Access barriers and facilitators to implement mass drugs administration strategies for eliminating trachoma and geohelminthiasis in the department of Amazonas, Colombia.

Background: One of the most important pillars of action to achieve the elimination of trachoma and soil-transmitted helminth infections as a public health problem is the mass administration, at regular intervals, of azithromycin and anthielmintics, respectively, to a high proportion of the eligible population in endemic areas.

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify access barriers and facilitators for achieving coverage goals in the mass drugs administration, azithromycin and albendazole, in the department of Amazonas, Colombia.

Methodology: Implementation research was used, combining three types of qualitative research methodologies to collect information about access barriers and facilitators already described; These were individual and group interviews, focus group discussions and face-to-face intercultural dialogues.

Seroepidemiology of trachoma in a low prevalence region receiving annual mass azithromycin distribution in Maradi, Niger.

Background: Trachoma programs use the indicator trachomatous inflammation--follicular (TF) to monitor indication for and response to treatment for trachoma at the district level. Alternative indicators, including serologic markers, are increasingly being evaluated for trachoma surveillance. We evaluated seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to the Pgp3 antigen in two districts in Maradi, Niger thought to have low TF prevalence.

Microbial profile and associated factors of external ocular bacterial and fungal infections in Arba Minch General Hospital: a cross-sectional study.

External ocular infections are of serious global concern, which cause significant visual morbidity and even blindness, particularly in low-income and resource-limited countries. Herewith, we are reporting the profile of bacteria and fungi causing external ocular infections and the associated factors in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 259 suspected individuals with external ocular infections from 01 January to 10 June 2020 in Arba Minch General Hospital.

Using community-based participatory approaches to improve access to mass drug administration for trachoma elimination in a pastoral conflict area of Kenya.

In Baringo County, Kenya, trachoma remains endemic despite repeated mass drug administration (MDA) efforts, with coverage in one of the wards consistently falling short of world health organization (WHO) targets. The disease is endemic in 12 out of the 47 counties in Kenya. Baringo county is a pastoral conflict, hard to reach area where eight rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) for trachoma have been implemented.

[Microbiological diagnosis of ocular surface infections aside from virology].

The ocular surface is a structure exposed to multiple stresses that can directly or indirectly lead to infectious contamination and compromise visual function. This significant risk justifies multidisciplinary care, often in an emergency context, bringing together ophthalmologists and microbiologists to optimize and guide microbiological testing on small volume samples and ensure the most appropriate treatment. Herein, we present the various steps leading to microbiological diagnosis, from pre-analytical requirements, sampling methods, transport conditions, and then to the analytical steps of pathogen identification.

Conjunctivitis: A review.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) face the challenge of diagnosing conjunctivitis accurately and confidently. Conjunctivitis and red eye are common presentations that confer diagnostic uncertainty. GPs are pivotal in diagnosing and managing conjunctivitis-like symptoms, making them a critical first port of call for patients.

Audit of antibiotic utilization patterns and practice for common eye infections at the ambulatory clinic of a teaching hospital in Ghana: Findings and implications.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health issue which is exacerbated by increased inappropriate use of antibiotics for common eye infections. This cross sectional survey was to assess the appropriate use of antibiotics for eye infections in an ambulatory clinic in Ghana and possible determinants.

Method: The medical records of all patients who sought eye care between January 2022 to December 2022 and were prescribed antibiotics were extracted from the hospital's electronic database.

Etiology and Outcomes of Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis in Children.

Objective: To determine the causes of conjunctivitis and whether clinical presentations and outcomes differ by pathogen.

Study Design: This multicenter, case-control study enrolled 390 children (194 cases, 196 controls) whose conjunctival samples were tested for bacterial and viral pathogens. Caregivers completed surveys tracking symptoms, antibiotic use, school attendance, and adverse events.

Correlation of Clinical Severity of Trachomatous Inflammation and Chlamydia trachomatis Bacterial Load.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between bacterial load of Chlamydia trachomatis as measured from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the relative clinical severity of trachomatous inflammation. Individuals with trachoma from rural communities in Ethiopia had photographs taken as well as swabs obtained of the upper tarsal conjunctivas. Conjunctival swabs were processed with PCR assay, which provided quantitative results of ocular chlamydial load.

The Occurrence of in Cats and Dogs in Hungary.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that many human infections are zoonoses, creating a worldwide public health challenge. Among species, is the leading cause of conjunctivitis in cats and is a prominent zoonotic species. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and risk of chlamydiosis in cats and dogs in Szeged, Hungary, and surrounding areas.

Ocular adverse events associated with antibody-drug conjugates used in cancer: Focus on pathophysiology and management strategies.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are designed to maximize cancer cell death with lower cytotoxicity toward noncancerous cells and are an increasingly valuable option for targeted cancer therapies. However, anticancer treatment with ADCs may be associated with ocular adverse events (AEs) such as dry eye, conjunctivitis, photophobia, blurred vision, and corneal abnormalities. While the pathophysiology of ADC-related ocular AEs has not been fully elucidated, most ocular AEs are attributed to off-target effects.