Hélène De Pauw , Alexandra Ducancelle , Marc Arbyn , Adeline Pivert , Anne-Sophie Le Duc Banaszuk , Juliette Noyelle , Johane Le Goff , Franck Rexand-Galais , Gilbert Donders , Caroline Lefeuvre
{"title":"Women’s perceptions and preferences toward HPV self-sampling in France: A questionnaire within the French CapU4 Trial","authors":"Hélène De Pauw , Alexandra Ducancelle , Marc Arbyn , Adeline Pivert , Anne-Sophie Le Duc Banaszuk , Juliette Noyelle , Johane Le Goff , Franck Rexand-Galais , Gilbert Donders , Caroline Lefeuvre","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite organised screening efforts since 2018 targeting under-screened women, cervical cancer (CC) screening coverage remains moderate (60 %) in France. The target age for HPV-based screening is women aged 30–65. Vaginal self-sampling (VSS) has recently been introduced for women who have not been screened. This study assesses women’s perceptions and preferences toward HPV self-sampling among women enrolled in the CapU4 trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>CapU4 is a randomised controlled trial with two experimental arms (mailing either a urine self-sampling (USS) or VSS kit) and a control arm (mailing of a conventional invitation letter). The trial invited 15,000 women aged 30–65, who had no screening test recorded since more than four years and who did not respond to an invitation letter within 12 months before. Half of the women in each arm were randomly selected to receive a supplementary questionnaire (sent in March 2023, with responses collected until August 2023).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In total, 682 completed questionnaires were analysed (9.1 % response rate). Most women found self-sampling instructions clear (VSS 87.4 %, USS 90.7 %) and procedures easy (VSS 85.9 %, USS 90.3 %). About 23.5 % of VSS users and 4.9 % of USS users found the process unpleasant. Around 80 % of participants in both SS arms preferred taking a specimen at home rather than going to a health care professional for cervical screening. They also indicated a preference for using self-sampling kit to collect a sample for their next CC screening instead of visiting a health care professional (VSS 82.6 %, USS 89.1 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Self-sampling appears to be a well-received alternative in women not attending routine CC screening programme.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102809"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937882","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}
Greice Carolina Santos da Silva , Victoria Cruz Paraná , Filipe Ferreira de Almeida Rego , Mariana Maciel Portela , Mariana Barros Queiroz , Raimundo Coutinho Junior , Carlos Gustavo Regis da Silva , Luana Leandro Gois , Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi
{"title":"Impact of mutations in immunodominant regions of SARS-CoV-2 variants on recognition by CD8+ T cell: An in silico analysis","authors":"Greice Carolina Santos da Silva , Victoria Cruz Paraná , Filipe Ferreira de Almeida Rego , Mariana Maciel Portela , Mariana Barros Queiroz , Raimundo Coutinho Junior , Carlos Gustavo Regis da Silva , Luana Leandro Gois , Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate whether mutations in the immunodominant regions of the S, M, and N proteins of the Gamma, Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants that circulated in Brazil affect the recognition of viral antigens by Brazilian HLA-I-restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes, using an <em>in silico</em> approach.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sequences of the Gamma (n = 36,174), Delta (n = 35,129), and Omicron (n = 336) variants were retrieved using GISAID. Consensus sequences were generated using Geneious software with NC045512 as a reference. Epitopes for the S, M, and N proteins of both the original and variant sequences were predicted using NetCTLpan 1.1, NetMHCpan 4.0, and VaxiJen v2.0. The positions occupied by these epitopes, with high probability of presentation, affinity to HLA molecules, and antigenicity, were identified as potentially immunodominant regions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The S protein of the reference sequence (NC045512) and its variants contained 17 immunodominant regions. Delta showed the highest conservation (94.1 %, 16), followed by Gamma (82.3 %, 14) and Omicron (70.5 %, 12). Omicron exhibited the greatest mutational variability and had regions of increased antigenicity and two novel immunodominant regions with broader human leukocyte antigen (HLA) recognition. Additionally, Omicron lost two previously identified immunodominant regions and had one region of reduced antigenicity that did not affect HLA recognition. Gamma had mutations in three regions that increased both antigenicity and HLA recognition. Delta had only one mutated region with lower antigenicity, which did not affect HLA recognition. Notably, new immunodominant regions for the M and N proteins appeared in the Omicron variant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Brazilian HLA-I-restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 immunodominant regions are partially conserved in the Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants circulating in Brazil, suggesting effective a cross-protective immune response that may help reduce COVID-19 severity and mortality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102803"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937883","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":"Corrigendum to “Molecular and serological evidence of chikungunya virus among dengue suspected patients in Sri Lanka” [J Infect Public Health 2025;18(5):102709]","authors":"Mya Myat Ngwe Tun , Maurine Mumo Mutua , Shingo Inoue , Yuki Takamatsu , Satoshi Kaneko , Takeshi Urano , Rohitha Muthugala , Lakkumar Fernando , Menaka Hapugoda , YINS Gunawardene , Kouichi Morita","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102806","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102806"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898688","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}
Mary E. Wikswo , Anita K. Kambhampati , Claire P. Mattison , Preeti Chhabra , Oluwatosin Olojo , Taha Rana , Jan Vinjé , Carl D. Kirkwood , Umesh D. Parashar , Sara A. Mirza
{"title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of the global prevalence of human enteric adenovirus infections","authors":"Mary E. Wikswo , Anita K. Kambhampati , Claire P. Mattison , Preeti Chhabra , Oluwatosin Olojo , Taha Rana , Jan Vinjé , Carl D. Kirkwood , Umesh D. Parashar , Sara A. Mirza","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human adenovirus (HAdV), especially HAdV species F (HAdV-F) is recognized as a cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide. To assess the global prevalence of HAdV in case-patients of all ages with AGE, we conducted a systematic literature search for studies published in English during 2015–2022. We generated pooled prevalence estimates using generalized linear mixed models. Using data from 147 included articles, the overall pooled prevalence among AGE case-patients of any species of HAdV (pan-HAdV) was 5.8 % and 6.0 % for HAdV-F. The prevalence of HAdV was significantly higher among case-patients < 5 years of age compared with case-patients ≥ 5 years of age (pan-HAdV: 6.6 % vs. 2.0 %, p < 0.0001; HAdV-F: 8.7 % vs. 2.3 %, p = 0.04). Prevalence was significantly higher in high mortality developing countries and lowest in developed countries (pan-HAdV: 9.4 % vs. 4.0 %, p < 0.0001; HAdV-F: 11.6 % vs. 3.2 %, p = 0.0003). Understanding the burden of HAdV-associated AGE may be useful for targeted interventions, including future vaccine development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102800"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912985","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":"The burden of viral skin diseases in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2021","authors":"Fatemeh Amiri , Saeid Safiri , Reza Aletaha , Seyed Ehsan Mousavi , Mark J.M. Sullman , Yousef Houshyar , Ali-Asghar Kolahi , Shahnam Arshi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To report the prevalence, incidence, and Years Lived with Disability (YLD) due to viral skin diseases (VSD) in the MENA region from 1990 to 2021, focusing on age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI) using GBD 2021 data.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data on the burden of VSD were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, covering 21 countries in the MENA region. The results included the counts and age-standardised rates per 100,000 population, along with the associated 95 % uncertainty intervals (UIs).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In 2021, the MENA region exhibited an age-standardised prevalence rate of 1257.6 cases per 100,000 population for VSD and an incidence rate of 990.5 cases per 100,000. Prevalence rates peaked sharply in the 5–9 age group before declining with age for both sexes, indicating a higher burden in younger populations. A strong positive relationship existed between the YLD rate and SDI, suggesting an increased burden of VSD with higher SDIs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights the increasing burden of viral skin diseases (VSD) in the MENA region, especially among younger populations, with males also experiencing a slightly higher burden than females. Given the influence of multiple factors, a comprehensive strategy focusing on data systems, healthcare delivery, and regional collaboration is vital. Addressing these areas will help mitigate VSD's impact and improve health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102784"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937884","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":"The basic reproduction number is a reliable indicator in infectious diseases, but has misleading meta-analysis","authors":"Masoud Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102807","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102807"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898687","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}
Hasnat Ahmad Bilal, Muhammad Ahmad, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Muhammad Imran Arshad, Mohammed Hussen Bule
{"title":"Causes and consequences of the emergence of monkeypox as a global public health concern","authors":"Hasnat Ahmad Bilal, Muhammad Ahmad, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Muhammad Imran Arshad, Mohammed Hussen Bule","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102805","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102805"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143946730","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}
Adeiza Shuaibu Suleiman , Prosun Bhattacharya , Md. Aminul Islam
{"title":"Global prevalence and dynamics of mecA and mecC genes in MRSA: Meta-meta-analysis, meta-regression, and temporal investigation","authors":"Adeiza Shuaibu Suleiman , Prosun Bhattacharya , Md. Aminul Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to conduct first robust meta-meta-analysis on <em>mecC</em> and <em>mecA</em>-positive MRSA strains, determining their overall prevalence and temporal trends. It encompassed 14 meta-analyses, involving 322,269 samples from 553 index studies. MRSA strains exhibited <em>mecA</em> / <em>mecC</em> positivity ranging from 0.90 % to 69.98 %. Varied AMSTAR and QUOROM scores were observed. <em>mecC</em>-positive MRSA prevalence was 2.41 % (95 % CI: 0.72–7.78 %). Human <em>mecA</em>-positive MRSA had 21.77 % prevalence (95 % CI: 9.08–43.67 %), animal samples had 7.08 % prevalence (95 % CI: 3.93–12.42 %), and worldwide prevalence was 14.58 % (95 % CI: 6.61–29.14 %). Temporal trends reveal fluctuations, <em>mecA</em> prevalence spiked to 52.68 % in 2012 and decreased to 7.11 % in 2022. For <em>mecC</em> gene, the year 2015 marked a low incidence of 0.41 % (95 % CI: 0.05–3.54 %). Overall, <em>mecA</em> gene carriage surpassed <em>mecC</em> in MRSA strains, especially in humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102802"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898684","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}
Shifang Yu , Tinghui Cao , Zhijiang Xu , Hongwei Zhou , Qiang Li
{"title":"Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) identified Clostridium perfringens infection presenting as acute hemolysis after surgery","authors":"Shifang Yu , Tinghui Cao , Zhijiang Xu , Hongwei Zhou , Qiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) septicaemia is a rare, but rapidly fatal infection, characterized by massive hemolysis. In nu</em>merous documented instances, the patient was not diagnosed in time due to the absence of typical clinical features. In order to enhance diagnostic accuracy, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been adopted as a novel approach to pathogen identification.</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div>A 67-year-old male who had undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) surgery four days earlier presented with severe anemia, and laboratory investigations disclosed intravascular hemolysis. Swift and accurate identification was imperative, resulting in the confirmation of mNGS analysis, his medical history, clinical symptoms, physical signs, additional tests, and <em>C. perfringens</em> as the causative pathogen of hemolysis. After successful treatment with effective antibiotics, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital after 19 days.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>mNGS achieves expedited diagnostic turnaround time through rapid pathogen identification, significantly surpassing conventional culture methods. This may enable the diagnosis of atypical cases of <em>C. perfringens infection, which can cause rapid systemic shock, renal failure, intravascular hemolysis, and even death.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102798"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937780","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}
Lorenzo Brambilla, Lolita Azrumelashvili, Manfredi Grasso, Assunta Gabrielli, Donatella Lania, Andrea Labruto, Letizia Oreni, Roberto Pupillo, Maria Rosa Sbardellati Tommaso Petitti, Antonio Schirripa, Federica Tartarone, Luciana Bevilacqua
{"title":"Healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial use among residents of long-term care facilities in Italy: Preliminary results of a point prevalence survey","authors":"Lorenzo Brambilla, Lolita Azrumelashvili, Manfredi Grasso, Assunta Gabrielli, Donatella Lania, Andrea Labruto, Letizia Oreni, Roberto Pupillo, Maria Rosa Sbardellati Tommaso Petitti, Antonio Schirripa, Federica Tartarone, Luciana Bevilacqua","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired in any care setting, including long-term residential facilities, rehabilitation units, and nursing homes, and which were not clinically manifest nor incubating at the time of admission to the facility. HAIs are among the most frequent adverse events encountered in healthcare settings, often caused by multi-resistant microorganisms that can infect patients, healthcare workers, and visitors, causing morbidity and mortality. Surveillance activities such as prevalence studies represent an opportunity to plan preventive actions and improve quality of care in all care contexts.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A point prevalence survey was conducted in November 2023 among the 22 long-term care facilities (LTCFs) managed by the Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS Foundation. Data were collected on a single day in each LTCF, using a web-based data collection methodology developed for the European HALT-4 study. Data collection teams at each facility, including a total of 97 surveyors, completed a survey-questionnaire, following training on the data collection method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 2746 included residents, the prevalence of residents with at least one HAI was 4.8 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 4.0 %–5.7 %). HAI prevalence ranged from 1.1 % (95 % CI 0.5 %–1.7 %) in residential care settings to 12.1 % (95 % CI 8.0 %–16.2 %) in intensive rehabilitation units. The prevalence of antimicrobial use was 7.3 % (95 % CI 6.3 %–8.3 %), with prevalence of 2.0 % (95 % CI 1.2 %–2.7 %) for residential care residents, 10.2 % (95 % CI 8.5 %–11.9 %) for non-intensive rehabilitation, and 20.2 % (95 % CI 15.2 %–25.2 %) for intensive rehabilitation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This initial study allowed the assessment of the feasibility of conducting nationwide studies in various centers, and deepened our understanding of different care settings, as well as the clinical characteristics and complexity of hospitalized patients and residents in LTCFs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102796"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143907859","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}