Genetic diversity and relatedness of feline parvovirus in Vietnam and its potential implications for canine-feline transmission.

Feline panleukopenia, caused by feline parvovirus (FPV), has been studied worldwide, but there have been very few studies conducted in Vietnam. In this study, 19 rectal swab samples were collected from northern Vietnam in 2018-2019 and screened for the presence of FPV using PCR. Through sequence analysis of the full-length VP2 gene, it was found that the FPV strains detected in Vietnam were closely related to those obtained from dogs in Vietnam, Asia, Europe, and America. Moreover, the FPV strains found in Vietnam may constitute a distinct group, related to viruses sampled in China. Interestingly, most of the nucleotide changes identified were T-C substitutions.

Comparative Analysis of Audio Processing Techniques on Doppler Radar Signature of Human Walking Motion Using CNN Models.

Artificial intelligence (AI) radar technology offers several advantages over other technologies, including low cost, privacy assurance, high accuracy, and environmental resilience. One challenge faced by AI radar technology is the high cost of equipment and the lack of radar datasets for deep-learning model training. Moreover, conventional radar signal processing methods have the obstacles of poor resolution or complex computation. Therefore, this paper discusses an innovative approach in the integration of radar technology and machine learning for effective surveillance systems that can surpass the aforementioned limitations. This approach is detailed into three steps: signal acquisition, signal processing, and feature-based classification. A hardware prototype of the signal acquisition circuitry was designed for a Continuous Wave (CW) K-24 GHz frequency band radar sensor. The collected radar motion data was categorized into non-human motion, human walking, and human walking without arm swing. Three signal processing techniques, namely short-time Fourier transform (STFT), mel spectrogram, and mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), were employed. The latter two are typically used for audio processing, but in this study, they were proposed to obtain micro-Doppler spectrograms for all motion data. The obtained micro-Doppler spectrograms were then fed to a simplified 2D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) architecture for feature extraction and classification. Additionally, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and 1D CNN models were implemented for comparative analysis on various aspects. The experimental results demonstrated that the 2D CNN model trained on the MFCC feature outperformed the other two methods. The accuracy rate of the object classification models trained on micro-Doppler features was 97.93%, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Endolysin LysSTG2: Characterization and application to control Salmonella Typhimurium biofilm alone and in combination with slightly acidic hypochlorous water.

The gene encoding LysSTG2, an endolysin from Salmonella-lytic bacteriophage STG2, was cloned, overexpressed, and characterized. LysSTG2 consists of a single domain belonging to the Peptidase_M15 superfamily. LysSTG2 showed strong lytic activity against chloroform-treated S. Typhimurium cells after incubation at 4-50 °C for 30 min, at pH ranging from 7.0 to 11.0, and in the presence of NaCl from 0 to 300 mmol/L. It also showed lytic activity against all the 14 tested Gram-negative strains treated with chloroform, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not against the Gram-positive bacteria tested. In addition, LysSTG2 (100 µg/mL) reduced the viability of S. Typhimurium NBRC 12529 planktonic cells by 1.2 log and that of the biofilm cells after 1-h treatment. Sequential treatment of slightly acidic hypochlorous water (SAHW) containing 40 mg/L available chlorine and LysSTG2 (100 µg/mL) was effective on S. Typhimurium NBRC 12529 biofilm cells, removing more than 99% of biofilm cells. These results demonstrate that LysSTG2 alone can effectively kill S. Typhimurium cells after permeabilization treatment and successfully control S. Typhimurium in biofilms in combination with SAHW, suggesting that the combined use of LysSTG2 and SAHW might be a novel and promising method for combating S. Typhimurium in food industries.

Inhibition of phage-resistant bacterial pathogen re-growth with the combined use of bacteriophages and EDTA.

The combined effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and bacteriophage (phage) treatment of foodborne pathogens were investigated. Although viable counts for Campylobacter jejuni decreased by 1.5 log after incubation for 8 h in the presence of phage PC10, re-growth was observed thereafter. The combination of phage PC10 and 1 mM EDTA significantly inhibited the re-growth of C. jejuni. The viable counts for C. jejuni decreased by 2.6 log (P < 0.05) compared with that of the initial count after 24 h. Moreover, EDTA at 0.67 or 1.3 mM, combined with the specific lytic phages, also effectively inhibited the re-growth of phage-resistant cells of Campylobacter coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. In addition, the combined effects of lytic phages and EDTA were investigated on the viability of Campylobacter in BHI broth at low temperatures followed by the optimum growth temperature. The re-growth of C. coli was significantly inhibited by the coexistence of 1.3 mM EDTA, and the viable counts of surviving bacteria was about the same as the initial viable count after the incubation. This is the first study demonstrating the combined use of lytic phages and EDTA is effective in inhibiting the re-growth of phage-resistant bacteria in Gram-negative bacteria.

Synthesis and Antiplasmodial Activity of Bisindolylcyclobutenediones.

Malaria is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. Because the causative Plasmodium parasites have developed resistances against virtually all established antimalarial drugs, novel antiplasmodial agents are required. In order to target plasmodial kinases, novel N-unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenediones were designed as analogs to the kinase inhibitory bisindolylmaleimides. Molecular docking experiments produced favorable poses of the unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenedione in the ATP binding pocket of various plasmodial protein kinases. The synthesis of the title compounds was accomplished by sequential Friedel-Crafts acylation procedures. In vitro screening of the new compounds against transgenic NF54-luc P. falciparum parasites revealed a set of derivatives with submicromolar activity, of which some displayed a reasonable selectivity profile against a human cell line. Although the molecular docking studies suggested the plasmodial protein kinase PfGSK-3 as the putative biological target, the title compounds failed to inhibit the isolated enzyme in vitro. As selective submicromolar antiplasmodial agents, the N-unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenediones are promising starting structures in the search for antimalarial drugs, albeit for a rational development, the biological target addressed by these compounds has yet to be identified.

Isolation and application of bacteriophages alone or in combination with nisin against planktonic and biofilm cells of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious foodborne pathogen since it has ability to produce variety of toxins including heat-stable enterotoxin, form biofilm, and acquire resistance to antibiotics. Biocontrol of foodborne pathogens by lytic bacteriophages garners increasing interest from both researchers and food industry. In the present study, 29 phages against S. aureus were successfully isolated from chicken, pork, and fish. Characterization of the isolates revealed that phage SA46-CTH2 belonging to Podoviridae family had a number of features suitable for food industry applications such as wide host range, short latent period, large burst size, high stress tolerance, and a genome free of virulence genes. Furthermore, phage SA46-CTH2 alone or in combination with nisin exhibited great efficacy in reducing planktonic and biofilm cells of S. aureus at various conditions tested. The combination of phage SA46-CTH2 and nisin was also found to be able to inhibit the regrowth of S. aureus at both 37 and 24 °C.Key points• A total of 29 S. aureus phages were successfully isolated from fish, pork, and chicken products. • Phage SA46-CTH2 was characterized by host range, morphology, and genome sequencing. • SA46-CTH2 significantly reduced both planktonic and biofilm cells of S. aureus. • Combination of SA46-CTH2 and nisin inhibited the regrowth of S. aureus.

A heterologous prime-boost strategy for immunization against Dengue virus combining the Tetra DIIIC subunit vaccine candidate with the TV005 live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine.

The development of live-attenuated vaccines against Dengue virus (DENV) has been problematic. Dengvaxia, licensed in several countries where DENV is endemic, has shown low efficacy profiles and there are safety concerns prohibiting its administration to children younger than 9 years old, and the live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine (LATV) developed by NIAID has proven too reactogenic during clinical trialing. In this work we examined whether the combination of TV005, a LATV-derived formulation, with Tetra DIIIC, a subunit vaccine candidate based on fusion proteins derived from structural proteins from all four DENV serotypes, can overcome the respective limitations of these two vaccine approaches. Rhesus macaques were first primed with one or two doses of Tetra DIIIC and then boosted with TV005, following the time course of the appearance of virus-binding and neutralizing antibodies, and evaluating protection by means of a challenge experiment with wild-type viruses. Although the two evaluated prime-boost regimes were equivalent to a single administration of TV005 in terms of the development of virus-binding and neutralizing antibodies as well as the protection against viral challenge, both regimes reduced vaccine viremia to undetectable levels. Thus, the combination of Tetra DIIIC with TV005 offers a potential solution to the reactogenicity problems, which have beset the development of the latter vaccine candidate.

Application of bacteriophages in simultaneously controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7 and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli (ESBLEC) are important bacteria of public health concern and frequently isolated from raw beef products. Bacteriophage-based methods have been increasingly exploited to control bacterial contamination in meats. Here, we describe the isolation, characterization, and application of a lytic phage PE37 for the simultaneous bio-control of STEC O157:H7 and ESBLEC. Phage PE37, isolated from the bovine intestine, was morphologically characterized as a member of the Myoviridae family, with a broad host range and great stability under various stress conditions. Sequencing analysis revealed that the genomic DNA of phage PE37 contains genes that contribute to virion structure, replication, assembly, and host lysis. PE37 significantly reduced the viable counts of STEC O157:H7 by 4.9 and 2.6 log CFU/mL in broth after 6 h of incubation at 25 and 8 °C, respectively. Application of phage PE37 to raw beef artificially contaminated with STEC O157:H7 resulted in significant reductions in the viable counts by 2.3 and 0.9 log CFU/piece after 24 h of storage at 25 and 8 °C, respectively. Treatment of raw beef contaminated with a bacterial cocktail of STEC O157:H7 and ESBLEC with PE37 also significantly decreased the viable counts of the bacterial mixture by 1.4 and 1.0 log CFU/piece after 24 h of incubation at 25 and 8 °C, respectively. These findings suggest that bacteriophage PE37 may be a potential bio-agent for controlling STEC O157:H7 and ESBLEC contamination in raw beef.

Characterization of rubella virus genotypes among pregnant women in northern Vietnam, 2011-2013.

Rubella virus (RV) infection is an unresolved clinical complication that affects children in developing countries including Vietnam. RV infection during the first trimester of pregnancy causes severe birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome. This study reports on the genomic characterization of RV strains circulating in northern Vietnam during 2011-2013. RV-IgM positive amniotic fluid specimens were collected from 38 women from northern Vietnam who presented with clinical rubella at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hanoi, Vietnam. The RV genes were determined by nested PCR with primers amplifying the 739-nucleotide coding region of the E1 gene. The sequences from the amplified DNA fragments were phylogenetically analyzed and compared to reference RV strains. Seventeen out of 38 samples are positive for RV detecting. All new RV isolates are clustered to genotype 2B. Eighteen amino acid mutations were found in the T and B cell epitopes. These results suggest that genotype 2B RV strains frequently circulate in northern Vietnam. These data describe the RV genotype in Vietnam with the aim of improving maternal and child health in this country.

Identification of the newly identified subtilase cytotoxin-encoding gene (subAB2-2) among clinical Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates.

Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is an important virulence factor of eae-negative Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Three variants of SubAB-encoding genes have been reported in the literature; however, the newly described subAB variant (subAB2-2) was found only in STEC strains from deer meat, sheep, and some wild animals. In this study, subAB variants were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing in 5 out of 12 (41.6%) eae-negative STEC strains isolated from patients. Most subAB-positive STEC strains (80%) harbored the subAB1 gene. The subAB2-2 gene was detected for the first time in the clinical STEC O128:H2 strain. Other virulence genes including stx1a, stx1c, stx2b, ehxA, and tia were also detected in this strain. The DNA sequence analyses of the subAB1 and subAB2-2 genes of the clinical STEC strains showed 99% and 100% identity to those of the reference strains 98NK2 and LM27558stx2, respectively. This is the first report on the detection of the subAB2-2 gene in a clinical STEC isolate.

Prevalence and Phage-Based Biocontrol of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Raw Milk of Cows with Subclinical Mastitis in Vietnam.

S. aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus, has been recognized as a main cause of bovine mastitis and food poisoning. This study investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and phage-based biocontrol of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolated from raw milk of cows with subclinical mastitis. The results showed that the prevalence of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus was 12% (48/400) and 1.5% (6/400), respectively. The S. aureus isolates were highly resistant to penicillin (72.92%), erythromycin (43.75%), and tetracycline (39.58%). Out of 48 S. aureus isolates, 6 were identified as methicillin-resistant strains. Among them, one isolate was found to harbor the sea gene. A total of 5 phages were recovered from 50 pork and 50 chicken meat samples, 1 from pork and 4 from chicken meat samples. Phage PSA2 capable of lysing all 6 methicillin-resistant isolates was selected for characterization. The use of phage PSA2 completely inactivated methicillin-resistant S. aureus SA33 in raw milk at both 24 °C and 4 °C, indicating its potential as a promising antibacterial agent in controlling methicillin-resistant S. aureus in raw milk and treating bovine mastitis.

First Report on the Occurrence and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Colistin-Resistant Escherichia coli in Raw Beef and Cow Feces in Vietnam.

Colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (COE) has been recently recognized as a serious threat to animal and human health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of COE isolated from raw beef and cow feces in Vietnam. Our results showed that 16% (16/100) and 32% (32/100) of raw beef and cow feces samples were positive for COE, respectively. A total of 48 COE strains were isolated, with 16 originating from raw beef and 32 from cow feces samples. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that the COE isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, florfenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid, with resistance rates ranging from 66.67% to 87.5%. In addition, 87.5% of the isolates were identified to be multidrug-resistant strains. Further molecular characterization indicated that all COE isolates carried the mcr-1 gene, with 16 of them also harboring blaCTX-M-55 genes. Taken together, the findings in this study demonstrate that raw beef and cow feces are important sources of COE, which can be potentially transmitted to humans through the food chain.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Clostridium perfringens Isolated from Pork and Chicken Meat in Vietnam.

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens as it can cause food poisoning in humans and necrotic enteritis in both animals and humans. Meat, especially pork and chicken meat, is considered the main vehicle for the transmission of C. perfringens from animals to humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, toxinotype, and antimicrobial resistance profile of C. perfringens isolated from pork and chicken meat sold in Vietnam. The isolation results showed that 15/50 (30%) of pork samples and 8/50 (16%) of chicken meat samples were contaminated with C. perfringens. The isolates exhibited their highest resistance rate to tetracycline (21/23; 91.30%) and clindamycin (10/23; 43.48%). On the contrary, their lowest resistance rates were observed in response to imipenem (2/23; 8.70%) and cefoxitin (1/23; 4.35%). In particular, 34.78% (8/23) of C. perfringens isolates were identified to be multidrug-resistant strains. The results of toxin genotyping indicated that all isolates were positive for the cpa gene and belonged to type A.

Antibiotic Resistance Profile and Bio-Control of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Raw Milk in Vietnam Using Bacteriophages.

E. coli is an important zoonotic pathogen capable of causing foodborne illness and bovine mastitis. Bacteriophages have been increasingly considered a promising tool to control unwanted bacteria. The aim of this study is to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli isolated from raw milk and the efficacy of phage in controlling multidrug-resistant E. coli in raw milk. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed the highest resistance rates of E. coli isolates to co-trime (27.34%) and ampicillin (27.34%), followed by streptomycin (25.18%), tetracycline (23.02%), and the lowest resistance rates to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, and ceftazidime, all at a rate of 2.16%. All isolates were susceptible to meropenem. Of the 139 E. coli isolates, 57 (41.01%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 35 (25.18%) were classified as MDR strains. Molecular characterization indicated that 5 (3.6%) out of the 139 isolates were STEC strains carrying stx1 gene. Seven (5.04%) isolates were phenotypically identified as ESBLEC, and four isolates (2.88%) were resistant to colistin. The results of the genotypic test revealed that four out of seven ESBLEC strains carried both blaTEM and blaCTX-M-1, two harbored blaTEM, and one possessed blaCTX-M-1, while mcr-1 was detected in all four colistin-resistant E. coli isolates. In particular, one isolated E. coli strain (EM148) was determined to be a multidrug-resistant strain simultaneously carrying blaTEM, blaCTX-M-1, and mcr-1. A total of eight phages were successfully recovered from raw milk. The application of phage PEM3 significantly reduced viable counts of multidrug-resistant host EM148 in raw milk by at least 2.31 log CFU/mL at both 24 °C and 4 °C.

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Raw Beef, Pork, and Chicken Meat in Vietnam.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most important foodborne pathogens, and the rise of antibiotic resistance to it is a significant threat to global public health. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence, molecular characterization, and antibiotic resistance of STEC isolated from raw meat in Vietnam. The findings in this study showed that the prevalence of STEC in raw beef, pork, and chicken meat was 9.72% (7/72), 5.56% (4/72), and 1.39% (1/72), respectively. The STEC isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin (91.67%) and tetracycline (91.67%), followed by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (83.33%), streptomycin (75%), and florfenicol (66.67%). The incidence of STEC virulence-associated genes, including stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA, was 8.33% (1/12), 91.67% (11/12), 33.33% (4/12), and 58.33% (7/12), respectively. STEC serogroups O157, O26, and O111 were detected in 3 out of 12 STEC isolates. Two isolates were found to be ESBL producers carrying the blaCTX-M-55 gene, and three isolates were colistin-resistant strains harboring the mcr-1 gene. Notably, a STEC O111 isolate from chicken meat harbored both the blaCTX-M-55 and mcr-1 genes.

Bidirectional Glenn operation without cardiopulmonary bypass: Single center experience and results.

BACKGROUND: The bidirectional Glenn (BDG) shunt operation serves as temporary surgery for the treatment of single-ventricle physiology with the eventual Fontan procedure. In some cases, the procedure can be performed without the support of a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine. In this study, we present the surgical outcomes of off-pump BDG operation with the use of a temporary veno-atrial shunt to decompress the superior vena cava (SVC) during clamping time. METHODS: A cohort of 23 patients underwent off-pump BDG operations at Cardiovascular Center, E Hospital. All patients were operated on using a veno-atrial shunt to decompress the SVC. RESULTS: Satisfactory results with mean oxygen saturation increased from 79.6 ± 11.2% to 87.2 ± 4.7%. The SVC clamping time was 14 ± 2.4 min (ranging from 12 to 21 min). Among 23 patients, only six patients required blood transfusion, 17 patients had BDG without blood transfusion. No neurological complications or deaths occurred after the surgery, and the post-operative period was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: The use of veno-atrial shunts to decompress SVC during off-pump BDG operation is safe with good surgical outcomes and can avoid the deleterious effects caused by CPB. It is easily reproducible, at low cost and economically effective.

Outcomes of balloon angioplasty and stent placement for iliac artery lesions classified as TASC II A, B: a single-center study.

Background: Iliac artery stenosis or occlusion is a critical condition that can severely impact a patient's quality of life. The effectiveness of balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stenting for the treatment of iliac artery lesions classified as TASC II A and B was evaluated in this single-center prospective study. Methods: Conducted between October 2016 and September 2020 at Cho Ray Hospital's Vascular Surgery Department, this prospective study involved PAD patients categorized by TASC II A and B classifications who underwent endovascular intervention. Intervention outcomes were assessed peri-procedure and during short-term and mid-term follow-ups. Results: Of the total of 133 patients, 34.6% underwent balloon angioplasty, while 65.4% received stenting. The immediate technical success rate was 97.7%, while the clinical success rate was 62.4%. Complications were minimal, with major limb amputation reported in 1.5% of the cases. There was a significant improvement in Rutherford classification and ABI at short-term follow-up, with a patency rate of 90.2%. The mid-term post-intervention follow-up yielded similar results with an 86.1% patency rate. The mortality rates associated with arterial occlusion were 2.3% during short-term follow-up and 1.7% during mid-term follow-up. Conclusion: Balloon angioplasty and stent placement are effective and safe interventions for TASC II A and B iliac artery occlusions with favorable short and mid-term outcomes. Further, multi-center studies with larger sample sizes are recommended for more comprehensive conclusions, including long-term follow-up assessment.

Increase in human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis prevalence and incidence among men who have sex with men, vietnam 2015 - 2020.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed trends in HIV and syphilis prevalence, HIV incidence, related risk factors, and preventive behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam from 2015 to 2020. METHODS: Data originated from the HIV Sentinel Surveillance Plus system, which sampled MSM at venues and hotspots in seven of Vietnam's 63 provinces in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020 (N = 1100-1445 per year; ∼150-300 per province per year). RESULTS: HIV prevalence estimates increased from 6.6% (95% CI 4.5-9.6) in 2015 to 13.8% (95% CI 10.5-18.2, p = .001 for trend) in 2020 overall, and separately in An Giang, Can Tho, Hai Phong, and Khanh Hoa provinces but not in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Kien Giang. Syphilis prevalence increased from 2.7% (95% CI 1.4-5.1) in 2015 to 12.6% (95% CI 8.7-18.0) in 2020 overall (p < .001 for trend), and separately in An Giang, Can Tho, and Hai Phong provinces but not in Ho Chi Minh City or Kien Giang. We calculated time-at-risk from first anal sex to first HIV-positive or last HIV-negative test to estimate HIV incidence. Estimated HIV incidence suggested increasing rates of seroconversion from 1.36 per 100 person-years experienced by participants in 2015 to 2.61 per 100 person-years among participants in 2020 (hazard ratio per year 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.18, p < .001). There was a statistically significant increase in HIV testing, STI testing, and receipt of free condoms over the period (p < .05 for trend), and a statistically significant decrease in amphetamine use (p = .043 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Despite prevention efforts and improvements in some risk indicators, consecutive cross-sectional sampling results provide evidence of increasing incidence of HIV and syphilis among MSM in Vietnam, especially outside the major cities. Aggressive HIV prevention and treatment services can be expanded while conducting deeper investigations into the causes of these increases.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated at a General Hospital in Vietnam Between 2014 and 2021.

Purpose: Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal bacteria species that can cause various illnesses, from mild skin infections to severe diseases, such as bacteremia. The distribution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern of S. aureus varies by population, time, geographic location, and hospital wards. In this study, we elucidated the epidemiology and AMR patterns of S. aureus isolated from a general hospital in Vietnam. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data on all S. aureus infections from 2014 to 2021 were collected from the Microbiology department of Military Hospital 103, Vietnam. Only the first isolation from each kind of specimen from a particular patient was analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage and chi-square tests. Results: A total of 1130 individuals were diagnosed as S. aureus infection. Among them, 1087 strains were tested for AMR features. Most patients with S. aureus infection were in the age group of 41-65 years (39.82%). S. aureus isolates were predominant in the surgery wards, and pus specimens were the most common source of isolates (50.62%). S. aureus was most resistant to azithromycin (82.28%), erythromycin (82.82%), and clindamycin (82.32%) and least resistant to teicoplanin (0.0%), tigecycline (0.16%), quinupristin-dalfopristin (0.43%), linezolid (0.62%), and vancomycin (2.92%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus were prevalent, accounting for 73.02% and 60.90% of the total strains respectively, and the strains isolated from the intensive care unit (ICU) had the highest percentage of multidrug resistance (77.78%) among the wards. Conclusion: These findings highlight the urgent need for continuous AMR surveillance and updated treatment guidelines, particularly considering high resistance in MRSA, MDR strains, and ICU isolates. Future research focusing on specific resistant populations and potential intervention strategies is crucial to combat this rising threat.

An approach for differentiating echovirus 30 and Japanese encephalitis virus infections in acute meningitis/encephalitis: a retrospective study of 103 cases in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, Echovirus 30 (E30) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) have been reported to be the common causative agents of acute meningitis among patients in South East Asia. An E30 outbreak in Vietnam in 2001-2002 gained our interest because the initial clinical diagnosis of infected patients was due to JEV infection. There are few clinical insights regarding E30 cases, and there are no reports comparing E30 and JEV acute meningitis/encephalitis cases based on clinical symptoms and case histories. We therefore aimed to identify reliable clinical methods to differentiate E30 and JEV acute meningitis/encephalitis. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to compare E30 and JEV acute meningitis/encephalitis cases. We collected and analyzed the clinical records of 43 E30 confirmed cases (E30 group) and 60 JEV confirmed cases (JEV group). Clinical data were compared between the E30 and the JEV groups. Differences of clinical parameters were analyzed by certain statistical tests. RESULTS: Fever, headache, and vomiting were the most common symptoms in both the E30 and the JEV groups. Combined symptoms of headache and vomiting and the triad of symptoms of fever, headache, and vomiting were observed in more patients in the E30 group (E30 vs. JEV: 19% vs. 0%, p < 0.001; 74% vs. 27%, p < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, strong neurological symptoms such as seizure (5% vs. 73%, p < 0.001) and altered consciousness (12% vs. 97%, p < 0.001) were manifested primarily in the JEV group. CSF leukocytosis was observed predominantly in the E30 group (80 vs. 18 cells/µL, p = 0.003), whereas decreasing CSF sugar level was observed predominantly in the JEV group (58.7 vs. 46.9 mg/dL, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fever, headache, vomiting, absence of neurological symptoms (seizure, altered consciousness), and presence of CSF leukocytosis are important parameters to consider in differentiating E30 from JEV cases during early infection. Then, proper measures can be adopted immediately to prevent the spread of the disease in the affected areas.