Objective: We aimed to find the most accurate and robust method for the detection of colistin resistance among Gram-negative bacteria by comparing the performance of four methods. Methods: Colistin resistantance was determine by disk diffusion (DD), Etest, colistin broth disk elution (CBDE) and compared with standard broth microdilution (BMD) method. Results: An exploratory study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Jaipur, India, from November 2021 to November 2022. Of the 384 isolates tested, 41 (10.7%) were resistant against colistin by BMD and CBDE testing. Compared with BMD method, the categorical agreement of DD and Etest methods were 65.9% and 78.1%, respectively, and the rates of very major error were 34.1% and 21.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Due to the high frequency of very major error, the use of DD and Etest are not recommended by Clinical laboratory and standards institute (CLSI) for colistin susceptibility testing while CBDE is the recommended method which yields a categorical agreement of 100% with BMD method. The CBDE method can be used in routine laboratories for the detection of colistin resistance.

Objective: To detect the prevalence and characterize of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia (G.) duodenalis, Enterocytozoon (E.) bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. of animals at a tropical wildlife park in Hainan Province, China, and to assess zoonotic risks and the potential threat of public health. Methods: Fecal specimens were collected from animals of 27 species at the wildlife park in Hainan Province, China, and detected these pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications and sequencing of gene fragments based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and SSU rRNA gene, respectively. Results: A total of 99 animals were studied, and 33 (33.3%) animals were found to harbor intestinal parasite, and the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis, E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. were 9.1%, 2.0%, 5.1%, and 25.3%, respectively. Five Cryptosporidium species (C. parvum, C. ubiquitum, C. scrofarum, C. xiaoi and C. parvum-like), one G. duodenalis assemblages (E), four E. bieneusi ITS genotypes (CM1, HLJD-I, HNR-III and 1 novel genotype HNED-III) were detected, and seven subtypes of Blastocystis sp. (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5, ST10, ST14 and ST15) were also identified. Conclusions: This is the first molecular detection and public health risk assessment of four intestinal protozoa species in Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden, China. Almost all species/genotypes/subtypes of four intestinal protozoa identified in this study have the potential of zoonosis and may cause public health risks.

Objective: To study the occurrence of brucellosis in small ruminants in a district of Southern India. Methods: A total of 425 serum samples (215 sheep and 210 goats) were collected from January to March 2022 using a multistage sampling method. The serum samples were subjected to three serological tests that were employed in this study, namely RBPT (Rose Bengal Plate Test), STAT (Standard Tube Agglutination Test), and I-ELISA. The risk factors were determined by collecting data through a questionnaire and establishing correlations between the responses and seropositivity within a specific flock. Result: Among the 425 samples collected, 91 samples (21.4%) were positive by RBPT, 124 samples (29.2%) by STAT and 156 samples (36.7%) by I-ELISA in sheep and goats. Sheep showed higher seropositivity in all three tests than goats. Analysis of multivariable logistic regression showed that age (>3 vs.<3 years; OR: 2.262, 95% CI: 1.414–3.618), abortion history (yes vs. no; OR: 1.837; 95% CI: 1.098–3.071), vaginal discharges (yes vs. no; OR: 2.334; 95% CI: 1.421–3.835), the migratory herd (yes vs. no; OR: 2.197; 95% CI: 1.369–3.527), and place of disposal of the foetus (yes vs. no; OR: 2.093; 95% CI: 1.320–3.318) were significant risk factors of brucellosis. Conclusions: Livestock owners and consumers of sheep and goats should be educated about brucellosis and prevention strategies to mitigate its uncontrolled spread and lower the potential threat of human brucellosis. Choosing the right rearing practices, enhancing husbandry procedures, changing farmer’s perspectives on brucellosis, and inclusion of small ruminants in brucellosis control programs are all key management approaches that can aid in the prevention and control of Brucella infection in small ruminants.

Cryptosporidium, a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite, is capable of causing zoonotic infections in humans and domestic and wild animals. The primary aim of this review is to summarize the infection prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Nepal. Based on all the available papers published until November 2022, we have also summarized the pattern of diagnostic methods, epidemiological factors, prevalence, and its genotypes distributed in humans, animals and environmental samples (mainly water). Among humans, the overall prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 7.6% (1328/17527), of which the highest prevalence was identified in children (9.0%; 1225/13545), followed by HIV patients (4.6%; 51/1107) and adults (1.8%; 52/2875). The domestic animals were more infected (23.2%; 252/1088) than the wild animals (18.2%; 63/347) by Cryptosporidium, and water (32.6%; 29/89) remained the major source of environmental contamination by Cryptosporidium oocysts. Molecular epidemiological studies regarding the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis in Nepal are very few. However, molecular techniques have confirmed Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum isolates from humans as genotype Ia2, C. ryanae in zebu cattle and water buffalo, and C. ubiquitum in swamp deer by PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis of SSU rRNA gene. Extensive studies of Cryptosporidium at molecular level are warranted to find out its genomic variants in human and other vertebrates, both domestic and wild, in Nepal to elucidate its zoonotic potential in the future.

Objective: To investigate the biosecurity measures practiced at commercial layer chicken farms in Abyek country, Qazvin, Iran.. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all licensed and active commercial layer chicken farms in Abyek county, Qazvin province, Iran in 2019 were recruited. We used a risk-based weighted scoring system (Biocheck.UGent) to assess the level of biosecurity according to internal and external classification. Biosecurity was quantified by converting the answers to 169 questions into score from 0 to 100. The minimum score, “0,” represents total absence of any biosecurity measure on the farm, whereas the maximum score, “100,” means full application of all investigated biosecurity measures. Results: The mean score of overall biosecurity in the commercial layer chicken farms in Abyek county, Qazvin province was 72.7. The mean score of internal and external biosecurity measures were 77.1 and 72.2, respectively. The lowest mean score was due to “Disease management” (69.7) among internal biosecurity measures and the lowest mean scores were for "Location of farm” (39.0) and “Removal of manure and dead animals” (42.6) among external biosecurity measures. The highest mean score was for “Transport of the eggs level” (91.0) for external biosecurity measures. Conclusions: This study showed the biosecurity status of commercial layer chicken farms in Abyek county, Qazvin, Iran and revealed some weaknesses in the implementation of these measures at the internal and external levels. It showed the biosecurity measures of these farms, especially at the external levels need to be improved. This information can aid decision-making on efforts used to improve disease control and prevention strategies in poultry farms.

Objective: To examine multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella (S.) Typhi isolates obtained from the stool samples of patients attending secondary health centers in Southern Benue, Nigeria, for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and conjugative ability. Methods: The double disc synergy test was used to screen for ESBL production in MDR isolates. The ability of S. Typhi to transfer resistance gene was determined by conjugation experiments using standard protocols, with slight modifications. Escherichia (E.) coli ATCC 25922 was used as the recipient organism. Result: The donor S. Typhi isolates showed resistance to all the classes of antibiotics except aminoglycosides and carbapenems. All isolates except TKP 106, APA 55, APA 78 and OGB 106 were positive for ESBL production. Reduction in the zones of inhibition of E. coli after incubation with S. Typhi showed evidence of conjugation and transfer of antibiotic resistance from S. Typhi to E. coli. Conclusions: The presence of ESBL-producing S. Typhi capable of conjugation poses a significant risk to the treatment and management of typhoid fever, which highlights the need for the regulation of antibiotic use through relevant policies and strategies that aim at halting the spread of MDR and ESBL-producing S. Typhi in such rural settings.

Background: To determine the potential risk factor of COVID-19 severity and length of hospitalization, the association between multiple antibiotics administration and the risk of severe COVID-19. Methods: A case-control study of 58 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (the case group) and 120 non-hospitalized home isolated COVID-19 patients (the control group) was conducted. Data were collected using hospital medical records and verbal questionnaires for the participants. Results: Totally 89.2% of non-hospitalized mild COVID-19 patients received ⩽2 courses of antibiotics/year, while 36.0% of hospitalized patients received ⩾4 courses of antibiotics, 56.9% received 2-3 courses of antibiotics/year and only 6.9% of them were exposed to ⩽2 courses of antibiotics/year. our study emphasizes that the usage of 4 courses or higher per year was a significant risk factor for hospitalization [OR: 17.5; 95%CI(2.596-118.263); P=0.003], while the usage of ⩽2 courses was a preventive predictor for severity and hospitalization [OR: 0.072; 95%CI(0.006-0.900); P=0.041]. Furthermore, age was associated with 8.4% increase in the odds of severe COVID-19 [OR: 1.084; 95%CI(1.024-1.148), P=0.005], and females were 89.1% less likely to hospitalized than males [OR: 0.109; 95%CI(0.024-0.498); P= 0.004]. Our study shows that 70.4% of cases misused antibiotics and administered the antibiotics themselves without a physician’s prescription. Around 50.0% of cases never completed the ideal duration of the course in contrast to controls, of which only 23.2% did not complete the ideal duration. Conclusions: Our study shows that antibiotics misuse and overuse may be a potential risk factor for COVID-19 severity and hospitalization.

Objective: SARS-CoV-2 infection is an ongoing public health emergency of international significance. Considering that there is no specific drug and 100% effective vaccine yet, knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are crucial to prevent and manage the pandemic. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practices toward COVID-19 prevention measures of graduate students at a university in northwestern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted between September to December 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and KAP of 407 randomly selected individuals. The data were exported to SPSS version 23.0, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used for analyses. Variables with P<0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were retained into the multivariable logistic regression models. The values were considered to be statistically significant (P≤0.05). The data quality control was tested by using 5% pretest. Results: Among 407 participants, 267 (65.6%) had sufficient knowledge, 239 (58.7%) had positive attitude and 189 (46.4%) had good practices toward COVID-19. Marital status (AOR 0.38; 95%CI 0.11-0.95; P=0.040) and student admission type (AOR 0.32; 95%CI 0.15-0.68; P=0.003) had a statistically significant association with knowledge of students. Residence (AOR 0.18; 95%CI 0.09-0.34; P<0.01) (AOR 0.16; 95%CI 0.07-0.36; P<0.01), family size (AOR 0.45; 95%CI 0.23-0.87, P=0.017) (AOR 0.29; 95%CI 0.14-0.60; P=0.001), student admission type (AOR 0.11: 95%CI 0.04-0.29, P<0.01) (AOR 0.01; 95%CI 0.00-0.05; P<0.01) and monthly income (AOR 0.17; 95%CI 0.05-0.58; P=0.005) (AOR 0.08; 95%CI 0.02-0.32; P<0.01) were significantly associated with positive attitude and good practices, respectively. Besides, good practices such as avoiding handshaking and physical distancing were performed in the least amount of participants. Conclusions: The scores of KAP among graduate students toward COVID-19 are low. It is recommended that university administrators reinforce proactive and effective measures to develop good knowledge, positive attitude, and better practices regarding COVID-19 for the students.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of internet addiction and its associated factors among undergraduate students attending medical universities in Myanmar. Methods: Internet addiction was assessed using Young’s internet addiction test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the factors associated with internet addiction. Altogether 950 students from all medical universities were included in the study voluntarily. Result: The prevalence of internet addiction in the study population was 72.2% (95%CI: 69.3%, 75.0%). According to the results of multiple logistic regression analysis, age, percentage of pocket money spent for internet, time spent per day using the internet, peer pressure, health-related behaviours (irregular meals, sleep disturbances, and missing social gatherings), and academic performance (postponement of the study and inability to concentrate on studying) were significant predictors of internet addiction. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of internet addiction among Myanmar undergraduate medical students. Appropriate interventions, including promotion and strengthening of active and healthy lifestyles among students, should be implemented to prevent internet addiction and its adverse outcomes.

The COVID-19 vaccines provide a high degree of protection against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death. However, no vaccine claimed 100% effectiveness and it is expected that a small proportion of vaccinated individuals may develop a breakthrough infection due to individual differences, virus variants and other factors. We conducted an epidemiological investigation and analysis of an imported case who had finished four doses of vaccination, and in order to provide a relevant reference for regular epidemic prevention and control in the post-pandemic era.

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and practice on malaria prevention among the residents of Ratuwamai Municipality in Nepal. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out on Ratuwamai Municipality of Ward No. 8 in Morang District, Nepal. A total of 352 respondents with an age range from 15 to 70 years were interviewed from October 9 to October 31, 2022. Statistically significant differences between two or more categorical groups were measured using independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Result: Out of the total sample, 57.7% of the respondents were 24 to 50 years old with a mean age of (36.9±14.3) years. In the knowledge test, 82% of the responses were accurate. Though 98.6% of people had heard of malaria, only 48.3% said it was a communicable disease. In practice, 84.9% always cleaned the surrounding area and trimmed the bushes around the house; 75.9% used insecticide-treated bed nets or normal bed nets for sleeping; only 7.4% used mosquito repellent creams on exposed body parts while staying outdoors at night, working in fields, and sleeping. Conclusions: The majority had knowledge about malaria, but more than half had poor practice. We advise concerned authorities to promote the behavior change communication strategy to encourage individuals to adopt healthy, beneficial, and good behavioral practices.

Objective: To determine the urinary tract infections (UTIs)-causing bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern for the proper and complete treatment of UTIs in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: We collected 300 urine samples from diabetic and nondiabetic pregnant women at various gestational ages. After isolating and identifying uropathogens, we conducted an antibiotic sensitivity assay against fourteen commonly used antibiotics: amikacin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefixime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, levofloxacin, netilmicin, nitrofurantoin. Results: Among the participants, 70% had DM but only 37.3% had positive uropathogen growth. Five gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., and Pseudomonas spp.) and 3 gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp.) were indentified. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent bacteria (57.1%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (19.6%). In the antibiotic susceptibility assay, we found 96.5% of the isolated organisms were highly susceptible to levofloxacin, 94.2% to netilmicin, 88.2% to nitrofurantoin, 85.1% to amikacin, 79.8% to gentamicin, respectively. On the other hand, 64.8%, 63.6%, 61.8% of the isolates demonstrated high-level resistance to ampicillin, ceftazidime and amoxicillin whereas 38.0%, 37.1%, 33.6%, 30.9% and 30.0% of the organisms were resistant to co-trimoxazole, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, cefixime, respectivey. Conclusions: Our results suggest that amikacin, levofloxacin, netilmicin, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin can be used as first-line treatments for UTIs, whether the patient has DM or not. Contrarily, amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftazidime, azithromycin, and co-trimoxazole should be avoided in treating UTIs.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the brain. Currently, approximately 55 million people have dementia across the globe and the number of AD patients is estimated by the WHO to reach about 78 million people by 2030 and nearly 139 million by 2050 globally. Amyloid β42, amyloid β oligomers, and tau proteins are the major biomarkers to understand the AD-like pathology. Therapies target β-amyloid (Aβ) for the modification of AD but poor permeability hampers the uses of drugs against AD. Other drugs including NMDA-receptor antagonists, cholinesterase inhibitors and their combination provide only temporary symptomatic relief. Meanwhile nutraceuticals are studied for mitigating the course of dementia. This study reviews therapeutic nutraceuticals which could be effective for treating AD.

Mpox (monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus. Concern has recently been expressed over the appearance of the human monkeypox virus and its severe clinical presentation that resembles smallpox. Currently, due to the decrescence of immunity among smallpox-vaccinated residents, and the accumulation of unvaccinated cohorts, people are generally susceptible to mpox. A cumulative number of 79411 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox and 50 fatalities have been reported to the World Health Organization from 110 countries between 1 January and 13 November 2022. This paper provides an overview of the epidemiology and clinical features of mpox, and control and prevention approaches for mpox to fully understand and prevent human infections.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the carriage of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes in third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCR) Escherichia (E.) coli from frequently contacted surfaces, wastewater and disinfectant-cleaning solutions of selected healthcare institutions in South-western Nigeria. Methods: Samples were collected over three months for the isolation of 3GCR E. coli on MacConkey agar containing 6 μg/mL of cefotaxime. 3GCR E. coli isolates were identified by detection of uidA gene and susceptibility to selected antibiotics was performed using disc-diffusion method. Detection of ESBL genes was done using primer-specific PCR. Results: A total of 22 ESBL-producing E. coli (11 each from the frequently contacted surfaces and wastewater) were obtained from the pool of 3GCR isolates in this study. No isolate was recovered from the disinfectant-cleaning solution. All the ESBL-producing E. coli obtained from the frequently contacted surfaces and wastewater were multidrug resistant, with complete resistance observed to ampicillin, cefotaxime, cefpodoxime, tetracycline and ertapenem. The ESBL genotyping showed that 54.5% carried bla_CTX-M, 63.6% carried bla_TEM and 9.1% carried bla_SHV in isolates from the frequently contacted surfaces, while 63.6%, 9.1% and 18.2% carried bla_CTX-M, bla_TEM and bla_SHV, respectively, in the isolates obtained from the wastewater. Conclusions: This study showed a high burden of multidrug resistance E. coli on frequently contacted surfaces and wastewater of the studied healthcare institutions, indicating the need for good hygiene and proper mitigation measures to prevent potential public health and environmental challenges.

Rabies is widely prevalent worldwide, and China is among the countries most affected. To achieve the goal of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, dog management and immunization must be improved and comprehensive prevention and control measures must be adopted. We analyze the epidemiological profile of rabies in China in the past 30 years to clarify the origins of China’s high prevalence, and propose a comprehensive rabies prevention and control concept based on “One Health” by drawing on successful international control efforts.

Objective: The study aimed to describe the characteristics and containment of the Omicron variants in Shanghai compared with the previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in China. Methods: We summarized the data retrieved from the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission from January to June 2022 and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China from March 2020 to August 2021. Epidemiological analysis was utilized to describe the differences among SARS-CoV-2 variants and the infection situation in the outbreaks in China. Results: The Omicron variants had the characteristics of high insidiousness, rapid transmission, high infectivity, and short incubation period, which were consistent with the characteristics of outbreaks caused by Omicron in other regions in China and abroad. There were 568978 asymptomatic infections in Shanghai from Feburary 26 to June 30, 2022, accounting for 90.73% of the SARS-CoV-2 infections in this outbreak wave. It’s significantly different from a total of 23277 SARS-CoV-2 infections in China between March 31, 2020 and August 8, 2021, of which 41.97% of the cases were asymptomatic infections. Conclusions: Compared with previous outbreaks emerged in China, the Omicron outbreak in Shanghai was characterized by multiple point dissemination, wide coverage, a large number of close contacts of confirmed infections and asymptomatic carriers, and difficult source tracing. The lessons from Shanghai’s response to Omicron showed that the dynamic zero-COVID policy is still the most suitable response to the virus which can quickly find the infections and curb the transmission route.

Vaccination is effective in preventing the increase of disease, especially emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), and it is particularly important for people in close contact with infected sources and susceptible populations who are at increased risk of getting infectious diseases due to behavior, occupation or health. Despite targeted vaccination guidelines, inadequate vaccination of the key populations fails to receive widespread attention, resulting in a high-risk transition of disease from key populations to general populations. Strengthening the vaccination of the susceptible groups can effectively block the spread of pathogens to general populations, and reduce the consumption of medical resources in universal vaccination, which has significant economic value. In this review, we describe the prevalence of EIDs, analyze the experience and lessons of infectious disease vaccination in key populations through several cases, and further explore the causes for the decline in vaccination rates of key populations. According to the trends of EIDs, a plan to strengthen the vaccination of key populations is proposed to effectively prevent the transition of EIDs from key populations to general populations.

Background: To control the imported risks brought by all international arrivals, China Customs has implemented strict closed-loop health management policy called “three checks, three screenings and one transfer”. This study provides epidemiological evidence for prevention and control measures on imported cases of asymptomatic infections and describes the current COVID-19 prevention and control system on imported risks in China. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed an imported incident of three asymptomatic carriers. Serum SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by chemiluminescence and gold immnnochromatography(GICA). Results: Three cases were reported positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid on their arrival, total antibodies and IgG, but negative for IgM. The Ct values of cases A, B and C were 34/36/36, 32/33/32 and 25/31/29, respectively. There were 10726434 pair-end reads sequenced for case C, and approximate 80% reads were aligned to the hCoV-19/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-01/2019 genome (EPI_ISL_402119). The viruses of case A and C were homologous and came from the SARS-CoV-2 variant. Conclusion: Serum antibody IgM and IgG tests are recommended for international travelers from epidemic areas. The “three checks, three screenings and one transfer” policy implemented at custom’s entry points was effective in COVID-19 prevention and control.

Objective: To investigate the antibiotic utilization and prescription patterns as well as define its convenience to the norm in four North-Sinai hospitals, Egypt. Antimicrobial resistance is a universal health threat. The golden era of miracle antibiotics has ended and we have faced the challenge of being troubled by infectious diseases with no discovery of new antibiotics found since 1987. Antibiotic pressure, overuse, and misuse are important risk factors for antimicrobial resistance and hospital cross-infection. To combat antimicrobial resistance, Egypt started its National Action Plan (2018-2022) aiming to optimize the usage and consumption of antibiotics. Method: This multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to describe the pattern of antibiotic prescription and consumption at four North Sinai Hospitals related to the Ministry of Health and Population. We reviewed 309 medical records of the inpatient department; the samples were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of the hospitalized patients in October, November, and December of 2020 by a paper-based method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result: The prevalence of antibiotic consumption is near 68.9% in the four hospitals indicating that two-thirds of admitted patients receive antibiotics. Approximately 52.1% administered antibiotics for no reason. Most of the admitted patients took antibiotics on the same day of admission, regardless of the different types of hospital departments. Furthermore, 98.7% of antibiotics were prescribed without culture or order for culture and microbiological tests. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were 90% of all antibiotics prescribed. A total of 18 types of antibiotics were prescribed, cefotaxime was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic representing 26.5%. Conclusion: Judicious antibiotic prescribing behavior slows down the nature of antibiotic resistance. To guarantee the best antimicrobial use in the hospitals, standard treatment guidelines, and the Essential Medicines List for infectious diseases should be carried out and revised at least every 2 years to be a clinical reference for clinicians. Continuous education and training of clinicians and healthcare workers can contribute to optimizing the rational use of antibiotics, which in return reduces the progress of antibiotic resistance. There is an urgent need for antibiotic stewardship and surveillance and their application in all hospitals.

Objective: To determine the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria from the indoor environment of female hostels in a tertiary institution in order to provide epidemiological data. Methods: The bacterial quality of the three female hostels was evaluated using the settle plate method, where Petri dishes containing different types of culture media were opened in the rooms. Isolated bacteria were identified using standard microbiological procedures. Using disc diffusion method, the antibiogram of the isolates was determined and based on this, the multiple antibiotics resistance index was also determined. Results: The total heterotrophic colony forming units (CFU) for Hall A ranged from 2.09 x10² to 1.73 x10³ CFU/m³ while that of Hall B ranged from 4.71 x10² to 1.10 x10³ CFU/m³ and a statistically significant difference between the counts of both halls was observed (P=0.04). Microorganisms isolated included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. All the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone. Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Corynebacterium sp. had the least multiple antibiotic resistance index with 0.2 while Staphylococcus aureus had the highest with 0.8. Conclusions: Female university hostels may become sources of exchange of microorganisms, especially in overcrowded rooms. A large percentage of isolates were multidrug resistant which could pose difficulty and increased cost of treatment of their resulting infections. Regular surveillance and control of the agents that encourage the growth of these bacteria present in indoor air is needed.

Objective: In order to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in captive wild animals in four zoological gardens in Heilongjiang Province of Northeast China. Method: From September 2016 to September 2020, fecal samples were collected from Harbin North Forest Zoo, Jiamusi Water Source Mountain Park, Qiqihar Longsha Zoological and Botanical Gardens, and Jixi City Zoo. The morphological identification of eggs or oocysts was carried out using the water washing precipitation method, saturated saline floatation method, and saturated sucrose floatation method. Results: The overall parasite positive detection rate in the four zoos were 18.33% (33/180), 21.69%(18/83), 22.22%(8/36), and 26.32%(10/38), respectively. The most prevalent parasitic species of Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Primates, and Aves were Ascaridoidea, Trichuris spp., and Contracaecum sp. Zoonotic parasites were also observed (Toxocara cati, Spirometra mansoni, Trichostrongylus sp.). Conclusions: The results are beneficial in assisting zoo management to formulate and implement preventive and control measures against the spread of infectious parasitic diseases among the animals or to humans.