Infection Control Research Articles

No Backstage: The Relentless Emotional Management of Acute Nursing Through the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurse's well-being, experiences of delivering healthcare within acute settings and their emotional management. Sequential mixed methods. February to July 2021 an online well-being survey was disseminated to nurses working in acute settings within one Scottish health board. In-depth interviews with a purposive sample of respondents were conducted. Survey data were analysed descriptively, and interview data using Framework analysis and emotional management as the theoretical framework. Well-being was poor overall. Infection control measures impeded interactions, with loss of connection between patients, families and nurses. Emotional work was extended in caring for patients and families when visits were forbidden or restricted. Disconnect between colleagues was intensely felt. On COVID and non-COVID wards, nurses were caring for patients with a significantly reduced workforce and often outside their clinical speciality. Nurses masked their own anxieties, fears, moral distress and exhaustion on the ward. Communal 'backstage' spaces, were reduced to enable more infection-control space but reduced opportunity for collegial support. Formal psychological intervention required access after shift, and/or nurses feared they could not contain their emotions afterwards. Working during the pandemic was emotionally and physically demanding for those in COVID a.nd non-COVID wards. Unintended consequences of infection control measures significantly extended nurses' emotional management, by caring for isolated patients and families but impeding opportunities to care for each other, compounding their emotions. There is a need to value emotional work in nursing to better support mental well-being. We advance the nursing emotional management literature by addressing the gap of exploration in challenging conditions. The importance of emotional management on nurses' mental well-being has been overlooked but focusing on this in the next crisis could improve nurse's well-being. No patient or public contribution. GRAMMS.

Tratamento endodôntico em sessão única em dentes com lesão apical: relato de caso

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry responsible for treating the inside of the teeth through endodontic treatment. One of the main objectives of endodontic treatment is to guide the root canal system to a clean place, consequently eliminating microorganisms, providing the cure of the infection and later restoring the function of the tooth. Endodontic treatment performed correctly is successful in the long term regardless of the number of sessions, therefore, endodontic treatment in a single session is a great alternative due to the saving of operative time, lower risk of infiltrations, shorter time to resume function of the tooth in the stomatognathic system, reduced risk of cross-infection and reduced drug administration to patients who need antibiotic prophylaxis. The success of the root canal treatment will depend on the infection control through the correct cleaning and modeling of the canals, the filling of the same through the obturation and all the care to be executed and not the medication used between sessions. Thus, the objective of this work is to report the effectiveness of endodontic treatment in a single session through a clinical case report of a patient with a large periapical lesion in elements 21 and 22.

Molecular characterisation of virulence genes in bacterial pathogens from daycare centres in Ile-Ife, Nigeria: implications for infection control

BackgroundDaycare centres play a critical role in early childhood development but are high-risk environments for infectious disease transmission due to close physical contact, shared toys, inadequate hygiene, and poor ventilation. These risks are especially concerning in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nigeria, where resources for infection control may be limited. This study aimed to identify and characterise virulence genes in bacterial isolates from daycare centres in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, to assess infection risks.MethodsBetween November 2017 and July 2019, 233 samples were collected from 76 children, 33 daycare workers, and 124 fomites in 17 daycare centres. The bacterial isolates were analysed using conventional PCR and RAPD analysis to detect the presence of virulence genes. The frequency of crucial virulence genes and the prevalence of each bacterial species were recorded.ResultsKey virulence genes were detected, including fimH in Klebsiella species (22.73% of Gram-negative isolates), algD in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50%), and icaA and cna in Staphylococcus aureus (16.67%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent species (35%), followed by Klebsiella (28%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%).ConclusionThis study highlights the presence of virulent bacterial pathogens in daycare environments, posing a severe infection risk to children. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to implement enhanced infection control measures, such as regular microbial screening, improved hand hygiene practices, and disinfection protocols for fomites. Training programs for daycare workers on hygiene practices and routine monitoring could also significantly reduce infection transmission. These interventions are vital for safeguarding the health of daycare children in Nigeria and similar settings globally.

Photothermally enhanced antibacterial wound healing using albumin-loaded tanshinone IIA and IR780 nanoparticles.

Chronic and infected wounds, particularly those caused by bacterial infections, present significant challenges in medical treatment. This study aimed to develop a novel nanoparticle formulation to enhance wound healing by combining antimicrobial and photothermal therapy using albumin as a carrier for Tanshinone IIA and the near-infrared photothermal agent IR780. The nanoparticles were synthesized to exploit the antimicrobial effects of Tanshinone IIA and the photothermal properties of IR780 when exposed to near-infrared laser irradiation. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and spectroscopic analysis to confirm their successful synthesis. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated using cultures of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and in vivo efficacy was tested in a mouse model of MRSA-infected wounds. Wound healing progression was assessed over 16days, with statistical analysis performed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test. The nanoparticles demonstrated significant photothermal properties, enhancing bacterial eradication and promoting the controlled release of Tanshinone IIA. In vitro studies showed superior antibacterial activity, especially under photothermal activation, leading to a substantial reduction in bacterial viability in MRSA cultures. In vivo, nanoparticle treatment combined with near-infrared laser irradiation significantly improved wound closure rates compared to controls and treatments without photothermal activation. By the 16th day post-treatment, significant improvements in wound healing were observed, highlighting the potential of the combined photothermal and pharmacological approach. These findings suggest that albumin-loaded nanoparticles containing Tanshinone IIA and IR780, activated by near-infrared light, could offer an effective therapeutic strategy for managing chronic and infected wounds, promoting both infection control and tissue repair.

Combination of proviral and antiviral roles of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression defines parameters of chronic gammaherpesvirus infection.

Gammaherpesviruses are species-specific, ubiquitous pathogens that establish lifelong infection in their hosts and are associated with cancers, including B cell lymphomas. Type I and II interferons (IFNs) are critical for the control of acute and chronic gammaherpesvirus infection. However, the cell type-specific role of IFN signaling during natural infection is poorly defined and is masked by the altered viral pathogenesis observed in hosts with global IFN deficiencies. STAT1 is a constitutively expressed transcription factor that is critical for the effector function of type I and II IFNs. In this study, we defined the impact of B cell-specific STAT1 expression on gammaherpesvirus infection using murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68). While the acute stage of MHV68 infection was not affected, we found opposite, anatomic site-dependent effects of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression during chronic infection. Consistent with the antiviral role of STAT1, B cell-specific STAT1 expression attenuated the latent viral reservoir in peritoneal B cells of chronically infected mice. In contrast, STAT1 expression in splenic B cells supported the establishment of the latent MHV68 reservoir in germinal center B cells, revealing an unexpected proviral role of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression during chronic gammaherpesvirus infection. These STAT1-dependent MHV68 chronic infection phenotypes were fully recapitulated in the peritoneal cavity but not the spleen of mice with B cell-specific deficiency of type I IFN receptor. In summary, our study uncovers the intriguing combination of proviral and antiviral roles of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression during chronic gammaherpesvirus infection.IMPORTANCEInterferons (IFNs) execute broadly antiviral roles during acute and chronic viral infections. The constitutively expressed transcription factor STAT1 is a critical downstream effector of IFN signaling. Our studies demonstrate that B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression has opposing and anatomic site-dependent roles during chronic gammaherpesvirus infection. Specifically, B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression restricted gammaherpesvirus latent reservoir in the peritoneal cavity, consistent with the classical antiviral role of STAT1. In contrast, decreased STAT1 expression in splenic B cells led to the attenuated establishment of gammaherpesvirus latency and decreased latent infection of germinal center B cells, highlighting a novel proviral role of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression during chronic infection with a B cell-tropic gammaherpesvirus. Interestingly, B cell-specific type I IFN receptor deficiency primarily recapitulated the antiviral role of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression, suggesting the compensatory function of B cell-intrinsic type II IFN signaling or an IFN-independent proviral role of B cell-intrinsic STAT1 expression during chronic gammaherpesvirus infection.

The impact of statewide educational webinars on infection prevention and control knowledge and policy updates in acute and long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Nebraska experience.

A Nebraska statewide webinar series was initiated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for long-term care (LTC) and acute care/outpatient (AC) facilities. An impact survey was completed by 48 of 96 AC and 109 of 429 LTC facilities. The majority reported increased regulatory awareness (AC: 65%, LTC: 54%) and updated COVID-19 (AC: 61%, LTC: 69%) and general infection prevention (AC: 61%, LTC: 60%) policies.

An outbreak of double carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, harbouring NDM-5 and OXA-48 genes, at a tertiary hospital in Canberra, Australia.

In July 2023, a carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) with New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-5) and oxacillinase (OXA-48) carbapenemase genes was detected in the urine sample of a patient. A similar CPKP organism had previously been isolated from a surveillance rectal swab of an admitted patient, prompting an outbreak investigation. A confirmed case was defined as any suspected case in which a species of Enterobacterales was isolated from a clinical or surveillance specimen (infection or colonisation) exhibiting an NDM-5 or OXA-48 CPE gene or both, irrespective of phenotypic susceptibility. A descriptive epidemiological investigation was conducted to describe the investigation, infection prevention and control responses, and public health intervention carried out. Three confirmed cases of CPKP were identified, including the index case; 62 contacts were identified, of which 13 contacts were screened. CPKP transmission occurred between two patients on contact transmission-based precautions in separate single ensuite rooms. Despite being in the same ward, the patients did not share medical teams but shared nursing teams and ancillary staff. This study emphasises the importance of strict adherence to infection prevention and control practices and contact transmission-based precautions for patients admitted with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Assessing effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection of equipment and environmental surfaces in cystic fibrosis clinics using an ATP assay.

Infection control guidelines for cystic fibrosis (CF) stress cleaning of environmental surfaces and patientcare equipment in CF clinics. This multicenter study measured cleanliness of frequently touched surfaces in CF clinics using an ATP bioluminescence assay to assess the effectiveness of cleaning/disinfection and the impact of feedback. Eight surfaces were tested across 19 clinics (10 pediatric, 9 adult) over 5 rounds of testing. Rounds 1 and 2 served as uncleaned baseline, and Round 3 occurring after routine cleaning. Rounds 4 and 5 were performed after feedback provided to staff and measured after cleaning. Pass rates defined as <250 relative light units were the primary outcome. Of the 750 tests performed, 72% of surfaces passed at baseline, and 79%, 83%, and 85% of surfaces passed in Rounds 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The overall pass-rate was significantly higher in adult compared to pediatric clinics (86% vs 71%; P < 0.001). In pediatric clinics, blood pressure equipment and computer keyboards in the pulmonary function lab consistently passed, but the exam room patient/visitor chairs consistently failed in all rounds. In adult clinics blood pressure equipment, keyboards in exam rooms and exam tables passed in all rounds and no surface consistently failed. We demonstrate the feasibility of an ATP bioluminescence assay to measure cleanliness of patient care equipment and surfaces in CF clinics. Pass rates improved after cleaning and feedback for certain surfaces. We found that surfaces are more challenging to keep clean in clinics taking care of younger patients.

Relationship between changes in lifestyle and sleep duration due to the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in older adults: A cross-sectional study

Objectives In response to the spread of COVID-19, a state of emergency was declared on April 7, 2020. People were asked to stay at home unless necessary, and studies conducted in Japan and other countries have investigated the impact of these restrictions on the lives and health of older adults. While some studies have focused on sleep, a crucial aspect of the health of older adults, little is known about the relationship between sleep and various lifestyle changes experienced by older adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we aimed to investigate the factors associated with changes in sleep duration among older adults before and after the spread of COVID-19.Methods A random sample of 1,808 men and women aged 65-84 years who lived in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan was selected. A self-administered anonymous survey was mailed to the participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with decreased sleep duration compared to the COVID-19 pre-pandemic. Factors such as basic attributes, lifestyle changes compared with that during pre-pandemic period, stress levels, and involvement with the community were considered in the analysis.Results Of the 1,808 distributed surveys, 1,305 were returned (response rate: 72.2%). After excluding participants with missing data (n＝108), 1,197 responses were included in the final analysis (valid response rate: 66.2%). Among these, 155 participants (12.9%) reported decreased sleep duration. Decreased "social activities/connectedness" (odds ratio [OR]: 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54-4.22), reduced "average duration of exercise on exercise days" (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.38-5.24), and self-reported "stress in the past month" (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.43-4.06) were significantly associated with decreased sleep duration.Conclusion The spread of COVID-19 was associated with decreased sleep duration among older adults. This decrease was linked to reduced social activity and participation, decreased exercise, and increased stress. To mitigate these effects, maintaining social participation and activities, scheduling regular and manageable exercise routines, and implementing effective stress management strategies while adhering to infection control practices are important.

Healthcare Internet of Things system implementations for COVID-19 prevention

BackgroundIn response to the widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Australia, healthcare facilities implemented stringent infection control measures, and mandatory and manual screening procedures were introduced to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare staff. However, these necessary measures resulted in imbalances within the healthcare system, a shortage of front-line workers and impacts on patient experience and wait times. The prioritization of infection control measures shifted resources away from routine care, causing delays in accessing necessary healthcare services.Methods and FindingsTo address these challenges, we developed and implemented an Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Screening eGate solution in partnership with a large metropolitan children’s hospital in Australia. This solution integrated a contactless health self-service web app, thermal camera, and physical barrier to automate the COVID-19 health screening and data recording process. During the 3-month pilot period, we deployed the eGate at multiple entrances to the hospital, and monitored the number of users of the system in different periods. We also used a framework of formative evaluation to classify user design challenges within limited resources and improved the design of the eGate to enhance its effectiveness. Our findings show that the IoT eGate solution improved the efficiency of the screening process and reduced the workload and exposure risks of front-line staff and anyone who required access to the hospital. By automating the screening process, we reduced the need for manual screening and minimized contact between individuals, thus reducing the risk of potentially infected.ConclusionIn conclusion, our pilot study demonstrated the potential of IoT technologies in improving the efficiency and safety of medical facilities during pandemics and provided a series of recommendations for the translation of IoT technologies for medical facilities, including the importance of co-design and collaboration with stakeholders, user-centered design, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

High rate of macrolide resistance and closely genetically related Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains identified among both cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients within two countries.

This study highlights the importance of understanding Mycobacterium abscessus transmission because it poses a growing threat to vulnerable populations, especially young cystic fibrosis patients. Investigating how it spreads and which antibiotics work best is crucial for effective treatment. This research used whole genome sequencing to track M. abscessus and found evidence of potential transmission between patients, including across borders. The findings suggest that dominant strains are circulating and some patients may be infected through direct or indirect contact. This knowledge can inform infection control and treatment strategies.

Enhancing infection prevention and control through hand hygiene compliance in six Ugandan hospitals using quality improvement approaches.

Hand hygiene (HH) plays a crucial role in mitigating healthcare-associated infections. Improving HH compliance in healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings is urgently needed. We implemented the World Health Organization (WHO) HH improvement strategy using a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach targeting improvement in HH compliance by healthcare workers (HCWs). An intervention was implemented in six hospitals using a longitudinal study design between May 2019 and April 2023. We set up and monitored infection prevention and control (IPC) and HH programs using WHO's infection prevention and control assessment framework at the facility level (IPCAF) and hand hygiene self-assessment framework (HHSAF) tools. We implemented HH interventions using CQI techniques while targeting HCW HH knowledge and compliance with the WHO's Five Moments of HH. By the end of the intervention, IPC and HH capacity improved in all six hospitals, from a median score of 547.0 and 252.5 on IPCAF and HHSAF tools at baseline to an advanced score of 635.0 and 350.0 at endline assessment, respectively. Similarly, HCWs' HH knowledge improved in all hospitals, from a mean score of 45.0% at baseline to 76.0% at endline assessment, most notably among nurses. HH compliance, as assessed using WHO's HH observation tool, at least doubled in all hospitals, rising from 19.9% to 53.8%, with before touching a patient registering the highest (22-fold) improvement. On linear regression analysis, no significant association was observed between HH compliance and IPCAF b = -0.0004 (95% CI -0.093, 0.93) p = 0.990, HHSAF b = 0.009 (95% CI -.0127, 0.145) p = 0.842 and HCW knowledge on HH/IPC b = -0.165 (95% CI 0.815, 0.485) p = 0.519. This is the first documented comprehensive utilization of CQI approaches to implement HH as an entry point for the development of hospital IPC programs, and evaluation of WHO tools and approaches for IPC and HH improvement in Uganda. Implementation of the WHO HH improvement strategy using a CQI approach can lead to remarkable improvement in HH capacity, and HCW compliance and knowledge in hospitals within resource-limited settings.

Impact of self-restraint by COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in college students-COVID-19 Longitudinal survey of the 2nd and 3rd waves

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in students at university. [Method] 1880 students from university were surveyed. Survey period: July-August 2020 Demographic factors were used department, grade, gender, age. Mental health factors (PHQ-9 Japanese version, GAD-7 Japanese version, IES-R) were used. Decreased motivation to learn, loneliness: Japanese version UCLA loneliness scale was used. [Results] As a result of the survey, in (July-August), 737 patients (123 males and 614 females) were recovered (recovery rate 40.9%). As a result, in terms of gender difference, males had a higher total of "loneliness" than females and had a higher total of PTSD and "invasive symptoms". Students whose parents corresponded to corona had high "anxiety" and "depression". Students who felt rumors had high scores for "PTSD," "depression," "anxiety," and "loneliness." Students "seeking support" also scored higher on PTSD, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Those who were "not very careful" about infection control were more likely to be depressed than those who were "careful", and those who were "quite careful" were less motivated to learn. Family structure and parental profession have no effect. In addition, the relationship between each psychiatric symptom (PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder) and "loneliness" and "motivation to learn" was examined using covariance structure analysis. When the model was examined, the models of "loneliness" ⇒ "decreased learning motivation" ⇒ "PTSD" ⇒ "depression" and "anxiety" were verified. In other words, it was shown that it is important to deal with "loneliness" to improve mental health and learning motivation during the COVID 19 pandemic. [Conclusion] At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, college students may be high-risk persons with mental health problems.

Prevention and Control of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI): A Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Project

Prevention and Control of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI): A Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Project

Evaluation of Ventilation Strategies to Mitigate Airborne Infection Risk in a Dental School: A Three-Dimensional CFD Analysis of Airflow Patterns and Ventilation Efficiency

Infection prevention and control is a crucial element in providing a safe environment for dental clinics and reducing airborne infections risks during dental procedures. In response to the prevailing COVID-19 situations, the clinical space in the dental school was operated with ventilation strategies, increasing air exchanges and incorporating supply and return air arrangement based on seating positions. This study evaluated airflow patterns to examine personal exposure to airborne infection risk under these strategies. The three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics technique using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed in 50 multi-units of the dental school of the university in Bangkok, Thailand. The results revealed substantial improvements in indoor ventilation. Improvement of airflow patterns and directions surpassed conventional design of the pre-existing building’s system and helped reduce airborne contaminant concentrations. The further discussion of occupant-based design in dental schools is needed to optimize ventilation systems and engineering controls concerning indoor airborne infections.

Qualitative drivers of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics use and resistance in Ethiopia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) cautions against unnecessary prolongation of postoperative antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections (SSI), however this practice is still common in many countries. This study aims to describe drivers of prolonged postoperative antibiotic prescribing and clinicians' perspectives on antibiotics resistance and stewardship in Ethiopia. We conducted semi-structured interviews of 16 surgeons and nine surgical ward nurses at three academic referral hospitals in Addis Ababa. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and coded. Codes were inductively and iteratively derived between two researchers, tested for inter-rater reliability (IRR), and the codebook was consistently applied to all transcripts. Thematic analysis was performed to understand drivers of prolonged prophylactic antibiotic use in surgical patients. Interviews revealed factors contributing to postoperative prophylactic antibiotics overprescribing, including inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, wide variability in local prescribing practices, and distrust in the applicability of WHO guidelines. Antimicrobial resistance was also identified as a major concern by staff. Barriers to improving stewardship included a lack of multidisciplinary teamwork to inform prescribing decisions, while solutions included constructing appropriate context-specific guidelines and improving evidence-based practices through input from local stakeholders, including surgeons, clinical pharmacists, and nurses. Study participants perceived that existing evidence and guidelines did not apply in their settings due to high rates of surgical site infections and gaps in perioperative IPC practices (e.g., availability of water for handwashing, sterility breaches). These gaps were a key contributor to prophylactic antibiotic overprescribing, reinforcing the need to strengthen upstream and perioperative surgical antisepsis processes. The findings of this study underscore the importance of engaging multidisciplinary teams in strengthening antimicrobial stewardship efforts, aligning processes to achieve compliance with best practices, and the need for rigorous, contextually appropriate studies from these settings to inform policy.

Prevalence and virulence profiles of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in urinary and blood infections in South Korea.

Escherichia coli is a significant pathogen in extraintestinal infections, and ESBL-producing E. coli poses a major clinical challenge due to its antibiotic resistance. This study comprehensively analyzed E. coli isolates from urine and blood samples of patients with urinary tract and bloodstream infections at three major tertiary hospitals in South Korea. The goal was to provide insights into the distribution, antibiotic resistance, and virulence factors of these strains. Our analysis identified CTX-M and TEM as the dominant ESBL types, found in 71.7% and 61.7% of isolates, respectively, with 46.7% showing co-occurrence. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed the predominance of high-risk clones such as ST131, ST69, ST73, and ST95, with rare sequence types like ST410 and ST405 also identified. The high prevalence of virulence factors, including iutA (80.8%) and kpsMII (74.2%), further highlights the complexity of these strains. In addition, 38.3% of clinical isolates contained a combination of siderophore, adhesin, protectin, and toxin-related genes. There was no significant difference between urinary tract and bloodstream infections or regional differentiation in Korea. This study highlights the importance of controlling ESBL-producing E. coli infections, especially given the increasing incidence among patients with underlying medical conditions and older adults who are more susceptible to urinary tract infections. These findings serve as valuable indicators for pathogen analysis, especially those harboring antibiotic resistance and toxin genes. The insights gained are expected to contribute significantly to the development of infectious disease prevention and control strategies.

Insights Into the Molecular Interactions of MIC2 and M2AP: Role of TSR6 and Conservation Across Species.

Microneme protein 2 (MIC2) and its associated protein M2AP are pivotal for the gliding motility and host cell invasion by Toxoplasma gondii. In our prior work, we showed that M2AP binds specifically to the sixth TSR domain of MIC2, with this interaction mediated dominantly by the hotspot residue H620 situated at the center of TSR6. To delve deeper into the functional significance of H620 and explore the dynamic behavior of Y602, we conducted molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the Toxoplasma TSR6-M2AP complex, encompassing both wild-type and mutant forms. Our findings underscore the critical role of H620 within TSR6, particularly its hydrogen bond interaction with K72 of M2AP. The H620A mutation disrupts the nearby hydrophobic network while minimally affecting other hydrophilic interactions. Furthermore, our data reveal a highly conserved binding pose between M2AP and TSR6 across different species, consistent with previous trans-genera studies, thereby offering insights for future strategies in infection control development.

Neutrosophic set and optimized deep learning for classification of chicken Eimeria species: a practical solution for poultry industry

AbstractTo optimize infection control and bolster productivity within the poultry industry, it is imperative to accurately classify Chicken Eimeria species. There are several methods for determining Eimeria disease in chickens. Traditional methods involve watching for clinical symptoms, and macroscopic lesions, and studying the parasite’s biology and oocyst morphology. These methods are frequently time-consuming and labor-intensive, necessitating the manual collection and analysis of samples, which can be especially difficult in large chicken farms. Deep learning algorithms, on the other hand, provide automated, accurate, and non-invasive methods for the detection of Eimeria. This paper proposed a classification model for the automatic classification of chicken Eimeria species. The proposed model is mainly based on integrating neutrosophic set theory and InceptionV3 deep-learning architecture. Three primary phases make up the proposed chicken Eimeria species classification model: the data preprocessing phase, the neutrosophic image conversion phase, and the image classification phase. To address the issue of class imbalance in the adopted dataset and enhance the model’s generalizability, the random oversampling method, and data augmentation techniques are employed during the data preprocessing phase. The preprocessed data is considered to feed the neutrosophic set-based segmentation algorithm, where true, false, and intermediate subsets are extracted. Finally, the true subset is utilized to feed the optimized InceptionV3. To determine the optimal hyperparameter values for InceptionV3, a modified version of the Brown Bear optimization algorithm is proposed in this paper. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, a real benchmark dataset comprising images of different Eimeria species is adopted. The experimental results revealed that the proposed model offers a more efficient and accurate alternative to traditional methods and state-of-the-art models, enabling faster and more effective diagnosis and treatment of Eimeria infections. It achieved an overall accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and F1-score of nearly 100%. Additionally, the results showed that the high performance of the proposed model can reduce labor costs and boost throughput, thereby enhancing economic viability even more.

Genomic dynamics of high-risk carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clones carrying hypervirulence determinants in Egyptian clinical settings

BackgroundOngoing studies have revealed the global prevalence of severe infections caused by the hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control declared carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae as an urgent public health threat, requiring swift and effective action to mitigate its spread. Low- and middle-income countries are severely impacted by such devastating infectious diseases owing to the ill implementation of antimicrobial practices and infection control policies. Having both hypervirulence and carbapenemase gene determinants, the emergence of convergent hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae is now being reported worldwide.MethodsIn this study, we sequenced 19 carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae strains recovered from various clinical specimens. Additionally, we evaluated the phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility to multiple antimicrobial classes using the VITEK2 automated system. Utilizing the sequencing data, we characterized the sequence types, serotypes, pangenome, resistance profiles, virulence profiles, and mobile genetic elements of the examined isolates. We highlighted the emergence of high-risk clones carrying hypervirulence genetic determinants among the screened isolates.ResultsOur findings revealed that all carbapenem-resistant isolates exhibited either extensive- or pan-drug resistance and harbored multiple variants of resistance genes spanning nearly all the antimicrobial classes. The most prevalent carbapenemase genes detected within the isolates were blaNDM−5 and blaOXA−48. We identified high-risk clones, such as ST383-K30, ST147-K64, ST11-K15, and ST14-K2, which may have evolved into putative convergent strains by acquiring the full set of hypervirulence-associated genetic determinants (iucABCD, rmpA and/ or rmpA2, putative transporter peg-344). Additionally, this study identified ST709-K9 as a high-risk clone for the first time and uncovered that capsule types K15 and K9 carried hypervirulence genetic determinants. The most frequent Inc types found in these isolates were Col440I, IncHI1B, and Inc FII(K).ConclusionThis study highlights the emergence of high-risk, extensively carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae strains co-carrying hypervirulence determinants in Egyptian clinical settings. This poses an imminent threat not only to Egypt but also to the global community, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and control strategies to combat this pathogen.