{"title":"The dangers of mass drug administration of albendazole in Nepal, a Neurocysticercosis-endemic region.","authors":"Gaurav Nepal, Ghanshyam Kharel, Yow Ka Shing, Rajeev Ojha, Sujan Jamarkattel, Jayant Kumar Yadav, Himani Vyas, Dhiraj Poudyal, Ranjit Sah","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00122-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-020-00122-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The majority of cases of Neurocysticercosis (NCC) are asymptomatic. Injudicious use of antihelmintics like albendazole (ALB) can cause cyst degeneration and perilesional inflammation, thus rendering asymptomatic individuals symptomatic with seizures, headache, vascular events, or cerebral edema. Mass drug administration (MDA) using ALB is a very common practice in developing countries like Nepal to contain transmission of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and lymphatic filariasis (LF). Although the benefits of ALB-based MDA in the general population cannot be undermined, there can be severe consequences in certain groups, especially those with latent NCC. In this commentary, we discuss the effect it may have on such patients, and suggest potential solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00122-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38637574","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}
Jo-Anne De Castro, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Keya Rani Lahiri, Nataruks Chaijitraruch, Voranush Chongsrisawat, Pramod Prabhakar Jog, Yun Haw Liaw, Gia Khanh Nguyen, Thi Viet Ha Nguyen, Uday Ananth Pai, Huu Nguyet Diem Phan, Seng Hock Quak, Pornthep Tanpowpong, Mary Jean Guno
{"title":"Recommendations for the adjuvant use of the poly-antibiotic-resistant probiotic <i>Bacillus clausii</i> (O/C, SIN, N/R, T) in acute, chronic, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: consensus from Asian experts.","authors":"Jo-Anne De Castro, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Keya Rani Lahiri, Nataruks Chaijitraruch, Voranush Chongsrisawat, Pramod Prabhakar Jog, Yun Haw Liaw, Gia Khanh Nguyen, Thi Viet Ha Nguyen, Uday Ananth Pai, Huu Nguyet Diem Phan, Seng Hock Quak, Pornthep Tanpowpong, Mary Jean Guno","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00120-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40794-020-00120-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper proposes recommendations for probiotics in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. Evidence-based recommendations and randomized controlled trials in the region are included. Cultural aspects, health management issues and economic factors were also considered. Final recommendations were approved by utilizing a modified Delphi process and applying the Likert scale in an electronic voting process. <i>Bacillus clausii</i> was recommended as an adjunct treatment with oral rehydration solution for acute viral diarrhea. <i>B. clausii</i> may also be considered for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, <i>Clostridium difficile</i>-induced diarrhea, and as adjunct treatment of <i>Helicobacter pylori.</i> There is insufficient evidence for recommendations in other conditions. Despite a diversity of epidemiological, socioeconomical and health system conditions, similar recommendations currently apply to most Asia-Pacific countries. Ideally, these need to be validated with local randomized-controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7583175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38539987","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":"Prevalence of placental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women in Wolkite health center, Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia.","authors":"Absra Solomon, Daniel Kahase, Mihret Alemayhu","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00121-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40794-020-00121-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Placental malaria (PM) is a major public health problem associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery and maternal anemia. The present study is aimed to determine the prevalence of placental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women in Wolkite health center, Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2019 to August 2019. A total of 230 pregnant women were involved in the study where socio-demographic data, medical and obstetric history were collected using pretested structured questionnaires. Blood samples were collected at delivery from maternal capillary, placenta and umbilical cord for the detection of malarial parasite. Maternal hematocrit was determined to screen for anemia.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>In this study, the prevalence of placental malaria, peripheral malaria and umbilical cord malaria was 3.9% (9/230), 15.2% (35/230) and 2.6% (6/230) respectively. <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> and <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> were detected by microscopy. All babies with positive umbilical cord blood films were born from a mother with placental malaria. Maternal anemia was recorded in 58.3% of the women. In univariate analysis, placental malaria was significantly associated with LBW (<i>p</i> < 0.001) unlike parity and maternal anemia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Placental malaria among asymptomatic pregnant women is low in Wolkite health centre, Gurage zone in Southern Ethiopia. Moreover, placental malaria was strongly associated with LBW. Thus, further strengthening the existing prevention and control activities and screening of asymptomatic pregnant women as part of routine antenatal care service is very essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7552502/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38493037","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":"Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and associated factors of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> among food handlers in Adigrat University student's cafeteria, northern Ethiopia, 2018.","authors":"Haftom Legese, Tsega Kahsay, Aderajew Gebrewahd, Brhane Berhe, Berhane Fseha, Senait Tadesse, Guesh Gebremariam, Hadush Negash, Fitsum Mardu, Kebede Tesfay, Gebre Adhanom","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00119-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40794-020-00119-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Food handlers play a significant role in the transmission of foodborne infections. <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> are the most common foodborne pathogens and their infections are a major public health problem globally. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and associated factors of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> colonization among food handlers.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2018 at Adigrat University student cafeteria, Northern Ethiopia. Data on socio-demographic and associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Fresh stool samples were collected from 301 food handlers and transported to Adigrat University Microbiology Laboratory. Bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility test were performed using standard bacteriological methods. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 and <i>P</i> < 0.05 where a corresponding 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 301 food handlers were included in this study. The majority of study participants were females 265 (88.0%). About 22 (7.3%) and 11 (3.7%) of food handlers were found to be positive for <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> respectively. Hand washing after using a bathroom with water only, no hand washing after using the bathroom, no hand washing after touching dirty materials, no hand washing before food handling, and untrimmed fingernails were significant associated factors identified. None of the <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, yet low resistance against chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin was found.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study revealed that the prevalence of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> among food handlers was 22 (7.3%) and 11 (3.7%) respectively. Such colonized food handlers can contaminate food, and drinks and could serve as a source of infection to consumers. This indicates that there is a need for strengthened infection control measures to prevent <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> transmission in the students' cafeteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"19"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7488778/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38392123","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}
Shemsia Alkadir, Tegenu Gelana, Araya Gebresilassie
{"title":"A five year trend analysis of malaria prevalence in Guba district, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state, western Ethiopia: a retrospective study.","authors":"Shemsia Alkadir, Tegenu Gelana, Araya Gebresilassie","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00112-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-020-00112-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Ethiopia, malaria is a serious public health concern and has great impact on socio-economy. The trend analysis of malaria data from health facilities is useful for understanding its transmission dynamics and implementing evidence-based malaria control strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the trends of malaria infection in Guba district, western Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study was undertaken at Mankush Health Centre, western Ethiopia. All malaria cases reported from 2014 to 2018 were carefully reviewed from the laboratory record books to determine the trends of malaria morbidity. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 16,964 malaria suspects were diagnosed using microscopy over the last 5 years, of which 8658 (51.04%) were confirmed positive cases. <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, <i>P. vivax</i>, and mixed infection (both species) accounted for 75.2, 24.5 and 0.28% of the cases, respectively. Males patients were more affected (<i>n</i> = 5028, 58.1%) than female ones (<i>n</i> = 3630, 41.9%). Of the total confirmed cases, 60.4% were age group of subjects (≥ 15 years) followed by 22.6% of 5-14 years and 15.9% of under 5 years. High malaria prevalence was observed in spring (September to November) season, while the least was observed in autumn (March to May) with the prevalence of 45.6 and 11.5%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study demonstrated that malaria is a public health concern, in which <i>P. falciparum</i> is the predominant species followed by <i>P. vivax</i>. Therefore, the district health bureau and other concerned stakeholders should strength evidence-based malaria control and prevention interventions to interrupt disease transmission and eventual reduction malaria of malaria cases in Guba district.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"18"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00112-4","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38392122","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":"Bacteriological quality and associated risk factors of drinking water in Eastern zone, Tigrai, Ethiopia, 2019.","authors":"Aderajew Gebrewahd, Gebre Adhanom, Gebremedhin Gebremichail, Tsega Kahsay, Brhane Berhe, Zinabu Asfaw, Senait Tadesse, Haftay Gebremedhin, Hadush Negash, Brhane Tesfanchal, Hagos Haileselasie, Haftom Legese Weldetinsaa","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00116-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-020-00116-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Access to safe drinking water is one of the basic human rights and is critical to health. However, much of the world's population lacks access to adequate and safe water. Approximately 884,000, 000 people in the world still do not get their drinking water from safe sources; Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over one third of this number. It is estimated that 80% of all illnesses in the world are related to use of unsafe and contaminated water.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1st 2017 to July 30th 2018 in three randomly selected woreda (districts) of Eastern Zone Tigrai. Water samples were examined for total coliforms and thermotelorant coliforms using the most probable number method. Standard biochemical testing was performed on samples that tested positive to identify the genus of bacteria. The contaminant risk of water sources were assessed using the sanitary inspection checklist of the World Health Organization. The results were interpreted using World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water quality<b>.</b> Data was collected using laboratory checklist and sanitary inspection check list. It was entered, cleared and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 and a variable having a <i>P</i> < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in all tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 290 drinking water samples were analyzed for bacteriological quality. A total of 32.4% (<i>n</i> = 94) of water sources showed contamination with faecal and total coliforms. Of these 3.4% (<i>n</i> = 10) samples were contaminated with total coliforms and 29% (<i>n</i> = 84) contaminated with faecal coliforms. The leading water contaminant organisms were <i>Escherichia coli</i> (62.4%), <i>Legionella</i> species (8.5%), and <i>Shigella</i> species (7.5%) respectively. Based on WHO criteria, 15% of water sources were grouped in the very high risk group. Animal excreta and inadequate fencing of water sources were significantly associated with water contamination rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that most water sources in woredas of Eastern Tigrai are contaminated by faecal coliforms. Therefore, regular sanitary inspection, bacteriological analysis, and adequate fencing should be mandatory to protect drinking water sources from faecal contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00116-0","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38334474","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}
Gerard Thomas Flaherty, Paul Hession, Chee Hwui Liew, Bryan Chang Wei Lim, Tan Kok Leong, Victor Lim, Lokman Hakim Sulaiman
{"title":"COVID-19 in adult patients with pre-existing chronic cardiac, respiratory and metabolic disease: a critical literature review with clinical recommendations.","authors":"Gerard Thomas Flaherty, Paul Hession, Chee Hwui Liew, Bryan Chang Wei Lim, Tan Kok Leong, Victor Lim, Lokman Hakim Sulaiman","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00118-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40794-020-00118-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A high burden of severe disease and death from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been consistently observed in older patients, especially those with pre-existing medical co-morbidities. The global pandemic lockdown has isolated many patients with chronic illnesses from their routine medical care. This narrative review article analyses the multitude of issues faced by individuals with underlying medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sources for this publication were identified through searches of PubMed for articles published between 31st December 2019 and 4th June 2020, using combinations of search terms. Guidelines and updates from reputable agencies were also consulted. Only articles published in the English language were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The volume of literature on COVID-19 continues to expand, with 17,845 articles indexed on PubMed by 4th June 2020, 130 of which were deemed particularly relevant to the subject matter of this review. Older patients are more likely to progress to severe COVID-19 disease requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension and coronary heart disease, are at greatly increased risk of developing severe and fatal COVID-19 disease. A controversial aspect of the management of COVID-19 disease has been the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. Obese COVID-19 patients are more likely to require complex ICU management. Putative mechanisms of increased COVID-19 disease severity in diabetes include hyperglycaemia, altered immune function, sub-optimal glycaemic control during hospitalisation, a pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory state. Patients with mental health disorders are particularly vulnerable to social isolation, and this has been compounded by the suspension of non-emergency care in hospitals around the world, making it difficult for patients with chronic mental illness to attend outpatient appointments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The global pandemic of COVID-19 disease has had a disproportionately negative impact on patients living with chronic medical illness. Future research should be directed at efforts to protect vulnerable patients from possible further waves of COVID-19 and minimising the negative impact of pandemic mitigation strategies on these individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00118-y","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38426398","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":"Correlation between immunity from BCG and the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.","authors":"Dakshitha Wickramasinghe, Nilanka Wickramasinghe, Sohan Anjana Kamburugamuwa, Carukshi Arambepola, Dharmabandhu N Samarasekera","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00117-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40794-020-00117-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To investigate the association between parameters indicating immunity from BCG at country level (presence of BCG vaccination policy, BCG coverage, age-specific incidence of tuberculosis (TB)) and the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Country-specific data for COVID-19 cases and deaths, demographic details, BCG coverage and policy, age-specific TB incidence and income level were obtained. The crude COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 population were calculated and assessed against the parameters indicating immunity from BCG using linear regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Univariate analysis identified higher income level of a country to be significantly associated with COVID-19 cases (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and deaths (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) but not with its case fatality rate. The association between COVID-19 and TB was strongest for TB incidence in patients > 65-years (Cases (r<sub>s</sub> = - 0.785,<i>p</i> = 0.0001)) and deaths (r<sub>s</sub> = - 0.647,<i>p</i> = 0.0001).Multivariate analysis identified the higher income level of a country and not having a universal BCG vaccination policy to affect the COVID-19 cases. The deaths were inversely affected by the presence of BCG vaccination policy and coverage; and positively by the TB incidence in patients > 65-years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Significant inverse correlations observed between cases and deaths of COVID-19 and BCG related parameters highlights immunity from BCG as a likely explanation for the variation in COVID-19 across countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7453689/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38426399","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":"Trends of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> and rifampicin resistance in Adigrat General Hospital, Eastern zone of Tigrai, North Ethiopia.","authors":"Getachew Kahsu Abay, Bahlbi Hailay Abraha","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00115-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-020-00115-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Tuberculosis</i> is an infectious disease usually caused by <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> bacteria. The global emergence of mono- or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis pose a considerable challenge to tuberculosis control programs. There has been no reliable and organized data on trends and drug resistance of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the trends of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> and rifampicin resistance in the Adigrat General Hospital, eastern Zone of Tigrai, North Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Adigrat General Hospital from January 2015 to 2018.Data was collected retrospectively from the GeneXpert<i>™</i> TB registration book using a data extraction format. Data was entered into Epi-Info 3.1 and subsequently exported and analyzed using SPSS Version 20.The results were summarized using descriptive statistics, tables, and figures. Bivariate and multi-variant regression analysis was employed to measure the association between dependent and independent variables. <i>P</i> values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A total of 5944 <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> presumptive patients were included in the study. The majority of the study participants were male (58.1%) with participants' median age of 40.0 (IQR 26-57) years, the majority were 30-44 years. The overall positive cases of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> was 24.3% (1446) with a total of 132 (9.1%) found to be resistant to rifampicin. Of the total confirmed positive cases 8.7% (103/1188) and 11.2% (29/258) were rifampicin resistance of presumptive tuberculosis and presumptive drug resistance tuberculosis patients respectively. Age, the reason for diagnosis, site of presumptive tuberculosis, and/or being HIV infected showed significant association with our dependent variable; however, only age and being HIV infected were associated with rifampicin resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In our study, the overall trends of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> and rifampicin resistance were found to be high. Rifampicin resistance is more common in patients with HIV and presumptive drug resistance tuberculosis individuals. Therefore, maximizing early detection of drug-resistant and strengthening tuberculosis infection control activities are recommended to reduce the burden of this contagious and potentially deadly disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00115-1","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38334473","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}
Jane K Fieldhouse, Emily S Bailey, Teck-Hock Toh, King-Ching Hii, Kerry A Mallinson, Jakie Ting, John A Lednicky, Antoinette Berita, Tham Thi Nguyen, Diego Galan, Son T Than, See-Chang Wong, Toh-Mee Wong, Patrick J Blair, Gregory C Gray
{"title":"Panspecies molecular assays detect viral pathogens missed by real-time PCR/reverse-transcriptase PCR among pneumonia patients, Sarawak, Malaysia.","authors":"Jane K Fieldhouse, Emily S Bailey, Teck-Hock Toh, King-Ching Hii, Kerry A Mallinson, Jakie Ting, John A Lednicky, Antoinette Berita, Tham Thi Nguyen, Diego Galan, Son T Than, See-Chang Wong, Toh-Mee Wong, Patrick J Blair, Gregory C Gray","doi":"10.1186/s40794-020-00114-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-020-00114-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In a year-long pneumonia etiology study conducted June 2017 to May 2018 in Sarawak, Malaysia, 599 patients' nasopharyngeal swab specimens were studied with real-time polymerase chain reaction (rPCR)/ reverse-transcription (rRT-PCR) assays for respiratory pathogens known to contribute to the high burden of lower respiratory tract infections. The study team sought to compare real-time assay results with panspecies conventional molecular diagnostics to compare sensitivities and learn if novel viruses had been missed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Specimens were studied for evidence of adenovirus (AdV), enterovirus (EV) and coronavirus (CoV) with panspecies gel-based nested PCR/RT-PCR assays. Gene sequences of specimens positive by panspecies assays were sequenced and studied with the NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was considerable discordance between real-time and conventional molecular methods. The real-time AdV assay found a positivity of 10.4%; however, the AdV panspecies assay detected a positivity of 12.4% and the conventional AdV-Hexon assay detected a positivity of 19.6%. The CoV and EV panspecies assays similarly detected more positive specimens than the real-time assays, with a positivity of 7.8% by the CoV panspecies assay versus 4.2% by rRT-PCR, and 8.0% by the EV panspecies assay versus 1.0% by rRT-PCR. We were not able to ascertain virus viability in this setting. While most discordance was likely due to assay sensitivity for previously described human viruses, two novel, possible zoonotic AdV were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The observed differences in the two modes of amplification suggest that where a problem with sensitivity is suspected, real-time assay results might be supplemented with panspecies conventional PCR/RT-PCR assays.</p>","PeriodicalId":23303,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines","volume":"6 ","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1186/s40794-020-00114-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38291909","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}