Bacterial pathogens and climate change

Investigating the Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Pathogens in Clinical Specimens from a Chinese Maternal and Child Hospital: The Role of Environmental Factors

Objective

To analyze bacterial distribution and antibiotic resistance in clinical specimens from a Chinese hospital for evaluating environmental factors' impact on pathogen prevalence.

Methods

From January 2017 to December 2021, we collected 42,854 clinical specimens from hospitalized children and women. The specimens were cultured on various agar plates and incubated at 35°C for 18-48 h. Their identification was performed using standard biochemical methods and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), whereas antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using the VITEK 2 system. Concurrent environmental data from Wuhan were analyzed for correlations with pathogen prevalence using multiple linear stepwise regression.

Results

Of the 24,555 bacterial strains isolated, the majority were gram-positive, and sputum was the most common specimen type. Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli were the most prevalent pathogens in sputum and urine samples, respectively. Notably, H. influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae affected children under 6 years of age the most. Furthermore, H. influenzae showed high ampicillin resistance but low cefotaxime resistance; S. pneumoniae was sensitive to penicillin G, and E. coli was resistant to ampicillin but sensitive to cefotetan. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms was below national averages. In terms of seasonality, H. influenzae peaked during late winter and early spring, and environmental analysis indicated positive correlations between PM2.5 and PM10, and H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae prevalence. In addition, NO2 levels were positively correlated with increased S. aureus and M. catarrhalis prevalence; E coli prevalence was negatively correlated with ozone levels.

Conclusion

This study provides valuable insights into the distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens in maternal and child healthcare facilities in Wuhan, China. Environmental factors significantly influence the epidemiology of certain bacterial pathogens. Implementing integrated health strategies that combine microbial surveillance with environmental monitoring is needed to effectively manage and prevent bacterial infections.

The Perpetual Vector Mosquito Threat and Its Eco-Friendly Nemeses

Mosquitoes are the most notorious arthropod vectors of viral and parasitic diseases for which approximately half the world's population, ~4,000,000,000, is at risk. Integrated pest management programs (IPMPs) have achieved some success in mitigating the regional transmission and persistence of these diseases. However, as many vector-borne diseases remain pervasive, it is obvious that IPMP successes have not been absolute in eradicating the threat imposed by mosquitoes. Moreover, the expanding mosquito geographic ranges caused by factors related to climate change and globalization (travel, trade, and migration), and the evolution of resistance to synthetic pesticides, present ongoing challenges to reducing or eliminating the local and global burden of these diseases, especially in economically and medically disadvantaged societies. Abatement strategies include the control of vector populations with synthetic pesticides and eco-friendly technologies. These "green" technologies include SIT, IIT, RIDL, CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive, and biological control that specifically targets the aquatic larval stages of mosquitoes. Regarding the latter, the most effective continues to be the widespread use of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls) and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti). Here, we present a review of the health issues elicited by vector mosquitoes, control strategies, and lastly, focus on the biology of Ls and Bti, with an emphasis on the latter, to which no resistance has been observed in the field.

The impact of anthropogenic climate change on pediatric viral diseases

The adverse effects of climate change on human health are unfolding in real time. Environmental fragmentation is amplifying spillover of viruses from wildlife to humans. Increasing temperatures are expanding mosquito and tick habitats, introducing vector-borne viruses into immunologically susceptible populations. More frequent flooding is spreading water-borne viral pathogens, while prolonged droughts reduce regional capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks with adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene resources. Worsening air quality and altered transmission seasons due to an increasingly volatile climate may exacerbate the impacts of respiratory viruses. Furthermore, both extreme weather events and long-term climate variation are causing the destruction of health systems and large-scale migrations, reshaping health care delivery in the face of an evolving global burden of viral disease. Because of their immunological immaturity, differences in physiology (e.g., size), dependence on caregivers, and behavioral traits, children are particularly vulnerable to climate change. This investigation into the unique pediatric viral threats posed by an increasingly inhospitable world elucidates potential avenues of targeted programming and uncovers future research questions to effect equitable, actionable change. IMPACT: A review of the effects of climate change on viral threats to pediatric health, including zoonotic, vector-borne, water-borne, and respiratory viruses, as well as distal threats related to climate-induced migration and health systems. A unique focus on viruses offers a more in-depth look at the effect of climate change on vector competence, viral particle survival, co-morbidities, and host behavior. An examination of children as a particularly vulnerable population provokes programming tailored to their unique set of vulnerabilities and encourages reflection on equitable climate adaptation frameworks.