Pediculosis remains a public health problem among primary schoolchildren worldwide, including in Thailand. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pediculosis and identify associated determinants among primary schoolgirls from different socio-geographic regions of Thailand to inform effective control strategies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 494 schoolgirls from eastern, northeastern, and southern provinces. Data on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, personal hygiene practices, parental knowledge and attitudes toward head lice, and school health policies were collected using questionnaires and interviews with school administrators. Univariable analyses and a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with school as a random effect were used to account for clustering. The overall prevalence of pediculosis was 50.81% (95% CI: 46.31–55.20), with significant variation across provinces. In univariable analysis, several factors were associated with infestation. However, after accounting for clustering, only class level (adjusted OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.31–7.29) and self-performed hair washing (adjusted OR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.57–5.49) remained significantly associated with pediculosis, while other associations were attenuated. Parental knowledge was moderate, and commonly held beliefs regarding prevention and treatment varied. None of the participating schools had routine head lice screening policies. These findings indicate that pediculosis is likely influenced by both individual and school-level factors. Control efforts may benefit from coordinated school-based approaches, alongside improved access to effective treatment and targeted health education.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide and are becoming increasingly complicated by the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are important pathogens of UTIs, particularly in hospitalized patients. Their rising resistance to multiple antibiotic classes poses a serious challenge to treatment and infection control, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, including Vietnam. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the frequency of E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa in UTIs and assess their antibiotic-resistance status at Da Nang C Hospital, Central Vietnam, in 2022. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 299 bacterial strains isolated from the urine specimens of patients diagnosed with UTIs at Da Nang C Hospital in 2022. These strains were identified through culture analysis, and their antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the disk-diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer test). Results: E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa were found in 10.03% and 8.7% of cultures, respectively. All isolates of E. faecalis were completely susceptible to linezolid, and most of them were susceptible to rifampin (93.8%) and vancomycin (86.2%). In addition, many of these isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, ampicillin, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol (67.9–77.8%). Resistance to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and erythromycin was detected in 68–88.9% of isolates. Regarding P. aeruginosa, 53.8% to 66.7% of cultures were resistant to levofloxacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, ofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin. However, P. aeruginosa was highly susceptible to piperacillin/tazobactam (87.5% of isolates), imipenem (75%), cefoperazone/sulbactam (72.7%), and cefepime and meropenem (64%). Eventually, multidrug resistance was observed in 56.7% and 34.6% of E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Conclusion: The bacteria isolated in this study exhibited resistance to many commonly used antibiotics at various levels. Our findings demonstrated the critical need for more stringent antibiotic stewardship guidelines and routine surveillance in order to enhance patient outcomes and prevent the spread of resistant bacteria.

Mục tiêu: Mối liên quan giữa kiến thức, thái độ và thực hành về dự phòng ung thư cổ tử cung ở sinh viên nữ năm nhất khối ngành khoa học sức khỏe tại thành phố Đà Nẵng. Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang trên 547 nữ sinh viên năm nhất khối ngành khoa học sức khỏe tại thành phố Đà Nẵng. Đối tượng nghiên cứu được khảo sát dựa trên bộ câu hỏi tự điền. Kết quả: Tỷ lệ sinh viên có kiến thức đầy đủ về dự phòng ung thư cổ tử cung là 66,91%. Đa số sinh viên có thái độ tích cực đối với việc phòng ngừa ung thư cổ tử cung (86,47%). Tuy nhiên, chỉ 43,88% sinh viên có thực hành phòng ngừa đúng. Phân tích thống kê cho thấy có mối tương quan giữa dân tộc và mức độ hiểu biết về ung thư cổ tử cung (p = 0,045). Ngoài ra, có mối liên quan giữa tôn giáo (p = 0,03) và tình trạng quan hệ tình dục sớm (p = 0,018) đến thực hành đạt về dự phòng ung thư cổ tử cung của sinh viên nữ. Kết luận: Nghiên cứu cho thấy sinh viên nữ có kiến thức và thái độ tốt về dự phòng ung thư cổ tử cung, nhưng thực hành còn hạn chế. Yếu tố dân tộc, tôn giáo và quan hệ tình dục sớm có ảnh hưởng đến nhận thức và hành vi phòng bệnh.