Telemedicine in cancer care: lessons from COVID-19 and solutions for Europe.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged healthcare delivery, especially cancer care. Telemedicine emerged as an important tool to reduce disease transmission risks, maintain continuity of care, and improve accessibility. This study explores temporary measures during the pandemic as well as challenges and facilitators for integrating telemedicine into the European healthcare landscape in five case countries, focusing on cancer care.

Dual antiplatelet therapy after minor strokes or high-risk TIA: Evidence from the Austrian stroke registry.

Background And Purpose: Three large, randomized trials demonstrated the benefit of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus monotherapy after non-cardioembolic minor stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA). The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of DAPT versus monotherapy on functional outcomes and safety in a real-life setting.

Methods: Patients with minor stroke (NIHSS <4) or high-risk TIA (ABCD2 score ≥4) of non-cardioembolic origin without major vessel occlusion or revascularization therapy (thrombolysis or thrombectomy) treated between 2018 and 2023 were analyzed based on a prospective nationwide stroke unit registry.

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.

The World Health Organization Access, Watch, and Reserve classification of antibiotics: an awareness survey among pharmacy professionals in a sub-Saharan country, Zambia.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs are very essential in addressing the problem of drug-resistant infections. The WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics is essential in monitoring the rational use of antibiotics. Therefore, this study evaluated the awareness of the WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics among pharmacy professionals in Zambia.

Communicative health literacy and associated variables in nine European countries: results from the HLS survey.

Our study aimed to report on variables associated with communicative health literacy (COM-HL) in European adults. The HLS survey was conducted in 2019-2021 including nine countries which measured COM-HL by using a validated questionnaire (HLS-COM-P-Q6 with a score ranging from 0 to 100). Linear regression models were used to study variables associated with COM-HL globally (multilevel model with random intercepts and slopes and at country level) and in each country.

Health Literacy in Africa-A Scoping Review of Scientific Publications.

Africa's health landscape is rapidly changing, requiring new solutions such as a focus on health literacy. However, there is currently a limited overview of the development and application of health literacy in African countries and societies. This scoping review aims to analyze scientific publications on health literacy in Africa with regards to research approaches, historical developments, geographic origins, target populations and settings, and topical interests.

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Are Among the Main Underlying Causes of Death in Twenty Healthcare Facilities Across Two Cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: The mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes exhibit disparities by region, with Central Africa ranking fourth globally in terms of mortality rate. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not possess mortality data pertaining to these specific underlying causes of death. This study aimed to determine the death rate attributable to CVD and diabetes in two cities in the DRC.

Ebola Outbreak Control in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Health Security is a major concern for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is the second largest country in Africa, borders nine other countries, has more than 80 million inhabitants, and has suffered from decades of neglect and conflicts together with multiple recurrent disease outbreaks, including Ebola.

Health care workers hospitalized for COVID-19 in Liberia: who were they, and what were their outcomes?

Background: Sustaining a 'fit-for-purpose' health workforce requires a better understanding of the health care worker cadres that are affected during pandemics and their outcomes. In hospitalized health care workers with confirmed COVID-19 between March 2020 and May 2023 in Liberia, we determined the hospitalization and case fatality rates, type of health care worker cadres affected, their demographic and clinical characteristics and hospital exit outcomes.

Methods: This was a cohort study using routine data extracted from hospitalization forms for health care workers in 24 designated COVID-19 treatment facilities.

A Retrospective Analysis of Lessons Learned and Perspectives on Expansion of Verbal Autopsy Implementation in Zambia, 2023.

Accurate cause-of-death statistics are vital for public health policy, but less than one-third of deaths globally are assigned a cause. Verbal autopsy (VA) methods are crucial in low- and middle-income countries lacking complete civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. We explored VA implementation in Zambia by using a previously developed framework.

Impact of a hub-and-spoke approach to hospital antimicrobial stewardship programmes on antibiotic use in Zambia.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) aim to optimize antibiotic use and prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Objective: This study assessed the impact of ASPs, initiated using a hub-and-spoke approach, on antibiotic use in Zambian public hospitals.

Methods: A pre-post study was conducted in 10 ASP-naive hospitals across Zambia using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s hospital-based ASP core elements (i.

Antibiotic use and adherence to the WHO AWaRe guidelines across 16 hospitals in Zambia: a point prevalence survey.

Background: The inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals contributes to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the prevalence of antibiotic use and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics across 16 hospitals in Zambia.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study employing the WHO Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) methodology and WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics was conducted among inpatients across 16 hospitals in December 2023, Zambia.

Genotypic Characterisation and Antimicrobial Resistance of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing in Humans, Animals, and the Environment from Lusaka, Zambia: Public Health Implications and One Health Surveillance.

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in are a serious concern due to their role in developing multidrug resistance (MDR) and difficult-to-treat infections.

Objective: This study aimed to identify ESBL-carrying strains from both clinical and environmental sources in Lusaka District, Zambia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 58 ESBL-producing strains from hospital inpatients, outpatients, and non-hospital environments.

The Ebola Data Platform: A prospective, standardised, clinical dataset collected during the 2013-2016 West African Ebola outbreak.

The Ebola Data Platform (EDP) was developed to strengthen knowledge and capacity across health, research, and humanitarian communities to reduce the impact of Ebola through responsible data use. This collaborative initiative was established by West African governments, NGOs, academic organisations, and intra-governmental health organisations directly involved in the 2013-2016 West African Ebola outbreak. The platform was established to provide a centralised, standardised dataset of individual patient data collected during the outbreak for the purpose of research to improve Ebola treatment and control, and includes over 13,600 patient records of individuals infected and treated from 22 different Ebola treatment centres across Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria.

Improving antibiotic prescribing - Recommendations for funding and pricing policies to enhance use of point-of-care tests.

Introduction: Diagnostics can contribute to the improved quality of antibiotic prescribing. However, there is potential to enhance the use of point-of-care tests (POCTs) in general practice. This paper presents fit-for-purpose policy recommendations related to funding and pricing for POCTs applied for community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections (CA-ARTIs).

Monkeypox Clade Ib virus introduction into Burundi: first findings, July to mid-August 2024.

We describe cases with monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade Ib in Burundi from their first detection in July until 20 August 2024. Testing 442 people with vesicular lesions confirmed 170 cases (98 male; 72 female), 82 (48%) being < 15 years old. Differential diagnosis of the first 30 individuals testing MPXV negative revealed chickenpox in 20.