Featured Publications
Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Lebanon, 2016 – 2017 - Volume 25, Number 3—March 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
Achkar S, Demanche C, Osman M, Rafei R, Ismail M, Yaacoub H, Pinçon C, Duthoy S, De Matos F, Gaudin C, Trovato A, Cirillo D, Hamze M, Supply P. Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Lebanon, 2016 – 2017 - Volume 25, Number 3—March 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2019, 25: 564-568. PMID: 30789124, PMCID: PMC6390733, DOI: 10.3201/eid2503.181375.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon
Nour D, Ismail M, Osman M, Rafei R, Kasir D, Dabboussi F, Colson P, Hamze M. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0302579. PMID: 38722969, PMCID: PMC11081361, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302579.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune responseAntibody titersAntibody levelsAnti-spike antibody levelsCharacteristics of immune responsesWaning immune responsesMultivariate logistic regression modelSARS-CoV-2 antibody titersLevel of antibody titerVaccinated patientsBNT162b2 vaccineUnivariate analysisLogistic regression modelsSputnik V vaccineBlood specimensPfizer-BioNTechVaccine doseImmune statusVaccinated adultsSARS-CoV-2InfectionNorth LebanonVaccineAstraZeneca vaccineTiters
2023
Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Patients Undergoing Regular Hemodialysis in Disenfranchised Communities: A Multicenter Study during COVID-19 Pandemic
Ismail M, Zarriaa N, Osman M, Helfawi S, Kabbara N, Chatah A, Kamaleddine A, Alameddine R, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Patients Undergoing Regular Hemodialysis in Disenfranchised Communities: A Multicenter Study during COVID-19 Pandemic. Medicina 2023, 59: 654. PMID: 37109612, PMCID: PMC10142838, DOI: 10.3390/medicina59040654.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLatent tuberculosis infectionMultivariable logistic regression analysisHD patientsLogistic regression analysisTuberculosis infectionDialysis unitsMulticenter cross-sectional studyQFT-Plus resultsActive tuberculosis diseaseQuantiFERON-TB GoldHospital dialysis unitRisk of mortalityTB control measuresCross-sectional studyRegression analysisCOVID-19 pandemicLow socioeconomic statusLTBI statusQFT-PlusRegular HDRegular hemodialysisElderly patientsLTBI prevalenceHemodialysis patientsPatient transmission
2021
High association of COVID-19 severity with poor gut health score in Lebanese patients
Al Kassaa I, Omari S, Abbas N, Papon N, Drider D, Kassem I, Osman M. High association of COVID-19 severity with poor gut health score in Lebanese patients. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0258913. PMID: 34673813, PMCID: PMC8530309, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258913.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 symptomsCOVID-19 severityHealth scoresGut healthLogistic regression modelsSevere symptomsLebanese patientsSevere COVID-19 casesSARS-CoV-2 PCRMultiple logistic regression modelFlu-like illnessCross-sectional studyCoronavirus disease 2019Multiple ordinal logistic regression modelsUnhealthy food intakeOrdinal logistic regression modelsRegression modelsRespiratory virusesMean ageIllness episodesCOVID-19 casesDisease 2019Food intakePossible associationDisease pathophysiologySpecies distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus clinical isolates in Lebanon
Osman M, Bidon B, Abboud C, Zakaria A, Hamze B, Achcar M, Mallat H, Dannaoui E, Dabboussi F, Papon N, Bouchara J, Hamze M. Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus clinical isolates in Lebanon. Future Microbiology 2021, 16: 13-26. PMID: 33438473, DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0141.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntifungal susceptibilityAspergillus clinical isolatesAntifungal susceptibility patternsReverse transcription-quantitative PCRNational Reference CenterOverall drug resistanceTranscription-quantitative PCRInvasive mycosesSusceptibility patternsHealth strategiesEUCAST recommendationsReference centerClinical isolatesAmphotericin BDrug resistanceResistant isolatesMajor causeGene mutationsExpression levelsIsolatesEpidemiologySusceptibilityMycoses
2020
Molecular epidemiology of nonpharyngeal group A streptococci isolates in northern Lebanon
Rafei R, Hawli M, Osman M, Khelissa S, Salloum T, Dabboussi F, Tokajian S, Hamze M. Molecular epidemiology of nonpharyngeal group A streptococci isolates in northern Lebanon. Future Microbiology 2020, 15: 1555-1569. PMID: 33236928, DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0072.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInvestigation of an XDR-Acinetobacter baumannii ST2 outbreak in an intensive care unit of a Lebanese tertiary care hospital
Osman M, Halimeh F, Rafei R, Mallat H, Tom J, Raad E, Diene S, Jamal S, Al Atrouni A, Dabboussi F, Moudani W, Madec J, Saras E, Lupo A, Haenni M, Rolain J, Hamze M. Investigation of an XDR-Acinetobacter baumannii ST2 outbreak in an intensive care unit of a Lebanese tertiary care hospital. Future Microbiology 2020, 15: 1535-1542. PMID: 33215520, DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0079.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcinetobacter baumanniiAcinetobacter InfectionsAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial ProteinsBeta-LactamasesCarbapenemsCross InfectionDisease OutbreaksDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialFemaleHumansIntensive Care UnitsLebanonMaleMicrobial Sensitivity TestsMiddle AgedPhylogenyTertiary Care CentersConceptsTertiary care hospitalCare hospitalPolymerase chain reactionInfection preventionPulsed-field gel electrophoresisAppropriate infection preventionIntensive care unitReal-time polymerase chain reactionMultilocus sequence typing analysisHospitalized patientsCare unitPolyclonal outbreakOXA-23Epidemiological relatednessSequence typing analysisControl measuresHospitalChain reactionFull eradicationTyping analysisPreventionOutbreakGel electrophoresisPatientsFirst data on latent tuberculosis infection in Syrian refugees with diabetes in Lebanon
Ismail M, Nour D, Raad G, Osman M, Rafei R, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. First data on latent tuberculosis infection in Syrian refugees with diabetes in Lebanon. Public Health 2020, 189: 97-100. PMID: 33197733, DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.09.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLatent tuberculosis infectionTuberculosis infectionQuantiFERON-TB GoldTuberculosis control strategiesCross-sectional studyMean ageRisk factorsClinical dataStudy populationHigh riskBlood samplesDiabetesOlder agePatientsDouble troubleInfectionVulnerable populationsAgeStructured questionnaireRiskNorth LebanonSyrian refugeesPopulationConflict-displaced populationsMellitusSeroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in northern Lebanon.
Ismail M, Khodor S, Osman M, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in northern Lebanon. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 2020, 26: 580-585. PMID: 32538452, DOI: 10.26719/emhj.19.103.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis E virus infectionE virus infectionHepatitis E virusPregnant womenE virusVirus infectionRisk factorsAnti-hepatitis E virus IgG antibodiesFurther epidemiological studiesAcute hepatitisBlood transfusionIgG antibodiesNational prevalenceEpidemiological studiesELISA techniqueSociodemographic characteristicsInfectionDeath ratePrevalenceSocioeconomic statusWomenVirusPopulation groupsSeroprevalenceEducational level
2019
First report on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in dairy cattle in Lebanon and assessment of zoonotic transmission
Greige S, El Safadi D, Khaled S, Gantois N, Baydoun M, Chemaly M, Benamrouz-Vanneste S, Chabé M, Osman M, Certad G, Hamze M, Viscogliosi E. First report on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in dairy cattle in Lebanon and assessment of zoonotic transmission. Acta Tropica 2019, 194: 23-29. PMID: 30878470, DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.02.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDomestic cattleBlastocystis spCattle livestockDairy cattleFecal samplesLow host specificityNon-human hostsDairy farmersZoonotic potentialZoonotic transmissionCattleZoonotic reservoirsFarmers' CohortLivestockAnimal hostsST3 isolatesPossible reservoirST distributionHost specificityST10FarmsHuman populationHuman infectionsPositive samplesST1
2018
First Lebanese Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign: knowledge, attitudes and practices towards antibiotics
Al Omari S, Al Mir H, Wrayde S, Merhabi S, Dhaybi I, Jamal S, Chahine M, Bayaa R, Tourba F, Tantawi H, Al Atrouni A, Omari K, Ayash O, Zeidan N, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M, Osman M. First Lebanese Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign: knowledge, attitudes and practices towards antibiotics. Journal Of Hospital Infection 2018, 101: 475-479. PMID: 30012377, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.009.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2017
High association of Cryptosporidium spp. infection with colon adenocarcinoma in Lebanese patients
Osman M, Benamrouz S, Guyot K, Baydoun M, Frealle E, Chabe M, Gantois N, Delaire B, Goffard A, Aoun A, Jurdi N, Dabboussi F, Even G, Slomianny C, Gosset P, Hamze M, Creusy C, Viscogliosi E, Certad G. High association of Cryptosporidium spp. infection with colon adenocarcinoma in Lebanese patients. PLOS ONE 2017, 12: e0189422. PMID: 29261714, PMCID: PMC5736188, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189422.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGroup of patientsLebanese patientsHuman colon cancerColon cancerColon adenocarcinomaPersistent digestive symptomsPersistent gastrointestinal symptomsRisk of infectionPotential etiological agentsPrevalence of CryptosporidiumDigestive symptomsGastrointestinal symptomsNormal biopsiesDigestive cancersColon neoplasiaDigestive biopsiesPatientsAdenocarcinomaBiopsyCancerPrevalenceEtiological agentHigh associationHuman cancersCryptosporidium prevalencePrevalence, transmission, and host specificity of Cryptosporidium spp. in various animal groups from two French zoos
Osman M, El Safadi D, Benamrouz-Vanneste S, Cian A, Moriniere R, Gantois N, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Guyot K, Bosc S, Chabé M, Petit T, Viscogliosi E, Certad G. Prevalence, transmission, and host specificity of Cryptosporidium spp. in various animal groups from two French zoos. Parasitology Research 2017, 116: 3419-3422. PMID: 29030716, DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5645-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryptosporidium sppCaptivity animalsFrench zoosSpecies of CryptosporidiumPrevalence of CryptosporidiumFecal samplesC. galliC. tyzzeriC. andersoniCryptosporidium speciesFirst molecular studyCryptosporidium DNACryptosporidium infectionHost specificityPotential reservoirsDifferent hostsCryptosporidiumMolecular studiesZoological gardensSpeciesAnimal groupsSppAnimalsParasitesAndersoni
2016
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intestinal Protozoan Infections with Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis and Dientamoeba among Schoolchildren in Tripoli, Lebanon
Osman M, Safadi D, Cian A, Benamrouz S, Nourrisson C, Poirier P, Pereira B, Razakandrainibe R, Pinon A, Lambert C, Wawrzyniak I, Dabboussi F, Delbac F, Favennec L, Hamze M, Viscogliosi E, Certad G. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Intestinal Protozoan Infections with Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis and Dientamoeba among Schoolchildren in Tripoli, Lebanon. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016, 10: e0004496. PMID: 26974335, PMCID: PMC4790957, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004496.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIntestinal protozoan infectionsProtozoan infectionsRisk factorsAssemblages of GiardiaGeneral pediatric populationPrimary risk factorCross-sectional studyPersonal hygiene habitsIntestinal pathogenic protozoaMolecular epidemiological dataLogistic regression modelsHigher infection rateSubtypes of BlastocystisDigestive symptomsPediatric populationGastrointestinal disordersAsymptomatic infectionAsymptomatic subjectsHygiene habitsOverall prevalenceStool samplesHigh prevalenceEpidemiological dataHigh riskDientamoeba fragilis
2015
Initial Data on the Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis in Lebanon
Osman M, Safadi D, Benamrouz S, Guyot K, Dei-Cas E, Aliouat E, Creusy C, Mallat H, Hamze M, Dabboussi F, Viscogliosi E, Certad G. Initial Data on the Molecular Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis in Lebanon. PLOS ONE 2015, 10: e0125129. PMID: 25950832, PMCID: PMC4423932, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125129.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor public health problemPublic health problemZiehl-Neelsen stainingCryptosporidium sppC. parvum subtypesGastrointestinal disordersRare subtypeImmunocompromised personsOverall prevalenceGastrointestinal tractHealth problemsFecal specimensMolecular epidemiologyEpidemiologyC. parvumPositive samplesPatientsHigh rateC. hominisInfectionPrevalenceSubtypesGp60 locusNorth LebanonCryptosporidiumAcute Blastocystis-Associated Appendicular Peritonitis in a Child, Casablanca, Morocco - Volume 21, Number 1—January 2015 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
Fréalle E, Safadi D, Cian A, Aubry E, Certad G, Osman M, Wacrenier A, Dutoit E, Creusy C, Dubos F, Viscogliosi E. Acute Blastocystis-Associated Appendicular Peritonitis in a Child, Casablanca, Morocco - Volume 21, Number 1—January 2015 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2015, 21: 91-94. PMID: 25528951, PMCID: PMC4285265, DOI: 10.3201/eid2101.140544.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
Molecular Epidemiology of Blastocystis in Lebanon and Correlation between Subtype 1 and Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Safadi D, Meloni D, Poirier P, Osman M, Cian A, Gaayeb L, Wawrzyniak I, Delbac F, Alaoui H, Delhaes L, Dei-Cas E, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M, Viscogliosi E. Molecular Epidemiology of Blastocystis in Lebanon and Correlation between Subtype 1 and Gastrointestinal Symptoms. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2013, 88: 1203-1206. PMID: 23458955, PMCID: PMC3752823, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBlastocystisBlastocystis InfectionsChildChild, PreschoolDNA, ProtozoanFecesFemaleGastrointestinal TractGenotypeHumansInfantLebanonMaleMiddle AgedMolecular EpidemiologyPrevalenceRibosome Subunits, SmallSequence Analysis, DNASpecimen HandlingYoung AdultConceptsLebanese populationCommon eukaryotic parasiteRibosomal RNA gene sequencingRNA gene sequencingAsymptomatic patientsGastrointestinal symptomsSymptomatic patientsSubtype 1Intestinal tractMolecular epidemiologyPatientsBlastocystis subtypesDirect light microscopyFecal samplesPublic healthSubtypesST distributionBlastocystis isolatesBlastocystisGene sequencingParasitesPopulationST1SymptomsEpidemiology