scholarly journals Understanding the social drivers of antibiotic use during COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Implications for reduction of antimicrobial resistance

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261368
Author(s):  
Abul Kalam ◽  
Shahanaj Shano ◽  
Mohammad Asif Khan ◽  
Ariful Islam ◽  
Narelle Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Antibiotics Use

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health crisis that is now impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known how COVID-19 risks influence people to consume antibiotics, particularly in contexts like Bangladesh where these pharmaceuticals can be purchased without a prescription. This paper identifies the social drivers of antibiotics use among home-based patients who have tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 or have COVID-19-like symptoms. Using qualitative telephone interviews, the research was conducted in two Bangladesh cities with 40 participants who reported that they had tested positive for coronavirus (n = 20) or had COVID-19-like symptoms (n = 20). Our analysis identified five themes in antibiotic use narratives: antibiotics as ‘big’ medicine; managing anxiety; dealing with social repercussions of COVID-19 infection; lack of access to COVID-19 testing and healthcare services; and informal sources of treatment advice. Antibiotics were seen to solve physical and social aspects of COVID-19 infection, with urgent ramifications for AMR in Bangladesh and more general implications for global efforts to mitigate AMR.

scholarly journals Identification of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for the Organoarsenical Antibiotic Arsinothricin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana E. Galván ◽  
Ngozi P. Paul ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Kunie Yoshinaga-Sakurai ◽  
Sagar M. Utturkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
New Class ◽  
Public Health Crisis

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global public health crisis, calling for urgent development of novel potent antibiotics. We propose that arsinothricin and related arsenic-containing compounds may be the progenitors of a new class of antibiotics to extend our antibiotic era.

scholarly journals Shape the Future: how the social sciences, humanities and the arts can SHAPE a positive, post-pandemic future for peoples, economies and environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 167-266
Author(s):  
Molly Morgan Jones ◽  
Dominic Abrams ◽  
Aditi Lahiri
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Nation States ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Future

COVID-19 is the most challenging global public health crisis we have faced for many decades. However, it is more than a health crisis. The impacts go well beyond the medical sphere and are changing lives, livelihoods, communities and economies within and across nation-states. The British Academy launched its Shape the Future initiative in May 2020 to bring insights from the social sciences, humanities and the arts together to understand how we can shape a positive future for people, the econ�omy and the environment post-pandemic. These disciplines have a critical role to play in the handling of and recovery from the pandemic. This paper summarises the discussions held during twenty policy and research workshops which considered topics under three broad themes relevant to the post-pandemic future: revitalising societal well-being, recreating an inclusive economy around purpose, and revisiting the histories and cultures of science, policy and politics.

Preparation and Antitubercular Activities of Palindromic Hydrazinecarbothioamides and Carbonothioic Dihydrazides

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1202-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Joseps Hearn ◽  
Gwendolyn Towers ◽  
Michael Henry Cynamon
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Virulent Strain ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Disc Diffusion ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Zones Of Inhibition ◽  
Diffusion Assay

Background:With approximately one-third of the world’s population infected, tuberculosis continues to be a global public health crisis. The rise of strains that are unusually virulent or highly resistant to current drugs is a cause of special concern, prompting research into new classes of compounds, as well as the re-evaluation of known chemotherapeutic agents.Objectives:The antimycobacterial activities associated with some recently-reported thiocarbonyl compounds kindled our interest in the synthesis of substituted hydrazinecarbothioamides (3) and carbonothioic dihydrazides (4), with the aim of investigating their potential in antitubercular drug design and discovery.Methods:In the present study, the title compounds 3 and 4 were prepared by the condensation of hydrazines with isothiocyanates in reactions readily controlled by stoichiometry, temperature and solvent. The compounds were assessed against Mycobacterium bovis BCG in Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion, and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined against the virulent strain M. tuberculosis Erdman.Results:The chemical structures of these thermally stable compounds were determined by IR, 1HNMR, 13C-NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. In the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay, some of the compounds showed substantial diameters of inhibition against BCG. In some cases, the zones of inhibition were so large that no growth at all was observed on the assay plates. Against M. tuberculosis Erdman, several of the compounds showed significant activities. Compound 3h was the most active, demonstrating a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5 µg/mL.Conclusion:We found that the title compounds may be prepared conveniently in excellent purity and good yields. They are readily identified on the basis of their characteristic spectra. Some members of this class showed significant activities against mycobacteria. We conclude that further work will be warranted in exploring the antitubercular properties of these compounds.

scholarly journals A SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody with extensive Spike binding coverage and modified for optimal therapeutic outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Guo ◽  
Lisu Huang ◽  
Guangshun Zhang ◽  
Yanfeng Yao ◽  
He Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Monkey Model ◽  
Therapeutic Outcomes

AbstractCOVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 constitutes a global public health crisis with enormous economic consequences. Monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can provide an important treatment option to fight COVID-19, especially for the most vulnerable populations. In this work, potent antibodies binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein were identified from COVID-19 convalescent patients. Among them, P4A1 interacts directly with and covers majority of the Receptor Binding Motif of the Spike Receptor-Binding Domain, shown by high-resolution complex structure analysis. We further demonstrate the binding and neutralizing activities of P4A1 against wild type and mutant Spike proteins or pseudoviruses. P4A1 was subsequently engineered to reduce the potential risk for Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of infection and to extend its half-life. The engineered antibody exhibits an optimized pharmacokinetic and safety profile, and it results in complete viral clearance in a rhesus monkey model of COVID-19 following a single injection. These data suggest its potential against SARS-CoV-2 related diseases.

scholarly journals The Potential Use of Vitamin C to Prevent Kidney Injury in Patients with COVID-19

Diseases ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Feng Xu ◽  
Yawei Wen ◽  
Xinge Hu ◽  
Tiannan Wang ◽  
Guoxun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Renal Functions ◽  
Potential Use

The newly found SARS-CoV-2 has led to the pandemic of COVID-19, which has caused respiratory distress syndrome and even death worldwide. This has become a global public health crisis. Unfortunately, elders and subjects with comorbidities have high mortality rates. One main feature of COVID-19 is the cytokine storm, which can cause damage in cells and tissues including the kidneys. Here, we reviewed the current literature on renal impairments in patients with COVID-19 and analyzed the possible etiology and mechanisms. In addition, we investigated the potential use of vitamin C for the prevention of renal injury in those patients. It appears that vitamin C could be helpful to improve the outcomes of patients with COVID-19. Lastly, we discussed the possible protective effects of vitamin C on renal functions in COVID-19 patients with existing kidney conditions.

Synergising International Public Health Law and International Disaster Law

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Pratik DIXIT
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Health Law ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Public Health Law ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
International Public Health ◽  
Health Regulations

There is no time more opportune to review the workings of the International Health Regulations (IHR) than the present COVID-19 crisis. This article analyses the theoretical and practical aspects of international public health law (IPHL), particularly the IHR, to argue that it is woefully unprepared to protect human rights in times of a global public health crisis. To rectify this, the article argues that the IHR should design effective risk reduction and response strategies by incorporating concepts from international disaster law (IDL). Along similar lines, this article suggests that IDL also has a lot to learn from IPHL in terms of greater internationalisation and institutionalisation. Institutionalisation of IDL on par with IPHL will provide it with greater legitimacy, transparency and accountability. This article argues that greater cross-pollination of ideas between IDL and IPHL is necessary in order to make these disciplines more relevant for the future.

scholarly journals The Social Practices of Food Bank Volunteer Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Richard Philip Lee ◽  
Caroline Coulson ◽  
Kate Hackett
Keyword(s):  
Social Practice ◽  
Food Aid ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The on-going rise in demand experienced by voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) providing emergency food aid has been described as a sign of a social and public health crisis in the UK (Loopstra, 2018; Lambie-Mumford, 2019), compounded since 2020 by the impact of (and responses to) Covid 19 (Power et al., 2020). In this article we adopted a social practice approach to understanding the work of food bank volunteering. We identify how ‘helping others’, ‘deploying coping strategies’ and ‘creating atmospheres’ are key specific (and connected) forms of shared social practice. Further, these practices are sometimes suffused by faith-based practice. The analysis offers insights into how such spaces of care and encounter (Williams et al., 2016; Cloke et al., 2017) function, considers the implications for these distinctive organisational forms (the growth of which has been subject to justified critique) and suggests avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Non-Prescription Antibiotic Use For People Aged 15 Years Or Older For Cough In China: A Community-Based Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Luo ◽  
Xuewen Tang ◽  
Lingling Ding ◽  
Zhujun Shao ◽  
Jianxing Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Antibiotics Use ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Use Behavior

Abstract Background Non-prescription antibiotic use at community is a main driver of antimicrobial resistance. Cough is a common condition and prevalent in all communities, including China. This study aims to investigate the non-prescription antibiotic use for cough in China and explore to which extent antibiotic use knowledge was correctly instructed in communities.Methods A probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) sampling method was adopted to survey from all 14 communities in Yiwu city, China. All participants were investigated by face-to-face interview on Portable Android Devices (PADs). The continuous variables were presented by mean and standard deviation (SD) or medium and inter-quartile range (IQR). The categorical variables were presented using percentage or constituent ratio. Chi-square test for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis were conducted to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), respectively.Results A total of 3034 respondents across the 14 communities and the 50 natural villages/streets completed all key items of the questionnaire. Of 2400 (79.10%) respondents stated that they experienced cough in the past 12 months with the medium age of 36.5 (IQR: 26-49) and 12.21% (293/2400) respondents had the non-prescription antibiotic use behavior. Among those 293 respondents, the proportion of non-prescription antibiotic use for cough peaked at around 16% among people aged 30-39 years old. The major sources of antibiotics were pharmacy (77.70%) and/or family storage (43.92%). As for antibiotic knowledge in 3034 participants, 61.8% participants had minimal knowledge on broad-spectrum antibiotic and 53.76% were not familiar about the effects of joint use.Conclusions Non-prescription antibiotics use for cough is prevalent in the community, especially among people in their thirties. Strengthened drug purchase regulation and well-trained professional pharmacists would be promising alternatives to ameliorate AMR. Moreover, penetrating antibiotics knowledge to common citizens and is an urgent task to alleviate antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, proactive policies and regulations should be made to improve current situations.

scholarly journals Psychometric properties of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale amongst black South African university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malose Makhubela ◽  
Solomon Mashegoane
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Black South African ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Acceptable Internal Consistency

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread widely leading to a global public health crisis of a pandemic proportion. Whilst infection rates tend to fluctuate in South Africa, COVID-19 remains a life-threatening disease with the capacity to wreak fear and concern. The present study evaluated the psychometric qualities of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) amongst black South African university students (N = 433; Female: 58%; Mage = 23.51 [SD = 4.18]). The FCV-19S demonstrated a unidimensional factor structure and acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.87), Omega (ω = 0.88) and the greatest lower bound (GLB = 0.90) reliabilities. In addition, discriminant validity was demonstrated when FCV-19S items loaded separately from ordinary fear. The FCV-19S can be used as a measure of COVID-19-related fear amongst black South African university students.

An Essay on the Political Economy Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic as Twin Crises

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Irfan Kalaycı
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Global Epidemic ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Political Approach ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Twin Crises ◽  
Trade Education

The subject and purpose of this study is to examine the new type of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has turned into a global epidemic, with an economic-political approach. There are twin crises in the form of a health crisis (high human deaths) and an economic crisis (recession). Trillion-dollar aid packages from governments and international financial organizations also show that this global public health crisis has created an economic crisis. In the context of these crises, G-20 countries that did not intervene in their transmission channels in a timely manner showed the worst situations. This epidemic, calculated with the SIR model, is global, but the measures are local. What makes a clean, masked, and socially distant life obligatory against the risk of contamination is that this epidemic locks or restricts the whole economy, especially trade, education, and tourism. Measures called “new normalization” have started to relax in order to prevent further increase in unemployment and poverty.

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