ABSTRACT
During the multiple waves of COVID-19 suffered all over the world, having a rapid and sensitive diagnostic test has become a priority for microbiology laboratories. The AptimaTM SARS-CoV-2 transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) assay running on the Panther system (Hologic) was presented as a very good option to cover this need. To evaluate this system, 570 respiratory samples were included in the study and were processed both by the Panther (Hologic) system and by qRT-PCR (Thermo Fisher Science, Waltham, USA), current assay for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A high number of false positives (n=76) was obtained with Panther system (Hologic), but the number of false positives decreases as the relative light units (RLU) value increases. These results show that this technique can be a good option for sample screening but checking for positive results should be mandatory, especially those with low RLU values.
ABSTRACT
The Institute for Health for Well-being (INSABI according to its initials in Spanish), in collaboration with the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran (INCMNSZ), instituted the Continuous Training on clinical management "Mexico against COVID-19" in 2020, with the purpose of training the frontline health personnel in the care for patients with COVID-19 in the context of hospital reconversion through the COVIDUTI platform. Virtual conferences were held for medical personnel from all over the country with the possibility of interacting with various specialists. In 2020, 215 sessions were held and 158 in 2021. That year educational content was expanded and included topics for other health categories, such as nursing and social work. In October 2021, it was established the Health Educational System for Well-being (SIESABI), with the aim of promoting continuous and permanent education for health workers. It currently offers face-to-face and virtual courses, permanent seminars, and telementoring, with the possibility of providing academic follow-up to its subscribers and linking priority courses that are on other platforms. The educational platform is an opportunity to unify the efforts of the health system in Mexico in the continuous and permanent education of professionals who care for people without social security and thereby contribute to the implementation of a model of care based on primary health care (PHC). Copyright © 2023 Revista Medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Serological tests have been a valuable tool during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, supporting molecular methods for detection, and monitoring the immune response, caused by vaccination or by natural infection. Within all these techniques, rapid tests are interesting due to their ease of use, rapid response and low cost. METHODS: Two different immunological techniques were evaluated: Realy Tech and Mikrogen Diagnostik recomLine SARS-CoV-2 IgG. SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant antibody test and SARS-CoV-IgG assay, both from Abbott Diagnostics, were used as reference techniques. RESULTS: Mikrogen Diagnostik recomLine SARS-CoV-2 IgG shows the best results (S=0.985; E=0.839). Three techniques offered good positive predictive values, but Realy Tech and Healgen negative predictive values left to be desired. CONCLUSIONS: Mikrogen Diagnostik recomLine SARS-CoV-2 IgG showed good results in the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and could be used as an alternative to automated techniques.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19 Testing , COVID-19/diagnosis , Sensitivity and Specificity , Antibodies, Viral , Immunoglobulin GABSTRACT
On 31 December 2019 China reported around 27 cases of pneumonia of unknown origin. Some days later a new type of virus which was named New Coronavirus 2019-nCoV was identified as the cause. On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a COVID-19 pandemic and urged authorities to locate, isolate, test and treat each case and trace every contact. The monitoring of workers' health is subject to specific protocols, which in this case take the form of the Procedure for Action for Occupational Health & Safety against Exposure to SARS CoV-19. From the outset, the drawing up of this protocol in the Basque Country entailed integrated action by H&S services in the monitoring network for COVID-19 cases and contacts in the region. The figures show that since November 2020 a total of 19,471 cases of COVID-19 have been addressed at 17,260 firms, with 22,696 close contacts at work since September, 294 outbreaks and 7,178 temporary invalidity certificates due to close contact since December 2020. The effects of vaccination can be observed in health and socio-sanitary personnel since March 2021 and in other groups since June. Health and safety services need to be thorough in collective health monitoring. This service must be factored into public health activities, which need to be led by the public authorities as has been done during the current pandemic.
ABSTRACT
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 led to the necessity of developing diagnostic tests for rapid virus detection. Many commercial platforms have appeared and have been approved for this purpose. In this study, 95 positive and 5 negative retrospective samples were analyzed by 4 different commercial RT-qPCR kits (TaqMan 2019nCoV Assay, Allplex™SARS-COV-2 Assay, FTD SARS-COV-2 Assay and qCOVID-19). The Hologic Aptima SARS-COV-2 and the Clart-COVID-19 system were also tested. serial dilutions of SARS-COV-2 standard control were included for sensitivity analysis. Among the qPCR tested qCOVID19 and Allplex™SARS-COV-2 Assay were both able to detect all the clinical samples included in the study. All four qPCR evaluated showed high sensitivity for samples with Ct<33. Clart-COVID-19 microarrays detected all samples and controls used in this study whereas Hologic Aptima Panther failed with one of the clinical samples. However, the main problem with this system was the number of invalidated samples despite avoiding the use of medium with guanidine isothiocyanate as recommended by the manufacturer. All the techniques tested were of value for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Testing , Humans , RNA, Viral/genetics , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Description: A bibliographic review was conducted regarding the mental health impact on healthcare personnel resulting from hospital conditions, risk factors, and ethical/moral dilemmas caused by treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevance: To prevent and detect mental health risks and damage in healthcare personnel by identifying the variables that increase the emotional burden from treating patients with COVID-19. Conclusions: Healthcare personnel can experience intense anxiety, uncertainty, loss of routines and traditions, stress, compassion fatigue, and moral distress, making them prone to the triggering of mental disorders, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even suicidal ideation. Detecting behavior that is indicative of mental health disorders is a priority for mitigating their effects and implementing high quality support strategies that promote posttraumatic growth. Once the pandemic subsides, short-term, medium-term, and long-term monitoring of healthcare personnel is recommendable to identify and adequately treat the moral suffering or the resulting mental disorders, helping them recover their previously natural confidence in treating their patients.
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Will we have the individual and collective capacity to restore "normality" in Urology? History dictates that we will overcome, and despite the great negative impact the disease will have, not only will medicine prevail, but there will also be an excellent opportunity for reinvention and evolution.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the modification of medical attention around the world, to reserve the greatest amount of resources for the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Urology departments, just like the rest of the surgical services, have had to adapt to this situation, reducing the medical attention given to different illnesses and only selecting and attending to emergency consultations, procedures, and surgeries, or to oncologic maladies that cannot be postponed. The aim of the present review was to make recommendations regarding outpatient consultation anagement and the correct selection of surgeries and procedures. The postponement of the majority of non-urgent procedures should continue until the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled in Mexico.
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronaviruses are pathogens that affect animals and humans, causing neurologic, respiratory, intestinal, and hepatic diseases. Six coronaviruses are known to cause disease in humans. The current pandemic began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, in the province of Hubei, where the first case of pneumonia was reported on December 12, 2019. In February of 2020, the World Health Organization named the virus COVID-19 and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named it SARS-CoV-2. By April 30, 2020, more than 3 000 000 cases were confirmed worldwide, affecting 185 countries, with over 200 000 deaths and approximately 420 000 recoveries. Relevance: A literature review was carried out to provide urologists with the current status of the disease in Mexico, the pathophysiology of the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the latest updates on the different treatment options for COVID-19. Conclusions: Because we form part of the healthcare system, it is necessary for urologists to have the latest information on this disease of worldwide importance, given that we are involved with the management of COVID-19 patients at certain hospital centers.