Journal of Infection and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Community-driven policy recommendations for dengue prevention and control in Thailand: A mixed-methods study","authors":"Chawarat Rotejanaprasert ,&nbsp;Ngamphol Soonthornworasiri ,&nbsp;Lokachet Tanasugarn ,&nbsp;Amorn Leelarasamee ,&nbsp;Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit ,&nbsp;Udomsak Narkkul ,&nbsp;Peeradone Srichan ,&nbsp;Khuanchai Koompapong ,&nbsp;Piroon Mootsikapun ,&nbsp;Winai Ratanasuwan ,&nbsp;Saranath Lawpoolsri","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The World Health Organization roadmap targets the eradication of dengue, a neglected tropical disease. Community participation is crucial for successful control efforts, which must transcend technical solutions to engage and motivate the public. This study examined the needs, perceptions, and emotional drivers underpinning dengue prevention efforts and recommended tailored policies to control dengue in varied settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This mixed-methods study, using a triangulation design, was conducted in four geographical regions of Thailand between November 2023 and April 2024. Quantitative surveys were administered to 664 community members and 430 public health personnel, complemented by 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members, 16 FGDs, and 23 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with public health personnel. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with dengue control practices, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings from both components were integrated during interpretation to enhance the robustness of conclusions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Integrated quantitative and qualitative findings showed that most participants practiced active dengue prevention. Social support strongly influenced preventive behaviors (OR 19.81; 95 % CI 8.53–46.03), whereas demographic factors and perceived susceptibility or severity were not significant. Higher practice levels were observed among participants in the northeast and health personnel aged ≥ 50 years. Qualitative data reinforced these findings, emphasizing the vital role of village health volunteers and challenges such as limited participation, low risk perception, poor sanitation, and cultural barriers shaping vaccine hesitancy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Effective dengue control requires context-specific, evidence-based strategies that strengthen community participation, empower village health volunteers, and enhance vector control. Early warning systems and intersectoral collaboration are vital in high-risk areas, while transparent, culturally tailored communication can improve vaccine acceptance. These findings provide evidence to guide policy toward sustainable, community-centered dengue prevention and control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103166"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146165521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distinct serum metabolic profiles with supportive diagnostic value in differentiating tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease","authors":"Keu Eun San Kim ,&nbsp;Ye Jin Lee ,&nbsp;Ji Hae Park ,&nbsp;Nakwon Kwak ,&nbsp;Su-Young Kim ,&nbsp;Byung Woo Jhun ,&nbsp;Jae-Joon Yim ,&nbsp;Sung Jae Shin","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pulmonary infectious diseases caused by <em>Mycobacterium</em> species, including <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> and <em>Mycobacterium avium</em> complex (MAC), remain significant public health threats. However, current gold-standard diagnostics are time-consuming and have limited ability to differentiate these clinically similar presentations. This study investigated serum metabolic distinctions between tuberculosis (TB) and MAC pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) to identify biomarkers with supportive diagnostic value for differential diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed LC/MS-based metabolic profiling of 181 serum samples from TB and MAC-PD patients. The study cohort was subsequently divided into a training set (TB, n = 30; MAC-PD, n = 30) and a validation set (TB, n = 51; MAC-PD, n = 70).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Five key metabolites were identified, including four sphingoid base lipids that were decreased in TB compared with MAC-PD, and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid (2-HG), which was increased. Logistic regression using this five-metabolite panel achieved strong discriminatory performance, with an area under the curve of 0.988 (95 % CI: 0.970–1.000) in the training set and 0.997 (95 % CI: 0.991–1.000) in the validation set. Consistent performance across multiple machine learning models reinforces the stability and supportive diagnostic value of the five-metabolite panel.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study provides a novel approach for the differential diagnosis of two major mycobacterial pulmonary diseases. The identified metabolites, particularly alterations in sphingoid base lipids and 2-HG, demonstrated robust discriminative potential. These findings support their potential role as biomarkers in clinical practice, enabling earlier and more accurate differentiation of TB and MAC-PD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103162"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors, clinical outcomes of patients with Ceftazidime/Avibactam-resistant carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and its potential resistant mechanisms","authors":"Zhenchao Wu ,&nbsp;Yanqiu Ma ,&nbsp;Jiajia Zheng ,&nbsp;Ping Yang ,&nbsp;Ming Lu ,&nbsp;Du Yipeng ,&nbsp;Ning Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) resistance (CZAr) poses critical challenges for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> (CRKP) infections. The early identification of high-risk populations is essential for controlling nosocomial transmission and guiding empirical therapy. This study aimed to systematically focus on the correlation between the clinical characteristics of patients and the microbial features of CZArCRKP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective cohort study (January 2020-May 2023) of 97 patients with CRKP infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were used to analyze resistance phenotype-genotype correlations. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CZArCRKP primarily caused lower respiratory (72.16 %) and urinary tract (16.49 %) infections, predominantly affecting elderly patients with comorbidities (81.4 %) or undergoing invasive procedures (63.9 %). Chronic renal failure combined with platelet counts &gt; 149× 10⁹/L post-infection strongly predicted patients with CZArCRKP in pulmonary infections. <em>NDM-1</em> gene carriage and <em>OmpK36</em> mutations were associated with CZA resistance. CZA-treated patients demonstrated lower 14-day mortality rates.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We established the first integrated host-pathogen risk model for CZArCRKP and identified chronic renal failure and platelet count as key clinical predictors. <em>NDM-1/OmpK36</em> mutations represents a clear mechanism of resistance. CZA use may improve the survival of selected patients with CRKP. These findings advance the surveillance and therapeutic strategies for multidrug-resistant infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103161"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brucella vs. tuberculous central nervous system infection in a tertiary medical center in Lebanon: A case series","authors":"Hiba Abou Layla ,&nbsp;Maya Dagher ,&nbsp;Sara F. Haddad ,&nbsp;Elio R. Bitar ,&nbsp;Abdel Hadi Shmoury ,&nbsp;Johnny Zakhour ,&nbsp;Zeina A. Kanafani ,&nbsp;Ghenwa K. Dakdouki ,&nbsp;Souha S. Kanj","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurobrucellosis (NB) and Neurotuberculosis (NT) are rare central nervous system infections, but pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. If not diagnosed and treated early, they can have high mortality. Clinical presentations for both are nonspecific, mimicking diverse pathologies. Therefore, it is crucial to identify distinguishing features to ensure timely treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of cases of NB and NT admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) between January 1982 and December 2022, identifying 20 patients with NT, and five cases of NB. Their presentation and diagnostic work-up were compared. NT patients were mostly male and presented earlier than NB patients (median symptom duration 150 days). Patients with NT had higher rates of systemic and neurologic symptoms compared to NB. Both groups had hyponatremia. NB patients had higher cerebrospinal fluid lymphocyte counts. Imaging in NT revealed diverse brain abnormalities such as hydrocephalus and small nodules whereas mostly meningeal enhancement in NB. Despite severe presentations no 30-day mortality occurred in either group. Neurological complications were more frequent in NT. Finally, NT patients generally present earlier with more severe symptoms than NB. Due to overlapping features but differing treatments, larger scale studies are crucial to better understand and manage these infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103163"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probiotics in the treatment of helicobacter pylori infection: A bibliometric analysis from 2001 to 2025","authors":"Qi-Qi Guo ,&nbsp;Huan Zhang ,&nbsp;Wei-Yue Li ,&nbsp;Dan-Yang Zhao ,&nbsp;Meng-Qi Liang ,&nbsp;Rong Yan ,&nbsp;Xiao-Jing Zhu ,&nbsp;Yong-Quan Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Helicobacter pylori</em> (<em>H. pylori</em>) infection is widespread in about half of the world's population, and it has become a major public health problem. There are more and more probiotic studies on the management of <em>H. pylori</em>. This study uses bibliometric analysis to show the current pattern and development trend of research on <em>H. pylori</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We collected the publications about <em>H. pylori</em> and probiotics from the Web of Science Core Collection(WoSCC), and the database was established until July 11th, 2025. We use MicrosoftExcel to organize a preliminary quantitative overview, CiteSpace and VOSviewer to visualize the writer network, keyword co-occurrence and organization distribution in more detail.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This bibliometrics research contains 295 publications, all of which were published between 2001 and 2025. According to the analysis results, the number of papers in this field is on the rise, and China ranks first in the number of publications and citations. In this field, <em>Helicobacter</em> magazine ranks first in the number of publications and citations, Qinggu and Koga Kanghong are the most active researchers . The most frequently cited paper is \"Effects of different probiotic preparations on the side effects related to the treatment of <em>Helicobacter pylori</em>: a parallel group, triple blind and placebo-controlled study\". In recent years, the mechanism of probiotics in the treatment of <em>H. pylori</em> has been a research focus.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study constitutes the first bibliometric analysis specifically dedicated to research at the intersection of <em>H. pylori</em> and probiotics. By comprehensively synthesizing the current landscape of probiotic research in <em>H. pylori</em> prevention and management, we have delineated the core research orientations and emerging frontiers in this domain. This work offers valuable empirical support to assist researchers in staying abreast of the latest advancements and accelerating the translational development of probiotics in <em>H. pylori</em> eradication strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103165"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling epidemic and economic trade-offs under alternative COVID-19 isolation exit scenarios in South Korea","authors":"Suyoung Jo ,&nbsp;Sung-il Cho ,&nbsp;Asaph Young Chun ,&nbsp;Kyung-Duk Min","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Scientific evidence should guide adjustments to isolation policies as part of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exit strategies. However, such evidence was limited when these strategies were implemented. This study retrospectively evaluated the relaxation of isolation policies in South Korea, aiming to generate evidence to support policy decisions in future pandemic scenarios.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We developed an age-stratified deterministic vaccination-extended Susceptible–Exposed–Infectious–Recovered model to simulate counterfactual scenarios related to isolation policy changes during the Omicron wave. Two phases were assessed: partial relaxation of isolation in 2022 and complete lifting of isolation mandates in 2023. Model outputs included confirmed cases and wage loss. Modified cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated as economic savings per additional infection.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Moderate shortening of isolation from 10 to 7 days before the epidemic peak was associated with relatively favorable trade-offs between additional infections and wage loss reduction. In contrast, a more aggressive approach, reducing isolation to 5 days, resulted in a substantially higher number of confirmed cases with only marginal additional economic benefit. Delaying full lifting until July 2023, 1 month after the actual policy change, led to smaller and later epidemic peaks and greater economic gains.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings suggested that both the timing and extent of isolation policy relaxation significantly influence epidemic dynamics and economic-epidemiologic trade-offs. Scenario-based modeling offers a valuable tool for anticipating trade-offs and informing policy decisions. Strengthening real-time surveillance and predictive modeling infrastructure is critical for an adaptive and balanced pandemic response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103160"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular analysis of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh","authors":"Hanan O. Alshammari ,&nbsp;Ahmed M. Albarrag ,&nbsp;Ihab M. Moussa ,&nbsp;Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq ,&nbsp;Sumayh A. Aldakeel ,&nbsp;Ali M. Somily","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Carbapenem-resistant <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> (CRPA) presents a significant obstacle to effective antimicrobial treatment, particularly when resistance is driven by carbapenemase-producing strains (CPPA). While global carbapenem resistance rates in <em>P. aeruginosa</em> vary widely, from 10 % to 50 %, understanding local and regional patterns is crucial for guiding antimicrobial stewardship efforts. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize the genetic mechanisms of resistance in CRPA isolates.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From 2019–2021, 221 <em>P. aeruginosa</em> isolates were collected from clinical specimens. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using VITEK®2 and E-test. Sixty-six isolates were randomly selected for carbapenemase gene detection via whole-genome sequencing (WGS) after DNA extraction (QIAamp® kit).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Whole-genome sequencing identified a predominance of intrinsic <em>β</em>-lactamases particularly OXA-50–like enzymes, including OXA-50, OXA-486 (53 %), OXA-488, and OXA-485) do not exhibit clinically significant carbapenem-hydrolyzing activity. In contrast, OXA-10 and OXA-232 are acquired OXA-type <em>β</em>-lactamases and are not intrinsic to <em>P. aeruginosa</em>. True carbapenemases were infrequently detected and were limited to IMP-34 (6 %) and VIM-28 (1.5 %). Notably, DHA-1 was identified for the first time in Riyadh. AmpC-like <em>β</em>-lactamases, such as PDC-3, were detected in 45.4 % of isolates. Class A extended-spectrum <em>β</em>-lactamases (ESBLs), including GES-14 (4.5 %) and VEB-9 (7.6 %), were also detected but are not considered carbapenemases. Predominant sequence types (STs) included ST357 (9.8 %), ST235 (8 %), and ST260 and ST244 (6.5 % each). High-risk clones, particularly ST235 and ST357, exhibited elevated carbapenem MICs attributable to the combined effects of intrinsic <em>β</em>-lactamase expression, efflux pump overexpression, and outer membrane permeability defects, rather than carbapenemase production alone.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Carbapenem resistance in the studied <em>P. aeruginosa</em> isolates was predominantly mediated by intrinsic resistance mechanisms, including OXA-50–like and AmpC <em>β</em>-lactamases, together with efflux pump overexpression and permeability defects. True carbapenemases were infrequently detected and were limited mainly to IMP-34 and VIM-28. High-risk clones such as ST235 and ST357 exhibited elevated carbapenem MICs largely independent of carbapenemase production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103159"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between prior COVID-19 infection and acute mountain sickness on Jade Mountain: A prospective observational study (2023−2024)","authors":"Te-Chun Shen ,&nbsp;Mei-Chen Lin ,&nbsp;Bi-Kun Chuang ,&nbsp;Bagkall Haivangang ,&nbsp;Shui-Fei Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a frequent concern for climbers at high altitudes. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, questions have emerged regarding whether prior infection increases susceptibility to AMS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a prospective observational study at the Paiyun Lodge medical station (3402 m) on Jade Mountain (Yushan, 3952 m) between 2023 and 2024. All climbers presenting for medical services were screened. Demographics, comorbidities, ascent characteristics, sleep duration, prophylactic medication, and self-reported COVID-19 history were recorded. AMS was diagnosed clinically and validated using the 2018 Lake Louise AMS Score. Logistic regression and multiple propensity score methods were used to assess associations between COVID-19 history and AMS occurrence and severity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 871 patients were included; 52.4 % were aged 20–40 years, 57.3 % were male, and 74.7 % reported a history of COVID-19 infection. Clinically diagnosed AMS occurred in 64.1 % (n = 558), with 274 mild and 284 severe cases. Although crude analyses suggested a borderline association between COVID-19 history and AMS (OR = 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.00–1.87), this was not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (adjusted OR = 1.34, 95 % CI: 0.96–1.88) or propensity score methods.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Prior COVID-19 infection was not significantly associated with the occurrence and severity of AMS among climbers who sought medical services on Jade Mountain. These findings suggest that a history of mild COVID-19 does not independently increase AMS susceptibility, providing reassurance to mountaineers and aligning with contemporary expert consensus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103152"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an independent predictor of severe pertussis in children: A 17-year retrospective cohort study","authors":"Chengxia Li ,&nbsp;Caopei Zheng ,&nbsp;Ling Zhang ,&nbsp;Yu Wang ,&nbsp;Miaotian Cai ,&nbsp;Yulin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite the widespread implementation of vaccination programs, pertussis continues to spread and remains a major health threat to infants. The present study aimed to identify risk factors of severe pertussis in children to inform clinical decision-making and the development of prevention strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study included data from paediatric patients diagnosed with pertussis at Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China), between January 2006 and December 2023. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of severe pertussis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess discriminative performance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Data from 219 children with pertussis were divided in 2 groups according to predefined clinical criteria: severe (n = 21) and non-severe (n = 198). Compared with non-severe cases, severe cases experienced longer hospital stays (median 12 versus [vs.] 8 days) and higher rates of fever, cyanosis, sputum production, and respiratory distress. Marked inflammatory differences were observed, as follows: higher neutrophil counts (median 6.83 vs. 3.65 ×10⁹/L); elevated C-reactive protein (median 3.50 vs. 1.00 mg/L); procalcitonin (median 0.12 vs. 0.04 ng/mL); increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; median 0.61 vs. 0.29); and a lower lymphocyte percentage (median 56.9 % vs. 69.5 %) (all p &lt; 0.05). Multivariable analysis identified elevated NLR as an independent predictor of severe pertussis (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.884; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.157–3.066; P = 0.011). ROC curve analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.745 (95 % CI 0.640–0.850), with an optimal NLR cut-off of 0.475, yielding a sensitivity of 66.7 % and a specificity of 75.5 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Elevated NLR was an independent predictor of severe pertussis in children. Future multicentre prospective studies with standardised follow-up periods are warranted to validate these findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103157"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Burkholderia cepacia complex infections beyond hospital outbreaks: A 22-Year analysis of clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, and mortality predictors","authors":"Marwan Jabr Alwazzeh ,&nbsp;Amani Alnimr ,&nbsp;Sara M. Alwarthan ,&nbsp;Mashael Alhajri ,&nbsp;Jumanah Algazaq ,&nbsp;Bashayer M. AlShehail ,&nbsp;Basel A. Darweesh ,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Basheikh ,&nbsp;Reem S. AlSulaiman ,&nbsp;Saud A. Alamro ,&nbsp;Jawad ur Rahman ,&nbsp;Mohammad T. Al-Hariri","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> complex bacteria are intrinsically multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogens that pose a growing threat in hospital settings, particularly among immunocompromised patients. Despite its clinical significance, data on sporadic <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> complex infections outside cystic fibrosis populations and hospital outbreaks remain limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A 22-year retrospective observational cohort study (May 2001–April 2023) was carried out at a tertiary care academic center in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Adults hospitalized with confirmed <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> infection and ≥ 72 h of antibiotic therapy were included. Demographics, comorbidities, infection type, microbiological resistance profiles, treatment outcomes, and mortality predictors were analyzed using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 189 identified cases, 151 patients met the inclusion criteria (mean age 53 ± 21 years; 57.6 % male). The majority of infections were hospital-acquired (84.8 %), with bloodstream infections (33.1 %) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (26.5 %) being the most prevalent. Resistance was high to piperacillin/tazobactam (73.6 %), ceftazidime (58.6 %), levofloxacin (57.4 %), carbapenems (42.0 %), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (30.3 %). Clinical resolution was achieved in 82.1 %, but bacteriological eradication occurred in only 56.9 %, with a recurrence rate of 17.2 %. Mortality reached 9.9 % at 14 days, 17.2 % at 30 days, and 35.8 % at one year. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality included advanced age, critical care admission, central venous catheter insertion, mechanical ventilation, and resistance to fluoroquinolones or carbapenems.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings indicate that <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> complex infections represent a significant clinical challenge due to antibiotic resistance and elevated mortality rates. The data highlight the importance of improving diagnostic and treatment approaches, as well as implementing effective infection control policies, especially for vulnerable hospitalized populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103158"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}