Infectious Diseases

Background: A Soil-transmitted helminthic infection (STHIs) remains a notable health problem in resource-limited countries. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the overall prevalence of STH infections in Ethiopia. Methods: Articles written in English were searched from online public databases. Searching terms taken separately and jointly were "prevalence," "soil-transmitted helminths" "nematode," "Geo-helminths," "roundworm," "Necator," "Ancylostoma," "Ascaris," "Trichuris," "hookworm," "whipworm," " S...

Background: Malaria is a public health problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Angola, it is the leading cause of death, morbidity, and absenteeism from work and school. Objective: To evaluate the social and clinical factors associated with resistance to in-hospital treatment. Methodology: A prospective analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted including 220 patients with malaria. Results: Of the 220 patients enrolled, the majority were between 21 and 40 years old (72...

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is an important public health problem, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). We aimed to examine the epidemiology and risk factors of HAIs in our ICUs and study their microbiological profile. Methods: We evaluated 100 consecutive patients in 3 medical and surgical ICUs of a tertiary care teaching hospital daily starting in January 2016 using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions and methods...

INTRODUCTION: Citrobacter spp. is an opportunistic bacteria that have been recognized as significant pathogens in patients with underlying diseases or immunocompromised status. The aim of this study was to identify extended-spectrum β-lactamases in clinical isolates of Citrobacter spp. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Central "Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto" in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Nineteen isolates of Citrobacter spp. were obtained from clinical specimens between April to December 2015...

Background: Healthcare providers are in high occupational risk of Hepatitis B virus infection than that of the general population because of the high risk of occupational exposure to patients' body fluids and accidental sharp injuries. There are no large facility-based studies conducted on the prevalence of HBV infection and its associated factors among health care providers in eastern Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed at investigating the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and its associated factors among the healthcare providers in public health facilities in eastern Ethiopia...

BACKGROUND: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant human pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. mec A in the S. aureus is a marker of MRSA. The main objective of this study was to detect mec A and vanA genes conferring resistance in S. aureus among cardiac patients attending Sahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC), Kathmandu, Nepal between May and November 2019. METHODS: A total of 524 clinical samples (blood, urine, sputum) were collected and processed...

As the world continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), there is a larger hidden threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) lurking behind. AMR remains worrisome in that the pathogens causing resistant infections to thrive in hospitals and medical facilities, putting all patients at risk, irrespective of the severity of their medical conditions, further compounding the management of COVID-19. This study aims to provide overview of early findings on COVID-19 and AMR as well as to provide recommendations and lesson learned toward improving antimicrobial stewardship...

The literature on bloodstream infections (BSIs) have predominantly been biased towards bacteria, given their superior clinical significance in comparison with the other types of microorganisms. Fungal pathogens have epidemiologically received relatively less attention, although they constitute an important proportion of BSI aetiologies. In this review, the authors discuss the clinical relevance of fungal BSIs in the context of Candida species, as well as treatment options for the infections, emphasizing the compelling need to develop newer antifungals and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programmes in the wake of the rapid spread of antifungal resistance...

Earlier in its course, SARS-CoV-2 was primarily identified to cause an acute respiratory illness in adults, the elderly and immunocompromised, while children were known to be afflicted with milder symptoms. However, since mid-April of 2020, latent effects of the virus have begun emerging in children and adolescents, which is characterised by a multisystem hyperinflammatory state; thus, the term Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) was introduced by the WHO and CDC. The syndrome manifests itself approximately 4 weeks after COVID-19 infection, with symptoms mimicking Kawasaki Disease and Kawasaki Disease Shock Syndrome...

Background: National consensus guidelines outline recommendations for best practices in treating patients with candidemia. This study evaluated the impact of receiving care adherent to the best practice recommendations on clinical outcomes in patients with candidemia. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study included patients with candidemia from 2010 to 2015 at 9 hospitals. The primary outcome was the composite of 30-day in-hospital mortality and 90-day candidemia recurrence...

BACKGROUND: ART failure is a growing public health problem and a major threat to the progress of HIV/AIDS control. In Uganda however, little is documented on treatment outcomes and their associated factors among individuals on second line ART regimen. The rapid scale-up of ART over the past has resulted in substantial reductions in morbidity and mortality. However, as millions of people must be maintained on ART for life, individuals with ART treatment failure are increasingly encountered and the numbers are expected to rise...

Introduction: Infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to cervical cancer as well as other cancers in both men and women. However, the requirement for multiple doses may limit the vaccine's effectiveness for cancer prevention. We conducted a pilot study to investigate barriers to HPV vaccine series completion among members of an integrated healthcare system with clinical documentation of only 1 dose. Methods: We surveyed parents or legal guardians of 11-17-year-old girls (n = 10) and boys (n = 18), as well as 18-31-year-old women (n = 20) and men (n = 9), about their reasons for not completing the HPV vaccine series...

Background: The feasibility of antiretroviral therapy (ART) monitoring remains problematic in decentralized HIV clinic settings of sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the rates and correlates of HIV-1 virological failure (VF) and drug resistance (DR) in 2 pre-test-and-treat urban clinic settings of Senegal. Methods: Consenting HIV-1-infected adults (⩾18 years) receiving first-line ART for ⩾12 months were cross-sectionally enrolled between January and March 2015, at the referral outpatient treatment center of Dakar (n = 151) and decentralized regional hospital of Saint-Louis (n = 127)...

BACKGROUND: The risk of transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasingly understood to be greatest early after symptom onset, however, factors associated with prolonged and increased risk of transmission remain unclear. In settings where COVID-19 prevalence is low, there may be a benefit of extending the period that patients are isolated to decrease the risk of transmission. This study explored the duration of viral shedding in such a location, in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 disease in Ballarat, Australia...

OBJECTIVE: Diminution in body weight is a known risk factor that increases the burden of active tuberculosis (TB). However, conflicting evidence exists for the effect of body weight on the risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The objective of the present study is to examine the prevalence of LTBI at different body weights, evaluate the extent of association between body mass index (BMI) and LTBI and identify factors mediating this relationship in an adult population. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the relationship between BMI and LTBI in participants from the US-National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2012, n = 5156; 514 with LTBI and 4642 controls)...

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme II or ACE2 is an integral membrane protein present on many types of cells, including vascular endothelial cells and lung alveolar epithelial cells. This receptor serves as the entry point for SARS-coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), including a novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV. Limited availability of these receptors can thwart cellular entry of this virus. Methods: We tested the effects of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on cellular expression of ACE2 at the protein and RNA levels in human small alveolar epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells...

Background: Although there is a high burden of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), studies on mental health issues among people living with HIV are scarce. The study addressed the transition to "test and treat" guidelines for HIV, which makes it unique regarding its evaluation of psychological distress amongst newly initiated people living with HIV in the test and treat era. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 689 people newly diagnosed with HIV...

A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This cluster quickly spread across the globe and led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a pandemic on March 11, 2020. It's sudden emergence, ceaseless human-to-human transmission, and rapid spread has led to continuous pandemicity. As of June 9, 2020, there were 7 039 918 confirmed cases and 404 396 deaths globally. The rate of spread of COVID-19 is affected through respiratory droplets, most commonly when infected individuals cough or talk...

The oral cavity harbors a multitude of commensal flora, which may constitute a repository of antibiotic resistance determinants. In the oral cavity, bacteria form biofilms, and this facilitates the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer. Recent reports indicate high methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage rates in the oral cavity. Establishment of MRSA in the mouth could be enhanced by the wide usage of antibiotic prophylaxis among at-risk dental procedure candidates...

Objective: Miltefosine is an anti-cancer drug used to treat leishmaniasis and deadly opportunistic free-living amoeba and other deadly pathogenic microorganisms. Several studies have demonstrated its antiviral effect. In this study, we discuss the effectiveness of this drug on pathogenic microorganisms, and according to the functional system of the medicine, we present this drug as a therapeutic proposal to treat Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: A literature search was conducted in electronic databases, including Pubmed, Science Direct, Elsevier, and Google Scholar, and articles published from 2006 to 2020 (the last decade) were selected...