ABSTRACT
Purpose Identifying the cause of respiratory tract infections is important to reduce the burden of diagnosis and treatment. However, defining viral pneumonia based on viral detection in upper respiratory tract specimens gives ambiguous results. Thus, this study aimed to assess viral etiologies via bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens from patients with different respiratory diseases.Methods BALF specimens (n = 335) from adult patients with respiratory disease were sampled between November 2020 and November 2021, and 22 respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical data were collected from the hospital information system.Results At least one virus was identified in 118 (35.22%) cases. The most common viruses identified were influenza (33.13%), parainfluenza (3.28%), coronavirus (2.99%), rhinoviruses (2.09%), and respiratory syncytial (1.49%) viruses. No variations were observed in clinical symptoms between the viral and non-viral groups or among the different respiratory disease groups. The highest viral detection rate was observed in the tuberculosis group. Viral load was higher in co-infection than in single infection. In addition to influenza viruses, other viruses listed above are important in the etiology of lower respiratory tract infections in adults.Conclusion The findings suggest that rapid and accurate laboratory respiratory virus diagnosis is necessary for disease diagnosis and avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial drug use.
Subject(s)
Coinfection , Respiratory Tract Diseases , Pneumonia , Respiratory Tract Infections , TuberculosisABSTRACT
The novel COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly and continuously influenced global societies. As a vulnerable population that accounted for the highest percentage of deaths from the pandemic, older adults have experienced huge life-altering challenges and increased risks of mental problems during the pandemic. Empirical evidence is needed to develop effective strategies to promote preventive measures and mitigate the adverse psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral responses (i.e., preventive behaviors, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption) and mental responses (i.e., depression and loneliness) towards the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese older adults. A further aim was to identify the associations among demographics, behavioral responses, and mental responses. Using a convenience sampling approach, 516 older adults were randomly recruited from five cities of Hubei province in China. Results of the cross-sectional survey showed that 11.7% of participants did not adhere to the WHO recommended preventive measures, while 37.6% and 8.3% of participants decreased physical activity and fruit–vegetable consumption respectively. For mental responses, 30.8% and 69.2% of participants indicated significantly depressive symptoms and severe loneliness, respectively. Participants’behavioral and mental responses differed significantly in several demographics, such as age group, living situation, marital status, education levels, household income, medical conditions, and perceived health status. Demographic correlates and behavioral responses could significantly predicate the mental response with small-to-moderate effect sizes. This is the first study to investigate the characteristics of behavioral and mental responses of Chinese older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research findings may give new insights into future developments of effective interventions and policies to promote health among older adults in the fight against the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Backgrounds: The outbreak of COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been listed as a public health emergency of international concern by WHO. Most COVID-19 patients presented with a mild infection, but many challenges exist in therapy of severe and critical severe patients. This paper systematically reviewed clinical features, treatments and outcomes of severe and critical severe patients infected COVID-19. Methods: The clinical, laboratory, imaging features, treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 were collected. The data were analyzed by using STATA 15 statistical software to estimate the prevalence and 95% CI in severe and critical severe patients with COVID-19. A random or fixed effect model was used to estimate the prevalence and 95% CI. Results: After screening, 8 studies including a total of 275 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The percentage of severe and critical severe patients in confirmed COVID-19 cases was 25% (95% CI 16-36%). Fever, cough, dyspnea, lymphopenia and bilateral distribution of patchy shadows were the most prevalent findings in these patients. Utilization rate of antiviral drugs, corticosteroid, non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation was high in therapy strategies. The most prevalent complications were ARDS, shock, and acute cardiac injury. Discussion: Severe and critical severe COVID-19 patients usually had complications even a fatal outcome. As vaccines and anti-coronaviral drugs are under development, the principles of treatment for these patients should be focused on improving oxygenation, lung protective and function support of multiple organs.