Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Exploring the Use of Ambientally Stored Methylene Diphosphonate Radiopharmaceutical Aliquots in Solving Challenging Situations in Developing Countries.

 The primary aim was to evaluate the prolonged quality characteristics of methyl diphosphonate (MDP) aliquots during ambient storage over a specified duration. This study further investigated potential additives that could enhance the stability of MDP aliquots stored under such conditions.  This was a laboratory-based experimental study conducted at the University Teaching Adult Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

Asymptomatic carriage of intestinal protists is common in children in Lusaka Province, Zambia.

Background: PCR-based screenings on the presence of diarrhoea-causing intestinal protist species are limited in Zambia, resulting in inaccurate current prevalence and epidemiological data. Sensitive PCR-based methods are particularly well suited for detecting subclinical infections in apparently healthy carriers.

Methodology: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we investigated the occurrence of the most common intestinal protists in an apparently healthy paediatric population (5-18 years) in Lusaka Province, Zambia.

Community pharmacists' knowledge and practices towards antimicrobial stewardship: findings and implications.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes have been implemented around the world to optimally manage antimicrobial use to attenuate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study assessed the knowledge and practices of community pharmacists towards AMS strategies in the Lusaka District, Zambia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 194 community pharmacists in the Lusaka district using a structured questionnaire from August 2022 to September 2022.

Molecular Epidemiology and AMR Perspective of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) persistently challenges public health in Africa, contributing substantially to the diarrhoeal disease burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis illuminate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of DEC pathotypes across the continent.

Methods: The review selectively focused on pathotype-specific studies reporting prevalence and/or AMR of human-derived DEC pathotypes from African nations, excluding data from extra-intestinal, animal, and environmental sources and studies focused on drug and mechanism experiments.

Inflammation and Elevated Osteopontin in Plasma and CSF in Cerebral Malaria Compared to -Negative Neurological Infections.

Cerebral malaria in young African children is associated with high mortality, and persisting neurological deficits often remain in survivors. Sequestered -infected red blood cells lead to cerebrovascular inflammation and subsequent neuroinflammation. Brain inflammation can play a role in the pathogenesis of neurologic sequelae.

Awareness and willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis among the University of Zambia students: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Despite a quick rollout of PrEP as a preventive method against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in Zambia, adolescent and young adult populations have remained very vulnerable to HIV infection. This study assessed the awareness and willingness to use PrEP among University of Zambia (UNZA) students.

Methods: Three hundred forty-six students participated in this cross-sectional study at UNZA between March and June 2021.

'You Can Get That Person on ART but You Can't Give Them Back Their Social System': A Qualitative Analysis of Voluntary Assisted Partner Notification for HIV for Marginalised and Vulnerable Populations.

Little is known about Voluntary Assisted Partner Notification (VAPN) in groups in sub-Saharan Africa that experience marginalisation, and whether its use is suitable for referral to HIV care pathways. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with purposively selected medical and health professionals ( = 15) regarding their perspectives and experiences with VAPN policy and its implementation. Data were analysed following a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach.

The effects of modern housing on malaria transmission in different endemic zones: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Modern housing has been shown to reduce the risk of malaria infections compared to traditional houses; however, it is unclear if the effects differ in different malaria transmission settings. This study evaluated the effects of modern housing on malaria among different endemic areas.

Methods: Electronic databases, clinical trial registries and grey literature were searched for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional surveys on housing done between 1987 and 2022.

Drug resistance profiles of clinical isolates by genotype MTBDRplus line probe assay in Zambia: findings and implications.

Background: The emergence of drug resistance is a threat to global tuberculosis (TB) elimination goals. This study investigated the drug resistance profiles of () using the Genotype MTBDRplus Line Probe Assay at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in Zambia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2019 and December 2020.

Characterization of human respiratory syncytial virus in children with severe acute respiratory infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Annual outbreaks of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are caused by newly introduced and locally persistent strains. During the COVID-19 pandemic, global and local circulation of HRSV significantly decreased. This study was conducted to characterize HRSV in 2018-2022 and to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the evolution of HRSV.

Three-year survival of breast cancer patients attending a one-stop breast care clinic nested within a primary care health facility in sub-Saharan Africa-Zambia.

In Zambia, women with breast symptoms travel through multiple levels of the healthcare system before obtaining a definitive diagnosis. To eradicate this critical barrier to care, we nested a novel breast specialty service platform inside a large public-sector primary healthcare facility in Lusaka, Zambia to offer clinical breast examination, breast ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy in a one-stop format, tightly linked to referral for treatment. The objective of the study was to determine the life expectancy and survival outcomes of a prospective cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer who were attended to and followed up at the clinic.

Effect of a mother-baby delivery pack on institutional deliveries: A community intervention trial to address maternal mortality in rural Zambia.

Objectives: To test the effect of providing additional health education during antenatal care (ANC) and a mother-baby delivery pack on institutional deliveries in Monze, Zambia.

Setting: 16 primary health facilities conducting deliveries in the district.

Participant: A total of 5000 pregnant women at any gestation and age attending antenatal care (ANC) services in selected health facilities were eligible for enrolment into the study.

Results of the Cologne Corona Surveillance (CoCoS) project- a cross-sectional study: survey data on risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and moderate-to-severe course in primarily immunized adults.

Background: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination has been a crucial strategy for mitigating transmission and disease severity. However, vaccine-effectiveness may be influenced by various factors, including booster vaccination, as well as personal factors such as age, sex, BMI, smoking, and comorbidities. To investigate the potential effects of these factors on SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity, we analyzed data from the third round of the Cologne Corona Surveillance (CoCoS) project, a large cross-sectional survey.

Sensory panel results of a dried fish powder supplement among caregivers and young children in Zambia.

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability of traditional Zambian dishes fortified with Complementary Food for Africa+Dried Fish Powder (ComFA+Fish), a locally sourced protein/micronutrient blend designed to impact nutrient deficiencies among infants and young children (IYC) and improve pregnancy and birth outcomes among women of reproductive age (WRA).

Design: During two sensory panels, caregivers evaluated: (1) the acceptability of four ComFA+Fish dishes for household consumption, including fortified chibwabwa fisashi, savory Kapenta chutney, fortified complementary maize porridge and fortified bean-vegetable soup and (2) whether their IYC found the fortified complementary maize porridge acceptable.

Setting: Lake Kariba, Southern Province, Zambia.

Utilisation and optimisation of beta-adrenergic receptor blockers over a 6-month period among chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: Beta-adrenergic receptor blocker (BARB) drugs are a wide range of medicines that are used in various conditions, including chronic heart failure (HF). Several studies have reported a wide-ranging inappropriate use of evidence-based beta-blockers (EBBBs) in chronic HF in both inpatients and outpatients.

Objectives: To assess the utilisation and optimisation of EBBBs among patients with HF who presented with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Euvichol-plus vaccine campaign coverage during the 2017/2018 cholera outbreak in Lusaka district, Zambia: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Objective: To determine the coverage for the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaign conducted during the 2017/2018 cholera outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study employing survey method conducted among 1691 respondents from 369 households following the second round of the 2018 OCV campaign.

Study Setting: Four primary healthcare facilities and their catchment areas in Lusaka city (Kanyama, Chawama, Chipata and Matero subdistricts).

Enhancing household soybean processing and utilization in the Eastern Province of Zambia, a concurrent triangulation study design.

The purpose of this study was to establish best ways of improving household soybean processing and utilization in selected districts in the Eastern Province of Zambia. This was a concurrent triangulation study design, nested with a cross sectional survey and barrier analysis. Up to 1,237 households and 42 key informants participated in the quantitative and qualitative studies respectively.