Journal of Infection in Developing Countries最新文献

{"title":"Self-medication with antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic: knowledge and practice among non-medical university students.","authors":"Mohamed L Freidja, Tarek Benameur, Khelaf Saidani, Mohammed-Elfatih Twfieg, Lila Boulekbache-Makhlouf","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22667","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22667","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) presents a major public health problem, particularly through the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have intensified this practice. This study investigates the prevalence, knowledge, and key determinants of SMA among non-medical university students in M'sila Province, Algeria, during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and cross-tabulations of selected variables, were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors independently associated with SMA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 415 students (78.1% female) consented to participate in the study between May 2021 and March 2022. The prevalence of SMA for treating COVID-19 symptoms among non-medical students was 40.5%. Higher rates were observed among biology, single, and graduate students, at 44.4%, 41.2%, and 41.9%, respectively. In case of mild illness, 34.7% of biology respondents self-medicated with antibiotics compared to higher proportion (42.4%) of non-biology students (p = 0.048). Logistic regression analysis showed that students who were supposed to have excellent knowledge of medications were more likely to self-medicate (OR = 6.613; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic context increased the likelihood of SMA by more than 3-fold (OR = 3.104; p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased SMA among non-medical university students, highlighting the urgent need for targeted awareness campaigns and educational interventions to promote rational antibiotic use during health crises. Furthermore, relevant health authorities should strengthen their control measures during pandemics to prevent drug delivery misuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"904-912"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425851","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":"Clock-like behavior across Orthoebolavirus species suggests alternative evolution of the 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak.","authors":"Gustavo Sganzerla Martinez, Anuj Kumar, Mansi Dutt, Misaki Wayengera, Wilber Sabiiti, David J Kelvin, Henry Kyobe Bosa","doi":"10.3855/jidc.23736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.23736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Recent increase in reported cases of Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda highlight the importance of understanding their evolutionary dynamics.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>We analyzed publicly available genomes obtained from the Pathoplexus database representing 3 medically relevant species of the Orthoebolavirus genus: Ebola virus (n = 3,388), Zaire virus (n = 166), and Bundibugyo virus (n = 49). We investigated whether genetic divergence is associated with sampling time utilizing root-to-tip regression analyses derived from temporally calibrated phylogenies as an indicator of molecular clock behavior.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sudan virus (R2 = 0.855) and Ebola virus (R2 = 0.709) exhibited significant temporal structures between sampling time and genetic divergence. Bundibugyo virus displayed strong clock-like behavior after exclusion of 2026 genomes (R2 = 0.983), which showed a marked substitution deficit relative to the historical molecular clock and deviated substantially from the inferred regression. Date randomization tests supported the presence of temporal signal across all datasets (p < 0.001), indicating that the temporal signals exceeded expectations under a null model without temporal structure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results provide a comparative assessment of the temporal structures across 3 medically relevant Orthoebolavirus species. While historical genomes largely conformed to molecular clock expectations, the inclusion of genomes from the ongoing 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak deviated from these projections, suggesting an alternative evolutionary process for 2026 Bundibugyo virus, such as viral persistence in immune-privileged anatomical sites of previously infected individuals or an independent zoonotic spillover event in an alternative species, in which the virus evolved within its natural reservoir prior to human infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"767-771"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425646","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":"Etiology and antimicrobial resistance in pediatric urinary tract infections: a 10-year retrospective study in Hohhot, China.","authors":"Ruixuan Li, Yanyan Guo, Xue Zhou, Yun Zhao, Qian Zhang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children, yet regional pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns remain understudied in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to characterize UTI pathogens and their resistance profiles in Hohhot, China, including molecular analysis of the YadC gene in Escherichia coli (E. coli).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This was a retrospective analysis of 550 pediatric UTI cases from December 2014 to December 2024. Urine cultures, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and YadC gene detection (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) for 46 E. coli isolates were performed in 2023. Statistical analysis used χ² tests or Fisher's exact tests (SPSS 27.0; p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 312 culture-positive cases (56.7%), Gram-negative bacteria (64.1%, predominantly E. coli [41.7%]), Gram-positive bacteria (35.3%, mainly Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) [20.2%]), and 2 yeast isolates (Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans; 1 strain each; 0.6%) were identified. YadC-positive E. coli isolates exhibited a significantly higher rate of multidrug resistance compared to YadC-negative isolates (83.3% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.002). Resistance rates exceeded 70% for penicillin and erythromycin in E. faecium, while E. coli showed high resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam (73.1%) and third-generation cephalosporins. Nitrofurantoin and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (e.g., ampicillin/sulbactam) remained effective for E. faecalis isolates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>E. coli remains the predominant UTI pathogen in Hohhot. The high YadC prevalence (65.2%) and its association with cephalosporin resistance indicate its surveillance potential. Empirical therapy should favor agents like ceftazidime, while managing complicated UTIs requires integrating imaging and susceptibility testing to curb resistance and prevent renal injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"839-845"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425661","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":"Molecular detection by PCR of Rickettsia rickettsii in canines in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México.","authors":"Daniela García-Tirado, José C Leyva-Corona, Javier R Reyna-Granados, Verónica Ortiz-Encinas, Jaime Palomares-Marín, Claudia L Cueto-Aragón, Hector R Pérez-Gómez, Yaxsier De Armas, Carlos E Aragón-López","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Rickettsia is an intracellular, Gram-negative, zoonotic bacterium that is transmitted by arthropods, such as ticks, fleas and lice. Rickettsioses have been reported in Mexico since the 1930s, with a higher prevalence in the northern states. Infections affect both dogs and humans in marginalized areas, with Rickettsia rickettsii being the most pathogenic species and associated with high mortality rates.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This study aimed to detect R. rickettsii in dogs from Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, using the ompA gene PCR. Between July and August 2024, 110 EDTA whole blood samples were collected: 95 from dogs with a presumptive clinical diagnosis of rickettsiosis, and 15 from stray dogs with active tick infestations. DNA extraction, PCR amplification and product purification were performed at the Veterinary Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora. Sanger sequencing, Snap Gene Viewer, and BLASTn against GenBank were used to confirm the identity of the sequences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sequencing of the ompA fragment confirmed 99-100% homology with R. rickettsii. One positive case (6.7%) was detected, corresponding to a stray dog from a disadvantaged area of the municipality of Cajeme, indicating the presence of the pathogen in a localized area.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The detection of R. rickettsii in a stray dog in Ciudad Obregón confirms the presence of the pathogen in the area, highlighting the importance of free-roaming canines and environmental conditions in sustaining vectors. Early diagnosis and control of ectoparasites are critical to reducing zoonotic transmission, underlining the importance of continuous molecular surveillance in public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"810-815"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425606","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":"Neutrophil‑ and platelet‑to‑lymphocyte ratios in sepsis: mortality links in diabetic patients and hospital burden in acute kidney injury.","authors":"Nuril F Abshori, Muhammad Iqhrammullah, Raihan R Mardliyyah, R Moch S S S Negara, Achmad Z Arif, Iwal R Ahdi, Muhammad Habiburrahman","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Timely identification of sepsis patients at elevated risk for in-hospital mortality or prolonged hospitalization remains a clinical imperative. This study aimed to assess the prognostic utility of two readily available hematological biomarkers, namely the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte count ratio (PLCR), for their association with mortality and length of stay (LOS) among sepsis patients, including high-risk subgroups with acute kidney injury (AKI) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This retrospective 1-year cohort study included 202 adult sepsis patients. NLCR and PLCR were derived from admission complete blood counts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate discriminative performance, with optimal thresholds determined using Youden's index. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests assessed survival differences, while LOS comparisons were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NLCR demonstrated limited overall prognostic value for mortality (AUC 0.560; sensitivity 53.68%; specificity 63.55%) but showed improved discrimination in patients with T2DM (AUC 0.603). PLCR was not associated with mortality in any subgroup (AUCs: 0.438-0.539). Diabetic patients with low NLCR had significantly higher survival (62.4% vs. 32.8%; p = 0.039). No significant survival differences were observed in the overall or AKI cohorts. Both NLCR and PLCR had poor association with LOS (AUC < 0.55). However, AKI patients with elevated NLCR had significantly prolonged hospitalization (11.5 ± 4.9 vs. 7.83 ± 4.5 days; p = 0.039). PLCR was not significantly associated with LOS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>NLCR may provide modest, preliminary prognostic value in specific sepsis subgroups, particularly those with T2DM or AKI, and may serve as a low-cost adjunct for early risk stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"854-863"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425770","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":"Association between Paxlovid and mortality in severe COVID-19 patients: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Bin Liu, Bo Xie, Li Jiang, Hongli Xia, Chunmei Zhu, Jing Hu, Jing Cai, Yan Zhang, Mingjin Yang, Yanchao Liang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21811","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21811","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>With limited research on the clinical effectiveness of Paxlovid for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, this study aims to assess its impact on clinical outcomes, providing essential insights for patient care.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>We collected consecutive data from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients at four hospitals between December 2022 and July 2023. We compared patient characteristics, clinical parameters, and treatment regimens between the Paxlovid and control groups. Analyses included crude, multivariable, doubly robust, and propensity score methods to evaluate Paxlovid's impact on 28-day mortality and to identify subgroup interactions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 574 patients treated with Paxlovid, 10.3% died within 28 days, versus 29.9% of 645 untreated patients. Unadjusted analysis showed a significant Paxlovid-associated reduction in 28-day mortality (OR 0.268, 95% CI 0.195-0.369; p < 0.001), sustained after adjustment (adjusted OR 0.298, 95% CI 0.198-0.447; p < 0.001). Paxlovid significantly decreased mortality in patients with infection durations ≤ 5 days (OR 0.401, 95% CI 0.227-0.707, p < 0.001) and > 5 days (OR 0.540, 95% CI 0.309-0.946, p < 0.001). Hospital stays were longer with Paxlovid (median 11 vs. 10 days, p = 0.001), with no significant effect on ICU admission rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that Paxlovid significantly reduces 28-day mortality in severe COVID-19 patients, irrespective of infection duration over 5 days.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"896-903"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425600","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":"USP18-driven macrophage M2 polarization through fatty acid β-oxidation inhibits immune responses induced by RSV infection.","authors":"Dannv Yang, Liyan Zhao, Li Liu, Jian Zhang, Jingwen Wang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21782","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21782","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory infections in infants under six months, with limited treatment options available. Macrophages play a pivotal role in antiviral immunity, where their polarization state directly modulates immune responses.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The expression changes of ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) in RSV-infected samples were analyzed through the Gene Expression Omnibus database. An RSV infection model was established in C57BL/6 mice, and USP18 expression in lung tissues was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Adenovirus-mediated USP18 knockdown was performed via tail vein injection, and its effects on immune cells were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qPCR. THP-1 macrophage models with USP18 overexpression and knockdown were constructed. The effects of USP18 on macrophage polarization, immune function, and fatty acid β-oxidation during RSV infection were evaluated using immunofluorescence, ELISA, fatty acid oxidation (FAO) assays, boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) staining, and Western blot.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>USP18 was markedly overexpressed in RSV-infected samples. USP18 knockdown in mice alleviated lung damage, reduced M2 macrophage markers, and enhanced CD8+ T cell activity. Cellular experiments demonstrated that USP18 promotes M2 macrophage polarization by enhancing fatty acid β-oxidation and regulating the expression of related enzymes, including ACLY, FASN, and ACC1. Elevated USP18 in macrophages during RSV infection inhibits CD8+ T cell activation, contributing to immune suppression. These effects were reversible with FAO inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>USP18 upregulation in RSV-infected cells induces M2 macrophage polarization via fatty acid β-oxidation, thereby promoting immune suppression.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"886-895"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425801","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":"Resistance profiles of uropathogenic E. coli: ESBL and colistin in focus.","authors":"Şafak Ceren Uçak, Ahmet Aktaş, D Bahar Akgün Karapınar, Yaşar Nakipoğlu, Betigül Öngen","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Escherichia coli is among the most common causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs), and the rise in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates is a growing concern because of increasingly limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the resistance profiles of ESBL-positive and -negative uropathogenic E. coli isolates to antibiotics used in treatment and colistin.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Urine samples sent to the Central Laboratory of Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, for routine examination between September 2023 and January 2024 were included in the study. The presence of ESBL and susceptibility to antibiotics other than colistin were determined by the Vitek2 (bioMérieux, France) automated system, and colistin susceptibility was determined by the reference broth microdilution method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 80 patients with E. coli, 80% were female, and 20% were male; 32.5% were children, and 67.5% were adults. All E. coli isolates were susceptible to nitrofurantoin, ertapenem, and meropenem. 40% of the strains were ESBL-positive. In respect of multidrug-resistant bacteria, among ESBL-positive and-negative isolates, 12.5% and 2.1% were resistant to six, 28.1% and 8.3% to five, 34.4% and 6.25% to four, and 18.75% and 16.7% to three different antibiotic groups, respectively. Of 80 E. coli strains, 92.5% of which were sensitive to colistin, the MIC50 value was 0.5 mg/L, and the MIC90 value was 2 mg/L.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the colistin resistance rate and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values are not high, it is important to monitor resistance when treating problematic infections with multiple resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"831-838"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425804","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":"Developing a Data Set for Mpox Disease: A Scoping Review and Consensus-based Classification.","authors":"Azam Sabahi, Hamideh Ehtesham, Leila Ahmadian, Fatemeh Bahador, Somayeh Paydar, Farzaneh Behnam","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21634","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.21634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The emergence of Mpox as a major public health problem has drawn attention toward comprehensive data that could inform effective disease management and control efforts. This study aims to create a standardized data set for Mpox, which will be useful for purposes of collecting, analyzing, and reporting critical data elements.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The scoping review was done in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley's framework and under the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches for the terms \"minimum data set\" and \"Monkeypox\" were conducted without time limitation until June 9, 2024, in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Two researchers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts. Data extraction was carried out in Excel.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>670 studies were identified, although the inclusion criteria was met by 16. Most studies were conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Data elements were divided into administrative (10 core and 15 extended data elements) and clinical (26 core and 51 extended data elements). Patient demographics, socioeconomic factors, residence, and healthcare providers appear in administrative data. Disease exposure, symptoms, medical history, diagnostics, treatments, follow-up, and vaccination form part of the clinical data. A total data set with 104 elements was created.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Identifying the data set is crucial to improving the public health responses to Mpox outbreaks. It will enable healthcare professionals and researchers to enhance disease monitoring and control efforts globally. Future studies should validate the data set in diverse settings, adapt it to the disease's evolving nature, and integrate it into health information systems for real-time data utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"792-801"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425603","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":"Efficacy and safety of Tanreqing Injection combined with conventional antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial pneumonia: a meta-analysis.","authors":"Bofei Shu, Tingting Qiu, Keke Li, Xiaolin Wang, Bangjiang Fang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22151","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.22151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pneumonia is a growing public health concern with limited treatment options and high mortality rates. Tanreqing injection, a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties, has shown potential as an adjunctive therapy, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of six English and Chinese databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before July 2025 evaluating Tanreqing injection for MDR pneumonia. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Primary outcomes included clinical effectiveness and 28-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included bacterial clearance, inflammatory markers (WBC, CRP, PCT), healthcare utilization (duration of antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation, hospital stay), and adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen RCTs involving 1,616 patients were included. All studies were conducted in China. Tanreqing combined with standard therapy significantly improved clinical effectiveness (RR = 1.21) and bacterial clearance (RR = 1.42), and reduced CRP, WBC, PCT, antibiotic duration (MD = -3.55 days), ventilation time (MD = -1.57 days), and hospital stay (MD = -4.98 days). A trend toward lower 28-day mortality was observed (RR = 0.56, p = 0.15). No serious adverse events were reported. Publication bias was not significant (Harbord test, p = 0.639).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Tanreqing injection may enhance the clinical outcomes of patients with MDR pneumonia when used alongside antibiotics and appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"780-791"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425608","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}