SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in deceased bodies: implications for infection prevention

Background & objectives: High transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 has significant implications on healthcare workers’ safety, preservation, handling, transportation and disposal of the deceased bodies. The objective of this study was to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal samples and its implications in handling and care of COVID-19 deceased bodies. Methods: A study was conducted at a dedicated COVID-19 centre on deceased individuals from April to December 2020. Rapid antigen test (RAT) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was compared on all the SARS-CoV-2 positive cadavers recruited in the study. Results: A total of 115 deceased individuals were included in the study. Of these, 79 (68.7%) were male and 36 (31.3%) were female and majority were in the age group of 51-60 yr [31 (27%)]. SARS-CoV-2 antigen test was positive in 32 (27.8%) and negative in 83 (72.1%) individuals. The mean time interval between deaths to the sample collection was 13.2 h with interquartile range of eight to 20 h. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used as the reference test and 24 (20.9%) cases were true positive; 93.6 per cent [95% confidence interval (CI) 88.8-98.4%] sensitivity, 45.2 per cent (95% CI 35.5-55%) specificity, 60.2 per cent (95% CI 50.6-69.8%) positive predictive value and 88.8 per cent (95% CI 82.7-95%) negative predictive value of antigen test was computed. Interpretation & conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 antigen test was positive beyond 19 h in COVID-19 deceased individuals. Antigen test was found to be highly sensitive in the deceased. Patients, suspected of having died due to COVID-19, can be screened by this method. As infectiousness of the virus in the deceased bodies cannot be directly concluded from either the antigen or RT-PCR test, yet possible transmission cannot be completely ruled out. Strict infection control measures need to be followed during the handling and clearance of COVID-19 cadavers.

Attitudes and Perceptions of Medical Doctors Towards Their Jobs in the State of J and K, India

Background: Management gurus have long since established a relationship between the attitudes held by an organization's work force and its job satisfaction. The foundations of individual behavior lie in individual attitudes, and employee attitudes, if understood properly, can be modified by operant conditioning

Methodology: The following study was undertaken in different but comparable study populations of doctors in Medical Education and Health selected through stratified random sampling to understand their attitudes towards and satisfaction from their work, through a cross sectional study design with the help of an anonymous questionnaire

Results: Doctors in both Health and Medical Education have comparable levels of job satisfaction i.e. 67% for Health and 69% for Medical Education. Both study populations strive for professional excellence, but self-actualization is a potent motivator for doctors in Medical Education while financial and social security are exceedingly important for doctors in the Health sector. Satisfaction falls among doctors by the second decade of service to rise again gradually

Discussion: Job satisfaction among doctors is at the lowest during the most productive years of their lives, when knowledge is tempered with experience and age is still on their side. It is important to recognize the motivations of doctors and provide them with opportunities and resources for professional excellence, self-actualization and growth

Conclusions: Both study populations were found to have a high level of job satisfaction. They also rated professional excellence on a high scale as a job motivator, but did not think that their organization considered it important

Attitudes and perceptions of medical doctors towards their jobs in the state of J and K, India

Management gurus have long since established a relationship between the attitudes held by an organization's work force and its job satisfaction. The foundations of individual behavior lie in individual attitudes, and employee attitudes, if understood properly, can be modified by operant conditioning. The following study was undertaken in different but comparable study populations of doctors in Medical Education and Health selected through stratified random sampling to understand their attitudes towards and satisfaction from their work, through a cross sectional study design with the help of an anonymous questionnaire. Doctors in both Health and Medical Education have comparable levels of job satisfaction i.e. 67% for Health and 69% for Medical Education. Both study populations strive for professional excellence, but self-actualization is a potent motivator for doctors in Medical Education while financial and social security are exceedingly important for doctors in the Health sector. Satisfaction falls among doctors by the second decade of service to rise again gradually. Job satisfaction among doctors is at the lowest during the most productive years of their lives, when knowledge is tempered with experience and age is still on their side. It is important to recognize the motivations of doctors and provide them with opportunities and resources for professional excellence, self-actualization and growth. Both study populations were found to have a high level of job satisfaction. They also rated professional excellence on a high scale as a job motivator, but did not think that their organization considered it important