Detection and control of an ongoing international outbreak of hepatitis A among the Irish Traveller community beginning September 2020.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a notifiable disease in Ireland, with national coverage of clinical and laboratory surveillance. In December 2020, a cluster of 11 HAV cases among the Irish Traveller community was detected. The outbreak investigation identified 61 total HAV cases from September 2020 to November 2021.

Mathematical Model Impact Analysis of a Real-Life Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Treatment-As-Prevention Study Among Female Sex Workers in Cotonou, Benin.

Background: Daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment-as-prevention (TasP) reduce HIV acquisition and transmission risk, respectively. A demonstration study (2015-2017) assessed TasP and PrEP feasibility among female sex workers (FSW) in Cotonou, Benin.

Setting: Cotonou, Benin.

Early antiretroviral therapy and daily pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among female sex workers in Cotonou, Benin: a prospective observational demonstration study.

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence remains high, especially among key populations. In such situations, combination prevention including clinical, behavioural, structural and biological components, as well as adequate treatment are important. We conducted a demonstration project at the Dispensaire IST, a clinic dedicated to female sex workers (FSWs) in Cotonou, on early antiretroviral therapy (E-ART, or immediate "test-and-treat") and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Preferences for ARV-based HIV prevention methods among men and women, adolescent girls and female sex workers in Gauteng Province, South Africa: a protocol for a discrete choice experiment.

Introduction: For the past few decades, condoms have been the main method of HIV prevention. Recent advances in antiretroviral (ARV)-based prevention products have substantially changed the prevention landscape, yet little is known about how popular these products will be among potential users, or whether new methods might be used in conjunction with, or instead of, condoms. This study will use a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to (1) explore potential users' preferences regarding HIV prevention products, (2) quantify the importance of product attributes and (3) predict the uptake of products to inform estimates of their potential impact on the HIV epidemic in South Africa.

Abdominal radiography is not necessary in children with intussusception.

Background: Children with intussusception require rapid and accurate diagnosis to enable timely intervention for satisfactory outcome. Ultrasonography is the recommended standard diagnostic modality; however, abdominal radiography (AR) is still used as an initial investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of AR in intussusception by determining diagnostic accuracy and analysing correlation of AR findings with outcome.

Matching comprehensive health insurance reimbursements to their real costs: the case of antenatal care visits in a region of Peru.

Background: Prepaid contributory systems are increasingly being recognized as key mechanisms in achieving universal health coverage in low and middle-income countries. Peru created the Seguro Integral de Salud (SIS) to increase health service use amongst the poor by removing financial barriers. The SIS transfers funds on a fee-for-service basis to the regional health offices to cover recurrent cost (excluding salaries) of pre-specified packages of interventions.

National Acute Medicine Programme--improving the care of all medical patients in Ireland.

Background: The National Acute Medicine Programme (NAMP) was established to address the unsatisfactory management of acutely ill medical patients in Ireland. It aimed to improve quality of care and patient safety, streamline access to healthcare, and reduce cost through efficiency gains.

Method: A model of care was developed to describe 4 distinct clinical pathways for medical patients streamed through acute medical assessment units.

The cost of providing combined prevention and treatment services, including ART, to female sex workers in Burkina Faso.

Background: Female Sex workers (FSW) are important in driving HIV transmission in West Africa. The Yerelon clinic in Burkina Faso has provided combined preventative and therapeutic services, including anti-retroviral therapy (ART), for FSWs since 1998, with evidence suggesting it has decreased HIV prevalence and incidence in this group. No data exists on the costs of such a combined prevention and treatment intervention for FSW.

Scrotal exploration for acute scrotal pain: a 10-year experience in two tertiary referral paediatric units.

Objective: Acute scrotal pain is a common presentation to the paediatric emergency department. Testicular torsion is one of the most common causes of acute scrotal pain. Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency requiring immediate surgical exploration to prevent permanent testicular damage or loss.