A global scale COVID-19 variants time-series analysis across 48 countries.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is slowing down, and countries are discussing whether preventive measures have remained effective or not. This study aimed to investigate a particular property of the trend of COVID-19 that existed and if its variants of concern were cointegrated, determining its possible transformation into an endemic.

Methods: Biweekly expected new cases by variants of COVID-19 for 48 countries from 02 May 2020 to 29 August 2022 were acquired from the GISAID database.

The physical and developmental outcomes of children whose mothers are substance abusers: Analysis of associated factors and the impact of early intervention.

Background/objectives: Maternal illicit drug use is associated with negative physical and developmental outcomes for their born children. We aim to find out the incidence of different developmental problems in a cohort of Chinese children born to drug-abusing mothers, compare the physical health and developmental outcomes of the subjects recruited in the Integrated Program to the Comprehensive Child Development Service (CCDS), and to study the potential factors on their associations.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study with frequent clinical assessments of the children's physical and developmental outcomes in a HKSAR's regional hospital from birth until 5 years old.

A cross-sectional survey: Exploring future healthcare workers' intention to use cannabis through extended theory of planned behavior.

Cannabis is the most extensively abused drug, leading to multiple health burdens such as traffic accidents and psychosis. There is a global wave of legalization of recreational and medical cannabis. This study aimed to understand future healthcare workers' intention to use cannabis through extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Measures on the COVID-19 Vaccination Rate in Hong Kong.

Background: The World Health Organization has set a target of at least 70% of the global population being vaccinated by the middle of 2022. There are only 17 countries that achieved a 70% vaccination rate (VR). This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of public policies to increase the COVID-19 VR.

Emergence of antibiotic-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium as the cause of non-gonococcal urethritis in male patients at a sexually transmitted infection clinic.

Mycoplasma genitalium is the cause of an emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) with high propensity for development of antimicrobial resistance. In a prevalence study conducted at the public STI service in Hong Kong, the first void urine samples of 38 (8%) of 493 male patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) tested positive for M. genitalium using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases.

Climate change is expanding the global at-risk population for vector-borne diseases (VBDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM) framework emphasises the importance of primary prevention of biological hazards and its value in protecting against VBDs. The framework encourages stakeholder coordination and information sharing, though there is still a need to reinforce prevention and recovery within disaster management.

Prevalence and associated factors for carriage of Enterobacteriaceae producing ESBLs or carbapenemase and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hong Kong community.

Objectives: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong community to estimate the carriage prevalence, associated factors and genotypes of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE).

Methods: Seemingly healthy subjects were asked to provide nasal, handprint and stool samples from March to April 2017. Isolates were characterized by molecular methods.

Mathematical modelling of the impact of treating latent tuberculosis infection in the elderly in a city with intermediate tuberculosis burden.

Hong Kong is a high-income city with intermediate tuberculosis (TB) burden primarily driven by endogenous reactivations. A high proportion of remote latently infected people, particularly elderly, hinders the effectiveness of current strategies focusing on passive TB detection. In this study, we developed a mathematical model to evaluate the impact of treating latent TB infection (LTBI) in the elderly in addition to current TB control strategies.

The strategic framework of tuberculosis control and prevention in the elderly: a scoping review towards End TB targets.

With the rapid pace of population ageing, tuberculosis (TB) in the elderly increasingly becomes a public health challenge. Despite the increasing burden and high risks for TB in the elderly, targeted strategy has not been well understood and evaluated. We undertook a scoping review to identify current TB strategies, research and policy gaps in the elderly and summarized the results within a strategic framework towards End TB targets.

CD209 (DC-SIGN) -336A>G promoter polymorphism and severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong Chinese.

CD209 (DC-SIGN) is an important C-type lectin which acts a receptor of many pathogens. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -336A>G in the CD209 promoter has been demonstrated to regulate promoter activity and to be associated with several important infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Dengue fever. CD209 facilitates severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus spike protein-bearing pseudotype driven infection of permissive cells in vitro.

A multi-country outbreak of fungal keratitis associated with a brand of contact lens solution: the Hong Kong experience.

Objectives: Starting in mid-2005, an increase in fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium spp was observed among contact lens wearers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the USA. The objective of this study was to describe the outbreak and to determine any association with the use of Bausch & Lomb (B&L) ReNu contact lens solution.

Methods: We defined a case as a disposable contact lens user with ophthalmologist-diagnosed keratitis and a positive culture of Fusarium spp reported to the Department of Health from January 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006.

SARS-CoV antibody prevalence in all Hong Kong patient contacts.

A total of 1,068 asymptomatic close contacts of patients with severe acute respiratory (SARS) from the 2003 epidemic in Hong Kong were serologically tested, and 2 (0.19%) were positive for SARS coronavirus immunoglobulin G antibody. SARS rarely manifests as a subclinical infection, and at present, wild animal species are the only important natural reservoirs of the virus.