scholarly journals The WHO Collaborating Centre for Biosafety in Microbiology

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Tony Della-Porta ◽  
Michael Catton
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
World Health ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Biosafety in Microbiology has been established at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) for over 2 decades and played a significant role in the development of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual and the WHO Biorisk Guidelines. It has also contributed to WHO?s international biosafety programmes and to the raising awareness of biosafety in Australia.

scholarly journals Spot Specimen Testing With GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Results In More Complete TB Diagnostic Results Than Morning Specimens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faridath Massou ◽  
Merlin Fandohan ◽  
Ablo Prudence Wachinou ◽  
Schadrac Christin Agbla ◽  
Gildas Agodokpessi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
World Health ◽  
Smear Microscopy ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background: The diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) using smear microscopy has been based on testing 2 specimens: one spot and one early morning sputum. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended to replace, whenever possible, microscopy with GeneXpert® MTB/RIF performed on a single specimen. However, as the bacterial load is higher in early morning specimens than in spot specimens, one could expect lower sensitivity of GeneXpert® MTB/RIF performed only on spot specimens. In this study, we compared results of GeneXpert® MTB/RIF on spot specimens versus early morning specimens, under programmatic conditions in Cotonou, Benin. Methods: From June to September 2018, all sputa received from presumptive TB patients at the Supranational Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis of Cotonou were included in the study. From each patient, two specimens were collected (one spot and one early morning) and GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was performed on both specimens. Results: In total, 886 participants were included in the study, of whom 737 provided both sputa and 149 (16.8%) gave only the spot specimen. For the 737 participants who provided both sputa, GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was positive for both specimens in 152 participants; for three participants GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was positive on spot specimen but negative on morning specimen while for another three, the test was positive on morning specimen but negative on spot specimen. The overall percentage of agreement was excellent (99.2%) with a very positive and negative percent agreement greater than 98%.Conclusions: For TB diagnosis under programmatic conditions in Cotonou, GeneXpert® MTB/RIF in spot specimens gave similar results with the test in morning specimens. Performing GeneXpert® MTB/RIF in both specimens did not significantly increase the number of cases detected. To avoid losing patients from the diagnostic cascade, it is preferable to test sputa produced at the time of visit.

scholarly journals Redefining the Scope of Ayurveda in Cardiology

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 56-59
Author(s):  
Jithesh Madhavan
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
World Health ◽  
Preventive Cardiology ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have now become the leading cause of mortality or even morbidity in India. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease causes 12 million deaths in the world each year. Even with all the advancements in medicine, the management of CVD’s are yet to be redefined. Ayurveda proposes a different understanding to etiopathogenesis of such conditions and subsequent healthcare, in the context of hrdroga. Latest researches in Ayurveda have given a new hope in CVDs, the curative as well as preventive aspects. With the emergence of increasing number of cardiac problems from the young age itself, it is the time to explore various options available in the alternative areas of medicine. Herbs and dietary supplements can have significant role in preventive cardiology as well as per published studies. Equivalent is the management of associative psychological contributors. In this article, research works of medicinal plants useful in cardiology are described with special emphasis on rasona, arjuna, guggulu, amalaki and gokshura. This work emphasises the scope of such practice so as to popularize the options available in Ayurvedic literature.

scholarly journals The role of the world health organization in solving international public health problems: history, modernity and development prospects

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Epidemics of smallpox, cholera, plague and other infectious diseases in the world in the past were accompanied by the deaths of millions of people and often threatened humanity with destruction as a biological species. Therefore, society was forced to join forces to create an organization that would provide health protection on a global scale. On April 7, 1948, 26 UN member states created the World Health Organization, the main goal of which was to help provide the protection of health of the population of all countries of the world. Purpose of the study - analysis of the historical data of the process of creating the World Health Organization, achievements for all the years of its existence, financing in last years and formation of the opinions of authors on the role of this organization in solving health problems of all humanity. Results. The article presents data on stages of the formation of the World Health Organization. Information about positive results for more than 70 years in solving reproductive health problems, maternal and child mortality, eradicating many infectious diseases in different parts of the world and other problems is detailed. Joint resolutions of the World Health Organization with the United Nations were adopted about general and complete disarmament, protection of humanity from atomic radiation, ban on the use of chemical and bacteriological weapons, defining of the role of doctors and other health workers in the preservation and strengthening of the world. Information on the World Health Organization funding is provided. The prospects for the development of the organization are described. Conclusions. The World Health Organization actively continues its work – maintains contact with international experts, governments and partners for quick collection of scientific data on a new virus, tracks its distribution and assesses its virulence, provides to countries and population recommendations on health protection measures and preventing the spread of infection. The global climatic crisis and the coronavirus infection pandemic showed that the role of the World Health Organization should increase to prevent cataclysms in some countries and globally. It is the World Health Organization that has a huge positive international experience in fighting various public health problems and it remains the only effective organization that consolidates the efforts of most countries of the world to overcome the problems of all humanity.

scholarly journals European Immunization Week 2008 - time for reflection

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Kreidl ◽  
H Gomes ◽  
P L Lopalco ◽  
K Hagmaier ◽  
L Pastore Celentano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
World Health ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This week’s edition of Eurosurveillance is dedicated to European Immunization Week 2008, which will take place from 21 to 27 April. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) organised the first European Immunization Week (http://www.euro.who.int/vaccine/eiw/20050608_1) to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness about the importance of immunisation, with a special focus on reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach population groups. During the week, each participating country implements activities to inform and engage key target groups using the slogan “prevent-protect-immunise” and focuses on critical challenges regarding immunisation in their country.

Infectious Diseases among Migrants in Countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion in the Period before the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 140-151
Author(s):  
Dilyara Syunyakova
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
East Asia ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
World Health ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Greater Mekong Subregion

Migration issues, including the impact of migrant flows on the state of public health in the host country and infectious diseases imported by migrants are currently causing much debate. The aim of this study is to analyze data on the prevalence of infectious diseases among migrants and measures to reduce infectious morbidity taken in the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion, also referred by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. The research materials included reports, statistical materials, program documents by the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and other publications. To analyze the situation with infectious diseases among migrants, we selected materials containing information and statistics on infectious diseases in the countries of the Greater Mekong subregion (China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, also included in the group countries of the Greater Mekong subregion), since it is in these countries that migration flows are very intense and the problem of transmission of infectious diseases from migrants to the population of the host countries is very urgent. Despite the lack of available statistical information on the level of infectious morbidity among migrants in the countries of the WHO regions of South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, as well as different migration and social policies in these countries, the results obtained allow us to conclude that the special programs and measures to reduce morbidity among migrants are yielding positive results. Screening and testing for infectious diseases in migrants, as well as an appropriate social policy in terms of providing universal health insurance for refugees and migrants, would make it possible to timely diagnose infectious diseases in migrants and thus contribute to a decrease in their incidence and, accordingly, the incidence of persistent diseases. the population of the host countries.

scholarly journals Hospital-based Surveillance for Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis in the Era of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S89-S96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Awo Renner ◽  
Effua Usuf ◽  
Nuredin Ibrahim Mohammed ◽  
Daniel Ansong ◽  
Thomas Dankwah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Conjugate Vaccine ◽  
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sentinel Site ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Vaccine Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Global surveillance for vaccine preventable invasive bacterial diseases has been set up by the World Health Organization to provide disease burden data to support decisions on introducing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). We present data from 2010 to 2016 collected at the 2 sentinel sites in Ghana. Methods Data were collected from children <5 years of age presenting at the 2 major teaching hospitals with clinical signs of meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected and tested first at the sentinel site laboratory with conventional microbiology methods and subsequently with molecular analysis, at the World Health Organization Regional Reference Laboratory housed at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, for identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis, the 3 most common bacteria causing meningitis. Results There were 4008 suspected cases of meningitis during the surveillance period, of which 31 (0.8%) were laboratory confirmed. Suspected meningitis cases decreased from 923 in 2010 to 219 in 2016. Of 3817 patients with available outcome data, 226 (5.9%) died. S. pneumoniae was the most common bacterial pathogen, accounting for 68.5% of confirmed cases (50 of 73). H. influenzae and N. meningitidis accounted for 6.8% (5 of 73) and 21.9% (16 of 73), respectively. The proportion of pneumococcal vaccine serotypes causing meningitis decreased from 81.3% (13 of 16) before the introduction of 13-valent PCV (2010–2012) to 40.0% (8 of 20) after its introduction (2013–2016). Conclusions Cases of suspected meningitis decreased among children <5 years of age between 2010 and 2016, with declines in the proportion of vaccine-type pneumococcal meningitis after the introduction of 13-valent PCV in Ghana.

Health and Infectious Disease

2008 ◽  
pp. 581-591
Author(s):  
Gian Luca Burci
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Dimension ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This article reviews the main international and institutional legal aspects of cooperation in the fight against the plague of infectious diseases. It makes a particular reference to the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies of the UN system. This article underscores the intrinsically international dimension of the realization of the essential importance of international cooperation.

scholarly journals Spot specimen testing with GeneXpert MTB/RIF results compared to morning specimen in a programmatic setting in Cotonou, Benin

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faridath Massou ◽  
Merlin Fandohan ◽  
Ablo Prudence Wachinou ◽  
Schadrac Christin Agbla ◽  
Gildas Agodokpessi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
World Health ◽  
Smear Microscopy ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) using smear microscopy has been based on testing two specimens: one spot and one early morning sputa. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended to replace, whenever possible, microscopy with GeneXpert® MTB/RIF performed on a single specimen. However, as the bacterial load is higher in early morning specimens than in spot specimens, one could expect lower sensitivity of GeneXpert® MTB/RIF performed only on spot specimens. In this study, we compared results of GeneXpert® MTB/RIF on spot specimens versus early morning specimens, under programmatic conditions in Cotonou, Benin. Methods From June to September 2018, all sputa received from presumptive TB patients at the Supranational Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis of Cotonou were included in the study. From each patient, two specimens were collected (one spot and one early morning) and GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was performed on both specimens. Results In total, 886 participants were included in the study, of whom 737 provided both sputa and 149 (16.8%) gave only the spot specimen. For the 737 participants who provided both sputa, GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was positive for both specimens in 152 participants; for three participants GeneXpert® MTB/RIF was positive on spot specimen but negative on morning specimen while for another three, the test was positive on morning specimen but negative on spot specimen. The overall percentage of agreement was excellent (99.2%) with a positive and negative percent agreement greater than 98%. Conclusion For TB diagnosis under programmatic conditions in Cotonou, GeneXpert® MTB/RIF in spot specimens gave similar results with the test in morning specimens. Performing GeneXpert® MTB/RIF in both specimens did not significantly increase the number of cases detected. To avoid losing patients from the diagnostic cascade, it is preferable to test sputa produced at the time of the first visit at the health center.

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