Level and determinants of infant and under-five mortality in wad-medani town, Sudan.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the level of infant and under-five mortality rates and to examine the effect of socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors on the health status of the children under five years.

Methods: The data for this study were collected by means of a questionnaire addressed to women in Wad-Medani, Sudan. Three hundred women in the reproductive age (15-49) years were chosen randomly for this study.

Antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae: how can we prevent the inevitable? Commentary on antimicrobial resistance in H. influenzae based on data from the TARGETed surveillance program.

Haemophilus influenzae is an important cause of respiratory tract infections, particularly in elderly persons. It is the major bacterial pathogen in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) and also causes otitis media and sinusitis. In many cases, treatment is empiric, and there is a lack of understanding of resistance issues with this bacterium.

Pharmacodynamics of pulse dosing versus standard dosing: in vitro metronidazole activity against Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.

Pulse dosing is a novel approach to dosing that produces escalating antibiotic levels early in the dosing interval followed by a prolonged dose-free period. Antibiotic is frontloaded by means of four sequential bolus injections, after which antibiotic levels are allowed to diminish until the next dose. This study compares standard thrice-daily dosing and pulse dosing of metronidazole against Bacteroides spp.

Mutation prevention concentration of ceftriaxone, meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem against three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

This investigation tested the mutation prevention concentration (MPC) concept using imipenem, meropenem, ceftriaxone, and ertapenem against three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCN MIC = 0.012, 1, 8 mg/L, respectively). MIC, MBC, and MPC values for each of the beta-lactams did not differ by more than one tube dilution.

Synergistic activity of colistin and ceftazidime against multiantibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model.

Despite the marketing of a series of new antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant gram-positive bacteria, no new agents for multiple-antibiotic-resistant gram-negative infections will be available for quite some time. Clinicians will need to find more effective ways to utilize available agents. Colistin is an older but novel antibiotic that fell into disfavor with clinicians some time ago yet still retains a very favorable antibacterial spectrum, especially for Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp.

Comparison of linezolid activities under aerobic and anaerobic conditions against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium were exposed to linezolid (MIC of 2 mg/liter) under aerobic or anaerobic conditions in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Drug concentration and half-life were adjusted to simulate clinical dosing (600 mg twice daily) of linezolid. Linezolid produced a 2-log(10) killing at 24 h, and rates of killing against each of these facultative organisms as measured by mean survival time appeared similar under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Microbiologic effectiveness of time- or concentration-based dosing strategies in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

This in vitro study evaluated the pharmacodynamic performance of levofloxacin using different dosing strategies against both a levofloxacin-sensitive (MIC = 1 mg/liter) and -resistant (MIC = 16 mg/liter) strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The strain was genotypically characterized by a mutation in gyrA and two mutations in parE; resistance was shown not to be efflux-mediated. The purpose of this study was to determine if simulated levofloxacin dosing strategies focused either on time or concentration would affect microbiologic outcome.

Comparative pharmacodynamics of three newer fluoroquinolones versus six strains of staphylococci in an in vitro model under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Six strains of staphylococci were exposed to levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, or trovafloxacin in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Each agent demonstrated a rapid 3-log(10) kill versus susceptible isolates regardless of condition. Against clinical isolates with reduced susceptibility, regrowth occurred by 24 h and was frequently associated with further increases in MICs.