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Project (M.P.P.) - Simon Fraser University, 2006. / Theses (Master of Public Policy Program) / Simon Fraser University. Also issued in digital format and available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.W.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-88). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Elizabethkingia Meningoseptica (E. Meningoseptica) an oxidase-positive gram-negative aerobic rod.1-2 Although ubiquitous in nature and widely distributed in soil and water, it is not a part of normal human flora. Cases of outbreaks of meningitis in premature neonates or infants have been reported, however, very few cases have been reported in adults.3 Infection is primarily nosocomial, or hospital acquired and has been implicated in bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, endocarditis especially in immunocompromised individuals.2-4 We report a 29-year-old male with past medical history significant for intravenous drug abuse, hepatitis C, oxymorphone induced hemolytic uremic syndrome, who presented to hospital with altered mental status. On admission, patient was unresponsive to vocal commands, febrile (102.3 F), tachycardic and tachypneic. He had pinpoint pupils and diffuse petechiae. In addition, he had erythematous flat macular lesions on his palms and dorsum of hands as well as injection marks in left cubital fossa. Cardiac examination was significant for a grade III systolic murmur at apical region and diastolic murmur at left second intercostal space. Laboratory studies revealed thrombocytopenia (43,000m/microL), lactic acidosis (4.9mmol/L), serum creatinine (Cr) of 6.6 mg/dL, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 10 ml/min. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed large mobile vegetation on aortic valve measuring 3.6 x 0.72 cm. Patient’s presentation was consistent with infective endocarditis with the vegetation seen on TTE and patient’s physical findings. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain showed numerous small hemorrhagic infarcts, likely secondary to emboli from aortic valve vegetation. Patient required intubation for airway protection and started on hemodialysis. He was initially started on Meropenem and Vancomycin for infective endocarditis and later switched to Ciprofloxacin based on blood cultures and sensitivities which revealed methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant E. Meningoseptica. Patient was transferred to long term care facility after acute care at the hospital. The increasing incidence of polymicrobial infective endocarditis and increasing resistance to antibiotic therapy pose challenges to the rapid assessment and treatment to mitigate the multi-organ involvement with septic emboli. Reports of pathogenicity associated with native valve endocarditis with this organism is scarce and exist primarily in a very few case reports and is resistant to many traditional antibiotics.5,6 E. Meningoseptica has shown antimicrobial susceptibility to the newer quinolones, rifampin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin with reasonable activity.7 Due to the unusual pattern of antibiotic resistance, early switching to appropriate antibiotics based on sensitivities is crucial for survival in patients with E. Meningoseptica. References 1..Kim KK, Kim MK, Lim JH, Park HY, Lee ST. Transfer of Chryseobacterium meningosepticum and Chryseobacterium miricola to Elizabethkingia gen. nov. as Elizabethkingia meningoseptica comb. nov. and Elizabethkingia miricola comb. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol.2005 May;55(Pt 3):1287-93. 2:Shinha T, Ahuja R. Bacteremia due to Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. IDCases. 2015 Jan 17;2(1):13-5. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2015.01.002. eCollection 2015. 3..Jung SH, Lee B, Mirrakhimov AE, Hussain N. Septic shock caused by Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: a case report and review of literature. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Apr 3;2013. pii: bcr2013009066. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009066. 4.Ratnamani MS, Rao R. Elizabethkingia meningoseptica: Emerging nosocomial pathogen in bedside hemodialysis patients. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2013 Sep;17(5):304-7. 5.Bomb K, Arora A, Trehan N. Endocarditis due to Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2007 Apr;25(2):161-2. 6.Yang J, Xue W, Yu X. Elizabethkingia meningosepticum endocarditis: A rare case and special therapy. Anatol J Cardiol. 2015 May;15(5):427-8. 7. Hsu MS, Liao CH, Huang YT, Liu CY, Yang CJ, Kao KL, Hsueh PR. Clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and outcomes of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (Chryseobacterium meningosepticum) bacteremia at a medical center in Taiwan,1999-2006. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Oct;30(10):1271-8.

HCV genotype 6 is restricted in its distribution in South East Asia and it has been circulating for a long period of time. Phylogenetic and phylodynamic analysis on epidemic history of HCV focusing genotype 6 in South East Asia was explored, taking references from the pattern delineated in Liuzhou. Our results show that the date of most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of the whole HCV genotype 6 was estimated to be 100 years ago or more. There was an obvious increase of effective number of HCV genotype 6 infections in the part 20 years. Epidemic history of Subtype 6a and 6e/6d also showed the similar time course as that of the genotype 6. Interestingly, there was an increase of effective number of infections around 15-20 years ago which was maintained in the following decade for subtype 6a as well as 6e/6d. This specific pattern was consistent with the history of needle sharing in South East Asia, where the number of IDUs increased in the 1980s. The epidemic then spread to Southern China as evident by the increasing trend in Liuzhou. There was an exponential growth around 5 years ago involving subtype 6a predominantly, which might remain prevalent in Southern China in the coming decades. In conclusion, the study has shed new light on the transmission history of HCV, providing an explanation on the emergence of HCV genotype 6 in South East Asia. / HCV infection is an important public health problem associated with blood transfusion and needle-sharing in injection drug users (IDU) in Southern China. An understanding of the epidemiological pattern of the HCV infection, in conjunction with the transmission dynamics, would be beneficial for supporting effective prevention and control. This is accessed using a combination of molecular and public health approaches. / Through the Liuzhou Methadone Clinic, a total of 117 IDUs were recruited from Guangxi, Southern China. A majority of the IDUs (96%) were HCV antibody positive, of which 21% were HIV infected. Unlike HCV monoinfection, there was spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of HIV/HCV coinfection. The latter was also characterised by a higher prevalence of needle-sharing. Phylogenetic analysis of HCV revealed that genotype 6a was predominant in the study population. There were shorter genetic distances among the 6a samples compared to 3 other HCV genotypes/subtypes, 1a, 3a, and 3b. Our results suggested that HIV and HCV were both introduced at around the same time to the IDU populations in Southern China, followed by their differential spread as determined by the biologie characteristics of the virus and the intensity of behavioural risk. This pattern might be different from that in other South East Asian countries where HCV infections have probably predated HIV. / Tan, Yi. / Adviser: Kung Hsiang-fu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3404. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-178). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

This study seeks to examine the influence of key cultural values like machismo, familism, traditionalism, and religiosity on self-efficacy in reducing HIV risk among Mexican-origin IDUs. The purpose of this examination hinges on the importance of including cultural concepts/values not only to facilitate process, but also to add a cultural dimension to an HIV/AIDS intervention that may facilitate attitudinal and behavioral change as well. The findings suggest that culturally innovative approaches can facilitate HIV/AIDS risk reduction among male Mexican-origin drug injectors. The importance of key cultural values like machismo is underscored by its association with HIV risk reduction for both sexual and injection related risks. Intervention programs must identify strategies to incorporate cultural values in their research and evaluation of intervention efficacy. Culturally innovative approaches hold the promise of substantially reducing HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic drug injectors, and may hold promise for other populations affected by HIV/AIDS as well.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed Apr. 2, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-92).

Research on the determinants of injection drug use behavior has traditionally concentrated on factors operating at the individual level. However, more recent studies have found that behaviors surrounding injection drug use are shaped, not only by individual-level characteristics, but also by the environment in which they occur. The risk environment paradigm, proposed by Rhodes and colleagues, describes how factors exogenous to the individual influence high-risk injection behavior and blood borne virus (BBV) transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). To date, few elements of the risk environment have been evaluated as potential determinants of high-risk injection behavior. The purpose of this dissertation was to study the influence of two elements of the risk environment on unsafe injection practices among PWID – neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and social discomfort surrounding the acquisition of sterile syringes from syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and pharmacies. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted on the relation between neighborhood context and injection drug use behavior. Research gaps and methodological challenges identified in this review were used to design analyses exploring relations among neighborhood disadvantage, social discomfort, and high-risk injection behavior. These analyses were conducted using data collected from 484 PWID enrolled in the Pharmacists as Resources Making Links to Community Services (PHARM-Link) study, combined with data from the American Community Survey. Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to estimate associations between measures of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and high-risk injection behavior. SEP accessibility and drug-related police activity were evaluated as potential modifiers of these relations. Similar methods were used to estimate associations between measures of social discomfort and high-risk injection behavior, including neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage as a potential effect modifier. The systematic literature review on neighborhood context and injection drug use behavior identified few articles pertaining to this relation (n=22). Selected studies primarily investigated the influence of structural aspects of the neighborhood environment on behaviors surrounding injection drug use, while aspects of the social environment and potential modifiers of neighborhood-behavior relations were understudied. Subsequent quantitative analyses revealed that neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with safer injection behaviors among PWID. Injectors in disadvantaged neighborhoods reported less receptive syringe sharing and less unsterile syringe use than their counterparts in relatively better off neighborhoods. Drug-related police activity attenuated associations between neighborhood disadvantage and unsterile syringe use, while the direction of associations between neighborhood disadvantage and the use of unsafe syringe sources varied with levels of SEP accessibility. In neighborhoods with high SEP accessibility, neighborhood disadvantage was associated with decreased use of unsafe syringe sources, while in neighborhoods with low SEP accessibility, neighborhood disadvantage was associated with increased use of unsafe syringe sources. Social discomfort was not associated with high-risk injection behavior, but effect modification was detected between neighborhood disadvantage and two items measuring the quality of relationships between participants and syringe staff: “Pharmacists care about my health and well-being” and “The staff at syringe exchange programs seems to care about my health and well-being.” In disadvantaged neighborhoods, participants who reported positive relationships with syringe staff were less likely to engage in receptive syringe sharing. However, in relatively better off neighborhoods, positive relationships with syringe staff were associated with increased receptive syringe sharing. Overall, the results of this dissertation support the validity of the risk environment paradigm in shaping high-risk injection behavior among PWID. Future studies should continue to investigate contextual factors as determinants of behavior surrounding injection drug use. Understanding how aspects of local-area environments influence injection risk behavior will be essential to eliminating the transmission of BBVs among PWID.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the supply of markers for the identification of syringes distributed by pharmacy needle exchanges and to determine if this product and service delivery offers a feasible method of marking syringes to promote the reduction of accidental sharing of syringes and needles amongst injecting drug users (IDU) and thereby reduce the risk of transmission of blood borne viruses (BBVs) and other related infections. This study involves the assessment, implementation and evaluation of syringe markers as a pilot study within three community pharmacy sites in Glasgow. The secondary aims of the study were to identify whether the supply of syringe markers from community pharmacy needle exchanges was acceptable to IDU and if it enabled them to mark their syringes. The literature review demonstrates that providing a means of identification of personal injecting equipment has been proposed as a viable option that should be promoted to prevent the inadvertent accidental sharing of syringes within a group setting. Needle exchanges (NEX) are important component parts of the harm reduction responses designed to reduce the physical health harms caused to individuals through injecting drug use. The literature is reviewed on BBV transmission and the historical, legal and policy context associated with the development of NEXs. Community pharmacies act as a source of health advice and can help to facilitate access to treatment services for those attending the NEX. However the specific aim of this study is not to investigate the totality of the benefits of a NEX but to examine the supply of a potential means of reducing accidental and unintentional sharing of all injecting equipment and thereby contribute to minimising some of the health harms linked to injecting drug use. Three established community pharmacies were identified as suitable sites to pilot the supply of syringe markers. A number of criteria were used to select the sites. These included an assessment of the geographic locations, staffing arrangements, NEX attendances and transactional activity and the availability of private consultation facilities. The health board central database which holds records on a range of factors including, the characteristics of those who attend NEX and detailed information on all transactions, was used to identify the most suitable sites to pilot the new intervention. This indicated that the characteristics of those who attended the three chosen sites were broadly similar to the wider NEX attending population. The evaluation was conducted in two separate periods. The first 4 week period was the supply phase where markers were distributed over this period to all patients receiving NEX packs from the 3 pharmacies. The second data collection phase was undertaken in the following 4 week period. Data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire. In order to reduce the potential interviewer bias it was decided to incorporate the use of peer researchers in the administration of the questionnaire. The Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) was approached and agreement was reached to use members of the Service User Involvement Group (SUIG) to assist with the design and administration of the questionnaire. A submission was made to the health board Research Ethics Committee (REC) and approval was given to enable the study and the research evaluation to proceed. Before the start of the study, joint briefing and training sessions were held for pharmacy staff from the 3 sites and the 6 participating SUIG members. A total of 177 questionnaires were completed during the second data collection phase of the evaluation. Information was collected on personal details and injecting behaviours (including deliberate and accidental sharing), any current means of syringe identification, use of the markers and on the usefulness of the instruction card. Most individuals (75%, n=132) had been supplied with the markers to trial during the first supply phase of the study with 63% of the 132 (n=83) of those individuals reporting use of the markers. The results of the evaluation and subsequent analysis of the findings indicated that the syringe marker supply could be successfully implemented using pharmacy NEXs. The product and the supply method were acceptable to both staff and service users. Initial bivariate analysis was conducted using a number of dependent and independent variables identified within the questionnaire. These findings highlighted a number of areas worthy of further exploration, including emerging differences between male and female respondents, and indicated specific target groups for future developments in syringe identification. The contribution of the peer researchers was found to be a significant factor in successfully completing the evaluation. However it is not possible to make any definitive statements on how effective the intervention is in terms of reducing the transmission of BBVs and other related infections. The findings of the evaluation indicated a number of potential areas of work that could be usefully explored to investigate the effectiveness of the markers in reducing the transmission of infections. The limitations of the evaluation became apparent during the course of the study and the implications of these limitations are discussed.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: B, page: 1572. Adviser: Lu-Yu Hwang. Includes bibliographical references.