A scoping review of factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter species infections in humans.

Human infection with antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter species is an important public health concern due to the potentially increased severity of illness and risk of death. Our objective was to synthesise the knowledge of factors associated with human infections with antimicrobial-resistant strains of Campylobacter. This scoping review followed systematic methods, including a protocol developed a priori. Comprehensive literature searches were developed in consultation with a research librarian and performed in five primary and three grey literature databases. Criteria for inclusion were analytical and English-language publications investigating human infections with an antimicrobial-resistant (macrolides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and/or quinolones) Campylobacter that reported factors potentially linked with the infection. The primary and secondary screening were completed by two independent reviewers using Distiller SR®. The search identified 8,527 unique articles and included 27 articles in the review. Factors were broadly categorised into animal contact, prior antimicrobial use, participant characteristics, food consumption and handling, travel, underlying health conditions, and water consumption/exposure. Important factors linked to an increased risk of infection with a fluoroquinolone-resistant strain included foreign travel and prior antimicrobial use. Identifying consistent risk factors was challenging due to the heterogeneity of results, inconsistent analysis, and the lack of data in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for future research.

Patient healthcare experiences in the Northwest Territories, Canada: an analysis of news media articles.

The factors that influence patient healthcare experiences are complex and connected to place. In northern Canada, the socio-historical context and the inequitable distribution of health services are unique influences on patients. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of patient healthcare experiences as reported through news media in the Northwest Territories. We used a case series design to examine patient healthcare experiences reported in news media articles. We conducted a systematic search for articles published between 2008 and 2017 in the online database of a media outlet in the Northwest Territories. We used descriptive statistics to summarise the article characteristics and thematic analysis to understand patient experiences in 128 articles related to 71 cases. Most often, cases involved women, concerned mental health, suicidality, or chronic diseases, and were predominantly negative. Patient experiences included problems associated with medical travel, communication difficulties with providers, lack of cultural safety, and barriers in accessing care resulting in poor-quality care, particularly for Indigenous patients. Broadly, these experiences are rooted in the colonial history in the North. Understanding patient experiences and including Indigenous patients in health system decision-making can help focus policies and clinical care on cultural safety and equity.

Stem cell tourism and public education: the missing elements.

Stem cell tourism describes the Internet-based industry where in patients receive unproven stem cell interventions. To better inform the public, several organizations provide educational material on stem cell therapies and tourism; however, an assessment of the currently available resources reveals a lack of comprehensive information, suggesting that further efforts are needed.