Gastric cancer and ulcers are responsible for almost 1 million deaths globally each year, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income populations. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major risk factor for both gastric cancer and peptic ulcers, with infection rates surpassing 70% in developing countries and reaching 88% in Jordan. Despite strong evidence linking H. pylori infection to gastric cancer, particularly with CagA-positive strains, public awareness of H. pylori infection, its transmission routes, and associated health risks remains insufficient. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to H. pylori-induced stomach ulcers and cancer in a Jordanian population, focusing on early detection and eradication efforts. A survey was administered to 398 participants to evaluate their understanding of H. pylori and its role in gastric disease. The findings revealed that 64.3% of respondents were aware of H. pylori, with 75.9% recognizing its association with gastric ulcers. However, awareness of the transmission routes and potential complications is limited. The frequent use of antacids for symptom relief also highlights the need for better awareness of appropriate treatments. Public health education targeting these knowledge gaps could help reduce the incidence of H. pylori-related complications, including gastric cancer, especially in high-prevalence areas such as Jordan. Addressing these deficits and promoting preventive strategies, such as improved hygiene and regular medical check-ups, could facilitate early detection and improve health outcomes for individuals at risk of H. pylori-induced infection.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a significant cause of severe nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Various genotyping methods have been employed to study the epidemiology of CRAB. To investigate the genetic diversity of CRAB clinical isolates and determine their relationships to previously reported genotypes in Jordan and the neighboring countries. A total of 107 archived CRAB clinical isolates were reactivated and analyzed using the multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) protocol. Descriptive bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses were applied to the resulting sequence types (STs). MLST identified 11 STs, including three novel STs (ST2528, ST2529, and ST2530), five STs (ST2125, ST708, ST164, ST969, and ST717) were detected in Jordan for the first time, and three STs (ST2, ST600, and ST85) were previously reported in this country. The predominant ST was ST2125, followed by ST2, ST600, and ST85. In addition, while most alleles had been previously reported, three novel alleles (fusA444, fusA445, and recA502) were identified and annotated in PubMLST database. Quantitative bioinformatics analysis revealed a sequence diversity of 0.6 % to 1.6 %, with 1 to 6 polymorphic sites at the allelic genotype level. Phylogenetic analysis of novel and existing STs exhibited genetic relationships with one another and with local STs previously identified in PubMLST database. CRAB MLST underscores the importance of characterizing this pathogen's prevalence, monitoring its outbreak, and improving the clinical management of CRAB-associated infections.

Background: Viral-induced wheezing, a common respiratory issue in children, is characterized by wheezing triggered by viral infections. This study aims to evaluate parental knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding viral-induced wheezing in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 510 parents, recruited from schools and online platforms. Results: The study found that 32.1% of parents had good knowledge about viral-induced wheezing, and 73.5% were aware that it could resolve in children over time. Parents of children with asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopy were more informed about viral-induced wheezing. Regression analysis showed a significant association between children’s recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and parental knowledge. During wheezing episodes, the majority of parents (91.8%) administered medications, and 80.1% used herbal remedies. Conclusion: Parents of children with frequent upper respiratory tract infections exhibited greater knowledge related to wheezing management. Enhancing parental education may contribute to improved symptom recognition and management. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational initiatives and future longitudinal studies to explore the long-term impact of parental knowledge on respiratory outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to assess Jordanian pharmacists’ knowledge of the human microbiome and the impact of their knowledge on their attitudes and practices toward antibiotics and probiotics. Methods: A self-administered survey was designed after reviewing the literature. Participants’ demographics were collected, and questions to evaluate pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward antibiotic and probiotic dispensing were asked. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.26. Pearson correlations and one-way ANOVA were employed to calculate the significance of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: Of the 333 respondents, around 75% (n=250) had a high level of general knowledge regarding the human gut microbiome. Almost equal proportions of participants had either intermediate or high levels of knowledge about the role of gut bacteria in health (n=164, 49.2%) (n=166, 49.8%), respectively, while almost two-thirds had an intermediate level of knowledge of the role of gut bacteria in disease (n=197, 59.2%). More than half of the participants had a positive attitude toward antibiotics, probiotics, and the human microbiome (n=179, 53.8%), and the majority (n=239, 71.8%) had an intermediate level of practice with them. There was a significant positive correlation between pharmacists’ general knowledge of the human microbiome and their positive attitudes (r=0.306, p < 0.01) and practices (r=0.331, p < 0.01) toward antibiotics and probiotics. Conclusion: Study results raise the importance of interventional educational measures to promote healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the human microbiome and their potential beneficence on pharmacists’ attitudes and practices regarding antibiotics and probiotics dispensing. The results also denote the urgent need for probiotics’ clinical guidelines to ensure practice uniformity.

Healthcare professionals working at the frontline, dealing with COVID-19 patients or their samples, should know about variants of concern (VOCs) and their transmissibility, disease severity, and vaccine efficacy. Healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions towards new VOCs affect their practice and attitudes towards their patients. Moreover, these perceptions might significantly impact their patients’ perceptions of new COVID-19 variants and public vaccine acceptability. Online and paper-based questionnaires were distributed among Healthcare professionals in Jordan between August 2021 and October 2021. Among 423 HCPs who participated in this study, a majority believe that when viruses mutate, they become more transmissible (77.8%), more deadly (61.7%), and pathogenic (64.8%). In addition, half of the respondents, perceived current treatments as partially effective against VOCs and current diagnostics to be efficient. However, all VOCs were perceived as more transmissible, more virulent, and related to higher mortality rates when compared to the original strain. Regarding immunity against VOCs, (57.4%) of respondents believe in partial immunity against re-infection, and most respondents were either unsure about the current vaccines’ efficacy or agreed that available vaccines would be ineffective. However, respondents (44.4%) still believe that people previously infected should get vaccinated. Respondents referred to the Ministry of Health as the most reliable source of information (45.6%) and the party responsible for educating the public about COVID-19 VOCs (57.9%). Travel was not a source of worry among respondents. However, they were worried about their families getting the new COVID-19 VOCs from their work. Similar proportions agreed/disagreed on the efficacy of the precautions and infection control measures currently applied by the government for preventing the spread of the new COVID-19 VOCs. Campaigns, workshops, and webinars targeting vaccines are highly recommended among HCPs to increase public acceptance of the vaccine and further booster shots.