A REVIEW ON THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC (COVID-19) IN BANGLADESH; CHALLENGES AND INITIATIVES

Since the first coronavirus patient was identified in Bangladesh on March 8, the most controversial issue is about the exact level of the infection in Bangladesh. Conformly with the population density the number of COVID-19 tests is inadequate. As the number of tests increases, so does the number of infections, making it difficult to predict the spread of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. In this case, the unplanned initiatives are particularly responsible in other for unplanned measures, lack of public awareness, and lack of proper knowledge. In this case, the Ministry of Health has made three major mistakes, three important features of the medical system in Bangladesh have been mentioned. It is more effective to prevent COVID-19 by isolating the infected person by further testing COVID-19 until effective treatment is available and to provide adequate and effective masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). In this case, the COVID-19 testing kit invention has received a good response in many countries of the world. This study focuses on the comprehensive data verification, selection, and evaluation of COVID-19 in Bangladesh and its implications for the future, what to do to address and prevent the COVID-19 challenge, and effective treatment against the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is hopeful that the discussion of the material mentioned in this research paper will help to strike a balance between the government, citizens, and experts which will be feasible in improving the current situation in COVID-19 Bangladesh and reducing its severity.

Isolation of chemically resistant bacterial strains from industrially polluted water body.

Bacground: Untreated disposal of chemical waste poses serious environmental hazard. An attempt was made towards presumptive identification of the major genera of microbial contaminants found in a natural pond that receives waste from a pharmaceutical industry of Gonoshasthaya Antibiotic Ltd. during the period of 2008 to 2009. Methodology: Water sample was collected and physical parameters were determined. Results: A total of 38 bacterial isolates were found from surface water, deep layer water and sediment soil but only five isolates were found to resist up to 0.1 mg/ml of phenol. Microscopic and biochemical test of five isolates presumptively identified them Staphylococcus sp, Sporosarcina sp, Bacillus sp and members of family Enterobacteriaceae. All five isolates were resistant to Amoxycillin (30?g), Erythromycin (15?g), and Penicillin-G (10units). Conclusion: Resistance against common therapeutic antibiotics indicates possible epidemiological risk.

Comparison between DOT EIA IgM and Widal Test as early Diagnosis of Typhoid Fever.

A recently developed DOT enzyme immunoassay known as "Typhidot" for detecting IgM antibody against 50 KDa OMP antigen of Salmonella typhi, was evaluated on 100 clinically suspected typhoid fever cases and 40 age-sex matched controls, in the Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College during, the period from June 2006 to July 2007. Blood culture, Widal test, and DOT EIA for IgM test were performed in all patients. Among 100 clinically suspected typhoid fever cases, 35 were subsequently confirmed on the basis of positive blood culture for S. typhi and/or significant rising titre of Widal test. The DOT EIA IgM test could produce results within 1 hour. The result of the DOT EIA IgM test showed a good diagnostic value for typhoid fever. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the test was found as 91.42%, 90.00%, 88.88% and 92.30% respectively. On the other hand corresponding values for Widal test were of 42.85%, 85.00%, 71.42% and 62.96% respectively. Thus, The DOT EIA IgM seems to be a practical alternative to Widal test for early diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Anti H.pylori IgM in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Population.

To evaluate the usefulness of specific IgM in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, a cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College between July 2006 to June 2007. A total of 45 patients having upper gastrointestinal symptoms underwent endoscopy and were subsequently diagnosed as patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer (PU) and non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and another 45 asymptomatic individuals aged 18-65 years, were included in the study. The serum samples of participants were tested for presence of anti-H pylori IgM by using ELISA method. The ELISA for anti H. pylori IgM provided sensitivity and specificity of 73.33%, 93.33% respectively.

Unusual presentation of progressive systemic sclerosis.

A female 38 years old, housewife, presented to the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) on 08.04.07 with the complaints of i) pain and reduced movement of hand, knee, shoulder and neck joints for 1 year and 9 months ii) tightness of skin over face, neck, limbs and trunk for 1 year and 6 months iii) patchy depigmentation over same areas for 1 year and 3 months iv) deformity of hands with flexion contractures for 6 months and v) dysphagia to solid food for 3 months. She had no complaints of Raynaud's phenomenon. On general examination, she was ill looking, anemic and nutritionally poor. Examination of integumentary system showed smooth, shiny, thick, hard and hidebound skin with pigmentary alteration of 'salt and pepper' appearance over fingers, hands, limbs, face, neck and trunk. Hands appear claw like but more on the right side than the left and there were no other obvious changes suggestive of digital ischaemia (atrophy, ulceration, scarring, gangrene etc). Face has got suggestive features of scleroderma. Examination of the respiratory system showed restriction of chest movement and reduced expansibility of chest wall. No other abnormality was found on examination of other systems. Laboratory investigations showed histopathology typical of scleroderma. X-ray of hands and feet showed suggestive changes, lung function test-showed restrictive lung disease. Barium swallow x-ray of esophagus in supine position showed mild dilation of lower oesophagus. But serology was non-reactive (negative ANA, Negative RA test, Negative VDRL). So, she was diagnosed as a case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with some atypicality.

Spatial modeling of malaria incidence rates in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Islamic Republic of Iran

To identify the effect of environmental factors on malaria risk, and to visualize spatial map of malaria standard incidence rates in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Islamic Republic of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, the data from 42,162 registered new malaria cases from 21 March 2001 [Iranian new year] to 21 of March 2006 were studied. To describe the statistical association between environmental factors and malaria risk, a generalized linear mixed model approach was utilized. In addition, we used the second ordered stationary Kriging, and a variogram to determine the appropriate spatial correlation structure among the malaria standard incidence rates, and provide a proper malaria risk map in the area under study. The obtained results from the spatial modeling revealed that humidity [p=0.0004], temperature [p < 0.0001], and elevation [p < 0.0001] were positively, and precipitation [p=0.0029] was inversely correlated with the malaria risk. Moreover, the malaria risk map based on the predicted values showed that the south part of this province [Baluchistan], has a higher risk of malaria, compared to the northern area [Sistan]. Since the effective environmental factors on malaria risk are out of human's control, the health policy makers in this province should pay more attention to the areas with high temperature, elevation, and humidity, as well as, low rainfall districts

Evaluation of 68 cases of chest injuries.

During the period of January, 2003 to December 2004 a descriptive cross-sectional study was done to evaluate the variations in clinical pictures of chest injury, rural and urban distribution, weapons used commonly and finally the result of existing treatment facilities in a general surgical unit of a tertiary level hospital. Total number of patient was 68. All patients of chest injury with or without extra-thoracic other injuries admitted in this period was included non-randomly. Diagnosis was based on history, clinical examination and relevant investigation like radiography and ultrasonography. Penetrating injury predominates over blunt injury in this study. Associated extra thoracic injury was present in a good number of cases. Most of the weapons were made locally and were used in household purposes. Homicidal injury predominates over accidental and incidence is more in rural than in urban areas. Most of the cases were treated by general supportive measures with or without intercostal tube thoracostomy. The outcome of treatment was satisfactory. Only one patient developed empyema thoracis and two patients died.

Resistance pattern of bacteria isolated from acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) cases.

Out of 350 acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) patients 110 (31.4%) were positive on culture. Among then (35.5%) yielded from upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and 64.5% yielded from lower respiratory tract infection (LRI). Predominant bacterial isolates from URI were Staph aureus (12.4%) and Strepto. pyogen (9.8%) whereas predominant agent from LRI were Strepto. pneumoniae (14.7%) and Haemophilus influenzae (8.6%). Capsular typing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and type specific antisera revealed that 64.7% of the isolates were type-b and rest were non-b. The most frequent resistance pattern of H. influenzae was found resistant to penicillin-ampicillin (64.7%) followed by SMX-TMP (14.7%) and tetracycline (5.9%). Among penicillin-ampicillin resistant strains, 81.8% were beta lectamase positive and 18.2% were beta lectamase negative. Among beta lectamase positive strains 66.7% were capsular type-b and 33.3% were non-b, had MICS < or = 8 microgram/ml. and < or = 4 microgram/ml. respectively. 5.9% strains of Strepto. pneumoniae was found resistant to SMX-TMP, 5.9% to penicillin-ampicillin and 2.9% to cephalexin. Common resistance pattern of Staph aureus was penicillin-ampicillin (60%), SMX-TMP (37.2%) and tetracycline-erythromycine-cephalexin (11.4%). Strepto. pyogen was found resistant to tetracycline in 12.2% cases and to SMX-TMP in 8.3% cases.

Increasing trend of ciprofloxacin resistance amongst common bacterial isolates at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital.

Ciprofloxacin resistance among common bacterial pathogen comprising Esch.coli, Staph.aureus and Pseudomonas spp. isolated from different clinical samples of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the periods of September, 1999 to March, 2001 and September, 2001 to August, 2002 were recorded. Values of two periods were compared and increased rate of ciprofloxacin resistance were noted in every bacterial species, e.g. 32.0% in Esch.coli, 8.7% in Staph.aureus and 5.1% in Pseudomonas spp. It was suggested to be aware and careful regarding use of ciprofloxacin in clinical practice so as to limit emergence of bacterial strains resistance towards the drug.

Sociodemographic, environmental and clinical risk factors for developing persistent diarrhoea among infants in a rural community of Egypt.

The study documents the incidence of persistent diarrhoea and its sociodemographic, household, environmental and clinical risk factors. One hundred and fifty-two newborns were followed for the first 12 months of life in Bilbeis, Egypt. The household of each participant was surveyed at baseline and was visited twice a week. The study infants experienced persistent diarrhoea at a rate of 0.51 episode/case per year. Development of persistent diarrhoea was associated with water storage in mud-containers (Odds ratio [OR] = 4.36, confidence interval [CI] 1.4-14.8), pump-water supply (OR = 3.5, CI 1.2-10.2), and absence of a latrine in the household (OR = 2.74, CI 1.01-7.38). Detection of faecal IgE (OR = 3.32, CI 1.0-10.9) and high stool frequency (OR = 2.95, CI 1.1-7.8) appeared as important clinical predictors for the onset of persistent diarrhoea. The incidence of persistent diarrhoea among young infants in Bilbeis, Egypt, was high. Sociodemographic, environmental and clinical parameters were important risk factors for the development of persistent diarrhoea.