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Exploring community behaviours and stakeholder challenges in engaging communities with dengue prevention behaviour in Malaysia: implementation research for a qualitative study with a community-based participatory research design

Por: Samsudin · N. A. · Karim · N. · Othman · H. · Naserrudin · N. A. · Sahani · M. · Hod · R. · Siau · C. S. · Harif · M. N. · Abd. Samad · B. H. · Zaini · Z.-I. I.
Objectives

To use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) design to explore local community behaviours and stakeholders’ challenges in engaging communities in dengue prevention behaviours in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.

Design

This CBPR design in implementation comprised in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Themes were identified from the data with inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

Setting

FGDs were conducted in local community areas and IDIs were conducted in the local authority (LA) office and the Hulu Langat district health office.

Participants

All FGD and IDI participants consented to the study, and included health authorities (n=4), LAs (n=7), community leader (n=1), faith leader (n=1), patients diagnosed with dengue (IDIs, n=2) and permanent residents of Hulu Langat who had been exposed to dengue infectious disease (FGDs, n=27).

Results

The main themes were categorised into community behaviour and stakeholder challenges. The community behaviour-related themes were awareness of dengue disease and Aedes mosquitoes, perception of risk and severity, and involvement of authorities. The themes related to stakeholder challenges were resource constraints and capacity issues, jurisdictional constraints and coordination, and educational dissemination and vandalism.

Conclusions

The actions of the authorities shape community and stakeholder behaviours. Effective communication, including clear and aesthetically pleasing messages, motivates individuals to take appropriate actions. It is crucial for the authorities to engage in inclusive communication and consider diverse perspectives, such as those of residents and individuals exposed to dengue infection. Authorities that provide accurate and unbiased information foster transparency and enable informed decision-making by all stakeholders.

Prevalence and determinants of antibiotics self-medication among indigenous people of Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Por: Mannan · A. · Chakma · K. · Dewan · G. · Saha · A. · Chy · N. U. H. A. · Mehedi · H. M. H. · Hossain · A. · Wnaiza · J. · Ahsan · M. T. · Rana · M. M. · Alam · N.
Objectives

Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) contributes significantly to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially in low-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to generate evidence on the self-reported prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and its determinants among indigenous people residing in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts.

Design

This study used a cross-sectional design with data collected through a survey using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Setting

This study was conducted from late January to early July 2021; among different indigenous group populations aged 18 years or more olders residing in the three districts of CHT.

Participants

A total of 1336 indigenous people residing in Bangladesh’s CHT districts were included.

Primary outcome and explanatory variables

The primary outcome measure was SMA while explanatory variables were socio-demographic characteristics, health status of participants, and knowledge of antibiotics usage and its side effects.

Results

Among the study participants, more males (60.54%) than females (51.57%) reported using antibiotics. The SMA rate was high among individuals with education levels below secondary (over 50%) and those in the low-income group (55.19%). The most common diseases reported were cough, cold and fever, with azithromycin being the most frequently used antibiotic. Levels of education, family income, having a chronic illness and place of residence were found to be the significant predictors of having good knowledge of antibiotic use as found in the ordered logit model. Findings from a logistic regression model revealed that men had 1.6 times higher odds (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.57; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.19) of SMA than women. Participants with ≥US$893 per month family income had lowest odds (AOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.64) of SMA than those who earned

Conclusion

Male gender, family income, place of residence and knowledge of antibiotics were the significant predictors of antibiotic self-medication. Hence, it is important to streamline awareness-raising campaigns at the community level to mitigate the practice of SMA in indigenous people and ultimately address the devastating effects of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Bangladesh.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among general population of Armenia in 2021 and factors associated with it: a cross-sectional study

Por: Demirchyan · A. · Dudareva · S. · Sahakyan · S. · Aslanyan · L. · Muradyan · D. · Musheghyan · L. · Mozalevskis · A. · Sargsyants · N. · Ghukasyan · G. · Petrosyan · V.
Objectives

This study sought to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection ever in life and chronic HBV infection in Armenia.

Design

A population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence study combined with a phone survey of tested individuals.

Setting

All administrative units of Armenia including 10 provinces and capital city Yerevan.

Participants

The study frame was the general adult population of Armenia aged ≥18 years.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The participants were tested for anti-HBV core antibodies (anti-HBc) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) using third-generation enzyme immunoassays. In case of HBsAg positivity, HBV DNA and hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA PCR tests were performed. Risk factors of HBV infection ever in life (anti-HBc positivity) and chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positivity) were identified through fitting logistic regression models.

Results

The seroprevalence study included 3838 individuals 18 years and older. Of them, 90.7% (3476 individuals) responded to the phone survey. The prevalence of anti-HBc positivity was 14.1% (95% CI 13.1% to 15.2%) and HBsAg positivity 0.8% (95% CI 0.5% to 1.1%). The viral load was over 10 000 IU/mL for 7.9% of HBsAg-positive individuals. None of the participants was positive for HDV. Risk factors for HBsAg positivity included less than secondary education (aOR=6.44; 95% CI 2.2 to 19.1), current smoking (aOR=2.56; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6), and chronic liver disease (aOR=8.44; 95% CI 3.0 to 23.7). In addition to these, risk factors for anti-HBc positivity included age (aOR=1.04; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.05), imprisonment ever in life (aOR=2.53; 95% CI 1.41 to 4.56), and poor knowledge on infectious diseases (aOR=1.32; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.67), while living in Yerevan (vs provinces) was protective (aOR=0.74; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93).

Conclusion

This study provided robust estimates of HBV markers among general population of Armenia. Its findings delineated the need to revise HBV testing and treatment strategies considering higher risk population groups, and improve population knowledge on HBV prevention.

Antimicrobial resistance, virulence profile, and genetic analysis of ESBL-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from Nile tilapia in fresh markets and supermarkets in Thailand

by Woranich Hinthong, Varangkana Thaotumpitak, Jarukorn Sripradite, Nitaya Indrawattana, Thassanee Srisook, Thida Kongngoen, Edward R. Atwill, Saharuetai Jeamsripong

This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in Nile tilapia from fresh markets and supermarkets. A total of samples (n = 828) were collected from Nile tilapia including fish flesh (n = 276), liver and kidney (n = 276), and intestine (n = 276). Overall prevalence of fecal coliforms (61.6%) and E. coli (53.0%) were observed. High prevalence of E. coli was found in the intestine (71.4%), followed by the liver and kidney (45.7%). The highest prevalence of resistance was commonly found against tetracycline (78.5%), ampicillin (72.8%), and sulfamethoxazole (45.6%) with resistance to only tetracycline (15.2%) as the most common antibiogram. The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) (54.4%) and Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) (5.7%) were examined. The predominant virulence genes (n = 158) were st (14.6%), followed by eaeA (0.6%). The blaTEM (73.4%), tetA (65.2%), and qnrS (57.6%). There is statistical significance between Nile tilapia from fresh markets and supermarkets. Based on logistic regression analysis, ampicillin-resistant E. coli was statistically associated with the phenotypic resistance to tetracycline and trimethoprim, and the presence of blaTEM and tetA (p

In silico exploration of <i>Serratia</i> sp. BRL41 genome for detecting prodigiosin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC) and in vitro antimicrobial activity assessment of secreted prodigiosin

by Farhana Boby, Md. Nurul Huda Bhuiyan, Barun Kanti Saha, Subarna Sandhani Dey, Anik Kumar Saha, Md Jahidul Islam, Mahci Al Bashera, Shyama Prosad Moulick, Farhana Jahan, Md. Asad Uz Zaman, Sanjana Fatema Chowdhury, Showti Raheel Naser, Md. Salim Khan, Md. Murshed Hasan Sarkar

The raising concern of drug resistance, having substantial impacts on public health, has instigated the search of new natural compounds with substantial medicinal activity. In order to find out a natural solution, the current study has utilized prodigiosin, a linear tripyrrole red pigment, as an active ingredient to control bacterial proliferation and prevent cellular oxidation caused by ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). A prodigiosin-producing bacterium BRL41 was isolated from the ancient Barhind soil of BCSIR Rajshahi Laboratories, Bangladesh, and its morphological and biochemical characteristics were investigated. Whole genome sequencing data of the isolate revealed its identity as Serratia sp. and conferred the presence of prodigiosin gene cluster in the bacterial genome. “Prodigiosin NRPS”, among the 10 analyzed gene clusters, showed 100% similarity with query sequences where pigC, pigH, pigI, and pigJ were identified as fundamental genes for prodigiosin biosynthesis. Some other prominent clusters for synthesis of ririwpeptides, yersinopine, trichrysobactin were also found in the chromosome of BRL41, whilst the rest displayed less similarity with query sequences. Except some first-generation beta-lactam resistance genes, no virulence and resistance genes were found in the genome of BRL41. Structural illumination of the extracted red pigment by spectrophotometric scanning, Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and change of color at different pH solutions verified the identity of the isolated compound as prodigiosin. Serratia sp. BRL41 attained its maximum productivity 564.74 units/cell at temperature 30˚C and pH 7.5 in two-fold diluted nutrient broth medium. The compound exhibited promising antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) values ranged from 3.9 to15.62 μg/mL and 7.81 to 31.25 μg/mL respectively. At concentration 500 μg/mL, except in Salmonella enterica ATCC-10708, prodigiosin significantly diminished biofilm formed by Listeria monocytogens ATCC-3193, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC-9027, Escherichia coli (environmental isolate), Staphylococcus aureus (environmental isolate). Cellular glutathione level (GSH) was elevated upon application of 250 and 500 μg/mL pigment where 125 μg/mL failed to show any free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, release of cellular components in growth media of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were facilitated by the extract that might be associated with cell membrane destabilization. Therefore, the overall findings of antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities suggest that in time to come prodigiosin might be a potential natural source to treat various diseases and infections.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Simulation Among BSN Students: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

imageThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of virtual reality simulation in nursing education in five domains: knowledge, skill performance, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Randomized controlled trials were obtained from the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO from inception until September 2021. The standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were determined for the main variables, and heterogeneity was analyzed using the I2 test. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) Checklist was used. Meta-analysis was performed using the Stata 15.0 software. Among the 2074 records identified, 18 trials were included. The meta-analysis of these trials indicated that virtual reality simulation caused a significant improvement in knowledge with a moderate effect, skill performance with a moderate effect, and satisfaction with a moderate effect compared with the control group. However, virtual reality simulation did not significantly influence self-confidence and self-efficiency. The findings of this study suggested that virtual reality simulation might significantly benefit knowledge, skill performance, and satisfaction but not self-confidence and self-efficiency. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with a larger sample size are recommended to confirm these findings.

Oxygen supplementation above a low-flow nasal cannula in patients with COVID-19 may improve arterial oxygen levels but not breathlessness

Por: Prakash · J. · Sahay · N.

Commentary on: Poncin W, Baudet L, Braem F, Reychler G, Duprez F, Liistro G, Belkhir L, Yombi JC, De Greef J. Systems on top of nasal cannula improve oxygen delivery in patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med 2022;37(5):1226–32. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07419-2. Epub 8 Feb 2022.

Implications for practice and research

  • The adverse consequences of continuous exposure to high concentrations of oxygen must be considered before instituting prolonged oxygen therapy in patients with COVID-19.

  • Hypoxaemia is significant in patients with COVID-19, and isolated arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) improvement may not necessarily translate into any significant survival benefit nor relieve the distress of breathlessness.

  • Context

    Oxygen therapy is important in COVID-19 management. The low-flow nasal cannula (NC) has some drawbacks. The patient’s peak inspiratory flow rate requirements are not met due to significant leakage around the source. A need to improve oxygen...

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