. Therapeutic progress was measured in terms of sputum conversion on culture and microscopy.

Treatment of chronic drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis with rifampin and ethambutol.

Twenty patients with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis completed eight months of rifampin-ethambutol treatment. Half the patients received daily 600 mg. rifampin and 25 mg.

Drug therapy of tuberculosis.

In new, previously untreated tuberculosis patients preference is given to treatment with major antituberculous drugs, namely Isoniazid, PAS and Streptomycin. The exchange of PAS with one of the recently introduced drugs (Rifampin, Ethambutol) should await the results of the therapeutic trials being conducted at various centers. In the meantime, these new drugs should be reserved for reactivation cases, for individuals hypersensitive to major antituberculous agents, or who are not responding satisfactorily to the routine therapy and for patients infected with organisms resistant to Isoniazid, PAS or Streptomycin.