Journal of Infection in Developing Countries最新文献

{"title":"Status and weaknesses of epidemiological investigation and emergency response in Guizhou Province, China.","authors":"Yun Gou, Yan Huang, Chun Yu, Can Hu, Zhongfa Tao, Jiao Huang, Bing Deng, Mingyu Lei","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22288","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.22288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Epidemiological investigation and emergency response are crucial during public health emergencies. This work investigated the status and weaknesses of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) system in Guizhou Province, China, before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to address the weaknesses of public health emergency preparedness.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This research was observational. It adopted a cross-sectional design, and designed two electronic questionnaires to collect data. One questionnaire was for 98 CDC agencies and the other was for 1026 individuals in Guizhou Province, China. The questionnaires focused on workforce, epidemiological investigation capacity, detection capacity, emergency material preparation, information technology application, and emergency response. Respondents completed electronic questionnaires via a WeChat application or by visiting a website link directly.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The workforce and detection capacity of CDC agencies have considerably increased. Among the factors influencing individual capacity, willingness to learn (OR = 4.649, 95% CI = 2.782, 7.767) was the most related to workers with strong capacity. Furthermore, weaknesses involving epidemiological investigation and emergency response were found in each CDC level.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Remarkable improvements occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guizhou Province, China. This study identified the weaknesses of epidemiological investigation and emergency response. It could provide decision-makers with directions for improvement, targeting each weakness at each CDC level to prepare for future disasters.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"913-925"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425829","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":"Is nasal MRSA carriage a concern among African people and local communities in North Cyprus?","authors":"Ayse Arikan, Noor Nassar, John O Awosanya, Meryem Güvenir, Özlem Ünaldi, Zekiye Bakkaloğlu, Serap Süzük Yildiz","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21710","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.21710","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The long-standing epidemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has proven to be a challenging problem to solve and is becoming even more complex in a globalized world where there is little evidence of AMR patterns among multinational communities. This study aimed to determine the frequency of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among African and local students in Northern Cyprus.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Nasal swabs were collected from African and local students between October 2023 and December 2023. The clinical samples were screened for the presence of MRSA. AMR bacterial isolates were tested by phenotypic and genotypic analysis to determine the MRSA status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 300 participants were included in the study: One hundred and fifty of them were African students (50%) and 150 were local students (50%), The prevalence of nasal MRSA carriage in African and local students was determined as 3% and 6%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is a population-based study investigating the prevalence and distribution of MRSA in Africa and is the first to be conducted in the local population of Northern Cyprus. It highlights the presence of MRSA in the community and the impact of global migration on AMR, highlighting the need for public health measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"816-821"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425693","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":"Age and Gender-Based Clinical and Laboratory Features in Dengue Infection: A Comparative Study.","authors":"Sulistiawati, Linda Dewanti, Alpha Fardah Athiyyah, Atika, Bilqis Inayatillah, Jan Nouwen, Lady Savita Nabila, Avita Diva Choirun Nisa, Ronald Pratama Adiwinoto","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dengue infection remains prevalent globally, with a shift toward adult cases. WHO diagnosis relies on clinical and laboratory criteria to identify and manage the disease effectively.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to investigate the differences in clinical and laboratory findings of dengue infection based on age and gender.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This analytical cross-sectional study utilized medical record data from 162 pediatric and adult dengue patients diagnosed with dengue fever (DF) or dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in Surabaya hospital in 2022. The study assessed hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte, and platelet levels across six age groups: toddlers (0-5 years), children (6-10 years), adolescents (11-18 years), young adults (19-29 years), and adults (30-59 years). The variables observed in this study include age, gender, classification, and type of dengue infection among hospitalized patients diagnosed with dengue.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings of this study indicate no statistically significant difference between pediatric and adult patients regarding the classification of DF and DHF (p = 0.085). However, laboratory results revealed a significant difference in the incidence of thrombocytopenia between children and adults (p = 0.019). Furthermore, a significant association was found between platelet count and dengue classification, with lower platelet levels observed in DHF cases compared to DF (p = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study shows significant clinical and laboratory differences between children and adults with dengue, highlighting the necessity of age-specific diagnostics to enhance early detection and appropriate treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"878-885"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425618","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":"Predictors of mortality in post-neurosurgical Gram-negative bacterial meningitis: a five-year retrospective study.","authors":"Bahar Ormen, Hasan K Sucu, Cansu Aksoy Aksit, Banu Karaca, Nesrin Turker, Ismail E Sevin","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The incidence of Gram-negative bacterial meningitis (GNBM) has increased with the growing number of neurosurgical procedures. Concurrently, global antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Gram-negative pathogens causing healthcare-associated infections, has contributed to high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify clinical and laboratory parameters associated with mortality in post-neurosurgical GNBM (PN-GNBM).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This retrospective study included adult patients who developed GNBM at least 48 hours after a neurosurgical procedure in the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital between January 2019 and March 2024. Clinical findings and laboratory results before and at the time of diagnosis were obtained from the hospital information system. The factors associated with all-cause 28-day mortality were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 19, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 21 PN-GNBM patients were included. The 28-day mortality rate was 60%. Evaluation of peripheral blood leukocyte ratios at the time of diagnosis revealed that a low lymphocyte-to-platelet ratio (LPR) significantly predicted mortality on days 7, 14, and 21 (p = 0.046, 0.003, and 0.005, respectively), whereas a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicted 14-day mortality (p = 0.035). Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequently isolated pathogen with 81.81% carbapenem resistance rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>NLR and LPR are inexpensive and readily accessible biomarkers that may support early mortality prediction and risk stratification in PN-GNBM. These preliminary findings should be validated in larger multicenter studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"846-853"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425835","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":"Causal association between 473 types of gut microbiota and neonatal bacterial sepsis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.","authors":"Shubin Liu, Yang Duan, Fuqiang Sun","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21933","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21933","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neonatal bacterial sepsis represents a major health threat to newborns, leading to high mortality rates globally. However, the correlation between the gut microbiome and bacterial sepsis in neonates remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study utilized publicly available Genome-Wide Association Study data on 473 gut microbiota taxa as exposures. Instrumental variables were rigorously selected, and bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed. The MR and reverse MR analyses results were validated using Bayesian weighted MR (BWMR) analysis. Positive results from MR analysis will be validated through heterogeneity testing, evaluation of horizontal pleiotropy, and univariate sensitivity analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed a significant genetic causal association between 18 gut microbial species and neonatal bacterial sepsis, including Acetobacterales (odds ratio [OR]: 159.844; p = 0.04), Campylobacter D (OR: 16.225; p = 0.029), and Firmicutes A (OR: 75.643; p = 0.025). Additionally, both MR and inverse MR analyses confirmed the absence of reverse causation (p < 1e-5), supporting the robustness of the findings (p < 0.05) across five statistical methods. Sensitivity analyses indicated high reliability without significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy (p > 0.05). Furthermore, BWMR analysis highlighted the complex roles of probiotic taxa, including Bacteroides A plebeius (OR: 0.526) and pathogenic bacteria, such as Acetobacterales (OR: 192.449), in neonatal sepsis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A causal genetic association exists between gut microbiota and bacterial sepsis in neonates. These results underscore the potential of gut microbiota as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the prevention and management of neonatal bacterial sepsis.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"822-830"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425634","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":"Characterizing the antimicrobial activity of cisplatin against Gram-positive clinical strains: bridging existing gaps.","authors":"Sulaiman Bani Abdel-Rahman, Hala Altarawneh, Mohammed Abu Lubad, Hamed Alzoubi, Khulud A Alhazmi, Ohood S Alharbi, Malaz Gazzaz, Mohanned Talal Alharbi, Rawan Altalhi, Waiel S Halabi, Asim T Sharif, Bayan Redwan, Mazen A Ismail, Ahmad M Sait, Khalil Alkuwaity, Wafaa Alhazmi, Sultan A Alfawaz, Hussam Daghistani, Bandar Hasan Saleh, Mona Abdulrahman Alqarni, Abdulaziz Alsaedi, Nabeel Hussain Alhussainy, Hatoon A Niyazi, Hanouf A Niyazi, Dalya M Attallah, Karem Ibrahem","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.21822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria are one of the most important current threats to public health. Therefore, serious concerns were raised about the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics. Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent that is used mainly in cancer treatment, has recently attracted attention and popularity for its potential antibacterial properties. Our study aim is to evaluate the antibacterial properties of cisplatin against several common MDR and non-MDR Gram-positive strains, including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS), and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE).</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Cisplatin's Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was calculated through standard microdilution methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings indicated that cisplatin had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 256 µg/mL across all tested bacterial strains, reflecting its limited antibacterial efficacy in its currently available formulation. However, although the MIC values were high, this study explored cisplatin's activity against these bacterial strains which uncovers a potential gap about cisplatin clinical effectiveness and indicates that further enhancement is required.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results confirm that cisplatin antibacterial activity has not been extensively explored against these resistant strains. Cisplatin alone shows limited efficacy based on the relatively high MIC values observed. However, combination therapy with other antibiotics may improve its therapeutic potential. Additionally, novel delivery systems-nanoparticle formulations, for instance-could enhance antibacterial activity while reducing toxicity. Future investigations should evaluate these approaches in more detail.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"802-809"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425642","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":"The overlooked burden: anxiety and depression in patients with tuberculosis.","authors":"Mirjana Stjepanović, Aleksa Golubović, Filip Marković, Ivan Milivojević, Olga Golubović, Jelena Djordjevic","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22967","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global cause of infectious disease-related morbidity and mortality. Beyond its physical burden, TB is associated with significant psychological distress. Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among TB patients but often remain underrecognized and undertreated, despite their negative impact on treatment adherence, disease outcomes, and quality of life.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review summarizes current evidence on the prevalence, biological mechanisms, treatment-related factors, and psychosocial determinants of anxiety and depression in patients with TB, and highlights the importance of routine mental health screening in integrated TB care.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A narrative review of the literature was conducted focusing on epidemiology, underlying biological pathways, neuropsychiatric effects of anti-tuberculosis medications, psychosocial risk factors, and validated screening tools for anxiety and depression in TB populations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Depression affects nearly 45% of TB patients, while anxiety is present in 32-38%, with higher prevalence in low- and middle-income countries and among patients with multidrug-resistant TB. Biological mechanisms include chronic inflammation, cytokine-mediated neuroinflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, altered tryptophan metabolism, and neuropsychiatric effects of medications such as isoniazid and cycloserine. Psychosocial factors, including stigma, social isolation, poverty, and limited social support, further contribute to psychological distress. Screening tools such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, HADS, and Zung SAS have demonstrated feasibility and validity in TB settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Anxiety and depression in TB result from interacting biological, pharmacological, and psychosocial factors. Integrating systematic and repeated mental health screening into routine TB care is essential to improve detection, support timely interventions, enhance adherence, and optimize treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"772-779"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425885","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":"A six-year experience of catheter-related bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients.","authors":"Zeynep Ture, Alparslan Demiray, Kadir Demirkutlu, Beyza Hayırlıdağ, Fatma Cevahir, İsmail Koçyiğit","doi":"10.3855/jidc.22212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.22212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study investigated the clinical characteristics, causative microorganisms, and antibiotic resistance patterns of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) in hemodialysis patients at a tertiary healthcare institution.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A retrospective analysis of 300 patients treated for CRBSIs between January 2018 and December 2023 was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: those with less than 1 year of hemodialysis (Group 1) and those with more than 1 year of hemodialysis (Group 2). Risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and 28-day mortality were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age was 68 years. Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant pathogens (69%), with Staphylococcus aureus being the most frequent. Group 1 had significantly higher rates of recent hospitalization (p = 0.014) and a history of previous ICU admission (p = 0.001). However, no significant differences were found in causative microorganisms or antimicrobial resistance between the two groups. Risk factors for ICU transfer included carbapenem resistance (OR: 7.657, p = 0.013), history of catheter revision (OR: 4.632, p = 0.022), and leukocytosis (OR: 1.150, p = 0.004). The 28-day mortality rate was 8%. Significant risk factors for mortality were ICU transfer (OR: 17.29; p = 0.001) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection (OR: 14.10; p = 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite shorter-term dialysis patients having more frequent hospitalizations, the distribution and resistance of pathogens remain similar regardless of hemodialysis duration. Empirical therapy should prioritize broad anti-staphylococcal coverage and be tailored to specific risk factors such as VRE or carbapenem resistance rather than hemodialysis duration.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 6","pages":"869-877"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425604","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 typing characteristics and drug resistance of Salmonella from food-borne diarrhea patients in Chifeng, China.","authors":"Chunru Wei, Yanbo Bai, Huying Li, Peng Peng, Yunyao Zhao, Huixia Yu, Fengjun Yang","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21764","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.21764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the infection status, serotype distribution, drug resistance, and molecular typing characteristics of Salmonella in food-borne diarrhea patients in Chifeng, China, from 2022 to 2024.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Fecal samples were collected from diarrhea patients for Salmonella isolation and molecular serotype identification. The isolates were tested using the microbroth dilution method and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to assess drug susceptibility and perform molecular typing. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS 25.0 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Salmonella was detected in 52 of the 737 fecal samples, yielding a positive detection rate of 7.06% (52/737). A total of 52 Salmonella strains were isolated, predominantly Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis, which accounted for 40.38% (21/52) and 21.15% (11/52), respectively. Additionally, 5 other serotypes were identified: S. Kentucky, S. Dublin, S. Liverpool, S. Vilshaw, and S. Paratyphoid A. Notably, 48 strains (92.31%, 48/52) exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic, with resistance rates exceeding 50% for ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid. The rate of multiple drug resistance reached 86.54% (45/52). Cluster analysis of the 52 Salmonella strains revealed 39 band types with similarity indices ranging from 50.1% to 100%. Notably, a higher similarity coefficient indicated greater similarity in drug resistance phenotypes among the strains.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The detection rate of Salmonella among food-borne diarrhea patients in Chifeng from 2022 to 2024 was notably high. The predominant serotypes were S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. The PFGE band types were relatively diverse, and the strains exhibited significant drug resistance, including multiple drug resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 5","pages":"693-702"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148212998","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":"Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and its role in stunting: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Indonesia.","authors":"Febri Sembiring, Tania Regita Sari, Gabriella Septiani Nasution, Dewi Setiyawati, Hafizah Ilmi Sufa","doi":"10.3855/jidc.21502","DOIUrl":"10.3855/jidc.21502","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between environmental contamination and stunting among children under five years of age in Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to October 2024, involving 180 households with private drinking water sources. Stunting was assessed using height-for-age Z-scores (< -2 SD). Water samples were tested for E. coli and Coliforms using the membrane filtration method on Chromocult Coliform Agar, incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. E. coli was confirmed by IMViC biochemical tests, and antimicrobial resistance was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method following CLSI guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Water testing showed E. coli and Coliform bacteria in 75.4% and 80.7% of samples, indicating significant contamination. E. coli presence was significantly associated with stunting (p = 0.044), turbidity (p = 0.047), and diarrhea history (p = 0.004). Hierarchical regression identified E. coli, diarrhea, and turbidity as key stunting predictors, with E. coli showing a beta of -0.287 (p = 0.035). Multidrug resistance was high among E. coli isolates (n = 108), with 92.59% resistant to Tetracycline and Sulfamethoxazole, and 70.37% to Amoxicillin and Ampicillin, underscoring the need for targeted antimicrobial stewardship.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight that environmental contamination, particularly from Escherichia coli, may represent a critical risk factor for stunting, emphasizing the need for improved water quality and hygiene practices in vulnerable communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection in Developing Countries","volume":"20 5","pages":"660-669"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148213038","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}