Control Practices Research Articles

Optimizing Inventory Control Using Min-Max Method for Sustainable Manufacturing Process

Inventory plays an important role in a company's production process, especially in the sustainable manufacturing industry. The inventory of raw materials such as rayon, polyester, and cotton is an essential element that needs to be controlled to maintain a smooth production process. This research aims to plan and control raw materials through the min-max method, with a focus on evaluating inventory control to identify and overcome existing problems in the raw material warehouse at a yarn and textile manufacturing company. The results show that each type of raw material has a different reorder level, which guides the company in avoiding the risk of shortage or excess stock. By applying the right reorder level, the company can improve its production efficiency and inventory management. This research contributes to the practice of inventory control in the sustainable manufacturing industry, which supports operational stability and minimizes resource wastage. The implications of the findings could expand the application of min-max method-based inventory control in other industries to support operational sustainability.

A Review of Laboratory Biosafety and Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines on the Management of High-Risk Pathogens in Canada

The safety precautions required for certain pathogens are different in clinical laboratories and patient-facing healthcare settings, causing confusion for laboratorians and infection preventionists. The current review aims to summarize information from reputable Government of Canada guidance commonly used in clinical laboratories in Canada, including the Government of Canada Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations, the ePATHogen—Risk Group Database, biosafety directives and advisories, Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, and the Canadian Biosafety Standard (2022). Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (2020), Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institution’s (CLSI) M29 Protection of Laboratory Workers from Occupationally Acquired Infections (2014), and Association of Public Health Laboratories’s Biothreat Agent Bench Cards for the Sentinel Laboratory (2018) were also used to supplement specific details. In comparison, information regarding infection prevention and control practices in patient-facing healthcare settings was summarized: Public Health Agency of Canada: Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Healthcare Settings (2017) and CDC Infection Control Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007). Contrasting levels of precautions exist between laboratories and patient-facing settings, especially for endemic fungi and certain security-sensitive biological agents. Acknowledging this contrast may facilitate risk communication relative to the counterparts to minimize the threat and disease effects and ensure public confidence.

Practice makes better? The influence of increased practice on task conflict in the Stroop task.

The Stroop task is widely used to study attentional control and cognitive flexibility. However, questions about its sensitivity to training and the impact of task conflict on attentional control remain open. We investigated the effects of practice and task conflict on attentional control in the Stroop task, with participants completing four sessions of a Stroop task over 3 weeks in low and high task-conflict conditions. Our results show that the level of task conflict had an impact only in the first session, even though participants remained sensitive to task conflict throughout all four sessions. Moreover, we found that practice reduced response times in the Stroop task, for both congruent and incongruent trials. Nevertheless, the interference between congruent and incongruent stimuli remained consistent over the 3-week period, indicating that inter-condition interference is not affected by training. Our study, therefore, suggests that the extent to which the level of task conflict modulates Stroop task performance is only partially sensitive to training. These findings provide further insights into the role of task conflict and practice in attentional control and cognitive flexibility.

Pengendalian Biaya Produksi dalam Manufaktur: Teknik dan Tantangan

Controlling production costs in manufacturing is a crucial aspect that influences a company's efficiency and profitability. This research discusses various strategies and best practices in cost control, including analysis of raw material, labor and overhead costs. By implementing lean manufacturing principles, companies can identify and reduce waste, and increase productivity. Additionally, the use of technology and automation can contribute to long-term cost reduction. Implementation of a quality control system that has also been proven to reduce defect costs and increase customer satisfaction. Through regular performance evaluations and continuous innovation, companies can optimize production processes and achieve competitive advantage. This research is expected to provide insight for practitioners and academics in understanding the importance of controlling production costs in manufacturing.

Trends in Healthcare-Acquired Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Organisms at a German University Medical Center Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Healthcare-acquired infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDR-HAIs) pose globally significant challenges to healthcare systems, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. According to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the burden of MDR-HAIs. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics and epidemiology of MDR-HAIs in inpatients at the University of Leipzig Medical Center (ULMC) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We compared data from inpatients with bacterial infections from 2017 to 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and from 2021to 2023 (during COVID-19) in a cross-sectional, monocentric, retrospective survey. This study focused on selected multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and four clinical specimens. We analyzed the risk factors for MDR-HAIs using logistic regression models. Results: Out of 342,705 inpatients, 32,206 were diagnosed with a bacterial infection. The prevalence increased significantly from 8.09% (pre-COVID-19) to 10.79% (during COVID-19) (p < 0.001), but the proportion of MDROs decreased from 10.14% to 8.07%. The proportions of MDR-HAIs were 59.86% and 56.67%, respectively. The proportion of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae increased significantly. The risk of MDR-HAIs during COVID-19 decreased by 18% compared to pre-COVID-19 (p = 0.047). Longer hospital stays increased the risk of MDR-HAIs in both periods. This risk significantly decreased for children and the elderly during COVID-19. Conclusion: These findings show that it is also important to analyze epidemiological data at the facility level in order to evaluate the effectiveness of infection control practices even during unprecedented health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Australian dairy goat farmers towards the control of gastrointestinal parasites

BackgroundGastrointestinal parasites such as nematodes and coccidia are responsible for significant economic losses in the goat industry globally. An indiscriminate use of antiparasitic drugs, primarily registered for use in sheep and cattle, in goats has resulted in drug-resistant gastrointestinal parasites. Very little is known about the gastrointestinal parasite control practices used by Australian dairy goat farmers that are pivotal for achieving sustainable control of economically important parasites. The study reported here provides insights into gastrointestinal parasite control practices of Australian dairy goat farmers based on responses to an online survey.MethodsThe questionnaire comprised 58 questions on farm demography, husbandry and grazing management, knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites and their importance in dairy goats, diagnosis of infections, antiparasitic drugs and alternate control options. After a pilot survey (n = 15 respondents), a link to the questionnaire was available to all (n = 456) registered members of the Dairy Goat Society of Australia Ltd from 17 April to 16 June 2023. Multiple correspondence analyses (MCA) were performed to explore the association between selected parasite control practices.ResultsA total of 66 (14%) respondents completed the questionnaire. Of these, 74% (49/66) observed parasite-related illnesses in their goats; two-thirds of them assessed worms burden using faecal egg counts (FECs), with 26% (39/149) deworming their goats based on the results of the FECs. Most respondents (97%; 183/188) perceived that gastrointestinal parasites caused production losses and ranked Haemonchus contortus as the most important parasite. Anitparasitic drugs were used by 94% (62/66) of respondents, with the most frequently used anthelmintics being a commercial combination of four anthelmintics (levamisole, closantel, albendazole and abamectin), benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones. Most respondents (77%; 51/66) were unaware of anthelmintic resistance on their property. MCA results delineated two clusters of gastrointestinal parasites management.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into the demography of Australian dairy goat farms, the husbandry and grazing practices used by dairy goat farmers, their knowledge regarding gastrointestinal parasites and their practices for internal parasite control, thereby paving the way for tackling drug resistance in gastrointestinal parasites in dairy goats.Graphical

Soil Comprehensive Fertility Changes in Response to Stand Age and Initial Planting Density of Long-Term Spacing Trials of Chinese Fir Plantations

The growing demand for wood products and ecosystem services in Chinese fir plantations has led to longer rotation ages and density control practices, raising concerns about their impact on soil fertility. This study assessed soil fertility of Chinese fir plantations in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Sichuan Provinces using the Nemerow index. The effects of stand age and initial planting density on soil fertility were analyzed using statistical models. In Fujian and Jiangxi, soil fertility was significantly higher at 11 and 30 years than at 5 and 25 years, while in Sichuan, it was higher at 25 and 30 years than at 5 and 11 years. In Fujian, soil fertility was higher at 6667 trees ha⁻2 than at 1667 trees ha⁻2. No significant differences were observed in Jiangxi, while in Sichuan, soil fertility at 6667 trees ha⁻2 was significantly higher than at 5000 and 1667 trees ha⁻2, and soil fertility at 10,000 trees ha⁻2 exceeded that at 1667 trees ha⁻2. Soil fertility typically increased with stand age, especially in Fujian and Sichuan. Soil fertility also increased with initial planting density, especially in Jiangxi and Sichuan. A structural equation model (SEM) explained 88% of the variance in soil fertility, with stand age directly affecting soil fertility and soil organic matter mediating the effects of stand age and planting density. These findings suggest that adjusting rotation age and planting density could help improve soil fertility, offering practical implications for sustainable forest management in Chinese fir plantations.

Phenology, biological and cultural control of the new almond pest Eurytoma amygdali (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) in Spain

Aim of study: Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), the almond wasp, is a new pest detected in Spain. Although the insect is present in Europe, in Spain no damage was detected until 2016, increasing substantially in the following years. The phenology of almond wasp and the natural enemies complex were investigated and the results of the parasitism rate and cultural control measures were analyzed. Area of study: Five Spanish provinces, important regions for almond production where E. amygdali causes serious harvest losses. Material and methods: Samples of different almond varieties were taken from ecological almond plots in the Spanish provinces of Valencia, Alicante, Albacete, Murcia and Cuenca. Main results: The first almond wasp eggs were observed at the beginning of May and completely developed larvae, early in July. Wasp flight occurred from mid-March to late May. Two natural enemies were associated with the pest, Pyemotes amygdali Çobanoğlu & Doğanlar (Acari, Pyemotidae), and Opilo domesticus (Sturm) (Coleoptera, Cleridae). Pyemotes amygdali parasitized wasp larvae, adult females and males, and Opilio domesticus fed on wasp larvae. O. domesticus was very scarce, unlike P. amygdali. In the plots with parasitized wasps, the parasitism rate ranged from 0.6% to 44% for P. amygdali. Our results suggest that sanitation measure was an important cultural pest control practice, because in the plantations where mummified almonds were removed, 96% of edible almonds were harvested, compared to 18% if mummified almonds were not removed from trees. Research highlights: Cultural control could be an important measure to control the almond wasp, because it allows biological conservation control, by preserving natural enemies present in the environment and avoid the negative effect of insecticides.

Combating Agri-Pests in Jordan: The Role of International Law in Preventing Invasive Spread Through Global Trade to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Objectives: This paper examines the role of international law in preventing the invasive spread of agricultural pests through global trade in Jordan, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land), which emphasizes halting biodiversity loss and promoting sustainable land use. The research evaluates pest management strategies based on effectiveness, cost-efficiency, ease of implementation, compliance with international regulations, and sustainability. Theoretical Framework: Grounded in international trade and environmental agreements, including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the research highlights the role of global frameworks in harmonizing pest control practices, addressing regulatory gaps, and fostering international collaboration. Method: A multi-criteria decision-making model using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) Method was employed. Five strategic alternatives were assessed against five critical criteria using data collected through expert surveys and literature reviews. The decision matrix was normalized, weighted, and analyzed to identify the most effective strategies. Results and Discussion: Results show that increasing research and development on pest control is the most effective strategy, followed by enhancing inspection and quarantine procedures. Promoting farmer education and training ranks third, highlighting the importance of local capacity building. Strengthening international trade regulations and fostering collaboration ranked lower, revealing regulatory gaps. Research Implications: The study provides actionable insights for integrating international law with sustainable pest management, emphasizing capacity-building, resource allocation, and enhanced inspection systems. Originality/Value: By combining international law with TOPSIS, the research presents a novel framework for addressing invasive pests in Jordan, contributing to biodiversity conservation and global agricultural sustainability.

A Cross-Sectional Examination of Missed Infection Control Practices Among Nurses in the Jordanian Hospitals.

Missed infection control practices may negatively impact quality healthcare and patient safety in acute health care settings. Hence, more research is urgently needed especially in Arab countries. To investigate the elements and reasons of missed infection control activities among nurses in Jordan. The sociodemographic correlates with missed infection control activities were also examined. A cross sectional design was utilized in this study. A convenience sample of 960 nurses from seven hospitals in the North of Jordan was used. The Missed Nursing Care Infection Prevention and Control (MNCIPC) Survey was employed to collect the data. Data were analyzed using descriptive inferential, and multivariate regression analysis. The majority of the participants worked as registered nurses (78.4%). The highest missed infection control activities were: screening new admissions for Multi Resistant Organisms (MRO), wearing gloves for both preparing and administration of all antibiotics, and informing staff and visitors for the need for transmission-based precautions (when managing a patient with a MRO). The least missed infection control activities reported by nurses were performing hand hygiene after touching patients, and before drug administration. The reasons of missed infection control measures most frequently reported by nurses were: urgent patient situation, followed by inadequate number of clerical staff, and unexpected rise in patient volume and or acuity. This research suggests that interventions to reduce missed infection control measures should focus on the education and training of nursing staff as well as a adopting nurse: patient ratio in managing nursing workload, which should not exceed 1:4.

Physico-Chemical Properties and Fertility Status of Forest Soils under Aez-29 (Northern and Eastern Hills) of Bangladesh

Soil properties influence land management practices and differ in regions with diverse topography and ecological variations. An experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh with 16 soil samples collected at 0-15 cm depth from various hilly locations of three districts of AEZ-29 (Northern and Eastern Hills) covering 12 series to assess their physical, chemical and fertility properties. Most of the soils were sandy loam in texture, strongly acidic to very strongly acidic (pH 4.23-5.46) and non-saline. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was very low to medium with an average of 7.31 cmolc kg-1 and organic matter (OM) status was medium with mean of 2.62%. The soils had very low to low levels (0.07-0.16%) of total nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P) content (1.29-10.9 mg kg-1) but low to medium level (10.33-22.51 mg kg-1) of available sulphur (S). Besides, very low to very high levels of exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) with averages of 0.34, 3.10 and 1.64 cmolc kg-1, respectively, were observed. The status of available iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in all the soils were very high ranging from 20-108 and 24-217 mg kg-1, respectively. The soils showed medium or low to very high levels of available zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and boron (B) with averages of 2.64, 0.74 and 0.61 mg kg-1, respectively. The variations in physico-chemical and fertility properties of these soils might be due to variation in parent material, land uses and soil erosion. Among different soil series, Sitakundu showed the maximum values of pH, CEC, OM, total N, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg and available B. Although some of the hill soils seemed to be inherently fertile, proper fertilizer management especially for macronutrients, liming and erosion control practices are crucial for agricultural crop production. SAARC J. Agric., 22(2): 81-98 (2024)

Detection and genomic characterisation of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes circulating in Cameroon using environmental sampling

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious, economically important disease of livestock and wildlife species. Active monitoring and understanding the epidemiology of FMDV underpin the foundations of control programmes. In many endemic areas, however, veterinary resources are limited, resulting in a requirement for simple sampling techniques to increase and supplement surveillance efforts. In this study, environmental sampling was used for the first time at livestock markets and abattoirs across Cameroon to assess the opportunities for broad scale, non-invasive disease surveillance at such sites. Environmental samples (n = 1994) were collected from six locations across Cameroon between May and July 2019. Concurrent with environmental sampling, a questionnaire was used to gather descriptive information on the use and practices of market and abattoir sites. Samples were screened for the presence of FMDV RNA using a pan-serotype FMDV specific real-time RT-PCR assay. Positive samples were characterised at the genomic level using next generation sequencing in combination with a novel probe-based enrichment strategy. A total of 173/1994 (8.68%) environmental samples were found to be positive for FMDV RNA. Genome length sequences were obtained from environmental samples, with phylogenetically relevant capsid sequences obtained from 14 samples, with representatives of serotypes O (n = 6), A (n = 7) and SAT 2 (n = 3). The questionnaire results revealed that animals in Cameroon can be transported long distances to markets and abattoirs, with varying levels of control and biosecurity practices in place. The approaches used in this study have highlighted that environmental sampling is an effective and non-invasive approach to assessing FMDV presence. Furthermore, the study has demonstrated that livestock markets, abattoirs and trucks could be targeted for the introduction of biosecurity interventions as well as providing opportunities for carrying out disease surveillance. Information resulting from such surveillance could provide valuable knowledge of circulating viruses within a region of interest, aiding strategic approaches for surveillance and control of FMDV.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 in three states of Nigeria in 2022

BackgroundKnowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 can directly impact healthcare workers’ (HCWs) services and efforts to contain the spread of the disease. This study assessed KAP towards COVID-19 among...

Nosocomial Outbreak of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) among health workers in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, 2023: A Case-Control Study

Background: Since 2008, more than 1600 cases of Crimean and Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) have been reported in Afghanistan. We aimed to investigate the nosocomial outbreak of CCFH and its associated factors among health workers in Kandahar Province. Methods: This case-control study was conducted during CCHF outbreak in a private hospital during April 2023 in Kandahar Province with 1:3 ratio of cases to controls. Cases were confirmed for CCHF infection using PCR and ELISA tests. Controls were selected from health workers of the general population. Data were managed and were analyzed using Epi Info v7.2.5 and STATA MP17 with an alpha level of 0.05 as well as 95% confidence. Penalized Logistic Regression (PLR) with firth correction was used. Results: Fourteen cases and 43 controls were enrolled with mean age of 24±6.25 and 29±11.26 yr respectively. All the cases and two-third of controls were health workers while nine (64%) of cases and 39 (88%) of controls were male. Prominently, fever 64% and agitation/mood swings (64%) were recorded among cases. Multivariate analysis of the exposures showed that contact with CCHF suspected individual without considering Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) (OR 95%: 59.6, 6.02 – 589. 62P=0.001) was significantly associated with CCHF infection risk leading to emergence of this outbreak (P<0.05). Conclusion: CCHF outbreak in this setting was associated with negligence of preventive measures by health workers. It is recommended for healthcare facilities to ensure the availability and utilization of PPE and enforcement of infection control practices while undertaking health education programs on transmission routes and preventives measures of CCHF.

Flies as carriers of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in Nigerian hospitals: A workflow for surveillance of AMR bacteria carried by arthropod pests in hospital settings.

The dissemination of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria by flies in hospitals is concerning as nosocomial AMR infections pose a significant threat to public health. This threat is compounded in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by several factors, including limited resources for sufficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and high numbers of flies in tropical climates. In this pilot study, 1,396 flies were collected between August and September 2022 from eight tertiary care hospitals in six cities (Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Sokoto) in Nigeria. Flies were screened via microbiological culture and bacterial isolates were phenotypically and genetically characterised to determine carriage of clinically important antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Several clinically relevant ARGs were found in bacteria isolated from flies across all hospitals. blaNDM was detected in 8% of flies and was predominantly carried by Providencia spp. alongside clinically relevant Enterobacter spp, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, which all exhibited a multidrug resistant phenotype. mecA was detected at a prevalence of 6.4%, mostly in coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) as well as some Staphylococcus aureus, of which 86.8% were multidrug resistant. 40% of flies carried bacteria with at least one of the two ESBL genes tested (blaOXA-1 and blaCTX-M-15). This multi-site study emphasised that flies in hospital settings carry bacteria that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics, including both routinely used and reserve antibiotics. A greater understanding of the global clinical significance and burden of AMR attributable to insect pests is required.

Decreasing Hospital-acquired Pressure Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 5-step Quality Improvement Approach.

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are common adverse events with large burdens on patients and health systems. In 2020, during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of admitted patients with HAPIs of stage II and above in our health system rose from 2.92% to 3.80%. In response to rising HAPI rates across our own hospital system, we established a quality aim to reduce HAPIs stage II and above by 50% over 3 years from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We designed a multidisciplinary quality improvement HAPI prevention program. Our initiative had 5 key aspects: fostering governance and accountability, providing education and training, changing clinical practice, monitoring data and evaluation, and modernizing environments and equipment. HAPI rate (outcome measure) declined from 3.8% at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to 1.6% (58% reduction, P<0.00001) postintervention. Braden Risk Assessment Tool use (process measure) improved from 88.2% to 92.2%. (P=0.00024). Rate of patient falls with injuries (balancing measure) decreased from 1.5 per 1000 patient days to 1.0 per 1000 patient days (P=0.0009). Despite working during the COVID-19 pandemic where organizational resources were constrained and infection control practices were heightened, a multidisciplinary QI HAPI prevention program, informed by evidence-based practices and supported by access to real-time data, led to an ∼58% reduction in the HAPI rate.

Standard precautions knowledge among nursing students at Duy Tan University in 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding Standard Precautions at Duy Tan University in 2022. Participants and methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 272 second, third, and fourth-year nursing students who participated in clinical internships from February and July 2022. A 56-item questionnaire based on the Ministry of Health’s SPs guidelines was used to evaluate students’ knowledge. Results: The findings revealed that the overall knowledge level of SPs among nursing students was 60.3%, with significant differences across academic years. Fourth-year students demonstrated superior knowledge compared to second- and third-year students. Factors such as the number of internship facilities, academic performance, participation in SPs-related programs, and the diversity of information sources were found to significantly influence students’ knowledge of SPs. The study identified knowledge gaps, particularly in personal protective equipment use, medical instrument handling, and environmental sanitation. Conclusions: It is recommended that nursing curricula include more comprehensive and systematic training on SPs and infection control practices, incorporating both theoretical and hands-on components, to improve students’ competency. Moreover, educational institutions should leverage digital media and organize regular SPs seminars to enhance students’ knowledge and preparedness for clinical practice. This research highlights the need for continuous education and training to ensure nursing students are well-equipped to prevent infections and promote patient safety in healthcare settings.

Genomic detection of Panton-Valentine Leucocidins encoding genes, virulence factors and distribution of antiseptic resistance determinants among Methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates from patients attending regional referral hospitals in Tanzania

BackgroundMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a formidable public scourge causing worldwide mild to severe life-threatening infections. The ability of this strain to swiftly spread, evolve, and acquire resistance genes and virulence factors such as pvl genes has further rendered this strain difficult to treat. Of concern, is a recently recognized ability to resist antiseptic/disinfectant agents used as an essential part of treatment and infection control practices. This study aimed at detecting the presence of pvl genes and determining the distribution of antiseptic resistance genes in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates through whole genome sequencing technology.Materials and methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across six regional referral hospitals-Dodoma, Songea, Kitete-Kigoma, Morogoro, and Tabora on the mainland, and Mnazi Mmoja from Zanzibar islands counterparts using the archived isolates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The isolates were collected from Inpatients and Outpatients who attended these hospitals from January 2020 to Dec 2021. Bacterial analysis was carried out using classical microbiological techniques and whole genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina Nextseq 550 sequencer platform. Several bioinformatic tools were used, KmerFinder 3.2 was used for species identification, MLST 2.0 tool was used for Multilocus Sequence Typing and SCCmecFinder 1.2 was used for SCCmec typing. Virulence genes were detected using virulenceFinder 2.0, while resistance genes were detected by ResFinder 4.1, and phylogenetic relatedness was determined by CSI Phylogeny 1.4 tools.ResultsOut of the 80 MRSA isolates analyzed, 11 (14%) were found to harbor LukS-PV and LukF-PV, pvl-encoding genes in their genome; therefore pvl-positive MRSA. The majority (82%) of the MRSA isolates bearing pvl genes were also found to exhibit the antiseptic/disinfectant genes in their genome. Moreover, all (80) sequenced MRSA isolates were found to harbor SCCmec type IV subtype 2B&5. The isolates exhibited 4 different sequence types, ST8, ST88, ST789 and ST121. Notably, the predominant sequence type among the isolates was ST8 72 (90%).ConclusionThe notably high rate of antiseptic resistance particularly in the Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains poses a significant challenge to infection control measures. The fact that some of these virulent strains harbor the LukS-PV and LukF-PV, the pvl encoding genes, highlight the importance of developing effective interventions to combat the spreading of these pathogenic bacterial strains. Certainly, strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance and stewardship will ultimately reduce the selection pressure, improve the patient’s treatment outcome and public health in Tanzania.

Exploring the Known and Mapping Future Directions in Biopesticides Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Numerous concerns associated with the use of synthetic pesticides have led to important initiatives aimed at ensuring eco-friendly practices in pest and disease control. Third-generation pesticides, biopesticides, have become a key factor in those efforts, capturing the attention of researchers worldwide. To evaluate trends in biopesticide research over the past three decades, a bibliometric analysis was performed on bibliographic data sourced from the Web of Science database. This analysis included metrics such as publication dynamics, types of documents, and assessments of research fields and categories. Co-authorship, citation, and co-occurrence networks were visualized using VOSviewer software to identify collaboration patterns, influential publications, emerging topics, and interdisciplinary connections. A total of 5054 publications on the topic of ‘biopesticide’ were found (1994–2024), nearly half of which were published in the last five years. Out of 136 contributing countries, researchers from the USA, People’s Republic of China, and India produced the most publications, while a total of 19,676 authors contributed to at least one paper throughout the entire examined period. The identification of the most frequently used keywords highlighted significant topics within biopesticide-related publications, from the earliest to the most recent, aiding in our understanding of the developmental trajectory and opportunities for future exploration.

Mpox primer for clinicians: what makes the difference in 2024?

The 2024 mpox outbreak, primarily driven by the possibly more virulent clade Ib strain, prompted the WHO declaring it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024. This review provides essential guidance for clinicians managing mpox cases, as it contrasts the features of the 2024 outbreak with those of the 2022 epidemic to support better clinical decision-making. The review highlights significant differences between the 2024 and 2022 outbreaks, including total case numbers, demographic distribution, and fatality rates. It also examines the increased severity associated with clade Ib. The article reviews the differential diagnosis of mpox, diagnostic tools, updates on Tecovirimat treatment, and infection control practices, particularly among healthcare workers. Vaccination strategies, including the role of smallpox vaccines and at-risk groups, are also discussed, along with recommendations for countries outside Africa. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for mpox in light of the 2024 outbreak's unique characteristics. Clinicians are advised to stay informed about updated diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including vaccine recommendations, to mitigate the spread of the disease.