Journal of Infection and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of a multiplex genomic point-of-care strategy for rapid support of older people with respiratory infection in a geriatric hospital over a full winter season","authors":"Marion Fayolle ,&nbsp;Ludovic Lafaie ,&nbsp;Thomas Franck ,&nbsp;Marie Blanquet ,&nbsp;Fabien de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Thomas Bourlet ,&nbsp;Bruno Pozzetto ,&nbsp;Sylvie Pillet ,&nbsp;Thomas Célarier","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102795","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102795","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In older patients, it is important to rapidly identify those infected by a significant pathogen in order to implement isolation measures and prescribe appropriate specific treatments when available and indicated. The objective of this study was to evaluate a multiplex genomic point-of-care (POC) strategy detecting four viruses, SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus (IV) A and B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in a geriatric setting located 7 km from the central laboratory of the hospital.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective monocentric study was conducted during the 2022–2023 winter season in two geriatric wards of the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, France. Two automated quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests were compared, the reference test at the central laboratory and the POC test performed by nurses. The main outcome was the saved time to result (TTR) by the clinician with the POC technology. Additional objectives included testing performance, health-economic considerations and healthcare workers’ acceptability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From 69 included infectious episodes, the reference test identified 18 viral infections (7 for SARS-CoV-2, 8 for RSV, 2 for both viruses, 1 for IVA). The POC test yielded similar performance with reference test (overall concordance of 98.55 % for SARS-CoV-2 and RSV). The POC strategy showed a gain of 10.43 ( ± 6.92) hours on TTR and a cumulative time of isolation of 488.27 hours in case of negative result. Further results showed economic savings and a strong acceptability by healthcare workers in favor of the POC strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This pilot study illustrates the benefits of a genomic POC test to identify current respiratory viral infections in older people within a geriatric setting remote from the central laboratory during a winter season with multiple viral outbreaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102795"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904461","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":"Diminishing reactogenicity with preserved immunogenicity in COVID-19 vaccines: A longitudinal observation from primary to updated booster vaccine cohorts","authors":"Hyun Myung Kang ,&nbsp;Ho Jun Lee ,&nbsp;Jin Yang Baek ,&nbsp;Hye-Jin Kim ,&nbsp;Young Jae Lee ,&nbsp;Ju-Yeon Choi ,&nbsp;Hye-Sook Jeong ,&nbsp;Eui Ho Kim ,&nbsp;Kyong Ran Peck ,&nbsp;Jae-Hoon Ko","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102794","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102794","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Encouraging annual updated COVID-19 vaccinations for high-risk populations is crucial for public health. However, concerns about significant reactogenicity persist, contributing to vaccine hesitancy. To investigate evolving COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity and immunogenicity, we conducted a longitudinal analysis across three COVID-19 vaccine cohorts.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The Primary Vaccine Cohort, receiving wild-type (WT) 1st to 3rd doses and WT-BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine; the XBB.1.5 Monovalent Vaccine (MoV) Cohort; and the ongoing JN.1 MoV Cohort were investigated. Reactogenicity was assessed using electronic diaries for eight days, and serological responses were measured through quantitative anti-spike protein antibody (Sab) assay. Plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) was performed against WT SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine-specific variants.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 290 participants with 690 vaccine doses and 1222 sampling points was included. Total symptom scores decreased serially from the WT 1st dose to JN.1 MoV, with changes pronounced in the younger age group (&lt; 45 years; Spearman r = -0.13, <em>P</em> = 0.008). Changes were not evident in the older age group (≥ 45 years) with consistently low reactogenicity. Severe reactions also steadily declined from 26.2 % (WT 1st) to 3.3 % (JN.1 MoV). Serological analysis revealed plateauing post-vaccination Sab titers with increasing pre-vaccination levels and robust PRNT responses against vaccine strains. Age negatively correlated with Sab levels after the 1st WT dose but not in subsequent doses. Multivariable analysis found no significant association between reactogenicity and immunogenicity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The observed decline in reactogenicity, alongside sustained immunological responses, supports the safety and efficacy of annual COVID-19 booster vaccination programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102794"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898686","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":"Clinical features and antibiotic resistance in pediatric pneumococcal meningitis in Southern Vietnam, 2012–2023: A multicenter retrospective study","authors":"Hieu Cong Truong ,&nbsp;Thanh Van Phan ,&nbsp;Hung Thanh Nguyen ,&nbsp;Thang Vinh Ho ,&nbsp;Dai Thi Trang Vo ,&nbsp;Thuong Vu Nguyen ,&nbsp;Trung Vu Nguyen ,&nbsp;Niko Speybroeck","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. This study investigates the clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, serotype distribution, and antibiotic resistance patterns in Vietnamese children aged 1–59 months with pneumococcal meningitis (PM).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective study (2012–2023) was conducted at two tertiary pediatric hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. CSF samples from probable bacterial meningitis (PBM) cases were analyzed using biochemistry, culture, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Serotyping and antibiotic-resistance genes were identified using quadriplex rt-PCR.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 2922 PBM cases, 155 (5.3 %) were confirmed as PM. Of these, 58.7 % occurred in children under one year and 62.6 % during the rainy season. Fever (98.1 %) and vomiting (67.7 %) were the most common symptoms. Infants under 12 months frequently exhibited nonspecific signs like convulsions (48.4 %) and bulging fontanels (34.1 %), while older children displayed classic symptoms such as neck stiffness (32.4 %) and behavioral changes (26.5 %). CSF analysis revealed turbid appearance, WBC ≥ 100 cells/mm³ (85.2 %), and protein ≥ 1 g/L (60.0 %) (p &lt; 0.05). Severe outcomes were noted in 17.4 % of PM cases, with a 3.2 % fatality rate. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) serotypes caused 81.3 % of confirmed cases, predominantly serotypes 6 A/B (34.8 %) and 19 F (20.0 %). Among 137 isolates tested, high prevalence rates were observed for the <em>pbp2b</em> (68.6 %), <em>mef(A)/erm(B)</em> (93.4 %), and <em>tetM</em> (92.0 %) resistance genes. Additionally, 61.3 % of isolates showed multiple resistance genes, particularly in serotypes 6 A/B, 23 F, 9 V, and 13. Antibiotic resistance in non-PCV13 serotypes increased over time.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>PM in Vietnamese children presents age-specific clinical presentations and is predominantly caused by highly resistant PCV13 serotypes. The rising resistance in non-PCV13 serotypes poses a formidable challenge in managing pneumococcal infections. These findings emphasize the urgent need for PCV introduction in the national immunization program and ongoing resistance surveillance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102797"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898685","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":"Molecular surveillance of bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) and other ectoparasites in Ratchaburi, Thailand: Unraveling host associations and coronavirus transmission dynamics in the context of zoonotic spillover risk","authors":"Atchara Phumee ,&nbsp;Khwankamon Rattanatumhi ,&nbsp;Opass Putcharoen ,&nbsp;Suwalak Chitcharoen ,&nbsp;Nataya Sutthanont ,&nbsp;Charuai Suwanbamrung ,&nbsp;Thanapat Pataradool ,&nbsp;Rungfar Boonserm ,&nbsp;Sakone Sunantaraporn ,&nbsp;Chatuthanai Savigamin ,&nbsp;Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit ,&nbsp;Padet Siriyasatien","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bats act as hosts for various ectoparasites, including bat flies, bugs, fleas, ticks, and mites, which play crucial roles in the transmission of bat-borne pathogens. As obligate blood-feeding parasites, these ectoparasites can serve as direct vectors or indirectly influence pathogen dynamics in bat populations. In Thailand, molecular studies on bat ectoparasites are limited, with scarce data on their diversity, distribution, and role in zoonotic pathogen transmission. This study aims to provide the first molecular characterization of bat flies and other ectoparasites in Ratchaburi, Thailand, focusing on their blood meals and potential involvement in coronavirus transmission.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ectoparasites were identified using the cytochrome oxidase I (<em>COI</em>) gene, while host blood meals were confirmed using the cytochrome b (<em>CytB</em>) gene. A total of 37 bat flies and additional ectoparasites (ticks and flea) were analyzed. Coronavirus screening was conducted through targeted amplification of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (<em>RdRp</em>) gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of positive samples.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three bat fly genera were identified: <em>Nycteribia</em> sp. (20), <em>Phthiridium</em> sp. (15), and <em>Raymondia</em> sp. (2). Blood meal analysis indicated host associations with <em>Rhinolophus coelophyllus</em> for <em>Nycteribia</em> sp., <em>R. pusillus</em> and <em>Chaerephon plicatus</em> for <em>Phthiridium</em> sp., and <em>R. pusillus</em> for <em>Raymondia</em> sp. Additionally, two <em>Ixodes</em> sp. ticks and one <em>Hystrichopsylla</em> sp. flea were found, all associated with <em>C. plicatus</em>. Coronavirus screening identified positive samples, with sequencing revealing alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the importance of molecular tools in characterizing ectoparasites, their blood meal sources, and associated pathogens. It underscores the potential of ectoparasites as non-invasive tools for coronavirus detection in bats, addressing knowledge gaps and contributing to public health strategies for mitigating zoonotic spillover risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102792"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912986","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":"Burden of six common sexually transmitted infections groups in North Africa and Middle East Region from 1990 to 2021: A systematic analysis of global burden of diseases","authors":"Amirhossein Shahsavand ,&nbsp;Leonardo Oliveira Reis ,&nbsp;Ali Golestani ,&nbsp;Alireza Namazi Shabestari ,&nbsp;Ziba Aghsaeifard ,&nbsp;Ozra Tabatabaei-Malazy ,&nbsp;Iman Menbari Oskouie ,&nbsp;Bagher Larijani ,&nbsp;Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102793","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102793","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most widespread acute infections worldwide. The burden of STIs in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) region, with its unique characteristics, has not been thoroughly investigated to date. In this study, we aim to provide an assessment of the burden of STIs in the NAME region.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from the GBD 2021 study were analyzed to assess health metrics including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Both age-standardized rates (ASRs) and total numbers were evaluated across 21 NAME countries, with breakdowns by sex, age, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Findings were reported along with 95 % uncertainty intervals (95 % UIs).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From 1990–2021, the incidence of STIs increased from 26.7 million (95 % UI: 22.5–31.5 million) to 55.8 million (46.8–67.4 million), but the incidence ASR decreased by 5.4 % (-6.9 to −4.2). Same pattern was observed for prevalence. STIs DALYs decreased from 412,021.2 (160,004.8 to 824,494.5) to 330,050.9 (161,900.6 to 611,903.2), and DALYs ASR decreased by 33.9 % (-48.1 to −18.5). In 2021, the number of YLLs was 3.7 times the number of YLDs. STIs mostly affected reproductive age groups, with syphilis having the highest mortality and genital herpes the highest prevalence. Women were affected more than males. Lower SDI was associated with higher burden of STIs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The NAME region's STI burden reflect global trends, but considering social norms, underestimation is probable. Inadequate screening, low awareness, stigma, and limited access to healthcare exacerbate STIs' burden in the region, particularly for women. Declining population growth in NAME is worsened by STIs, especially in countries with lower SDI. Reducing the STI burden in NAME requires culturally sensitive approaches, robust surveillance, education, destigmatization, and improved healthcare access.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102793"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143916737","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 role of RCCE-IM in the mpox response: A qualitative reflection process with experts and civil society in three European countries","authors":"Ruth Kutalek ,&nbsp;Paul Grohma ,&nbsp;Anna Christina Maukner ,&nbsp;Silvia Wojczewski ,&nbsp;Leo Palumbo ,&nbsp;Cristiana Salvi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Risk communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) is a central pillar of emergency management. This study explored the experiences of experts and key stakeholders on RCCE-IM in the 2022–23 mpox response in their countries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used an exploratory qualitative research design and conducted semi-structured interviews with people actively involved in the mpox response in their country. Content analysis was used to analyze the interviews and identify themes, patterns, and underlying concepts.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 19 participants from Poland, Serbia and Spain were included in the study. RCCE-IM activities were broad-based, involving civil society organizations (CSOs) and affected communities in the co-creation and co-delivery of health information and advice, and ensuring that non-discriminatory language was used. Attitudes towards affected lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) communities played an important role in the response. Participants reported that stigma was present in all three countries and that it was often influenced by challenging social and political dynamics. These attitudes were often reinforced by the media. RCCE-IM activities were influenced by the ease or difficulty of obtaining financial support and the availability and accessibility of countermeasures, including vaccines. Participants identified groups that were vulnerable and difficult to reach and emphasized the intersectional character of vulnerabilities. CSOs played an important role in advocating for the protection of people in vulnerable situations and linking them to health services.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We have been able to demonstrate good practices and challenges of RCCE-IM in the mpox response in three selected European countries. A pre-existing network of CSOs and experts who belong to, serve and have an understanding of the affected communities form the basis of a successful public health emergency response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102787"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886514","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":"Prominence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis biomarkers among sputum culture-negative clinic attendees, independent of Ultra status","authors":"Yingda L. Xie ,&nbsp;Nisha Modi ,&nbsp;Kattya Lopez ,&nbsp;Robert Reiss ,&nbsp;Jorge Robledo ,&nbsp;Christie Eichberg ,&nbsp;Nchimunya Hapeela ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Nakabugo ,&nbsp;Irene Anyango ,&nbsp;Kiranjot Arora ,&nbsp;Ronald Odero ,&nbsp;Judi Van Heerden ,&nbsp;Widaad Zemanay ,&nbsp;Vaishnavi S. Kaipilyawar ,&nbsp;Samuel Kennedy ,&nbsp;Padmapriya Banada ,&nbsp;Lydia Nakiyingi ,&nbsp;Moses L. Joloba ,&nbsp;Chad Centner ,&nbsp;Kimberly McCarthy ,&nbsp;Susan E. Dorman","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Highly-sensitive molecular tests like GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra improve detection of paucibacillary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) but occasionally detect <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> (Mtb) DNA in sputum from culture-negative individuals, with unclear significance. We hypothesized that Ultra may be detecting culture-negative TB, and manifest in a higher prevalence of TB biomarkers compared to Ultra-negative/culture-negative (‘sputum-negative’) individuals.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From 1200 symptomatic African adults undergoing evaluation for TB, we identified 66 with discordant results (Ultra-positive, culture-negative), and matched 52 sputum-negative (Ultra-negative, culture-negative) and 30 sputum-positive (Ultra-positive, culture-positive) participants. Over 12 months, participants were assessed for Mtb biomarkers (Mtb growth in augmented or follow-up sputum cultures, Mtb mRNA in baseline sputum, and symptomatic Ultra-positive after baseline) and TB-associated host transcriptional signatures.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At baseline, TB-associated biomarker(s) were detected in 51.5 % of sputum-discordant versus 59.6 % of sputum-negative participants (p = 0.46), with at least one Mtb biomarker in 16.7 % versus 26.9 % respectively (p = 0.26). Longitudinally, 26.5 % of untreated sputum-discordant versus 41.7 % of untreated sputum-negative participants had Mtb biomarkers (p = 0.17) despite most reporting symptom improvement. Notably, 30 % of untreated sputum-negative participants converted to Ultra-positive at month 2. One sputum-discordant and one sputum-negative participant developed culture-confirmed TB at follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>TB bacterial and host biomarkers were prevalent and no different between sputum-discordant and sputum-negative participants, raising concern for a considerable population of undiagnosed culture-negative TB. These findings parallel new evidence of Mtb aerosolization from sputum-negative individuals and highlight a need for more comprehensive diagnostics that detect sputum culture-negative TB with respect to infectiousness, pathology, and risk of progression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102791"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143890979","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":"Clustering analysis of sexual behavioral patterns and risk of sexually transmitted infections in Chinese men who have sex with men","authors":"Bingyang She ,&nbsp;Yiming Liu ,&nbsp;Siqi Lin ,&nbsp;Fang Lu ,&nbsp;Yi Liu ,&nbsp;Jiajun Sun ,&nbsp;Gaixia Li ,&nbsp;Yawu Hu ,&nbsp;Shu Su ,&nbsp;Lei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This study identifies clusters in Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) by sexual behavioral patterns and defines high-risk subgroups for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis infections.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a longitudinal study of Chinese MSM from November 2020 to January 2022, collecting weekly data over 12 consecutive weeks on sequential sexual act patterns and testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis infections. Hierarchical clustering identified sexual behavior patterns, and survival analysis estimated infection incidence within each cluster.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified three main clusters (n = 91, 100, 62), one small cluster (n = 8) and 41 unclustered participants. Participants in cluster 1 engaged in both insertive and receptive roles in oral, anal sex and rimming during sexual encounters. Cluster 2 participants predominately performed insertive sexual acts, while cluster 3 performed receptive sexual acts. During follow-up, cluster 1 exhibited a significantly higher incidence of overall gonorrhea infection (581.51/100,000 person-days), pharyngeal (355.45/100,000 person-days), anorectum gonorrhea (487.63/100,000 person-days) and syphilis (17.19 %) while comparing with cluster 2 and 3. Consistently, cluster 1 was significantly more likely to engage in kissing (40.08 %) and insertive rimming (6.77 %) and receptive rimming (7.18 %), in sexual act pairs such as ‘receptive oral sex-insertive oral sex’ (8.71 %), ‘receptive rimming-insertive anal sex’ (4.59 %), ‘kissing-receptive oral sex’ (13.62 %), ‘insertive anal sex-receptive anal sex’ (5.38 %) and ‘insertive rimming-receptive rimming’ (6.83 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Sexual role preference is a significant factor in clustering Chinese MSM. Those who assume both insertive and receptive roles demonstrate a substantial higher risk of gonorrhea and syphilis infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102786"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143946735","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":"Galactomannan detection in sputum samples of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A promising marker for diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis?","authors":"Sabrieh Asadi Shahi Sarae ,&nbsp;Masoud Aliyali ,&nbsp;Vida Mortezaee ,&nbsp;Hamidreza Jamaati ,&nbsp;Hossein Asgarian Omran ,&nbsp;Siavash Abedi ,&nbsp;Hossein Mehravaran ,&nbsp;Jamshid Yazdani Charati ,&nbsp;Maryam Sadat Mirenayat ,&nbsp;Mihan Pourabdollah ,&nbsp;Kosar Najmi ,&nbsp;Sabah Mayahi ,&nbsp;Mona Ghazanfari ,&nbsp;Ahmed Al-Harrasi ,&nbsp;Mahdi Abastabar ,&nbsp;Mohammad T. Hedayati ,&nbsp;Abdullah M.S. Al Hatmi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102790","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102790","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms, variable radiological findings, and limited mycological evidences. While galactomannan (GM) testing has been validated in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), its usefulness in sputum samples for CPA remains unclear. This study aimed to determine an appropriate GM cut-off level in sputum samples and its performance in diagnosis of CPA.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The diagnostic performance of sputum GM was evaluated in patients with COPD suspected of having CPA referred to the two reference centers for pulmonary diseases in Iran, and compared against established diagnostic criteria, including <em>Aspergillus</em> culture and IgG antibody tests. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value for sputum GM test were calculated. The optimal cut-off for sputum GM was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 196 COPD patients, 189 were analyzed for sputum GM. Sputum GM demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.83 (with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) of 0.748 – 0.913 and a <em>p</em>-value &lt; 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for the sputum GM index was 1.44. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 83.3 % and 74.2 % respectively. The median (IQR) levels of sputum GM index were significantly higher in CPA patients compared to non-CPA patients. (<em>Pv</em> &lt;0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Overall, our findings suggest that sputum GM is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of CPA; however, further prospective validation is warranted to increase its clinical utility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 7","pages":"Article 102790"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143881861","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":"Mental health and psychotropic medication trends during the COVID-19 pandemic in a middle eastern population: A systematic analysis of electronic medical records from Qatar","authors":"Kholoud Bastaki ,&nbsp;Dhoha Dhieb ,&nbsp;Mohammed ElAnbari ,&nbsp;Dinesh Velayutham ,&nbsp;Hanan Khudadad ,&nbsp;Suhaila Ghuloum ,&nbsp;Puthen Veettil Jithesh","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of populations. We aimed in this examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and treatment of mental health disorders (MHDs), with a specific focus on patterns of psychotropic medication prescriptions in Qatar. It provides critical insights into the dynamics of mental healthcare during global crises.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this retrospective observational study, we conducted an analysis of data derived from 267,116 outpatients attending Mental Health Services (MHS) in Qatar between 2019 and 2022. The study focused on trends in outpatient visits and psychotropic medication prescriptions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A significant increase of 56.6 % in MHS outpatient visits was observed in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels, indicating heightened utilization of mental health services. Depression and anxiety disorders were predominant, reflecting global patterns. Antidepressant prescriptions rose by approximately 40 %, highlighting increased psychological distress.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings emphasize the necessity for tailored therapeutic protocols and robust mental healthcare infrastructures to address the rising burden of MHDs during crises. Integrating genetic predispositions with prescription trend analyses offers promise for future interventions, contributing to a resilient mental healthcare ecosystem capable of adapting to evolving needs in crisis contexts and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 8","pages":"Article 102789"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937880","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}