General practitioner practices in requesting laboratory tests for patients with gastroenteritis in the Netherlands, 2001-2002.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to estimate the (selective) proportion of patients consulting their GP for an episode of gastroenteritis for whom laboratory tests were requested. In addition adherence of GPs to the guidelines for diagnostic test regime was ascertained. METHODS: Data were collected from a GP network in the Netherlands. Information was also collected on the reason for requesting the test, test specifications, and test results. RESULTS: For 12% of the GP patients with gastroenteritis, a stool sample was requested and tested for enteric pathogens. In most patients, the duration, followed by severity of complaints or a visit to a specific, high-risk country were reported as reasons to request laboratory diagnostics. Tests were requested most often in summer months and in February. Campylobacter (requested for 87% of the tests), Salmonella (84%), Shigella (78%) and Yersinia (56%) were most frequently included in the stool tests. Campylobacter was detected most often in patients. CONCLUSION: Test requests did not always comply with existing knowledge of the etiology of gastroenteritis in GP patients and were not always consistent with the Dutch GP guidelines. Therefore, the data of this study can be used to develop educational approaches for GP's as well as for revision of the guidelines.

Breastfeeding articles in the Australian press: 1996-1999.

The mass print media provide an opportunity to promote health messages to the general community. This paper examines articles on breastfeeding in the mass print media available to a low socioeconomic area in Australia over a four-year period from 1996 to 1999. Between January 1996 and December 1999, 334 breastfeeding articles were identified in the four main newspapers available in a low socioeconomic metropolitan area. Breastfeeding messages presented by the articles were examined using content analysis. While most articles presented a neutral message about breastfeeding (43%), more articles presented a positive message (35%) than a negative message (14%). Twenty-two percent of the articles were letters to the editor, and only 1.3% of the articles were accompanied by photos of a baby being breastfed. Fifty-five articles discussed breastfeeding in public making it the most common breastfeeding issue mentioned. Breastfeeding is an emotive issue and could be more actively supported and promoted by publishing more newspaper articles that present a positive message of breastfeeding, more positive headlines, and more breastfeeding photos.

Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis phage type 4b outbreak associated with bean sprouts.

In November 2000 in the Netherlands, an outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis phage type 4b was investigated. Eating bean sprouts was the only exposure associated with S. Enteritidis pt 4b infection (matched odds ratio 13.0, 95% confidence interval 2.0-552.5). Contaminated seeds were the most likely cause of contamination of the sprouts. The sprout grower applied a concentration of hypochlorite solution that was too low for seed disinfection.