Surveillance of carbapenem resistance in Asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Carbapenems are used to treat multidrug-resistant organisms as last-resort antibiotics. Resistance to carbapenems is an emerging public health threat worldwide, with alarming reported rates in Asian countries. To minimise further spread of resistant strains and guide interventions, it is important to understand the prevalence rates and causative molecular determinants.

Fosfomycin: A potential oral option for treatment of urinary tract infections in Sri Lanka in the context of high antibiotic resistance.

Introduction: Fosfomycin is an effective treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is not currently used in Sri Lanka to treat UTIs. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the fosfomycin susceptibility for in urinary isolates, with an aim to find the usability of fosfomycin in the context of high antibiotic resistance.

Reactogenicity and persistence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among recipients of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine: A single center experience from Sri Lanka.

Objectives: Actual world data on vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are imperative for future immunization decisions. We studied the reactogenicity and IgG response in a cohort dually vaccinated with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.

Methods: This prospective study recruited 494 ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine recipients at the University Hospital KDU between January 30 and February 5, 2021, and followed up for 9 months.

Identifying the research, advocacy, policy and implementation needs for the prevention and management of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: The high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children disproportionately occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce of 24 RSV worldwide experts assessed key needs for RSV prevention in LMICs, including vaccine and newer preventive measures.

Methods: A global, survey-based study was undertaken in 2021.

Diagnostic utility and validation of a newly developed real time loop mediated isothermal amplification method for the detection of SARS CoV-2 infection.

Background: Detecting SARS-CoV-2 using a simple real time molecular assay will be helpful for the mitigation efforts in low / middle income countries during the pandemic. We have developed and validated a rapid and simple real time loop mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) for screening of SARS-CoV-2 infection in known infected and non-infected individuals.

Methods: Six sets of primers were designed targeting the N-gene of the SARS-CoV-2 (Accession ID MN994468).

Elevation in liver enzymes is associated with increased IL-2 and predicts severe outcomes in clinically apparent dengue virus infection.

The objective of the present study was to assess the circulating TNF-α and IL-2 levels in dengue virus (DENV) infected patients and to correlate these with clinical severity of DENV infections. A single analyte quantitative immunoassay was used to detect TNF-α and IL-2 in 24 dengue fever (DF) and 43 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients, 15 healthy adults and 6 typhoid patients. The mean TNF-α and IL-2 levels of DENV- infected patients were higher than that of healthy adults and typhoid patients.

Characterization of dengue virus infections in a sample of patients suggests unique clinical, immunological, and virological profiles that impact on the diagnosis of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue virus (DENV) infections are increasing with respect to incidence and severity in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to define the clinical, immunological, and virological profiles of patients admitted to the General Hospital, Kandy with clinically apparent dengue. Demographic, clinical, hematological parameters, liver enzymes (ALT and AST), and blood samples were collected from 292 patients with fever <5 days post onset and fulfilling the WHO criteria for the diagnosis of dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF).

Diagnosis of dengue in Sri Lanka: improvements to the existing state of the art in the island.

Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito borne virus infection which is endemic to the tropical regions of the world. In Sri Lanka, the first sero-positive case was reported in the 1960s; since then the island has experienced several outbreaks of DF/dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). The disease is more prevalent in some parts of the country where rapid urbanisation has taken place.

Leptospirosis outbreak in Sri Lanka in 2008: lessons for assessing the global burden of disease.

Global leptospirosis disease burden estimates are hampered by the lack of scientifically sound data from countries with probable high endemicity and limited diagnostic capacities. We describe the seroepidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the leptospirosis outbreak in 2008 in Sri Lanka. Definitive/presumptive case definitions proposed by the World Health Organization Leptospirosis Epidemiology Reference Group were used for case confirmation.