📄 Category

infectious diseases

242 papers

Infectious diseases represent one of the most dynamic frontiers in global health, covering everything from seasonal flu outbreaks to emerging viral threats that cross borders. This field focuses on how pathogens spread, how our immune systems respond, and the strategies scientists use to stop infections before they become epidemics. Because the science moves fast, waiting for traditional publication often means missing critical insights that could save lives.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from medRxiv to ensure you see the latest findings the moment they appear. Our team transforms these raw studies into both accessible plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, bridging the gap between complex research and public understanding. Below are the latest papers in infectious diseases, updated daily with fresh insights from the global research community.

📄 infectious diseases

Suspected mpox admissions to a dedicated infectious-diseases isolation ward in northeastern Nigeria, 2022-2025: a register-based descriptive study with evidence of a household cluster

This register-based descriptive study of 15 suspected mpox admissions at a northeastern Nigerian hospital between 2022 and 2025 identified a significant household cluster and a 20% case fatality rate, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened laboratory diagnosis and mandatory result recording to improve surveillance accuracy.

Ahmad, H., Hayatu, A.2026-08-28
📄 infectious diseases

Diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay for tuberculosis in stool specimens among adult presumptive TB patients in a generalized HIV epidemic setting

In a prospective study of adult presumptive TB patients at the Thailand-Myanmar border, the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay performed on stool specimens demonstrated high sensitivity (90.32%) and specificity (98.78%) comparable to sputum testing, supporting its use as a viable alternative diagnostic method when respiratory samples cannot be obtained.

Aung, H. K. K., Thi, S. S., Watthanaworawit, W., Phyo, A. P., Nosten, F. H.2026-08-24
📄 infectious diseases

Patterns and Trends of Antimicrobial Resistance of WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens in Kenya: data from multi-site surveillance for the period 2021-2025

Based on multi-site surveillance data from 2021 to 2025, this study reveals alarming and increasing trends of antimicrobial resistance among WHO priority pathogens in Kenya, particularly highlighting high rates of carbapenem-resistant *Klebsiella pneumoniae* and methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus*, which underscores the urgent need for strengthened infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.

Kassim, A., Ombajo, L. A., Njeru, J., Githii, S., Matheka, C., Andrew, J., Otieno, E., Kariuki, N., Kiigu, F., Mburu, V. (…)2026-08-21
📄 infectious diseases

The magnitude of early hepatitis B RNA and DNA declines directly inform capsid assembly modulator effectiveness

This study demonstrates that the magnitude of early declines in hepatitis B RNA and DNA levels during the first two weeks of capsid assembly modulator therapy can be used to accurately estimate the drugs' in vivo antiviral effectiveness, providing a rapid method to evaluate new treatments and minimize the risk of drug resistance in clinical trials.

Cassidy, T., Iyaniwura, S. A., Ribeiro, R. M., Perelson, A. S.2026-08-21
📄 infectious diseases

Geographical targeting of active case finding for tuberculosis in Pakistan using artificial intelligence software: a qualitative study embedded within the SPOT TB trial

This qualitative study embedded within the SPOT-TB trial in Pakistan reveals that while the MATCH-AI tool effectively reduces selection bias in tuberculosis screening, its successful implementation depends on integrating its technical capabilities with field staff's contextual knowledge, robust infrastructure, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Shahid, A., Latif, A., Faran, A., Mahfooz, A., Zaidi, S. M. A., Ahmed, W., Nawaz, N., Reza, T. E., Emmanuel, F.2026-08-21
📄 infectious diseases

Exploratory Profiling of Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

This study utilized nCounter technology to analyze plasma from patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and recovered controls, identifying 40 significantly differentially expressed circulating microRNAs—including 36 overexpressed and 4 underexpressed—that establish a distinct molecular profile and provide candidate biomarkers for future research into the syndrome's pathogenesis.

da Silva, L. I., Correa, F. C., Carvalho, M. d., Reis, P. P., Castro, C. F. B., Serezani, C. H. C., Dias-Melicio, L. A.2026-08-18
📄 infectious diseases

Comparing Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine+Chloroquine and Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine to Control for Malaria Prevention in Malawian School Children: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

In a randomized controlled trial involving Malawian school children, both Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine and Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine plus Chloroquine significantly reduced malaria prevalence, clinical malaria, and anemia compared to no treatment, suggesting that the non-artemisinin SP+CQ regimen is a viable alternative to DP for intermittent preventive treatment in settings with similar drug resistance profiles.

Nyangulu, W., Mzembe, E., Kumalakwaanthu, W., Mategeni, A., Sixpence, A., Chirombo, J., Laufer, M. K., Mathanga, D. P. (…)2026-08-07
📄 infectious diseases

Inferring heterogeneous transmission and community introduction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital settings

This paper introduces a blockwise agent-based iterated filter (BAIF) framework that successfully infers heterogeneous transmission rates and community importation probabilities of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital settings by analyzing partially observed patient movement and microbiological data, thereby enabling more targeted infection control strategies.

Li, J., Yao, Q., Pei, S., Ning, N.2026-08-04
📄 infectious diseases

Predictive models for hospitalization and mortality in dengue using SINAN data: study protocol for development, temporal validation, and performance evaluation

This study protocol outlines a retrospective analysis using Brazilian SINAN data (2017–2025) to develop, temporally validate, and evaluate predictive models for dengue hospitalization and mortality, adhering to TRIPOD+AI guidelines to support clinical screening and surveillance.

Delpino, F. M. M., Magalhaes, D., Peres, I. T., Gusberti, T., de Lima, C. J., Bozza, F. A., Ranzani, O., Bastos, L.2026-08-04