Efficient prevention and control of biosafety risks is a critical guarantee for implementing the Hainan Free Trade Port construction strategy, and also the primary task for Hainan public health development. The unique natural environment, global flow of people and goods, and local weak public health foundation make the Free Trade Port face challenges of potential biosecurity crises, especially outbreaks of imported emerging infectious diseases at any time. The COVID-19 pandemic has promoted the innovation of global public health concepts. The Hainan provincial authorities attach great importance to the role of the One Health concept in construction of public health systems. The present article analyzes the biosafety risk factors of the Free Trade Port, the demand for public health talents, the research and development of One Health in universities, the advantages and disadvantages of talent cultivation, and proposes a public health talent cultivation approach that meets needs of Hainan Free Trade Port construction.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a serious threat to global public health. By 2050, AMR is estimated to cause 1.91 million deaths annually, with related mortality reaching 8.22 million. The challenges posed by AMR extend beyond the healthcare system to include animal health and environmental factors such as livestock farming, urbanization, and climate change. The “One Health” approach, an interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaborative strategy, integrates the management of human, animal, and environmental health. It is considered a crucial framework for addressing complex public health challenges and providing both scientific and preventive strategies to combat AMR. From October 12 to 13, 2024, the Second One Health Conference of Antimicrobial Resistance Containment was successfully held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, under the theme “Hand in Hand with One Health to Contain AMR”. The conference brought together experts from various fields to engage in in-depth discussions on AMR control, reaching a consensus to take action towards advancing the global health community. This conference strengthened multi-sectoral collaboration, promoted cross-departmental and cross-national cooperation, enhanced public awareness of AMR, explored control mechanisms, and provided both theoretical and practical guidance for mitigating AMR. It also called for increased investment and research and development efforts on AMR containment.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing symptomatic and severe diseases among the adults aged 60 years and older, identify key risk factors that influence infection and severity, and explore strategies to enhance the protection for this high-risk group.
Methods: A test-negative case-control study was conducted among individuals aged 60 years and older, comprising 300 COVID-19-positive cases and 300 COVID-19-negative controls. Data on vaccination status and other variables were collected via telephone interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as 1 minus the crude odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, univariate logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were employed to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity.
Results: Among 600 participants, 13.7% (82/600) were identified as unvaccinated individuals. Multivariable analysis revealed that vaccinated status was the only factor determining both the infection of SARS-CoV-2 (adjusted OR 2.63; 95% CI: 1.57-4.41) and severity of COVID-19 (adjusted OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.00-3.62). The estimated vaccine effectiveness was 68.0% (95% CI: 0.45-0.82) for fully vaccinated individuals and 59.0% (95% CI: 0.30-0.76) for partially vaccinated individuals. Of the cases, 22.0% (66/300) were identified as severe. The vaccine demonstrated an effectiveness of 73.0% (95% CI: 0.47-0.86) against severe COVID-19 among fully vaccinated individuals and 68.0% (95% CI: 0.44-0.83) for partially vaccinated individuals.
Conclusions: The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among the adults aged 60 years and older is lower than anticipated. In addition to the administration of booster doses, other interventions such as using higher doses, adjuvants, and intradermal routes should be evaluated to protect this highly vulnerable group that is at the greatest risk of adverse outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the potential of immature platelet fraction (IPF) as a predictor of increased platelets in dengue fever patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. We analyzed the medical records of confirmed dengue patients who were admitted to Udayana University Academic Hospital. Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlation between increased IPF and ratio of increased platelets in patients with dengue fever.
Results: Between June 2022 and December 2022, 41 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 45.0 ± 18.5 years, with males comprising 60.0% of the cohort. The initial mean platelet count was 107.7 × 10³ cells/µL at baseline and increased to 128.1 × 10³ cells/µL by the end of the observation period. The mean IPF was 1.9 ± 1.6%. A moderate positive correlation was identified between IPF levels and the subsequent increase in platelet count two days after measurement.
Conclusions: IPF reflects the rate of thrombopoiesis in patients with thrombocytopenia and serves as an indicator of recovery in dengue fever patients.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence, genetic resistance factors, and antimicrobial resistance phenotypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA) from clinically healthy animals (horses, dogs, and cats) and their human handlers, providing a baseline for broader genes sequencing based on One Health studies to the emergence of resistance as well as guides regarding specific therapies, hospital antibiotic usage/stewardship, and target-specific infection control measures.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved both human and animals. S. aureus isolates derived were characterised for their antimicrobial phenotypes through antimicrobial susceptibility testing with PCR detection of mecA, mecC, and DNA sequencing of mepR, mepA, mepB, and sapep genes for correlation with their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes.
Results: Seventy S. aureus isolates from 149 human handlers, 240 horses, and 206 companion animals, including dogs and cats were studied. The prevalence of resistance was highest for penicillins (100.0%) and amoxicillin (94.3%), followed by erythromycin (87.7%), trimethoprim (78.6%), azithromycin (77.1%), imipenem (61.4%), and tetracycline (40.0%). Lower resistance prevalences were observed for ciprofloxacin (27.1%), chloramphenicol (20.0%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (12.9%), and gentamicin (2.9%). Twenty-six isolates had their DNA sequenced for mepR, mepA, mepB, and sapep genes for correlation with their antimicrobial phenotypes. Transcriptional profiling revealed that both animal and human MRSA isolates exhibited a gene cluster mepRAB (multidrug export protein gene), encoding a MarR-like transcriptional regulator ( mepR), a M20/M25/M40 metallo-hydrolase protein gene ( sapep) encoding resistance to biocides and carbapenems, and a hypothetical protein gene of unknown function ( mepB).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated extensive multidrug resistance in MRSA, revealing similarities in the resistance patterns and multiple antibiotic resistance indices among the isolates. These findings suggest the potential presence of non- mec resistance mechanisms in MRSA, in addition to the mec gene mechanism.
Objective: To detect the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in water from selected storage tanks in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Methods: MacConkey agar supplemented with 6 µg/mL of cefotaxime was used to isolate bacteria. Pure isolates were identified through PCR amplification. The susceptibility patterns of the isolates to ceftazidime (30 µg/mL), amoxicillin/clavulanate (30 µg/mL), tetracycline (30 µg/mL), cefotaxime (30 µg/mL), cefpodoxime (10 µg/mL), and ciprofloxacin (5 µg/mL) were evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, while the identification of beta-lactamase production was performed using the double disc synergy test.
Results: A total of 19 isolates belonging to four genera ( Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, and Serratia) were obtained from the ten water samples. Escherichia coli and Citrobacter spp. had the highest presence (30.0%). The antibiotic with highest resistance was observed to be cefpodoxime (100%) followed by amoxicillin/clavulanate (89.5%) and cefotaxime (89.5%), the least was noted with tetracycline (31.6%). Additionally, 10 (52.6%) out of the 19 isolates showed beta-lactamase-producing phenotypic properties with high resistance to cefpodoxime (100%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (100%) and ceftazidime (90.0%). Additionally, this study showed the link between bacterial strains identified by 16S rRNA and related human diseases, highlighting the importance of genetic identification in managing infections.
Conclusions: This study highlights the prevalence of beta-lactam-resistant bacteria, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to address this issue.
Objective: To evaluate the filaricidal properties of three indigenous medicinal plants-Cassia alata, Zornia scabra, and Momordica (M.) foetida, in order to explore their potential as novel sources of filaricides for the sustainable management of filariasis.
Methods: Nine crude extracts from these three plants were prepared and screened in vitro against the microfilariae and adult worms of Onchocerca (O.) ochengi. Viability of O. ochengi adult male worm and mf was ascertained by microscopy while that of adult female worm of O. ochengi was by MTT/formazan assay. Cytotoxicity and acute toxicity were assessed in LLC-MK2 cells and in balb/c mice, respectively.
Results: At the single highest concentration of 500 µg/mL, all the extracts were active on O. ochengi adult males while seven showed activity on adult females and microfilariae. The methylene chloride extract of M. foetida was the most active on O. ochengi with IC50s of 30.3 µg/mL, 40.3 µg/mL, and 44.2 µg/mL on males, females, and microfilariae, respectively. Selectivity indexes for the most active extract were 3.5 µg/mL (microfilariae), 3.9 µg/mL (females), and 5.1 µg/mL (males). There was no physical sign of acute toxicity and no hepatocellular injury to balb/c mice.
Conclusions: Extracts of Cassia alata, Zheneria scabra and M. foetida contain nematocidal properties with the methylene chloride extract of M. foetida being the most active on the adult worms and juvenile stages of O. ochengi. These findings provide a base for the isolation of anti-filarial lead molecules from the extract.