GERMS MDPI

04/02/2026

📢 New article published in !

📄“Factors Associated with Transfer to Intensive Care in Younger Adults Hospitalized with COVID-19”
🎗️by Philip Tenchev, Emilia Naseva and Nina Yancheva

🏫 Medical University of Sofia

This article explores key clinical and epidemiological factors associated with patient transfer to intensive care — crucial insights for clinicians, infectious disease specialists, and healthcare practitioners aiming to improve patient management and outcomes in settings where severe infections warrant escalation of care.

👉 Read the full open‑access article here: 🔗 https://brnw.ch/21wZEhk

30/01/2026

🌍 On World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, we highlight research that deepens our understanding of diseases that affect millions yet often receive insufficient attention.

This study by Naufal Arif Ismail et al. investigates risk factors for household‑based dengue virus infection in rural Indonesia — offering evidence to guide more effective prevention strategies.

Key findings:
🦟 Stagnant water and mosquito larvae around homes significantly increase dengue risk.
🏠 Behaviors like sleeping in the morning (peak Aedes activity) raise infection odds.
📉 Low community participation in anti‑dengue programs (PSN 3M Plus & Jumantik) is linked with higher infections.

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://brnw.ch/21wZwR2

24/01/2026

🌟 misconceptions - even professionals encounter myths about .

Dr. Raluca-Maria Zlotea et al. conducted a national survey of Romanian family doctors to identify the most persistent misconceptions surrounding the HPV vaccine.

💉 Common myths include:
🔸HPV vaccine is only for girls
🔸Safety concerns and adverse effects
🔸Misunderstandings about the optimal vaccination age

💡 This study emphasizes that equipping family doctors with accurate knowledge is crucial to increasing vaccine uptake and preventing HPV-related cancers.

Full paper: https://brnw.ch/21wZm1A

21/01/2026

❓ Why Do People Refuse ?

Dr. Gheorghe G. Dumitra et al. provide a deep dive into hesitancy, uncovering the behavioral drivers behind refusal in both rural and urban populations in Romania. This study sheds light on one of public health’s most persistent challenges.

Highlights:
🧠 Three distinct attitudinal profiles of hesitancy identified using latent class analysis
📍 Rural residents are more likely to refuse vaccination than their urban counterparts
📊 Key predictors of refusal include distrust, fear of side effects, and prior vaccine experiences

An essential read for public health professionals, policymakers, and clinicians tackling .

🔗 Read the full open‑access article: https://brnw.ch/21wZfZO

12/01/2026

🌍 Viral Hepatitis: Key Updates & Clinical Perspectives

How was the global fight against evolving in 2024?
Prof. Dr. Oana Săndulescu et al. summarise the latest advancements in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and public‑health strategies.

What you need to know:
🧬 Progress across hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E with improved diagnostics and expanded antiviral access
💉 Updated insights on vaccination strategies, screening, and risk‑based prevention
🌍 Focus on equity, decentralised care, and global public health efforts

A timely resource for hepatologists, specialists, and health policy leaders shaping hepatitis care.

🔗 Read the perspective here: https://brnw.ch/21wZ0YH

08/01/2026

❓ Why are some infections so hard to treat?

A study by Dr. Amira M. Sultan and Dr. Noha Mostafa Mahmoud found that biofilm-forming strains are more likely to carry resistance integrons—genetic elements that make less effective.

💡61% of isolates formed biofilms
💡Class 1 & 2 integrons were strongly linked to drug resistance

Understanding this link could help tackle multidrug-resistant infections.

Read the full study 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wYVlz

Introduction: Integrons are genetic systems that may confer antibiotic resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm formation can facilitate gene exchange and can accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this work was to assess the distribution of resistance integrons includi...

29/12/2025

🩺 Beyond the Lungs: Impact

While COVID-19 is primarily known for affecting the lungs, it can also significantly impact the liver and biliary system.🦠

We invite you to read a study recently published in that explores the clinical, biochemical, and imaging features of hepatobiliary involvement in COVID-19 patients:

📃 "Clinical, Biochemical and Pulmonary CT Imaging Features for Hepatobiliary Involvement in COVID-19"
🥼 by Eduard Dumea et al.
📚6 citations | 🔗 Available: https://brnw.ch/21wYH9z

Key Findings:
🔸 Hepatobiliary involvement occurred in 72% of patients, associated with longer hospitalization, prolonged coagulation times, lower albumin, and higher ferritin and CRP levels.
🔸Cholestatic and mixed injury patterns linked to higher ferritin; mixed type alone linked to higher D-dimers.
🔸No significant correlation between lung CT severity and liver involvement, highlighting the systemic nature of COVID-19.

💡Monitoring liver function and coagulation markers is essential in COVID-19 management, as hepatic involvement is common and can impact clinical outcomes.

18/12/2025

🚨Hidden Threats in Our Water and Hospitals 💧

Did you know that bacteria aren’t just in hospitals—they can also be in our tap water?

Discover a recent study in that highlights a pressing public health concern affecting both hospitals and household water.

👉 Isolates from Clinical and Household Tap Water Samples: Antibiotic Resistance, Screening for Extended-Spectrum, Metallo- and AmpC-Beta-Lactamases, and Detection of blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M in Uyo, Nigeria

👤 by Olajide Akinjogunla et al.
🌐 Read here: https://brnw.ch/21wYthw

Key Findings:
🔸 36% of clinical isolates were ESBL producers; MDR strains were common
🔸Widespread presence of blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M genes
🔸Tap water may act as a hidden reservoir for resistant bacteria

🏫 University Of Uyo
🏫 Landmark University
🏫 University of Lagos
🏫 Abia State University, Uturu - ABSU
🏫 University of Pretoria

16/12/2025

We invite you to read the latest research paper published in :

✍️ "Dynamics of Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality Following COVID-19 Hospitalization in Romania"
👤 by Mihaela-Camelia Vasile et al.
🏫 Universitatea „Dunărea de Jos” din Galați

📌 COVID-19 has been linked to neurological and psychiatric symptoms, both during the initial phase of the illness and in the post-infectious aftermath, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Insights from previous pandemics indicate the possibility of enduring neuropsychiatric effects.
Read full paper here: https://brnw.ch/21wYp4g

15/12/2025

🌟 Welcome to our Editorial Board! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Serban Dragosloveanu as the newest member of our Editorial Board. 🎉

Dr. Dragosloveanu is a leading expert in the Department of and , with extensive experience in orthopaedic infections.

His insights and expertise are invaluable to our journal, ensuring that we continue to provide cutting-edge, clinically relevant research to our readers. His perspective will help guide our content, elevate our scientific standards, and foster impactful discussions in the field of .

You can check one of his recent papers here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wYnf2

📌 Stay tuned for upcoming events — we are preparing something truly special for our journal!

MDPI

12/12/2025

🔥 Exciting Opportunity! 🔥

GERMS MDPI looking for 10 passionate early-career scientists to join our Early Career Editorial Board ( )!

This role offers the opportunity to gain editorial experience, contribute to the development of an international journal, and build a foundation for future leadership roles within Germs.

Are you ready to:
🚀 Boost your academic visibility
🤝 Connect with a global network of experts
🧬 Shape the future of research

Researchers working in microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, public health, or related fields are invited to contribute to the development of these areas and their worldwide impact.

🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://brnw.ch/21wYj5m

Make sure you share the opportunity with an early-career researcher who shouldn’t miss this!

MDPI MDPI Romania

09/12/2025

🚨 Common, misdiagnosed, and often overlooked:

Discover a vital study by Dr. Shahinda Rezk and Dr. Omar Alqabbasi:
“Bacterial Vaginosis, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Trichomonal Vaginitis and Aerobic Vaginitis in Women from Egypt”

🏫 Alexandria University, Egypt
🏫 University of Benghazi - جامعة بنغازي -

Read here: https://brnw.ch/21wYcYN

This study analyzed 1080 symptomatic women, providing one of the most comprehensive insights into vaginal infections in Egypt.

Key points:
🔸 Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent infection, followed by vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC)
🔸 Mixed infections between BV and VVC are common, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis
🔸 Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is rare but significant, especially in pregnant women