Prevalence of bacteriuria in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of Trinidad and Tobago

Urinary tract infection (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases ranking next to upper respiratory tract infection and are often linked with significant morbidity and mortality. They are caused by the colonization of pathogenic microbes along urinary tract as well as tissue invasion of any part of the urinary tract. Microbes that cause UTIs include bacteria, fungi, parasites, protozoa and viruses. Bacteriuria is a problem among the pregnant women. The UTI's in pregnancy has been associated with morbidities such as cystitis, pyelonephrities, pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, pre-term birth and low birth weight. This research was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bacteriuria among the pregnant women of Trinidad.

Significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci in urinary tract infections in a developing country

The biotyping of 154 (3.8 percent) coagulase-negative staphylococci from 4,051 urinary specimens in males and females was performed. Their significance and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were also evaluated. S. saprophyticus and S. epidermidis accounted for approximately 90 percent of isolates from females, while in males only 68.7 percent of isolates were S. epidermidis, S. hominis, S. xylosus, S. simulans, and S. hyicus. The mean age for females with infection fue to S. saprophyticus was 23 years while for males with infections due to S. epidermidis it was 77 years. The mean age for infection due to other staphylococci was higher in males than females. There was little variation in the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in the various species. The results suggest that apart from S. saprophyticus and S. epidermidis, six other species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (S. hominis, S. xylosus, S. simulans, S. hyicus, S. hemolyticus, and S. cohnii) account for most urinary tract infections irrespective of gender(AU)

Fatal malformations in Jamaica

Babies with major malformations were identified during the Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. They were found in 96 (8.6 percent) of 1112 perinatal and neonatal deaths coming to necropsy and in 28 (2.6 percent) of 1085 not so examined. The central nervous system was most commonly affected, followed by the renal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems in decreasing order of frequency. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system and 10 malformations syndromes/sequences were identified. Although at the present time, major malformations make only a small contribution to perinatal and neonatal mortality in Jamaica, their importance will increase when deaths from other causes, such as birth asphyxia, decline. The type of malformation currently fatal in a particular population is relevant when planning diagnostic and surgical services for neonates and infants. It is also important to any discussions about provision of prenatal diagnostic services. (AU)

Ectopia vesica at the Bustamante Children's Hospital - abstract

All cases of ectopia vesica treated at the Bustamante Children's Hospital from 1977 to 1984 were reviewed, to assess the effectiveness of treatment. During this period, eight cases were seen, one was lost to follow-up. Seven cases are therefore reported. There were no other associated congenital abnormalities. Three patients were not seen until after they were five months of age which is surprising because of the severity of this condition. Our policy has been to attempt staged reconstruction of the lower genito-urinary tract and to attain a funcitonally closed bladder. Cystectomy and urinary diversion (uretero-sigmoidostomy) were reserved for cases of failed bladder closure or an unacceptable level of incontinence. All patients had multiple surgical procedures. Three have undergone cystectomy and uretero-sigmoidostomy. Three have satisfactory bladder closure and are partially continent. One presently has a bladder neck fistula and is totally incontinent (AU)

Rontgenpatologi i Vastindien / Roentgen pathology in the West Indies

Roentgen pathology in Jamaica includes, inter alia, skeletal changes caused by avitaminoses, infectious diseases such as syphillis or tuberculosis, and sickle cell anemia. This form of anaemia may produce also renal papillary necrosis. Worm infection with stronglyoides stercoralis causes extensive inflammatory changes in the small bowel. Malformations of the urinary tract and bones are relatively common. (AU)

Congenital posterior urethral vavles - abstract

Congenital valvular obstruction of the posterior urethra in males is the commonest serious congenital urinary tract abnormality seen at the University Hospital of the West Indies. During the period January, 1962 to January, 1973, 39 infants and children under 11 years of age with this condition were seen at this hospital. The largest group of 13 patients presented and were diagnosed before their second birthday, 6 patients died, of whom 4 had presented before the age of 3 months. The most common method if presentation was with obvious urinary tract symptoms either mechanical (16 patients) or urinary infection (9 patients). 8 other patients presented with diarrhoea and vomiting as an expression of their urinary infection. The other 6 patients presented with abdominal masses at birth, or ascites. The length of the history in 11 patients was between 2 and 12 months, while 4 patients had symptoms for over 2 years. Only 2 patients had normal upper urinary tracts when first investigated, while 31 patients had moderate to severe renal damage. Patients who presented at or near birth had a far worse prognosis. Preliminary cutaneous loop ureterostomies as an initial step in all patients with moderate or severe upper tract damage has improved the prognosis and clear guidelines on management have emerged from a review of this group of patients (AU)

Urinary figlu and serum B12 levels in patients with anemia

In a study of 32 anaemic patients (Hb less than 7.5gm percent) it was found that all patients with normoblastic marrow had negative urinary figlus. No case of ankylostomiasis demonstrated deficiency of folic acid or B12. The survey is to continue wuth emphasis on th megaloblastic anaemias (AU)

The urinary complications of lymphogranuloma venereum

The complications of lymphogranuloma venereum which affect the urinary tract have been described, together with a brief description of the pathology and course of the disease. The disease should no longer be considered as being peculiar to the tropics. Four unusual but interesting cases are briefly described. Many urethral strictures, due to lymphogranuloma venereum, are not diagnosed because the disease is thought to be rarer than it actually is. These strictures are among the most difficult to treat. Early dilatation of these strictures is contraindicated, as also is external urethrotomy. The systematic disease should be treated first and the strictures later, after the acute phase has been controlled. Suprapubic drainage, lasting several months, may be necessary as a preliminary to treating cases complicated with multiple peri-urethral fistulae. The disease and its complications are particularly unpleasant; the disease must, therefore, be treated energetically and treatment continued until the last vestige has been eradicated and, even then, a watch should be kept for the development of late complications (AU)