Cutting-edge: bionanomaterial solutions in the battle against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the imperative of our time resides in crafting stratagems of utmost precision to confront the relentless SARS-CoV-2 and quell its inexorable proliferation. A paradigm-shifting weapon in this battle lies in the realm of nanoparticles, where the amalgamation of cutting-edge nanochemistry begets a cornucopia of inventive techniques and methodologies designed to thwart the advances of this pernicious pathogen. Nanochemistry, an artful fusion of chemistry and nanoscience, provides a fertile landscape for researchers to craft innovative shields against infection.

[Men who have sex with men negotiating pleasure and prevention through HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis].

Prophylaxis based on antiretrovirals, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis to HIV (PrEP), has the potential to protect the populations most vulnerable to infection, which renews optimism for controlling the HIV epidemic. Against this backdrop, the aim of this article is to analyze the perceptions, negotiations and tensions surrounding the use of PrEP by men who have sex with men (MSM). This is a qualitative cross-section of a multicenter study, analyzing semi-structured interviews with 18 users of specialized HIV/AIDS healthcare facilities in the city of São Paulo/SP.

Ventriculitis incidence and outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective observational study.

Objective: To define the incidence of ventriculostomy-associated infections and their impact on the mortality and functional outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods: We prospectively included all consecutive adult aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients admitted to the neurological intensive care units of the Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Hospital Cristo Redentor (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) who required external ventricular drains from July 2015 to December 2020. Daily clinical and laboratory variables were collected at admission and during the hospital stay.

Prior vaccination prevents overactivation of innate immune responses during COVID-19 breakthrough infection.

At this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, most infections are "breakthrough" infections that occur in individuals with prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure. To refine long-term vaccine strategies against emerging variants, we examined both innate and adaptive immunity in breakthrough infections. We performed single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional profiling of primary and breakthrough infections to compare immune responses from unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals during the SARS-CoV-2 Delta wave.

A phytoplasma effector suppresses insect melanization immune response to promote pathogen persistent transmission.

Insect melanization triggered by the conversion of prophenoloxidase to active phenoloxidase via serine proteases (SPs) is an important immediate immune response. However, how phytoplasmas evade this immune response to promote their propagation in insect vectors remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that infection of leafhopper vectors with rice orange leaf phytoplasma (ROLP) activates the mild melanization response in hemolymph.

Scrub typhus association with autoimmune biomarkers and clinical implications.

Background: Scrub typhus, a disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, triggers systemic vasculitis and is prevalent in Eastern and Southern Asia. This study aimed to uncover the relationship between scrub typhus and autoimmune responses, focusing on antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and the implications of elevated ANA titers during infection.

Method: Data from a total of 139 patients diagnosed with scrub typhus and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively analyzed through serum samples to assess the levels of ANAs and related autoantibodies.

Nurses' knowledge and its determinants in surgical site infection prevention: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess and synthesize the global evidence on the level of nurses' knowledge and its determinants regarding the prevention of surgical site infections.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following strict methodological guidelines to ensure accuracy and reliability. Adhering to the 2020 PRISMA checklist, a systematic review and meta-analysis sought to establish the pooled proportion of nurse's knowledge and its determinants regarding surgical site infection prevention globally.

Adaptive Immunity Determines the Cancer Treatment Outcome of Oncolytic Virus and Anti-PD-1.

The immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-programmed death protein-1 (anti-PD-1), enhances adaptive immunity to kill tumor cells, and the oncolytic virus (OV) triggers innate immunity to clear the infected tumor cells. We create a mathematical model to investigate how the interaction between adaptive and innate immunities under OV and anti-PD-1 affects tumor reduction. For different immunity strength, we create the corresponding virtual baseline patients and cohort patients to decipher the major factors determining the treatment outcome.

Reduced SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates in Lab Workers Conducting Nucleic Acid Testing: Controlling for the Healthy Worker Effect.

Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2022 in China, some laboratory workers in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing (NAT) laboratories remained uninfected.

Objectives: To evaluate if the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reduced in laboratory workers who performed SARS-CoV-2 NAT, and whether this reduction resulted from the healthy worker effect.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 423 laboratory workers from 14 SARS-CoV-2 NAT laboratories in Xiamen, China.

Longterm efficacy of a patient focused intervention in patients with asplenia- a three year follow-up of the PrePPS trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to reassess the long-term impact of a Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)-informed intervention on guideline adherence among asplenic patients and their physicians, three years post-intervention.

Methods: This follow-up study was conducted within the framework of the interventional PrePSS (Prevention of Postsplenectomy Sepsis Score) study. Patients aged 18 or older with anatomical asplenia were in enrolled in a prospective controlled, two-armed historical control group design.

HBV and HBsAg strongly reshape the phenotype, function, and metabolism of DCs according to patients' clinical stage.

Background: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by HBV. Infected individuals who fail to control the viral infection develop chronic hepatitis B and are at risk of developing life-threatening liver diseases, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Dendritic cells (DCs) play important roles in the immune response against HBV but are functionally impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Navigating AAMI ST108 Water Quality Requirements for Safe Processing of Medical Devices.

Water quality plays a critical role in health care, particularly in the processing of medical devices. This article highlights the infection control risks associated with water sources and the regulatory requirements for water management plans in health care facilities. The guidance on water quality has evolved from the initial technical information report provided by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation in 2014 to the more recent 2023 publication of the American National Standards Institute and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation standard for water used in medical device processing.

Update on the evolving landscape of pneumococcal capsule types: new discoveries and way forward.

SUMMARY (the "pneumococcus") is a significant human pathogen. The key determinant of pneumococcal fitness and virulence is its ability to produce a protective polysaccharide (PS) capsule, and anti-capsule antibodies mediate serotype-specific opsonophagocytic killing of bacteria. Notably, immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has effectively reduced the burden of disease caused by serotypes included in vaccines but has also spurred a relative upsurge in the prevalence of non-vaccine serotypes.

Implementation of Bundled Interventions to Reduce Surgical Site Infections in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Quality Improvement Project.

Pediatric patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery are at increased risk for health care-associated infections, especially surgical site infections (SSIs). Delayed sternal closures are associated with prolonged lengths of stay and contribute to infection risks and morbidities. At a single-site academic pediatric center, we created an SSI-prevention bundle targeting the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care periods.

Emergence, Transmission, and Containment of Candida auris in the Perioperative Setting.

Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant fungus that poses a threat in health care settings because of its persistence on surfaces and ability to cause severe infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. First identified in Japan in 2009, C auris has since spread globally, leading to numerous outbreaks. Its unique virulence factors, such as biofilm formation and immune evasion, contribute to its resilience and resistance to eradication.

Glycemic control to improve post-operative outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results of the SUGAR (Surgical Universal euGlycemic Attainment during Recovery) initiative.

Objective: Hyperglycemia, or glucose values >180 mg/dL, is associated with adverse post-operative outcomes. Our objective was to determine the impact of improving peri-operative glycemic control and evaluate infectious complications among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing open gynecologic surgery.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team standardized pre-operative screening, referral algorithms, and intra-operative and post-operative hyperglycemia management (Surgical Universal euGlycemic Attainment during Recovery initiative).

[Effects of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing Applied to Cancer Patients on MRSA and VRE Colonization: A Cross-Over Design Study].

Kanıtlar, klorheksidin glukonat (CHG) solüsyonuyla gerçekleştirilen banyonun, sağlık hizmeti ilişkili enfeksiyonlar (SHİE)'a neden olan mikroorganizmaların kolonizasyonunu azalttığını göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada yoğun bakım ünitesi (YBÜ)'nde yatan kanser hastalarında CHG banyosunun MRSA ve VRE kolonizasyonu üzerindeki etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu çapraz tasarımlı çalışmada, kanser hastalarında standart su + sabun banyosuyla %2'lik CHG banyosu karşılaştırılmıştır.

Refractory and Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus Mucocutaneous Infections in Immunocompromised Patients: Literature Review and Proposed Definitions for Use in Clinical Trials.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most prevalent viral infections worldwide. In general, host immunity is sufficient to clear viral shedding and recurrences, although it is insufficient to prevent subsequent virologic reactivations. In immunocompromised patients, prolonged and difficult-to-treat HSV infections may develop.

Screening of effective pesticides to control rubber tree leaf fall disease (LFD) caused by and fungi in Indonesia.

In recent years, the stable supply of natural rubber has been threatened by a new leaf fall disease (LFD) caused by filamentous fungi. We screened pesticides to control the growth of sp. and sp.

Reducing Postbreast Reconstruction Infection Rates: Our Journey to Achieving Low Postoperative Infection Outcomes.

Introduction: Breast surgeries are classified as clean procedures associated with a lower risk of post-operative infections; however, the reported infection rates post-breast surgeries are still significantly high. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are indeed one of the most common and serious complications following breast surgery.

Methodology: A retrospective study assessed the rate of SSIs post-breast reconstructive surgery after the implementation of the infection control protocol at James Cook University Hospital and Friarage Hospital from December 2022 to June 2024.

Comparison of dark-field chest radiography and CT for the assessment of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Dark-field chest radiography allows the assessment of the structural integrity of the alveoli by exploiting the wave properties of x-rays.

Purpose: To compare the qualitative and quantitative features of dark-field chest radiography in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with conventional CT imaging.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, patients aged at least 18 years who underwent chest CT for clinically suspected COVID-19 infection were screened for participation.

Urethrocutaneous fistula and subcutaneous abscess in the inguinal region with bacteremia caused by in a Japanese patient: A case report.

is an anaerobic, gram-negative bacillus commonly associated with acute appendicitis. However, bacteremia is exceedingly rare. Herein, we report a case of bacteremia associated with a urethrocutaneous fistula and a subcutaneous abscess in the left inguinal region.

Effects of Algal-Derived -Glucan on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Resistance of Ricefield Eel ().

Ricefield eel is an important economic fish in China. However, large-scale intensive breeding has increased the incidence of diseases in eels. In this study, we conducted an 8-week feeding trial to investigate the effects of -glucan on the growth performance, intestinal health, and resistance of ().