Public Perception About Pandemic Situation and Preparedness Towards a Probable Lockdown in an Affected Indian State Amidst the Second Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 second wave badly affected India. This study assessed public preparedness and attitude towards a new lockdown in the state of West Bengal (WB) along with perception about the COVID pandemic situation. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was administered to all willing adult attendees of a COVID vaccination centre in Kolkata, capital city of WB. Logistic regression was applied to find the relationship between attitude towards lockdown and other selected independent variables. RESULTS: Of the 839 persons analyzed, 72.0% were non-health workers; and 55.4% thought that available vaccines reduce COVID-19 risk. Among them, 54.4% wanted stricter guidelines imposed. For preparedness, 42.6% and 28.8% said they would stock additional food and medicines respectively. On multiple logistic regression, being female, having elderly family members, perceiving the second wave as worse, and favouring stricter restrictions, all had odds of favourable attitude towards the new, proposed lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: A new lockdown was favoured by the majority. However, a well-planned and phased approach for this is needed in the light of many concerns about the previous lockdown. Mental health issues, financial security, medical help at hand, and ease of travel to workplaces are important issues that need to be addressed in case of future lockdown(s).

The effects of systemic immunomodulatory treatments on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with atopic dermatitis: Results from the global SECURE-AD registry.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the effects of systemic immunomodulatory treatments on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: To investigate COVID-19 outcomes in patients with AD treated with or without systemic immunomodulatory treatments, using a global registry platform. METHODS: Clinicians were encouraged to report cases of COVID-19 in their patients with AD in the Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion for Atopic Dermatitis (SECURE-AD) registry. Data entered from 1 April 2020 to 31 October 2021 were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. The primary outcome was hospitalization from COVID-19, according to AD treatment groups. RESULTS: 442 AD patients (mean age 35.9 years, 51.8% male) from 27 countries with strongly suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were included in analyses. 428 (96.8%) patients were treated with a single systemic therapy (n = 297 [67.2%]) or topical therapy only (n = 131 [29.6%]). Most patients treated with systemic therapies received dupilumab (n = 216). Fourteen patients (3.2%) received a combination of systemic therapies. Twenty-six patients (5.9%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Patients treated with topical treatments had significantly higher odds of hospitalization, compared with those treated with dupilumab monotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 4.65 [95%CI 1.71-14.78]), including after adjustment for confounding variables (adjusted OR (aOR) 4.99 [95%CI 1.4-20.84]). Combination systemic therapy which did not include systemic corticosteroids was associated with increased odds of hospitalization, compared with single agent non-steroidal immunosuppressive systemic treatment (OR 8.09 [95%CI 0.4-59.96], aOR 37.57 [95%CI 1.05-871.11]). Hospitalization was most likely in patients treated with combination systemic therapy which included systemic corticosteroids (OR 40.43 [95%CI 8.16-207.49], aOR 45.75 [95%CI 4.54-616.22]). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the risk of COVID-19 complications appears low in patients with AD, even when treated with systemic immunomodulatory agents. Dupilumab monotherapy was associated with lower hospitalization than other therapies. Combination systemic treatment, particularly combinations including systemic corticosteroids, was associated with the highest risk of severe COVID-19.

Face mask use and disposal behaviour of frontline young doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-year study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected India in spite of an ongoing vaccination campaign. The doctors are at greater risk of COVID-19 and face masks are a protective measure against this threat. We assessed the use and disposal of face masks among postgraduate trainees (PGTs) working on the COVID-19 frontline in an Indian medical college. METHODOLOGY: Data was collected from all PGTs who agreed to participate during the first, second and third wave of the pandemic in India. A pre-tested questionnaire to assess and compare face mask use and disposal behaviour across the three phases was used. RESULTS: All participants used face masks regularly; a significant uptrend in N-95 mask users and double mask users was observed as the pandemic progressed. Use of face shields peaked during the second wave. Most participants preferred keeping the mask on always at work and avoided donning and doffing of masks in between usage. Many of them practiced 'extended use' of face masks and nearly a third re-used a mask for ≥ 6 days, which is against the standard recommendations; however, such behavior among participants showed a downward trend. Proper disposal practices were not followed by many participants, leaving scope for environmental contamination. CONCLUSIONS: There is an imminent need to make the young frontline doctors aware regarding appropriate mask usage and disposal for better preparedness before any health exigencies of the future.

Evidence-Based Guidelines for SARS-COV-2 Vaccination of Patients of Skin Allergic Diseases and Patients on Immuno-Therapeutics.

There is a dearth of data regarding the safety and timing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) vaccination of patients on immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. However, data from other vaccine trials may be extrapolated to get an idea regarding the recommendation of SARS-COV-2 vaccines. All the novel SARS-COV-2 vaccines are non-live, thus ensuring the safety of the vaccines. However, the vaccines may not be able to generate an equipotent immunogenic response in patients receiving immunotherapeutics, in comparison to those who are not. We have attempted to put forward certain statements, with respect to SARS-COV-2 vaccination of patients who are on treatment for different dermatological conditions. However, the risk-benefit ratio must be discussed between the patient and the physician, and the final call should be individualized.

Archived dengue serum samples produced false-positive results in SARS-CoV-2 lateral flow-based rapid antibody tests.

Co-endemicity of SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus (DV) infection is becoming a matter of serious concern as it has been already reported that antibodies (Ab) elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection can produce false-positive results in dengue IgG and IgM rapid tests and vice versa. Here we communicate that five of thirteen DV antibody-positive serum samples from Kolkata, archived in 2017 (predating the COVID-19 outbreak), produced false-positive results in SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM lateral flow-based rapid tests. Our results emphasize the importance of implementing tests with higher specificity to conduct sero-surveillance for accurate estimation of SARS-CoV-2/DV prevalence in regions where both viruses now co-exist.

Lasers Use in Dermatology Practice in the Evolving COVID-19 Scenario: Recommendations by SIG Lasers (IADVL Academy).

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the entire world by storm. Almost all dermatology laser procedures are considered non-essential and there is a consensus that they should be deferred till the threat of the COVID-19 is well and truly over. The article presents recommendations for the use of lasers and energy based devices in a safe manner during and in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. Plume generating procedures need full personal protective equipment to be used. Special precautions are required for specific laser and energy based procedures. A robust disinfection strategy based on preventing fomite borne COVID-19 transmission in the laser operating room is essential.

Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) Facts and Figures: What Every Dermatologist Should Know at this Hour of Need.

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected India and the world as a whole, like nothing in the recent history and we, dermatologists, are also affected directly or indirectly. In this review, we have tried to address the COVID-19-related information we need to be aware of as a health-care professional. We have discussed the relevant details of the disease: the agent, the symptomatology, common preventive measures, investigations, and management outline. We have also discussed the implications of COVID-19 in dermatology practice and given a basic guideline for dermatology practice during the pandemic.