Prominent Infectious Diseases Research Articles

Tuberculosis in infertility and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a prominent infectious disease globally that imposes a substantial health burden. Genital TB (GTB), an extrapulmonary manifestation, leads to complications such as tubal adhesions, blockage, and diminished ovarian function, culminating in infertility, and is recognized as a prevalent cause of infertility in nations with high-burden TB. In regions with low TB rates, infertility and active TB during pregnancy have been reported to be most common among female immigrants from countries with high-burden TB. In the context of TB, pregnant women often exhibit exacerbated symptoms after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), heightening the risk of dissemination. Miliary pulmonary TB and tuberculous meningitis pose a serious threat to maternal and fetal health. This article integrates recent epidemiological data and clinical research findings, delineating the impact of TB on infertility and assisted reproduction and particularly focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of GTB, underscored by the imperative of TB screening before IVF-ET. Our objective is to increase awareness among respiratory and reproductive health professionals, promoting multidisciplinary management to enhance clinical vigilance. This approach seeks to provide patients with judicious reproductive plans and scientifically rigorous pregnancy management, thereby mitigating adverse pregnancy outcomes related to TB activity.

Mpox, sexually transmitted infections and combination prevention: insights from a major cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of concurrent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (bSTIs) among individuals with mpox. Prospective cohort study of participants aged 18 years or older with confirmed mpox conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This cross-sectional analysis includes only participants who underwent bSTI testing at baseline between June 2022 and January 2024. Participants were offered testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea (NAAT, anorectal swabs) and syphilis (active diagnosis if VDRL ≥ 1/8). Baseline prevalence of bSTIs was calculated, and participant characteristics were described based on concomitant bSTI diagnosis (yes/no). Chi-squared/Fisher's tests were used for qualitative variables, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for quantitative variables. Out of 634 enrolled participants, 538 (84.9%) were tested for STIs and included in this analysis, mostly cisgender men, aged 30-39 years with postsecondary education. Overall prevalence of concomitant bSTI was 37.3%, mainly syphilis, followed by chlamydia and gonorrhea. Half of the participants were living with HIV, and one third was on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Concomitant bSTI diagnosis at the time of mpox assessment was associated with being aged 30-39 years, self-identifying as cisgender men, having HIV-positive status, reporting proctitis symptoms and reporting any STI in the past 12 months. Our data reveals a notable prevalence of concomitant bSTIs among participants with confirmed mpox at a prominent infectious diseases' referral center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These findings underscore the importance of integrating mpox into the differential diagnosis of anogenital manifestations and the promotion of combination prevention strategies within sexual healthcare services.

A mathematical model of nonlinear differential equation for controlling global dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In this paper, we have introduced new mathematical model of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Transmission Model as a system of six nonlinear differential equations to analyze the spread and control of this latest outbreak pandemic disease. This new mathematical model is analysed with the help of optimal control analysis. The main purpose of this optimal control theory which applied to the model is to show the existence of optimal controllers for the nonlinear dynamic system. Based on the assumptions, we also studied and formulate an optimal control model for a coronavirus disease dynamic system in terms of mathematical differential equations in order to focus the effects of prevention and control measures with minimal implementation cost. Then, we established the basic reproduction number , which makes possible to check whether a prominent infectious disease will continue to spread or not in a susceptible population. The paper was also extended to assess the conditions under which the population will be free of disease. In particular, we focus to include in the mathematical model, quarantine procedure applied to both the infected individuals and to the highly risk of total population, which is expected to be useful.

Brève histoire des épidémies au Québec: Du choléra à la COVID-19 by Denis Goulet

Reviewed by: Brève histoire des épidémies au Québec: Du choléra à la COVID-19 by Denis Goulet David Wright Goulet, Denis –Brève histoire des épidémies au Québec: Du choléra à la COVID-19. Québec: Septentrion, 2020. Pp. 172. In 1847, amid an emerging typhus epidemic, the public health authorities of Montréal frantically built fever sheds along the Saint Lawrence River to care for and contain infected Irish immigrants debarking from dozens of ships. Sanitary police were called in to act as a barrier to prevent the potentially contagious from escaping the scenes of misery under cover of darkness. Amid the palpable tensions, the Grey Nuns and the newly formed Sisters of Providence selflessly tended to the sick crammed into makeshift barracks, hundreds of whom would succumb in short order to what was known as "ship's fever." The Bishop of Montréal descended upon the dying to deliver last rites to his coreligionists before they were buried hastily in mass graves. Ultimately, several thousand died in the scorching heat of July and August of that year, including, as the epidemic inevitably spread throughout the city, the Mayor himself. The great typhus disaster is but one of the principal epidemics showcased in this informative "brief history" of epidemics in Quebec. The book is divided into two principal parts: the first covers the period from the cholera pandemic of 1831–1832 to the smallpox epidemic of 1885; the second begins with the Spanish flu of 1918 and concludes with the arrival of AIDS in the 1980s. The echoes of past responses to epidemics will no doubt resonate with readers living through the current COVID-19 crisis. Cholera prompted the installation and formalization of quarantine protocols; the typhus epidemic encouraged the establishment of municipal health boards; the smallpox riots of 1885 reflected the longstanding suspicion of, and resistance to, compulsory vaccination. Despite the implementation of sanitary reform and discoveries associated with "scientific medicine," the remedies of mainstream medicine were often insufficient. The 1918 Spanish flu revealed the limitations of the bacteriological revolution; the decennial polio outbreaks highlighted our growing preoccupation with technological solutions (such as the iron lung); and AIDS demonstrated how effective therapeutics and vaccines sometimes take years, indeed decades, to develop. Brève histoire des épidémies provides an accessible compendium of many of the prominent infectious disease outbreaks in the history of Quebec after the conquest. It will be of particular value to a general public eager to dip into medical history and to peruse the captivating stories of sacrifice, suffering, and scapegoating in the past. Readers, for example, might be surprised to learn that more residents of Quebec city died of cholera in 1832 than COVID-19 in 2020, despite the fact that the city's population was, in 1832, one-tenth of what it is today. The book's strongest contribution may lie in its careful analysis of the construction of Quebec's public health infrastructure over the last two centuries. Who knew that the Rockefeller Foundation, so active in Latin America, also played a pivotal role in funding unites sanitaires across the province during the interwar period? For academic historians, there are, of course, some downsides to emphasizing only the major epidemic outbreaks of the past two centuries. It is easy to forget that the biggest infectious disease killer of the 1800s was actually tuberculosis, which was so widespread as to [End Page 200] be considered endemic. What is more, the very high death rates from nonepidemic diseases of urban capitalism—"summer diarrhoea," measles, and "enteric fevers"—merit relatively little attention, even though Montréal had the dubious reputation of boasting the highest rates of infant mortality in the Western world in the decade leading up to the First World War. Nevertheless, this is a readable and accessible book that conveys technical aspects of disease transmission very clearly while maintaining a sensitivity to the diverse cultural and social aspects of epidemic outbreaks. Goulet demonstrates vividly how societal responses were often pluralistic, with some people placing faith in medical science and the power of government to do good, whilst others were more skeptical of the motives of medical men and...

Molecular epidemiology of Aleutian disease virus in free-ranging domestic, hybrid, and wild mink.

Aleutian mink disease (AMD) is a prominent infectious disease in mink farms. The AMD virus (AMDV) has been well characterized in Europe where American mink (Neovison vison) are an introduced species; however, in North America, where American mink are native and the disease is thought to have originated, the virus’ molecular epidemiology is unknown. As such, we characterized viral isolates from Ontario free-ranging mink of domestic, hybrid, and wild origin at two proteins: NS1, a nonstructural protein, and VP2, a capsid protein. AMDV DNA was detected in 25% of free-ranging mink (45 of 183), indicating prevalent active infection. Median-joining networks showed that Ontario AMDV isolates formed two subgroups in the NS1 region and three in the VP2 region, which were somewhat separate from, but closely related to, AMDVs circulating in domestic mink worldwide. Molecular analyses showed evidence of AMDV crossing from domestic to wild mink. Our results suggest that AMDV isolate grouping is linked to both wild endogenous reservoirs and the long-term global trade in domestic mink, and that AMD spills back and forth between domestic and wild mink. As such, biosecurity on mink farms is warranted to prevent transmission of the disease between mink farms and the wild.

On the occasion of the 4th congress of infectiologists of bosnia and herzegovina with international participation.

SUMMARYThe 4th Congress of Infectiologists of Bosnia-Herzegovina with international participation was held in Konjic, on 30. May to 02. June 2012. In addition to the prominent infectious disease experts from almost all university centers in B&H, the teachers at medical schools in Bosnia-Herzegovina, infectious disease specialists who work in health institutions in B&H, this Congress was attended by infectious disease experts from Serbia (12 participants), Turkey (3 participants), Croatia (3 participants), Macedonia (3 participants), Germany (2 participants) and Montenegro (2 participants). Topics included: Infections of the skin, soft tissue and bones, Sepsis and endocarditis, Infectious diseases emergencies and pediatric infectology, Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, Hospital infections, Sexualy transmitted diseases, Infectious diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. Participating invited speakers were following professors: Salih Hosoglu (Turkey), Hakan Leblebicioglu (Turkey), Resat Ozaras (Turkey), Karsten Plötz (Germany), Ilija Kuzman (Croatia), Bruno Baršić (Croatia), Goran Tešović (Croatia). In addition to experts in infectious diseases at this Congress, their works were presented by experts from other medical disciplines, but with infectious character issues (Professors: Sead Ahmetagić, Ismet Gavrankapetanović, Zora Vukobrat-Bijedić, Senija Rašić, Halima Resić, Adnan Kapidžić, Ivo Curić, Jelena Ravlija, Amela Begić, Izet Mašić, Sadeta Hamzić, and others). Some of the papers that were presented at this Congress have been published in extenso, in the Medical Archives and Materia Socio Medica. One part as abstracts (both journals are indexed in over 10 databases), and will be electronically available to the general scientific community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Europe and worldwide. In this way, the Bosnian infectious disease experts, as a science and profession, will be worthily represented to the colleagues from other countries in the region and beyond.

Significant publications on infectious diseases pharmacotherapy in 2008

Significant publications on infectious diseases (ID) pharmacotherapy in 2008 were compiled and summarized. On December 31, 2008, the Houston Infectious Diseases Network compiled a listing of published articles identified as having a significant impact on ID pharmacotherapy. The publication period was limited to January 1 through December 31, 2008. Articles were selected based on prior presentations at ID and pharmacy meetings or were listed as major articles in prominent ID journals. Priority was given to articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals and to treatment guidelines endorsed by major medical and pharmacy organizations. A bibliography of 56 articles (40 not related to human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection and 16 related to HIV infection) was distributed to members of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) via an Internet survey in early January 2009. Members were asked to select 10 publications not related to HIV infection and 1 HIV-related publication that they believed made the greatest contribution to the antimicrobial-related medical literature in 2008. A total of 115 SIDP members participated in the survey. Summaries of the top articles selected, along with an interpretation of their effect on clinical practice, are included. The increasing number of articles in the peer-reviewed medical literature related to the diagnosis and treatment of ID has made it challenging to maintain a contemporary knowledge base of key publications. This summary of significant ID articles published in 2008 can help to alleviate this burden.

Significant publications on infectious diseases pharmacotherapy in 2007

Significant publications on infectious diseases (ID) pharmacotherapy in 2007 were compiled and summarized. On January 2, 2008, the 21 members of the Houston Infectious Disease Network (HIDN) were asked to select an article that was published in a peer-reviewed journal between January 1 and December 31, 2007, and write a summary highlighting why the article was significant to the diagnosis or treatment of ID. Articles were selected based on prior "top 10" presentations at major ID and pharmacy meetings or were listed as major articles in prominent ID journals. Priority was given to peer-reviewed publications and nationally recognized clinical treatment guidelines. Nineteen articles and summaries were submitted by HIDN members. The publication listing was distributed to Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists members via an Internet survey in early February 2008. Members were asked to select the 10 most significant articles relating to ID pharmacotherapy from the list of 19 and were allowed to add an additional article that was not already listed. A total of 102 individuals participated in the survey. A listing of the top 10 articles published in 2007 and one honorable mention was compiled, and the significance of each article was summarized. The increased number of articles in the peer-reviewed medical literature related to the diagnosis and treatment of ID has made it challenging to maintain a contemporary knowledge base of key publications. This summary of significant ID articles published in 2007 can help to alleviate the burden of knowledge management.