Publications by authors named "Lynne Ferguson"
Objectives: Antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea is of significant public health concern with the emergence of resistance to last-line therapies such as ceftriaxone. Despite around half of isolates tested in the UK being susceptible to ciprofloxacin, very little ciprofloxacin is used in clinical practice. Testing for the S91F mutation associated with ciprofloxacin resistance is now available in CE-marked assays and may reduce the requirement for ceftriaxone, but many patients are treated empirically, or as sexual contacts, which may limit any benefit.
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- Giardia duodenalis is a prevalent parasite in the UK, primarily causing diarrheal illnesses, with many local cases likely going unreported due to reliance on travel history for testing.
- Data from reported cases in Scotland between 2011-2018 revealed a total of 1,631 confirmed giardiasis cases, with increased detection linked to improved testing methods, especially after antigen testing was introduced in one NHS lab.
- The study found higher incidence rates in certain regions and age groups, particularly among males aged 20-49, emphasizing the importance of awareness and better diagnostic practices for giardiasis.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Point-of-care tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) could be an ideal tool for a large-scale HBV screening/treatment program in SSA. Using data from the PROLIFICA (Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cancer in Africa) program, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the diagnostic accuracy of three point-of-care tests (Determine, Vikia, and Espline) for the detection of HBsAg in the field or a laboratory setting in the Gambia.
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