Determinants for voluntary participation in staff screening during an methicillin-resistant (MRSA) outbreak on a neonatal ward.

We investigated healthcare worker (HCW) behavior with regard to a voluntary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) staff screening during a MRSA outbreak in a neonatal ward. Avoiding MRSA transmission from HCWs to patients was the most important reason for participation. Inconvenient screening time was the most frequently cited reason for nonparticipation.

[Factors associated with HPV immunization for 13-14-year-old girls in the Geneva district, Switzerland].

Background: School vaccination programs against human papilloma virus (HPV) have been implemented in most Western countries. Only a few studies have investigated socio-economic factors related to school-based vaccination.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the vaccination cards of 1158 randomized girls aged 13 to 14 years enrolled in the public schools of the canton of Geneva.

[Evolution of the immunization coverage of 13 to 14 year-old adolescents in Geneva between four years].

This study aims to examine changes in immunization coverage for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B during the academic calendars of 2003-2004 and 2007-2008 for students aged 13 to 14 years. Data were collected on an annual basis and systematically from the vaccination records 85% of adolescents enrolled in public institutions in Geneva. The immunization coverage increased for diphtheria, tetanus and polio by 2.

[Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of measles].

Measles is a highly contagious disease characterized by respiratory symptoms, rash and fever. Complications are common. Despite national recommendations concerning the need to vaccinate children with 2 doses of MMR vaccine (at age 12 months and between 15 and 24 months), epidemic outbursts still happen.

Response to treatment and disease progression linked to CD4+ T cell surface CC chemokine receptor 5 density in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vertical infection.

The factors governing interindividual variability in disease progression among children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remain unclear. Because it has recently been shown in infected adults that the density of CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) molecules at the surface of nonactivated (human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-DR(-)) CD4+ T cells correlates with disease progression, the same correlation was sought in children. HLA-DR(-)CD4+ T cell surface CCR5 density was constant over time and correlated with the bioclinical stage and with the CD4 cell slope observed before antiretroviral treatment.

Exposure to motor vehicle traffic and allergic sensitization. The Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) Team.

We examined the association between the presence of an allergic sensitization and seasonal allergic diseases or symptoms and the exposure to road traffic in Basel, Switzerland. Traffic counts at the domiciles of subjects ranged from 24 to 32,504 cars per 24 hours, with a median of 1,624. To investigate the relation of road traffic and allergies, we matched the data of the traffic inventory of Basel with those of the 820 participants of the SAPALDIA study (Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults), ages 18-60 years, who had completed a detailed respiratory health questionnaire and had undergone allergy testing (skin prick tests and serologic examinations).

Prevention of vertical HIV transmission: additive protective effect of elective Cesarean section and zidovudine prophylaxis. Swiss Neonatal HIV Study Group.

Objective: To study the effect of elective Cesarean section and zidovudine prophylaxis on vertical HIV transmission.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Obstetric and paediatric clinics in Switzerland.

Priming to heat shock proteins in infants vaccinated against pertussis.

To investigate whether and in which proportion normal individuals experience a priming to microbial heat shock proteins (hsp), the presence of antibodies to two mycobacterial hsp was tested in serum sample from 2- to 4-mo-old children before and at different times after vaccination with the trivalent vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (DTP). We show that 88.9% of infants vaccinated with DTP developed antibody responses to mycobacterial hsp.

Epidemiology of vertically transmitted HIV-1 infection in Switzerland: results of a nationwide prospective study. Swiss Neonatal HIV Study Group.

A nationwide study involving 286 children of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mothers living in Switzerland has been performed with the participation of all paediatricians interested in HIV infection in the country. Of these children 201 could be followed up prospectively from birth up to a median age of 22 months. Prevalence of HIV infection in Swiss parturients was estimated at 0.

[Surgical treatment of hyperthyroid struma: surgery results, postoperative long-term course and study of a factor connected with recurrences].

None of the 335 patients thyroidectomized for hyperthyroidism in our department of surgery between 1972 and 1982 died as a consequence of the operation. Reassessment of 226 of these patients by questionnaire 68 +/- 25 (SD) months after thyroidectomy revealed the following complications: postoperative paresis of the recurrent nerve (9%), persistent change of voice (2%), and persistent hypoparathyroidism (3.5%).