16 There are several limitations to this study. First, this is a monocentric study but at the onset of the outbreak there were only three centers available for such patients in Paris, of which one cared for infants and adolescents only. Second, the method used for diagnosing RTI in this study could be click here improved. We chose a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification technology
for diagnosing RTI in our travelers. Compared to cell culture, the “gold standard” for the detection of respiratory viruses, the sensitivity and specificity of this technology is satisfactory for clinical practice. Depending on the pathogen, sensitivity varies from 90% to 99% and specificity is 100% for this device.12 Nevertheless, adequate performance and lack of interference from other analytes should be checked by other investigations.25 Moreover sampling requires good handling practice by the nurse to avoid carryover contamination and false negative results. Nasal swabs need to be pushed deeply into the nasal cavity to obtain a good quality high throughput screening compounds sample. Furthermore, additional studies are needed to fully elucidate their ideal clinical application and performance characteristics.26 Third, a subset of patients did not undergo PCR evaluation because of various reasons such as technical issues
on assays on weekends or nights. Fourth, bronchoalveolar lavage was not performed due to lack of severity or treatment failure in Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II case of pneumonia. Finally it was impossible to have a denominator (ie number of air travelers) during this period. Therefore incidence rate could not be assessed. These study findings demonstrate that, even at the onset of the influenza A(H1N1), rhinovirus and other influenza viruses were common. Therefore, these viral infections should always be considered in the diagnosis of RTI
in returning travelers. Systematic research of pathogens by RT-PCR and culture of nasopharyngeal swab lead to almost 70% diagnoses and could therefore be considered for use in travelers with RTI. The authors thank Alice Perignon, Marylin Lecso for the management of patients and samples, and Amy Whereat, Medical English Consultant for proof reading the manuscript. The authors state they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Background. In Europe, imported malarial cases occur in returning travelers and immigrants mostly from African countries. There have been an increasing number of cases in the past years in Spain. Methods. An analysis of all cases of malaria who attended at the Hospital of Mostoles in the Southwest of Madrid from 1995 to 2007 was performed. Clinical, epidemiological, laboratory, and parasitological findings were analyzed and compared between immigrants coming from endemic countries (recent immigrants) and children who traveled to endemic areas to visit friends and relatives (VFRs). Results.