Influenza, Winter Olympiad, 2002

Prospective surveillance for influenza was performed during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Oseltamivir was administered to patients with influenza like illness and confirmed influenza, while their close contacts were given oseltamivir prophylactically. Influenza A/B was diagnosed in 36 of 188 patients, including 13 athletes. Prompt management limited the spread of this outbreak.

Shortage of penicillin G: impact on antibiotic prescribing at a US tertiary care centre

A six-year retrospective study was undertaken to examine the effect of the recent penicillin G (penG) shortage on antibiotic prescribing practices at a tertiary care centre in the US. Prior to the shortage, penG was predominantly used for intrapartum prophylaxis of group B streptococcal disease. As the supply of penG ended temporarily in October 1999, penG use declined dramatically, ampicillin replaced penG in obstetrics and a shift to broad-spectrum agents was noted in non-obstetric patients potentially eligible for penG treatment. Shortage-triggered treatment changes had a negative effect on prescribing patterns, which may contribute to antibiotic resistance.