Dengue virus infection (DVI) among children is a leading cause of hospitalization in endemic areas. Hospitalized patients are at risk of receiving unnecessary antibiotics. A retrospective medical review analysis study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence, indication, and choice of antibiotics given to hospitalized patients less than 15 years of age with DVI in two different hospital settings (teaching and private hospitals) in the Municipality of Bandung. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained using a pre-tested standardized questionnaire from patients’ medical records admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2015. There were 537 (17.5%) out of 3078 cases who received antibiotics. Among 176 cases admitted to the teaching hospitals, presumed bacterial upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and typhoid fever were found in 1 (0.6%) case and 6 (0.3%) cases. In private hospitals among 2902 cases, presumed bacterial URTI was found in 324 (11.2%) cases, typhoid fever in 188 (6.5%) cases and urinary tract infection (UTI) in 18 (0.6%) cases. The prevalence of URTI and typhoid fever were significantly lower in the teaching hospitals compared to the private hospitals (p<0.0001 and p<0.05 respectively). The diagnosis of URTI in both teaching and private hospitals was merely based on clinical findings. Amoxicillin was given to 1 patient in the teaching hospitals; the 3^rd generation of cephalosporins, mostly intravenous, were given in 247 (67%) cases in private hospitals. The diagnosis of typhoid fever in the teaching hospitals was based on culture in 1 (16.7%) and reactive IgM anti-Salmonella in 5 (83.3%) cases while in the private hospitals, they were based on reactive IgM anti-Salmonella in 13 (6.5%) cases, single Widal test in 61 (32.5%), and without laboratory confirmation in 114 (60.6%) cases. Most of the cases in both hospital settings were treated mostly with 3^rd generation cephalosporin. The diagnosis of UTI was based on positive leucocyte esterase and nitrite in urine dipstick test in 7 (38.9%) and leucocyturia alone in 11 (61.1%) cases and was treated with 3^rd generation in 15 (83.3%) cases, amoxicillin, chloramphenicol and clarithromycin, each in 1 (5.6%) case. The use of antibiotics in private hospitals was inappropriate in most cases while the use of antibiotics in the teaching hospital was more accountable. This study indicated that interventions, such as the implementation of the antibiotics stewardship program, are needed especially in private hospitals to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics. DVI among children is a leading cause of hospitalization in endemic areas. In developing or underdeveloped countries, the antibiotics stewardship policy has not been well implemented yet. Thus, the risk of unnecessary antibiotics used in hospitalized patients becomes higher. Changing the way medical doctors use antibiotics is needed to greatly slow down the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We evaluate whether antibiotics administration given to hospitalized children with DVIinfection in two different hospital settings, teaching and private hospitals, were appropriate. The use of antibiotics in private hospitals was inappropriate in most cases while the use of antibiotics in the teaching hospital was more accountable. This study indicated that intervention should be made, such as the implementation of the antibiotics stewardship program, especially in private hospitals, to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance has become a global issue, with 700,000 deaths attributable to multidrug-resistance (MDR) occurring each year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show rapidly increasing rates of infection due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of the study isto describe the incidence of MDR, extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan drug-resistant (PDR) in Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, K. pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumanii, P. aeruginosin, and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) pathogens in children admitted to Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital. All pediatric patients having blood culture drawn from January 2015 to December 2016 were retrospectively studied. Data include the number of drawn blood culture, number of positive results, type of bacteria, sensitivity pattern. International standard definitions for acquired resistance by ECDC and CDC was used as definitions for MDR, XDR and PDR bacteria. From January 2015 to December 2016, 299 from 2.542 (11.7%) blood culture was positive, with Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., respectively 5, 6, 24, 5, 20 with total 60 (20%). The MDR and XDR pathogen found were 47 and 13 patients, respectively.

The prevalence of neglected tropical diseases, specifically those caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and other parasites that infest the intestine as part of their life cycle, remains a problem in Indonesia. We assessed the effects of deworming programs and socioeconomic and ecological factors on the incidence rate of infections with STHs and other parasites in an urban area of the Bandung Regency. We recruited 361 children with stunted growth who met the inclusion criteria, and 48 of those children were at high risk of STH infection. The study was conducted between September 2020 and September 2021. We collected possible socioeconomic factors influencing the incidence rate of infections. We found the incidence rate of STH infections among the children with stunted growth to be 3.6%. We confirmed infections with Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium after a Ziehl-Nieelsen stool smear examination in two of the 48 children at risk of infection. We found 43.75% of the children had short stature and weight below the normal limits, while stunting and severe stunting were associated with Ascaris lumbricoides infection (44.70%, p = 0.035). Parents of children with stunted and severely stunted growth were more likely to have a low education level, lack knowledge about deworming program, and to be earning a low income. The mother's occupation had a particularly strong influence on the severity of the stunting (89.58%, p = 0.012). Our results show that deworming programs can affect the growth and development of children and that socioeconomic and ecological factors also play a role.

Context: Dengue fever (DF) altogether with its severe forms, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome, has become public health concerns. Indonesia belongs to category A of endemicity for DF/DHF. One of the several efforts to control dengue virus infection in Indonesia is a passive surveillance called “Dengue Case Surveillance.” Timeliness report defined as a report sent within 24 h after the clinical diagnosis is needed to have a proper surveillance. The study on the evaluation of dengue case report in terms of accuracy, adequacy, and timeliness in Indonesia is still limited. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the accuracy, adequacy, and timeliness from the reports of dengue viral infection (DVI) cases admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2015 to 7 major hospitals in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective analysis study. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the accuracy, all medical records of DVI patients were reviewed epidemiologically, clinically, and laboratory using a standardized questionnaire. To evaluate the adequacy, hospital data were compared with reported data in Bandung Municipality Health Authority. To evaluate the timeliness of report, interview to the person in charge for dengue reporting cases in each hospital and in Bandung Municipality Health Authority were performed. Statistical Analysis Used: Univariate analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 4096 (72%) of 5712 hospitalized DVI cases lived in Bandung Municipality. The accuracy of the clinical diagnosis was 3397 out of 4096 cases (82.9%). The adequacy of the accurate cases was 1553 out of 3397 cases (45.7%). Conclusions: The timeliness of report was varied, ranging from days to month. The accuracy of dengue cases was good, but the adequacy and timely reporting should be strengthened.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) persist as a significant global public health issue among neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), particularly in children. STH infection can induce immune responses that affect the course of the disease; if treatment fails, chronic infection can lead to stunting, especially among children aged 24–59 months, which is a vulnerable period for growth and development. We conducted a correlational, cross-sectional data collection study to evaluate the characteristics and association of 25(OH)D, interleukin-5 (IL-5), and interleukin-13 (IL-13) with the prevalence of STH infection in children aged 24–59 months in Bandung District, Indonesia, in October 2019–January 2023. We recruited 694 subjects (401 stunted and 293 normal-height children). The prevalence of STH infection among the stunted and normal-height groups was 5.7% (95% CI: 3.85–8.46%) and 3.4% (95% CI; 1.86–6.17%) (p = 0.156), respectively. The probability of the prevalence of STH infection in children with levels of 25(OH)D, IL-5, and IL-13 below the cut-off point was 6,93 to 16.71 times higher. We found a relationship between IL-5, IL-13, and environmental factors and the prevalence of STH infection in stunted children.

According to the WHO target product profile for COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine in development should be indicated for active immunisation in all populations. Therefore, PT Bio Farma developed a candidate vaccine in a subunit protein recombinant platform to help overcome the issue. This trial was an observer-blind, randomised, prospective intervention study. This study targeted individuals who had received complete primary doses of the authorised/approved COVID-19 vaccine. The groups were divided into the primary inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac^®) group, the primary viral vector vaccine (ChAdOx1) group, and the primary mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) group that received the recombinant protein (IndoVac^®). The groups were compared with the control and primary mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2). The participants enrolled in the study were from two primary care centres in Bandung City and three primary care centres in Denpasar City. A total of 696 participants were enrolled from 1 September to 31 October 2022. The demographic characteristics of the all-vaccine group showed a uniform distribution. The results showed that, compared with the control, the investigational product had inferior effectiveness 14 days after the booster dose was administered. However, 28 days after the booster dose, the investigational product exhibited non-inferior effectiveness compared with the primary groups that received CoronaVac^® (GMR 0.76 (0.57–0.99)) and ChAdOx1 (GMR 0.72 (0.56–59.93)), but the BNT162b2 group (GMR 0.61 (0.39–0.94)) was inferior to the control. At 12 months follow-up after the booster dose, three serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in three participants, with causality not correlated with the investigated products. Neither AEs of special interest nor severe COVID-19 cases were reported throughout the follow-up period; thus, the IndoVac^® vaccine as a booster was immunogenic and safe. Until the 6-month follow-up after the booster dose, the IndoVac^® vaccine was well tolerated and all reported AEs resolved. This vaccine is registered and can be included in the immunisation programme.