Childhood tuberculosis: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination.

Despite the existence of a government-run tuberculosis (TB) control program, the current nationwide burden of TB continues to be a public health problem in Taiwan. Intense current and previous efforts into diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive interventions have focused on TB in adults, but childhood TB has been relatively neglected. Children are particularly vulnerable to severe disease and death following infection, and children with latent infections become reservoirs for future transmission following disease reactivation in adulthood, thus fueling future epidemics.

Outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis B in a family in southern Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: This study describes a Salmonella outbreak in a 9-member family in Southern Taiwan, and emphasizes the risk of Salmonella infection in extreme age.

Methods: Salmonella infection was identified by blood culture, stool swab, and Widal test. A questionnaire was designed for the family to ascertain the underlying disease, symptoms, and history of untreated water and food exposure.

Clinical manifestations of Japanese encephalitis in southern Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Japanese encephalitis virus infection is a sporadic infectious disease in Taiwan. Despite progress in laboratory examinations and imaging studies, diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis remains underestimated. This study was conducted to identify clinical symptoms and laboratory findings that may assist in early identification of this disease.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of amebic liver abscess in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and non-HIV-infected patients.

Background And Purpose: Amebic liver abscess is an emerging parasitic disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Clinical characteristics of this disease have rarely been compared between patients with and without HIV infection.

Methods: This retrospective study included 24 patients who had been diagnosed with amebic liver abscess during a 17-year period.

Clinical manifestations of actinomycosis in Southern Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Actinomycosis is an uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed infection that may present as an acute or indolent process. Even when clinical suspicion is high, the disease is commonly confused with other chronic inflammatory diseases and malignancy. An early diagnosis helps the clinician in deciding treatment and can avoid physical morbidity such as unwarranted surgery.

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in ventilator-associated pneumonia at a medical center in southern Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the significance of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB)-related ventilator-associated pneumonia at a medical center in southern Taiwan.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with MDRAB isolated from sputum and described the characteristics of these patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS), and their host factors and outcomes compared.