Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance in Fresh Produce and Agro-Ecosystems in South Asia-A Systematic Review.

Fresh produce prone to microbial contamination is a potential reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), posing challenges to food safety and public health. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and the incidence of ARB/ARGs in fresh produce and agro-ecosystems across South Asia. Twenty-two relevant studies published between 2012 and 2022 from three major scientific databases and the grey literature were identified.

Intersectoral collaboration and health system resilience during COVID-19: learnings from Ahmedabad, India.

Health system resilience refers to the capacity of a health system to effectively anticipate, assimilate, adjust to and recuperate from unforeseen disruptions and pressures. Evidence indicates that low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have a double burden of dealing with the existing shortage of health resources in managing both non-emergency care and emergency care during epidemics. Intersectoral collaboration plays a pivotal role in managing crises such as pandemics.

Application of the One Health Surveillance (OHS) Matrix to Evaluate the Disease Surveillance Systems in Gujarat, India: A Policy Content Analysis.

An effective disease surveillance system can detect outbreaks of emerging zoonotic diseases early and allow the system to respond immediately and control the epidemic. Gujarat is a western Indian state with a population of more than 65 million humans and 26 million livestock, and it has the respective surveillance systems under the Department of Health & Family Welfare for humans and the Department of Animal Husbandry for animals. A veterinarian is placed on establishing cross-sectoral collaborations between these systems, but the joint collaborative activities and their effect on the early warning response are least understood.

Calcium Sulfate Disks for Sustained-Release of Amoxicillin and Moxifloxacin for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to develop calcium sulfate (CS)-based disks infused with an antimicrobial drug, which can be used as a post-surgical treatment modality for osteomyelitis. CS powder was embedded with 10% antibiotic, amoxicillin (AMX) or moxifloxacin (MFX), to form composite disks 11 mm in diameter that were tested for their degradation and antibiotic release profiles. For the disk degradation study portion, the single drug-loaded disks were placed in individual meshes, subsequently submerged in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and incubated at 37 °C.

Challenges to research implementation during public health emergencies: anecdote of insights and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gujarat, India.

Health emergencies, including pandemics, are not new occurrences; some notable ones occurred in the past. However, the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the unpreparedness of national health systems in effectively managing health emergencies.

Using a quality improvement tool, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, to boost TB notification in India post-Covid-19 pandemic.

Quality improvement tools such as the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle hold tremendous potential to improve the quality of healthcare in India. The electronic-PDSA tool was previously developed by CETI (Collaboration to Eliminate TB among Indians) and successfully piloted in small groups. In this study the e-PDSA was scaled up across the nation over a brief 10 week period to boost TB notification by training District Tuberculosis Officers (DTOs) virtually post-Covid-19 pandemic.

Periodontal Inflammation and Dysbiosis Relate to Microbial Changes in the Gut.

Periodontal disease (PerioD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of dysbiotic etiology. Animal models and few human data showed a relationship between oral bacteria and gut dysbiosis. However, the effect of periodontal inflammation and subgingival dysbiosis on the gut is unknown.

One Health Risk and Disease (OHRAD): a tool to prioritise the risks for epidemic-prone diseases from One Health perspective.

Background: The rise in epidemic-prone diseases daily poses a serious concern globally. Evidence suggests that many of these diseases are of animal origin and contribute to economic loss. Considering the limited time and other resources available for the animal and human health sectors, selecting the most urgent and significant risk factors and diseases is vital, even though all epidemic-prone diseases and associated risk factors should be addressed.

Socio-Economic and Health Consequences of COVID-19 on Indian Migrants: A Landscape Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely affected the world and human lives, the economy, and lifestyles. The pandemic control measures, such as lockdowns, forced many people to migrate from their destination to their source in various states, leading to increased vulnerability of migrants. The present review aimed to explore the different health, economic, and social impacts on internal migrants of India during the pandemic.

Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Death in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and, in recent years, has become an urgent public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data from LMICs, however, remains limited. As such, the aim of this article is to systematically review the current literature on the incidence of SCD in LMICs to inform policymakers and identify potential research gaps.

Risk Assessment Tools from the One Health Perspective: A Narrative Review.

Background: 61% of the infections around the world that have emerged to date are zoonotic. Evidence warns that the threat posed by zoonoses is on the rise, and the risk of a new pandemic is higher now than ever. Early identification of risk, populations at risk, and risk of transmission are essential steps towards a prevention, preparation and response to outbreaks.

Agroecosystem exploration for Antimicrobial Resistance in Ahmedabad, India: A Study Protocol.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the leading threats to public health. AMR possesses a multidimensional challenge that has social, economic, and environmental dimensions that encompass the food production system, influencing human and animal health. The One Health approach highlights the inextricable linkage and interdependence between the health of people, animal, agriculture, and the environment.

Bridging the Gap: A Strategic Approach to Upscale Knowledge Among Diverse Healthcare Providers for Effective Tuberculosis Management in Gujarat, India.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Knowledge gaps among healthcare providers (HCPs) significantly impact TB management, hindering timely care-seeking and effective interventions.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess knowledge gaps among 3086 HCPs engaged in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) implementation in Gujarat, India.

Estimation of the Parasitic Burden of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Among Pregnant Women in the Maharashtra State of India Using qPCR: A Community-Based Study.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are widespread in developing countries with inadequate sanitation facilities. These infections can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and other complications that can negatively impact both the mother's and fetus's health during pregnancy. This study aimed to estimate the burden of STH by Kato-Katz microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in pregnant women from rural India.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigation strategy during pregnancy on prenatal outcome, growth and development in early childhood in India: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has offset some of the gains achieved in global health, particularly in relation to maternal, child health and nutrition. As pregnancy is a period of plasticity where insults acting on maternal environment have far-reaching consequences, the pandemic has had a significant impact on prenatal outcomes, intrauterine and postnatal development of infants. This research will investigate both the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy on prenatal outcomes, growth and development in early childhood.

Understanding the role of household hygiene practices and foodborne disease risks in child stunting: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper.

Introduction: Environmental hygiene and food safety are important determinants of child stunting. This research aims to explore the relationship between child stunting and household hygiene practices and behaviours, including the availability of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities; the use of safe food and good quality drinking water (especially when used for complementary feeding); hygienic practices in food transport, storage and preparation and the control of cross-contamination from animals, their produce and waste.

Methods And Analysis: This study is part of a wider observational study which aims to investigate the interdisciplinary factors contributing to child stunting using a 'whole child' paradigm.

Effect of IV ferric carboxy maltose for moderate/severe anemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Anemia remains a prevalent global health issue with varying severity. Intravenous iron supplementation, particularly with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), has appeared as a possible therapeutic intervention for individuals with moderate to severe anemia. The study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in reducing anemia.

One Health System Strengthening in India: Co-creating One Health Workforce to Combat Future Pandemics.

One Health has been coming of age through the G7 and G20 leadership and explicitly referred to in increasing ministerial declarations. Those leaderships, however, have been slow in knitting the One Health approach into the larger systems approach. by understanding the complexity of resilience and health system resilience is one of the key features of pandemic preparedness.

Exploring private sector perspectives on barriers and facilitators in availing tuberculosis care cascade services: a qualitative study from the Indian state.

Introduction: The private sector plays an important role in tuberculosis (TB) elimination by providing access to quality TB care services like diagnosis and treatment, advocacy for preventive measures, innovation to address challenges in TB elimination, vaccines etc. The study aims to understand the perspectives of private practitioners on patients' TB care cascade to reinforce existing interventions by assuring the quality of care to TB patients.

Methods: The study utilized a qualitative design through in-depth interviews of private practitioners and was conducted in Ranchi and Purbi Singhbhum District of Jharkhand State from March-August 2021.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of parenteral iron therapy compared to oral iron supplements in managing iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women.

Objective: This study compared the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of parenteral iron, using intravenous iron sucrose (IVIS) therapy against the standard regimen of oral iron (OI) therapy for managing iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) among pregnant women in a natural primary care setting in Gujarat.

Design: A prospective cost-effectiveness study was conducted in natural programme setting wherein 188 pregnant women in their 14 to 18 weeks with moderate and severe anemia women enrolled from two districts of Gujarat, and 142 were followed up until the post-partum phase. The intervention group comprised of 82 participants who were administered IVIS, while the comparison group comprised of 106 participants who were put on OI therapy.

Impact of ambient air pollution and socio-environmental factors on the health of children younger than 5 years in India: a population-based analysis.

Background: Ambient air pollution and household environmental factors affect child health, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollution (PM2·5) levels, socio-environmental factors (including household wealth, housing quality measures, smoking status), and the occurrence of respiratory illness in Indian children.

Methods: In this retrospective and observational study, we analysed data from India's National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-2021) combined with NASA's Global Annual PM2·5 Grids database.

Design-redesign, implementation, and evaluation of effectiveness of maternal nutrition and responsive parenting program on child development at 2 years of age from rural India: a cluster RCT.

Background: To promote early childhood development (ECD), we require information not only on what needs to be addressed and on what effects can be achieved but also on effective delivery methods that can be adapted to local context. We describe design, implementation, and evaluation of a complex intervention to strengthen nurturing environment for young children.

Methods: Study participants were pregnant women and their children from birth to 2 years.