Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene (JPMH)
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Combating Infectious Diseases in Low-Resource Communities: Socioeconomic, Environmental, Climate Change and Gender-Based Strategies
Full text linkInfectious diseases continue to pose a significant challenge to global health, particularly within resource-limited communities, where socioeconomic and environmental health determinants amplify their prevalence and impact. This letter to editor examines comprehensive strategies aimed at alleviating the burden of communicable diseases by addressing essential factors such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), housing conditions, climate change, gender equity, sociocultural influences, and poverty. Key interventions, including enhancing access to clean water, promoting sufficient sanitation, improving housing quality, and fostering climate resilience, are identified as vital measures to prevent disease transmission. Moreover, empowering women through equitable healthcare and education, implementing culturally responsive health campaigns, and engaging community members in preventive actions are distinctly highlighted. Strategies for poverty alleviation, encompassing economic development and social protection initiatives, play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of disease and poverty. The letter emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and collaborative efforts across sectors to address the intricate relationships between these determinants, ultimately advancing health equity and well-being for at-risk populations
Monitoring Surgical Site Infections: Insights from an Italian Teaching Hospital
Full text linkBackground: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) represent one of the most frequent and costly healthcare-associated infections, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Surveillance programs are essential for monitoring and preventing SSIs, yet there is variability in their implementation and effectiveness across healthcare facilities. This study aims to assess the trends of SSIs at Ferrara Teaching Hospital for providing useful data to improve surveillance systems.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on data from 2020 to 2023, of SIChER surveillance system and Hospital Discharge Cards of Ferrara Teaching Hospital. The study examined infection rates across various surgical procedures, applying two key indicators: SSIs Percentage by Category and Incidence Density of Hospital-Onset SSIs. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software.
Results: During the study period, an average of 5,158 surgical procedures were performed annually, with a steady increase in SIChER-monitored procedures, reaching 80.7% coverage in 2023. The highest infection rates were observed in colon surgery, while cardiac surgery consistently recorded no infections. The overall incidence density of hospital-onset SSIs was 0.18 per 1,000 follow-up days, with significant variations across surgical categories. The accuracy of HDCs in documenting SSIs improved over time, reaching 97.2% match in 2023.
Conclusions: The study highlights an increasing trend in SSI surveillance coverage and accuracy, demonstrating the effectiveness of SIChER in monitoring infections. However, variations in infection rates across procedures suggest the need for targeted interventions, particularly for high-risk surgeries such as colorectal and orthopaedic procedures
Challenges of using artificial intelligence in Iran\u27s health system: a qualitative study
No full textBackground: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare by improving diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and operational efficiency. While AI adoption is advancing in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Iran, face significant challenges that limit its integration. Iran’s health system is increasingly strained by an aging population, rising non-communicable diseases, and resource limitations. AI offers potential solutions to these issues by enabling data-driven, patient-centered care, yet its implementation remains in early stages within the country. Understanding the barriers to AI adoption in Iran’s health system is essential for guiding effective integration.
Methods: This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected stakeholders involved in healthcare management, policy-making, and AI application in Iran. Participants represented diverse sectors such as government, academia, healthcare provision, and technology development. Interviews were conducted between January 2025 and April 2025, both virtually and face-to-face. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework to identify key challenges. Methodological rigor was ensured through member checking, triangulation, and adherence to qualitative research standards.
Results: Five major themes emerged as barriers to AI integration in Iran’s healthcare system: organizational and structural barriers, legal and policy constraints, data-related issues, skill and human resource challenges, and difficulties embedding AI within existing policymaking processes. Participants reported inadequate infrastructure, fragmented governance, and resistance to technological change. Legal ambiguities and lack of regulatory frameworks fostered ethical and accountability concerns. Data quality, security, and standardization were significant obstacles. The shortage of skilled professionals and insufficient training limited AI utilization. Additionally, integrating AI into traditional policymaking raised concerns about preserving human oversight and ethical decision-making.
Conclusion: The study reveals multifaceted challenges to AI adoption in Iran’s healthcare system, emphasizing the need for a coordinated strategy encompassing legal reforms, infrastructure investment, capacity building, and cultural change. Balancing AI’s technological benefits with ethical and human-centered care is critical for sustainable integration. These findings provide valuable insights to inform policy and practice, supporting responsible AI implementation in Iran’s healthcare system
1985: Forty years ago, the world opened its eyes to AIDS. History of the early years of the HIV epidemic
Full text linkAt the end of 1980, Michael Gottlieb, a researcher at the University of California, was conducting a clinical study on deficiencies of the immune system when he heard of the case of a young man with a rare form of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii (now known as Pneumocystis jirovecii), a protozoon that usually affects only people with a weakened immune system. In the following months, Gottlieb discovered further cases of patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, oral candidiasis and a very low level of T lymphocytes. All were male and active homosexuals. In reality the infection had already manifested itself in previous years but had always been mistaken for something else. HIV probably originated from a virus found in chimpanzees and began infecting humans in the first half of the 20th century. It probably emerged when members of the Bantu tribe, who lived in the forests of central Africa, consumed chimpanzee meat infected with a virus called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). This may have caused a so-called spillover from chimpanzees to humans
Identification of Community Vaccine Hesitancy in a Provincial Center: A Descriptive-Cross-Sectional Study: Vaccine Hesitancy
No full textBackground: Vaccine hesitancy has become one of the ten global health challenges to be addressed, given its increasing global prevalence Aim: This study aimed to identify community vaccine hesitancy and the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy in a provincial center. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted with 215 adults seeking care at a family health center for any reason. The data collection instruments included the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. Determinants of vaccine hesitancy were examined through multiple regression analysis (enter model). The STROBE (cross-sectional research model) guidelines were employed for reporting research data. Results: Among participants, 35.3% had a bachelor\u27s degree or higher, 62.3% were employed, and 76.7% had children. 71.2% of the participants had not received education about vaccines, with only 45.6% considering all vaccines necessary and beneficial. Additionally, 16.2% of the participants with children were identified as having under-vaccinated children. Belief in the necessity and benefits of all vaccines (β=-0.245, 95% CI: -4.715 to -1.453), belief in making vaccination mandatory (β=-0.137, 95% CI: -4.873 to -0.083), receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (β=-0.169, 95% CI: -5.925 to -0.947), and receiving the flu vaccine (β=-0.158, 95% CI: -3.828 to -0.429) were determined to be protective against vaccine hesitancy. These variables explained 24.3% of vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion:The assessment revealed that the community exhibited moderate vaccine hesitancy and did not perceive all vaccines as necessary and beneficial. Considering the impact of vaccines on preventing infectious diseases, reducing disabilities, and preventing deaths, it is recommended to provide information on vaccines
The summer colonies: ‘custodians’ of the health of the young. Prophylaxis of infectious diseases and educational purposes in the reports of the school medical inspector Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) in the 1950s: The summer colonies: climatic-prophylactic colonies for children.
No full textStarting from the 1950s, climatic-prophylactic colonies for children took on characteristics that were partly different from those of their predecessors. From their origins until the years immediately following the Second World War, these facilities had the stated aims of education, prevention and cure for poor and malnourished children. In the mid-20th century, however, a change took place; the colonies no longer catered exclusively for the less privileged and most fragile, but rather for an economically and culturally heterogeneous population, while still maintaining the purpose of health prevention and promotion in childhood and adolescence. The number of agencies involved in organizing the colonies increased, and large companies also participated. Similarly, the annual number of children who spent a period of time in the colonies grew steadily, owing to intense migration towards the cities, increased female employment and holiday closures of large factories during the month of August. The authors recount this historical transition on the basis of the experience of the Sienese doctor Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) and the unpublished reports that he produced during his time as a school medical inspector. Against the backdrop of the teaching of the great hygienist and initiator of preventive medicine Achille Sclavo, who was Benedetto Barni\u27s mentor, these reports testify to an everyday activity made up of real contacts with the people and with the territory; this enabled Barni to understand the social and healthcare problems facing the country and to try to work out a solution to them from the standpoint of preventative medicine
Global Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: Unveiling the Present Landscape of Incidence and Mortality Rates, Analyzing Geographical Variances, and Assessing the Human Development Index
Full text linkBackground: Colorectal cancer poses a major global health threat, with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. This study examined the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer globally in 2020 and explored the relationship with the Human Development Index (HDI).
Material and methods: This research utilizes data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer\u27s (IARC) GLOBOCAN project, an esteemed source of up-to-date international cancer statistics. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 individuals were calculated. The association between ASIR, ASMR, and the HDI was analyzed using Pearson correlation, considering a statistical significance threshold of P<0.05.
Results: In 2020, a total of 1,931,590 new colorectal cancer cases were recorded globally, with a male predominance of 55.18%. The global colorectal cancer ASIR was 19.5 per 100000 (23.4 in males, 16.2 in females). Furthermore, there were 935,173 colorectal cancer-related mortality, with males accounting for 55.13%. The overall colorectal cancer ASMR was 9 (11 in males, 7.2 in females). A strong positive correlation emerged between ASIR and ASMR (0.895, P≤0.001), HDI (0.794, P≤0.001), life expectancy (0.724, P≤0.001), education (0.743, P≤0.001), and income (0.706, P≤0.001). Similarly, positive correlations were also found between ASMR and HDI (0.638, P≤0.001), life expectancy (0.569, P≤0.001), education (0.631, P≤0.001), and income (0.512, P≤0.001).
Conclusion: This global analysis highlights rising colorectal cancer incidence and mortality as a major public health threat worldwide. The findings reveal a positive association between a country’s development level, as measured by HDI, and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality
Exploring the pathway toward the reduction of paediatric seasonal influenza burden: school-based vaccination and surveillance: School-based influenza vaccination and surveillance
No full textN/
Epidemiology of smoking habits among healthcare workers employed in a regional reference teaching hospital in Northern Italy: a cross-sectional study
Full text linkINTRODUCTION
Tobacco consumption is one of the most significant avoidable health risk and cause of premature death globally. Smoking in the workplace represents a potential combination of health risks due to the interactions of tobacco use and professional exposure. Occupational Health Professionals can aid in health promotion of workers and improvement of workplace environment. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of smoking and its determinants among healthcare workers and equated subjects at the Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS of Genoa, Italy.
METHODS
An observational, cross-sectional study was performed using demographic and clinical data. It involved a total workforce of 1561 Health Care Workers (HCW), medical residents and healthcare students. We focused on the medical visits performed from July 1 to December 31, 2023. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software vers. 26.0 (IBM Corp.).
RESULTS
In the studied population, 24.7% of participants reported being current smokers. The univariate analysis showed an association between smoking and several demographic and occupational variables such as different professional categories and occupational risks. At the multivariate analysis physicians and professions with exposure to chemical hazards showed reduced odds of smoking, while increases in alcohol consumption were associated with increased probability of smoking.
CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight a concerning prevalence of smokers among HCW. An up-to-date epidemiological picture on health habits and behaviors may provide a baseline on which targeted interventions can be implemented, considering not only modifiable lifestyle factors but also work-related risk factors to effectively tackle the magnitude of the phenomenon
Tetanus: historical and palaeopathological aspects considering its current health impact
Full text linkThe present article summarises the historical and palaeopathological evidence of tetanus, an ineradicable yet vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Clostridium tetani. The antiquity of the disease is described thanks to historical written sources, artistic references and very recent palaeogenetic data. A recollection of now long-supplanted therapies is offered together with a focus on the introduction of an effective vaccine. Moreover, a potential identification of tetanus in the Bible is analysed and general considerations on the current health relevance of tetanus are presented