Public health emergency operations center operations and coordination among Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) are the critical units to lead communications, information sharing, and resource mobilisation during national and international health emergencies, and are key components for maintaining global health security. This assessment sought to examine the coordination mechanisms between national and sub-national PHEOCs in Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Malaysia (TCLM countries) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information was collected on PHEOC structures, functions, and cross-border communications in three stages: a literature review of national PHEOC and emergency preparedness capacities; questionnaire responses from stakeholders to describe PHEOC activity at the national level; and meetings with emergency response staff in five border provinces of Thailand to assess communications between sub-national PHEOCs across country borders.

Etiology and Clinical Characteristics of Severe Pneumonia Among Young Children in Thailand: Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Case-Control Study Findings, 2012-2013.

Background: Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death among children <5 years of age beyond the neonatal period in Thailand. Using data from the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Study, we provide a detailed description of pneumonia cases and etiology in Thailand to inform local treatment and prevention strategies in this age group.

Methods: PERCH, a multi-country case-control study, evaluated the etiology of hospitalized cases of severe and very severe pneumonia among children 1-59 months of age.

Pneumococcal colonization prevalence and density among Thai children with severe pneumonia and community controls.

Background: Pneumococcal colonization prevalence and colonization density, which has been associated with invasive disease, can offer insight into local pneumococcal ecology and help inform vaccine policy discussions.

Methods: The Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health Project (PERCH), a multi-country case-control study, evaluated the etiology of hospitalized cases of severe and very severe pneumonia among children aged 1-59 months. The PERCH Thailand site enrolled children during January 2012-February 2014.

Region-wide synchrony and traveling waves of dengue across eight countries in Southeast Asia.

Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted virus infection that causes epidemics of febrile illness and hemorrhagic fever across the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Annual epidemics are commonly observed, but there is substantial spatiotemporal heterogeneity in intensity. A better understanding of this heterogeneity in dengue transmission could lead to improved epidemic prediction and disease control.

Hospitalizations for acute lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus in Thailand, 2008-2011.

Background: Few population-based estimates of the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in low- or middle-income countries are available. We describe the incidence and epidemiology of hospitalizations for RSV-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) detected by active population-based surveillance in 2 rural Thailand provinces during 2008-2011.

Methods: Patients hospitalized with ALRI were systematically sampled.

Pneumococcal Bacteremia Requiring Hospitalization in Rural Thailand: An Update on Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, Serotype Distribution, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility, 2005-2010.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Southeast Asia, but regional data is limited. Updated burden estimates are critical as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is highly effective, but not yet included in the Expanded Program on Immunization of Thailand or neighboring countries.

Methods: We implemented automated blood culture systems in two rural Thailand provinces as part of population-based surveillance for bacteremia.

Unexpectedly high HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Bangkok, Thailand in a respondent-driven sampling survey.

The pattern of sex work in Thailand has shifted substantially over the last two decades from direct commercial establishments to indirect venues and non-venue-based settings. This respondent-driven sampling survey was conducted in Bangkok in 2007 among female sex workers (FSW) in non-venue-based settings to pilot a new approach to surveillance among this hidden population. Fifteen initial participants recruited 707 consenting participants who completed a behavioural questionnaire, and provided oral fluid for HIV testing, and urine for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing.

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09-associated pneumonia deaths in Thailand.

Background: The first human infections with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus were confirmed in April 2009. We describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09-associated pneumonia deaths in Thailand from May 2009-January 2010.

Methods: We identified influenza A(H1N1)pdm09-associated pneumonia deaths from a national influenza surveillance system and performed detailed reviews of a subset.

Evidence of an explosive epidemic of HIV infection in a cohort of men who have sex with men in Thailand.

Objective: To assess HIV-prevalence, incidence and risk factors in a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bangkok.

Design: : Cohort study with 4-monthly follow-up visits conducted between April 2006 and July 2012 at a dedicated study clinic in a central Bangkok hospital. Participants were 1744 homosexually active Thai men, at least 18 years old and residents of Bangkok.

Incidence and epidemiology of hospitalized influenza cases in rural Thailand during the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 pandemic, 2009-2010.

Background: Data on the burden of the 2009 influenza pandemic in Asia are limited. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was first reported in Thailand in May 2009. We assessed incidence and epidemiology of influenza-associated hospitalizations during 2009-2010.

Pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 in Thailand.

Background: Developing a quantitative understanding of pandemic influenza dynamics in South-East Asia is important for informing future pandemic planning. Hence, transmission dynamics of influenza A/H1N1 were determined across space and time in Thailand.

Methods: Dates of symptom onset were obtained for all daily laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1pdm in Thailand from 3 May 2009 to 26 December 2010 for four different geographic regions (Central, North, North-East, and South).

Mycobacterium bovis (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) bacteremia in immunocompetent neonates following vaccination.

We describe four cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteremia diagnosed in immunocompetent neonates, who presented with high fever and/or jaundice within 72 h after Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. All neonates were hospitalized, and none received anti-mycobacterial therapy. All recovered completely and remain healthy 2-3.

Factors associated with HIV testing history and returning for HIV test results among men who have sex with men in Thailand.

We evaluated factors associated with HIV testing history and returning for HIV test results among 2,049 Thai men who have sex with men. Of men, 50.3% reported prior HIV testing and 24.

Access to HIV testing for sex workers in Bangkok, Thailand: a high prevalence of HIV among street-based sex workers.

We offered voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV and syphilis to women attending three public sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Bangkok, Thailand from May 2004 to June 2006. The testing was performed at either one of three STI clinics in Bangkok or at mobile VCT in the same area as the outreach activity. Six-hundred eighty-four women were tested.

Inconsistent condom use among young men who have sex with men, male sex workers, and transgenders in Thailand.

Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk for HIV infection. We investigated inconsistent condom use among 827 sexually active young MSM (15-24 years), enrolled using venue-day-time sampling in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand. Data was collected using palmtop computer-assisted self-interviewing.

Indicators for sexual HIV transmission risk among people in Thailand attending HIV care: the importance of positive prevention.

Background: Almost half of all new HIV infections in Thailand occur among low-risk partners of people infected with HIV, so it is important to include people infected with HIV in prevention efforts.

Methods: Risk for HIV transmission was assessed among people with HIV attending routine care at the National Infectious Disease Institute in Thailand. Sexual risk behaviour, sexually transmitted infection (STI-syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and genital ulcers) prevalence and HIV disclosure status were assessed.

Factors contributing to treatment success among tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study in Bangkok.

Setting: Chest Clinic, Ministry of Public Health and health care centres, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Objective: To determine patient factors predicting successful tuberculosis (TB) treatment.

Design: A prospective cohort was conducted during May 2004 to November 2005.

Performance of the BACTEC MGIT 960 compared with solid media for detection of Mycobacterium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Controlled trials have demonstrated that liquid media culture (LMC) is superior to solid media culture for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), but there is limited evidence about its performance in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the performance of LMC in a demonstration project in Bangkok, Thailand. Sputum specimens from persons with suspected or clinically diagnosed tuberculosis were inoculated in parallel on solid (Lowenstein-Jensen [LJ]) and liquid (mycobacterial growth indicator tube [MGIT 960]) media.

Evaluating the potential impact of the new Global Plan to Stop TB: Thailand, 2004-2005.

Objective: WHO's new Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015 advises countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) to expand case-finding in the private sector as well as services for patients with HIV and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The objective of this study was to evaluate these strategies in Thailand using data from the Thailand TB Active Surveillance Network, a demonstration project begun in 2004.

Methods: In October 2004, we began contacting public and private health-care facilities monthly to record data about people diagnosed with TB, assist with patient care, provide HIV counselling and testing, and obtain sputum samples for culture and susceptibility testing.

The association between environmental factors and tuberculosis infection among household contacts.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between environmental factors and tuberculosis infection among household contacts aged less than 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand, between May and December 2003. During the study period, 480 household contacts aged under 15 years were identified. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among household contacts was 47.

Factors associated with the household contact screening adherence of tuberculosis patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore factors associated with the adherence of tuberculosis patients in bringing their household contacts to a TB clinic in Bangkok, Thailand. During the study period, May to December 2003, 325 sputum-smear-positive tuberculosis patients were recruited into the study. Of the 325 eligible tuberculosis patients, 169 (52.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism study of nationwide samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Thailand, 1997-1998.

Setting: During 1997-1998, a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey was conducted in Thailand as a part of a global project.

Objective: To evaluate the IS6110 hybridisation patterns and the level of clustering, which was expected to be low due to the short duration of the sample collection.

Design: Eight hundred and twenty-eight bacterial isolates were available for fingerprinting by standard IS6110 hybridisation.

Risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts in Bangkok, Thailand.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts aged less than 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand, between August 2002 and September 2003. During the study period, 342 index cases with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited into the study and their 500 household contacts aged under 15 years were identified. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among household contacts was found to be 47.

Cigarette smoking and its relation to pulmonary tuberculosis in adults.

The purpose of this hospital-based case-control study is to determine the effect of passive and active smoking on pulmonary TB in adults. The study subjects were 100 new pulmonary TB cases diagnosed at TB Division, and age-sex matched 100 non-TB cases from patients admitted to Taksin Hospital and healthy subjects who came for annual physical check-up at either the outpatient clinic of the TB division or Taksin Hospital, during May 2001 to October 2001. All subjects had blood tests and only persons who were HIV-negative, DM-negative and free of other lung diseases were included.