Emotional exhaustion, emotional intelligence and task performance of employees in educational institutions during COVID 19 global pandemic: a moderated-mediation model

PurposeThe objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship between emotional exhaustion and performance. During the present coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic, as the world has come to a standstill and more than 200 countries have been seriously affected, the level of emotional exhaustion experienced by people worldwide is beyond one's imagination. But how organizations were coping with emotional exhaustion and maintaining performance has remained an important question. To address this, the authors developed a conceptual model suggesting that organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) can act as a mediator, and leadership style and emotional intelligence (EI) can act as moderators in alleviating the dysfunctional consequences of emotional exhaustion.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured survey instrument, data were collected from 384 respondents from the faculty and administrative personnel in the Mangalore Diocese educational institutions. The authors used stratified sampling and tested the psychometric properties of the instrument using Lisrel software. To test the hypotheses involving two-way and three-way interactions, the authors used Hayes (2018) PROCESS as a statistical technique.FindingsThe results revealed that OCB mediated the relationship between emotional exhaustion and performance. To alleviate the dysfunctional consequences of emotional exhaustion, EI and transformational leadership interact to influence OCBs. The authors found that at lower and higher levels of EI, employees exhibited OCBs when leaders exhibited a greater level of transformational leadership. Furthermore, the transactional leadership style interacted with emotional exhaustion to reduce the adverse effects of later on performance.Research limitations/implicationsAs with any research based on self-report measures, the present study has inherent limitations of social desirability and common method bias. However, the authors have sufficient care to minimize, if not eliminate, these limitations. The research highlights the importance of EI, a contingency leadership style in organizations, to reduce the adverse effects of emotional exhaustion caused by the global pandemic.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to both organizations and literature on personnel psychology and organizational behavior. The study suggests that individuals need to invest resources in developing the skills of controlling and regulating their emotions and engaging in extra-role behaviors. In addition, leaders in organizations need to exercise transformational and transactional leadership styles to combat the present COVID-19 global pandemic situation.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights into the importance of EI, leadership style, and OCBs in restoring the loss of resources because of emotional exhaustion. The conceptual model developed and tested is the first of its kind in India, to our knowledge, and contributes to both theory and practice.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Late-State, Severe COVID-19 Infection.

OBJECTIVES: Current evidence favors plasma to be effective against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in critically ill patients in the early stages of infection. We investigated the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in specifically late-stage (designated as after 2 weeks of hospital admission) severe COVID-19 infection. We also conducted a literature review on the late-stage use of plasma in COVID-19. METHODS: This case series examined eight COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) who met criteria for severe or life-threatening complications. Each patient received one dose (200 mL) of plasma. Clinical information was gathered in intervals of 1 day pretransfusion and 1 hour, 3 days, and 7 days posttransfusion. The primary outcome was effectiveness of plasma transfusion, measured by clinical improvement, laboratory parameters, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Eight ICU patients received plasma late in the course of COVID-19 infection, on average at 16.13 days postadmission. On the day before transfusion, the averaged initial Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, PaO2:FiO2 ratio, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and lymphocyte count were 6.5, 228.03, 8.63, and 1.19, respectively. Three days after plasma treatment, the group averages for the SOFA score (4.86), PaO2:FiO2 ratio (302.73), GCS (9.29), and lymphocyte count (1.75) improved. Although the mean GCS improved to 10.14 by posttransfusion day 7, the other means marginally worsened with an SOFA score of 5.43, a PaO2:FiO2 ratio of 280.44, and a lymphocyte count of 1.71. Clinical improvement was noted in six patients who were discharged from the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: This case series provides evidence that convalescent plasma may be safe and effective in late-stage, severe COVID-19 infection. Results showed clinical improvement posttransfusion as well as decreased all-cause mortality in comparison to pretransfusion predicted mortality. Randomized controlled trials are needed to conclusively determine benefits, dosage, and timing of treatment.

A case report on disseminated tuberculosis in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019: cause or consequence?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infection that can lead to disseminated disease in children <15years of age exhibiting risk factors such as low host immunity, concurrent infection(s), and/or malnutrition. A case involving a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with disseminated tuberculosis is reported. On investigation, the patient was positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antibodies, GeneXpert (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) positive for TB with multisystem involvement, lymphopenia, and highly elevated inflammatory markers, indicating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and disseminated TB. The patient was started on antitubercular treatment (ATT), steroids, and supportive treatment. His condition improved over the ensuing few days, and he was discharged with ATT and antiepileptics. Although a few studies involving adults have established a connection between the progression of TB and COVID-19, this case report establishes a similar clinical picture in a child, which has not yet been reported. Copyright © 2022 Shandong University, published by Wolters Kluwer, Inc.

Disseminated TB in the Setting of COVID-19 Infection- a Cause or a Consequence?

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a deadly infection, which can lead to disseminated TB in children in the presence of risk factors like low host immunity, concurrent infections, etc. This led us to wonder about the relationship between a common killer infection like TB and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and how the disease pattern will present in the pediatric age group. Case Description: We report a case of a 14-year-old male child who was a known case of childhood TB meningitis and hydrocephalus;treated with VP shunt, who recently presented with disseminated TB/TB flare up, causing TB meningitis, TB peritonitis, and pulmonary TB. On investigation, the patient was positive for COVID antibodies, multisystem involvement, lymphopenia and highly raised inflammatory markers suggesting it to be a case of MIS-C induced TB dissemination. He was started on anti-tubercular treatment (ATT), steroids, and supportive treatment, while he never required intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). His condition subsequently improved over a few days and he was discharged on ATT and antiepileptics. Discussion: COVID-19 has been reported to be associated with other infections of the respiratory system. Few studies in adults have established a connection between the progression of TB following COVID-19 infection. The link between TB and COVID-19 is mostly bi-directional. The temporary immunosuppression caused by tuberculosis may lead to increased predisposition to COVID-19 infection, while COVID may, in turn, also increase susceptibility to TB infection due to substantial depletions in T-cell lymphocyte counts, promoting the development of active TB in patients with latent TB. Conclusion: In this case report, the child recovered only with corticosteroids and supportive care, with no requirement of immunoglobulins or intensive care after a few days and showing almost a complete recovery. This is an important point to be considered when exploratory therapy is considered for TB with MIS-C. Hence, a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of the disease may help in defining the appropriate interventions required for specific cases. USG abdomen showing moderate ascites with few thick internal septations (Red arrow) MRI Brain showing communicating hydrocephalus with dilated lateral and third ventricles (Red star) and an ill-defined area of non-diffusion restricting T2 FLAIR hyperintensity in the right ganglio-capsular region of the brain- likely gliosis (Red arrow).