Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Hla-Ii-Dependent Neuroimmune Changes In Group A Streptococcal Necrotizing Fasciitis, Ganesh Ambigapathy, Santhosh Mukundan, Kumi Nagamoto-Combs, Colin Combs, Suba Nookala

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) bacteria cause a spectrum of human diseases ranging from self-limiting pharyngitis and mild, uncomplicated skin infections (impetigo, erysipelas, and cellulitis) to highly morbid and rapidly invasive, life-threatening infections such as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis (NF). HLA class II allelic polymorphisms are linked with differential outcomes and severity of GAS infections. The dysregulated immune response and peripheral cytokine storm elicited due to invasive GAS infections increase the risk for toxic shock and multiple organ failure in genetically susceptible individuals. We hypothesized that, while the host immune mediators regulate the immune responses against …

Expedited Partner Therapy For Gonorrheal And Chlamydial Infections, Nicholas Coburn-Pierce

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as Neisseria Gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia Trachomatis pose a challenge to the healthcare system worldwide. Treating sexual partners is as crucial to controlling the spread of these infections as treating index patients. However, because of problems associated with stigma, reaching affected populations, and ensuring follow-up, unique solutions are require to ensure partners receive treatment. One solution is Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). EPT refers to treating patients, and providing necessary medication for both patient and partner. Current recommendations are for oral doses one gram of azithromycin and 400 milligrams of cefixime. This literature review looked at thirteen …

Treatment Options For Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, Barbara Bowman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

With the high incidence of Lyme disease in the endemic areas of North America, it is important to appropriately diagnosis and treat this condition to prevent post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Background information regarding Lyme disease is given. The purpose of this research is to discuss the treatment options available for those patients that fit the case definition of PTLDS. A literature review was conducted using several different electronic databases finding peer reviewed research articles pertaining to the treatment options available for PTLDS. Extended antibiotic use is shown to be not beneficial in most cases. Alternative treatment options listed …

Comparing Short Versus Long Term Antibiotics For Reducing Persistent Lyme Symptoms, Joe Webster

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Lyme disease is the most common tick borne illness in the United States with over 300,000 cases annually.

• Two main organizations called the Infectious Disease Society of America and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society differ on their opinions in the treatment duration of Lyme disease.

• A review of the literature explored studies that compared the effectiveness of short term versus long term antibiotics in the treatment of Lyme. Determining the most effective treatment method duration for reducing the long term risk of persistent symptoms of Lyme will be important for the improvement of the delivery …

The Effectiveness Of Antibiotic Treatment In Lyme Neuroborreliosis, Lane Lindeman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Lyme disease is caused by human infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete transmitted by the Ixodes tick which is indigenous primarily to an increasingly large area of the Northeast and Midwest United States.

• Manifestations of Lyme disease vary greatly, and can result in significant neurologic symptoms associated with complications of neuroborreliosis or neurologic Lyme disease.

• Diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and its complications has been a source of debate and confusion for providers and patients alike.

• The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and efficacy of antibiotic therapy in patients with symptoms …

Pfapa: A Periodic Febrile Syndrome Afflicting Children, Jessica Lahti

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis syndrome (PFAPA).

• Auto-inflammatory disorder occurring in affected children every 3-8 weeks.

• Onset around age 2; lasting into second decade of life.

• A current pathophysiologic theory is PFAPA is a disorder of the innate immune system involving interleukins, chemoattractants, and cytokines that stimulating the inflammatory response causing symptoms associated with PFAPA.

• Early diagnosis of PFAPA may help prevent the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

• Biomarker CD64, galectin-3 and the MPV may be useful in the diagnosis of PFAPA along with other laboratory values during the febrile attack period …

Lyme Disease Outcomes With Immediate, Short Duration Antibiotic Use Versus Delayed, Longer Duration Use, Lori A. Steinley

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the United States, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). The guidelines for diagnosis provided by the IDSA include evidence of erythema migrans rash with validation of a positive two-tier serology testing. With no established treatment standards, decreased sensitivity of testing and inconsistency of observing the rash, practitioners following the guidelines may delay treatment of antibiotics. This delay could cause progression of severity of symptoms.

The purpose of this study is to compare implementation and duration time of antibiotics and establish the treatment protocol for best clinical outcomes for …