Outbreak preparedness and response strategies in ASEAN member states: a scoping review.

Objectives: The 21 century has witnessed significant disease outbreaks with severe impact in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, including SARS, H1N1, H5N1, and COVID-19. This review aimed to compile and analyze outbreak preparedness and response strategies, highlighting the success of coordinated multi-sectoral approaches and policy responses within the ASEAN region.

Methods: The protocol for this review was registered on the Open Science Framework and PROSPERO.

Exploring naphthoquinone and anthraquinone derivatives as antibiotic adjuvants against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms: Synergistic effects of menadione.

Given the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to form biofilms and produce persister cells, making infections difficult to treat with antibiotics alone, there is a pressing need for an effective antibiotic adjuvant to address this public health threat. In this study, a series of quinone derivatives were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus reference strains.

Photoactivated riboflavin inhibits planktonic and biofilm growth of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species.

Fungal infections caused by Candida species pose a serious threat to humankind. Antibiotics abuse and the ability of Candida species to form biofilm have escalated the emergence of drug resistance in clinical settings and hence, rendered it more difficult to treat Candida-related diseases. Lethal effects of Candida infection are often due to inefficacy of antimicrobial treatments and failure of host immune response to clear infections.

PDADMAC/Alginate-Coated Gold Nanorod For Eradication of Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms.

Introduction: Over 75% of clinical microbiological infections are caused by bacterial biofilms that grow on wounds or implantable medical devices. This work describes the development of a new poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/alginate-coated gold nanorod (GNR/Alg/PDADMAC) that effectively disintegrates the biofilms of (), a prominent pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections.

Methods: GNR was synthesised via seed-mediated growth method, and the resulting nanoparticles were coated first with Alg and then PDADMAC.

Unveilling genetic profiles and correlations of biofilm-associated genes, quorum sensing, and antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a Malaysian Teaching Hospital.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious multidrug resistant pathogen prevalent in healthcare facilities worldwide. Unveiling the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation, quorum sensing and antibiotic resistance can help in developing more effective therapy for S. aureus infection.

Exposure of Helicobacter pylori to clarithromycin in vitro resulting in the development of resistance and triggers metabolic reprogramming associated with virulence and pathogenicity.

In H. pylori infection, antibiotic-resistance is one of the most common causes of treatment failure. Bacterial metabolic activities, such as energy production, bacterial growth, cell wall construction, and cell-cell communication, all play important roles in antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.

Synthesis and Staphylococcus aureus biofilm inhibitory activity of indolenine-substituted pyrazole and pyrimido[1,2-b]indazole derivatives.

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly adaptable opportunistic pathogen that can form biofilms and generate persister cells, leading to life-threatening infections that are difficult to treat with antibiotics alone. Therefore, there is a need for an effective S. aureus biofilm inhibitor to combat this public health threat.

Falsarthrobacter nasiphocae periprosthetic joint infection.

We report the isolation of a rare Gram-positive coccobacillary bacterium from synovial fluids of a patient with periprosthetic joint infection on three occasions over an 8-month period. As routine microbiological methods were not able to identify the isolate definitely, sequence analyses of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene and whole genome were performed. Analysis of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene showed the highest similarity (98.

Profiling infection and its associated risk factors in shelter cats in Malaysia.

Background: Poor disease management and irregular vector control could predispose sheltered animals to disease such as feline infection, a vector-borne zoonotic disease primarily caused by .

Objectives: This study investigated the status of infection in cats from eight (n = 8) shelters by molecular and serological approaches, profiling the CD4:CD8 ratio and the risk factors associated with infection in shelter cats.

Methods: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer gene, followed by DNA sequencing.

Candida species and oral mycobiota of patients clinically diagnosed with oral thrush.

Overgrowth of Candida yeasts in the oral cavity may result in the development of oral thrush in immunocompromised individuals. This study analyzed the diversity and richness of the oral mycobiota of patients clinically diagnosed with oral thrush (OT), follow-up of oral thrush patients after antifungal therapy (AT), and healthy controls (HC). Oral rinse and oral swab samples were collected from 38 OT patients, 21 AT patients, and 41 healthy individuals (HC).

Physician's Perspectives on Factors Influencing Antibiotic Resistance: A Qualitative Study in Vietnam.

(1) Background: The antibiotic resistance (ABR) rates are escalating to seriously high levels worldwide. This study was conducted to determine physicians' perspectives on factors influencing ABR in Vietnam. (2) Methods: Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted through in-depth interviews on ABR perspectives with 5-6 physicians from different geographical locations and hospitals in Vietnam between March and June 2020.

: A Mini Review on Epidemiology in Healthcare Facilities in Asia.

a newly emerging healthcare-associated yeast pathogen from the Metschnikowiaceae family, was first described in the ear canal of an elderly Japanese patient in 2009. The yeast is one of the causative agents of candidemia, which has been linked with nosocomial outbreaks and high mortality rates in healthcare facilities worldwide. Since its first isolation, the occurrence of in six continents has becomes a grave concern for the healthcare professionals and scientific community.

Serological Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection Among Ruminant Farmworkers: A Retrospective Study from Malaysia.

Background: As scant data are available about Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Malaysia, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HEV amongst ruminant farmworkers in Malaysia.

Methods: A total of 87 farmworkers provided serum samples, which were collected from eight farms. All serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the Wantai HEV-IgG and HEV-IgM ELISA kits from Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co.

Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Knowledge and Practices in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

(1) Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has been escalating to seriously high levels worldwide, accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, especially in Vietnam. In this work, we investigated the Vietnamese public socio-demographic and knowledge factors associated with inappropriate practices of antibiotics to better understand the country’s antibiotic use and ABR. (2) Methods: To this end, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among Vietnamese people aged 18−60 years via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATIs) from May 2019 to November 2019.

First isolation and identification of Cystobasidium calyptogenae from the oral samples of an elderly patient presenting with angular cheilitis.

Background: Angular cheilitis, an infection mainly caused by Candida yeasts, is featured by the appearance of inflammatory lesions at the bilateral corners of the mouth, particularly in patients with poor oral hygiene, ill-fitting dentures and old age. The first isolation of an atypical yeast, Cystobasidium calyptogenae, from oral samples of a patient presenting with angular cheilitis is discussed in this study.

Case Presentation: Angular cheilitis was diagnosed in a 60-year-old denture-wearing woman who presented with an irritation fibroma on her right lower buccal sulcus over the premolar region.

Revisiting oral thrush in South-East Asian patients: A review of published studies (2000-2020).

Background: Oral thrush, a clinical condition due to an overgrowth of Candida yeasts in the oral cavity, is prominent in patients with immunosuppression. As recent updates on oral thrush in South-East Asian (SEA) countries are lacking, this review aimed to address the epidemiology, clinical features and distribution of Candida species, based on published studies in SEA countries over the last two decades.

Methods: Published studies on oral candidiasis (2000-2020) were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar databases to provide information on the incidence and factors affecting oral thrush cases in SEA countries.

LC-MS analysis reveals biological and metabolic processes essential for Candida albicans biofilm growth.

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection associated with high morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. The ability to form biofilm is essential for Candida albicans pathogenesis and drug resistance. In this study, the planktonic cell and biofilm proteomes of C.

Review: antimicrobial properties of allicin used alone or in combination with other medications.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a well-known spice widely utilised for its medicinal properties. There is an extensive record of the many beneficial health effects of garlic which can be traced back to as early as the ancient Egyptian era.

A qualitative study to explore farmworkers' knowledge, beliefs and preventive practices toward ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Introduction: Farmworkers are considered a high-risk group for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the farmworkers' experience, knowledge, health beliefs, information needs, and preventive practices of tick bites and TBDs.

Methodology: A total of nine focus group discussions with 56 farmworkers across eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia were conducted between August and October 2013.

Francisella spp. detected in Dermacentor ticks in Malaysian forest reserve areas.

Limited information is available on tropical ticks and tick-borne bacteria affecting the health of humans and animals in the Southeast Asia region. Francisella tularensis is a tick-borne bacterium which causes a potentially life-threatening disease known as tularemia. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of Francisella spp.

Molecular investigation of Anaplasma spp. in domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia.

Anaplasma spp. are Gram-negative obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacteria which are of medical and veterinary importance. Little information is available on Anaplasma infection affecting domestic and wildlife animals in Malaysia.

Transcriptome analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei SCV reveals an association with virulence, stress resistance and intracellular persistence.

Differences in expression of potential virulence and survival genes were associated with B. pseudomallei colony morphology variants. Microarray was used to investigate B.