Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Tick-Borne Diseases in North-Central Wisconsin from 2000–2016

Lyme disease is a well-recognized public health problem in the USA, however, other tick-borne diseases also have major public health impacts. Yet, limited research has evaluated changes in the spatial and temporal patterns of non-Lyme tick-borne diseases within endemic regions. Using laboratory data from a large healthcare system in north-central Wisconsin from 2000–2016, we applied a Kulldorf’s scan statistic to analyze spatial, temporal and seasonal clusters of laboratory-positive cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis at the county level. Older males were identified as the subpopulation at greatest risk for non-Lyme tick-borne diseases and we observed a statistically significant spatial and temporal clustering of cases (p < 0.05). HGA risk shifted from west to east over time (2000–2016) with a relative risk (RR) ranging from 3.30 to 11.85, whereas babesiosis risk shifted from south to north and west over time (2004–2016) with an RR ranging from 4.33 to 4.81. Our study highlights the occurrence of non-Lyme tick-borne diseases, and identifies at-risk subpopulations and shifting spatial and temporal heterogeneities in disease risk. Our findings can be used by healthcare providers and public health practitioners to increase public awareness and improve case detection.

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Evaluation of molecular characterization and phylogeny for quantification of Acanthamoeba and Naegleria fowleri in various water sources, Turkey

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0256659 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0256659

Author(s):

Mehmet Aykur ◽

Hande Dagci

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Water Sources ◽

Quantitative Detection ◽

Human Populations ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Specific Primers ◽

Important Public Health Problem

Free-living amoeba (FLA) is widely distributed in the natural environment. Since these amoebae are widely found in various waters, they pose an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Acanthamoeba, B. mandrillaris, and N. fowleri in various water resources by qPCR in Izmir, Turkey. A total of (n = 27) 18.24% Acanthamoeba and (n = 4) 2.7% N. fowleri positives were detected in six different water sources using qPCR with ITS regions (ITS1) specific primers. The resulting concentrations varied in various water samples for Acanthamoeba in the range of 3.2x105-1.4x102 plasmid copies/l and for N. fowleri in the range of 8x103-11x102 plasmid copies/l. The highest concentration of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri was found in seawater and damp samples respectively. All 27 Acanthamoeba isolates were identified in genotype level based on the 18S rRNA gene as T4 (51.85%), T5 (22.22%), T2 (14.81%) and T15 (11.11%). The four positive N. fowleri isolate was confirmed by sequencing the ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S rRNA regions using specific primers. Four N. fowleri isolates were genotyped (three isolate as type 2 and one isolate as type 5) and detected for the first time from water sources in Turkey. Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes found in many natural environments are straightly related to human populations to have pathogenic potentials that may pose a risk to human health. Public health professionals should raise awareness on this issue, and public awareness education should be provided by the assistance of civil authorities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the quantitative detection and distribution of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes in various water sources in Turkey.

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The ‘Icarus effect’ of preventative health behaviors

10.1101/2020.06.08.20126029 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simon Carrignon ◽

R. Alexander Bentley ◽

Matthew Silk ◽

Nina H. Fefferman

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Policy ◽

Social Learning ◽

Public Health Policy ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Critical Importance ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Preventative Health ◽

Individual Observation ◽

Over Time

1AbstractOngoing efforts to combat the global pandemic of COVID-19 via public health policy have revealed the critical importance of understanding how individuals understand and react to infection risks. We here present a model to explore how both individual observation and social learning are likely to shape behavioral, and therefore epidemiological, dynamics over time. Efforts to delay and reduce infections can compromise their own success, especially in populations with age-structure in both disease risk and social learning —two critical features of the current COVID-19 crisis. Our results concur with anecdotal observations of age-based differences in reactions to public health recommendations. We show how shifting reliance on types of learning affect the course of an outbreak, and could therefore factor into policy-based interventions.

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The same old story: Workplace violence towards healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic

International Journal of Science and Research Archive ◽

10.30574/ijsra.2021.3.1.0087 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 006-009

Author(s):

Ali Kemal Erenler ◽

Seval Komut ◽

Ahmet Baydin

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Workplace Violence ◽

Zero Tolerance ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Intention To Leave ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Zero Tolerance Policy

Workplace violence (WPV) is a growing public health problem worldwide affecting physical and mental health of healthcare providers. It has many deterious consequences such as anxiety, burnout and intention to leave the job. With the pandemic, it is assumed that the incidence of workplace violence tends to increase. Particularly, misinformation about the nature of the disease create prejudice against staff working in healthcare facilities. There are several measures to be taken for prevention of physical and mental health of healthcare providers. A “zero-tolerance policy against violence” should be implemented. Doctors and nurses should be encouraged to report incidents. Social support should be provided for the personnel. In this review, our aim was to clarify if there is an increase in the incidence of WPV against healthcare providers in the pandemic process. We also aimed to make recommendations about measures that must be taken to prevent healthcare providers from detrimental effects of WPV.

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Public Health Law Strategies for Suicide Prevention Using the Socioecological Model

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1177/1073110519857312 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (S2) ◽

pp. 31-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Catherine Cerulli ◽

Amy Winterfeld ◽

Monica Younger ◽

Jill Krueger

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Suicide Prevention ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Linkage To Care ◽

Community Level ◽

Public Health Approach ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

The Individual

Suicide is a public health problem which will require an integrated cross-sector approach to help reduce prevalence rates. One strategy is to include the legal system in a more integrated way with suicide prevention efforts. Caine (2013) explored a public health approach to suicide prevention, depicting risk factors across the socio-ecological model. The purpose of this paper is to examine laws that impact suicide prevention at the individual, relational, community, and societal levels. These levels are fluid, and some interventions will fall between two, such as a community-level approach to training that enhances provider-patient relationships. At the individual level, we will review laws to improve screening requirements across systems. At the relational level, we note interventions with couples having conflict, such as protection orders and access to attorney consultations, which have been known to be injury prevention mechanisms. At the community level, we discuss legislation that recommends suicide prevention efforts for key individuals working as frontline providers in the medical and educational systems. At the societal level, we explore public awareness campaigns that target stigma reduction for those suffering from mental health burden and enhance linkage to care. The article closes with the discussion that laws are good, but their implementation is essential.

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Metabolic disturbances in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20080253 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 116 (7) ◽

pp. 539-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 154

Author(s):

Christopher D. Byrne ◽

Rasaq Olufadi ◽

Kimberley D. Bruce ◽

Felino R. Cagampang ◽

Mohamed H. Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Health Problem ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Over Time

NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) refers to a wide spectrum of liver damage, ranging from simple steatosis to NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD is strongly associated with insulin resistance and is defined by accumulation of liver fat >5% per liver weight in the presence of <10 g of daily alcohol consumption. The exact prevalence of NAFLD is uncertain because of the absence of simple non-invasive diagnostic tests to facilitate an estimate of prevalence. In certain subgroups of patients, such as those with Type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of NAFLD, defined by ultrasound, may be as high as 70%. NASH is an important subgroup within the spectrum of NAFLD that progresses over time with worsening fibrosis and cirrhosis, and is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. It is, therefore, important to understand the pathogenesis of NASH and, in particular, to develop strategies for interventions to treat this condition. Currently, the ‘gold standard’ for the diagnosis of NASH is liver biopsy, and the need to undertake a biopsy has impeded research in subjects in this field. Limited results suggest that the prevalence of NASH could be as high as 11% in the general population, suggesting there is a worsening future public health problem in this field of medicine. With a burgeoning epidemic of diabetes in an aging population, it is likely that the prevalence of NASH will continue to increase over time as both factors are important risk factors for liver fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to: (i) briefly discuss the epidemiology of NAFLD to describe the magnitude of the future potential public health problem; and (ii) to discuss extra- and intra-hepatic mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of NAFLD, a better understanding of which may help in the development of novel treatments for this condition.

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Prevalence, risk-inducing lifestyle, and perceived susceptibility to kidney diseases by gender among Nigerians residents in South Western Nigeria

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v20i2.40 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 860-870

Author(s):

Monica Ewomazino Akokuwebe ◽

Clifford Odimegwu ◽

Femi Omololu

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Kidney Diseases ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Perceived Susceptibility ◽

Female Ratio

Background: Kidney disease (KD) is increasingly recognized as a major public health problem worldwide with rising inci- dence and prevalence. Early identification of KD risk factors will slow down progression to kidney failure and death. Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk-inducing lifestyle and perceived susceptibility among Nigerians in South-west- ern Nigeria. Methods: A pretested structured questionnaire was employed to draw information on socio-demographic, knowledge, risk-inducing lifestyle and perceived susceptibility to conventional risk factors of KD from 1757 residents aged ≥15 years. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 47.61±13.0 years with a male-female ratio of 1.13:1. Knowledge of KD was low (mean score 2.29; 95% CI: 2.18, 2.32). The prevalence of some established KD risk factors was regular use of herbal medications, 26.8% and physical inactivity, 70.0%. Females with factors such as use of herbal drink [RRR: 1.56; CI=1.06- 2.30; p=0.02] and smoking [RRR: 2.72; CI=1.37-5.37; p=0.00] predicted increased odds of perceived susceptibility to KD than their male counterparts. Conclusion: The prevalence of KD risk-inducing lifestyles was high. More emphasis should be placed on effective public health programmes towards behavioural change in order to adopt lifestyle modification as well as to reduce the tendency to develop KD. Keywords: Kidney disease; risk-inducing lifestyles; perceived susceptibility.

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Tobacco Associated Factors of Adolescents

Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.17921/2447-8938.2020v22n2p196-202 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 196-202

Author(s):

Maristela Prado e Silva Nazario ◽

Mariana Marra Sepulveda ◽

Olga Dillenburg Rezer ◽

Juliana Santi Sagin Pinto Bergamim ◽

Marcly Schelles Lima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Government Policies ◽

Tobacco Prevention ◽

Tobacco Use Disorder ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Over Time

Currently, smoking is considered a serious public health problem and is considered the greatest avoidable cause of illness, disability and death. Several studies, over time, have concluded the relationship of smoking to serious diseases that are responsible for anti-smoking government policies worldwide. There are many advances in tobacco prevention and smoking cessation, but data on smoking deaths are still alarming. Brazil is considered a great inspiration for other countries when it comes to these policies, just as other countries served as inspiration for Brazil, such as Canada. Children and adolescents are a group that is very vulnerable to smoking and therefore are considered a priority when it comes to prevention. In light of the above, a bibliographical review was carried out with the objectives of contextualizing the problem of smoking and of identifying the factors that lead adolescents to use tobacco. The study shows that smoking is considered one of several risk situations that the adolescent is exposed in this phase of so many transformations. Most authors point to curiosity as the major factor that leads the adolescent to smoking and the parents and friends smokers as main influences for the initiation of this habit. Keywords: Tobacco. Tobacco Use Disorder. Young. Resumo Atualmente o tabagismo é considerado um sério problema de saúde pública, sendo considerada a maior causa evitável de doenças, invalidez e morte. Diversos estudos, ao longo do tempo, foram concluindo a relação do hábito tabágico às doenças graves que são responsáveis por políticas governamentais antitabagismo em todo mundo. Muitos são os avanços para a prevenção do tabagismo, bem como para o auxílio na cessação deste hábito, porém ainda são alarmantes os dados relacionados ao óbito de fumantes. O Brasil é considerado uma grande inspiração para outros países quando se trata dessas políticas, assim como outros países serviram de inspiração para o Brasil, como o Canadá. As crianças e os adolescentes formam um grupo muito vulnerável ao tabagismo e por este motivo são considerados prioridade quando se trata de prevenção. Frente ao exposto, realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica com os objetivos de contextualizar a problemática do tabagismo e de identificar os fatores que levam os adolescentes a fazerem uso do tabaco. O estudo mostra que o tabagismo é considerado uma das várias situações de risco que o adolescente é exposto nessa fase de tantas transformações. A maioria dos autores apontam a curiosidade como o maior fator que leva o adolescente ao tabagismo e os pais e amigos fumantes como principais influências para a iniciação deste hábito. Palavras-chave: Tabaco. Tabagimo. Saúde do Adolescente.

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Knowledge of Preconception Care and Associated Factors among Healthcare Providers Working in Public Health Institutions in Awi Zone, North West Ethiopia, 2019: Institutional-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Pregnancy ◽

10.1155/2020/6978171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Mahlet Million Bekele ◽

Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu ◽

Mezgebu Mihret Kefale ◽

Simachew Animen Bante

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Preconception Care ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

North West ◽

North West Ethiopia ◽

Public Health Institutions ◽

Health Institutions ◽

Awi Zone

Background. Preconception care is a set of interventional care for the better maternal and childbirth outcome. Nevertheless, this area still faces implementation problems in most of the developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. Method. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 660 healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. A pretested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from individual healthcare providers who were selected randomly using a multistage sampling technique. The data entry and analysis were conducted using SPSS version 25 software. Frequency, proportions, means, and standard deviations were used to describe the data. Candidate variables at bivariate logistic regression with a p value > 0.2 were moved to multivariable logistic regression models, and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Result. Among the total of 660 healthcare providers, 344 (52%) had good knowledge of preconception care. The odds ratio of having good knowledge of preconception care was high among healthcare providers working at hospitals [AOR=2.316, 95% CI: 1.900-5.528], using smartphones [AOR=3.177, 95% CI: 1.945-5.167], presence of preconception care guidelines at health institutions [AOR=3.166, 95% CI: 1.872-5.299], taking training on preconception care education and counseling [AOR=3.812, 95% CI: 2.241-6.581], taking training about human immune virus [AOR=4.911, 95% CI: 3.008-8.123], and attending training on increasing public awareness of preconception health and care [AOR=2.345, 95% CI: 3.922-5.488] which were independent predictors associated with knowledge of preconception care among healthcare providers. Conclusion. Healthcare providers’ knowledge of preconception care was low. Study participants working at hospitals, using smartphones, presence of preconception guidelines at health institutions, taking training on preconception education and counseling, taking training about human immune virus testing and management, and increasing public awareness of preconception care affect knowledge of health providers positively. The provision of updated training on preconception and linkage of internet service with health service should be enhanced among healthcare providers.

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Temporal patterns in Ixodes ricinus microbial communities: an insight into tick-borne microbe interactions

Microbiome ◽

10.1186/s40168-021-01051-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

E. Lejal ◽

J. Chiquet ◽

J. Aubert ◽

S. Robin ◽

A. Estrada-Peña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ixodes Ricinus ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Microbial Interactions ◽

Data Set ◽

Network Analyses ◽

New Findings ◽

Over Time ◽

Strong Relationships

Abstract Background Ticks transmit pathogens of medical and veterinary importance and are an increasing threat to human and animal health. Assessing disease risk and developing new control strategies requires identifying members of the tick-borne microbiota as well as their temporal dynamics and interactions. Methods Using high-throughput sequencing, we studied the Ixodes ricinus microbiota and its temporal dynamics. 371 nymphs were monthly collected during three consecutive years in a peri-urban forest. After a Poisson lognormal model was adjusted to our data set, a principal component analysis, sparse network reconstruction, and differential analysis allowed us to assess seasonal and monthly variability of I. ricinus microbiota and interactions within this community. Results Around 75% of the detected sequences belonged to five genera known to be maternally inherited bacteria in arthropods and to potentially circulate in ticks: Candidatus Midichloria, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia. The structure of the I. ricinus microbiota varied over time with interannual recurrence and seemed to be mainly driven by OTUs commonly found in the environment. Total network analysis revealed a majority of positive partial correlations. We identified strong relationships between OTUs belonging to Wolbachia and Arsenophonus, evidence for the presence of the parasitoid wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri in ticks. Other associations were observed between the tick symbiont Candidatus Midichloria and pathogens belonging to Rickettsia. Finally, more specific network analyses were performed on TBP-infected samples and suggested that the presence of pathogens belonging to the genera Borrelia, Anaplasma and Rickettsia may disrupt microbial interactions in I. ricinus. Conclusions We identified the I. ricinus microbiota and documented marked shifts in tick microbiota dynamics over time. Statistically, we showed strong relationships between the presence of specific pathogens and the structure of the I. ricinus microbiota. We detected close links between some tick symbionts and the potential presence of either pathogenic Rickettsia or a parasitoid in ticks. These new findings pave the way for the development of new strategies for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

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Hekimlerin Aşı ve Aşı Karşıtlığı Hakkında Bilgi, Tutum ve Davranışlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Flora the Journal of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.5578/flora.69060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 516-526

Author(s):

Seçil Yılmaz Akar ◽

Güzin Zeren Öztürk

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Sample Size ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Estimation Method ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Knowledge Level ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Medical Practitioners ◽

Vaccine Recommendations

Introduction: Anti-vaccination movement is an increasing public health problem at present. Healthcare providers play an important role to solve this movement. The knowledge level of healthcare providers about vaccines has an effect on vaccine recommendations, and this affects not only individuals but also public health. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge level and attitudes and behaviors of medical practitioners about vaccines and anti-vaccination. Materials and Methods: This study is single-centered, prospective and cross-sectional. The sample size was calculated with sample size estimation method in simple random sampling from medical practitioners working at University of Health Sciences Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital as of October 2018. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: Two hundred and eighty-four medical doctors participated in this study. Sixty-two of the 284 (21.8%) physicians were family practitioners, 51 of 284 (18%) were pediatricians, 51 of 284 (18%) were surgery practitioners and 120 of 284 (42.3%) were from other clinical departments. Thirty-two of the participants (11.3%) were under the assumption that vaccines could cause autism. Five of the participants (1.8%) were under the assumption that the ratio of severe complications after vaccination is 5-10%, and 36 of them (12.7%) were under assumption that this ratio is 1-5%. There were various concerns about the vaccines including the ingredients of the vaccines (77 participants 27.1%), proper storage of the vaccines (35 of participants 12.3%) and production of vthe accines in other countries (90 of participants 31.7%).Two hundered and sixty-one of participants (91.9%) thought that vaccination of children should be legally mandatory. Conclusion: There is a need for regular educational programs on vaccines before and after graduation in order to eliminate the lack of knowledge and concerns of physicians about vaccination.

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