Control Of Respiratory Infections Research Articles

Analysis of the epidemiological situation of influenza in Guangzhou under the prevention and control of COVID-19 in June 2022.

Under the prevention and control measures of COVID-19, the epidemiological situation of respiratory pathogens is not well known. Understanding the patterns of respiratory pathogens epidemiology under the prevention and control measures of COVID-19 is important to guide resource allocation for existing and future treatment and prevention strategies. In total, 659 fever outpatients nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at fever illness onset during June in 2022 at the First Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Swabs were tested by real-time fluorescent single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 12 respiratory pathogens. Moreover, 108 of the 659 swabs were tested for influenza virus antigen. At least one pathogen was detected in 477 (72.38%) of 659 fever outpatients with multiple pathogens identified in 25 (3.79%). The highest multiple infectious pattern is parainfluenza virus in combination with influenza (five cases). Influenza A virus (IFA), human rhinovirus (HRV), and parainfluenza virus are the three leading virus pathogens with proportions of 64.64%, 5.01%, and 2.88%. School-age children and adult groups have the highest pathogens positivity rate of 81.28% and 83.87%. A high proportion of adolescents and adults has respiratory pathogens detected during fever illnesses during June in 2022 under the prevention and control of COVID-19. These data indicate that diagnosis, prevention, and control of respiratory tract infection should be paid attention under the prevention and control of COVID-19.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to optimize the dosage regimen and withdrawal time of cefquinome in pigs.

Cefquinome is widely used to treat respiratory tract diseases of swine. While extra-label dosages of cefquinome could improve clinical efficacy, they might lead to excessively high residues in animal-derived food. In this study, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was calibrated based on the published data and a microdialysis experiment to assess the dosage efficiency and food safety. For the microdialysis experiment, in vitro/in vivo relative recovery and concentration-time curves of cefquinome in the lung interstitium were investigated. This PBPK model is available to predict the drug concentrations in the muscle, kidney, liver, plasma, and lung interstitial fluid. Concentration-time curves of 1000 virtual animals in different tissues were simulated by applying sensitivity and Monte Carlo analyses. By integrating pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target parameters, cefquinome delivered at 3-5 mg/kg twice daily is advised for the effective control of respiratory tract infections of nursery pig, which the bodyweight is around 25 kg. Based on the predicted cefquinome concentrations in edible tissues, the withdrawal interval is 2 and 3 days for label and the extra-label doses, respectively. This study provides a useful tool to optimize the dosage regimen of cefquinome against respiratory tract infections and predicts the concentration of cefquinome residues in edible tissues. This information would be helpful to improve the food safety and guide rational drug usage.

Lactobacillus Probiotic Strains Differ in Their Ability to Adhere to Human Lung Epithelial Cells and to Prevent Adhesion of Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Cystic Fibrosis Lung.

The field of probiotic applications is rapidly expanding, including their use for the control of respiratory tract infections. Nevertheless, probiotics ability to colonize the lung environment and to compete with pulmonary pathogens is still a poorly investigated research area. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the adhesion ability of a number of commercial probiotic strains to the human lung epithelial cell line A549. Furthermore, we assessed probiotic ability to prevent host cell adhesion of one of the major lung pathogens in cystic fibrosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and to reduce the pathogen-induced inflammatory response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in terms of cytokine release. Lactobacillus acidophilus displayed the highest adhesion ability to A549 cells evaluated as percent of adhered bacteria compared to the inoculum. In agreement with such an observation, L. acidophilus was the most efficient in preventing adhesion to A549 cells of a P. aeruginosa isolate from CF sputum. Three-color fluorescence labeling of A549 cells, P. aeruginosa, and L. acidophilus, and confocal microcopy image analyses revealed a likely exclusion effect played by both live and UV-killed L. acidophilus towards P. aeruginosa. Such results were confirmed by CFU count. When co-cultured with PBMCs, both live and UV-killed L. acidophilus reduced the amount of IL-1β and IL-6 in culture supernatants in a statistically significant manner. Overall, the results obtained point to L. acidophilus as an interesting candidate for further studies for a potential aerogenous administration to control P. aeruginosa infections.

Determinants of pneumonia among under-five children in Oromia region, Ethiopia: unmatched case-control study

BackgroundPneumonia is the single largest infectious disease that causes more under-five morbidity and mortality than any other infectious disease in the world, including Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to assess determinants of pneumonia among under-five children in the South West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2021.MethodsWe used an unmatched case-control study design from March 15 to April 30, 2021, in the South West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. A sample of 398 (199 cases and 199 controls) participated in the study. Trained data collectors through a pre-tested structured questionnaire collected data. We used Epi Info to enter data and analyzed using SPSS version 23. We described our data using descriptive statistics. We identified predictors of pneumonia using logistic regression analysis. We declared predictors of pneumonia at a P-value of 0.05 or less.ResultsBreastfeeding for less than 6 months [AOR:3.51, 95%CI:(1.12,11.00)], lack of Vitamin A supplementation [AOR:3.56,95%CI:(1.58, 8.05)], history of URTI [AOR:9.66, 95%CI:(4.69,19.87)], family child care practices [AOR:6.46, 95%CI, (2.83,14.76)], sleeping with three to five persons in a room [AOR:2.90, 9%CI: (1.23,6.84)], having above five persons in a room [AOR: 3.88, 95%CI: 1.02,14.77), use of wood as a source of fuel [AOR = 3.02 95% CI: 1.41,6.46)] and not opening windows [AOR:2.56 95%CI: (1.21,5.41)] were independent factors of pneumonia among under five children.ConclusionPneumonia is associated with breastfeeding for less than 6 months, lack of vitamin A supplementation, history of URTI, types of childcare practice, indoor overcrowding, use of wood as a source of fuel, and not opening windows. Therefore, exclusive breastfeeding, improving vitamin A supplementation, early control of respiratory tract infection through promoting good hygiene and ventilation strategies in crowded homes, and promoting how to reduce indoor air pollution through affordable clean stoves will be relevant interventions to reduce under-five pneumonia.

Causes, Effects and Control of Respiratory Tract Infections Among Reproductive Age Women in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State-Nigeria

This study examined the causes, effects and control of respiratory tract infections among patients in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State. Data were collected from the primary source using survey research design. A sample of 365 respondents was drawn and used to represent the entire population of the study. The research instrument was validated and tested using Alpha cronbach with the reliability coefficient of 0.90. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The study found that, virus with flu, tobacco smoke, respiratory syncytial virus, indoor air burning from burning fuels, dust and chemicals, bacteria as well as fungal infections and staphylococcus aureus were accepted to be the main causes of respiratory tract infections. While congestive heart failure, respiratory failure, death occurs as a result of negligent to proper treatment, abnormal lung functioning, respiratory arrest and blood infection (sepsis) leading to organ shutdown were identified in this study as the major effects of effects of respiratory tract infections among patients in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State. Recommendations: Health professionals and health management should provide adequate vital information to the general public to enlighten them on the preventive measure of respiratory tract infection so as to reduce the menace of the infections to its minimal point as well as promote good health among the populace in the study location and the state as a whole as well as Government and health policy formulators should as a matter of urgency provide substantial and effective measures through programmes and schemes as well as provide adequate vaccines for treatment and management of respiratory tract infections.

Prevalence of pneumonia and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Angolela Tera district, North Shoa, Ethiopia, 2021, community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundChildhood pneumonia is the commonest cause of suffering worldwide. Among under-five children where it accounts for more than one out of seven under-five death globally. It is the single leading cause of death in Ethiopia, accounting for 18% of all under-five mortality burdens. These deaths are easily preventable and treatable through simple and cost-effective interventions. The study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of pneumonia among under-five children at Angolela Tera district, North Shoa, Ethiopia, 2021. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a simple random sample with a sample size of 414 registered mothers with 6–59 months of children. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The data were entered using the EpiData version 3.1, and analysis was done by SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used.ResultsThe prevalence of pneumonia in children under five was 5.8% (95% CI 3.6–8.2%). Based on the multivariable logistic regression analysis of this study, child male sex, have no family toilet, children having fever in the last 2 weeks, lack of maternal ANC follow-up and children with stunted were associated with pneumonia.ConclusionsThe study shows that the prevalence of under-five pneumonia was low as compared to recent EDHS 2016. Therefore, by making interventions on potential determinates such as by improving family latrine utilization, improving the nutritional status of children, and early control of respiratory tract infection and fever, we can reduce under-five pneumonia.

Photodynamic inactivation of influenza virus as a potential alternative for the control of respiratory tract infections

Over the last centuries, the influenza virus has been the cause of one of the deadliest and most concerning respiratory tract infections. Besides being annually responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide, it's capable of originating pandemics that can affect millions of people, like COVID-19. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is an emerging alternative solution for the treatment and control of viral infections and several studies have already shown that it can be efficient against influenza viruses. Herein we give a brief overview of key biological and epidemiological features of influenza and some insights on how to guide the development of new techniques for the management of influenza. This is followed by a review of in vitro and in vivo assays that have been carried out so far for the photodynamic inactivation of different influenza strains, using different families of photosensitizers (i.e. porphyrins, phthalocyanines, phenothiazinium dyes and analogues, among others) with diverse molecular size and charge (neutral, anionic or cationic). Finally, we give a brief perspective and update on the potential nasal inactivation of COVID-19 using PDI.

Magnitude and Predictors of Pneumonia among Under-Five Children in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Pneumonia is currently the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Although these problems are easily preventable and treatable, it contributes to more than 18% of deaths of under-five children every year in Ethiopia. Regardless of these facts, there is a paucity of information regarding the magnitude and its predictors of pneumonia in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to determine the pooled magnitude of pneumonia and its predictors among under-five children in Ethiopia. Methods The international databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were scientifically explored. Articles were also searched by examining the gray literature on institutional databases and by reviewing reference lists of already identified articles. We considered all primary studies reporting the magnitude of pneumonia among under-five children and its predictors in Ethiopia. We retrieved all necessary data by using a standardized data extraction format spreadsheet. STATA 14 statistical software was used to analyze the data, and Cochrane's Q test statistics and I2 test were used to assess the heterogeneity between the studies. Significant variability was found between the studies in such a way that a random-effect model was used. Result The pooled magnitude of pneumonia among under-five children was 20.68% (I2 = 97.9%; P ≤ 0.001) out of 12 studies in Ethiopia. Children who have unvaccinated (OR = 2.45), food cooking in the main house (OR = 2.46), vitamin A supplementation status (OR = 2.85), malnutrition (OR = 2.98), mixed breastfeeding (OR = 2.46), and child history of respiratory tract infection (OR = 4.11) were potential determinates of pneumonia. Conclusion and Recommendations. This review showed that the magnitude of pneumonia was relatively high. Hence, appropriate intervention on potential determinates such as health education on exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition, place of food cooking, increased immunization and vitamin A supplementation, and early control of respiratory tract infection was recommended to prevent those risk factors.

Reduced burden of bacterial airway colonization with a novel silver-coated endotracheal tube in a randomized multiple-center feasibility study*

To assess the feasibility and safety of the respiratory infection control (RIC) device, a silver-coated endotracheal tube, and its effect on bacterial burden in the airways. Prospective, randomized, single-blind, multiple-center study. Three hospitals in Spain and one in the United States. Patients were eligible adults who required mechanical ventilation for > or =24 hrs and did not have respiratory infections. One hundred forty-nine patients were intubated and analyzed for safety; 121 were intubated > or =24 hrs and analyzed for tube colonization; 67 had negative baseline quantitative endotracheal aspirates and were analyzed for quantitative endotracheal aspirates colonization. Intubation with the RIC device or a control endotracheal tube. The RIC device was associated with delayed colonization on the tube compared with the control device at the threshold of ++, +++, or > or =10(4) colony-forming units/mL (p = .02, log-rank test; p = .10, Wilcoxon's test) and in quantitative endotracheal aspirates at > or =10(6) colony-forming units/mL (p = .08, log-rank test; p = .05, Wilcoxon's test). The RIC device was associated with reduced colonization rate by days on the tube (p = .04, Wilcoxon's test) and in quantitative endotracheal aspirates (p = .05, Wilcoxon's test) at the same thresholds. The RIC device was associated with lower maximal bacterial burden in tracheal aspirates for 7 days (mean log-transformed burden, 4.2 +/- 2.3 vs. 5.5 +/- 1.7 log colony-forming units/mL; p = .02, Wilcoxon's test). Other between-group differences favored the RIC device but were not significant. Five adverse events were considered device related, including three events in the RIC group and two events in the control group. In this prospectively planned, preliminary analysis, the RIC device was feasible and well tolerated. Larger studies are needed to determine whether delayed colonization, reduced colonization rate, and decreased bacterial burden will decrease the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

In vivo penetration of antibiotics into sputum in cystic fibrosis.

The control of respiratory tract infections in cystic fibrosis has for many years utilized a wide range of antibiotics. The effect of administering one or more antibiotics to combat an invading organism has, as might be expected, been variable. We have attempted here to determine some of the factors that are responsible for these variations in the hope that a more effective chemotherapeutic control might result. The cases studied in this series were limited to those with extensive lung damage, as only in these cases could enough sputum be obtained for assay purposes. The results we have obtained, therefore, do not indicate the value of the test antibiotic in prophylaxis.

Management of chronic sinus disease: chronic maxillary sinusitis.

IF ACCURATE statistics were available, they would undoubtedly reveal that acute or chronic maxillary sinusitis—and this should apply to infections in the other sinuses as well—is less frequently encountered at present by specialists in rhinology than it was prior to the advent of the sulfonamides and the antibiotics. This decrease seems to be most marked in the incidence of maxillary sinusitis, in which the initial cause is purely one of infection with pyogenic organisms. It is part of the improved control of respiratory tract infections in general. The severe upper respiratory tract infections accompanying the exanthemata, particularly scarlet fever and measles, or the generalized purely respiratory infections complicated by pneumonic suppuration are now less frequently encountered. These often left a sinus suppuration in their wake. The ethmoids and the antra were the sinuses that were most frequently involved. This decrease is less marked in the instances of maxillary sinusitis in