Prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in hospital personnel in Russia and eastern Europe.

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during the past 10 years, especially in many health care workers (HCWs) who have high exposure to latex allergens. The prevalence of skin test reactions to natural rubber latex in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and eastern Europe is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to natural rubber latex in a population of HCWs exposed to latex. METHODS: Nine hundred one HCWs regularly exposed to latex were evaluated using an allergy history questionnaire. Subjects were tested for latex allergy by titrated skin prick test with a biologically standardized latex extract. The diagnosis of latex allergy was defined by the presence of clinical symptoms when exposed to latex along with a positive skin prick test to latex. RESULTS: Forty-nine (5.4%) HCWs were skin test-positive to latex. Seventeen (1.9%) HCWs were classified as latex-allergic based upon positive skin tests to latex associated with allergy symptoms with exposure. Seven of 901 HCWs had experienced anaphylactic reactions to latex. The most frequently reported symptom related to latex exposure was contact urticaria. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of latex allergy among HCWs in Russia, the CIS, and adjacent eastern European countries is considerably less than reported in HCWs exposed to latex in western Europe and the United States. The low prevalence of latex allergy in Russia and the CIS suggests that lessened exposure to natural latex powdered gloves may diminish the prevalence of latex sensitization in HCWs in Russia and the CIS.

A randomized study comparing low dose ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections.

An open, randomized study was carried out to compare the efficacy of ciprofloxacin, 250 mg twice daily, and ofloxacin, 200 mg twice daily, in hospitalized patients with lower respiratory tract infections such as bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis or community-acquired pneumonia. Fifty patients were treated in each group. The duration of treatment was 10 to 12 days. Microbiological examinations were carried out on sputum samples taken before, during and after treatment. In both groups, the clinical results were considered to be excellent, with clinical cure in 98% of the patients treated with ciprofloxacin and in 90% of patients treated with ofloxacin. Eradication of the initial sputum isolate was achieved in 98% of the patients of the ciprofloxacin group and in 82% of the patients of the ofloxacin group.

[Results of ciprofloxacin therapy in urinary and respiratory tract infections]. / Wyniki leczenia cyprofloksacyna zakazen dróg moczowych i oddechowych.

Ciprofloxacin was administered to 218 patients with various urinary and respiratory tracts infections, including 142 patients with urinary tract infections and 76 patients with respiratory tract infections. Bacteriological tests and routine laboratory tests were performed thrice (before, during and after therapy) in all patients. Ciprofloxacin was administered orally in daily dose of 500 mg for 10 days. Daily dose was increased to 1000 mg in 23 patients with severe respiratory tract infections. Satisfactory results (recovery or regression of the symptoms of exacerbated chronic disease) were achieved in 185 patients (84.9%) and no effect in 10 patients (4.6%). Significant improvement or transient improvement were noted in 23 patients (10.5%).

Bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract treated with ciprofloxacin or cefalexin--a comparative study.

30/30 patients with lower UTI were enrolled in a randomized study to compare ciprofloxacin (250 mg/b.i.d.) and cefalexin (1 g/t.i.d.). In addition, 59 patients with cefalexin-resistant bacterial strains were treated in an open study arm. Ciprofloxacin showed convincingly better clinical and bacteriological efficacy than cefalexin. Both antibiotics were well tolerated. Ciprofloxacin has proved to be superior to cefalexin in the treatment of lower UTI.

[Comparison of effect and tolerance of mezlocillin with carbenicillin in the treatment of bacterial infections]. / Vergleich der Wirkung und Verträglichkeit von Mezlocillin mit Carbenicillin bei der Behandlung bakterieller Infektionen.

Of 60 patients who were suffering from bacterial infections, 30 were treated with mezlocillin and 30 with carbenicillin in a randomized study. The patients received the recommended daily doses of 16 g and 30 g, respectively. Clinical efficacy was found in all patients. Mezlocillin eliminated the strains more reliably than carbenicillin. The bacteriological success rate was 27/30 and 16/30, respectively. We should also take into account the fact that the six patients with cholecystitis who were treated with carbenicillin could not be controlled after treatment.