Asymptomatic carriage of intestinal protists is common in children in Lusaka Province, Zambia.

Background: PCR-based screenings on the presence of diarrhoea-causing intestinal protist species are limited in Zambia, resulting in inaccurate current prevalence and epidemiological data. Sensitive PCR-based methods are particularly well suited for detecting subclinical infections in apparently healthy carriers.

Methodology: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we investigated the occurrence of the most common intestinal protists in an apparently healthy paediatric population (5-18 years) in Lusaka Province, Zambia.

"Project YES! has given me a task to reach undetectable": Qualitative findings from a peer mentoring program for youth living with HIV in Zambia.

The Project YES! clinic-based peer mentoring program was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted among 276 youth from four HIV clinics to test the impact of the program on promoting HIV self-management and reducing internalized stigma among youth living with HIV (ages 15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia. We conducted a qualitative sub-study involving in-depth interviews with 40 intervention youth participants (21 female, 19 male) to explore their experiences with Project YES! which included: an orientation meeting led by a healthcare provider, monthly individual and group counseling sessions over six months, and three optional caregiver group sessions. Using baseline RCT data, we used maximum variation sampling to purposively select youth by sex, age, change in virologic results between baseline and midline, and study clinic.

Whole genomes from bacteria collected at diagnostic units around the world 2020.

The Two Weeks in the World research project has resulted in a dataset of 3087 clinically relevant bacterial genomes with pertaining metadata, collected from 59 diagnostic units in 35 countries around the world during 2020. A relational database is available with metadata and summary data from selected bioinformatic analysis, such as species prediction and identification of acquired resistance genes.

Etiology of Bacterial Sepsis and Isolate Resistance Patterns in Hospitalized Neonates in Zambia.

Background: The Sepsis Prevention in Neonates in Zambia study is a prospective cohort study that evaluated an infection prevention and control (IPC) bundle in the University Teaching Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Lusaka, Zambia. We present here the etiologies, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and associated mortality of bloodstream infections (BSI) in this cohort.

Methods: Venous blood was collected from neonates with clinically suspected sepsis and cultured with an automated blood culture system.

Improving Mental Health Literacy and Reducing Psychological Problems Among Teachers in Zambia: Protocol for Implementation and Evaluation of a Wellness4Teachers Email Messaging Program.

Background: Primary, basic, secondary, and high school teachers are constantly faced with increased work stressors that can result in psychological health challenges such as burnout, anxiety, and depression, and in some cases, physical health problems. It is presently unknown what the mental health literacy levels are or the prevalence and correlates of psychological issues among teachers in Zambia. It is also unknown if an email mental messaging program (Wellness4Teachers) would effectively reduce burnout and associated psychological problems and improve mental health literacy among teachers.

Microbiologic and virulence characteristics of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates from Zambian children presenting with acute pneumonia.

Background: Moraxella catarrhalis is one of the bacterial pathogens associated with childhood pneumonia, but its clinical importance is not clearly defined.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the microbiologic and virulence characteristics of M. catarrhalis isolates obtained from children with pneumonia in Lusaka, Zambia.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic profiling of from bloodstream infections at a tertiary referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, 2018-2019.

Objectives: This study investigated antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic profiling of isolated from bloodstream infections at a tertiary referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, 2018-2019.

Method: This was a prospective hospital-based study involving routine blood culture samples submitted to the microbiology laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital. Identification of and determination of antimicrobial susceptibility profiles was achieved through conventional and automated methods.

"It must start with me, so it started with me": A qualitative study of Project YES! youth peer mentor implementing experiences supporting adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Ndola, Zambia.

Background: Little is known about youth-led approaches to addressing HIV-related outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV. In response, Project YES! hired and trained youth living with HIV as peer mentors (YPMs) in four HIV clinics in Ndola, Zambia to hold meetings with 276 15-24-year-olds living with HIV. Within this randomized controlled trial, a qualitative sub-study was conducted to explore YPMs' implementing experiences.

Carboxamide substituted tetramethylcyclopentadiene - synthesis, characterisation and its iridium(III) complex catalysed reduction of imines.

The novel dimeric iodo-iridium(III) complex, [Ir(Cp*CONMe)I], (Cp*CONMe = η--2,3,4,5-hexamethylcyclopenta-2,4-diene carboxamide) bearing an amide moiety within the tetramethylcyclopentadiene ring, has been synthesised and characterised. The ligand Cp*CONMe is synthesised as two regioisomers, however the 2-substituted isomer exists as two distinguishable conformers due to restricted rotation about the amide carbonyl carbon and the ring carbon. The relative acidities of Cp*CONMe and Cp* are compared by their relative rates of H/D exchange.

The Burden of Invasive Bacterial Disease and the Impact of 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Children <5 years hospitalized for Meningitis in Lusaka, Zambia, 2010-2019.

Background: Despite the availability of vaccines, invasive bacterial diseases remain a public health concern and cause childhood morbidity and mortality. We investigated the characteristics of etiological agents causing bacterial meningitis in children <5 years in the years pre- (2010-2012) and post- (2014-2019) 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) introduction in Zambia.

Methods: Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), and Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were identified by microbiological culture and/or real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The Etiology of Pneumonia in HIV-infected Zambian Children: Findings From the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Study.

Background: Despite recent declines in new pediatric HIV infections and childhood HIV-related deaths, pneumonia remains the leading cause of death in HIV-infected children under 5. We describe the patient population, etiology and outcomes of childhood pneumonia in Zambian HIV-infected children.

Methods: As one of the 9 sites for the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health study, we enrolled children 1-59 months of age presenting to University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, with World Health Organization-defined severe and very severe pneumonia.

The Etiology of Pneumonia in Zambian Children: Findings From the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Study.

Background: Childhood pneumonia in developing countries is the foremost cause of morbidity and death. Fresh information on etiology is needed, considering the changing epidemiology of pneumonia in the setting of greater availability of effective vaccines, changing antibiotic use and improved access to care. We report here the Zambia site results of the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health study on the etiology of pneumonia among HIV-uninfected children in Lusaka, Zambia.

"Adolescents do not only require ARVs and adherence counseling": A qualitative investigation of health care provider experiences with an HIV youth peer mentoring program in Ndola, Zambia.

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with HIV face unique challenges and have poorer health outcomes than adults with HIV. Project YES! was a youth-led initiative to promote HIV self-management and reduce stigma among AYAs in four Ndola, Zambia clinics. Clinic health care providers (HCPs) were involved in multiple intervention aspects, including serving as expert resources during AYA and caregiver group meetings, facilitating resistance test-based AYA antiretroviral drug changes, meeting with participants referred through a safety protocol, and guiding a subset of participants' physical transition from pediatric to adult clinic settings.

Family Connections randomized controlled trial: assessing the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention with adolescents living with HIV and their caregivers in Ndola, Zambia.

Achieving the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets requires meeting the needs of adolescents, however we lack evidenced-based approaches to improving adolescent adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), increasing viral suppression, and supporting general wellbeing. We developed as a group intervention for adolescents and their adult caregivers and conducted a randomized controlled trial in Ndola, Zambia to test feasibility and acceptability. Fifty pairs (= 100) of adolescents (15-19 years and on ART ≥ 6 months) and their caregivers were randomly assigned either to the intervention consisting of 10 group sessions over 6 months, or to a comparison group, which received the usual care.

'So hurt and broken': A qualitative study of experiences of violence and HIV outcomes among Zambian youth living with HIV.

Emerging data show associations between violence victimisation and negative HIV outcomes among youth in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews with adolescents and young adults living with HIV (aged 15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia, to better understand this relationship. We purposively selected 41 youth (24 females, 17 males) with varied experiences of violence and virologic results.

[Case study of vulvar malignant melanoma conducted at the Cinquantenaire General Hospital in Lubumbashi].

Primary malignant melanoma of the female genital tract is an extremely rare tumor. It most commonly affects the vulva then the cervix and the vagina. Vulvar cancer accounts for about 1% (all sites) of melanomas.

Prevalence and characteristics of HIV drug resistance among antiretroviral treatment (ART) experienced adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Ndola, Zambia.

Background: HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) poses a threat to the HIV epidemic control in Zambia especially in sub-populations such as the 15-24 years where there is poor virological suppression. Understanding the prevalence and patterns of HIVDR in this population (15-24 years) will contribute to defining effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens, improving clinical decision making, and supporting behavioral change interventions needed to achieve HIV epidemic control.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of study enrollment data from the Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Past-Year Violence Victimization is Associated with Viral Load Failure Among HIV-Positive Adolescents and Young Adults.

We examined the relationship between past-year violence victimization and viral load (VL) failure among consecutively-sampled male and female adolescents and young adults, aged 15-24, in four HIV clinics in Ndola, Zambia. Measures of past-year physical violence, psychological abuse, and forced sex were adapted from the ICAST-C and WHO Multi-Country Study. Using logistic regression, we derived associations between VL failure (≥ 1000 copies/mL) and: any victimization; cumulative victimization; and types and perpetrators of violence.

The Etiology of Pneumonia From Analysis of Lung Aspirate and Pleural Fluid Samples: Findings From the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Study.

Background: An improved understanding of childhood pneumonia etiology is required to inform prevention and treatment strategies. Lung aspiration is the gold standard specimen for pneumonia diagnostics. We report findings from analyses of lung and pleural aspirates collected in the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) study.

Prevalence of physical and sexual violence and psychological abuse among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Zambia.

Background: Little is known about violence against HIV-positive adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa. This analysis examines experiences of violence victimization, and the perpetrators of this violence, among AYA living with HIV, aged 15-24 years, in Zambia.

Methods: We analyzed baseline data from 272 AYA (60.

Characterisation of isolates from the 2009, 2010 and 2016 cholera outbreaks in Lusaka province, Zambia.

Introduction: In 2009 and 2010, more than 6,000 cholera cases were recorded during these outbreaks with more than 80% of cases recorded in Lusaka province. After a five-year break, in 2016 an outbreak occurred in Lusaka, causing more than 1,000 cases of cholera. This study will strengthen the epidemiological information on the changing characteristics of the cholera outbreaks, for treatment, prevention and control of the disease.

Correction: Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Project YES! Youth Engaging for Success: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a clinic-based peer mentoring program on viral suppression, adherence and internalized stigma among HIV-positive youth (15-24 years) in Ndola, Zambia.

Background: Youth-led strategies remain untested in clinic-based programs to improve viral suppression (VS) and reduce stigma among HIV-positive adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa. In response, Project YES! placed paid HIV-positive youth peer mentors (YPM) in four HIV clinics in Ndola, Zambia including a Children's Hospital (pediatric setting), an adult Hospital and two primary care facilities (adult settings).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2017 to February 2019.