Prevalence,resistance patterns,and characterization of integrons of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella flexneri</Emphasis> isolated from Jiangsu Province in China, 2001–2011

Objective: To provide the epidemiology, resistance pattern, and characterization of integrons in Shigella flexneri isolated between 2001 and 2011 in Jiangsu Province. Method: A total of 624 strains of S. flexneri were collected from both outpatients and inpatients in hospitals in Jiangsu Province from January 2001 to December 2011. The Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method was used to perform the antimicrobial susceptibility test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used in the detection of integrons. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was applied in the homology studies. Result: Serotype 2a accounted for the largest proportion in S. flexneri, namely 26.4 %. Notably, an increasing trend was detected in the resistance to common antimicrobial agents during the period 2001–2011. In recent years, more than 80.0 % isolates of S. flexneri have proved to be resistant to ampicillin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. The positive rates of class 1, class 2, and the atypical class 1 integrons in S. flexneri are 69.3 %, 87.8 %, and 89.2 % respectively. Most integrons detected in our research carry genes encoding resistance to trimethoprim and streptomycin. Conclusion: Antimicrobial resistance in S. flexneri has demonstrated a continuous rising trend in Jiangsu Province. A high prevalence of integrons and gene cassettes play an important role in the transmission of drug resistance in S. flexneri. Effective measures are urgently needed to control the spread of multi-drug-resistant S. flexneri, and more continuing active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance should be established worldwide, especially in developing countries.     

甘肃省2009-2014年乙型肝炎报告发病率的时空聚集性研究

目的 使用空间统计学研究方法,分析2009-2014年甘肃省乙型肝炎(乙肝)报告发病率的时空分布特征,探索热(冷)点及时空聚集性,为该地区未来乙肝防控提供科学依据。方法 利用2009-2014年甘肃省乙肝报告发病率数据和GeoDa、SatScan空间统计学软件,通过空间自相关性和扫描统计量的分析,在县/区水平探索该地区乙肝发病的热(冷)点地区及其空间变化趋势,并分析其时空聚集性。结果 2009-2014年甘肃省乙肝报告发病率存在空间自相关性;局部G统计量显示热点县/区数量有下降趋势,主要分布在河西地区,临夏回族自治州与甘南藏族自治州热点县/区数量有上升趋势;冷点区域未发现有明显规律;时空扫描结果显示,乙肝高发病率可能聚集于河西地区,聚集时间为2009-2011年;而低发病率可能聚集于甘肃东部地区,聚集时间为2012-2014年。结论 2009-2014年甘肃省乙肝报告发病率存在时间与空间的聚集性,河西地区热点县/区数量有下降趋势,临夏回族自治州与甘南藏族自治州热点县/区数量呈上升趋势,应成为未来甘肃省乙肝防控的重点区域。     

Knowledge and attitudes about Ebola vaccine among the general population in Sierra Leone

BackgroundClinical trials of Ebola vaccine are ongoing. Before it becomes commercially available, understanding the Ebola vaccine-related knowledge and attitude of the general population is imperative to developing an effective vaccine coverage strategy.MethodsWe conducted a survey including 400 participants from general communities of the West Area Rural District, Sierra Leone. Knowledge and attitudes about Ebola vaccine were investigated, and the determinants of having knowledge and a positive attitude toward accepting vaccination were identified.ResultsOver half (55.8%) of the participants were aware of Ebola vaccine. About 60% of the participants were willing to be study subjects if the Ebola vaccine clinical trial were conducted in their communities. Most of the participants (72.5%) were willing to take Ebola vaccination if it was free of charge. Given that the vaccination was not free, the proportion willing to pay a fee to take the vaccination declined dramatically to 26.6%. Using a forward step-wise logistic model, monthly salary was identified as the single determinant (OR for every 100,000 Leones increase: 1.17, 95%CI: 1.04–1.31) for awareness of Ebola vaccine, which was identified as the determinant (OR: 1.88, 95%CI: 1.17–3.02) for free vaccination uptake willingness. The combination of monthly salary, monthly average income of family members and their interaction was found to be associated with charged vaccination uptake willingness.DiscussionMeasures are still needed to promote the Ebola vaccine awareness and knowledge updating. Free or low-priced vaccine could increase the vaccination acceptability of the general community population significantly.     

Characterization of Vibrio cholerae from 1986 to 2012 in Yunnan Province,southwest China bordering Myanmar

Vibrio cholerae is an important infectious pathogen causing serious human diarrhea. We analyzed 568 V. cholerae strains isolated from 1986 to 2012 in Yunnan province, southwest China bordering Myanmar. Polymerase chain reactions for detecting virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility tests and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed. The results showed all the strains were El Tor biotype from 1986. The ctxB subunit sequence analysis for all strains have shown that cholera between 1986 and 1995 was associated with mixed infections with El Tor and El Tor variants, while infections after 1996 were all caused by El Tor variant strains. All of the strains were sensitive to aminoglycosides and quinolone antibiotics while resistant to β-lactamase and carbapenem antibiotics increased gradually. 568 V. cholerae were divided into 218 PFGE-NotI patterns, and the isolates before 2001 and after 2011 were separated into two groups according to PFGE results. The strains isolated before 2001 were mainly referred to native cholera in Yunnan, and after 2011 were primarily referred to as imported strains from Myanmar, which showed the variation of V. cholerae in this area. The molecular characteristics of V. cholerae indicated regularity in bacterial variation and evolution in Yunnan province.     

Connaissance et couverture vaccinale contre l’hépatite virale B (HVB) : étude transversale parmi les étudiants de l’université de Cocody,Côte d’Ivoire

BackgroundTo evaluate knowledge about hepatitis B and vaccination coverage among students at Cocody's University, Ivory Coast.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2005–2006 (2557 students). Parameters were collected by interview using a survey chart. Factors influencing knowledge and vaccination against hepatitis B were analyzed by logistic regression.ResultsThe majority of students (n = 1174, 69.4% [95% CI 68–71]) knew about hepatitis B. Only 17.5% and 26.1% of students respectively were aware of sexual and blood transmission. None of the students were aware of maternal-fetal transmission. Factors associated with knowledge of hepatitis B were enrollment in health sciences (Odds Ratio = 24.19 [95% CI 8.65–76.63]) and having a scholarship (Odds Ratio = 2.34 [95% CI 1.54–3.56]). Vaccination coverage against hepatitis B was low (Odds Ratio = 3.7% [95% CI 3–4]). Factors associated with vaccination were: knowledge of hepatitis B (Odds Ratio = 6.83 [95% CI 4.57–10.27]), enrollment in health sciences (Odds Ratio = 3.59 [95% CI 2.60–4.96]), marriage (Odds Ratio = 2.04 [95% CI 1.13–3.64]) and having a scholarship (Odds Ratio = 1.60 [95% CI 1.09–2.35]).ConclusionKnowledge and vaccination coverage against hepatitis B among students at Cocody's University is low. Students should be given information about hepatitis B and access to free vaccination. Students enrolled in health sciences should be vaccinated before admission because of specific risks of contamination, for themselves and for their patients.