Infection最新文献

Background: Non-albicans Candida (NAC) species are increasingly implicated in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and are frequently associated with reduced susceptibility to commonly used azole antifungals. In sub-Saharan Africa, empirical azole therapy remains widespread despite limited local resistance data. This study aimed to determine the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of NAC isolates among women presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge in Western Uganda.

Methods: we conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study among 314 women aged 18-49 years attending Mubende Regional Referral Hospital between May and August 2025. High vaginal swabs were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, and Candida species were identified using CHROMagar™ Candida. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method for fluconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, and amphotericin B, while caspofungin susceptibility was determined using the E-test. Results were interpreted according to established laboratory standards.

Results: Non-albicans Candida species were isolated in 23.6% (74/314) of participants. Candida glabrata was the predominant species (41.9%), followed by C. tropicalis (29.7%) and C. krusei (18.9%). Overall resistance to fluconazole was high (82.4%), with particularly elevated resistance among C. tropicalis (95.5%) and C. krusei (85.7%). Resistance to clotrimazole was observed in 52.7% of isolates. All NAC isolates demonstrated complete susceptibility to amphotericin B and caspofungin.

Conclusions: Non-albicans Candida species causing VVC in this setting exhibit alarmingly high resistance to azole antifungals, undermining the effectiveness of standard empirical therapy. Routine species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing, alongside strengthened antifungal stewardship, are urgently required to guide appropriate management in resource-limited settings.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major global public health concern, disproportionately affecting uninsured and underserved populations. Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) play a vital role in addressing disparities in STI screening and treatment; however, data describing infection patterns and symptom-based testing outcomes in these settings are limited.

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective review analyzed 296 patient records from a SRFC between October 2019 and November 2023. Patients who underwent testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) were included. Patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic at the time of testing. Demographic data were collected when available.

Results: Positivity rates were 19.6% for HPV, 7.1% for chlamydia, 7.1% for syphilis, 4.1% for gonorrhea, and 0.5% for HIV. Roughly half of gonorrhea and chlamydia infections occurred in asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic presentation was not significantly associated with positive and negative results. Assigned male at birth (AMAB) patients and younger individuals had higher odds of gonorrhea, while older AMAB patients had higher odds of syphilis.

Conclusions: A substantial proportion of STIs, particularly gonorrhea and chlamydia, occurred in asymptomatic individuals, underscoring the limitations of symptom-based screening. Expanding access to asymptomatic STI testing in SRFCs is essential to reduce missed diagnoses, improve equity, and mitigate long-term sequelae among underserved populations.

Introduction: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) suppresses HIV viral load and extends life, rising non-AIDS-defining events (NADEs) underscore the importance of long-term health, including reproductive tract health in women living with HIV (WLWH). This study compared vaginal microbiota in WLWH versus women without HIV infection (WLWNH) to inform reproductive health assessment and intervention.

Methods: Vaginal swabs from 76 WLWH and 74 WLWNH (Beijing Ditan Hospital, Sept-Oct 2022) underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We used hierarchical clustering to categorize community state types (CSTs I-V) and Adonis for inter-group differences. Pearson correlation assessed relationships between CD4 + T cells and differential bacteria, while Spearman correlation evaluated microbial co-occurrence network interactions (visualized via Gephi0.10.1). Neutral community modeling evaluated assembly processes.

Results: WLWH exhibited higher vaginal microbial diversity. Compared to WLWNH, Gardnerella vaginalis showed higher relative abundance in WLWH CST III (P = 0.001). Additionally, urogenital pathogens Aerococcus christensenii and Ureaplasma urealyticum were significantly enriched in WLWH CST III (P = 0.028, P = 0.033; AUC = 0.704, 0.721, respectively) and CST IV (P = 0.024, P = 0.031; AUC = 0.657, 0.646, respectively). In CST III, CD4 + T cell counts correlated positively with Aerococcus christensenii (r = 0.49, P = 0.044). Neutral community modeling demonstrated that microbiota assembly in WLWH was primarily shaped by stochastic processes (R² = 0.37 vs 0.219) with significantly restricted microbial dispersal (Nm = 9 vs14).

Conclusions: WLWH exhibit a distinct, highly diverse vaginal dysbiosis enriched with anaerobic and urogenital pathogenic bacteria. This post-HIV infection dysbiosis may predispose women to subsequent genital infections; future longitudinal research comparing pre- and post-infection microbiome dynamics will be crucial for optimizing gynecological management.

Malaria continues to be a significant global health concern, in 2025, most cases occurring in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. This review highlights the ongoing challenges and recent progress in malaria control, focusing on drug resistance, treatment strategies, drug discovery, and formulation development. Each human malaria parasite presents distinct patterns of severity, latency, and relapse. High-risk groups, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses, are particularly vulnerable due to compromised immunity. Although artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the primary treatment, new drug regimens are urgently needed due to partially rising resistance towards Pfkelch13 mutations discussed in this review. Recent developments, including optimized artemisinin-based combinations and fixed-dose formulations, may contribute to strengthening treatment strategies in specific epidemiological settings. The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has contributed significantly to the drug pipeline, developing candidates like Z439, KAF156, MMV371, MMV055/167, INE963 and GSK701. Meanwhile, improvements in diagnostic tools from microscopy to PCR have enhanced detection and surveillance. Innovations in drug formulation are also improving drug stability, bioavailability, and patient compliance. Meanwhile, improvements in diagnostic tools from microscopy to PCR have enhanced detection and surveillance. These multifaceted advancements may support sustained malaria control efforts and complement broader eradication strategies. This review underscores the need for integrated, multidisciplinary strategies and opportunities to advance malaria eradication efforts globally.

Purpose: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond shared risk factors. This review evaluates evidence linking periodontal inflammation to cardiovascular outcomes and identifies periodontal biomarkers with potential relevance for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including studies published between 1990 and 2025. Epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies examining associations between periodontal disease, inflammatory and microbial biomarkers, and cardiovascular outcomes were included. Biomarkers were categorized as inflammatory cytokines, acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress markers, lipid mediators, and microbial indicators. Evidence regarding periodontal therapy and emerging point-of-care diagnostic technologies was also reviewed.

Results: Epidemiological studies demonstrate increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis in individuals with periodontitis, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Mechanistic evidence indicates that periodontal pathogens and host immune responses promote systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherogenesis. Key biomarkers associated with cardiovascular outcomes include cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17), acute-phase proteins (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen), matrix-degrading enzymes such as active matrix metalloproteinase-8, oxidative stress markers (myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde), lipid mediators (lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), and microbial markers such as antibodies to Porphyromonas gingivalis. Periodontal therapy has been associated with reductions in systemic inflammatory markers and improvements in endothelial function, although large, randomized trials remain limited.

Conclusion: Periodontal biomarkers reflect biologically plausible mechanisms linking oral and cardiovascular inflammation and may enhance cardiovascular risk stratification. Further standardization, validation, and interdisciplinary collaboration are required for clinical translation.

Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly in its multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) forms, has become a major global health concern due to its ability to survive in hospital environments, acquire resistance rapidly, and cause severe infections with high mortality. Conventional diagnostic and therapeutic strategies remain slow, imprecise, and difficult to implement, especially in resource-limited settings, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer powerful tools to strengthen every stage of Acinetobacter infection management. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on how AI enhances early detection, improves species-level identification, predicts antimicrobial resistance from genomic data, accelerates drug discovery, and supports real-time hospital surveillance and outbreak control. AI-driven methods enable faster triage, more accurate differentiation between colonization and true infection, robust prediction of resistance phenotypes, and efficient identification of synergistic antibiotic combinations. Moreover, AI-supported drug discovery pipelines have recently yielded novel agents such as abaucin, demonstrating the potential of computational approaches to explore new chemical spaces. Despite these promising advances, challenges persist regarding data quality, generalizability across settings, interpretability, and ethical considerations including privacy and algorithmic bias. Successful integration of AI into clinical practice will require rigorous model validation, equitable data governance, and strong collaboration between clinicians, microbiologists, and data scientists. Overall, AI represents a transformative opportunity to reduce the clinical and economic burden of Acinetobacter infections and to strengthen global antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis is a significant parasitic disease that predominantly affects the liver and lungs in humans. Its diagnosis relies mainly on imaging techniques such as ultrasound and computed tomography, supported byserological tests, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting, which are commonly used inhuman serodiagnosis. Conventional serological assays frequently show variable sensitivity, particularly in pulmonary, inactive, or calcified cysts, and may yield false-negative or cross-reactive results.

Methods: Recent advances in recombinant antigen-based assays and nanobiosensors technologies have further improved diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Current studies on recombinant antigens such as 2B2t, P29, and multiepitope constructs have markedly improved diagnostic performance compared with crude hydatid fluid preparations.

Results: The combination of these methods enhances diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusion: This review focuses explicitly on diagnostic approaches in humans, with emphasis on immunological, serological, and emerging biotechnological tools. Given the considerable variability in the performance of individual techniques, a combined, multidisciplinary diagnostic approach is essential for early and accurate detection, ultimately improving clinical management and patient outcomes. Integrating high-performance recombinant antigens with nanotechnology-enhanced detection systems may shape the next generation of CE diagnostics, particularly in endemic and low-resource regions.

Purpose: Water deemed fit for consumption ought to conform to minimum standards that pose no significant health risk to the consumers. Bottled and Sachet water constitutes the major source of drinking water in Lagos State Nigeria. We conducted a study to investigate the presence of fungi in the commercially available water brands in the study area.

Methods: A study collected eleven commercial water brands, including eight bottled and three sachet brands, from retail outlets. Samples with production dates ranging from 24 h to 3 weeks were filtered using membranes inoculated into SDA and incubated at 27 °C and at 37 °C. Pure fungal cultures were identified using microscopic and macroscopic features, using mycology atlas.

Results: All brands of water (bottled and sachet) analyzed grew at least one fungal isolate thus giving an absolute (100%) rate of contamination in this study. Overall, the predominant fungal pathogen was Aspergillus fumigatus sensu lato (s.l) and Aspergillus niger (n = 6, 30%), followed by Aspergillus terreus (n = 2, 10%). Other isolated fungal species were Aspergillus terreus, A. flavus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. Each of the brands was contaminated with at least one fungal pathogen and at most two.

Conclusion: The study reveals a high level of fungal contamination in retailed water, particularly in areas with at-risk populations. These fungi can cause allergic reactions or diseases in humans. The study suggests Nigeria's food and drug regulatory bodies should include routine screening for fungi in commercial water production like their bacteria counterparts.

Purpose: Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), or long COVID (LC), remains a significant burden for public health, with limited long-term data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and evolution of PASC symptoms after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (aSCV2) infection in a longitudinal healthcare worker (HCW) cohort.

Methods: A multicentre cohort study involving HCWs from 14 institutions was conducted in Switzerland. Infection status was based on self-reported positive swabs, with additional serology used to confirm uninfected controls. Baseline was defined as the first survey conducted in 2022 (median 18.5 months post-infection), with follow-up surveys every 6 months through November 2024. To identify PASC-specific symptoms, 24 chronic symptoms were compared between 456 aSCV2-infected and 571 uninfected participants using chi-square tests at baseline. In aSCV2-infected individuals reporting PASC-specific symptoms, symptom trajectories and subjective LC were analyzed across follow-up surveys. Functional limitations were assessed using the Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS) scale.

Results: Thirteen of 24 symptoms were more common in aSCV2-infected individuals, with fatigue (22.8%), loss of smell/taste (11.4%), and brain fog (8.3%) being most prevalent. At baseline, 186/456 (40.8%) infected participants reported ≥ 1 PASC-specific symptom. Most symptoms declined in prevalence up to the last survey (median 47.5 months post-infection), although 41/70 (58.6%) remaining participants still reported ≥ 1 PASC symptom. Subjective LC was reported by 70/186 (37.6%) and was associated with higher symptom burden. PCFS scores showed slight impairments in most cases, although moderate-to-severe limitations often persisted.

Conclusions: PASC symptoms persisted up to four years after aSCV2 infection in a substantial proportion of HCWs.

Purpose: This review aims to discuss various marine antimicrobial sources, their bioactive agents, and their therapeutic applications and antimicrobial potential.

Methods: For this study, the relevant published research articles were meticulously searched and collected from PubMed, Science Direct, Science Open, DOAJ, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Scilit.net. Only English-language works published between 2015 and February 2025 were included in the literature search. Data collection focused on the marine antimicrobial compounds, which were reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach.

Results: This review finds excellent antimicrobial potentials of various bioactive compounds isolated from diverse marine sources. For instance, Callyspongia diffusa a demospongiae which chloroform & ethyl acetate extract is very promising against bacteria K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and E. faecalis (MIC range: 0.0002-0.0004 mg/ml) and against fungi C. albicans (MIC: 0.0002-0.0008 mg/ml) and A. niger (MIC: 0.0002-0.0004 mg/ml). Antiviral marine source Nizamuddinia zanardinii brown algae which aqueous extract is very potent against HSV-2 (IC₅₀ 0.000027-0.000123 mg/ml). Stypopodium zonale brown macro algae showed promising antiprotozoal activity against L. amazonensis protozoa (IC₅₀ 0.00027 mg/ml), Bruguiera gymnorrhiza a mangrove tree showed antifungal activities against A. fumigatus (MIC: 0.01841 mg/ml), P. chrysogenum (MIC: 0.02137 mg/ml), and C. albicans (MIC: 0.009 mg/ml).

Conclusion: The findings of this review highlight the significant antimicrobial potential of marine-derived organisms as valuable sources of bioactive compounds exhibiting antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, and antifungal activities. Overall, continued exploration of marine biodiversity and systematic characterization of marine-derived compounds may contribute to the development of novel and effective antimicrobial agents in the future.