Background The occurrence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) due to the high demand in poultry industries are of great public health concern. Indiscriminate and abusive use of various antibiotics on a large scale causes antibiotic resistance (AMR) in animal-associated bacteria that may be pathogenic to humans. These bacteria are widely disseminated in the environment via animal waste. This study was therefore designed to assess the prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) among the environmental bacteria in poultry farms and to determine the risk contamination category of poultry by calculating the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI). Results More than half (58.2%) of the 511 total bacteria had MAR, and a number of bacteria were resistant to cefazolin (86.8%), fusidic acid (84.6%), ampicillin (79.3%), clindamycin (65.5%) and erythromycin (63.7%). These antibiotics are listed under the WHO’s criteria of critically and highly important antibiotics in human medicine. In this study, 39.53% of the MARI values, which indicate the contamination level in the environment, indicated a high risk, while 14.48% were ambiguous. Conclusion These results therefore have shown that MAR is present not only among humans and animals but also in environmental bacteria. The high prevalence of MAR and the MARI values, together with the resistance patterns of each bacterium, indicate various effects, including possible occupational risks among workers. This study provides an introduction to the AMR of bacteria in the environment. Further studies are needed to observe the horizontal transfer of the resistance gene and the overall mobile genetic elements in environmental bacteria.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) enterococci pose significant public health challenges. However, the extent of resistance in the environment is less explored. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance in a poultry farm environment. Eighty enterococcal isolates recovered from the soil and effluent water of 28 poultry farms in Selangor state were included in the study for further bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing using a VITEK 2 system. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27. The resistance rate and MDR of enterococcal isolates were reported. Out of 80 isolates recovered, 72 (90%) exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic, with 50 isolates (62.5%) being found to be MDR. All linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) exhibit MDR, which constituted 40% of resistance among all the isolates recovered from poultry environment. Since linezolid is listed as critically important antibiotics for clinical use by the World Health Organization (WHO), the higher resistance towards it and other critically important antibiotic for human use is a serious concern. Hence, relevant agencies need to investigate the use of clinically important antimicrobials in poultry farms paying special attention towards linezolid or any other antibiotics that can facilitate the development of LRE.

The occurrence and spread of ARB due to high demand in poultry industries are of great public health concern. The widespread emergence of antibiotic resistance, particularly MDR among bacterial pathogens, poses challenges in clinical treatment.

COVID-19 has spread rapidly worldwide. The role of fomites in facilitating onward transmission is plausible. This study aimed to determine the presence of viable virus and its persistence on the surfaces of fomites in wards treating COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. This study was conducted in two stages. First, environmental sampling was performed on random days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and general wards. Then, in the second stage, samples were collected serially on alternate days for 7 days in two selected general wards. In Stage 1, a total of 104 samples were collected from the surfaces of highly touched and used areas by patients and healthcare workers. Only three samples were tested positive for SARS-COV-2. In Stage 2, three surface samples were detected positive, but no persistence of the virus was observed. However, none of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was viable through tissue culture. Overall, the environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 was low in this hospital setting. Hospitals' strict infection control and the compliance of patients with wearing masks may have played a role in these findings, suggesting adherence to those measures to reduce occupational exposure of COVID-19 in hospital settings.

IntroductionHealthcare workers (HCWs) have been continually exposed to patients with COVID-19 and are at higher risk of contracting the disease. Their psychological health is important for overall wellbeing and productivity, which could lead to a reduction in human errors during the pandemic crisis. This study aimed to measure the level of concerns, work practices, adequacy of preventive measures among HCWs, and the impacts on their life and work, including mental health status during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.MethodsAn online questionnaire was distributed randomly to 1,050 HCWs from the Ministry of Health facilities in the Klang Valley who were involved directly in managing or screening COVID-19 cases from May to August 2020. The questionnaire was divided into five domains, which were concerns, impact on life and work, practice, perceived adequacy of preventive measures, and Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R). Logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic predictors of the five domains.ResultsA total of 907 respondents (86.4%) participated in this survey. Approximately half of the respondents had a low concern (50.5%), most of them had a good practice (85.1%), with 67.5% perceiving there were adequate preventive measures, and they perceived the outbreak had a low impact (92%) on their life and work. From the IES-R domain, 18.6% of respondents potentially suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).ConclusionDuring the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia, HCWs practiced high levels of precautions and preventive measures because they were aware of the risk of infection as an occupational hazard. With the adequate implementation of policy and control measures, the psychological wellbeing of the majority HCWs remained well and adequately supported.