Advances in Public Health Microbiology
A project collection of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This project collection belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".
Papers displayed on this page all arise from the same project. Editorial decisions were made independently of project staff and handled by the Editor-in-Chief or qualified Editorial Board members.
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Editor
Dr. Paolo Calistri
Dr. Paolo Calistri
E-Mail
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Guest Editor
Centro Operativo Veterinario per l'Epidemiologia, Programmazione, Informazione e Analisi del Rischio (COVEPI), National Reference Center for Veterinary Epidemiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Interests: epidemiology of animal infectious diseases and zoonoses; risk assessment studies; molecular epidemiology studies on viruses and bacteria; designing surveillance systems for infectious diseases; field epidemiology training; food borne zoonotic diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Project Overview
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue is the continuation of our previous Special Issue, entitled
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/special_issues/8Y208038D0.
This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality review papers in all fields related to Public Health Microbiology. We encourage researchers to contribute papers (comprehensive reviews and research articles) that highlight the latest developments in the field of Public Health Microbiology, or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so.
Dr. Paolo Calistri
Guest Editor
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 collection 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. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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
- public health
- microbiology
- infectious diseases
Published Papers (5 papers)
2024
Open AccessArticle
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Application for Candida auris Outbreak Typing in a Referral Intensive Care Unit: Phylogenetic Analysis and Clustering Cut-Off Definition
by
Antonio Curtoni, Lisa Pastrone, Miriam Cordovana, Alessandro Bondi, Giorgia Piccinini, Mattia Genco, Paolo Bottino, Carlotta Polizzi, Lorenza Cavallo, Narcisa Mandras, Silvia Corcione, Giorgia Montrucchio, Luca Brazzi and Cristina Costa
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Recently
Candida auris has emerged as a multi-resistant fungal pathogen, with a significant clinical impact, and is able to persist for a long time on human skin and hospital environments. It is a critical issue on the WHO fungal priority list and therefore
[...] Read more.
Recently
Candida auris has emerged as a multi-resistant fungal pathogen, with a significant clinical impact, and is able to persist for a long time on human skin and hospital environments. It is a critical issue on the WHO fungal priority list and therefore it is fundamental to reinforce hospital surveillance protocols to limit nosocomial outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to apply Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among isolated strains from a
C. auris outbreak at the University Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary University hospital in Turin (Italy). To calculate a clustering cut-off, intra- and inter-isolate, distance values were analysed. The data showed the presence of a major Alfa cluster and a minor Beta cluster with a defined
C. auris clustering cut-off. The results were validated by an external
C. auris strain and Principal Component and Linear Discriminant Analyses. The application of FT-IR technology allowed to obtain important information about the phylogenetic relationships between the analysed strains, defining for the first time a “not WGS-based” clustering cut-off with a statistical–mathematical approach. FT-IR could represent a valid alternative to molecular methods for the rapid and cost-saving typing of
C. auris strains with important clinical implications.
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Open AccessArticle
Investigation of Healthcare-Acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in an Italian Hematology Department before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by
Federica Petrone, Carmine Gizzi, Alessandro Andriani, Vincenza Martini, Roberta Sala, Angela Abballe, Lucia Capoccetta, Angela Spicciato, Marco Alfio Cutuli, Antonio Guarnieri, Noemi Venditti, Roberto Di Marco and Giulio Petronio Petronio
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Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made antibiotic resistance (AMR) and healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) increasingly serious problems. Point-prevalence Surveys (PPS) and other surveillance techniques are essential for antimicrobial management and prevention. Methods: In a hematology department of an Italian hospital, the prevalence of HAI,
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has made antibiotic resistance (AMR) and healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) increasingly serious problems. Point-prevalence Surveys (PPS) and other surveillance techniques are essential for antimicrobial management and prevention. Methods: In a hematology department of an Italian hospital, the prevalence of HAI, microbiology, and AMR were examined in this retrospective study in two different periods, namely 2019 and 2021 (pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, respectively). Comparisons were made between patient demographics, hospitalization duration, surveillance swabs, and HAIs. Findings: There was no discernible variation in the prevalence of HAI between 2019 and 2021. Higher rates of HAI were connected with longer hospital stays. Variations in antimicrobial susceptibility and species distribution were found by microbiological analysis. Discussion: The incidence of HAI stayed constant during the epidemic. Nevertheless, shifts in antibiotic susceptibility and microbiological profiles highlight the necessity of continuous monitoring and care. Conclusions: Despite the difficulties of COVID-19, ongoing surveillance and infection control initiatives are crucial for halting HAIs and battling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare environments. To fully understand the pandemic’s long-term impact on the spread of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, more research is required.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Development of Multiplex RT qPCR Assays for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Faecal Indicator Bacteria in Bathing Recreational Waters
by
Marina Carrasco-Acosta and Pilar Garcia-Jimenez
Viewed by 789
Abstract
In this study, we designed and validated in silico and experimentally a rapid, sensitive, and specific multiplex RT qPCR for the detection and quantification of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) used as microbiological references in marine bathing water regulations (
Escherichia coli and intestinal
[...] Read more.
In this study, we designed and validated in silico and experimentally a rapid, sensitive, and specific multiplex RT qPCR for the detection and quantification of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) used as microbiological references in marine bathing water regulations (
Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci). The 16S rRNA gene was used to quantify group-specific enterococci and
Escherichia/Shigella and species-specific such as
Enterococcus faecalis and
E. faecium. Additionally, a
ybbW gene encoding allantoin transporter protein was used to detect
E. coli. An assessment of marine coastal systems (i.e., marine water and sediment) revealed that intestinal enterococci were the predominant group compared to
Escherichia/
Shigella. The low contribution of
E. faecalis to the intestinal enterococci group was reported. As
E. faecalis and
E. faecium were reported at low concentrations, it is assumed that other enterococci of faecal origin are contributing to the high gene copy number of this group-specific enterococci. Moreover, low 16S rRNA gene copy numbers with respect to
E. faecalis and
E. faecium were reported in seawater compared to marine sediment. We conclude that marine sediments can affect the quantification of FIBs included in bathing water regulations. Valuing the quality of the marine coastal system through sediment monitoring is recommended.
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Open AccessReview
Contemporary Insights into Hepatitis C Virus: A Comprehensive Review
by
Malik Sallam and Roaa Khalil
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health challenge. Approximately 50 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C based on the World Health Organization as of 2024, contributing extensively to global morbidity and mortality. The advent and approval of several direct-acting
[...] Read more.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health challenge. Approximately 50 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C based on the World Health Organization as of 2024, contributing extensively to global morbidity and mortality. The advent and approval of several direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens significantly improved HCV treatment, offering potentially high rates of cure for chronic hepatitis C. However, the promising aim of eventual HCV eradication remains challenging. Key challenges include the variability in DAA access across different regions, slightly variable response rates to DAAs across diverse patient populations and HCV genotypes/subtypes, and the emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs), potentially conferring resistance to DAAs. Therefore, periodic reassessment of current HCV knowledge is needed. An up-to-date review on HCV is also necessitated based on the observed shifts in HCV epidemiological trends, continuous development and approval of therapeutic strategies, and changes in public health policies. Thus, the current comprehensive review aimed to integrate the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and preventive strategies for HCV, with a particular focus on the current challenges associated with RASs and ongoing efforts in vaccine development. This review sought to provide healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers with the necessary insights to address the HCV burden more effectively. We aimed to highlight the progress made in managing and preventing HCV infection and to highlight the persistent barriers challenging the prevention of HCV infection. The overarching goal was to align with global health objectives towards reducing the burden of chronic hepatitis, aiming for its eventual elimination as a public health threat by 2030.
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Open AccessArticle
Selective Pressure and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages BF.7 and BQ.1.1 Circulating in Italy from July to December 2022
by
Alessandra Lo Presti, Luigina Ambrosio, Angela Di Martino, Arnold Knijn, Luca De Sabato, Gabriele Vaccari, Ilaria Di Bartolo, Stefano Morabito, Anna Teresa Palamara, Paola Stefanelli and on behalf of the Italian Genomic Laboratory Network
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Abstract
In this work, we studied the selective pressure and evolutionary analysis on the SARS-CoV-2 BF.7 and BQ.1.1 lineages circulating in Italy from July to December 2022. Two different datasets were constructed: the first comprised 694 SARS-CoV-2 BF.7 lineage sequences and the second comprised
[...] Read more.
In this work, we studied the selective pressure and evolutionary analysis on the SARS-CoV-2 BF.7 and BQ.1.1 lineages circulating in Italy from July to December 2022. Two different datasets were constructed: the first comprised 694 SARS-CoV-2 BF.7 lineage sequences and the second comprised 734 BQ.1.1 sequences, available in the Italian COVID-19 Genomic (I-Co-Gen) platform and GISAID (last access date 15 December 2022). Alignments were performed with MAFFT v.7 under the Galaxy platform. The HYPHY software was used to study the selective pressure. Four positively selected sites (two in
nsp3 and two in the
spike) were identified in the BF.7 dataset, and two (one in ORF8 and one in the spike gene) were identified in the BQ.1.1 dataset. Mutation analysis revealed that R408S and N440K are very common in the
spike of the BF.7 genomes, as well as L452R among BQ.1.1. N1329D and Q180H in
nsp3 were found, respectively, at low and rare frequencies in BF.7, while I121L and I121T were found to be rare in ORF8 for BQ.1.1. The positively selected sites may have been driven by the selection for increased viral fitness, under circumstances of defined selective pressure, as well by host genetic factors.
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