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Gastrointestinal manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019
Purpose of review The ubiquitous expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors and its significance as the origin of viral entry have assisted in comprehending the pathophysiology of extrapulmonary manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this review, we focus on the clinical significance of gastrointestinal manifestations. Recent findings The global pandemic, a result of the widespread implications of SARS-CoV-2, remains a significant burden to current healthcare systems. Fever, dyspnea, and tussive symptoms have primarily been recognized as the most...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS: Edited by James A. Platts-Mills Source Type: research

Shigellosis in young children in low-income and middle-income countries: insights from molecular diagnostics
Purpose of review To describe the impact of molecular diagnostics on our understanding of the burden and epidemiology of shigellosis in children in low-income and middle-income countries. Recent findings The incorporation of molecular diagnostics has led to a substantial increase in estimates of the burden of shigellosis and have allowed for further resolution of other aspects of Shigella epidemiology, including the clinical characteristics of shigellosis, the association between clinical and subclinical Shigella infection and linear growth shortfalls, protection after natural infection, duration of convalescent...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS: Edited by James A. Platts-Mills Source Type: research

Emerging treatment options for cryptosporidiosis
Purpose of review Substantial progress has been made recently on the development of new therapeutics for cryptosporidiosis, an infection by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium that is associated with diarrhea, malnutrition, growth stunting, cognitive deficits, and oral vaccine failure in children living in low-resource settings. Recent findings Various drug discovery approaches have generated promising lead candidates. The repurposed antimycobacterial drug clofazimine was tested in Malawian HIV patients with cryptosporidiosis but was ineffective. Target-based screens identified inhibitors of lysyl-tRNA synthe...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS: Edited by James A. Platts-Mills Source Type: research

Where was my patient born? The Intersection of tropical medicine and migrant health
Purpose of review There is unprecedented movement of people across international borders and parasitic infections, previously restricted to endemic regions, are now encountered in nonendemic areas of the world. Recent findings Migrants may import parasitic infections acquired in their countries of origin. Increasingly, clinicians in nonendemic regions are faced with patients with neglected diseases such as Chagas disease, malaria and strongyloidiasis. There are gaps in knowledge among physicians in nonendemic regions, which lead to missed opportunities for preventive strategies and early treatment. Both primary ...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Alveolar echinococcosis: what triggers emergence in North America, Central Europe and Asia?
Purpose of review Infection with the larval (metacestode) stage of Echinococcus multilocularis causes alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a serious hepatic disorder. The parasite has increased its infection extensity in wildlife and domestic dogs, mainly due to urbanization and spatial extension of wildlife hosts in Europe, Asia as well as North America, resulting in emerging infection risk for humans. Recent findings In hyperendemic areas such as Kyrgyzstan and China, ecological and socioeconomic changes have been associated with the unpredictable increase of AE cases. In North America, the appearance of the European...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Artemisinin and multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum – a threat for malaria control and elimination
Purpose of review Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are globally the first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria and new compounds will not be available within the next few years. Artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum emerged over a decade ago in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and, compounded by ACT partner drug resistance, has caused significant ACT treatment failure. This review provides an update on the epidemiology, and mechanisms of artemisinin resistance and approaches to counter multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. Recent findings An aggressive malaria elimination p...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in international travelers
Purpose of review Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria poses a major risk to global public health, with many factors contributing to the observed increase in AMR. International travel is one recognized contributor. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the acquisition, carriage and spread of AMR bacteria by international travelers. Recent findings Recent studies have highlighted that travel is an important risk factor for the acquisition of AMR bacteria, with approximately 30% of studied travelers returning with an acquired AMR bacterium. Epidemiological studies have shown ...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: a scoping review
Purpose of review To examine the literature assessing safety of air travel relating to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission from January 2020 to May 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on air travel and global mobility, and various efforts are being implemented to determine a safe way forward. As the pandemic evolves, so do the challenges that force various stakeholders, including the aviation industry, health authorities, and governments, to reassess and adapt their practices to ensure the safety of travellers. Recent findings The literature was reviewed for multiple aspects ...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

How coronavirus disease will change the face of travel medicine
Purpose of review The current article will review how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has changed travel and travel medicine. Recent findings Travelers spread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 globally and continue to spread variants. The characteristics of the virus, the place, and time created a perfect storm that allowed the virus to quickly spread globally. The virus spread by every mode of travel with risk of transmission influenced by proximity to an infected person, duration of trip, physical characteristics of the space, and ventilation. Superspreading events were common; a small perc...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Global health security as it pertains to Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19
Purpose of review Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic this past year, we have witnessed a significant acceleration in the science, technology, and policy of global health security. This review highlights important progress made toward the mitigation of Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19 outbreaks. These epidemics and their shared features suggest a unified policy and technology agenda that could broadly improve global health security. Recent findings Molecular epidemiology is not yet in widespread use, but shows promise toward informing on-the-ground decision-making during outbreaks. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Policy and planning for large epidemics and pandemics – challenges and lessons learned from COVID-19
Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic is a global catastrophe that has led to untold suffering and death. Many previously identified policy challenges in planning for large epidemics and pandemics have been brought to the fore, and new ones have emerged. Here, we review key policy challenges and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to be better prepared for the future. Recent findings The most important challenges facing policymakers include financing outbreak preparedness and response in a complex political environment with limited resources, coordinating response efforts among a growing and di...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Zoonoses and global epidemics
Purpose of review The purpose of the review is to summarize recent advances in understanding the origins, drivers and clinical context of zoonotic disease epidemics and pandemics. In addition, we aimed to highlight the role of clinicians in identifying sentinel cases of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Recent findings The majority of emerging infectious disease events over recent decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have been caused by zoonotic viruses and bacteria. In particular, coronaviruses, haemorrhagic fever viruses, arboviruses and influenza A viruses have caused significant epidemics globally. There have...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: TROPICAL AND TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES: Edited by Christina M. Coyle Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases)
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - September 19, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research

The front-line during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: healthcare personnel
Purpose of review An estimated four to 11% of reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases occurs in healthcare personnel (HCP). HCP are at high risk of acquiring and transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) given their close contact with individuals with recognized and unrecognized COVID-19. We summarize the literature to date describing the epidemiology, identifying risk factors associated with COVID-19, and analyzing clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCP. Recent findings The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCP ranges from 0.7 to 4...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - July 9, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: NOSOCOMIAL AND HEALTHCARE RELATED INFECTIONS: Edited by Trish M. Perl Source Type: research

MDRO transmission in acute hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic
Purpose of review The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in necessary modifications of infection control policies and practices in acute healthcare facilities globally. This is often accompanied by infrastructure modifications, ward redesignations, as well as healthcare staff redeployments and changes to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. We review the potential for both negative and positive impacts these major changes can have on nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Recent findings Healthcare facilities around the world have reported outbreaks of MD...
Source: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases - July 9, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: NOSOCOMIAL AND HEALTHCARE RELATED INFECTIONS: Edited by Trish M. Perl Source Type: research