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Global Trends in Infectious Diseases
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Global Trends in Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Factors and Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 6189

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Montalti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Hygiene, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 401261 Bologna, Italy
Interests: epidemiology; public health; health promotion; vaccine hesitancy; communicable disease control; vaccination; children and youth
Dr. Zeno Di Valerio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Hygiene, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 401261 Bologna, Italy
Interests: epidemiology; public health; health promotion; vaccine hesitancy; communicable disease control; vaccination; children and youth; mental health; public mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted how research concerning public and global health is now more crucial than ever. In 2019, the WHO listed vaccine hesitancy and multidrug-resistant organisms, communicable diseases (HIV, Ebola, and Dengue), and climate change as among the top 10 current threats to global health. A total of 1.5 million lives could be saved each year by achieving optimal vaccine coverage, and, what is even more worrisome are the WHO predictions that by 2050 we could reach 10 million deaths per year due to antimicrobial resistance.

Given the need to increase scientific knowledge in these areas, we invite manuscripts on all public health aspects related to infectious diseases to contribute to this healthcare Special Issue. Topics can be related to bacterial/viral vaccines (safety, efficacy, and vaccine hesitancy/confidence), infectious disease containment measures (devices, quarantines, etc.), and antimicrobial resistance (diagnostics, therapies, surveillance, and response). This invitation is open to both research articles and reviews.

Dr. Marco Montalti
Dr. Zeno Di Valerio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • communicable diseases
  • vaccination
  • public health
  • antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • prevention
  • vaccine hesitancy (VH)
  • infectious diseases
  • public health threats

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2533 KiB  
Article
Syndromic Surveillance in Public Health Emergencies: A Systematic Analysis of Cases Related to Exposure to 2023 Floodwaters in Romagna, Italy
by Marco Montalti, Marco Fabbri, Raffaella Angelini, Elizabeth Bakken, Michela Morri, Federica Tamarri, Chiara Reali, Giorgia Soldà, Giulia Silvestrini and Jacopo Lenzi
Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171760 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 875
Abstract
Background: In May 2023, Romagna, Italy, faced a devastating flood resulting in 16 fatalities, forced displacement of 26,000 citizens, and significant economic losses. Due to potential water contamination, implementing public health strategies became imperative for the Local Health Authority to mitigate the health [...] Read more.
Background: In May 2023, Romagna, Italy, faced a devastating flood resulting in 16 fatalities, forced displacement of 26,000 citizens, and significant economic losses. Due to potential water contamination, implementing public health strategies became imperative for the Local Health Authority to mitigate the health consequences, analyze the flood’s impact on the local population’s health, and detect early anomalies requiring timely public health interventions. Methods: Between June and July 2023, general practitioners who were part of the RespiVirNet surveillance network completed weekly structured forms. These forms collected data on individuals exposed or not to floodwaters and clinical syndromes. Rates per 1000 resident population aged > 14 were stratified by district, week of observation, and symptomatology. Missing data were addressed by imputation using second-order autoregressive modeling. Results: An incidence of 3.52 syndromes potentially related to flood water exposure per 1000 individuals (95% CI 2.82–4.35) was estimated. Ravenna, the city most affected by the flood, recorded the highest rate (6.05 per 1000, 95% CI 4.59–7.82). Incidence decreased in the weeks post-event. Anxiety, or trauma and stress symptoms, exhibited higher rates among the exposed, diminishing over weeks. The incidence for the non-exposed (12.76 per 1000, 95% CI 10.55–15.29) showed no significant territorial differences compared to the exposed ones. Conclusions: Syndromic surveillance provided timely information on the flood’s health impact, revealing a higher incidence of individual syndromes among the non-exposed. This study contributes to guiding the implementation of future public health preparedness and response strategies for populations facing similar natural disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Trends in Infectious Diseases)
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14 pages, 2176 KiB  
Article
Association of Coagulopathy and Inflammatory Biomarkers with Severity in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individuals of the Al-Qunfudhah Region of Saudi Arabia
by Mohammad Asrar Izhari, Mansoor A. A. Hadadi, Raed A. Alharbi, Ahmed R. A. Gosady, Abdulmajeed Abdulghani A. Sindi, Daifallah M. M. Dardari, Foton E. Alotaibi, Faisal Klufah, Mohammad A Albanghali and Tahani H Alharbi
Healthcare 2024, 12(7), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070729 - 27 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1336
Abstract
Background: Identifying prognosticators/predictors of COVID-19 severity is the principal focus for early prediction and effective management of the disease in a time-bound and cost-effective manner. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19 severity-dependent alteration in inflammatory and coagulopathy biomarkers. Methods: A hospital-dependent retrospective observational study [...] Read more.
Background: Identifying prognosticators/predictors of COVID-19 severity is the principal focus for early prediction and effective management of the disease in a time-bound and cost-effective manner. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19 severity-dependent alteration in inflammatory and coagulopathy biomarkers. Methods: A hospital-dependent retrospective observational study (total: n = 377; male, n = 213; and female, n = 164 participants) was undertaken. COVID-19 exposure was assessed by performing real-time PCR on nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for both continuous and categorical variables using Rstudio-version-4.0.2. Pearson correlation and regression were executed with a cut-off of p < 0.05 for evaluating significance. Data representation by R-packages and ggplot2. Results: A significant variation in the mean ± SD (highly-sever (HS)/moderately severe (MS)) of CRP (HS/MS: 102.4 ± 22.9/21.3 ± 6.9, p-value < 0.001), D-dimer (HS/MS: 661.1 ± 80.6/348.7 ± 42.9, p-value < 0.001), and ferritin (HS/MS: 875.8 ± 126.8/593.4 ± 67.3, p-value < 0.001) were observed. Thrombocytopenia, high PT, and PTT exhibited an association with the HS individuals (p < 0.001). CRP was correlated with neutrophil (r = 0.77), ferritin (r = 0.74), and WBC (r = 0.8). D-dimer correlated with platelets (r = −0.82), PT (r = 0.22), and PTT (r = 0.37). The adjusted odds ratios (Ad-OR) of CRP, ferritin, D-dimer, platelet, PT, and PTT for HS compared to MS were 1.30 (95% CI −1.137, 1.50; p < 0.001), 1.048 (95% CI −1.03, 1.066; p < 0.001), 1.3 (95% CI −1.24, 1.49, p > 0.05), −0.813 (95% CI −0.734, 0.899, p < 0.001), 1.347 (95% CI −1.15, 1.57, p < 0.001), and 1.234 (95% CI −1.16, 1.314, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 caused alterations in vital laboratory parameters and raised ferritin, CRP, and D-dimer presented an association with disease severity at a significant level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Trends in Infectious Diseases)
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12 pages, 1047 KiB  
Article
A 10-Year Retrospective Study on Pediatric Visceral Leishmaniasis in a European Endemic Area: Diagnostic and Short-Course Therapeutic Strategies
by Arianna Dondi, Elisa Manieri, Giacomo Gambuti, Stefania Varani, Caterina Campoli, Daniele Zama, Luca Pierantoni, Michelangelo Baldazzi, Arcangelo Prete, Luciano Attard, Marcello Lanari and Fraia Melchionda
Healthcare 2024, 12(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010023 - 21 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal disease, with an increasing occurrence in northern Italy, affecting children and both immunocompetent and immunocompromised adults. Methods: This retrospective study conducted at the St. Orsola University Hospital of Bologna, Italy, evaluates the characteristics of 16 [...] Read more.
Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal disease, with an increasing occurrence in northern Italy, affecting children and both immunocompetent and immunocompromised adults. Methods: This retrospective study conducted at the St. Orsola University Hospital of Bologna, Italy, evaluates the characteristics of 16 children (with a median age of 14.3 months) who were hospitalized between 2013 and 2022 for VL. Results: Seventy-five percent of patients presented with a triad of fever, cytopenia, and splenomegaly. An abdominal ultrasound examination revealed splenomegaly and hypoechoic spleen abnormalities in 93.8% and 73.3% of cases, respectively. Five VL cases were complicated by secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Eleven patients were treated with a single 10 mg/kg dose of Liposomal Amphotericin B (L-AmB), while five received two doses (total of 20 mg/kg); one of the former groups experienced a recurrence. The fever generally decreased 48 h after the first L-AmB dose, and hemoglobin levels normalized within a month. The splenomegaly resolved in approximately 4.5 months. Conclusions: Pediatricians should consider VL in children with fever of an unknown origin, anemia, cytopenia, and splenomegaly. In our experience, abdominal ultrasounds and molecular tests on peripheral blood contributed to diagnosis without the need for bone marrow aspiration. The short-course therapy with two 10 mg/kg doses of L-AmB is safe and effective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Trends in Infectious Diseases)
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16 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Navigating a Pandemic: Leadership Dynamics and Challenges within Infection Prevention and Control Units in Israel
by Dafna Chen and Stefan Cojocaru
Healthcare 2023, 11(22), 2966; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11222966 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on leadership within infection prevention and control (IPC) units across public hospitals in Israel. Through qualitative interviews with ten IPC managers from nine hospitals, equivalent to 30% of the country’s acute [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on leadership within infection prevention and control (IPC) units across public hospitals in Israel. Through qualitative interviews with ten IPC managers from nine hospitals, equivalent to 30% of the country’s acute care facilities, the research uncovers significant changes in managerial approaches due to the health crisis. The results reveal four main themes: (1) Enhanced managerial autonomy and leadership skills, with a noted rise in self-efficacy against the pandemic’s backdrop; (2) Shifted perceptions of IPC units by upper management, recognizing their strategic value while identifying the need for a more profound understanding of IPC operations; (3) The increased emphasis on adaptability and rapid decision-making for effective crisis management; (4) The dual effect on job satisfaction and well-being, where greater commitment coincides with risks of burnout. The study underscores the essential nature of effective IPC leadership during emergencies, highlighting the need for clear communication, prompt action, and empathetic leadership. The conclusions point to the necessity for continuous research into IPC leadership, promoting strategic advancements in management to bolster IPC units against future health threats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Trends in Infectious Diseases)
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