Infection and Chemotherapy最新文献

{"title":"Human Metapneumovirus: A Comprehensive Epidemiological Analysis of a Global Respiratory Threat.","authors":"Sudip Bhattacharya, Samiksha Bhattacharjee, Alok Singh","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0019","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a significant respiratory pathogen that contributes to acute respiratory infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Since its discovery in 2001, HMPV has become a global health concern, with epidemiological data revealing seasonal peaks and notable genetic diversity. The virus is associated with a wide range of respiratory illnesses, including bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and asthma exacerbations, leading to substantial hospitalization rates and healthcare costs. This review examines the epidemiology of HMPV, focusing on pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) trends, transmission patterns, and the impact on at-risk populations. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the seasonality of HMPV, with altered patterns of viral circulation and co-infection with other respiratory pathogens, such as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. Despite its considerable impact, HMPV remains under-recognized and lacks specific antivirals or vaccines, leaving management largely supportive. Advances in molecular diagnostics, including RT-PCR and potential serological methods, offer hope for improved detection and epidemiological tracking. Moreover, research into monoclonal antibodies, antiviral treatments, and vaccines is ongoing, with promising results in preclinical models. Enhanced surveillance systems and integrated approaches to monitor co-circulating viruses are essential for mitigating the burden of HMPV. This review underscores the need for continued research, public health strategies, and global collaboration to address the challenges posed by HMPV, particularly in high-risk populations and regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"194-202"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230387/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144017587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiovascular Risk among People Living with HIV in Ghana.","authors":"Sylvester Chinbuah, Ebenezer Kofi Mensah, Sylvester Onumah, Frank Abban, Jun Yong Choi","doi":"10.3947/ic.2024.0138","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2024.0138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiovascular disease is a growing concern among people living with HIV (PLHIV) due to various risk factors and the long-term effects of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to assess the cardiovascular risk among PLHIV in the Western Region of Ghana in 2022.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to estimate cardiovascular risk among PLHIV in Ghana's Western Region in 2022. Data from medical records was collected from an urban and a rural hospital. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to estimate 10-year cardiovascular risk. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, correlation between lab-based FRS and body mass index (BMI)-based FRS, health characteristics by settlement type and factors associated with High FRS were analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 322 PLHIV was enrolled for this study, with a majority being female (76.1%) and aged 36-45 years (37.0%). Prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were dyslipidemia (28%), hypertension (26.3%), and diabetes (19.3%), while obesity (7.5%) and smoking (2.2%) were less prevalent. The lab-based FRS categorized 5.9% of participants as having a high cardiovascular risk. In comparison, the BMI-based FRS classified 12.1% in the high-risk category. There was a significant correlation between the lab-based FRS and BMI-based FRS. Employment status and religion were significant factors associated with cardiovascular risk.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cardiovascular diseases is a growing concern among PLHIV due to various risk factors and the long-term effects of HIV and ART. The findings of this study could contribute to improve cardiovascular health outcomes in PLHIV and provide a model for addressing comorbidities in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"238-247"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230394/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144025140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial Prescribing Patterns in Russian Outpatients in 2024: Results of the Global-PPS Project.","authors":"Svetlana Rachina, Yuliya Belkova, Roman Kozlov, Anastasia Kurkova, Annelies Boven, Ann Versporten, Ines Pauwels, Erika Vlieghe, Aleksandr Stafeev, Sergey Zyryanov, Veriko Kukava, Elena Bochanova, Ekaterina Eliseeva, Galina Ketova, Elena Luchsheva, Shamil Palyutin, Irina Panshina, Ulyana Portnyagina, Olga Reshetko, Vera Shegimova, Mikhail Shutov, Natalya Titova, Sergey Yakushin","doi":"10.3947/ic.2024.0144","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2024.0144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Detailed surveillance of antimicrobials' use in the community is an essential strategy to control their overuse and misuse. This study aimed to evaluate prescribing patterns of antimicrobials in Russian outpatients in 2024 and quantify the prescribing in relation to quality indicators.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A point prevalence study was conducted during January-April 2024 in 14 healthcare facilities in 11 Russian cities (Chelyabinsk, Ekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Saratov, Smolensk, Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok, Yakutsk, and Yaroslavl) in accordance with the outpatient protocol of Global-PPS project. Detailed data on antimicrobials, age, gender, and drug indications were collected for each outpatient receiving at least one agent for prophylaxis or treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 5,084 outpatients from 149 units were surveyed, of which 487 (9.6%) received at least one antimicrobial agent. The highest rates of antimicrobial prescribing were observed at upper respiratory tract (33.2%), gastroenterology (22.6%), hematology (13.6%), ear nose and throat (13.5%), and gynecology units (11.6%). Antibacterials accounted for 63.4% of antimicrobials on average, followed by antivirals (35.4%). Penicillins (41.4%), for the most part penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (30.1%), cephalosporins (18.3%), including third generation (17.7%), fluoroquinolones (16.1%), and macrolides (11.5%) were the top classes of antibiotics prescribed. Umifenovir (23.8%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (19.0%) were the top antimicrobials prescribed. The administered antibacterials were almost equally distributed between \"access\" (46.5%) and \"watch\" (53.5%) AWaRe groups. On average, choice of antimicrobials followed the national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health in 73.2% of cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The pooled rates of antimicrobial prescribing in outpatient settings was 9.6% with the substantial differences in patterns of consumption overall and among the units of different types. Broad-spectrum antibacterials such as penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, III-IV generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides together amounted to 48% of prescriptions. Common concerns in antimicrobial drug usage included low guidelines compliance and low rate of \"access\" group antibacterials.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"261-273"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230390/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Korea's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: Focusing on the Appropriate Use of Antibiotics.","authors":"Young-Il Jeong, Hwa-Young Lee, Shinyoung Lee, Ga Yeong Jeong, Seo Hyun Kim, Seungyun Kim, Seung-Hee Seo, Na-Ri Shin","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0028","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as one of the top ten global public health threats. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, there has been a notable increase in global concern regarding AMR, leading to a strong call for a government-led response to address this issue. Since 2016, the Korean government has established and implemented a robust social foundation for managing AMR. This foundation encompasses several elements: enhancing the medical environment for infection prevention, providing support for the antimicrobial stewardship program in healthcare organizations, strengthening cooperation among multidisciplinary policy ministries, requiring veterinarians to prescribe antimicrobials in non-human fields, and enhancing food safety management in livestock and aquatic products. However, as the threat of AMR has intensified during the ongoing pandemic, the necessity for implementing a National Action Plan becomes even more critical. Therefore, the Third National Action Plan 2026-2030 is crucial to take into account several critical factors: raising awareness of AMR, strengthening of antimicrobial stewardship, halting the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, strengthening surveillance of antimicrobial use and AMR rates, strengthening internal and external collaborative efforts to combat AMR, and the final factor to consider is to enhance further antimicrobial development and diagnostic technologies to better manage and prevent AMR.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"203-214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230396/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Skin Abscesses by Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>: Cases to Raise Awareness.","authors":"Ka Eun Kim, Hyeon Jae Jo, Chang Kyung Kang","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0001","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"324-326"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144044315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preventing COVID-19 in Correctional Facilities: The Impact of Rapid Antigen Tests on Early Detection and Infection Control.","authors":"Hye Young Lee, Young-Joon Park, Sang-Eun Lee, Ji Joo Lee, Jihyun Choi, Mi Yu, Hanul Park, Hee Seok Park, Jun Yeop Kim, Jun Young Moon","doi":"10.3947/ic.2024.0080","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2024.0080","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"321-323"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to RSV Prevention Strategies in Korean Children: A Review of Current Approaches and Emerging Options.","authors":"Sudip Bhattacharya","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0024","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0024","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"331-332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibody Responses to Meningococcal Vaccine in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients with Veno-Occlusive Disease Treated with Eculizumab.","authors":"Hwanhee Park, Kyung-Ran Kim, Doo Ri Kim, Areum Shin, Hee Won Cho, Keon Hee Yoo, Ki Woong Sung, Yae-Jean Kim","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0030","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Treatment with eculizumab increases the risk of invasive meningococcal infection (IMI). We evaluated tetravalent meningococcal vaccine responses in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients with eculizumab for veno-occlusive disease (eculizumab group, n=4) and compared to patients with asplenia/polysplenia (asplenia/polysplenia group, n=2). Among the eculizumab group, two patients had a partial and full antibody response, respectively; two had no response. In contrast, the asplenia/polysplenia group showed full responses. These findings suggest poor vaccine response in HCT patients receiving eculizumab during the early post-HCT period, indicating limited meningococcal vaccine response and a need for antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent IMI in this group.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":"57 2","pages":"310-315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144568130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genotypic Distribution of Alpha-Like Proteins in Group B <i>Streptococcus</i> Strains Isolated in Korea: Implications for Vaccine Coverage.","authors":"Ji Hyen Lee, Hye-Kyung Cho, Kyung-Hyo Kim, Hyunju Lee, Dae Sun Jo, Han Wool Kim","doi":"10.3947/ic.2024.0127","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2024.0127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Group B <i>Streptococcus</i> (GBS) is a major cause of invasive bacterial diseases, including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia, particularly in newborns and infants. Pregnant adults, those with pre-existing conditions, and older adults are particularly susceptible. Ongoing research is focused on developing various vaccines utilizing different antigens, including capsular polysaccharides and alpha-like proteins (Alps). Epidemiological data on these antigens in GBS is essential for predicting the effectiveness of these vaccines. However, no epidemiological studies on Alps genotype have been conducted in Korea. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the distribution and characteristics of the <i>alp</i> genotype in domestic clinical strains.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We analyzed 386 GBS strains isolated from various clinical specimens between April 2000 and November 2018. The serotype of each strain was initially verified using a slide latex agglutination reaction, then confirmed by polymerase chain reaction to determine the presence of the genes <i>bca, rib, alp1, alp2, alp3,</i> and <i>alp4</i> associated with Alps. Strains were then classified as invasive or non-invasive based on the type of clinical specimen. The distribution of serotypes and <i>alp</i> genotype was analyzed across these classifications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We analyzed 386 bacterial strains to assess their clinical characteristics, serotypes, and <i>alp</i> genotype distributions. Of these strains, 47.1% (182 strains) were invasive primarily isolated from blood samples (43.3%, 167 strains), whereas non-invasive strains were more frequently isolated from sites such as the vagina and urethra. Serotype III was the most prevalent across both invasive and non-invasive strains, comprising 28.2% (109 strains) of all isolates. Notably, 79.5% (307 strains) of all isolates were encompassed by the hexavalent vaccine (serotype Ia, Ib, II, III, and V) formulations. Furthermore, the <i>rib</i> genotype was the most common, detected in 39.4% (152 strains) of all isolates, with a higher prevalence in non-invasive samples (44.1%, 90 strains).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although the distribution of <i>alp</i> genotypes differed between invasive and non-invasive strains, the proportion of bca and rib was substantial. Therefore, Alp protein vaccine containing Rib and Cα antigens is expected to provide protection against prevalent GBS strains in Korea. Additional epidemiological studies on GBS vaginal colonization in pregnant women and invasive neonatal strains are needed to support early neonatal sepsis prevention in these high-risk groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"218-229"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reply: Response to Pertussis in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Resurgence, Diagnosis, and Management.","authors":"Hyun Mi Kang, Taek-Jin Lee, Su Eun Park, Soo-Han Choi","doi":"10.3947/ic.2025.0014","DOIUrl":"10.3947/ic.2025.0014","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51616,"journal":{"name":"Infection and Chemotherapy","volume":" ","pages":"329-330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12230380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144259393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}