Rapid changes in Thailand’s nutrition and lifestyles have led to increasing diet-related pathologies among people with sedentary occupations. This study examines the extent to which the dietary intake of nutrients and energy by a sample of Thai sedentary workers conforms to the Thai Dietary Reference Intakes (Thai DRIs). The nutrients and energy intake estimates were based on self-reported information collected with a single 24-hour dietary recall and nonweighed 2-day food record. The study participants were Thai adults aged 20–50 years employed in sedentary occupations. A convenience sample of 215 healthy individuals (75 males and 140 females) was based on four randomly selected worksites in the Bangkok metropolitan area. For male participants, the study found a median energy intake of 1,485 kcal/day, with 54.4% of energy coming from carbohydrate, 15.9% from protein, and 29.6% from fat. Females’ median energy intake was 1,428 kcal/day, 56% of which came from carbohydrate, 16.2% from protein, and 28.6% from fat. Both genders showed insufficient intake of fiber and most micronutrients. This study provides the material for preventive public health interventions focusing on nutrition-related diseases affecting Thailand’s rapidly growing sedentary workforce.

The prevalence of epidemiological health-risk behaviors and mental well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic, stratified by sociodemographic factors in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) university students, were examined in the research. Data were collected in March–June 2021 via an online survey from 15,366 university students from 17 universities in seven ASEAN countries. Analyzed data comprised results on physical activity, health-related behaviors, mental well-being, and sociodemographic information. A large proportion of university students consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (82.0%; 95%CI: 81.4, 82.6) and snacks/fast food daily (65.2%; 95%CI: 64.4, 66.0). About half (52.2%; 95%CI: 51.4, 53.0) consumed less than the recommended daily amounts of fruit/vegetable and had high salt intake (54%; 95%CI: 53.3, 54.8). Physical inactivity was estimated at 39.7% (95%CI: 38.9, 40.5). A minority (16.7%; 95%CI: 16.1, 17.3) had low mental well-being, smoked (8.9%; 95%CI: 8.4, 9.3), and drank alcohol (13.4%; 95%CI: 12.8, 13.9). Country and body mass index had a significant correlation with many health-risk behaviors and mental well-being. The research provided important baseline data for guidance and for the monitoring of health outcomes among ASEAN university students and concludes that healthy diet, physical activity, and mental well-being should be key priority health areas for promotion among university students.

Introduction. In recent decades, the developing countries of Southeast Asia, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), have experienced a rapid growth of their urban population. Partly as a result of that, issues of undernutrition and overnutrition became a significant public health problem. Objective. To examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their related factors, among the school-attending adolescents in the Lao capital of Vientiane. Methods. A cross-sectional data on 300 adolescents aged 15–19 were collected during the months of March, April, and May 2018 by means of a self-administrated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were used to obtain data on height and weight. Pearson’s chi-squared test, Fisher exact tests, and univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were applied in the course of the statistical analysis. Results. The study found a high prevalence of overweight/obesity (23.3%) and thinness (10.3%). Poor eating habits were noted in 67.0% of adolescents, even though 78.0% of them had a good knowledge of nutrition. Factors significantly associated with the overweight/obesity were low physical activities (aOR = 18.3; 95% CI: 5.51–60.66) and adolescents living with their guardians (aOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08–0.79). Results also indicated that, in 47.3% of the cases, teachers, acting as a source of health and nutrition information, can prevent the risk of adolescents’ overweight/obesity (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.11–3.80) but not their thinness (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.17–0.88). Conclusions. Laotian adolescents are facing the spectrum of malnutrition in urban areas. To improve adolescents’ nutritional status, there is a need for a collaborative approach of public health agencies that would address the issues of an effective food and nutrition policy. The school curricula should also include programs on nutrition and physical education.

Carbapenems are critical for treating patients infected with multidrug‐resistant bacteria; however, the use of carbapenems has also facilitated the selection and spreading of carbapenem‐resistant organisms (CROs), occasionally reported in healthcare settings. The study examined the CRO prevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs), orphan children patients, and the environment in an orphanage healthcare facility in Vietnam. A cross‐sectional study was performed by collecting rectal swabs in 20 HCWs and 67 orphan patients, as well as in 175 randomly selected environmental samples. Chromogenic CARBA agars, blood agars, and a BD Phoenix Automated Microbiology System were employed for bacterial isolation and for identification and testing of antimicrobial susceptibility. In a total of 262 samples, 36 CROs (i.e., six carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacterales [CRE] and 30 non‐CRE) were detected. The CRO prevalence of 30.0% (6/20), 16.4% (11/67), and 10.86% (19/175) was shown in HCWs, orphan patients, and the environment, respectively. Most CROs detected in HCWs were CREs (66.7%, 4/6). Non‐CRE cases, mainly Acinetobacter baumannii , were detected in orphan patients and in the orphanage healthcare environment. Out of 36 CRO isolates, 97.2% (35/36), 11.1% (4/36), and 13.9% (5/36) were identified as resistant to ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem, respectively. This study was the first to show evidence‐based CRO colonization with an epidemiological study in an orphanage healthcare facility in Vietnam. The finding of this study suggested that control and prevention programs, active surveillance, and routine monitoring for CROs should be implemented in healthcare establishments.

Antimicrobial resistance is a most concerning public health issue in Vietnam due to antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs), which might appear in remote areas in Vietnam. So, at this center, we performed a cross-sectional study and collected fecal samples from human subjects (20 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 67 residents) and 175 environmental samples, with rectal and environment swabs, as study data for this study, from September 2022 to December 2022. We conducted the microbiological testing, including the MELAB-Chromogenic-CARBA-agar plates, blood-agar plates, and BD PhoenixTM Automated Microbiology System to screen, isolate, and identify bacterial species and phenotypic tests for antimicrobial susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant bacteria, and the whole genome sequencing for 12 CROs chosen to confirm the CRO transmission between HCWs and residents. The study findings showed the prevalence and risk factors associated with CRO colonization were detected in HCWs, residents, and the environment in the Center of Care and Protection of Orphan Children. CRO transmission happened between HCWs and residents detected with WGS analysis. So, whole genome sequencing (WGS) plays a significant role in CRO control and prevention and reduces CRO transmission/ colonization in this center and other healthcare settings.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most concerning public health issues in Vietnam due to antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs), which might appear in remote areas in Vietnam. At this center, we performed a cross-sectional study and collected fecal samples from humans (20 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 67 residents) and 175 environmental samples, with rectal and environment swabs, as data for this study, from September 2022 to December 2022. We conducted microbiological testing, including the MELAB Chromogenic CARBA agar plates, blood agar plates, and the BD PhoenixTM Automated Microbiology System to screen, isolate, and identify bacterial species and phenotypic tests for the antimicrobial susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant bacteria and the whole-genome sequencing for 12 CROs chosen to confirm the CRO transmission between HCWs and residents. The study findings showed that the prevalence and risk factors associated with CRO colonization were detected in HCWs, residents, and the environment in the Center of Care and Protection of Orphan Children. CRO transmission happened between HCWs and residents detected with WGS analysis. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) plays a significant role in CRO control and prevention and reduces CRO transmission/colonization in this center and other healthcare settings.