No abstract

Many studies have reported methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission from patients infected or colonized with MRSA to their household contacts, but the importance of household transmission for persistence of MRSA in the community and reintroduction into healthcare settings is not well understood. Methods: This review was performed to evaluate evidence on (1) MRSA prevalence, (2) MRSA contact positivity, and (3) MRSA carriage duration in household contacts of MRSA-positive individuals. The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched covering the period from January 1, 1960 to November 15, 2019 for studies with data on these outcomes. A random-effects model meta-analysis was conducted with included studies to calculate pooled prevalence ratios. Results: A total 22 relevant articles were included. The meta-analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of MRSA among culture-positive MRSA household contacts was 25.0% (95% confidence interval 20.0-30.0%). A subset of studies with adequate comparison groups reported higher colonization prevalence among household contacts of MRSA-positive individuals compared with household contacts of MRSAnegative individuals. MRSA contact positivity varied between 19.0% and 33.0%, but variation in sampling frequency and follow-up duration made between-study comparisons challenging. Conclusions: Substantial MRSA transmission occurs in household settings. Improved understanding of household transmission dynamics and the relationship between transmission in healthcare and household settings will be critical to inform improved strategies to control MRSA.

Estimating the sizes of key populations at risk for HIV is crucial for HIV prevention and treatment. We provide findings of population size estimates (PSE) of males who inject drugs (MWID) in Myanmar, provide an intuitive method for countries to extrapolate subnational estimates into national estimates and provide guidance on how to maximize the utility of current PSE techniques. We used unique object and service multipliers, and successive sampling PSE in conjunction with a respondent driven sampling survey of MWID in ten Myanmar townships in 2014. Township estimates were assessed at a stakeholder meeting for biases and coded into ranges of high, medium and low MWID prevalence areas. Using the sampled townships as benchmarks for a range of MWID proportion estimates, national level MWID size estimates were derived by multiplying the adult male population for all townships with their corresponding proportion estimates. Final PSE ranged from high (4.12%), medium (1.02%) and low (0.11%), with the final agreed national point estimate of 83,000 MWID. Using estimates from survey data, this can translate into actual numbers of MWID living with HIV and practicing risky injecting and sexual behaviors. Although PSE are vital for monitoring HIV epidemics, no guidance exists for interpreting results of different PSE techniques or for extrapolating these results into national estimates. Assessing bias and gaining consensus on township level estimates and deriving ranges of MWID PSE throughout the country using stakeholder input is intuitive and accessible to countries.

Indonesia’s HIV epidemic is concentrated among key populations. While prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is high, transmission among young MSM (15–24-years-old) remains poorly understood. We conducted a respondent driven sampling survey of 211 young MSM in urban Bandung, Indonesia in 2018–2019 to estimate HIV prevalence and associated risk factors. Thirty percent of young MSM were HIV antibody positive. This is nearly 100-fold greater than Indonesia’s population prevalence and sevenfold higher than average estimates for young MSM across Asia and the Pacific Region. Individual risk factors associated with HIV infection were being 20–24 years old, having a steady partner and preferring the receptive position during sex. Issues of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion were common. Few young MSM who were open with friends and family members about their sexual identity. Among those that were, close to half reported experiencing feelings of aversion from these groups. Wider structural factors that reduce social tolerance, restrict the rights of young MSM and compel concealment of sexual identity are likely to fuel high-risk behaviors and limit access to essential testing care and support services including pre-exposure prophylaxis which is not yet widely available. Urgent health, social, legal and political actions are required to respond to these factors and reduce the disproportionate contribution of young MSM to Indonesia’s HIV epidemic.