Publications by authors named "Zoe Gibney"
Detection of Babesia species in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in England and Wales.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis
January 2024
Article Synopsis
- Babesiosis is a disease in humans and animals caused by parasites from the genus Babesia, transmitted by ixodid ticks, and is notably present in cattle as "redwater fever."
- A study in England and Wales collected ticks over six years to determine the presence of Babesia spp., finding it in only 15 out of 3912 questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs, resulting in a 0.38% prevalence rate.
- While the overall low prevalence suggests a lower risk than other tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, there may still be specific areas in England and Wales with higher exposure risks.
Article Synopsis
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant concern for blood safety in England, with infections noted in blood donors from 2009 to 2018, particularly among those born in Eastern Europe and Africa.
- Analysis revealed 655 HBV-infected donors, highlighting that most occurrences were chronic or occult infections, and repeat donors were particularly susceptible to occult infections.
- It is estimated that around 13 undetected infectious donations occur yearly, suggesting a need for reevaluation of current screening methods due to the majority of residual risk stemming from occult HBV.
In the acute care setting, the majority of urinary tract infections are associated with indwelling urinary catheters. Despite guidelines for proper use, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) continue to occur in critically ill/injured patients. There is a paucity of data on the translation between CAUTI prevention education and behavioral change.
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