Journal of Infection in Developing Countries最新文献

{"title":"Bioinformatics analysis identifies IL-23A and JAK2 as regulatory factors in sepsis immune response via the JAK/STAT3 pathway.","authors":"Zhiying Lin, Wu Fang, Chunli Yang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection. Identifying key genes associated with sepsis and exploring their interactions with immune cells are crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>In order to explore the genetic underpinnings, five datasets-GSE28750, GSE57065, GSE64457, GSE65682, and GSE95233-were analyzed using the \"Limma\" package in R to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and key modules were analyzed using STRING and Cytoscape. The core genes were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and their diagnostic value was validated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Immune cell infiltration was assessed using the CIBERSORT algorithm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 230 DEGs were identified, including 183 upregulated and 47 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG analysis revealed significant enrichment in immune-related pathways. Two core genes, IL-23A and JAK2, emerged as key players. ROC curve analysis demonstrated high diagnostic value with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.82 and 0.90 for IL-23A and JAK2, respectively. IL-23A showed a strong positive correlation with CD8+ T cells and activated natural killer (NK) cells, while also activating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and mitigating JAK2-mediated immune cell infiltration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the potential role of IL-23A and JAK2 in the immune regulation of sepsis and provides new insights into immune therapeutic strategies via the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"445-456"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fungal colonization and ASCA/p-ANCA positivity in inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study from Turkey.","authors":"Zülal Aşçı Toraman, Pınar Öner, Meryem Erdoğan, Berçem Afşar Karatepe, Abdurrahman Şahin, Yasemin Üstündağ, Handan Akbulut","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Recent research indicates that individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit distinct intestinal fungal communities compared with healthy individuals. This study examined the relationship among anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA), and Candida spp. colonization to assess their utility in diagnosing IBD, differentiating subtypes, and predicting disease localization.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Serum samples from 240 patients with IBD and 61 healthy controls were tested for ASCA and p-ANCA using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA). Fecal samples were cultured to identify Candida species.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ASCA positivity was significantly higher in Crohn's disease (CD) (61.7%), whereas p-ANCA positivity was more frequent in ulcerative colitis (UC) (51.6%) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002, respectively). Fluorescence intensity showed stronger ASCA reactivity in CD and higher p-ANCA intensity in UC. Candida colonization (≥ 5 CFU) was detected in 64.2% of IBD patients, with Candida albicans the most common species. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was detected exclusively in IBD patients (3.7%, p = 0.038). Higher colonization rates were observed in UC with pancolitis (78.9%) and in CD with colonic involvement (80%). ASCA intensity inversely correlated with Candida load in CD (p = 0.021), whereas p-ANCA intensity positively correlated with Candida load in UC (p = 0.038). No significant differences in Candida species diversity were observed between subtypes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings support the diagnostic value of ASCA and p-ANCA in distinguishing IBD subtypes and highlight their association with Candida colonization. Further studies are warranted to elucidate fungal antigen-antibody interactions and to refine subtype-specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"464-471"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of non-tuberculous Mycobacteria strains and analysis of drug resistance in Lishui City, China.","authors":"Henan Xu, Zhongda Liu, Congjuan Lai, Li Lin, Jing Guo, Yutong Zhang, Ying Zhang, Zunjing Zhang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the distribution and drug resistance of clinically isolated Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) strains in Lishui City, and to provide a basis for the development of NTM disease prevention and control strategies in the region.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using NTM-positive clinical specimens collected from patients at a sentinel tuberculosis hospital in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, China, between January 2023 and December 2024. The isolated NTM strains were identified using a gene chip-based method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the microbroth dilution method. Statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the isolation rate, species distribution, and drug-resistance patterns of the strains.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The isolation rate of NTM among clinical patients at the sentinel hospital was 18.09% (157/868); The rate was significantly higher in women (26.97%, 72/267) than in men (14.14%, 85/601) (χ2 trend = 20.518, p < 0.001); Nine common NTM species were identified, with Mycobacterium intracellulare being the most prevalent (68.79%, 108/157), followed by Mycobacterium avium (11.46%, 18/157) and Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus (8.28%, 13/157). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance rates to several drugs, including imipenem (94.27%, 148/157), doxycycline (94.27%, 148/157), rifampicin (91.72%, 144/157), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (91.08%, 143/157), meropenem (89.81%, 141/157), cefoxitin (87.90%, 138/157), minocycline (85.99%, 135/157), and ciprofloxacin (85.99%, 135/157). Species-specific differences in resistance patterns were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The distribution of clinically isolated NTM strains in Lishui City was dominated by Mycobacterium intracellular, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus. These isolates demonstrated high levels of resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents, highlighting the need for improved treatment and control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"435-444"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and practice regarding antibiotic usage in dogs among pet owners in a district in South India.","authors":"Sneha Elsa Sam, Rinila Das, Navya Vyas","doi":"10.3855/jidc.20240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.20240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Antimicrobials are vital for human and animal health; however, their improper use leads to antimicrobial resistance. Shared living spaces and close bonds between humans and pets raise concerns about transferring resistant pathogens from pets to humans. This study assessed antibiotic usage among dog owners in a South Indian district to understand their knowledge and practices.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 dog owners in a district in South India using snowball sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered using telephonic interviews. The responses were expressed in frequencies and percentages, and Chi-square analyses were performed to establish significant associations between variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most of the respondents were aware of antibiotics, less than half were aware of antibiotic resistance, and 4% were aware of antibiotic stewardship. More than half of the respondents followed correct practices in accessing, using, and storing antibiotics. The majority said that the use of antibiotics in dogs would not affect them indirectly, but scientific evidence shows a causal effect between antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistance. A significant association was found between awareness about antibiotics and socio-demographic factors such as education, area of residence, and years of experience as a pet owner.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study emphasizes the urgency of educating dog owners about antibiotic usage and resistance. It warns against the risks of inappropriate antimicrobial use in pets, stressing its impact on public health and promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship to curb antimicrobial resistance in both veterinary and human medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"425-434"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiology and antibiotic resistance of diabetes-related foot infections in Brazil: a systematic review.","authors":"Vanessa P Santos, Catarina F Dos Santos, Valter Castelli, Neima Prado, Roberto Augusto Caffaro, Carlos Alberto S Alves","doi":"10.3855/jidc.20077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.20077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Diabetic foot infections are the main cause of lower limb amputations. Knowing the microbiology of these infections is important because the most effective empirical antibiotic therapy varies by region due to differences in the prevalence of causative pathogens. This study aimed to identify the microbiological profile and antimicrobial resistance patterns of diabetes-related foot infections in Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The study followed a systematic literature review methodology. Manuscripts in the electronic databases PubMed, SciELO and VHL were searched through November 2022. Eligible studies were retrieved using the MeSH terms \"diabetic foot\" AND \"Brazil\". Two independent evaluators selected the articles. Of the 466 titles identified, 10 observational studies met the eligibility criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 10 studies had observational design and covered 7 Federative Units of Brazil. The sample size varied between 17 and 320 cases, and hospital inpatients predominated (9 studies). Two studies performed anaerobic cultures. Among the 1,506 isolates, more than half were Gram-negative (836/55.5%) followed by Gram-positive (624/41.4%) and anaerobic bacteria (46/3.1%). The 3 most common species were Staphylococcus aureus (251), Enterococcus faecalis (112), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (97). Forty percent (40%) of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). A fifth (20%) of the Pseudomonas spp isolates were resistant to carbapenems. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL-producing) was 43%, 33%, and 26% for K. pneumoniae, Proteus spp, and E. coli respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In Brazil, the microbiology of foot infections in persons with diabetes showed Gram-negative predominance. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated species with a high prevalence of MRSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"381-392"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage among unvaccinated healthy Sri Lankan children during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Madhusha Gonapaladeniya, Guwani Liyanage, Manjula Weerasekera, Roshan Perera, Thushari Dissanayake","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in children. This study focused on the prevalence, serotypes, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation of pneumococci colonising an unvaccinated Sri Lankan children cohort aged ≤ 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out between April to August 2021 among healthy children visiting routine immunisation clinics in the Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) from healthy children were collected and cultured on sheep blood agar to isolate S. pneumoniae and confirmed by lytA gene-specific PCR. All confirmed S. pneumoniae isolates underwent capsular sequence typing to detect serotypes. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined. In-vitro biofilm-forming ability was assessed using the crystal violet assay, tetrazolium reduction assay, and scanning electron microscopy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The S. pneumoniae colonization rate of healthy children was 5.7% (20/350). Serotype 19F was the commonest, and 80% (16/20) of isolates were covered by the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). All isolates were sensitive to levofloxacin, vancomycin, and linezolid but showed significant non-susceptibility to penicillin (70%, 14/20) and cefotaxime (15%, 3/20) at non-meningitis break points. All isolates formed biofilms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A comparatively lower rate of pneumococcal colonisation was observed among this cohort compared to the current literature. The most prevalent serotype identified was 19F. Serotype pattern was similar to the pre-vaccine era pattern reported globally. Antibiotic non-susceptibility rates were high for penicillin and erythromycin. Almost all isolates showed evidence of in vitro biofilm formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"350-358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections in intensive care units: a prospective and international ID-IRI study.","authors":"Hülya Çaşkurlu, Yasemin Çağ, Handan Ankaralı, Alper Tahmaz, Gökhan Vatansever, Yeşim Aybar Bilir, Pınar Yürük Atasoy, Meltem Taşbakan, Gülden Eser Karlıdağ, Arzu Şenol, Özlem Aldemir, Gergana Lengerova, Fatma Amer, Ahmed Almessabi, Bülent Durdu, Hakan Evren, Yurdagül Albayrak, Ramesh S Ganeshan, Esra Gürbüz, Rositsa Tanova, Mehmet Özdemir, Abdullah U Pekok, Fatma Çölkesen, Meltem Karslıoğlu, Mustafa S Şahinoğlu, Ayşe Sağmak Tartar, Serkan Öncü, Özlem Alıcı, Şafak Özer Balin, Irina M Dumitru, Maha A Gad, Sevil Alkan, Maya Belitova, Chavdar Stefanov, İlknur Erdem, Amani El-Kholy, Nirav Pandya, Bilal A Rahimi, Fahad Almajid, Rusmir Baljic, Luca Catalina, Anna Liskova, İlknur Şenel, Tarsila Vieceli, Merve Sarı, Halenur Vural Akbal, Ferda İnal Yılmaz, Gulmira A Utepbergenova, Hakan Erdem","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. Maltophilia) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen causing severe infections in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to identify the risk factors influencing 30-day mortality and evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in ICU patients with S. maltophilia infections.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A prospective, multicenter, international observational study was conducted between 15 October 2023 and 15 April 2024, in 36 ICUs across 12 countries. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) with S. maltophilia isolated from blood, urine, or respiratory cultures were included if isolates were considered clinically consistent with infection. Colonized or coinfected patients were excluded. Clinical, laboratory data were collected prospectively. Thirty-day outcome was defined as survival or death after the first positive culture.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 207 patients were included; 109 (52.7%) died within 30 days. The primary infection sites were pneumonia (28.5%) and bloodstream infections (38.0%). Resistance rates were 7.2% for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), 10.4% for levofloxacin, and 27% for ceftazidime. None of the patients received effective empiric therapy. Older age (p = 0.030), acute renal failure (p = 0.016), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; p = 0.008), malignancy (p = 0.001), and sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) ≥ 2 (p = 0.001) were independently associated with higher mortality. Repeat culturing and antimicrobial modification according to susceptibility testing reduced mortality (p = 0.017).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>S. maltophilia remains a lethal ICU pathogen. Early risk assessment, cultures, susceptibility testing, and therapy changes are vital. TMP-SMX and levofloxacin stay effective; but surveillance, infection control, and prudent antibiotic use remain essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"398-406"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of lymphocyte populations, cytokine, and autoantibody profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a study of cases with COVID-19 and controls without COVID-19.","authors":"Julián Arias-Aponte, Gabriel E Acelas-Gonzalez, Rafael Parra-Medina, María L Monsalve-Córdoba, Adriana Rojas-Villarraga, Paula D Nieto-Zambrano, Maria C Cortés-Osma, Hector F Restrepo-Guerrero, Laura Villarreal, Pedro Santos-Moreno, Arley Gómez-López","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21520","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and post-COVID syndrome (PCS). PSC has been linked to autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition characterized by chronic joint pain driven by dysregulated immune response. This study aims to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on patients with RA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 300 RA patients were included in the study, categorized into two groups: patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 148) and without prior COVID-19 infection (control group; n = 152). Demographic information, comorbidities, treatments, autoantibodies, cell populations, and cytokines were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A majority of the patients included in this study were female. A high percentage of patients completed the COVID-19 vaccination schedule. The mean age at RA diagnosis was 44.71 years, with most patients presenting with low disease activity. Patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported headache, cough, and fatigue more often. A proportion of these symptoms persisted beyond 12 weeks, consistent with PCS. Autoantibody analysis revealed a high seropositivity rate in both groups, with no statistically significant differences related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Similarly, the evaluation of immune system cell populations showed no significant variations between groups. Cytokine level analysis also demonstrated no statistically significant differences between cases and controls. However, IL-6 data were unavailable for 37% of participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Long-term follow-up did not demonstrate statistically significant alterations in the immunological profile of RA patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are required to elucidate potential long-term immunological effects in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"306-317"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative efficacy of Lianhua Qingwen capsules combined with standard care versus standard care alone in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.","authors":"Yan-Mo Yang, Mi Zhou","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21515","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a search for effective treatments. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Lianhua Qingwen capsules combined with standard care for treating patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China between 1 March 2023 and 31 December 2023. The medical records of 284 patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 were analyzed; 142 patients who received Lianhua Qingwen capsules plus standard care were compared with 142 matched controls who received standard care alone. Propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias. The primary outcomes included time to symptom improvement, time to viral clearance, 14-day clinical recovery rate, improvement in chest computed tomography (CT) findings, and quality of life scores. Secondary outcomes included changes in inflammatory markers, immune function improvement, and adverse event rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Lianhua Qingwen group showed a significantly shorter time to symptom improvement (hazard ratio [HR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-1.69, p < 0.001), faster viral clearance (HR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.28-1.80, p < 0.001), higher 14-day clinical recovery rate (91.5% vs 82.4%, p = 0.024) and more pronounced chest CT improvements (78.9% vs 64.8%, p = 0.009). Quality of life scores, inflammatory markers, and immune function improved more in the treatment group. Adverse event rates were similar (12.7% vs 13.4%, p = 0.856).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Lianhua Qingwen capsules, when combined with standard care, demonstrated superior efficacy compared with standard care alone in treating mild to moderate COVID-19, with a favorable safety profile. These findings suggest that Lianhua Qingwen capsules could be a valuable adjunct therapy for COVID-19 management.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 3","pages":"332-341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disinfectant/antiseptic resistance genes of Staphylococci and serotyping of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates.","authors":"Hamdullah Suphi Bayraktar, Fatih Köksal, Nizami Duran, Tülay Kandemir, Başak Baykara, Tülin Güven Gökmen, Melda Meral Öcal","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21412","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21412","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Staphylococci are commonly isolated from healthcare settings worldwide. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the most important causes of nosocomial infections.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the resistance of Staphylococci to the most commonly used disinfectants and antiseptics in healthcare settings and the detection of the dominant serotype of Staphylococcus aureus in Hatay province.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The frequency of disinfectant/antiseptic resistance genes was detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in identified staphylococcal strains, and antibiotic susceptibility of strains was evaluated phenotypically. Staphylococcus aureus strains were classified in terms of clonal and phylogenetic relationships with Pulse Field Electrophoresis and spa sequence typing methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The identification rate of coagulase-negative staphylococci was 43.2% and the others (56.8%) were Staphylococcus aureus. Among these isolates, 103 methicillin-resistant S. aureus were identified. It was determined that 81 (78.64%) of these isolates harbored qacA/B and/or smr genes. The dominant spa serotype was found to be t223.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>According to spa serotyping results, it was detected the serotype t223 was the dominant clone in our region, unlike the t030 was dominant in Turkey. Since there are many Syrian immigrants living in the Hatay region due to its geographical location, being the dominant clone of a different serotype has an epidemiologically significant importance.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 2","pages":"219-228"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147370274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}