Evaluation of a novel point-of-care lateral flow assay screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among pregnant women in Zimbabwe.

Affordable, easy-to-use and rapid diagnostics may support a move away from syndromic management for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in resource-constrained settings. A lateral flow assay for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG-LFA) has shown high sensitivity and specificity (>90%) in symptomatic individuals. We investigated the performance and acceptability of this assay as a screening tool for NG among pregnant women.

Theoretical impact of a bedside decision-making tool on antibiotic use for suspected neonatal healthcare-associated infection: an observational study.

Background And Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in hospitalised neonates. Diagnosing neonatal HAI is challenging owing to non-specific symptoms and lack of definitive diagnostic markers, contributing to high rates of inappropriate antibiotic use. This study evaluated the theoretical impact of implementing a bedside tool for decision-making on antibiotic length of therapy (LOT).

Progress made in digitalizing antimicrobial resistance surveillance in a One Health approach in Kenya.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global public health, affecting human and animal health, agriculture, food safety, and the environment. The control of AMR is often challenging, particularly when data are scanty or siloed in individual sectors. To develop evidence-based control policies for AMR, an electronic information system that integrates AMR data from various sectors, in a One Health approach, is critical.

Multicentre external validation of the Neonatal Healthcare-associated infectiOn Prediction (NeoHoP) score: a retrospective case-control study.

Background And Objectives: Neonatal mortality due to severe bacterial infections is a pressing global issue, especially in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) with constrained healthcare resources. This study aims to validate the Neonatal Healthcare-associated infectiOn Prediction (NeoHoP) score, designed for LMICs, across diverse neonatal populations.

Methods: Prospective data from three South African neonatal units in the Neonatal Sepsis Observational (NeoOBS) study were analysed.

Development of a Novel Fluorescent-Based Lateral Flow Assay for the Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae at the Point of Care.

Background: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) has acquired significant resistance, primarily due to extensive and unwarranted antibiotic utilization over several decades. This resistance has largely been associated with the syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where affordable point of care tests are unavailable. To address this diagnostic gap, FIND has developed a low-cost lateral flow assay for the detection of NG at the point of care.

Affordable blood culture systems from China: in vitro evaluation for use in resource-limited settings.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) pose a significant threat due to high mortality rates and the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In 2019, an estimated 4.95 million deaths were linked to bacterial AMR.

Novel lateral flow assay for point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in syndromic management settings: a cross-sectional performance evaluation.

Background: A rapid and affordable point-of-care test is a priority for Neisseria gonorrhoeae control. WHO and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) have a target product profile for a non-molecular N gonorrhoeae rapid point-of-care test that requires a clinical sensitivity of greater than 80% and a specificity over 95% to be considered useful in syndromic management; test turnaround time should be 30 min or under, and the test should cost less than US$3. A novel lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed to achieve that profile.

Implementation considerations for a point-of-care Neisseria gonorrhoeae rapid diagnostic test at primary healthcare level in South Africa: a qualitative study.

Background: South Africa maintains an integrated health system where syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is the standard of care. An estimated 2 million cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) occur in South Africa every year.

Point-of-care diagnostics for infection and antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa: A narrative review.

Objectives: Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are severely impacted by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to gaps in access to diagnostics in SSA, the true extent of AMR remains unknown. This diagnostic gap affects patient management and leads to significant antimicrobial overuse.

Application of diagnostic network optimization in Kenya and Nepal to design integrated, sustainable and efficient bacteriology and antimicrobial resistance surveillance networks.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which experience the highest burden of AMR. Critical to combatting AMR is ensuring there are effective, accessible diagnostic networks in place to diagnose, monitor and prevent AMR, but many low- and middle-income countries lack such networks. Consequently, there is substantial need for approaches that can inform the design of efficient AMR laboratory networks and sample referral systems in lower-resource countries.

Development and internal validation of a Neonatal Healthcare-associated infectiOn Prediction score (NeoHoP score) for very low birthweight infants in low-resource settings: a retrospective case-control study.

Background And Objectives: Early diagnosis of neonatal infection is essential to prevent serious complications and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among very low birthweight (VLBW; <1500 g) infants is 20%; and the mortality in low-resource settings can be as high as 70%. This study aimed to develop an Infection Prediction Score to diagnose bacterial HAIs.

Usability of a novel lateral flow assay for the point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A qualitative time-series assessment among healthcare workers in South Africa.

Accurate and user-friendly rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests (POCT) are needed to optimize treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, especially in low-resource settings where syndromic management is the standard of care for sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and usability of a novel lateral flow assay and portable reader for the point-of-care detection of N. gonorrhoeae infection (NG-LFA).

Oxygen vacancy dynamics in Pt/TiO/TaO/Pt memristors: exchange with the environment and internal electromigration.

Memristors are expected to be one of the key building blocks for the development of new bio-inspired nanoelectronics. Memristive effects in transition metal oxides are usually linked to the electromigration at the nanoscale of charged oxygen vacancies (OV). In this paper we address, for Pt/TiO/TaO/Pt devices, the exchange of OV between the device and the environment upon the application of electrical stress.

Performance Comparison of Infection Prediction Scores in a South African Neonatal Unit: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Background And Objectives: Infection prediction scores are useful ancillary tests in determining the likelihood of neonatal hospital-acquired infection (HAI), particularly in very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,500 g) infants who are most vulnerable to HAI and have high antibiotic utilization rates. None of the existing infection prediction scores were developed for or evaluated in South African VLBW neonates.

Methods: We identified existing infection prediction scores through literature searches and assessed each score for suitability and feasibility of use in resource-limited settings.

Utility of InTray COLOREX Screen agar and InTray COLOREX ESBL agar for urine culture in the Lao PDR.

Background: There is a need for simple microbiology diagnostics to enable antimicrobial resistance surveillance in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To investigate the field utility of InTray COLOREX plates for urine culture and ESBL detection.

Methods: Clinical urine samples from Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR were inoculated onto chromogenic media and InTray COLOREX Screen plates between June and August 2020.

Evaluation of the InTray and Compact Dry culture systems for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections in patients presenting to primary health clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance data is lacking from many resource-limited settings mainly due to limited laboratory testing. Novel culture systems may address some of the limitations of conventional culture media and expand the availability of microbiology services. The aims of this study were to evaluate the performance of InTray COLOREX Screen/ESBL and Compact Dry for the detection of uropathogens and of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms from urine samples.

Evaluation of a Novel Culture System for Rapid Pathogen Identification and Detection of Cephalosporin Resistance in Neonatal Gram-negative Sepsis at a Tertiary Referral Unit in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background: Neonatal sepsis accounts for a large proportion of neonatal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of access to diagnostic testing and excessively long turnaround times to result contributes to delays in sepsis identification and initiation of appropriate treatment. This study aims to evaluate the novel InTrays COLOREX Screen and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase for rapid identification of bacterial pathogens causing sepsis and detection of resistance.

Barriers to Access to New Gonorrhea Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tests in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Potential Solutions: A Qualitative Interview-Based Study.

Background: To assess the potential market for 2 hypothetical diagnostic tests, one for Neisseria gonorrhoeae/Chlamydia trachomatis (NG/CT) detection and one for NG antimicrobial resistance (AMR) marker identification.

Methods: This is a qualitative interview-based study. Semistructured interviews with global- and country-level experts were performed.

Developing target product profiles for Neisseria gonorrhoeae diagnostics in the context of antimicrobial resistance: An expert consensus.

Background: There is a need for a rapid diagnostic point of care test to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection to prevent incorrect, lack or excess of treatment resulting from current syndromic management in low-resource settings. An assay to identify NG antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is also highly desirable to facilitate antibiotic stewardship. Here we describe the development of two target product profiles (TPPs): one for a test for etiological diagnosis of NG and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) (TPP1) and one for the detection of NG AMR/susceptibility (TPP2).

Proteomic and toxinological characterization of Peruvian pitviper Bothrops brazili ("jergón shushupe"), venom.

Bothrops brazili is a pitviper from Amazonian region, responsible for many accidents in Peru. Despite its relevance, its venom has not been extensively characterized. In the present work, Bothrops brazili venom (BbV) components were analyzed by RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF.