Aedes-borne arboviral human infections in Europe from 2000-2023: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Aedes-borne arboviral infections, both imported and autochthonous, are reported in Europe. We evaluated the landscape of these infections in Europe over 23 years and attempted to pre-empt the trajectory of impact of these infections in the climatic context of Aedes mosquito expansion in Europe.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in Prospero (CRD42023360259).

Drug-induced hepatotoxicity and association with slow acetylation variants NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 in Cameroonian patients with tuberculosis and HIV co-infection.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa including Cameroon. Pharmacogenetic variants could serve as predictors of drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH), in patients with TB co-infected with HIV. We evaluated the occurrence of DIH and pharmacogenetic variants in Cameroonian patients.

Surveillance of global, travel-related illness using a novel app: a multivariable, cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Current traveller health surveillance is 'top-down'. Mobile-based surveillance could capture infection symptoms in real time. We aimed to evaluate the spectrum of illness in travellers using a mobile app-based system.

Repurposing of anti-malarial drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis: realistic strategy or fanciful dead end?

Background: Drug repurposing offers a strategic alternative to the development of novel compounds, leveraging the known safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of medications, such as linezolid and levofloxacin for tuberculosis (TB). Anti-malarial drugs, including quinolones and artemisinins, are already applied to other diseases and infections and could be promising for TB treatment.

Methods: This review included studies on the activity of anti-malarial drugs, specifically quinolones and artemisinins, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), summarizing results from in vitro, in vivo (animal models) studies, and clinical trials.

Assessing the implementation fidelity, feasibility, and sustainability of community-based house improvement for malaria control in southern Malawi: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Despite significant success in the fight against malaria over the past two decades, malaria control programmes rely on only two insecticidal methods: indoor residual spraying and insecticidal-treated nets. House improvement (HI) can complement these interventions by reducing human-mosquito contact, thereby reinforcing the gains in disease reduction. This study assessed the implementation fidelity, which is the assessment of how closely an intervention aligns with its intended design, feasibility, and sustainability of community-led HI in southern Malawi.

Long-term immunity following yellow fever vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Long-term immunity following yellow fever vaccination remains controversial. We aimed to summarise the literature regarding the long-term protection (≥10 years) conveyed by a single dose of yellow fever vaccination.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched 11 databases from database inception to Aug 24, 2023.

Overcoming publication and dissemination bias in infectious diseases clinical trials.

Non-timely reporting, selective reporting, or non-reporting of clinical trial results are prevalent and serious issues. WHO mandates that summary results be available in registries within 12 months of study completion and published in full text within 24 months. However, only a limited number of clinical trials in infectious diseases, including those done during the COVID-19 pandemic, have their results posted on ClinicalTrials.

Immunogenicity of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine Followed by the 23-Valent Polysaccharide Vaccine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) have a 29- to 36-fold increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) compared to healthy adults. Therefore, most guidelines recommend vaccination with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) followed 2 months later by the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Because both CLL as well as immunosuppressive treatment have been identified as major determinants of immunogenicity, we aimed to assess the vaccination schedule in untreated and treated CLL patients.

COVID-19 impact on EuroTravNet infectious diseases sentinel surveillance in Europe.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp decline of post-travel patient encounters at the European sentinel surveillance network (EuroTravNet) of travellers' health. We report on the impact of COVID-19 on travel-related infectious diseases as recorded by EuroTravNet clinics.

Methods: Travelers who presented between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021 were included.

Community-based house improvement for malaria control in southern Malawi: Stakeholder perceptions, experiences, and acceptability.

House improvement (HI) refers to the full screening or closing of openings such as windows, doors, and eaves, as well as the installation of ceilings, to reduce mosquito-human contact indoors. HI is a viable supplementary intervention that reduces malaria transmission further than the existing strategies alone. In Malawi, HI has not been widely implemented and evaluated for malaria control.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections in older adults with comorbidities: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To test whether Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination would reduce the incidence of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in older adults with one or more comorbidities.

Methods: Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older with one or more underlying comorbidities and no contraindications to BCG vaccination were randomized 1:1 to BCG or placebo vaccination and followed for 6 months. The primary endpoint was a self-reported, test-confirmed COVID-19 incidence.

On the potential for discontinuing atovaquone-proguanil (AP) ad-hoc post-exposure and other abbreviated AP-regimens: Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and perspectives.

According to current guidelines, atovaquone-proguanil (AP) malaria chemoprophylaxis should be taken once daily starting one day before travel and continued for seven days post-exposure. However, drug-sparing regimens, including discontinuing AP after leaving malaria-endemic areas are cost-saving and probably more attractive to travelers, and may thus enhance adherence. AP has causal prophylactic effects, killing malaria parasites during the hepatic stage.

Immunogenicity and 1-year boostability of a three-dose intramuscular rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis schedule in adults receiving immunosuppressive monotherapy: a prospective single-centre clinical trial.

Background: For immunocompromised patients (ICPs), administration of rabies immunoglobulins (RIG) after exposure is still recommended regardless of prior vaccination, due to a lack of data. We aimed to assess the 1-year boostability of a three-dose rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) schedule in individuals using immunosuppressive monotherapy.

Methods: In this prospective study, individuals on immunosuppressive monotherapy with a conventional immunomodulator (cIM) or a TNF-alpha inhibitor (TNFi) for a chronic inflammatory disease received a three-dose intramuscular PrEP schedule (days 0,7,21-28) with 1 mL Rabipur®, followed by a two-dose simulated post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) schedule (days 0,3) after 12 months.

Hotspots and super-spreaders: Modelling fine-scale malaria parasite transmission using mosquito flight behaviour.

Malaria hotspots have been the focus of public health managers for several years due to the potential elimination gains that can be obtained from targeting them. The identification of hotspots must be accompanied by the description of the overall network of stable and unstable hotspots of malaria, especially in medium and low transmission settings where malaria elimination is targeted. Targeting hotspots with malaria control interventions has, so far, not produced expected benefits.

Incidence of clinical malaria, acute respiratory illness, and diarrhoea in children in southern Malawi: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Malaria, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and diarrhoea are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years old. Estimates of the malaria incidence are available from a previous study conducted in southern Malawi in the absence of community-led malaria control strategies; however, the incidence of the other diseases is lacking, owing to understudying and competing disease priorities. Extensive malaria control measures through a community participation strategy were implemented in Chikwawa, southern Malawi from May 2016 to reduce parasite prevalence and incidence.

Complicated Odontogenic Infections at 2 District Hospitals in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone: Protocol for a Prospective Observational Cohort Study (DELAY).

Background: Deficits in global oral health care are paramount, and complications of odontogenic infections constitute a considerable global health problem, particularly in low-income countries. A high mortality rate has been observed for patients who have been admitted with complicated odontogenic infections to our facilities in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, although exact data have not been published yet. Data regarding who in this region is at risk and why are lacking.

A review of severe thrombocytopenia in Zika patients - Pathophysiology, treatment and outcome.

Background: During the 2015 Zika virus infection (ZVI) epidemic swiping through the Americas, few cases of ZVI with severe, potentially life-threatening thrombocytopenia were reported. Platelet transfusion, corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) were in most cases applied as therapeutic options, predominantly with success. We present a comprehensive overview concerning the pathophysiology, treatment strategies and outcomes of patients with ZVI and severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 × 10/L).

Willingness to Contribute to Bio-Larviciding in the Fight against Malaria: A Contingent Valuation Study among Rice Farmers in Rwanda.

There is broad consensus that successful and sustained larval source management (LSM) interventions, including bio-larviciding campaigns, require embeddedness in local community institutions. Ideally, these community structures should also be capable of mobilizing local resources to (co-)finance interventions. To date, farmer cooperatives, especially cooperatives of rice growers whose economic activity facilitates mosquito breeding, have remained under the radar in designing community-based bio-larviciding campaigns.

Quality of life of patients with 3D-printed arm prostheses in a rural area of Sierra Leone.

Introduction: In Sierra Leone, access to prostheses is limited due to absence of practical knowledge, materials, trained staff, and high cost. This paper investigates the impact of a 3D printed prosthesis on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in prosthesis recipients.

Methods: Patients with upper extremity amputations were included in this case study from December 2018 until July 2019.

Cost of community-led larval source management and house improvement for malaria control: a cost analysis within a cluster-randomized trial in a rural district in Malawi.

Background: House improvement (HI) to prevent mosquito house entry, and larval source management (LSM) targeting aquatic mosquito stages to prevent development into adult forms, are promising complementary interventions to current malaria vector control strategies. Lack of evidence on costs and cost-effectiveness of community-led implementation of HI and LSM has hindered wide-scale adoption. This study presents an incremental cost analysis of community-led implementation of HI and LSM, in a cluster-randomized, factorial design trial, in addition to standard national malaria control interventions in a rural area (25,000 people), in southern Malawi.

Leveraging phone-based mobile technology to improve data quality at health facilities in rural Malawi: a best practice project.

Background: To further reduce malaria burden, identification of areas with highest burden for targeted interventions needs to occur. Routine health information has the potential to indicate where and when clinical malaria occurs the most. Developing countries mostly use paper-based data systems however they are error-prone as they require manual aggregation, tallying and transferring of data.