A cross-sectional study on co-infection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among people living with HIV/AIDS from a tertiary care hospital of Central India

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are prevalent throughout the world. HIV infection increases the risk of HBV and HCV liver disease especially when HIV-associated immunodeficiency progresses. Aims and Objectives: This study was carried out with the objectives as follows: Estimation of the prevalence of HIV- Hepatitis co-infection, determine CD4+T lymphocyte count in co-infected patients, identify most common opportunistic infections in HIV – Hepatitis co- infection. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study was carried among people with confirmed HIV infection. HIV antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV antibody tests were done in all patients visiting to integrated counseling and testing center. HIV, HBV, and HCV viral load were done in all serologically confirmed patients. In HBsAg positive patients various markers for hepatitis such as hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg), anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), and anti-hepatitis B envelop antibody were also done. Results: Out of 357 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) patients 15/357 (4.20%) were co-infected with HBV, 03/357 (0.84%) were co-infected with HCV. The overall seroprevalence of Hepatitis virus (HBV+HCV) in PLHA patients was found to be 5.04% (18/357). CD4+T lymphocyte count 2000 IU/mL. All hepatitis B co-infected patients were positive for HBcAb test; HBeAg was positive in 40% (n=06). All HBeAg positive were having viral load >2000 IU/mL. Conclusion: HIV-infected patients are more prone to hepatitis associated liver diseases and exposure to the HBV infection than the general population

An in vitro study to elucidate the effects of product Nkabinde on immune response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors

CORRIGENDUM : An in vitro study to elucidate the effects of Product Nkabinde on immune response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors. Front. Pharmacol. 15:1401376. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1401376.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.Please read abstract in the article.The University of KwaZulu-Natal; the Polio Research Foundation (PRF); he South African Medical Research Council through its Division of Research Capacity Development under the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme from funding received from the Public Health Enhancement Fund/South African National Department of Health; the National Research Foundation (NRF); the Department of Science and Innovation; he South African Medical Research Council with funds received from the South African Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.frontiersin.org/Pharmacologyhj2024ChemistrySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Correlations between Income inequality and antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate if correlations exist between income inequality and antimicrobial resistance. This study's hypothesis is that income inequality at the national level is positively correlated with antimicrobial resistance within developed countries. Data collection and analysis: income inequality data were obtained from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database. Antimicrobial resistance data were obtained from the European antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network and outpatient antimicrobial consumption data, measured by Defined daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, from the European Surveillance of antimicrobial Consumption group. Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) defined strengths of correlations of: > 0.8 as strong, > 0.5 as moderate and > 0.2 as weak. Confidence intervals and p values were defined for all r values. Correlations were calculated for the time period 2003-10, for 15 European countries. Results: income inequality and antimicrobial resistance correlations which were moderate or strong, with 95% confidence intervals > 0, included the following. Enterococcus faecalis resistance to aminopenicillins, vancomycin and high level gentamicin was moderately associated with income inequality (r= ≥0.54 for all three antimicrobials). Escherichia coli resistance to aminoglycosides, aminopenicillins, third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones was moderately-strongly associated with income inequality (r= ≥0.7 for all four antimicrobials). Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to third generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones was moderately associated with income inequality (r= ≥0.5 for all three antimicrobials). Staphylococcus aureus methicillin resistance and income inequality were strongly associated (r=0.87). Conclusion: as income inequality increases in European countries so do the rates of antimicrobial resistance for bacteria including E. faecalis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings outside Europe and investigate the processes that could causally link income inequality and antimicrobial resistance

Antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in waters associated with a hospital in Ujjain, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Concerns have been raised about the public health implications of the presence of antibiotic residues in the aquatic environment and their effect on the development of bacterial resistance. While there is information on antibiotic residue levels in hospital effluent from some other countries, information on antibiotic residue levels in effluent from Indian hospitals is not available. Also, concurrent studies on antibiotic prescription quantity in a hospital and antibiotic residue levels and resistant bacteria in the effluent of the same hospital are few. Therefore, we quantified antibiotic residues in waters associated with a hospital in India and assessed their association, if any, with quantities of antibiotic prescribed in the hospital and the susceptibility of <it>Escherichia coli </it>found in the hospital effluent.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital outside the city of Ujjain in India. Seven antibiotics - amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, amikacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin - were selected. Prescribed quantities were obtained from hospital records. The samples of the hospital associated water were analysed for the above mentioned antibiotics using well developed and validated liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry technique after selectively isolating the analytes from the matrix using solid phase extraction. <it>Escherichia coli </it>isolates from these waters were tested for antibiotic susceptibility, by standard Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method using Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute breakpoints.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ciprofloxacin was the highest prescribed antibiotic in the hospital and its residue levels in the hospital wastewater were also the highest. In samples of the municipal water supply and the groundwater, no antibiotics were detected. There was a positive correlation between the quantity of antibiotics prescribed in the hospital and antibiotic residue levels in the hospital wastewater. Wastewater samples collected in the afternoon contained both a higher number and higher levels of antibiotics compared to samples collected in the morning hours. No amikacin was found in the wastewater, but <it>E.coli </it>isolates from all wastewater samples were resistant to amikacin. Although ciprofloxacin was the most prevalent antibiotic detected in the wastewater, <it>E.coli </it>was not resistant to it.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Antibiotics are entering the aquatic environment of countries like India through hospital effluent. In-depth studies are needed to establish the correlation, if any, between the quantities of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals and the levels of antibiotic residues found in hospital effluent. Further, the effect of this on the development of bacterial resistance in the environment and its subsequent public health impact need thorough assessment.</p

Nasal Carriage and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus in healthy preschool children in Ujjain, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is increasing evidence that community acquired <it>S. aureus </it>infections are spreading among healthy children. Nasal colonization with <it>S. aureus </it>plays pivotal role in the increasing prevalence of resistant community acquired <it>S. aureus </it>infections worldwide. A regular surveillance system is important in ensuring quality of patient care. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of and the factors associated with nasal carriage of <it>S. aureus </it>and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern among healthy children in Ujjain, India.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective study was done in paediatric outpatient clinics of R.D. Gardi medical college Ujjain, India. Healthy children from 1 month to 59 months of age were included. Information on previously known risk factors for nasal colonization was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Swabs from anterior nares were collected and transported in Amies transport media with charcoal and cultured on 5% sheep blood agar. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed using Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method according to performance standards of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 1,562 children from 1-month up-to five years of age included in the study 98 children tested positive for nasal carriage of <it>S. aureus</it>. The prevalence of nasal carriage of <it>S. aureus </it>was 6.3% (95% CI 5.1-7.5) out of which 16.3% (95% CI 8.9-23.8) were methicillin-resistant <it>S. aureus </it>(MRSA). The factors associated with nasal carriage were "child attending preschool" (OR 4.26, 95% CI 2.25-8.03; <it>P </it>= 0.007) or "school" (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.27-7.18; <it>P </it>< 0.001) and "family size more than 10 members" (OR 2.76 95% CI 1.06-7.15; <it>P </it>= 0.03). The sensitivity pattern of isolated <it>S. aureus </it>showed resistance to commonly used oral antibiotics while resistance to glycopeptides was not noted.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found a relatively low rate of nasal carriage of <it>S. aureus </it>in children below five years when compared to children of older age groups in India. Yet, prevalence of MRSA was relatively high.</p

THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS IN THE

MM - P&DMThe discourse on land issues in the contemporary South African political arena has changed considerably since 1994 in resonance with the broader changes in other sectors of society. Principal among the changes is the quest for government to give land back to the majority of the South Africans. Despite constitutional efforts to redress the imbalances of the past the resistance from communities toward policy implementation is persistently plaguing the South African government efforts. This premise of this research assumes that land policies are not communicated well in South Africa despite the government’s efforts to revamp the communication infrastructure and to depict a new vision of information dissemination. The purpose of the study is to examine the extent to which knowledge, skills, education and capacity constraints experienced by the community of Mmakau (North West Province) and Majaneng (Gauteng – formerly in North west Province) in terms of the Land Policy Act are a hindrance to the rollout of the land reform programme in South Africa. The research seeks to test the hypotheses that firstly, rural women of Mmakau and Majaneng in the North West Province do not understand land policy issues because of poor government communications. Secondly both communities expect government communications to be reliable and responsive to their needs and lastly that both communities perceive government communications in policy matters not to be reliable and responsive to their needs. The descriptive analysis of the data uses the mean as an instrument of analysis. The analysis, completed with NCSS software, concluded that there is a need for further research with regard to government communication for rural communities in South Afric