Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases. Current Items

Blood-borne infections (HIV, hepatitis B and C) represent a serious global public health problem. According to numerous scientific studies, the prevalence of these infections in penitentiary institutions is many times higher than in the general population. For example, in the Russian Federation, the HIV prevalence rate among prisoners reaches 12.17%, significantly higher than the national average. Literature data indicate that the high prevalence of these infections in penitentiary institutions is due to the high concentration of at-risk individuals, poor living conditions, and uneven access to healthcare. Furthermore, the risk of infection is associated with the introduction of drugs into prisons, which, combined with risky behavior, increases the likelihood of infection. This article analyzes current international and Russian practices in providing medical care to prisoners. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing this problem, including organizing epidemiological surveillance and medical care in correctional facilities, raising prisoners’ awareness of infection transmission routes, and preventing infection.

Objective. Comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological situation with parvovirus B19 infection in the Russian Federation, using Moscow and other countries as examples.

Materials and methods. This article presents a retrospective analysis of anonymized data from the Center for Molecular Diagnostics (CMD) laboratory of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, for 2018–2025. The analysis identified cases of parvovirus infection based on the results of parvovirus B19 DNA PCR testing. The global epidemic situation was analyzed based on publications in international databases and CDC and ECDC reports for 2024–2025. Standard descriptive statistical methods (calculation of means and proportions) were used.

Results. From January 2018 to August 2025, 2,066 positive laboratory results for parvovirus B19 DNA PCR were obtained. Parvovirus infection incidence had a pronounced seasonal pattern, peaking in April–June, with peak activity observed in May. The highest proportion of cases occurred in children aged 0-7 years, while the lowest proportion occurred in elderly patients. Women were more frequently affected. Among all annual PCR tests for parvovirus DNA conducted at the CMD laboratory, the proportion of positive PCR tests ranged from 12-15% during the pandemic (2021-2022) to 38.4% (2023), indicating a true increase in incidence, not just an increase in testing.

Conclusion. The data obtained demonstrate a resumption of active circulation of parvovirus B19 after the decline associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and are consistent with the global trend of increasing incidence in 2023-2024. It is necessary to strengthen epidemiological surveillance for the spread of parvovirus B19 infection, especially in the spring and summer, and develop targeted preventive measures for key at-risk groups – young children and pregnant women.

Objective. Analysis of the malaria epidemic situation in the Republic of Guinea and identification of the main factors determining its spread in North-West Africa.

Materials and Methods: Data from the National Agency for Health Safety the Republic of Guinea (Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire) and meteorological observations in regions of Guinea with different natural and climatic conditions were analyzed.

Results. The Republic of Guinea is located in the subequatorial climate zone, and malaria vectors — Anopheles gambiae complex are widespread within its territory. In the forested region of Guinea, the amount of warmth is sufficient to complete plasmodia sporogony within an average of 14 days. The year-round incidence rate in the analyzed territories is 24.3 per 1,000 inhabitants, which corresponds to 39.9% of the average annual level. The epidemiological year is characterized by a seasonal increase in incidence, which lasts 4–6 months, from June to November or December. The maximum average monthly rates are recorded in August.

Conclusion. Malaria foci are characterized by a diversity of parasitic systems in different natural zones and the widespread distribution of Pl. falciparum. Based on physical and geographical conditions, the republic’s territory can be divided into four climatic and natural regions, differing in their degree of malariogenicity.

In Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), given the lack of widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, timely screening is the mainstay of HPV-associated disease prevention in women. A progressive approach is the introduction of self-sampling for HPV testing, which maximizes screening coverage while reducing costs in this region.

Objective. Evaluation of the effectiveness of using an individual kit for self-sampling of vaginal and anal discharge during HPV testing at the first stage of screening for precancerous lesions of the cervix, vagina, and anal canal in HIV-infected women in EECA.

Materials and method. The study involved 1,200 women from five Eastern European Central Asian countries (the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Belarus, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Tajikistan). Samples of cervical and anal swabs, vaginal mucosal secretions collected by medical personnel, and vaginal and anal mucosal secretions collected by patients themselves were analyzed. The ease of use of the individual sample collection kit was assessed using a questionnaire. Real-time PCR was used to detect HPV DNA.

Results. Data obtained from self-collection of biological material by patients were comparable to those obtained from collection by a medical professional. The questionnaire demonstrated that the sample collection kit was easy and convenient to use, and the instructions were clear. An assessment of personal preferences for choosing the method of sample collection revealed that only 11% of HIV-positive respondents would prefer a traditional doctor’s visit in the future.

Conclusion. No significant difference was found between the methods of collecting biological material for HPV testing (p > 0.05). Using self-collection of biological material will significantly increase the coverage of HIV-infected women for screening for precancerous lesions of the cervix, vagina, and anal canal.

Objective. Assessment of the volume and quality of information about HIV infection published in the domestic press.

Materials and methods. Information contained in the domestic central and regional press., submitted to Yandex search queries at https://dzen.ru/news for the following topics: «HIV,» «HIV infection,» and «AIDS» from January 1, 2021, to August 1, 2025, was analyzed. A total of 354 publications from 140 sources covering the issue of HIV infection were analyzed, including 142 (40.1%) articles in the central media and 212 (59.9%) in the local regional press.

Results. The number of publications focusing on HIV infection accounted for 0.04% of all national press publications and less than 1.0% of regional publications. The most active national publications were: Izvestia – 111 publications (78.2%), Vesti – 13 (9.1%), Interfax – 5 (3.5%), Moskovsky Komsomolets – 2 (1.4%), Gazeta.ru – 2 (1.4%), and AIF.ru – 2 (1.4%). The primary focus was on official HIV statistics. Only 1 article (2.4%) was devoted to HIV prevention measures, indicating insufficient attention to this issue in the press.

Conclusion. Intensifying participation in HIV prevention campaigns should be an urgent priority for the domestic media.

Objective: Evaluation of the characteristics of the concomitant course of pertussis and seasonal coronavirus infection in children.

Materials and methods. Data from 25 patients with pertussis and seasonal coronavirus infection hospitalized in the specialized department of the Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital № 1 of the Department of Healthcare of the city of Moscow in 2023–2024 were analyzed. PCR and serological diagnostics (ELISA) were used to verify pertussis. Diagnosis of viral infections was based on PCR testing of nasopharyngeal mucus.

Results. Combination of pertussis with and seasonal coronavirus infection occurred predominantly in moderate form in 19 children (76.0 ± 8.5%), while severe forms were observed in only 6 patients (24.0 ± 8.5%). In nasopharyngeal mucus, among the seasonal coronavirus species, HCoV HKU1 was isolated from 8 patients with pertussis (32.0 ± 9.3%), HCoV-NL63 – from 11 (44.0 ± 9.9%), and HCoV-OC43 – from 6 (24.0 ± 8.5%). Studies have shown that the severity of pertussis, frequency, and nature of bronchopulmonary complications depended on the HCoV species.

Conclusion. The combination of pertussis and seasonal coronavirus infection among hospitalized patients was most often associated with HCoV-NL63. The clinical features of this mixed infection may be determined by the species of seasonal coronavirus. β-coronaviruses: HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1, had the most unfavorable effect on the course of pertussis.

Staphylococci are ubiquitous gram-positive microorganisms. Based on their ability to coagulate mammalian blood plasma, Staphylococcus spp. bacteria are divided into two clusters: coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS), which include only one species, Staphylococcus aureus, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), which are represented by a significant number of species (more than 40). Until recently, pathogenic characteristics were attributed only to S. aureus; however, since the early 1990s, information on nosocomial outbreaks associated with CoNS has become available; their representatives, like S. aureus, have acquired resistance to methicillin (oxacillin). Despite the fact that most Staphylococcus spp. species are symbionts of human biotopes, their pathogenic potential has increased in recent years. Epidemiological monitoring of the circulation of Staphylococcus spp. bacteria in the population, and studying the mechanisms underlying their resistance to environmental factors, including the hospital environment, are necessary to predict the evolution of this type of microorganism and determine its significance in the etiology of nosocomial purulent-septic infections in the modern world.

Dengue fever, caused by an arbovirus of the Flavivirus genus, is a significant transmissible viral infection that poses a serious threat to public health. An analysis of imported cases reveals a clear correlation with international tourism to endemic regions.

This article presents a clinical case of an atypical dengue fever course characterized by the development of acute hepatitis in the absence of other typical clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease, including skin rashes, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy. This phenomenon significantly complicated the diagnostic process and required a comprehensive approach to verifying the diagnosis, including differential diagnosis with a range of infectious and non-infectious diseases associated with liver damage. The relevance of this problem is attributable to the growing threat to public health associated with the expansion of dengue fever and the involvement of areas previously considered non-endemic in the epidemic. Of additional concern is the high risk of developing severe forms of the disease, including hemorrhagic ones, upon reinfection with a different serotype. The atypical clinical course of dengue fever emphasizes the need for a differential diagnosis with a thorough assessment of the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters.

This discussion article is devoted to the current terminology issues in modern disinfectology, their causes, solutions, and the challenges facing scientists and practitioners in this area of scientific knowledge. Examples of various ambiguous interpretations of certain basic terms and definitions in scientific literature and national standards are provided. The need to understand disinfectology as an integrative science and its role in addressing epidemiological issues is emphasized. A working definition of the term «disinfectology» is proposed. A variant of the basic structure of terms and definitions is illustrated, which would lead to uniformity in their interpretation and understanding. The conclusion emphasizes the need to adopt terminology that is adequately understood by both theoretical scientists and practitioners. This will facilitate a more precise structural organization of science and increase the effectiveness of practical measures aimed at maintaining the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population of the Russian Federation in a safe and comfortable living environment.

In the epidemiological surveillance system for healthcare-associated infections, microbiological monitoring is aimed at the timely detection of early signs of complications and the control of microorganisms circulating in hospitals with multi- and extreme resistance to antimicrobials.

Objective. Development of an algorithm for implementing a microbiological monitoring system in healthcare organizations.

Materials and methods. The methods used in several healthcare organizations in the Russian Federation were optimized in accordance with modern requirements.

Results. Organizing and implementing microbiological monitoring is a complex task that includes the selection and training of specialists, the inclusion of patients in high-risk departments, sanitary and bacteriological monitoring of the hospital environment, reporting and analysis of its results, and decision-making based on the results.

Conclusion. The methodology for implementing microbiological monitoring in the practical activities of a healthcare organization requires a clearly defined system with algorithmic implementation of all processes.