scholarly journals Preponderance of blaKPC-Carrying Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Among Fecal Isolates From Community Food Handlers in Kuwait

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola H. Moghnia ◽  
Vincent O. Rotimi ◽  
Noura A. Al-Sweih
Keyword(s):  
Health Concern ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Gene Characterization ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
The Family ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Molecular Mode ◽  
Sequence Types

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are pathogens that have been found in several countries, with a significant public health concern. Characterizing the mode of resistance and determining the prevailing clones are vital to the epidemiology of CRE in our community. This study was conducted to characterize the molecular mode of resistance and to determine the clonality of the CRE fecal isolates among community food handlers (FHs) vs. infected control patients (ICPs) in Kuwait. Fecal CRE isolates obtained from FHs and ICPs from September 2016 to September 2018 were analyzed for their resistance genes. Gene characterization was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and sequencing. Clonality of isolates was established by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Of the 681 and 95 isolates of the family Enterobacterales isolated from FHs and ICPs, 425 (62.4%) and 16 (16.8%) were Escherichia coli, and 18 (2.6%) and 69 (72.6%) were Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. A total of 36 isolates were CRE with a prevalence of 5.3% among FH isolates and 87 (91.6%) among the ICPs. Of these, carbapenemase genes were detected in 22 (61.1%) and 65 (74.7%) isolates, respectively (p < 0.05). The detected specific genes among FHs and ICPs were positive for blaKPC 19 (86.4%) and 35 (40.2%), and blaOXA 10 (45.5%) and 59 (67.8%), in addition to blaNDM 2 (9.1%) and 32 (36.8%), respectively. MLST assays of the E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates revealed considerable genetic diversity and polyclonality as well as demonstrated multiple known ST types and eight novel sequence types. The study revealed a relatively high number of CRE harboring predominantly blaKPC-mediated CRE among the community FH isolates vs. predominant blaOXA genes among the ICPs. Those heterogeneous CRE isolates raise concerns and mandate more efforts toward molecular surveillance. A multinational study is recommended to monitor the spread of genes mediating CRE in the community of Arabian Peninsula countries.

scholarly journals Multidrug Resistant CTX-M-ProducingEscherichia coli: A Growing Threat among HIV Patients in India

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kesavaram Padmavathy ◽  
Krishnan Padma ◽  
Sikhamani Rajasekaran
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Hiv Patients ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Third Generation Cephalosporins ◽  
Highly Virulent ◽  
Esbl Producers

Extended Spectrumβ-Lactamases (ESBLs) confer resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and CTX-M types have emerged as the most prominent ESBLs worldwide. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of CTX-M positive ESBL-producing urinaryE. coliisolates from HIV patients and to establish the association of multidrug resistance, phylogeny, and virulence profile with CTX-M production. A total of 57 ESBL producers identified among 76E. colistrains isolated from HIV patients from South India were screened forblaCTX-M, AmpC production, multidrug resistance, and nine virulence associated genes (VAGs),fimH,pap,afa/dra,sfa/foc,iutA,fyuA,iroN,usp,andkpsMII.The majority (70.2%) of the ESBL producers harboredblaCTX-Mand were AmpC coproducers. Among the CTX-M producers, 47.5% were found to be UPEC, 10% harbored as many as 7 VAGs, and 45% possessedkpsMII. Multidrug resistance (CIPRSXTRGENR) was significantly more common among the CTX-M producers compared to the nonproducers (70% versus 41.2%). However, 71.4% of the multidrug resistant CTX-M producers exhibited susceptibility to nitrofurantoin thereby making it an effective alternative to cephalosporins/fluoroquinolones. The emergence of CTX-M-producing highly virulent, multidrug resistant uropathogenicE. coliis of significant public health concern in countries like India with a high burden of HIV/AIDS.

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of clinical carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales from Qatar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Ben Abid ◽  
Clement K. M. Tsui ◽  
Yohei Doi ◽  
Anand Deshmukh ◽  
Christi L. McElheny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Species ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Encoding Genes ◽  
Sequence Types ◽  
Common Sequence

AbstractOne hundred forty-nine carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales from clinical samples obtained between April 2014 and November 2017 were subjected to whole genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing. Klebsiella pneumoniae (81, 54.4%) and Escherichia coli (38, 25.5%) were the most common species. Genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases were detected in 68 (45.8%) isolates, and OXA-48-like enzymes in 60 (40.3%). blaNDM-1 (45; 30.2%) and blaOXA-48 (29; 19.5%) were the most frequent. KPC-encoding genes were identified in 5 (3.6%) isolates. Most common sequence types were E. coli ST410 (8; 21.1%) and ST38 (7; 18.4%), and K. pneumoniae ST147 (13; 16%) and ST231 (7; 8.6%).

scholarly journals Association of Living Arrangement Conditions and Socioeconomic Differentials with Anemia Status among Women in Rural Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghose Bishwajit ◽  
Sanni Yaya ◽  
Shangfeng Tang ◽  
Akmal Hossain ◽  
Yang Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Household Characteristics ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Health Survey Data ◽  
Socioeconomic Differentials

In Bangladesh, iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia and remains a significant public health concern. Being a high anemia prevalent country, numerous efforts have been made to confront the issue especially among women and children by both local and international actors. Though the situation has substantially improved in recent years, a staggering number of adult women are currently living with anemia. The etiology of anemia is a multifactorial problem and has been proposed to be associated with various household, societal, economic, cultural factors apart from dietary habits. However, evidence regarding the household arrangements and socioeconomic determinants of anemia is scarce, especially in the context of Bangladesh. To this end, we utilized the 2011 demographic and health survey data to explore the association between anemia status and selected demographic, socioeconomic, and household characteristics. Our result showed significant correlation of anemia with both sociodemographic and household characteristics. Among the sociodemographic variables the following were found to be significantly associated with anemia status: age (p=0.014; OR = 1.195; 95% CI = 1.036–1.378) and microcredit membership (p=0.014; OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.037–1.386). Regarding the household arrangements, women utilizing biomass fuel for cooking (p<0.019; OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 0.981–2.460) were more likely to be anemic.

scholarly journals Medication Errors: Scope and prevention strategies

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Brunetti ◽  
Dong-Churl Suh
Keyword(s):  
Medication Error ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Integration Of Technology ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Safety Systems ◽  
Improve Patient

Background: Medication errors are a significant public health concern.  Although significant advances have been made, errors are still relatively common and represent an opportunity for healthcare improvement.Methodology/Principal Findings: Since the publication of To Err is Human, medication errors have been under tremendous scrutiny.  Organizations have moved towards a non-punitive approach to evaluating errors.  This approach to medication errors has aided in identifying common pathways to medication errors and improving understanding regarding the anatomy of a medication error.  As a result, prevention strategies have been developed to target common themes contributing to errors.  Error prevention strategies may target common contributors of medication errors, broadly grouped as performance lapses, lack of knowledge, and lack or failure of safety systems.  Strategies to thwart medication errors range from process improvement to integration of technology in the health care environment.Conclusions/Significance:  Organizations should devote resources to address medication error prevention strategies in an effort to improve patient outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality associated with medication errors.

scholarly journals Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Program with iMINDr Application Support for Older Adults with Depression Symptoms: A Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 06 (04) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Lutvija Hrnjic ◽  
◽  
Nina Fry ◽  
Helané Wahbeh ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Potential Applications

The growing population of older adults with depression is a significant public health concern, and effective treatments are necessary. Mindfulness meditation intervention offers effective treatment for depression, but little research has been conducted on the older population. This study aimed to evaluate if the combination of the Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) plus iMINDr application improves well-being in older adults with depressive symptoms. Potential participants were recruited online. IMMI included a one-hour online session once a week, a daily 30-minute home practice of guided meditation using the iMINDr app, and a workbook. Measures were collected online before and after the six-week intervention period. Online session adherence was tracked. Thirty-eight participants completed all study requirements and are included in the analysis. Participants showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in depression symptoms, well-being, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, and pain intensity. Participants took 9.9 ± 3.5 weeks to complete the course. High attrition rates mainly were related to participants' motivation to complete the course and stress levels. There were no significant demographic differences between participants and depression symptoms. Potential applications and limitations are discussed. Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) was effective in treating depression symptoms in older adults.

scholarly journals Bias in the perceived prevalence of open defecation: evidence from Bihar, India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyi Kuang ◽  
Erik Thulin ◽  
Sania Ashraf ◽  
Alex Shpenev ◽  
Upasak Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Open Defecation ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
False Consensus ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Consensus Bias ◽  
Actual Prevalence

People often form perceptions about how prevalent a behavior is in a social group. However, these perceptions can be inaccurate and biased. While persistent undesirable practices in low-income countries have drawn global attention, evidence regarding people’s perception of how prevalent these practices are is scarce. Among those harmful practices, open defecation in India remains a significant public health concern, where it perpetuates the vicious cycle of disease and poverty. In this study, we focus on measuring the perceived prevalence of open defecation among respondents in Bihar, India. We examined the bias in perceived prevalence, which is defined as a pattern of deviation from the actual prevalence of open defecation. Results showed that respondents who defecate in the open overestimate the prevalence of open defecation, whereas those who consistently use toilets underestimate it. This finding suggests a false consensus bias in the perceived prevalence of open defecation. Scholars, policymakers, and program implementers who seek to correct misperceptions about open defecation by broadcasting real prevalence should be aware of biases in the perceived prevalence and address them in behavior change interventions.

scholarly journals Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of the First Wave From Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buddha Bahadur Basnet ◽  
Kiran Bishwakarma ◽  
Ramesh Raj Pant ◽  
Santosh Dhakal ◽  
Nashib Pandey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Status ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Hilly Region ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
The Government ◽  
High Level ◽  
Male To Female

Unprecedented and unforeseen highly infectious Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant public health concern for most of the countries worldwide, including Nepal, and it is spreading rapidly. Undoubtedly, every nation has taken maximum initiative measures to break the transmission chain of the virus. This review presents a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, analyzing the actions taken by the Government of Nepal (GoN) to inform future decisions. Data used in this article were extracted from relevant reports and websites of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) of Nepal and the WHO. As of January 22, 2021, the highest numbers of cases were reported in the megacity of the hilly region, Kathmandu district (population = 1,744,240), and Bagmati province. The cured and death rates of the disease among the tested population are ~98.00 and ~0.74%, respectively. Higher numbers of infected cases were observed in the age group 21–30, with an overall male to female death ratio of 2.33. With suggestions and recommendations from high-level coordination committees and experts, GoN has enacted several measures: promoting universal personal protection, physical distancing, localized lockdowns, travel restrictions, isolation, and selective quarantine. In addition, GoN formulated and distributed several guidelines/protocols for managing COVID-19 patients and vaccination programs. Despite robust preventive efforts by GoN, pandemic scenario in Nepal is, yet, to be controlled completely. This review could be helpful for the current and future effective outbreak preparedness, responses, and management of the pandemic situations and prepare necessary strategies, especially in countries with similar socio-cultural and economic status.

scholarly journals Characterization of a New and Efficient Polyvalent Phage Infecting E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Shigella sonnei

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2105
Author(s):  
Su-Hyeon Kim ◽  
Damilare Adeyemi ◽  
Mi-Kyung Park
Keyword(s):  
Burst Size ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Cesium Chloride ◽  
Shigella Sonnei ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Ph Range

Ongoing outbreaks of foodborne diseases remain a significant public health concern. Lytic phages provide promising attributes as biocontrol agents. This study characterized KFS-EC3, a polyvalent and lytic phage, which was isolated from slaughterhouse sewage and purified by cesium chloride density centrifugation. Host range and efficiency of plating analyses revealed that KFS-EC3 is polyvalent and can efficiently infect E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Shigella sonnei. KFS-EC3 had a latent time of 20 min and burst size of ~71 phages/infected cell. KFS-EC3 was stable and infectious following storage at a pH range of 3 to 11 and a temperature range of −70°C to 60°C. KFS-EC3 could inhibit E. coli O157:H7 growth by 2 logs up to 52 h even at the lowest MOI of 0.001. Genomic analysis of KFS-EC3 revealed that it consisted of 167,440 bp and 273 ORFs identified as functional genes, without any genes associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence, allergenicity, and lysogenicity. This phage was finally classified into the Tequatrovirus genus of the Myoviridae family. In conclusion, KFS-EC3 could simultaneously infect E. coli O157:H7, S. sonnei, and Salmonella spp. with the lowest MOI values over long periods, suggesting its suitability for simultaneous pathogen control in foods.

Advances in Management of Food Allergy in Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-128
Author(s):  
Fernanda Chiera ◽  
Lucia Caminiti ◽  
Giuseppe Crisafulli ◽  
Giovanni Battista Pajno
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Oral Immunotherapy ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Herbal Supplements ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Life Threatening

Food allergy is a potentially life-threatening medical condition and a significant public health concern worldwide. The current management consists of strict avoidance of the culprit food and treating any adverse reactions from unintended food ingestion. The increasing prevalence of food allergy encouraged research and clinical trials in the field of specific allergen immunotherapy (AIT) which represents an appealing approach, especially in pediatric age. AIT consists of the gradual administration of growing amounts of the offending allergen in order to induce food desensitization, which is an increase in the threshold for reactivity while continuing on regular exposure to the allergen. AIT can be administered through oral, sublingual, epicutaneous, and subcutaneous routes. Reports on oral immunotherapy (OIT) thus far have been more extensive. The desirable goal is to achieve &quot;post desensitization effectiveness&quot;, that is the ability to introduce food without reaction even after a period of discontinuation of the offending food. Other therapeutic approaches are being studied alongside immunotherapy such as modified proteins, probiotics, Chinese herbal supplements, biologic therapies, and DNA vaccines.

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