Designed mosaic nanoparticles enhance cross-reactive immune responses in mice (preprint)

Using computational methods, we designed 60-mer nanoparticles displaying SARS-like betacoronavirus (sarbecovirus) receptor-binding domains (RBDs) by (i) creating RBD sequences with 6 mutations in the SARS-COV-2 WA1 RBD that were predicted to retain proper folding and abrogate antibody responses to variable epitopes (mosaic-2COMs; mosaic-5COM), and (ii) selecting 7 natural sarbecovirus RBDs (mosaic-7COM). These antigens were compared with mosaic-8b, which elicits cross-reactive antibodies and protects from sarbecovirus challenges in animals. Immunizations in naive and COVID-19 pre-vaccinated mice revealed that mosaic-7COM elicited higher binding and neutralization titers than mosaic-8b and related antigens. Deep mutational scanning showed that mosaic-7COM targeted conserved RBD epitopes. Mosaic-2COMs and mosaic-5COM elicited higher titers than homotypic SARS-CoV-2 Beta RBD-nanoparticles and increased potencies against some SARS-CoV-2 variants than mosaic-7COM. However, mosaic-7COM elicited more potent responses against zoonotic sarbecoviruses and highly mutated Omicrons. These results support using mosaic-7COM to protect against highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants and zoonotic sarbecoviruses with spillover potential.

Design and Analysis of Ozone Monitoring System Produced by Plasma Corona Discharge for Disinfectant

Disinfection of a room is very important to note, especially because of the presence of the coronavirus which has been confirmed to be able to spread through the air, stick to objects around it and has a high potential to transmit the virus. This is exacerbated by the presence of a new variant of the coronavirus which causes an increasing number of people to be exposed every day. One of the most effective disinfectants is ozone. Ozone is a gas formed from three oxygen atoms which is highly reactive and more unstable than oxygen. Ozone with the right concentration of about 1 ppm can kill pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. This research focuses on designing an independent control and monitoring system based on Human Machine Interface (HMI). This control and monitoring system design can be applied to measure ozone concentration and is equipped with a timer and automatic mode. The test results obtained total accuracy value of this device with variables of voltage, current, generator temperature, ambient temperature in the box, humidity in the box, and ozone concentration is 97.3%, while total precision value is 98.5%. This research was conducted by testing the appliance in a 1.2 x 1.5 x 2.5 m room for 10 minutes and the results showed that the voltage used by the appliance is in the range of 216V to 219V with a current dropping from 0.56A to a stability point of 0.46A. The maximum temperature at the generator is around 96oC with an ambient temperature of 38oC, the humidity decreases from 81% to 68% and the ozone concentration produced can be stable around 1 ppm in 1 minute which can be used to kill bacteria and viruses. © 2023 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.

The Stability Study of Electrochemical Aptasensor to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Its Application for Clinical Samples of Nasopharyngeal Swab

The stability characteristics associated with the shelf life of a biosensor are rarely investigated, however, they are important factors for real applications. Stability is the variation in the detection signal over a long period of storage. This study aims to determine the effect of storage time on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) spike protein aptamers related to shelf life and the performance of an electrochemical aptasensor on clinical samples. The research method includes a stability study conducted using the accelerated stability method based on the Arrhenius equation at three variations of temperature and storage time. The electrochemical aptasensor's performance was evaluated on clinical samples of 32 nasopharyngeal swabs at biosafety level 3 and its potential on clinical saliva samples. The results indicated that the developed electrochemical aptasensor was stable for ± 15 days with a shelf life of 18, 17 and 16 days, respectively, at 25, 40 and 50 °C. This electrochemical aptasensor has the potential to be a Point of Care (POC) device for the clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 because it can be tested on clinical samples of nasopharyngeal swabs and the results show its potential application to detect in clinical saliva samples. © Arum Kurnia Sari et al.

Analysis of lending interest rate and economic activities in Malaysia

The interest rate has been a major issue worldwide, as well as in ASEAN countries. It shifts almost every minute driven by lots of factors. The main goal of this research is to look at the relationship between lending interest rate with the macroeconomic variables related to economic activities including during crisis periods and to forecast the rate in 2020. Approaches used in the study include line charts, multiple linear regression model and the ARIMA model. The paper utilized annual data period between 1971 and 2019 in.Malaysia which includes three crisis periods while forecasting into the fourth crisis as we currently face the COVID-19 period. The result shows that the lending interest rate has somewhat negative correlation with the macroeconomic variables throughout three major financial crises in Malaysia. The GDP growth and manufacturing are found to have significant effect on the lending interest rate via multiple linear regression. However, the industry and the agriculture have no significant impact on the lending interest rate. As COVID-19 fractured world economies and led countries to great depression, worldwide central banks decided to take action to lower interest rates to significantly boost consumer spending and cash flow. Due to this reason, the findings revealed the actual value of lending interest rate in 2020 is 3.51 while as the projected value of lending interest rate in 2020 is 4.85 which indicates that the actual value is slightly smaller compared to the forecasted value. © 2023 Author(s).

Improving cardiovascular health behaviors through a comprehensive lifestyle intervention program during the pandemic in India

Background: We have witnessed a dramatic dip in adherence to cardiovascular health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from across the globe has shown that risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as decreased physical activity, poor diet, and increased depression, loneliness, and stress have peaked during the pandemic. Having been badly affected by the pandemic and having had prolonged periods of countrywide lockdown, the at-risk and established CVD population has faced a major challenge in adhering to a healthy lifestyle in India. Purpose(s): This study aimed to analyze the change in cardiovascular health behaviors brought about by a comprehensive lifestyle intervention program (CLIP) during the pandemic in India. Method(s): All at-risk and CVD patients who had participated in the CLIP from mid 2020 to mid 2022 and had completed the internally validated health behavior assessment questionnaire, pre and post-program, were included in this retrospective study. A multidisciplinary team consisting of Physician, Physiotherapist, Dietician, and Counseling Psychologist provided the sessions online and/or in-person for the home-based and hybrid programs respectively. When a combination of online and in-person sessions were provided for a subject, it was called a hybrid program. The core components of the CLIP were exercise training, education on relevant health topics, nutritional guidance and psychosocial counseling. Result(s): Age of the subjects (n=50) at enrolment was 54+/-13 years and 40 (80%) were male. The time between pre-program and post-program assessments was 110 (IQR 47) days. Number of at-risk and CVD patients attending home-based and hybrid programs are shown in the Figure. There were 4 couples in the study cohort;21 (50%) of the remaining 42 subjects had at least 1 other family member attend the majority of sessions. There was a significant improvement in all the cardiovascular health behaviors, namely adequate daily intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, choice of heart-healthy foods between meals, sufficient weekly exercise and a reduction in self-reported chronic stress, upon completion of the CLIP (Table). Conclusion(s): A comprehensive lifestyle intervention program that incorporates a multipronged approach to behavior modification is effective in improving cardiovascular health behaviors in individuals at-risk as well as with established cardiovascular disease in India. The ripple effect of behavior modification in the accompanying family members needs to be studied systematically.

COVID-19 in Humor: Verbal Humor Construction in Indonesian Stand-Up Comedian Performances

—This current study explains how verbal humor is constructed in stand-up comedian's discourse on COVID-19 pandemic issue in Indonesia. This research employed a qualitative approach by applying the content analysis method. The transcription of five stand-up comedy audio-video clips concerning COVID-19 in Indonesia that were taken from www.youtube.com provided the primary data in the form of spoken words. Videos were selected based on keywords submitted by comedians. The findings show that verbal humor in stand-up comedian discourse has variations in knowledge resources (KRs). Topics presented by comedians related to the COVID-19 pandemic are realized in various logical mechanisms (LM) such as fallacious reasoning, word repetition, insult humor, and false analogy. Another variation found is the variation in the narrative strategy, target, and situation constructed by the comedian. © 2023 ACADEMY PUBLICATION.

Synthesis of killer T cell epitopes for peptide-based vaccine of SARS-CoV-2. (Special Issue: Chemistry and global challenges (Part B).)

COVID-19 is a current global pandemic, which has prompted many countries to develop ways to deal with it. Peptides have many medicinal and diagnostic benefits, so recently, many researchers have been developing peptide-based vaccines against COVID-19. In peptide-based vaccines, peptides act as specific antigens that will provide a faster immune response because they do not go through the process of cutting proteins in the Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-presenting cells (APC) and can be directly presented outside the cells so that they can be recognized by the host killer T cells (CTL). Vaccine development can be accelerated with the help of immunoinformatic to predict specific epitopes to induce the CTL. We have predicted the CTL epitope through the immunoinformatic method. This study aims to synthesize candidate CTL epitopes as a candidate for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the SPPS method with the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy. In this study, two CTL epitopes were synthesized through a conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) method, and another CTL epitope was synthesized using a semi-automated peptide synthesizer. The SPPS method is faster because the purification is only carried out at the final stage, while the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy was applied because it provides a mild reaction condition. Both synthetic approaches were compared. The semi-automated peptide synthesizer made the synthesis faster and more efficient due to the use of an inert gas (N2) during the synthesis. The synthetic peptides were characterized by TOF-ESI-MS. The three peptides showed ion peaks at m/z 1137.5509 (M+H)+, 1064.3468 (M+H)+, and 916.5859 (M+H)+, indicating correct molecular ion peaks for EILDITPCSF, IPIGAGICASY, and FIAGLIAIV, respectively.

Synthesis of Killer T Cell Epitopes for Peptide-Based Vaccine of SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 is a current global pandemic, which has prompted many countries to develop ways to deal with it. Peptides have many medicinal and diagnostic benefits, so recently, many researchers have been developing peptide-based vaccines against COVID-19. In peptide-based vaccines, peptides act as specific antigens that will provide a faster immune response because they do not go through the process of cutting proteins in the Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-presenting cells (APC) and can be directly presented outside the cells so that they can be recognized by the host killer T cells (CTL). Vaccine development can be accelerated with the help of immunoinformatics to predict specific epitopes to induce CTL. We have predicted the CTL epitope through the immunoinformatic method. This study aims to synthesize candidate CTL epitopes as a candidate for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the SPPS method with the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy. In this study, two CTL epitopes were synthesized through a conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) method, and another CTL epitope was synthesized using a semi-automated peptide synthesizer. The SPPS method is faster because the purification is only carried out at the final stage, while the Fmoc/t-Bu strategy was applied because it provides a mild reaction condition. Both synthetic approaches were compared. The semi-automated peptide synthesizer made the synthesis faster and more efficient due to using an inert gas (N2) during the synthesis. The synthetic peptides were characterized by TOF-ESI-MS. The three peptides showed ion peaks at m/z 1137.5509 (M+H)+, 1064.3468 (M+H)+, and 916.5859 (M+H)+, indicating correct molecular ion peaks for EILDITPCSF, IPIGAGICASY, and FIAGLIAIV, respectively. © 2022 National Information and Documentation Center.

Blended Learning: Indonesian EFL Learners Cognitive Pedagogical Strategy

This study aims to explore the implementation of proper language strategy in English learning within blended learning during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted at Universitas PGRI Madiun in Jawa Timur, Indonesia. The location of the study is a non-major English class that is spread across two different faculties and departments that enable blended learning during the study. The subjects or participants of this study were the 70 students of primary education department and physical education and sports departments of Universitas PGRI Madiun. The method for analyzing the data included the data reduction and displaying, and drawing the conclusion. The authors discovered a theoretical and pedagogical gap from previous research. The research results show that students prepared and highly used cognitive strategies in learning English as described below: visual strategy (arranging Google meeting with lecturers and delivering material);verbal strategy (students ask questions to lecturers when students do not comprehend information);listening strategy (listening to lecturers' explanation in online class);writing strategy (participating in online pop quizzes);matrix strategy (having conversations with others). Moreover, students' respond towards their cognitive implementation within blended learning included step 1 (conveying the learning objectives that students want to achieve and motivating students to learn), step 2 (preparing the materials, inviting students to download the library materials), step 3 (explaining the materials and prepared materials), step 4 (forming students into groups), step 5 (guiding students to the presentation, inviting students to present discussion results);step 6 (confirming discussion results and presentation, giving a few questions to students associated with discussion and presentation and providing students with an opportunity to ask vague questions), and step 7 (evaluating groups and individual quizzes. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

An scFv-Based Impedimetric Immunosensor Using SPCE/AuNP for RBD of SARS-CoV-2 Detection

A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is an antibody fragment composed of VH and VL linked by a hydrophilic linker that can be designed according to the shape of the target molecule and synthesized in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells via biotechnology engineering. This study developed an electrochemical immunosensor that detects the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 using a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles, and scFv as a bioreceptor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was employed to measure specific interactions of antigens with antibodies. The developed immunosensor had a limit of detection and a quantification limit of 4.86 ng mL(-1) and 16.20 ng mL(-1), respectively. The immunosensor was stable at room temperature for up to 30 days' storage. The immunosensor was assessed at biosafety level 3 using 33 nasopharyngeal swab specimens (clinical samples);the pieces of data were compared with quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-PCR. The agreement of the data, the low detection limit achieved, the rapid analysis (30 min), the miniaturization, and the portability of the instrument combined with the easiness to use has the potential to become Point of Care (POC) for diagnosing the COVID-19 disease.

Early development of self-administered COVID-19 rapid test based on nucleocapsid detection in saliva sample

More than 6,000,000 people have died due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This disease spread quickly due to its highly contagious nature. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease can be transmitted through saliva droplets secreted by infected people at a distance of less than 1 m. As a result, saliva has been accepted as an alternative specimen for COVID-19 detection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, WHO recommended the use of rapid antigen tests based on lateral flow immunoassay when reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is not available. We developed a saliva-based rapid antigen test by optimizing the antibody concentration and optimum pH for the conjugation of antibody and gold nanoparticles. We found that the best running buffer formulation consisted of 75 mM sodium phosphate buffer, 1% NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and 0.02% sodium azide. The addition of a mucolytic agent in the buffer can reduce the viscosity of saliva, thus improving sensitivity. The rapid test developed detected the lowest concentration of nucleocapsid protein at 0.1 μg/mL. Our study revealed 100% specificity against negative COVID-19 saliva and no cross-reaction with avian influenza virus hemagglutinin. © 2022 THE AUTHOR(S). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

Rapid Test Stock Prediction of Priority Health Facilities Using Naïve Bayes Algorithm

Handling the rapid spread of the Coronavirus that is currently engulfing the world is critical to suppress the development of the Coronavirus. one of them is rapid test distribution management. The rapid Test is an initial screening method for detecting antibodies, namely IgM and IgG, which are produced by the body to fight the Coronavirus / Antibodies that will be formed by the body when there is exposure to the Coronavirus. So, a rapid test is a screening tool, not an examination, to diagnose Coronavirus infection or COVID-19. For this reason, in current conditions, it is necessary to have a good arrangement in terms of distribution and regulation of the rapid test stock. Distributing the Corona (Covid 19) rapid Test prioritizes health facilities in areas that are the epicenter of the Corona spread. For this reason, this study provides a Rapid Test Using the Naïve Bayes Data Mining Algorithm. In this study, data obtained from data collection were then classified based on the framework used to conduct further analysis using the Simple Additive Weighting and Naive Bayes algorithm. This research results to determine the distribution of the rapid test tool based on stock data to be used for forecasting the distribution model. © 2022 IEEE.

Exploring The Views of Deaf Students about The Attitudes of Non-Deaf Students in Inclusive Schools

Inclusive education, launched by the government, has increased the percentage of students with special needs. In this scope, deaf students are in the same class as non-deaf students in daily learning at inclusive schools. This study uses a qualitative research method and an interpretive phenomenological approach to explore in detail the investigation of the attitudes of non-deaf students towards deaf students in inclusive schools and the challenges they face when in an inclusive class. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore through an instrument containing the positive and negative views of deaf students as many as 21 students towards the attitudes of their non-deaf peers in an inclusive school setting in Central Java. The data collection technique uses Google Forms to make it easier to get information from deaf students during this Covid-19 pandemic. According to deaf students who have been studying together in inclusive classes, content analysis of the data revealed that currently non-deaf students are very concerned about deaf students. Deaf students show positive views to non-deaf students based on the daily activities in inclusive schools. A positive perspective, accepting, and not considering a class with deaf students as a burden. © 2021 ACM.

Classification of Proper or Improper Masks during a Pandemic Using a Custom Convolutional Neural Network with Data Augmentation

Classification of the use of masks today is very necessary regarding the pandemic period that is not over yet. This is mainly to break the chain of transmission of the COVID-19 virus from one person to another. From the literature that has been studied, the Convolutional neural network method can be used to distinguish the types of masks used in society. The advantage of the Convolutional Neural Network is that it can recognize objects with a fairly high level of accuracy, but it has a weakness, namely that the training process time is still quite high. This is the author's concern by doing a custom layer on the convolutional neural network. In addition, the addition of data augmentation is done to increase the number of data variations. The result used 18-34 custom layers in an average of around 97.93%, with an average computation time for the training process of about 1 minute 83 seconds. The resulting classification errors using Mean Absolute Error is 0,0163 © 2021 IEEE.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among the public in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A review of the literature.

Vaccine hesitancy has a significant impact on tackling infectious diseases as it has resulted in reemergence of vaccine-preventable diseases. This review aims to provide an up-to-date evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the public in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. We searched the PubMed and SCOPUS databases for manuscripts published on vaccine hesitancy and/or acceptance among the public in GCC countries up till April 1st, 2022. Forty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The average vaccine hesitancy rate across GCC countries was 43%. Concerns about vaccine safety (n = 32) and effectiveness (n = 26) were most frequently associated with hesitancy. Being male (n = 25) and having positive behavior regarding the influenza vaccine or vaccines in general (n = 22) were most frequently associated with acceptance. Collaborative efforts of governments, academic bodies, and the media to provide evidence of vaccines' effectiveness throughout history and strictly manage the spread of the vaccine safety-related rumors are warranted.

Project-Based Learning and Health-Promoting Lifestyle for Students with Disability in COVID-19

Aims This study aimed to identify and describe online learning in Special Schools (SS) and implement Project-Based Learning (PjBL) and Health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) in children with mild to moderate special needs. Materials & Methods The method used in this research is descriptive with the survey method. This study involved 80 special education teachers in Central Java Province, Indonesia. The data was collected through a questionnaire accompanied by 11 questions whose validity was tested through focus group discussions. Data were analyzed qualitatively, collecting data, validating data, tabulating, conveying data, and concluding. Findings The results showed that 96% of SS teachers in Central Java Province admitted implementing online learning for children with special needs. 75% of SS teachers stated that online learning was ineffective and not meaningful. Project-based online learning needs for SS teachers are at a high level of 72% for the very needy and 28% for the needy. Conclusion Online PjBL exercises for children with mild special needs increase critical thinking skills. In contrast, it means increasing activity-based and health-promoting lifestyles for children with intermediate special needs. © 2022, the Authors ;Publishing Rights, ASPI.

Comparison of Bloodstream Infections between Hospitalized Patients with and without COVID-19 Infection during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Hospital in South Bronx: An Observational Study

Background. Comparative data on bloodstream infections (BSI) in hospitalized patients with and without SARS-CoV2 positive test is lacking. Methods. A retrospective observational study comparing (BSI) with and without COVID-19 infection was performed was performed from Jan1- May 1, 2020. Patient demographics, clinical microbiological characteristics of infections, therapeutic interventions and outcomes was compared between the two groups. Results. Of 155 patients with BSI, 104 were SARS-CoV2 PCR negative (N) while 51 were positive (Table 1). Majority of SARS-CoV2 positives (P) had ARDS (58.8%), required mechanical ventilation (73%), inotropic support (55%), therapeutic anticoagulation (28%), proning (35%), Rectal tube (43%), Tocilizumab (18%), and steroids (43%) (Table 2). BSI was higher in N with HIV (16.3% vs 3.9% p=0.027). Duration of antibiotic therapy (DOT) prior to BSI was significantly longer in P (15 days vs. 5 days, p < 0.0001) (table 2). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among P with BSI (49% vs. 21% p < 0.0001). 185 BSI events were observed during the study period with 117 in N patients and 68 in P. Primary BSI was predominant (76%) in N while secondary BSI (65%) was common in P of which 50% were CLABSI. Median time from admission to positive culture was 0.86 days in N compared to 12.4 in P (p = 0.001). Majority of BSI in P were monomicrobial (88%) and hospital acquired (71%) when compared to N (p< 0.001). Enterococcus spp (28%), Candida spp(12%), MRSA (10%) and E.coli (10%) were predominant microbes in P compared to Streptococcus grp (16%), MSSA (14%), MRSA (13%) and E.coli (12%) in N (figure 1). Mortality from BSI was associated with COVID-19 infection (OR 2.403, p = 0.038), DM (OR 2.335, p = 0.032), Charlson comorbidity index >3 (OR 1.236, p = 0.004), and mechanical ventilation (OR 11.398, p < 0.001) on multivariate analysis. Conclusion. Increased events of hospital acquired, secondary BSI (CLABSI) due to Enterococcus was observed in adult P compared to N. These patients were critically ill, developed BSI in the second week of hospitalization, had longer DOT prior to positive cultures and worse outcomes. Breakdown of infection control measures and inappropriate antimicrobial use during the surge could be contributory.

Comparison of Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Patients before and during the COVID-19 Surge in a Community Hospital in the South Bronx: An Observational Study

Background. There is a paucity of data of bloodstream infections (BSI) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our study was to compare the incidence and characteristics of blood stream infections (BSI) in hospitalized patients before and during the surge of COVID-19 pandemic in a community hospital in South Bronx. Methods. This is a retrospective observational comparative study of adult hospitalized patients with BSI admitted before (Jan 1-Feb 28, 2020) and during COVID-19 surge (Mar 1- May 1,2020). The incidence of BSI, patient demographics, clinical and microbiological characteristics of infections including treatment and outcomes were compared. Results. Of the 155 patients with BSI, 64 were before COVID and 91 were during the COVID surge (Table 1). Incidence of BSI was 5.84 before COVID and 6.57 during surge (p = 0.004). Majority of patients during COVID period had ARDS (39.6%), required mechanical ventilation (57%), inotropic support (46.2%), therapeutic anticoagulation (24.2%), proning (22%), rectal tube (28.6%), Tocilizumab (9.9%), and steroids (30.8%) in comparison to pre-COVID (Table 2). Days of antibiotic therapy prior to BSI was 5 days before COVID and 7 during COVID. Mortality was higher among patients with BSI admitted during COVID surge (41.8% vs. 14.1% p < 0.0001). Of 185 BSI events, 71 were Pre-COVID and 114 during surge. Primary BSI were predominant (72%) before COVID contrary to secondary BSI (46%) (CLABSI) during COVID. Time from admission to positive culture was 2.5 days during COVID compared to 0.9 pre-COVID. Majority of BSI during COVID period were monomicrobial (93%) and hospital acquired (50%) (p=0.001). Enterococcus (20.2%), E.coli (13.2%), and MSSA (12.3%) were predominant microbes causing BSI during COVID vs. MRSA (15.5%), Streptococci (15.5%), and S. pneumoniae (14.1%) before COVID (Figure 1). In multivariate logistic regression, Enterococcal coinfection was associated with COVID positivity (OR 2.685, p = 0.038), mechanical ventilation (OR 8.739, p = 0.002), and presence of COPD/Asthma (OR 2.823, p = 0.035). Conclusion. Higher incidence of secondary BSI (CLABSI) due to Enterococcus spp. was observed during the surge of COVID-19 infection in the South Bronx. Breakdown of infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could have been contributory.

Anosmia with or without ageusia as a presenting symptom in COVID-19 positive patients: a single center study at Dhaka in Bangladesh

Background: The loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients is now acknowledged as one of the disease's primary symptoms.