Ivermectin as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients: A randomized multi-center clinical trial

Objective: To evaluate different doses of ivermectin in adult patients with mild COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of ivermectin on mortality and clinical consequences. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed at five hospitals. A total of 180 mild hospitalized patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR or chest image tests were enrolled and allocated to six arms including hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, placebo plus hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, single dose ivermectin (200 μg/kg), three low interval doses of ivermectin (200, 200, 200 μg/kg), single dose ivermectin (400 μg/kg), and three high interval doses of ivermectin (400, 200, 200 μg/kg). The primary endpoint of this trial was all-cause of mortality or clinical recovery. The radiographic findings, hospitalization and low O

Percutaneous exposure incidents in nurses: knowledge, practice and exposure to hepatitis B infection

Nurses are at risk of percutaneous exposure incidents [PEIs], which may lead to serious or even fatal blood-borne infections. To determine the prevalence of PEIs in the last year, among nurses and to assess their knowledge about and frequency of safe method of practice in exposure to blood-borne pathogens [especially, to HBV]. A cross-sectional study in 2008 was conducted on 138 nurses working in general surgery and obstetrics/gynecology services of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Central Iran. A questionnaire for assessment of risk factors for contracting HBV infection was completed by nurses. Overall, the prevalence of needle stick injury [NSI] and direct exposure to body fluids were 52.9% [95% CI: 44.5%-61.3%] and 65.4% [95% CI: 57.4% - 73.8%], respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two studied centers in terms of sharp injuries; however, the rate of repeated NSI [number per each year >/= 3] and mucocutaneous exposures were significantly higher in the general surgery ward. The overall coverage of vaccination in the two studied centers was 96.3%, but the rate of accurate answers to many questions pertaining to knowledge and practice were less than 50%. Nurses are still at significant risk for developing NSI and mucocutaneous exposure. Continuous educational programs [especially by highlighting the seriousness of the problem] are necessary for improving this situation because inadequate education might increase unsafely practice

Urogenital chlamydia trachomatis infection among prisoner men

Chlamydia trachomatis [C.trachomatis] is one of the most common curable STDs. Little information is available on its incidence among prisoner men. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of urogenital infection with C.trachomatis among imprisoned men as a high risk group. In this cross-sectional study, 130 imprisoned men aged 16-49 years in one of Tehran prisons were randomly selected. After completing informed consent, each volunteer dedicated a urine sampler and a completed questionnaire. DNA extraction and PCR assay were performed in Avicenna Research Institute. Among the 130 prisoner men, only 3 [2.3%] had positive PCR test results. Mean age of participants was 28.00 +/- 4.58 and the mean age at first sexual contact was 20.33 +/- 3.51. All had at least elementary education while 66.7% were unmarried and 33.3% were unemployed and had less than 1000000 Rails per month. Moreover, 33.3% were homeless and others living in rental houses. Furthermore, 66.6% had more than 4 sexual partners. There was no difference in condom use and none of them mentioned urinary discharge or dysuria. Additionally, 66.6% were IVDU and had more than 3 prison admissions. There was no report of HIV, HCV or HBV infection among them. The low incidence of C.trachomatis in this study showed that screening of asymptomatic men by PCR is not cost-effective and in order to obtain more epidemiological information, low-cost techniques such as serological methods can be recommended. Moreover, studies with broader distribution and higher sample size should be performed to determine real prevalence of chlamydia infection and make a definite decision about screening