Transmission Of Infection Research Articles

Investigation of Bacterial Contaminants and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility on Yemeni Banknotes in Aden City, Yemen

Background: Banknotes are among the objects frequently exchanged between people and can serve as a vehicle for the transmission of infectious agents. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate and identify potentially pathogenic bacteria on Yemeni banknotes collected from various municipal sources in Aden city, south of Yemen. In addition, the susceptibility of the isolated bacterial species to commonly used antibiotics was tested. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 Yemeni banknotes of various denominations randomly collected from people from different places in Aden city between November 2019 and February 2020. Swabs from the surfaces of banknotes were streaked onto blood agar, chocolate agar, mannitol salt agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours. After isolation, bacterial species were identified and tested for their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics using established techniques. Results: Out of 240 banknotes examined, 98.3% were found to be contaminated with bacteria, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 96 to 99. Among the isolated bacteria, 17.4% were Gram-positive cocci, 33% were Gram-negative bacilli and 49.6% were a combination of both. The mean plate counts of bacterial colonies ranged from 163.6±51.0 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml (95% CI: 147.3–179.9) for banknotes with a denomination of 100 Yemeni rials (YRIs) to 257.1±52.0 CFU/ml (95% CI: 240.5–273.7) for banknotes with a denomination of 50 YRIs. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated bacterial species, detected on 66.9% of contaminated banknotes, followed by Escherichia coli (60.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (42.8%). Regarding antibiotic resistance, most S. aureus isolates showed resistance to ceftazidime (80.1%), followed by ceftriaxone (78.2%), ampicillin (77.6%) and co-trimoxazole (69.3%). On the other hand, most E. coli isolates showed resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate (84.6%), followed by ceftriaxone (79.7%), ceftazidime (76.9%), ampicillin (58.3%) and ciprofloxacin (58.1%), while most P. aeruginosa isolates showed resistance to ceftriaxone (83.5%), followed by ceftazidime (80.2%) and ciprofloxacin (54.9%). Conclusion: Most banknotes in circulation in Aden city are contaminated with bacteria, predominantly S. aureus and E. coli, with lower denomination banknotes tending to have higher contamination levels. The high contamination rate of banknotes raises concerns about their potential in transmitting infectious diseases and emphasizes the advantages of transitioning to cashless payments. A substantial proportion of bacterial species isolated from banknotes exhibit resistance to commonly used antibiotics, raising concerns about the possible transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria through the exchange of banknotes. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness and improve hygiene practices to minimize the transmission of bacteria and antibiotic resistance through the exchange of banknotes.

Impact of Climate Change on Global Health: A Comprehensive Review

Climate change poses significant challenges to global health, with far-reaching implications for human health and well-being. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from diverse disciplines to elucidate the complex relationship between climate change and health. Key areas of focus include the direct impacts of extreme weather events, alterations in infectious disease transmission, air quality changes, food security issues, and mental health effects. Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and indigenous peoples, are disproportionately affected, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and equitable adaptation strategies. Methodologically, a search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, covering studies published up to 2024. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included, and thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and trends. The review highlights gaps in current policy frameworks and international cooperation efforts, calling for enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change on health. Furthermore, proactive adaptation measures, robust public health infrastructure, and inclusive strategies are essential to mitigate adverse health impacts and foster resilience. By prioritizing collective action and interdisciplinary collaboration, we can work towards a healthier and more resilient future in the face of climate change.

Condom provision in prison settings: misconceptions, stereotypes and recommendations to promote acceptance

Purpose This study aims to highlight prevalent misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding condom provision programs in prison settings and proposes solutions to enhance the availability, accessibility and quality of condom provision programs in prison settings. Design/methodology/approach Unprotected sex is a prevalent high-risk behavior and a major avenue for infection transmission in prison settings, worldwide. Despite this fact, many prison health policymakers exhibit hesitation in distributing condoms among people residing in prisons. Findings Common misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding condom provision programs in prison settings are presented and discussed in the text. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind presenting the prevalent misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding condom provision programs in prison settings and recommending solutions to address this issue.

Prevalence and Residual Risk of HIV in Volunteer Blood Donors of Zhejiang Province, China, from 2018 to 2022.

Blood safety levels have been significantly improved since the implementation of nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for blood donors. However, there remains a residual risk of transfusion transmission infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its residual risk transmission among volunteer blood donors of Zhejiang Province, China, for five years after NAT implementation. All specimens and information were collected from voluntary unpaid donors at all blood services in Zhejiang Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. The HIV antibody or antigen and HIV RNA were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NAT, respectively. The HIV residual risk transmission was calculated using the incidence or window period model. A total of 3,375,678 voluntary blood donors were detected, revealing an HIV prevalence of 9.92/100000. The HIV prevalence of blood donors in 12 blood services in Zhejiang Province was 6.11, 6.98, 7.45, 8.21, 8.36, 8.94, 9.04, 9.66, 9.73, 10.22, 11.80, and 12.47 per 100000 donors, without statistically significant difference observed among the services (p > 0.05). The HIV prevalence of males (15.49/100000) was significantly higher compared to females (1.95/100000; p < 0.05). There was an insignificant difference in HIV prevalence among blood donors of all different age groups (p > 0.05), but the HIV prevalence in the 26-35 age group and 18-25 age group was significantly higher compared to the 36-45 age group (p < 0.05). The difference in HIV prevalence between first-time blood donors (13.65/100,000) and repeat blood donors (6.78/100,000) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). From 2018 to 2022, the HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission was 0.266/100000. The prevalence of HIV among blood donors in Zhejiang Province, China, is associated with age, gender, and times of blood donation. The HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission remains low in the province, and increasing the rate of repeat blood donors is beneficial to improve blood safety.

Shared social identity and social norms shape risk-taking at mass gatherings.

Shared social identity and social norms are often un(der)recognized within mass gatherings health literature, yet they can increase infectious disease transmission by motivating people to engage in risk-taking behaviours. Across three experiments (Ntotal = 1551), we investigated how shared social identities, perceived norms of resource-sharing, and perceived riskiness of sharing interact to shape decisions that can lead to disease transmission. In Experiment 1 (N = 528), we examined how shared social identity and perceived descriptive norms affect the likelihood of crowd members sharing resources that may contribute to disease spread. We then replicated this in Experiment 2 (N = 511) using perceived injunctive norms. In Experiment 3 (N = 512), we explored how high shared social identity, perceived norms, and perceived health risks of resource-sharing impact the likelihood of sharing that may, in turn, increase infectious disease transmission at mass gatherings. We found that high shared social identity interacts with perceived descriptive and injunctive norms, and low health risk perceptions, to increase the likelihood of accepting resources and giving resources at mass gatherings. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to build effective strategies to mitigate infectious disease transmission at mass gatherings.

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with the spatio-temporal distribution of infectious agents in early marine Chinook and coho salmon

Understanding the factors driving the spatial distribution of infectious agents in populations is key to predicting infectious agent distributions under future ecological and anthropogenic scenarios. We applied a geostatistical analysis to a data set of 59 infectious agents assayed in thousands of Chinook and coho salmon in their first marine year to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with the probability and density (infectious agent load) of infection. Meta-analysis of the pathogen-specific geostatistical models indicated that sea surface salinity was the extrinsic factor most frequently associated with infection probability and density for a majority of infectious agents. In addition, agents that were categorized as having a moderate risk of transmission from aquaculture to wild salmon were more likely to occur, and at higher infection densities, in fish collected closer to active aquaculture facilities. Although hypotheses pertaining to other intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including age at ocean entry, known hatchery origin, and sea surface temperature deviation, were not supported by the meta-analysis results, some individual agents demonstrated strong associations with these factors. Our results suggest that climate-change-driven shifts in coastal seawater salinity (and to a lesser extent, temperature) may result in changes to the infection dynamics of several infectious agents. In addition, our results contribute to existing evidence characterizing the risk of infectious agent transmission from netpen aquaculture to free-ranging salmon.

Monitoring the ventilation of living spaces to assess the risk of airborne transmission of infection using a novel Pocket CO2 Logger to track carbon dioxide concentrations in Tokyo.

We employed carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration monitoring using mobile devices to identify location-specific risks for airborne infection transmission. We lent a newly developed, portable Pocket CO2 Logger to 10 participants, to be carried at all times, for an average of 8 days. The participants recorded their location at any given time as cinema, gym, hall, home, hospital, other indoors, other outgoings, pub, restaurant, university, store, transportation, or workplace. Generalized linear mixed model was used for statistical analysis, with the objective variable set to the logarithm of CO2 concentration. Analysis was performed by assigning participant identification as the random effect and location as the fixed effect. The data were collected per participant (seven males, four females), resulting in a total of 12,253 records. Statistical analysis identified three relatively poorly ventilated locations (median values > 1,000 ppm) that contributed significantly (p < 0.0001) to CO2 concentrations: homes (1,316 ppm), halls (1,173 ppm), and gyms (1005ppm). In contrast, two locations were identified to contribute significantly (p < 0.0001) to CO2 concentrations but had relatively low average values (<1,000 ppm): workplaces (705 ppm) and stores (620 ppm). The Pocket CO2 Logger can be used to visualize airborne infectious transmission risk by location to help guide recommendation regarding infectious disease policies, such as restrictions on human flow and ventilation measures and guidelines. In the future, large-scale surveys are expected to utilize the global positioning system, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth of an individual's smartphone to improve ease and accuracy.

Exploring the determinants of risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors in Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

Blood donation is vital to healthcare, but it must be kept safe by mitigating the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors at Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar. This study utilized a cross-sectional study design using secondary data. Mandalay city and Mandalay Blood Bank in Mandalay General Hospital were purposely selected and a total of 406 first-time blood donors participated. A structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer was used. The questionnaire contained background characteristics, knowledge on TTIs, attitude toward TTIs, and TTIs risk behaviors. To examine the determinants (background characteristics, knowledge, and attitude) that affect risk behavior, inferential statistics techniques that included the chi-squared test, bivariable logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. A p-value of less than 0.05 signified statistical significance. Among 406 first-time blood donors, 52.9% were under 20 years old, and 53.7% were male. Most had undergraduate education (77.6%), were married (84.2%), and were students (55.7%). Additionally, 76.8% hadn't received the hepatitis B vaccine. Blood groups were distributed as follows: B (40.0%), O (33.8%), A (23.4%), AB (8.9%). About 15.8% showed high knowledge level, and 63.6% had high attitude. Notably, 29.3% exhibited high-risk behavior for TTIs. Age was associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.38, p = 0.049), but lost significance in multivariable regression (p = 0.214). Knowledge on TTIs didn't show significance. However, high attitudes were significantly associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 11.4, 95% CI: 1.25, 103.83, p = 0.017, retained in multivariable regression, p = 0.012). Findings of this study contribute in the development of programs that ensure a safe and reliable blood supply chain. To improve blood safety standards among first-time blood donors, this study highlights the value of targeted education and screening processes, placing particular emphasis on acquiring knowledge and positive attitude toward blood donation and risk behavior.

Safe Injection Self-Efficacy is associated with HCV and HIV seropositivity among people who inject drugs in the San Diego-Tijuana border region.

Safe injection self-efficacy (SISE) is negatively associated with injection risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) but has not been examined in differing risk environments. We compared responses to a validated SISE scale between PWID in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, and examine correlates of SISE among PWID in Tijuana. PWID were recruited via street outreach for a longitudinal cohort study from October 2020 - September 2021. We compared SISE scale items by city. Due to low variability in SISE scores among San Diego residents, we restricted analysis of factors associated with SISE to Tijuana residents and identified correlates of SISE scores (low, medium, high) using ordinal logistic regression. Of 474 participants, most were male (74%), Latinx (78%) and Tijuana residents (73%). Mean age was 44. Mean SISE scores among San Diego residents were high (3.46 of 4 maximum) relative to Tijuana residents (mean: 1.93). Among Tijuana residents, White race and having previously resided in San Diego were associated with higher SISE scores. HCV and HIV seropositivity, homelessness, fentanyl use, polysubstance co-injection, and greater injection frequency were associated with lower SISE scores. We found profound inequalities between Tijuana and San Diego SISE, likely attributable to differential risk environments. Associations with fentanyl and polysubstance co-injection, injection frequency, and both HIV and HCV seropositivity suggest that SISE contribute to blood-borne infection transmission risks in Tijuana. SISE reflects an actionable intervention target to reduce injection risk behaviors, but structural interventions are required to intervene upon the risk environment.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Antimicrobial Touch Surfaces to Prevent Cross-Contamination.

Infection diseases are a major threat to global public health, with nosocomial infections being of particular concern. In this context, antimicrobial coatings emerge as a promising prophylactic strategy to reduce the transmission of pathogens and control infections. Here, antimicrobial door handle covers to prevent cross-contamination are prepared by incorporating iodine-loaded UiO-66 microparticles into a potentially biodegradable polyurethane polymer (Baycusan eco E 1000). These covers incorporate MOF particles that serve as both storage reservoirs and delivery systems for the biocidal iodine. Under realistic touching conditions, the door handle covers completely inhibit the transmission of Gram-positive bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis), Gram-negative bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii), and fungi (Candida albicans). The covers remain effective even after undergoing multiple contamination cycles, after being cleaned, and when tinted to improve discretion and usability. Furthermore, as the release of iodine from the door handle covers follow hindered Fickian diffusion, their antimicrobial lifetime is calculated to be as long as approximately two years. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of these antimicrobial door handle covers to prevent cross-contamination, and underline the efficacy of integrating MOFs into innovative technologies.

Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS): objectives, design, and enrollment results of a 12-city remote observational surveillance study of households with children, using direct-to-participant methods.

The Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) Study is a prospective, multicity, 6-month incidence study conducted from May 2020 to February 2021. The objectives were to identify risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and household transmission among children and people with asthma and allergic diseases, and to use the host nasal transcriptome sampled longitudinally to understand infection risk and sequelae at the molecular level. To overcome challenges of clinical study implementation due to the coronavirus pandemic, this surveillance study used direct-to-participant methods to remotely enroll and prospectively follow eligible children who are participants in other National Institutes of Health-funded pediatric research studies and their household members. Households participated in weekly surveys and biweekly nasal sampling regardless of symptoms. The aim of this report is to widely share the methods and study instruments and to describe the rationale, design, execution, logistics, and characteristics of a large, observational, household-based, remote cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in households with children. The study enrolled a total of 5598 individuals, including 1913 principal participants (children), 1913 primary caregivers, 729 secondary caregivers, and 1043 other household children. This study was successfully implemented without necessitating any in-person research visits and provides an approach for rapid execution of clinical research. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04375761.

A hybrid transmission model for Plasmodium vivax accounting for superinfection, immunity and the hypnozoite reservoir

Malaria is a vector-borne disease that exacts a grave toll in the Global South. The epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically expansive agent of human malaria, is characterised by the accrual of a reservoir of dormant parasites known as hypnozoites. Relapses, arising from hypnozoite activation events, comprise the majority of the blood-stage infection burden, with implications for the acquisition of immunity and the distribution of superinfection. Here, we construct a novel model for the transmission of P. vivax that concurrently accounts for the accrual of the hypnozoite reservoir, (blood-stage) superinfection and the acquisition of immunity. We begin by using an infinite-server queueing network model to characterise the within-host dynamics as a function of mosquito-to-human transmission intensity, extending our previous model to capture a discretised immunity level. To model transmission-blocking and antidisease immunity, we allow for geometric decay in the respective probabilities of successful human-to-mosquito transmission and symptomatic blood-stage infection as a function of this immunity level. Under a hybrid approximation—whereby probabilistic within-host distributions are cast as expected population-level proportions—we couple host and vector dynamics to recover a deterministic compartmental model in line with Ross-Macdonald theory. We then perform a steady-state analysis for this compartmental model, informed by the (analytic) distributions derived at the within-host level. To characterise transient dynamics, we derive a reduced system of integrodifferential equations, likewise informed by our within-host queueing network, allowing us to recover population-level distributions for various quantities of epidemiological interest. In capturing the interplay between hypnozoite accrual, superinfection and acquired immunity—and providing, to the best of our knowledge, the most complete population-level distributions for a range of epidemiological values—our model provides insights into important, but poorly understood, epidemiological features of P. vivax.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus complement control protein (KCP) and glycoprotein K8.1 are not required for viral infection in vitro or in vivo.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic human gamma-herpesvirus associated with the endothelial malignancy Kaposi sarcoma and the lymphoproliferative disorders primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman disease. Determining how KSHV glycoproteins such as complement control protein (KCP) and K8.1 contribute to the establishment, persistence, and transmission of viral infection will be key for developing effective anti-viral vaccines and therapies to prevent and treat KSHV infection and KSHV-associated diseases. Using newly generated anti-KCP antibodies, previously characterized anti-K8.1 antibodies, and recombinant mutant KSHV viruses lacking KCP and/or K8.1, we show that KCP and K8.1 can be found on the surface of both virions and KSHV-infected cells. Furthermore, we show that KSHV lacking KCP and/or K8.1 remains infectious to diverse cell types susceptible to KSHV in vitro and to human B cells in vivo in a humanized mouse model, thus providing evidence that these viral glycoproteins are not required for KSHV infection.

Status of zoonotic disease research in refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people, globally: A scoping review of forty clinically important zoonotic pathogens.

At the end of 2022, there were over 108 million forcibly displaced people globally, including refugees, asylum seekers (AS) and internally displaced people (IDPs). Forced migration increases the risk of infectious disease transmission, and zoonotic pathogens account for 61% of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Zoonoses create a high burden of disease and have the potential to cause large-scale outbreaks. This scoping review aimed to assess the state of research on a range of clinically relevant zoonotic pathogens in displaced populations in order to identify the gaps in literature and guide future research. Literature was systematically searched to identify original research related to 40 selected zoonotic pathogens of interest in refugees, AS and IDPs. We included only peer-reviewed original research in English, with no publication date restrictions. Demographic data, migration pathways, health factors, associated outbreaks, predictive factors and preventative measures were extracted and synthesized. We identified 4,295 articles, of which 347 were included; dates of publications ranged from 1937 to 2022. Refugees were the most common population investigated (75%). Migration pathways of displaced populations increased over time towards a more complex web, involving migration in dual directions. The most frequent pathogen investigated was Schistosoma spp. (n = 99 articles). Disease outbreaks were reported in 46 publications (13.3%), with viruses being the most commonly reported pathogen type. Limited access to hygiene/sanitation, crowding and refugee status were the most commonly discussed predictors of infection. Vaccination/prophylaxis drug administration, surveillance/screening and improved hygiene/sanitation were the most commonly discussed preventative measures. The current research on zoonoses in displaced populations displays gaps in the spectrum of pathogens studied, as well as in the (sub)populations investigated. Future studies should be more inclusive of One Health approaches to adequately investigate the impact of zoonotic pathogens and identify transmission pathways as a basis for designing interventions for displaced populations.

Assessing the reduction of viral infectivity in HPV16/18-positive women after one, two, and three doses of Gardasil-9 (RIFT): Study protocol.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccination has proven effective in preventing new infections, but it does not treat existing HPV infections or associated diseases. Hence, there is still an important reservoir of HPV in adults, as vaccination programs are mainly focused on young women. The primary objective of this non-randomized, open-label trial is to evaluate if a 3-dose regimen of Gardasil-9 in HPV16/18-positive women could reduce the infective capacity of their body fluids. We aim to assess if vaccine-induced antibodies could neutralize virions present in the mucosa, thus preventing the release of infective particles and HPV transmission to sexual partners. As our main endpoint, the E1^E4-HaCaT model will be used to assess the infectivity rate of cervical, anal and oral samples, obtained from women before and after vaccination. HPV DNA positivity, virion production, seroconversion, and the presence of antibodies in the exudates, will be evaluated to attribute infectivity reduction to vaccination. Our study will recruit two different cohorts (RIFT-HPV1 and RIFT-HPV2) of non-vaccinated adult women. RIFT-HPV1 will include subjects with an HPV16/18 positive cervical test and no apparent cervical lesions or cervical lesions eligible for conservative treatment. RIFT-HPV2 will include subjects with an HPV16/18 positive anal test and no apparent anal lesions or anal lesions eligible for conservative treatment, as well as women with an HPV16/18 positive cervical test and HPV-associated vulvar lesions. Subjects complying with inclusion criteria for both cohorts will be recruited to the main cohort, RIFT-HPV1. Three doses of Gardasil-9 will be administered intramuscularly at visit 1 (0 months), visit 2 (2 months) and visit 3 (6 months). Even though prophylactic HPV vaccines would not eliminate a pre-existing infection, our results will determine if HPV vaccination could be considered as a new complementary strategy to prevent HPV-associated diseases by reducing viral spread. Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05334706.

A Stochastic Semi-Parametric SEIR Model with Infectivity in an Incubation Period

This paper introduces stochastic disturbances into a semi-parametric SEIR model with infectivity in an incubation period. The model combines the randomness of disease transmission and the nonlinearity of transmission rate, providing a flexible framework for more accurate description of the process of infectious disease transmission. On the basis of the discussion of the deterministic model, the stochastic semi-parametric SEIR model is studied. Firstly, we use Lyapunov analysis to prove the existence and uniqueness of global positive solutions for the model. Secondly, the conditions for disease extinction are established, and appropriate stochastic Lyapunov functions are constructed to discuss the asymptotic behavior of the model’s solution at the disease-free equilibrium point of the deterministic model. Finally, the specific transmission functions are enumerated, and the accuracy of the results are demonstrated through numerical simulations.

Dynamic contact networks of residents of an urban jail in the era of SARS-CoV-2

BackgroundIn custodial settings such as jails and prisons, infectious disease transmission is heightened by factors such as overcrowding and limited healthcare access. Specific features of social contact networks within these settings have not been sufficiently characterized, especially in the context of a large-scale respiratory infectious disease outbreak. The study aims to quantify contact network dynamics within the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia. MethodsJail roster data were utilized to construct social contact networks. Rosters included resident details, cell locations, and demographic information. This analysis involved 6702 male residents over 140,901 person days. Network statistics, including degree, mixing, and dissolution (movement within and out of the jail) rates, were assessed. We compared outcomes for two distinct periods (January 2022 and April 2022) to understand potential responses in network structures during and after the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant peak. ResultsWe found high cross-sectional network degree at both cell and block levels. While mean degree increased with age, older residents exhibited lower degree during the Omicron peak. Block-level networks demonstrated higher mean degrees than cell-level networks. Cumulative degree distributions increased from January to April, indicating heightened contacts after the outbreak. Assortative age mixing was strong, especially for younger residents. Dynamic network statistics illustrated increased degrees over time, emphasizing the potential for disease spread. ConclusionsDespite some reduction in network characteristics during the Omicron peak, the contact networks within the Fulton County Jail presented ideal conditions for infectious disease transmission. Age-specific mixing patterns suggested unintentional age segregation, potentially limiting disease spread to older residents. This study underscores the necessity for ongoing monitoring of contact networks in carceral settings and provides valuable insights for epidemic modeling and intervention strategies, including quarantine, depopulation, and vaccination, laying a foundation for understanding disease dynamics in such environments.Top of Form

Evaluation of CD4 Count in HIV Infected Pregnant Women at Kibagabaga Level Two Teaching Hospital

CD4 count measures the degree of immunosuppression in HIV-positive patients and is used to monitor HIV infection progression in human body. HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and if not treated, can lead to AIDS The rate of CD4 cells destruction is directly proportional to progressive replication of HIV. Pregnant women infected with HIV have high risk of mother to child transmission of HIV infection and are prone to excessive immunosuppression and increased viral load if their CD4 cell count is not properly maintained. Pregnancy may influence CD4 cells count reduction or don’t, that’s why this study focused on evaluation of CD4 count in HIV infected pregnant women. The objectives of this study were to determine the association between pregnancy trimesters and CD4 count among HIV infected pregnant women at KDH. The study was a cross sectional study which included 46 patients who visited kibagabaga level two teaching hospital in 5 months. Data were obtained by collecting venous blood of patients, testing their CD4 count and use of a questionnaire to evaluate the risk factors associated with changes in CD4 count. Data collected were analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0 and Microsoft word, the presentation of results was done using tables. Variables with p-value less than or equal to 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The study showed that there is an association between pregnancy trimesters and CD4 count among HIV infected pregnant women where 21(45.6%) women were in third trimester and had the highest CD4 count compared to women in the 2nd trimester 14(30.4%) followed by women in 1st trimester 11(24%) with p-value of 0.04 which is statistically significant. In evaluated CD4 count changes, associated risk factors were, antiretroviral treatment intake, diet intake, education level, pregnancy trimester, and closely spaced pregnancies. Which were found to have p-values 0.00, 0.00, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.01 that were statistically significant respectively. Keywords: HIV, CD4 Count, Pregnant women

Visualization of Effectiveness: The Use of a Set of Colored Cleaning Wipes for Visible Disinfection of Ultrasound Probes

The German health authorities’ guidelines for medical devices in 2012 highlighted the importance of cleaning ultrasound probes, emphasizing their validation and reliability. In addition to automated and validated options, alternative manual methods such as wipe disinfection have gained traction due to their independence from additional hardware. The study examines the effectiveness of a manual cleaning process using wipes, addressing concerns raised by the Robert Koch Institute regarding the lack of validation for wipe disinfection of semi-critical devices. The EQUINOS colored wipe disinfection kit identified wetting gaps in all cleanings across four probes tested. The results indicate significant challenges in ensuring complete surface wetting, particularly in complex device parts such as clip-on areas and fixtures for additional biopsy attachments, suggesting that manual methods alone may not adequately mitigate the risk of infection transmission (p value &lt; 0.0001). The study concludes that while manual disinfection methods are a commonly used alternative to automated reprocessing, there is a critical need for enhanced training and potentially the development of more effective manual disinfection techniques or colored wipes to ensure patient safety and compliance with healthcare hygiene standards.

Gastrointestinal Parasites in Owned Dogs in Serbia: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide. Close contact between dogs and people increases the risk of transmission of various zoonotic parasitic infections. Given the importance of veterinary medicine in preserving the One Health concept, the aim of this research was to identify intestinal parasites that may have zoonotic potential and to evaluate risk factors (individual and environmental). The research was conducted in Serbia in 2022 and 2023 on 382 owned dogs, using qualitative methods of coprological examination with a concentration on parasitic elements. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 62.6%, with the following detected: protozoa: Cystoisospora spp. (9.2%), Sarcocystis spp. (4.5%), Neospora caninum/Hammondia spp. (3.7%), Giardia intestinalis (11.8%); nematoda: Toxocara canis (11.5%), Toxascaris leonina (4.2%), family Ancylostomatidae (38.0%), Trichuris vulpis (21.5%), Capillaria spp. (10.5%); trematoda: Alaria alata (1.6%) and cestodes from the Taeniidae family (1.3%). Factors like age, size and coat length, as well as the way of living, attitude and diet were linked to a significantly higher (p < 0.05) prevalence of intestinal parasites. Based on the results of coprological diagnostics, this research indicates the importance of educating dog owners, conducting routine parasitological tests on their pets and regular deworming strategies.