Disinfection and sterilization in hospitals, is of increasing concern. Nosocomial infections can be defined as those occurring within 48 hours of hospital admission, 3 days of discharge or 30 days of an operation. They affect 1 in 10 patients admitted to hospital. Nosocomial infections are associated with a great deal of morbidity, mortality, and increased financial burden

View related articles 156 2012;27(4) South Afr J Epidemiol Infect Review: Acute gastroenteritis among children in the developing world Acute gastroenteritis represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Young children are affected most frequently, with three to 10 episodes of diarrhoea per subject per year, a rate that decreases to less than one episode annually for children over five years of age and adults. Usually, deaths are a result of dehydration, but malnutrition also plays an important role. Furthermore, malnutrition increases the incidence and severity of diarrhoea, as well as of other infections. The clinician encounters acute gastroenteritis in three settings. The first is sporadic gastroenteritis in infants, which is often caused by rotavirus. The second is epidemic gastroenteritis, which occurs either in semi-closed communities (e.g. families, institutions, on ships, at vacation spots) or as a result of classic food-borne or water borne pathogens. Most of these infections are caused by caliciviruses. The third is sporadic acute gastroenteritis of adults, which is most likely to be caused by caliciviruses, rotaviruses, astroviruses or adenoviruses.

South Afr J Epidemiol Infect Review: Group A streptococcal infections in children With the advent of antimicrobials during World War II, and a natural decline that began before then, dread diseases began to assume a less important role, especially in industrialised countries. By the 1970s, acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis were rarely seen, even though acute streptococcal infections continued to occur with their usual frequency and severity. In the 1980s, attention was once again focused on infections caused by group A streptococcus and its sequelae. The most common infections caused by group A streptococcus are pharyngitis and pyoderma, which occur in children particularly.Peer reviewed.

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Hypertension is the most common, and potent universal contributor to cardiovascular mortality. Elevated blood pressure, labile or fixed, systolic or diastolic, at any age, in either sex, is a contributor to all forms of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension in children is currently recognised as an important health issue. Treatment includes weight loss and exercise.Peer reviewed.