Infectious Disease Reports最新文献

{"title":"Recombinant Yeast-Based Vaccines: Importance and Applications.","authors":"Ravinder Kumar","doi":"10.3390/idr17050118","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vaccines are biological preparations used to elicit an immune response, in order to prevent future infections or minimize damage from possible future infection [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452364/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"State of the Art on Vaccine Development Against Dengue Infection: Scoping Review of the Literature.","authors":"Davide Marangoni, Anna Barbiero, Michele Spinicci, Alessandro Bartoloni, Andrea Rossanese, Paolo Bonanni, Lorenzo Zammarchi","doi":"10.3390/idr17050117","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Dengue virus infection is a significant challenge for global health, with 100 million symptomatic cases, 2.3 million DALYs and 20,000 deaths annually. Dengue vaccines must provide long-lasting immunity against all four virus serotypes, especially in dengue-naïve individuals, in order to avoid the severe manifestations of secondary infections. <b>Methods:</b> This scoping review summarizes current evidence on licensed dengue vaccines and vaccine candidates, focusing on immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety outcomes. To identify relevant trials, in October 2023 we queried ClinicalTrials.gov using the search term \"dengue vaccines\" to identify past and present vaccine candidates; the search was repeated in February 2025. Vaccines were categorized into licensed (CYD-TDV and TAK-003), late-stage (TV003/TV005), and early-stage candidates (TDEN, DPIV, V180, TVDV). <b>Results:</b> CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia^®) showed moderate efficacy in large trials, with higher efficacy in seropositive than in seronegative individuals. Following commercialization, an increased hospitalization risk was discovered in the latter group. Due to these findings and impossibility of screening for prior exposure in endemic settings newer vaccines are now preferred and CYD-TDV production has recently been discontinued due to declining demand. TAK-003 (Qdenga^®) demonstrated high efficacy against virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) and dengue-related hospitalization. This vaccine was generally well tolerated and is currently recommended by scientific societies and national authorities for travelers and by WHO for routine use in adults and children in endemic settings. TV003 and TV005, developed by NIAID, showed strong immunogenicity and efficacy in phase II trials and human challenge models. Preliminary results show that a single-dose of TV003 has an efficacy of 79.6% in seronegatives and 89.2% in seropositives against VCD at a 2-year follow-up. Both formulations elicited tetravalent responses with an acceptable safety profile. Other vaccine strategies, including TDEN (live-attenuated), DPIV (purified inactivated), V180 (subunit), and TVDV (DNA-based) are still in early-phase development and suffer from waning antibody titers and limited efficacy in naïve subjects. <b>Conclusions:</b> The development of a safe and effective vaccine remains complex due to immunologic challenges. Currently, TAK-003 is regarded as the best option for broad implementation, while TV003 and TV005 remain promising candidates due to their shorter schedule and robust immunogenicity. Further research is needed to optimize vaccine strategies in seronegative populations, immunocompromised subjects, older adults, and travelers.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathways to Diagnose Infectious Pulmonary Vascular Disease in Rural Mozambique.","authors":"Yolanda Sabino, Cizália Ribeiro, Joshua Mungue, Ana Olga Mocumbi","doi":"10.3390/idr17050116","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Schistosomiasis, HIV, and tuberculosis frequently lead to pulmonary hypertension in low- and middle-income countries. Lack of specific testing and limited access to right heart catheterization hamper confirmation of the etiology of pulmonary hypertension due to schistosomiasis. In addition, low health literacy and poor socioeconomic status further compromise prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical algorithms for early screening, including hand-held echocardiography and point-of-care testing performed by non-specialists, are needed in rural Sub-Saharan Africa to decentralize care and improve outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> We describe a case of pulmonary hypertension diagnosed in a child living in Mozambique, to discuss the challenges for the diagnosis of infectious pulmonary arterial hypertension in rural settings in Africa, based on a short literature review.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncommon Pathogens in Common Presentations: Genetic Profiling and Virulence Determinants of <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i> Isolated from a Case of External Otitis.","authors":"Radu Ovidiu Togănel, Razvan Lucian Coșeriu, Anca Delia Mare, Camelia Vintilă, Ioan-Ovidiu Sîrbu, Aimée Rodica Chis, Cristina Elena Gîrbovan, Adrian Man","doi":"10.3390/idr17050114","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Backgrunod/Objectives</b>: Routine identification of common bacterial pathogens is typically efficient, utilizing standardized, cost-effective methods. However, the diagnostic process becomes significantly more complex when dealing with rare or unexpected microorganisms, especially as they can be considered colonizers in many cases. <b>Methods</b>: This study presents diagnostic details of an uncommon pathogen, <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i>, isolated from auricular discharge in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed with persistent otitis externa and explores its identification through both conventional and modern laboratory approaches. Sequential ear discharge cultures resulted in phenotypically similar but genomically different <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i> isolates. We complemented classical methods like conventional culture (on Columbia agar and CLED agar), Vitek2 Compact identification, and EUCAST disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing (following the EUCAST version 12.0 guidelines) with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Illumina/Nanopore whole genome sequencing. Comparative analysis of the genomes was performed with the PeGAS pipeline, Unicycler, and 1928Diagnostics SNP analysis. <b>Results</b>: The Vitek2 analysis identified both isolates as <i>V. alginolyticus</i> with 99% confidence, and this was supported by the MALDI-TOF MS results. The first isolate (A) was fully susceptible to the antibiotics tested, while the second (B) showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. Whole genome sequencing revealed 99.23% and 98.60% nucleotide identity to the <i>V. alginolyticus</i> reference genome for isolates A and B, respectively, with a 99.8% match between them. Isolate B acquired a <i>gyrA</i> (c.1870C>T) mutation that correlates with the ciprofloxacin resistance (MIC > 0.5 mg/L). Both genomes carry <i>hlyA</i> (hemolysin), <i>toxR</i> (cholera toxin regulator), genes involved in biofilm formation (<i>rpoN</i>, <i>relA</i>, <i>spoT</i>, <i>opp</i>), <i>luxS</i> (motility), <i>proA</i>, <i>vacB</i> (virulence factors), and <i>tet(34)</i> (oxytetracycline resistance). A core genome SNP distance of <100 indicates clonal relatedness. Our integrated (phenotypic and genomic) diagnostic approach confirmed <i>V. alginolyticus</i> and documented host resistance evolution, with a virulence repertoire that could explain the clinical evolution. <b>Conclusions</b>: This case highlights the utility of molecular methods in confirming species identity, detecting resistance markers, characterizing virulence determinants, and differentiating a pathogen from a colonizer, supporting targeted clinical management.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uneven Implementation of Nirsevimab Prophylaxis Resulted in Non-Uniform Reductions in RSV-Related Hospitalizations in Italy.","authors":"Melodie O Aricò, Francesco Accomando, Daniela Trotta, Giulia Marozzi, Anthea Mariani, Claudia Rossini, Claudio Cafagno, Letizia Lorusso, Martina Fornaro, Enrico Valletta, Désirée Caselli, Maurizio Aricò","doi":"10.3390/idr17050115","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis remains a leading cause of hospitalization in infants. In the 2024-2025 season, passive newborn immunization with nirsevimab, a long-acting anti-RSV monoclonal antibody, was introduced for the first time in Italy. However, the immunization campaign was not uniformly implemented on a regional basis due to supply and organizational difficulties. The aim of the study was to assess the real-world impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis during the 2024-2025 bronchiolitis season in four regions of Italy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This multicenter observational study included infants <12 months hospitalized for bronchiolitis across four Italian centers. Hospitalizations due to RSV and non-RSV bronchiolitis were compared across the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, in relation to the timing and coverage of nirsevimab's introduction in each of the four regions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Early and widespread nirsevimab administration was associated with a significant reduction in RSV hospitalizations and severity of disease. Centers located in regions that had delayed implementation of immunization observed higher RSV burden and intensive care unit admissions. Admissions for non-RSV bronchiolitis remained stable.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Timely and universal administration of nirsevimab significantly reduced RSV hospitalizations and severity, while delayed implementation resulted in limited benefit. These findings support early and uniform prophylaxis to mitigate health disparities and seasonal pressure on pediatric healthcare systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452365/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Imported Dengue Fever in Milan, Italy: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study.","authors":"Margherita Eleonora Pieruzzi, Davide Mileto, Alessandra Helen Behring, Stefania Caronni, Alessandro Mancon, Luigi Vezzosi, Alberto Rizzo, Andrea Poloni, Andrea Gori, Andrea Giacomelli, Spinello Antinori","doi":"10.3390/idr17050113","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dengue fever is an arboviral infection transmitted by <i>Aedes</i> mosquitoes that has recently become a public health concern also in Europe, causing many outbreaks of autochthonous cases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively retrieved dengue cases in returning travelers from tropical areas diagnosed at the Luigi Sacco Hospital between January 2018 and December 2024. All patients with positive serology for DENV (IgM alone or IgM and IgG or neutralizing antibodies detection) and/or positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for DENV RNA on plasma and urine were considered. Analyses were descriptive.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This analysis included 159 travelers with confirmed (<i>n</i> = 138; 86.8%) or probable (<i>n</i> = 21; 13.2%) dengue fever. The median age was 38 years (interquartile range [IQR] 30-50); 87 (54.7%) were females. The median time between symptom onset and seeking medical attention was four days (IQR 3-6); 29.6% required hospitalization, with a median stay of four days (IQR 0-5). The most common symptoms included fever (100%), myalgia (52.2%), and headache (49.1%). Laboratory findings revealed thrombocytopenia (53.8%), leukopenia (64.1%), elevated ALT (51.9%), and LDH (60.2%). Among the confirmed cases, 128 (92.8%) were diagnosed with RT-PCR. Serotypes 1 and 2 were the most prevalent (28.9% and 27.3%, respectively). Most cases were classified as dengue without warning signs (150, 94.3%), eight cases (5.0%) as dengue with warning signs, and one as severe dengue.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dengue fever is an important cause of fever among travelers returning to Italy from endemic areas. Although severe dengue is rare among travelers, further prospective studies need to address this issue. Diagnosis should be pursued by using molecular tools because of cross-reactivity with other arboviruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Retrospective Study of Cefiderocol Utilization and Associated Outcomes at an Academic Medical Center.","authors":"Samantha G Rauch, Michelle H Potter, Emir Kobic","doi":"10.3390/idr17050112","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to describe cefiderocol prescription and associated patient outcomes at a U.S. academic medical center for various multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO). Notably, limited real-world data exist on cefiderocol's clinical use in regions where metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing organisms are prevalent.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective chart review was conducted on adult inpatients who received ≥24 h of cefiderocol between January 2023 and July 2024. Data collected included microbiology, carbapenemase type (CARBA-5), treatment indication, susceptibility profiles, and clinical outcomes: 30-day mortality, re-infection, and re-admission. Descriptive statistics were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-six patients were included, with most receiving cefiderocol for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) (63%) or <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (17%) infections. Overall, 96% of cases met institutional prescribing criteria. NDM was the predominant carbapenemase (77% of CRE isolates). Cefiderocol was used definitively in 68% of cases. The median duration of therapy was 7 days. Thirty-day mortality was 20%, highest among patients with <i>A. baumannii</i> complex (33%). Re-infection and re-admission occurred in 21% and 32% of patients, respectively. Susceptibility to cefiderocol was highest for <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (100%), <i>Stenotrophomonas</i> (100%), and CRE (88%), but only 50% for <i>A. baumannii</i> complex.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cefiderocol was primarily used in accordance with institutional criteria and demonstrated favorable susceptibility against most target pathogens. However, poor outcomes in <i>A. baumannii</i> complex infections highlight the need for cautious use and the need for rapid diagnostics for early targeted therapy in multidrug-resistant infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452498/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and Co-Infection with <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> in Equatorial Guinea.","authors":"Diana López-Farfán, Policarpo Ncogo, Consuelo Oki, Matilde Riloha, Valero Ondo, Pablo Cano-Jiménez, Francisco José Martínez-Martínez, Irene Molina-de la Fuente, Iñaki Comas, Nerea Irigoyen, Pedro Berzosa, Agustín Benito Llanes, Elena Gómez-Díaz","doi":"10.3390/idr17050111","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> The impact of COVID-19 in Africa has been controversial. Data from African countries are heterogeneous and generally scarce. Many regions are also highly endemic for other infectious diseases like malaria, and it has been suggested that the low incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in malaria-endemic regions could have been related to cross-immunity between malaria and SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and circulating variants as well as the frequency of co-infections with malaria in Equatorial Guinea. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 and microscopy malaria examinations in 1556 volunteer participants at six health centres in Bioko and Bata from June to October 2021 and performed SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing on positive samples to determine the diversity and origin of circulating variants. <b>Results:</b> We report 3.03% of SARS-CoV-2 and 22.25% of malaria prevalence over the sampling period; SARS-CoV-2 cases were found at a similar frequency in all age groups, whereas malaria was most frequent in children and teenagers. Six cases of malaria and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection were found, representing 0.37% prevalence. Genome sequences of 43 SARS-CoV-2 isolates are reported, most of which belong to the lineage Delta and, according to pandemic-scale phylogenies, were introduced from Europe on multiple occasions. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study is relevant in providing first-time estimates of the real prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in this malaria-endemic country, with the identification of circulating variants, their origin, and co-occurrence with malaria. These data regarding the impact of the pandemic and co-infection with endemic diseases are relevant in future pandemics preparedness.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145113116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Technical Challenges in Studying Infectious Disease-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension in Low- and Middle-Income Countries with Limited Resources.","authors":"Jennifer van Heerden, Irina Mbanze, Elizabeth Louw, Olukayode Aremu, Anastase Dzudie, Ana Mocumbi, Threnesan Naidoo, Brian Allwood, Friedrich Thienemann","doi":"10.3390/idr17050109","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pulmonary hypertension (PH) disproportionately affects those residing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Given that these countries also have a high prevalence of infectious diseases, many cases of PH are either directly or indirectly related to infectious etiologies. Despite this correlation, the precise burden of infectious disease-associated PH is largely underappreciated due to a lack of diagnostic resources, a shortage of clinical expertise to carry out right heart catheterization and poor access to healthcare facilities in many low- and middle-income settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this narrative review, we highlight the significant burden of infectious disease-associated PH in LMICs, outline the technical challenges faced by LMICs when diagnosing PH, and propose possible solutions for diagnosing PH in resource-constrained settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Low-cost and sustainable solutions for infectious disease-associated PH in LMICs should be prioritized. Meaningful solutions require collaborative efforts and capacity building in LMICs.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452579/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"One Month Preexposure Prophylaxis Retention Rate and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Who Participated in the Namibia DREAMS Program (2018-2024).","authors":"Enos Moyo, Endalkachew Melese, Hadrian Mangwana, Simon Takawira, Rosalia Indongo, Bernadette Harases, Perseverance Moyo, Ntombizodwa Makurira Nyoni, Kopano Robert, Tafadzwa Dzinamarira","doi":"10.3390/idr17050110","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr17050110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Daily oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is one strategy employed to decrease HIV transmission among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) program, funded by PEPFAR/USAID and implemented by the Project HOPE Namibia (PHN)-led consortium, provided services in the Khomas, Oshikoto, Zambezi, and Oshana regions. This study assessed the one-month PrEP retention rate among AGYW 15-24 and the associated factors. <b>Methods:</b> The program's target populations for PrEP included AGYW aged 15-24 years who were at substantial risk for HIV, tested HIV-negative, and resided in the regions where the PHN-led consortium was implementing the DREAMS program. Data between 2018 and 2024 were exported from DHIS2 to IBM SPSS version 29 for secondary data analysis. We analyzed the data using Chi-squared tests and binomial and multinomial logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> Among the 17,277 participants newly initiated on oral PrEP and included in this study, only 2466 returned on time for their one-month appointment. The one-month PrEP retention rate among AGYW was 14.3%, 95% CI (13.8-14.8%). The most common reasons for PrEP discontinuation were traveling away from home, not needing PrEP anymore, forgetfulness, and side effects. Participants from Oshakati and Onandjokwe exhibited a higher likelihood of one-month PrEP retention. Additionally, participants who were in the programs for 7-12 months or over 36 months, who attended the safe space HIV prevention sessions, who were unaware of their partners' HIV status, and who considered themselves at risk of HIV also exhibited a lower likelihood of one-month PrEP retention. In contrast, individuals who had 1-2 children and those who were either pregnant or breastfeeding exhibited a higher likelihood of one-month PrEP retention, (COR) = 1.28, 95% CI (1.15-1.43), and COR = 2.00, 95% CI (1.62-2.46), respectively. <b>Conclusions:</b> Targeted, innovative, and context-specific strategies should be developed to support AGYW in identifying their HIV risk and continuing the use of daily oral PrEP during periods of heightened risk. Additionally, prioritizing the introduction of discreet, long-acting PrEP options that require less frequent administration may better align with their needs and preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12452773/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145112849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}