Point-Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use and Healthcare-Associated Infections in Four Acute Care Hospitals in Kazakhstan.

Background/objectives: Few studies have examined the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use (AMU) in acute care hospitals in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to address this gap by conducting a point-prevalence survey (PPS) of HAIs and AMU, as well as evaluating hospital antibiotic consumption via internationally recognized methodologies.

Methods: PPS was conducted in four acute care hospitals in Kazakhstan on 11 May 2022, following the methodology of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and included 701 patients.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Antibiotic Consumption in the Population of Kazakhstan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a ban on inspections of small businesses, including pharmacies, was imposed in Kazakhstan, which relaxed law enforcement efforts regarding the prohibition of over-the-counter antibiotic (AB) sales. This study aimed to investigate how this affected the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to AB and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as well as to assess actual AB consumption at the community level. The study comprised two cross-sectional sub-studies: the first involved a KAP survey conducted in 2022 and 2024, utilizing the Special Eurobarometer questionnaire on AMR.

Gut microbiome-immune interactions and their role in rheumatoid arthritis development.

Objective: The primary objective is to study the impact of gut microbiota and their interactions with diverse immunological markers on the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: This study was performed in Astana, Kazakhstan, and included 77 Kazakh female patients older than 18 years, who met the American College of Rheumatology 2010 classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 113 healthy controls. The DNA was extracted from fecal samples obtained from all study participants for subsequent sequencing at the 16S rRNA gene V1-V3 locus, facilitating the analysis of the gut microbiome.

Oral Microbial Signature of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Female Patients.

This study aimed to identify the oral microbial signature of Kazakh female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. A total of 75 female patients who met the American College of Rheumatology 2010 classification criteria for RA and 114 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced to analyze the microbial composition.

Association Study of Anticitrullinated Peptide Antibody Status with Clinical Manifestations and SNPs in Patients Affected with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that leads to disability due to articular and extra-articular damage. RA prevalence is variable. The disease is most common among females with a 3 : 1 ratio.