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The Omicron (B.1.1.529), fifth variant of concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2, initially identified following a steep increase in COVID-19 cases in Southern Africa in November 2021. It is a highly-mutated variant and is more contagious as compared with the Delta variant, however less deadly. Due to its high transmission rate, it spreads dramatically, and causing huge surges worldwide. It causes "mild infection”, with hospitalisations less likely to occur. However, this variant is known to show resistance to neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) generated through vaccination and/or prior infection as well as to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used to treat COVID-19 patients. In many countries, booster doses of vaccines have been recommended to increase the protective levels of antibodies in vaccinated individuals. Along with the implementation of appropriate prevention and control strategy measures, current efforts are also focussed on the development of better vaccines and mAbs to counter this variant. This review highlights the global health concerns and challenges posed by the Omicron variant and present an update on its sub-lineages. © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Background: The unprecedented outbreak of a contagious respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has led to a pandemic since December 2019, claiming millions of lives. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to estimate the various risk factors associated with COVID, to study the common presenting symptoms and prognosis, and to estimate the degree of association between computed tomography (CT) value in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with mode of disease transmission in north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 1462 COVID-positive individuals. It is based on structured questionnaire on demographic, socioeconomic and symptoms, and correlation of clinical pattern with CT value in RT-PCR and further prognosis. Results: Diabetes (6.7%), hypertension (7.5%), and bronchial asthma (8.6%) are the main comorbid conditions. Middle (44.6%) and low socioeconomic status (47.3%) are more susceptible. Male gender (63.5%) is more affected, especially 16-30 years age group (32.4%). Vaccination offers considerable protection from infection. Contact (59.4%) with known case and travel (31%) are main factors that determine disease transmission. Blood group may not play a role in COVID susceptibility. Health careworkers (22.9%) and students (16.2%) are mostly affected. Conclusion: Bronchial asthma, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are the predominant risk factors associated with COVID. Transmission of the disease is more by virtue of contact with the infected person than by travel.
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An automated model representing communicating states for a given moment in actual time is theorized in an Automated Supply Chain Dual (SC). When handling instability threats in SCs, we look at the circumstances surrounding the architecture and deployment of the digital twins. Combining models with data-driven methods show interrelationships between data risk, modeling disturbances, and performance evaluation. Digital network networking maps are distinctly visually illustrated by the SC blow and modifications amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the after-event recovery method. The findings of this research complement SC risk management's science and experience by enriching forecasting and corrective findings to exploit the merits of SC modeling, quantitative predictive data, and evidence of disruptions in real-time. The supply chains have been severely impacted by the recent coronavirus pandemic, known as the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to supply failure, demand for certain items has increased significantly, while raw materials supply required to produce those items has decreased;therefore, to address these issues, this paper proposes some strategies for improving service levels for the most sought-after products, such as toilet paper, during a severe pandemic, such as COVID-19.
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Pharmacists play vital roles in the healthcare system by providing medicines, therapeutics, vaccines and critical health services to the public, as well as creating awareness about how to control and prevent diseases through counseling, advising and interaction with patients and public. Availability of continuous and expertise services of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic is important. Coronavirus infections can be prevented and its outbreak can be reduced by active engagement of pharmacists working in hospitals, clinics and community beside other healthcare professionals and doctors. The distinguished services and immense contribution of pharmacists in drug industry, drug testing, research & development, academia and regulatory make possible the availability of quality medicines which ultimately strengthen our health care, disease management and quality of life. Not only in COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists can play crucial role in many other critical health problems through selection of rational drugs and its doses and monitoring of drugs/ patients and adverse drug reactions, etc. Unfortunately in India, pharmacists are not properly utilized in critical cases, their expertise is not considered in clinical situations, and their importance is not recognized. Rather pharmacists are suppressed, underestimated and improperly used. Copyright © 2020, Indian Pharmaceutical Association. All rights reserved.
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Black fungus is the latest threat to the patients who just recovered from the covid-19. Black fungus is a type of mucormycosis infection, predominantly seen in patients with co-morbidities, mainly diabetes, cancer, immunocompromised infections, and organ transplant. Rising black fungus cases are not only a major aesthetic problem disrupting the medical and socioeconomic system, but it also senses another upcoming pandemic in India. Black fungus has a clinical appearance that is indistinguishable from other common illnesses at first, and it is invariably deadly unless diagnosed early or untreated vigorously. Rapid and precise diagnostic procedures, as well as the availability of less toxic, more effective antifungal drugs like posaconazole and isavuconazole, should be pursued as targets for improved black fungus care. The liposomal Amphotericin B had brought new rays of hope for treating black fungus by providing better efficacy amongst people. Since there is a dearth of literature regarding the management of black fungus patients, the article focused on the incidences, prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment protocol, to gain insight into the extent of this epidemic in India in 2021. Copyright © 2020 the American Physiological Society.
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Background : Viral respiratory infections increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections owing to their need for hospitalisation, prolonged stay, the practice of Empiric Antimicrobial Prescription. This leads to worrisome Antimicrobial Resistance and such infections have a worse outcome. Materials and Methods :This is a cross-sectional study conducted on patients admitted with COVID-19 at GEMS and Hospital from April, 2021 to June, 2021. The bacteriological profile and susceptibility pattern of the isolates obtained while investigating secondary infections in COVID-19 patients were studied. Results : 132 positive growth samples were collected from ICU and various Wards. Maximum positive growth was found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 36 (27.2%), followed by Surgery ward 27 (20.5%) and Medicine Ward 27 (20.5%). Escherichia coli was most commonly isolated 59 (44.7%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 28 (21.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 17 (12.8%). Out of 90 Gram-negative isolates, 25 (27.8%) were found to be Multi-drug Resistants and out of 11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 5 (45.5%) were MRSA. Conclusion : This study concludes that poor infection control and irrational antibiotic prescription practices play a major role in the development of secondary infections in these patients. Standard practices need to be followed and there should be an implementation of infection prevention control measures and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) must reappraise the current situation.
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Background: The Utility ofserum biomarker in the Diagnosis of COVID-19 cases has not been studied thoroughly. Aims and Objective: Tofind outthe diagnostic accuracy of serum ferritin, c-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase and d-dimer with RT-PCR positive moderate to severe covid-19 patients. Methods: This diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on suspected COVID-19 SARI patients and were divided into two groups based on the results of RT-PCR for COVID-19 and to minimise false-negative RT-PCR in the control group patientshaving HRCT-thorax CORADS-5 were excluded, and the accuracy of different serum biomarker in predicting cases withpositive RT-PCR was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC),In thisstudy, AUC 0.9 to 1 was defined as excellent accuracy, 0.8 to0.9 as very good, 0.7 to 0.8 as good, 0.6 to 0.7 as sufficient, 0.5to 0.6 as bad, and < 0.5 as poor(useless test). Results: 126 cases with the mean age of 47.2(range: 19- 84) years were studied (73% male). The result of RT-PCR for COVID-19 waspositive in 62(49.2%) cases. Patients with positive RT-PCR had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = <0.001),D-dimer (p=0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = <0.001) and non-significantly Serum ferritin (p=0.188).AUC of CRP(AUC=0.832), LDH (AUC=0.809), D-Dimer (AUC=0.667) and serum ferritin(AUC=0.568). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that levelsof Serum Ferritin as bad,D-DIMER as sufficient,CRPand LDH as very good biomarker to predict the results of the COVID-19 test. CRP and LDH can help in the detection of COVID-19 patients.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the effect on distress of senior citizen’s anxiety levels in quarantine during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive study, in which data were collected using the online survey method, a sociodemographic form, a semi-structured data form for second wave COVID-19, the anxiety-level scale and the distress scale. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected during the period when a curfew was imposed for the senior citizen. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model. According to the structural equation model, anxiety was determined as a predictor of distress. Findings: The anxiety levels of the senior citizen who were 60–69 years old, female, single;had inadequate knowledge about the pandemic;and had not encountered a similar pandemic before considered that family bonding was affected negatively, so they became alone and reported that they became bored, exhausted and distressed during the pandemic, which increased their distress levels. Anxiety affects distress in the senior citizens. Practical implications: One of the policy implications of this study is that governments should provide behavioral support to citizens during a pandemic. For example, short-term home-based psychological interventions should be developed to reduce the negative effects of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Originality/value: The anxiety levels increased distress levels for those senior citizens who considered their information about the second wave of COVID-19 insufficient;had hyper-emotionality;longed for their families;and felt tense, overwhelmed and lonely during the pandemic. In addition, factors such as constraints of flexibilities, prevention of socialization and decreased physical movements also affect distress in senior citizens. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that occurs primarily in immunocompromised individuals, usually affecting the rhino-orbital areas followed by the lungs. This case report presents renal mucormycosis in a young man after COVID-19 pneumonia that escalates the need for regular follow-up of COVID-19 patients. Post-COVID-19 fungal infections are on a steep rise, and the increased use of steroids and immune modulators for COVID-19-associated immune dysregulation and cytokine syndrome increases the risk among patients treated for COVID-19. © 2022 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
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The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic driven by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus–2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become the most critical universal health disaster of this century. Millions of people are staying at home obeying lockdown to halt the spread of this novel virus. The spread of the virus has forced people to use the mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, etc. daily, and healthcare workers to use personal protection equipment following the WHO guidelines, resulting in huge amounts of medical waste. This pandemic has led to a slowdown of economic activities significantly, and consequently, stock markets have nosedived beyond speculation. Although the deadly coronavirus has taken away millions of precious lives and the livelihood of many sections of people worldwide, it has brought several positive changes in the world. Furthermore, it has led to a massive restoration of the environment and improved air and water quality. Pandemic showed the resilient nature of the environment, including air and water, when human activities are paused. In addition, we also discussed how this pandemic affects human lifestyle behavior. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.