Publications by authors named "C H BAMFORD"
Background: Ireland's COVID-19 response combined extensive SARS-CoV-2 testing to estimate incidence, with whole genome sequencing (WGS) for genome surveillance. As an island with two political jurisdictions-Northern Ireland (NI) and Republic of Ireland (RoI)-and access to detailed passenger travel data, Ireland provides a unique setting to study virus introductions and evaluate public health measures. Using a substantial Irish genomic dataset alongside global data from GISAID, this study aimed to trace the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the island.
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- - The study investigates the feasibility of using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to detect and differentiate between human and avian strains of Influenza A viruses (IAVs) across Northern Ireland.
- - Between August and December 2022, wastewater samples from six treatment facilities revealed a constant presence of IAVs, with varied proportions of human and avian strains, though no strong correlation was found with clinical IAV data from the region.
- - The findings suggest that WBE can effectively monitor circulating IAV strains, offering a valuable approach for ongoing surveillance and potential prevention of influenza outbreaks through genetic analysis.
Background: Hospitalized neonates are vulnerable to infection and have high rates of antibiotic utilization.
Methods: Fourteen South African neonatal units (seven public, seven private sector) assembled multidisciplinary teams involving neonatologists, microbiologists, pharmacists, and nurses to implement prospective audit and feedback neonatal antimicrobial stewardship (NeoAMS) interventions. The teams attended seven online training sessions.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe infections in infants, immunocompromised or elderly individuals resulting in annual epidemics of respiratory disease. Currently, limited clinical surveillance and the lack of predictable seasonal dynamics limit the public health response. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has recently been used globally as a key metric in determining prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the community, but its application to other respiratory viruses is limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in Cape Town remains largely unknown.
Objectives: This study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology, resistome, virulome and mobilome of carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) within Cape Town to guide therapy, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control practices.
Methods: Eighty-five CRKP isolates from hospitalized patients underwent WGS as part of a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 November 2020 and 30 November 2022, across public-sector and private-sector hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.