Proof of concept study on early forecasting of antimicrobial resistance in hospitalized patients using machine learning and simple bacterial ecology data.

Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens is a major threat to global health, exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics. In hospital practice, results of bacterial cultures and antibiograms can take several days. Meanwhile, prescribing an empirical antimicrobial treatment is challenging, as clinicians must balance the antibiotic spectrum against the expected probability of susceptibility.

Identification of Southeast Asian Anopheles mosquito species using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Malaria elimination in Southeast Asia remains a challenge, underscoring the importance of accurately identifying malaria mosquitoes to understand transmission dynamics and improve vector control. Traditional methods such as morphological identification require extensive training and cannot distinguish between sibling species, while molecular approaches are costly for extensive screening. Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a rapid and cost-effective tool for Anopheles species identification, yet its current use is limited to few specialized laboratories.

Using MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry to identify mushroom species: Proof of concept analysis of Amanita genus specimens.

Unlabelled: Food poisoning caused by toxic mushrooms, such as species in the Amanita genus, occurs frequently around the world. To properly treat these patients, it is important to rapidly and accurately identify the causal species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry is a rapid technique that has been used in medical laboratories for the past three decades to identify bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi.

Targeting Malaria Hotspots to Reduce Transmission Incidence in Senegal.

In central Senegal, malaria incidence declined in response to scaling-up of control measures from 2000 to 2010 and has since remained stable, making elimination unlikely in the short term. Additional control measures are needed to reduce transmission. We simulated chemoprophylaxis interventions targeting malaria hotspots using a metapopulation mathematical model, based on a differential-equation framework and incorporating human mobility.

Delineating and Analyzing Locality-Level Determinants of Cholera, Haiti.

Centre Department, Haiti, was the origin of a major cholera epidemic during 2010-2019. Although no fine-scale spatial delineation is officially available, we aimed to analyze determinants of cholera at the local level and identify priority localities in need of interventions. After estimating the likely boundaries of 1,730 localities by using Voronoi polygons, we mapped 5,322 suspected cholera cases reported during January 2015-September 2016 by locality alongside environmental and socioeconomic variables.

Spatio-temporal variation of malaria hotspots in Central Senegal, 2008-2012.

Background: In malaria endemic areas, identifying spatio-temporal hotspots is becoming an important element of innovative control strategies targeting transmission bottlenecks. The aim of this work was to describe the spatio-temporal variation of malaria hotspots in central Senegal and to identify the meteorological, environmental, and preventive factors that influence this variation.

Methods: This study analysed the weekly incidence of malaria cases recorded from 2008 to 2012 in 575 villages of central Senegal (total population approximately 500,000) as part of a trial of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC).

Visceral Leishmaniasis in West Africa: Clinical Characteristics, Vectors, and Reservoirs.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most serious form of human leishmaniasis. VL is understudied in West Africa. The increasing number of patients at-risk, including persons living with HIV and other chronic immunosuppressive diseases, and likely underreporting of VL related to diagnostic challenges advocate for review of existing data to understand VL regional epidemiology.

Epidemiologic Trends in Malaria Incidence Among Travelers Returning to Metropolitan France, 1996-2016.

Importance: Despite annually adapted recommendations to prevent malaria in travelers to endemic areas, France is still the industrialized country reporting the highest number of imported cases of malaria. Better understanding of the epidemiologic context and evolution during the past 2 decades may help to define a better preventive strategy.

Objective: To study epidemiologic trends of imported cases of malaria in travelers in geographic territories of France on the European continent (metropolitan France) from 1996 through 2016 to potentially explain the persistence of high imported malaria incidence despite national preventive measures.

Dynamics of cholera epidemics from Benin to Mauritania.

Background: The countries of West Africa are largely portrayed as cholera endemic, although the dynamics of outbreaks in this region of Africa remain largely unclear.

Methodology/principal Findings: To understand the dynamics of cholera in a major portion of West Africa, we analyzed cholera epidemics from 2009 to 2015 from Benin to Mauritania. We conducted a series of field visits as well as multilocus variable tandem repeat analysis and whole-genome sequencing analysis of V.

Identification of Leishmania by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry Using a Free Web-Based Application and a Dedicated Mass-Spectral Library.

Human leishmaniases are widespread diseases with different clinical forms caused by about 20 species within the genus. species identification is relevant for therapeutic management and prognosis, especially for cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms. Several methods are available to identify species from culture, but they have not been standardized for the majority of the currently described species, with the exception of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis.

Populations at risk for alveolar echinococcosis, France.

During 1982-2007, alveolar echinococcosis (AE) was diagnosed in 407 patients in France, a country previously known to register half of all European patients. To better define high-risk groups in France, we conducted a national registry-based study to identify areas where persons were at risk and spatial clusters of cases. We interviewed 180 AE patients about their way of life and compared responses to those of 517 controls.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of cholera during the first year of the epidemic in Haiti.

Background: In October 2010, cholera importation in Haiti triggered an epidemic that rapidly proved to be the world's largest epidemic of the seventh cholera pandemic. To establish effective control and elimination policies, strategies rely on the analysis of cholera dynamics. In this report, we describe the spatio-temporal dynamics of cholera and the associated environmental factors.

The 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic in the French Armed Forces: evaluation of three surveillance systems.

Background: The French military forces had to modify their epidemiological surveillance systems at the time of the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic. The aim of this article was to present an evaluation of the different systems used.

Methods: Two influenza surveillance systems are usually used in the French forces: one permanent (Surveillance épidémiologique des armées or SEA) and one seasonal (Système militaire d'observation de la grippe or SMOG).

Dynamics of cholera outbreaks in Great Lakes region of Africa, 1978-2008.

Cholera outbreaks have occurred in Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya almost every year since 1977-1978, when the disease emerged in these countries. We used a multiscale, geographic information system-based approach to assess the link between cholera outbreaks, climate, and environmental variables. We performed time-series analyses and field investigations in the main affected areas.

Understanding the cholera epidemic, Haiti.

After onset of a cholera epidemic in Haiti in mid-October 2010, a team of researchers from France and Haiti implemented field investigations and built a database of daily cases to facilitate identification of communes most affected. Several models were used to identify spatiotemporal clusters, assess relative risk associated with the epidemic's spread, and investigate causes of its rapid expansion in Artibonite Department. Spatiotemporal analyses highlighted 5 significant clusters (p<0.

Clinical features and evolution of alveolar echinococcosis in France from 1982 to 2007: results of a survey in 387 patients.

Background & Aims: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare disease in humans, caused by the larval stage of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.

Methods: We present here 387 detailed AE cases diagnosed in France from 1982 to 2007 actively identified by a retrospective survey performed in 1997-1998 and prospectively thereafter.

Results: Male:female ratio was 1.

Adverse events following pandemic influenza vaccine Pandemrix® reported in the French military forces--2009-2010.

Background: In the face of the A(H1N1) 2009 influenza pandemic, in October 2009 the French military health service (SSA) initiated a large vaccination campaign with Pandemrix(®) vaccine in the military forces. The aim of this study was to describe vaccine adverse events (VAE) reported during this campaign.

Methods: VAE and the number of people vaccinated were surveyed by the SSA Epidemiological network across all military forces during the campaign, from October 2009 to April 2010.

Cholera epidemics, war and disasters around Goma and Lake Kivu: an eight-year survey.

Background: During the last eight years, North and South Kivu, located in a lake area in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been the site of a major volcano eruption and of numerous complex emergencies with population displacements. These conditions have been suspected to favour emergence and spread of cholera epidemics.

Methodology/principal Findings: In order to assess the influence of these conditions on outbreaks, reports of cholera cases were collected weekly from each health district of North Kivu (4,667,699 inhabitants) and South Kivu (4,670,121 inhabitants) from 2000 through 2007.

Lakes as source of cholera outbreaks, Democratic Republic of Congo.

We studied the epidemiology of cholera in Katanga and Eastern Kasai, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, by compiling a database including all cases recorded from 2000 through 2005. Results show that lakes were the sources of outbreaks and demonstrate the inadequacy of the strategy used to combat cholera.

Comparison of several commercial serologic kits and Em18 serology for detection of human alveolar echinococcosis.

The aim of this study was to design the best serologic strategy for diagnosing human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) cases in medical laboratory routine procedures. By combining 2 screening techniques, indirect hemagglutination with Em(2plus)-ELISA and/or recEm18-ELISA, 46 of 47 AE cases were detected. The necessary confirmation of results is then obtained by using immunoblot (LDBIO-IB and/or recEm18-IB).