Featured Publications
The indelible toll of enteric pathogens: Prevalence, clinical characterization, and seasonal trends in patients with acute community-acquired diarrhea in disenfranchised communities
Osman M, Kassem I, Dabboussi F, Cummings K, Hamze M. The indelible toll of enteric pathogens: Prevalence, clinical characterization, and seasonal trends in patients with acute community-acquired diarrhea in disenfranchised communities. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0282844. PMID: 36913372, PMCID: PMC10010529, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282844.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnteropathogenic E. coliEnteroaggregative Escherichia coliEnterotoxigenic E. coliEnteric pathogensCross-sectional community-based studyAcute community-acquired diarrheaMultivariable logistic regression modelCommon parasitic agentsCommunity-acquired diarrheaCommunity-based studyPublic health challengeLogistic regression modelsGII infectionsAcute diarrheaMiddle-income countriesGastrointestinal PanelDiarrheic patientsEnteric infectionsOverall prevalenceRisk factorsStool samplesClinical characterizationETEC infectionDiarrheal diseaseEtiologic agent
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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLatent TuberculosisMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPrevalenceRenal DialysisConceptsLatent 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIntestinal DiseasesLebanonMalePandemicsSARS-CoV-2Severity of Illness IndexConceptsCOVID-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 pathophysiology
2020
First 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 populationsMellitusSpecies distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of clinical Candida isolates in North Lebanon: A pilot cross-sectional multicentric study
Osman M, Al Bikai A, Rafei R, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of clinical Candida isolates in North Lebanon: A pilot cross-sectional multicentric study. Journal De Mycologie Médicale 2020, 30: 100986. PMID: 32417178, DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100986.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntifungal AgentsCandidaCandidiasisCross-Sectional StudiesDrug Resistance, FungalFluconazoleHospitalsHumansLebanonMicrobial Sensitivity TestsPilot ProjectsPrevalenceSeroprevalence 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHepatitis EHepatitis E virusHumansLebanonPregnancyPregnancy Complications, InfectiousSeroepidemiologic StudiesYoung AdultConceptsHepatitis 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
Evaluation of different testing tools for the identification of non-gonococcal Neisseria spp. isolated from Lebanese male semen: a strong and significant association with infertility
Khoder M, Osman M, Diene S, Okdah L, Lalaoui R, Al Achkar M, Mallat H, Hamze M, Rolain J. Evaluation of different testing tools for the identification of non-gonococcal Neisseria spp. isolated from Lebanese male semen: a strong and significant association with infertility. Journal Of Medical Microbiology 2019, 68: 1012-1020. PMID: 31172907, DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000990.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeisseria sppSignificant associationRetrospective study designCross-sectional retrospective study designCritical treatment decisionsSymptoms of infertilityLarge-scale epidemiological investigationsAntimicrobial susceptibility testingStrains of NeisseriaUrogenital infectionsInfertile patientsNeisseria infectionsTreatment decisionsNormal seminogramMale infertilityControl groupLebanese menEpidemiological investigationsInfertilitySusceptibility testingLebanese populationAPI NHPatientsStudy designAnalytical profile index
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