Blended Learning for Secondary Schools in Nam Dinh Province to Satisfy New Standards: The Current Situation and Proposed Models

We offered blended learning models for high schools in Nam Dinh province to satisfy Vietnam's new criteria. These models were based on general approaches to issues, theoretical research, and field research based on surveys and anket questionnaires conducted throughout the area. The results of a survey demonstrate that high school teachers in Nam Dinh have gained a fundamental grasp of blended learning and have, in practice, embraced both online and face-to-face instruction, particularly during the height of the Covid-19 outbreak. However, there was not a standard model for blended learning, therefore it was only used by a few persons. In other contexts, the concept of "blended learning" referred to what was effectively a face-to-face session that was broadcast over the Internet without the necessary adjustments being made to the content, methodology, or evaluation. As a result, we offer a number of different ways to blended learning for high schools in Nam Dinh in order to improve the quality of education provided throughout the province

Pneumococcal infections and homelessness

Objectif. To assess the prevalence of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage, the role of potential risk factors, and vaccination against invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) among sheltered homeless persons (HP) in Marseille, France. Methods. In 2015–2018, we enrolled 571 sheltered homeless males and 54 non-homeless controls. Streptococcus pneumoniae was directly searched form nasal/pharyngeal samples using PCR. Results. The HPs were predominantly middle-aged, mostly migrants originating from African countries. Pneumococcal vaccination rate was low (3.1%). The overall pneumococcal carriage rate was 13.0% and was significantly higher in HPs (15.3% in 2018) than in controls (3.7%), with p=0.033. Among HPs, being aged ≥65 years (OR=1.97, p=0.048), living in one specific shelter (OR=1.80, p=0.028), and presenting respiratory symptoms and signs at the time of enrolment (OR=2.55, p<10-4) were independent factors associated with pneumococcal carriage. Conclusion. Pneumococcal vaccination should be systematically considered for sheltered HPs in France, as has been the case in Canada since 2008

The Presence of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA on the Skin of Homeless People and Its Relationship With Body Lice Infestation. Preliminary Results

The presence of Acinetobacter baumannii was demonstrated in body lice, however, little is known about the mechanism of natural lice infection. In 2013 and 2014, cross-sectional one-day studies were therefore performed within two Marseille homeless shelters to assess the presence of A. baumannii DNA on human skin, blood and in body lice collected from the same homeless individuals. All 332 participants completed questionnaires, were examined for dermatologic signs, and provided four skin samples (hair, neck, armpits, and pelvic belt), blood samples and body lice (if any). We developed a new real-time PCR tool targeting the ompA/motB gene for the detection of A. baumannii for all collected samples. Blood culture was also performed. Body lice were found in 24/325 (7.4%) of subjects. We showed a prevalence of A. baumannii DNA skin-carriage in 33/305 (10.8%) of subjects. No difference was found in A. baumannii DNA prevalence according to body sites. A strong association between body lice infestation (OR = 3.07, p = 0.029) and A. baumannii DNA skin-carriage was noted. In lice, A. baumannii DNA was detected in 59/219 arthropods (26.9%). All blood cultures and real-time PCR on blood samples were negative for A. baumannii. Lice probably get infected with A. baumannii while biting through the colonized skin and likely transmit the bacteria in their feces. We found no evidence that lice facilitate the invasion of A. baumannii into the blood stream. Further investigations are needed to compare phenotypic and genotypic features of A. baumannii isolates from human skin and lice from the same individuals

Epidemiology of respiratory infections (and other infections) associated with international travel

Il s’agit d’une enquête de cohorte prospective mono-centrique menée pendant trois ans (2017-2019) auprès d'étudiants en médecine de la Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, partant en stage international pendant l'été. Nos résultats ont montré de fortes prévalences de symptômes gastro-intestinaux, respiratoires et vaginaux durant le voyage. Les résultats sur le portage des pathogènes digestifs ont montré que l’acquisition d’Escherichia coli était la plus fréquente. Une proportion de 29,3% des étudiants ont acquis des bactéries productrices de béta-lactamases à spectre élargi, 2,6% ont acquis une entérobactérie productrice de carbapénémase. La prévalence d’acquisition de gènes de résistance à la colistine chez les étudiants en médecine était de 6.8%. Un certain nombre de facteurs de risque ont été aussi identifiés. Les variants de SARS-CoV-2 confirmés par le séquençage des génomes complets chez les patients suivis à notre Institut et à l’APHM de mars 2020 à janvier 2021 ont été répertoriés. Des différences significatives d’âge, d’expression cliniques et de sévérité ont été mises en évidence en fonction des génotypes viraux prédominants à Marseille. Une revue de littérature a été réalisée mettant en évidence des différences de contagiosité selon les variants de SARS-CoV-2, mais l'association entre la mutation virale et la gravité de la maladie reste encore mal connue. Ces travaux ont été complétés par deux revues de la littérature. L’une a porté sur le portage prolongé (ou récurrence) de SARS-CoV-2 chez les patients hospitalisés. L’autre revue de littérature a porté sur les co-infections SARS-CoV-2-virus grippaux.This is a single-center prospective cohort survey carried out over three years (2017-2019) among medical students from the Faculty of Medicine of Marseille, going on an international internship during the summer. Our results showed high prevalence of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and vaginal symptoms during travel. The results on the carriage of digestive pathogens showed that the acquisition of Escherichia coli was the most frequent. A proportion of 29.3% of the students acquired bacteria producing broad spectrum beta-lactamases, 2.6% acquired enterobacteria producing carbapenemase. The prevalence of acquisition of colistin resistance genes in medical students was 6.8%. The international medical internships were canceled in 2020 following the pandemic international health context linked to COVID-19 requiring a partial reorientation of the thesis work. The SARS-CoV-2 variants confirmed by whole genome sequencing in patients followed at our Institute and at the APHM from March 2020 to January 2021 have been listed. Significant differences in age, clinical expression and severity were demonstrated depending on the viral genotypes predominant during the different epidemic phases of the disease in Marseille. A review of the literature on this subject was carried out highlighting differences in infectivity according to SARS-CoV-2 variants, but the association between the viral mutation and the severity of the disease remains poorly understood. This work was supplemented by two reviews of the literature. One focused on prolonged carriage of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients. The other review of the literature looked at SARS-CoV-2-influenza virus co-infections

Patterns of diseases in health students abroad: A systematic review

International audienc

Recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in recovered COVID-19 patients: a narrative review

International audienceMany studies have shown that re-positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in recovered COVID-19 patients are very common. We aim to conduct this review to summarize the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these patients and discuss the potential explanations for recurrences, the contagiousness of re-detectable positive SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the management of COVID-19 patients after discharge from hospital. The proportion of re-positive tests in discharged COVID-19 patients varied from 2.4 to 69.2% and persisted from 1 to 38 days after discharge, depending on population size, age of patients, and type of specimens. Currently, several causes of re-positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 in recovered COVID-19 patients are suggested, including false-negative, false-positive RT-PCR tests; reactivation; and re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, but the mechanism leading to these re-positive cases is still unclear. The prevention of re-positive testing in discharged patients is a fundamental measure to control the spread of the pandemic. In order to reduce the percentage of false-negative tests prior to discharge, we recommend performing more than two tests, according to the standard sampling and microbiological assay protocol. In addition, specimens should be collected from multiple body parts if possible, to identify SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA before discharge. Further studies should be conducted to develop novel assays that target a crucial region of the RNA genome in order to improve its sensitivity and specificity

Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

International audienc

Mapping COVID-19-related research from Vietnam: a scoping review: Mapping COVID-19 related research in Vietnam

Introduction: The situation of COVID-19 pandemic is becoming more complex. The research institutes should focus on the most important challenge related to this outbreak at the national level. We aim to realize this scoping review to map publications on COVID-19 in Vietnam in order to guide research priorities and policies in the country. Methods: This study was conducted at the Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, from May to August 2020, according to the guidance for conducting systematic scoping review. Results: A total of 72 studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequent publications were original articles (27.8%), followed by letter to editor/correspondence (26.4%). According to the research priorities for COVID-19 set by the WHO, 41.7% studies focused on control and prevention of COVID-19, but none of studies on personal protective equipment or protocol for healthcare workers’ safety were conducted. 12.5% studies carried out a thorough investigation into epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. Virology and genomics, natural history of the virus and its transmission in Vietnam were described by 18.1% papers. Only one study was conducted in terms of development for candidate therapeutics. Conclusion: We call for national investigation on treatment against SARS-CoV-2 and protocol for medical staff protection. The government and academic institutions should work in collaboration with international stakeholders, including the WHO, to combat together the COVID-19

Effect of the COVID-19 Outbreak on the Incidence of Other Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Infections in Children in Thai Binh, Vietnam in 2020

International audienceAbstract Introduction To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on the total number of consultations for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections among children under 16 years in Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital, Vietnam during the year 2020. Methods A retrospective study was carried out to review consecutive consultations occurring in children admitted from January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2020. All medical records were collected from the central numeric database of the hospital. Diagnoses were documented according to the International Classification of Diseases 10 criteria. Results 436,276 children consulted at the outpatient department during the period of study. A gradual increase in the total number of outpatients was observed from 2016 to 2019, including those consulting for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. However, the total number of outpatients and the numbers of those consulting for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections dramatically decreased in 2020. A significant decrease of respiratory infections relative proportion was observed in 2020 when compared to 2016–2019 ( p < 0.0001). By contrast, the relative proportion of gastrointestinal infections did not significantly vary ( p = 0.91). The proportion of outpatients aged under 5 years was significantly lower in 2020 compared to previous years ( p < 0.0001). The proportion of male patients was significantly higher in 2020 than from 2016 to 2019 ( p = 0.001). Conclusion Public health measures against the COVID-19 pandemic likely decreased the prevalence of other respiratory tract infections. Further studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of each type of measure. Microbiological studies are also recommended, to better understand the effect of preventive measures

High Prevalence of Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus Among Vaccinated Children with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Vietnam

Abstract Among 467 children under five hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, the prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae or Haemophilus haemolyticus was 60.8%, all cases were non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) or H. haemolyticus. NTHi/H. haemolyticus PCR detection was associated with about twice the risk for severe disease. The results highlight the need for increased awareness and research efforts to investigate the role of NTHi/H. haemolyticus in severe CAP among children