{"title":"The Role of Medical Microbiologists in Advancing the Frontiers of Travel Medicine","authors":"Enitan Ss","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000181","url":null,"abstract":"The essential role of medical microbiologists in the field of travel medicine becomes apparent amidst the escalating challenges faced by our world. This article highlights their indispensable contributions to safeguarding global health during travel. Medical microbiologists play a pivotal part in defending against infectious threats encountered during travel, identifying and characterizing novel pathogens, developing rapid diagnostic tools, and spearheading outbreak investigations for early detection and containment. Their active involvement in vaccine development and surveillance is critical for ensuring the safety of travelers, and they address vaccine hesitancy through educational initiatives and advocacy. Moreover, they combat the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance, influencing travel health guidelines and promoting prudent antimicrobial use to minimize resistance risks. Collaboration is paramount in tackling global health threats, and medical microbiologists facilitate the exchange of information, reinforcing global surveillance networks to respond effectively to emerging infections. Their role in training the next generation of experts ensures a sustainable and knowledgeable workforce in travel medicine. As we navigate the continually evolving landscape of travel, the expertise of medical microbiologists becomes increasingly vital. Their dedication to advancing travel medicine through research, education, and collaborative efforts ensures that travel remains a positive force, promoting exploration while mitigating health risks. Recognizing and supporting their endeavors contribute to building a safer and healthier future for travelers and communities worldwide.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"210 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140417636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Parvo B19 and Anaemia: The Various Profiles – A Mini Review","authors":"Shulman Ah","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000173","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Parvovirus 19 (Parvo B19) is a single stranded DNA virus which predominantly affects school-aged children, parents of such children and adults who are working in day care centres or schools. Individuals with underlying haemoglobinopathies, haemophilia, immunocompromised, malignancy and pregnancy states are at a higher risk of infection. This virus has been associated with multiple clinical manifestations including erythema infectiosum, arthopathy, fetal cardiomyopathy and hydrops fetalis. However, one of the most significant complications is the anaemia caused in the adult population. This includes pure red cell aplasia and transient aplastic crisis (TAC). Review: Pure red cell aplasia occurs predominantly in patients with immunocompromised states. The aplasia characteristically presents with a chronic or recurrent severe normocytic normochromic anaemia with reticulocytopaenia. The bone marrow reveals an absence of red-cell precursors or with the presence of giant pro-normoblasts with intra-nuclear inclusions. The condition is effectively managed using packed red cell transfusions, based on the degree of anaemia, and with intravenous immunoglobulin at 1g/kg over a period of 2 days or, more preferably, 500mg/kg over 5 days. The majority of patients respond after 1-3 doses. Correction of the underlying patient risk factors is vital. TAC occurs more frequently in patients with underlying red-cell abnormalities. This presents with a one to two week severe anaemia with variable smear and cellular findings varying from microcytic hypochromic to normocytic normochromic. Additionally, there is a reduced reticulocyte percentage and index. Packed red cell transfusion and correction of the underlying risk factor are often sufficient for the management of anaemia. The addition of immunoglobulin administration, 500mg/kg over 5 days, may be needed for patients who are immunocompromised. Conclusion: Parvovirus B19 remains a prevalent and prominent virus associated with multiple medical conditions particularly in immunocompromised states such as that of HIV, as well as erythrocyte disorders. Clinically, the virus has a plethora of presentations, two of which are severe anaemias: transient aplastic crisis and pure red cell aplasia. These conditions may be effectively and successfully managed with intravenous packed red-cell transfusions, intravenous immunoglobulins and by addressing of the underlying patient risk factors.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125182530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tropical Pyomyositis of Atypical Etiology: A Case Report","authors":"Plaza S","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000171","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Tropical pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of the skeletal muscle caused by Staphylococcus aureus in 90% of cases. The most predisposed patients are those who are immunocompromised. Case Report: A 58-year-old male patient with a history of malignant prostate cancer undergoing treatment with hormonal therapy and radiotherapy, went to the emergency room for presenting, 1 week prior to admission, fever of 39°C associated with pain of progressive appearance located in the supracondylar region of the right lower limb, radiating to the inguinal region, of moderate to strong intensity, of an oppressive nature, which limited the movement of the entire right lower limb. After multiple negative tests, an MRI of the abdomen, pelvis, and lower limbs reported myositis of infectious etiology. From there, the relevant antibiotic treatment was indicated, and an ultrasound-guided biopsy of the iliopsoas muscle was performed, which reported Streptococcus agalactiae resistant to ampicillin and penicillin as the responsible pathogen. The evolution of the patient was favorable. Conclusions: Tropical pyomyositis is a disease little known by the medical community, which makes early diagnosis difficult. Immunosuppression plays an important role in its pathogenesis, so a thorough investigation must be carried out to exclude multiple predisposing conditions.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134245895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Imported Schistosomiasis in a Tertiary Teaching Spanish Hospital, 2015- 2022","authors":"","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000172","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease greatly present in tropical and subtropical areas, and frequently diagnosed in travelers and migrants. Methods: This report summarizes epidemiological and clinical data from retrospective cases of imported schistosomiasis diagnosed from January 2015 to May 2022 in a national referral center for tropical diseases in Madrid, Spain. Results: From a total of 9,929 patients attended in our clinic in the study period there were 477 schistosomiasis diagnosis (4,4%). Time elapsed from travel to diagnosis was 120 days (IQR 26-680). Most cases (28.1%) were diagnosed in immigrants from endemic areas, followed by 24.5% of travelers. In up to 34.5% of cases the diagnosis was a result of screening in asymptomatic subjects, 17% presented fever and 15% diarrhea. Almost all cases were diagnosed by serology and eggs in urine or feces were identified in only 11 patients (2.2%). Conclusions: Imported schistosomiasis is a chronic and asymptomatic disease that can be diagnosed in most patients by serology. It is important to advice travelers to avoid freshwater baths in endemic areas and get screened if they have been exposed to the parasite.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133943782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sustainability Plan- Lesson Learnt on Neglected Tropical Diseases in Tanzania- A Mini Review","authors":"George Kabona","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000166","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programs in endemic countries are playing a technical and managerial role in addressing NTDs to achieving universal healthcare and the Sustainable Development Goals. Significant achievements toward elimination and control of these diseases are being made and recorded. Unfortunately, non-national governance pledges a high fraction of the NTDs support compared to government funding sources who are gate keepers to protecting health of individuals. For ownership and sustainability of NTDs interventions, it need endemic countries to planning and financing activities and programs to be fully incorporated into health system, national agenda and service delivery structures. Review: Tanzania has developed a current strategic master plan (2021-2026) for NTDs. The Tanzania Sustainability Plan builds on the achievements gained and interventions implemented in order to integrate them into current health system structure through Government commitment to Universal Health Coverage by maintain the gains and interventions of the Neglected Tropical Diseases is among a few key priorities. The sustainability plan identifies four broad objectives that will be the focus of achievement in the next five years. Conclusion: The development, dissemination, and implementation of this sustainability plan in Tanzania and other NTD endemic countries will mobilize internal resources and sustainability in control and elimination of these diseases. The successful implementation of the sustainability plan will highly depend on continuous commitments and collaborative efforts of key stakeholders from government sector, non-governmental sector, and development partners. Creating demand to improve utilization by clients including individuals, households and community will be a crucial part of measuring success of implementation","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129950407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Plummeting of New Cases of COVID-19 Detected on Weekends in the United States","authors":"Baruah Hk","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000167","url":null,"abstract":"When COVID-19 first appeared, there were restrictions imposed by the governments around the world. The total number of cases at any given point of time in the first wave of spread of the disease was sub-exponential. In the second wave, the spread pattern was seen to be hyper- exponential. Currently, the COVID protocols have been loosened. Thereafter the number of new cases has been observed to plummet on weekends in certain regions that include the United States.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127241766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biomathematical Analysis on Mechanical Engineering during COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Zhao B","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000169","url":null,"abstract":"In mechanical engineering research and design process will involve a large number of mathematical applications. In order to analyze the significance and application of mathematics in the research and design of mechanical engineering, this paper lists and analyzes the basic mathematical equations, mathematical models and finite element related problems in some fields of learning. The results show that the application of mathematics in mechanical engineering is not limited to higher mathematics, but also covers the related knowledge of numerical processing, matrix theory and other courses during COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"148 Pt 2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126317577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bacteriological Analysis of Fermented Cereal Flour Sold in Markets in Calabar Metropolis, Southern Nigeria","authors":"Mbah M","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000170","url":null,"abstract":"Fermented flour obtained from Maize, Sorghum and Millet is a popular product sold in Calabar. It is locally referred to as pap or ogi. . Different types of pap are sold in the market which include: white pap, yellow pap and reddish-brown pap. The aim of the study was to determining the presence of bacteria in pap samples in three markets in Calabar metropolis. The markets were Goldie, Marian and Watt market. A total of 80 pap samples were collected aseptically from the three different markets and were analyzed using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. The various pap samples were cultured on both Chocolate (CHOC) agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C overnight. Staphylococcus aureus (41.7%), non-coagulase Staphylococcus aureus (23.4%) and Bacillus cereus (27.8%) were isolated from the Pap samples purchased from the three markets.. Out of the 80 samples were examined for bacterial organisms, Staphylococcus aureus (41.7%) found in Pap samples purchased from Goldie market had the highest prevalence. However, the difference in the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus contamination, non-coagulase Staphylococcus and Bacillus cereus infection by markets were not statistically significant (P˃0.05). Therefore, there is a need for sanitary measures to be taken in the production of Pap, to minimize the rate of contamination during processing and storage and also, to ensure that pap sold to consumers are free of contamination.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"94 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117309207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Enterocutaneous Fistula in China","authors":"C. C","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000168","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: To investigate the epidemiology and characteristics of patients with enterocutaneous fistulas in our hospital. Methods: A single-center study was conducted in our hospital to collect data on patients with ECFs from November 27, 2013 to December 31, 2019. These data included patients’ general information, common diseases and conditions, characteristics, treatments, and outcomes. Results: Patients (N = 218) with enterocutaneous fistulas were enrolled in the study, including 152 males and 66 females (median age: 52 years). Changsha city had the largest number of patients (39.9%), 79.8% of cases had a single enterocutaneous fistula and 92.2% were related to surgeries. Gastrointestinal tumor (25.7%) was the most common primary disease, and small intestine fistula (44.0%) was the most common enterocutaneous fistula. Approximately 51.8% of patients visited tertiary hospitals first and only 22.5% received definitive surgery. However, only 57.3% of patients were cured, which was related to their first-visited hospital (p = 0.039) and undergoing definitive surgery (p = 0.024). The time from the operation to the enterocutaneous fistula diagnosis for 40.0% of patients was within 1 week after the initial operation, and the length of stay for the first hospitalization of 90.8% was one week to half a year. Some patients had complications, such as diabetes (10.1%). Our analysis showed a significant association of malnutrition with cure rate (p = 0.013). Conclusion: The cure rates of enterocutaneous fistulas were associated with the first visited hospital, definitive surgical treatment, and malnutrition","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"59 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126079693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Fungi Associated with Tinea capitis in School Children of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania","authors":"Macha Me","doi":"10.23880/jidtm-16000155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23880/jidtm-16000155","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Tinea capitis is one of the common skin diseases affecting school-age children in developing countries. However, the susceptibility of fungi associated with this disease against antifungal agents commonly used has not been fully investigated. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern of fungi associated with tinea capitis amongst children sampled from selected schools in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 72 school children recruited from 10 primary schools in selected class strata within Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania using a multistage sampling technique. Pure cultures of fungi isolates were obtained from scrappings of head lesions in school children and tested for sensitivity to commonly used antifungal agents using the Kirby Bauer agar disk diffusion method. Results: The identified fungi were Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Cytobasidium minutum, Aspergillus spp, Ectophoma multirostrata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Pichia terricola, Penicillium flavigenum and Fusarium solani. Out of 10 fungal isolates, 9 (90%) were sensitive to both amphotericin B and nystatin, 4(40%) sensitive to clotrimazole, 1(10%) sensitive to fluconazole and griseofulvin, 3(30%) sensitive to itraconazole, and no isolate showed sensitivity to ketoconazole. Nystatin and amphotericin B showed best antifungal activity against Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Cytobasidium minutum, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus sp while clotrimazole and ketoconazole had intermediate fungal growth inhibition and best activity against Fusarium solani and Aspergillus sp but were resistant to the other antifungal agents. Fluconazole, griseofulvin, and itraconazole were not effective to any of the isolates. Conclusion: This study revealed that nystatin and amphotericin B were ideal antifungal drugs for the treatment of tinea capitis in the studied population.","PeriodicalId":402204,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infectious Diseases & Travel Medicine","volume":"186 3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124926550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}