Journal of Infection and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Pathogen genotypes and host phenotypes of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease in Taiwan","authors":"Yu-Hsun Chiang ,&nbsp;Jia-Yih Feng ,&nbsp;Chin-Chung Shu ,&nbsp;Chih-Jung Chang ,&nbsp;Sheng-Wei Pan ,&nbsp;Wei-Juin Su","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Mycobacterium abscessus</em> (Mabs) pulmonary disease (Mabs-PD) is difficult to treat, particularly in subspecies <em>abscessus</em> (Mabs-a), usually harboring macrolide-resistant sequevars, unlike subspecies <em>massiliense</em> (Mabs-m). The relationship between Mabs genetic variants and clinical features remains largely unexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this retrospective cohort study, patients with Mabs-PD and Mabs extrapulmonary disease (Mabs-ED), identified during 2016–2018, were observed for severe or progressive Mabs-PD, indicated by antibiotic needs or increased lung lesions. DNA of Mabs isolates was sequenced to determine subspecies and evaluate macrolide-resistance genetic variants (<em>rrl</em> mutations or functional <em>erm</em>(41) with T28 sequevar).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Mabs-PD group (n = 77) was older and thinner than the Mabs-ED group (n = 20). In Mabs-PD, macrolide-resistance genetic variants were detected in 84.6 % of Mabs-a (n = 42) and 9.4 % of Mabs-m (n = 35) isolates (p &lt; 0.001). Cavitary disease (n = 10) and non-cavitary bilateral disease (n = 45) were associated with an increased risk of severe or progressive Mabs-PD compared to non-cavitary unilateral disease (n = 22) (adjusted odds ratio 13.039 [95 % CI 1.239–137.172], p = 0.032; and 4.875 [0.755–31.502], p = 0.096, respectively). Patients with cavitary disease or non-cavitary bilateral disease were more likely to harbor Mabs-m isolates compared to those with non-cavitary unilateral disease (50.0 % and 57.8 % vs. 18.2 %, p = 0.008). Bilateral disease (n = 54, with 9 cavitary disease included) was inversely associated with macrolide-resistance genetic variants, a finding consistent across subgroup analyses, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.187 (95 % CI [0.054–0.646], p = 0.008).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mabs-PD patients with cavitary or bilateral disease, potentially requiring treatment initiation, had a lower risk of harboring macrolide-resistant Mabs, emphasizing the importance of phenotype-specific investigations to enhance clinical decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102899"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144632598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis infection screening and treatment among high-tuberculosis risk immigrants and asylum seekers in The Netherlands: A cohort modelling study","authors":"Jan A.C. Hontelez ,&nbsp;Ineke T. Spruijt ,&nbsp;Roel Bakker ,&nbsp;Frank Cobelens ,&nbsp;Connie Erkens ,&nbsp;Susan van den Hof ,&nbsp;Sake J. de Vlas","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of TB infection (TBI) screening and TB preventive treatment (TPT) for immigrants, asylum seekers, and settled migrants in The Netherlands.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used a deterministic cohort model that captures the natural history of TBI and TB disease for a migrant cohort in the country of origin (pre-entry) and in The Netherlands (post-entry). We fitted the pre-entry force of infection to Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) positivity rates from an implementation pilot study, and chest X-ray (CXR) positivity from the national entry-screening programme. We compared the costs per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained for TBI screening with CXR screening over a 20-year time-horizon, accounting for parameter uncertainty by producing predictions for over 1000 unique parameter combinations that fit the data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>TBI screening uniformly resulted in an increase in QALYs gained compared to current CXR-based screening policies. For immigrants, &lt;10 % of parameter combinations predicted TBI entry screening to be more cost-effective than CXR screening under observed TPT completion rates (36 %). However, this changed to nearly 100 % of parameter combinations for immigrants coming from countries with a TB incidence of ≥100 per 100,000 when applying TPT completion rates as observed in asylum seekers (72 %). For asylum seekers, 100 % of parameter combinations predicted cost-effectiveness, while 0 % predicted TBI screening to be cost-effective among settled migrants.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TBI entry screening is a cost-effective alternative to CXR entry screening for immigrants and asylum seekers coming from high TB endemic countries, provided TPT completion is sufficiently high.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102889"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and species diversity of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in North Texas","authors":"Manoj K. Sah ,&nbsp;Lenin Mahimainathan ,&nbsp;Muluye Mesfin ,&nbsp;Andrew E. Clark ,&nbsp;Jeffrey A. SoRelle","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102890","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102890","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are an emerging group of related opportunistic pathogens resembling tuberculosis (TB) infections with a wide virulence spectrum. The diversity of the causative agents of NTM disease underscores the need for swift identification, as it differs by geographic regions, and treatment approaches vary. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Non-tuberculous <em>Mycobacteria</em> recovered in North Texas.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective study was conducted between January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. We included 15,724 pulmonary and extra-pulmonary specimens submitted to Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) culture. A total of 820 specimens growing with the <em>Mycobacterial</em> species were counted for the final analysis. Species prevalence, site of growth, and seasonal trends were evaluated at our site.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In a total of 15,724 AFB cultures (5.21 %, n = 820), specimens were positive for twenty-four different species/subspecies of mycobacteria. Overall, the prevalence of NTM was (5.05 %, n = 795). Out of 820, the incidence of NTM was (97 %, n = 795) and <em>M. tuberculosis</em> complex (3 %, n = 25). 15.4 % (704/4574) of NTM were isolated from pulmonary and 0.82 % (91/11,150) from extra-pulmonary specimens. (63 %, n = 514) were slow-growing mycobacteria. The major NTM species were <em>M. avium</em> complex (MAC) (46 %, n = 375), followed by <em>M. abscessus</em> complex (23.78 %, n = 195), <em>M. chelonae</em> (4.9 %, n = 40), <em>M. mucogenicum phocaicum</em> (3.9 %, n = 32), and <em>M. arupense</em> (2.1 %, n = 17). Notably, MAC had cyclical low points in July and February but peaked in October. There was no seasonal pattern for <em>M. abscessus</em> complex.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings revealed that the frequency of NTM was much higher than TB. Remarkably, the prevalence of <em>M. avium</em> complex and <em>M. abscessus</em> complex occupies the top rank, with the emerging <em>M. chelonae</em> and <em>M</em>. <em>mucogenicum phocaicum</em>. This warrants a precise analytical approach to identify the NTM as the diverse geographical distribution and the needed species-specific treatment regimen to adopt control measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102890"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144595918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infection among clinically suspected tuberculosis in eastern India (2019–2023)","authors":"Sunil Swick Rout ,&nbsp;Jyotirmayee Turuk ,&nbsp;Narayana Swamy DM,&nbsp;Sidhartha Giri,&nbsp;Afeeq K,&nbsp;Sujeet Kumar,&nbsp;Triyambakesh Mohanty,&nbsp;Sunita Panda,&nbsp;Sudarshan Biswal,&nbsp;Dasarathi Das,&nbsp;Sanghamitra Pati","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections is on rise globally and poses significant diagnostic and treatment challenges for tuberculosis as most of them are resistant to anti-tubercular drugs. NTM susceptibility to drugs varies from species to species and there is no specific regimen for treatment. We conducted this study to understand the epidemiology of NTM infections in Odisha from 2019 to 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>All the samples referred from districts suspected for NTM infections were subjected to culture followed by species identification using line probe assay (Hain Lifesciences, details). Anti-mycobacterial susceptibility was determined by MIC breakpoints and the analysis was done as per the Clinical and laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) M24S 2018 guidelines.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 828 suspected NTM infection samples were included in the study. Non- tuberculous mycobacteria were found in 67 (8.1 %, 67/828) samples. The most prevalent non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated was found to be <em>M. intracellulare</em> (32.8 %,22/67)<em>,</em> followed by <em>M. abscessus</em> (22.3 %, 15/67)<em>, M. fortuitum</em> (11.9 %,8/67), and <em>M. scrofulaceum</em> (8.9 %),6/67)<em>.</em> Non tuberculosis mycobacterial disease was seen from most of the districts but it was more common in the coastal districts of Odisha like Khordha (29.8 %,20/67), Cuttack (11.9 %,8/67), Bhadrak (8.9 %,67), Kendrapada (7.4 %,5/67), Balasore (4.4 %, 3/67), Jajpur (4.4 %, 3/67), Puri (7.4 %,5/67). NTM was more prevalent in males (65.7 %) than females (34.3 %). The MIC breakpoints showed different sensitive and resistant patterns for NTM isolates. It was seen that <em>M. mucogeniucum</em> was sensitive to all the drugs tested, <em>M. avium</em> and <em>M. abscessus</em> isolates were resistant to most of the drugs and sensitive to few drugs like doxycycline, kanamycin and clarithromycin.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The increasing prevalence of NTM infections necessitates precise identification at the species level, coupled with drug susceptibility testing (DST), to guide targeted therapy. This approach is critical not only for optimizing patient outcomes but also for mitigating the emergence of antimicrobial resistance through inappropriate or empirical treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102888"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144569058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-pandemic outbreak of measles seen in Japan, 2024","authors":"Yuri Amemiya,&nbsp;Tetsuro Kobayashi,&nbsp;Hiroshi Nishiura","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>An imported case of measles was reported on 1 March 2024 in Japan, followed by additional cases involving individuals who took the same flight as the index case. In addition to post-pandemic real-time assessment of the transmission dynamics, we aimed to clarify the epidemiological characteristics of the 2024 measles outbreak in Japan.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed confirmed-case data based on notifications from public health centers. To estimate the effective reproduction number (<em>R</em>_t), we retrieved a serial interval distribution from an outbreak dataset in the United Kingdom. Estimating the infectiousness profile as a function of time since illness onset, we back-projected the time of secondary transmission to compute the <em>R</em>_t. We reconstructed the transmission tree based on contact tracing information.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>As of 13 May 2024, a total of 24 measles cases were notified during 2024, among which 13 were considered to have acquired the infection from the index case. The estimated <em>R</em>_t peaked at 14.1 (95 % CI: 1.2–33.4) on 23 February, the day before the index case self-isolated. <em>R</em>_t subsequently declined, and public announcements of diagnosed cases were made by the affected prefectures, raising awareness about the measles outbreak.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>An imported measles case led to a super-spreading event, but further secondary transmission was prevented; the index case self-isolated and awareness was raised about the outbreak by public health centers. The present simple method of computing the <em>R</em>_t is useful for monitoring future outbreaks of any directly transmitted infectious disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102887"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A post-COVID-19 upsurge in Group A Streptococcus in the Czech Republic was driven by emm1 and emm12 with shared virulence factors","authors":"Marek Stefan ,&nbsp;Suhanya Prasad ,&nbsp;Ivana Vitkova ,&nbsp;Elka Nycova ,&nbsp;Lenka Ryskova ,&nbsp;Pavla Kucova ,&nbsp;Lenka Geigerova ,&nbsp;Denisa Vesela ,&nbsp;Magda Balejova ,&nbsp;Natasa Bartonikova ,&nbsp;Lenka Havlinova ,&nbsp;Erika Czyzova ,&nbsp;Jan Kubele ,&nbsp;Barbora Dratvova ,&nbsp;Milena Antuskova ,&nbsp;Jaroslava Zikova ,&nbsp;Marie Brajerova ,&nbsp;Otakar Nyc ,&nbsp;Milan Trojanek ,&nbsp;Pavel Drevinek ,&nbsp;Marcela Krutova","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In 2023, a significant increase in <em>Streptococcus pyogenes</em>, Group A <em>Streptococcus</em> (GAS) culture positivity was observed in Czech microbiological laboratories. We conducted a multicentre study to obtain epidemiological data and characterise circulating strains.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eleven microbiology departments provided data on single-patient GAS-positive cultures from 2017 to 2023. Additionally, 10 consecutive, single-patient GAS isolates from 12 hospitals were submitted in May 2023 for whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In 2023, there was a significant increase in GAS-positive cultures compared to the periods of 2017–2019 (p = 0.002), 2020–2021 (p &lt; 0.00001), and 2022 (p = 0.001), with a disproportionate increase in children. Among 120 isolates, 12 different <em>emm</em> types and 16 multi-locus sequence types (STs) were identified, with <em>emm</em>1 (ST28, 35.0 %) and <em>emm</em>12 (STs 36, 101, 242, 1366, 32.5 %) being the most prevalent. Clonal clustering of <em>emm</em>1 and <em>emm</em>12 isolates across different study sites and geographic regions was demonstrated by whole-genome MLST analysis. When searching for shared virulence genes exclusive to <em>emm</em>1 and <em>emm</em>12 but absent in other <em>emm</em> types, immune evasion and colonisation factors (the streptococcal inhibitor of complement-<em>sic</em> gene in <em>emm</em>1, the distantly related sic-<em>drs</em> gene in <em>emm</em>12, and the <em>sda</em>1 gene in both) were identified.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>An upsurge in GAS infections, predominantly caused by <em>emm</em>1 and <em>emm</em>12, was identified in the Czech Republic. The combination of shared virulence factors, altered herd immunity and naïve immunity in children, resulting from contact precautions measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have contributed to their increased spread.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102886"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking antiviral potentials of traditional plants: A multi-method computational study against human metapneumovirus (HMPV)","authors":"Amit Dubey ,&nbsp;Manish Kumar ,&nbsp;Aisha Tufail ,&nbsp;Vivek Dhar Dwivedi ,&nbsp;Andrea Ragusa","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major cause of respiratory infections, especially in vulnerable populations. The absence of targeted antiviral therapies necessitates the exploration of novel drug candidates. Traditional medicinal plants offer a reservoir of bioactive compounds with potential antiviral properties. This study employs a multi-method computational approach to assess the antiviral potential of phytochemicals against HMPV.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive <em>in silico</em> framework was employed, including virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, pharmacophore modeling, and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) profiling. Key bioactive compounds were evaluated for their binding affinity, stability, and pharmacokinetic properties.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the analyzed phytochemicals, Glycyrrhizin exhibited the highest binding affinity (-65.4 kcal/mol) with strong hydrogen bonding and remarkable dynamic stability (RMSD 1.3 Å). Withaferin A (-63.7 kcal/mol) also demonstrated high pharmacokinetic potential. DFT analyses confirmed their favorable electronic properties, and ADMET profiling validated their drug-like characteristics. These findings highlight the promise of natural compounds as potential HMPV inhibitors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study underscores the potential of traditional phytochemicals in antiviral drug discovery. The integration of computational techniques accelerates lead identification and optimization. Further <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> validations are essential to confirm these findings and facilitate clinical translation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102885"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Discovery of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus inhibitors by targeting thymidylate kinase (TMPK) via multi-step virtual screening, molecular simulations, and free energy calculations","authors":"Talal Alshammari ,&nbsp;Abdulrahman Alshammari ,&nbsp;Metab Alharbi ,&nbsp;Abdullah F. Alasmari ,&nbsp;Abdullah S. Alhamed ,&nbsp;Norah A. Albekairi ,&nbsp;Alanoud Talal Aljasham ,&nbsp;Amal F. Alshammary","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Antibiotic resistance, mainly caused by methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA), is a globally growing concern and a significant health issue in regard to infectious diseases. This issue will require a novel and comprehensive strategy to overcome the resistance to MRSA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Therefore, the current study advances TMPK-targeted drug discovery by screening a vast chemical space using virtual screening with detailed dynamics and binding energy evaluations. In contrast to the previous efforts, our study focuses on the pharmacological exploitation of TMPK's conserved and druggable active site in MRSA, which lacks homologs in humans and remains understated in antimicrobial pipelines. We screened traditional Chinese medicine and African natural compound databases, as well as the InterBioScreen, dark chemical matter, and Maybridge databases, using a three-step virtual screening strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From these databases, we identified 16 compounds as the most potent based on their docking and redocking scores and interaction profiles with the key residues. Of these, the top eight hits were re-validated using the induced-fit docking method, which confirmed the validity of these hits’ interaction and inhibitory potential against TMPK. Thereafter, using molecular simulations, 500 ns each, we determined that these compounds exhibited stable dynamic profiles, minimal residual fluctuation, and well-folded conformations during the simulation. Furthermore, using the binding free energy calculations, including both the MMGBSA and MMPBSA methods, the top hits were ranked based on the strongest binding energy, which provides compelling evidence for the stability, specificity, and high binding affinity of these compounds towards TMPK. PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and FEL (Free Energy Landscape) analyses revealed the conformational behavior of these complexes. Furthermore, ADMET analysis confirmed the safety of these molecules.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study identified potential therapeutic hits using computational and theoretical approaches; however, experimental validation through <em>in vitro</em> enzymatic assays and MRSA culture-based inhibition studies is essential to confirm their therapeutic potencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102884"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of combined vaginal group B Streptococcus screening (culture and rapid PCR) in pregnant women on neonatal morbidity and mortality","authors":"Maëlig Abgral ,&nbsp;Léonie Albersammer ,&nbsp;Julie Carrara ,&nbsp;Christelle Guillet-Caruba ,&nbsp;Alexandra Benachi ,&nbsp;Daniele De Luca ,&nbsp;Rafik Ben Ammar ,&nbsp;Nadège Bourgeois-Nicolaos ,&nbsp;Alexandre J. Vivanti","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102883","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Vaginal colonization by group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women is a major risk factor for early-onset neonatal infection, by vertical transmission during birth. Current guidelines recommend universal screening via vaginal swab and culture in the third trimester for antibiotic prophylaxis. Since 2013, the Antoine Béclère maternity hospital has offered combined screening for GBS carriage using culture at the third trimester and PCR on vaginal swabs in the delivery room. The primary aim was to assess the added value of PCR in culture-negative or unscreened women.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This observational, retrospective, single-center study involved full-term deliveries between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2020, in a type III perinatal unit (Clamart, France). All women at 35–38 weeks’ gestation (WG) were offered vaginal culture screening. PCR was performed in the delivery room if culture was negative or not done.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>15,013 patients gave birth to 15,337 newborns ≥37 WG; 14,863 women (99.0 %) were screened. Among 11,415 women with vaginal culture, 1416 (12.4 %) were positive. 3448 (23.0 %) were not screened by culture. PCR at birth identified 621 additional GBS cases (4.1 %): 327 (2.2 %) in unscreened women and 294 (1.9 %) with prior negative culture. No neonatal GBS infections were observed. There were 4 cases (0.02 %) of postpartum endometritis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Intrapartum PCR identified 2.2 % additional cases in unscreened women and 1.9 % missed after prior negative culture. This rapid and effective method appears feasible for routine use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102883"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic antifungal effect of naturally-derived antimicrobials with penetration enhancer against Candida albicans biofilm at 5 °C and 22 °C","authors":"Byung Soo Ko,&nbsp;Seon Gyeong Park,&nbsp;Min Suk Rhee","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Biofilms of fungi such as <em>Candida albicans</em> (<em>C. albicans</em>) can survive even at cold temperatures and are generally difficult to eradicate with well-known antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to develop a novel synergistic technique against <em>C. albicans</em> biofilms using low concentrations of propylene glycol (PG), as a penetration enhancer. It helps naturally-derived antimicrobials [caprylic acid (CA) and carvacrol (CAR)] permeate <em>C. albicans</em> biofilms and cell membranes within short times even in cold environments.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><em>C. albicans</em> biofilms formed on stainless steel coupons were treated with antifungal complexes (PG, CA and CAR at 0.6–1.2 mM) for 1 or 5 min at 5 and 22°C. PG was selected as the highest fungicidal efficacy, as well as its odourless, colourless nature and excellent solubility compared to other penetration enhancers (isopropyl citrate, laurocapram). To visualize cell damage by antifungal complex, treated biofilms at 5°C and 22°C were examined using the confocal microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Each substance (PG, CA, CAR), when applied alone to <em>C. albicans</em> biofilms for 5 min, showed less than 0.50 log reduction at both 5 and 22°C. <em>C. albicans</em> biofilm was completely eradicated by PG + CA + CAR (all 1.2 mM) after 5 min at 5 and 22°C (&gt; 6.20 log reduction), but treatment mixtures without PG were incompletely eliminated after 1 min at 5°C (1.75 log reduction) and 22°C (3.75 log reduction). Based on the visualization of biofilms, PG + CA + CAR (all 1.2 mM) resulted in remarkable membrane disruption and cell detachment from stainless steel coupons in contrast to the other treatment conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study indicates that trace amounts of developed antifungal complex could be an effective way to inactivate fungal biofilms on the surfaces of the medical and healthcare field even at cold temperatures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 10","pages":"Article 102882"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}