ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over many other diseases, including tuberculosis (TB). Once again, an infectious disease that was once quite active will most likely knock on our door. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in TB clinical characteristics in patients treated before and after the pandemic. Method(s): In this retrospective observational study, we looked at patients treated for TB at the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases in Vojvodina, Serbia, two years before the pandemic (2018/2019) and two pandemic years (2020/2021). Result(s): We examined 280 patients (159 in pre-pandemic years and 121 in pandemic years). The percentage of patients who had symptoms for more than 3 months before TB diagnosis in prepandemic years was 37.11%, while in pandemic years that percentage rose up to 48.76% (p=0.034). Direct microscopy was the most common method of diagnosis before and throughout the pandemic (p=0.638). Before the pandemic, it took 28.03 days to convert sputum;during the pandemic, it took 34.39 days (p=0.043). In these two groups, there was no deterioration in radiological presentation (p=0.676). Conclusion(s): The pandemic resulted in a fall in the number of diagnosed TB patients, and patients went to the doctor later despite TB symptomatology, potentially increasing the risk of TB transmission in the general population. Our experience shows that after periods of war, migrations, and epidemics of other infectious diseases, the incidence of TB increases. Taking all of this into account, we must intensify and systemise the approach to these patients in terms of early screening, particularly in vulnerable groups.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: adolescent pregnancies represent a global public health problem associated with multiple consequences on the well-being of young mothers, their babies and general population. The biggest prevalence of adolescent pregnancies in Europe can be found in southeastern countries. Objective(s): to analyze the features and outcomes of adolescent deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): retrospective, descriptive study of adolescent mothers delivered in the period 01.01.2020-31.12.2021 in two university medical centers: the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Arad (Romania), and Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics of University Clinical Center of Vojvodina (Serbia). Demographic and anthropometric parameters of adolescent mothers, number and way of delivery, birth weight and Apgar score of neonate, COVID-19 status and data about pathologies and complications associated with pregnancy and delivery were collected from medical records and analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS. Result(s): there were total of 458 adolescent mothers, aged between 12 and 17 (average 16.07+/-1.07 year). From urban environment there were 182 (60.3%) cases and from rural 276 (39.7%) cases. Number of previous pregnancies and births ranged from 0-3, with majority of mothers being primiparas (76.2%). Cesarean section was performed in 40.8%, vaginal birth in 59.2%. The most common indications for cesarean section were maternal-pelvic disproportion, transverse lie or deflected cephalic presentation, twin pregnancies, severe fetal distress, preeclampsia, scarred uterus with risk of rupture and premature placental abruption. The average fetal weight at birth was 3010.22g ranging from 860 to 4500 g. The average Apgar score was 8.73. There were 9.66% of premature labors. There were 9 (2%) positive COVID-19 cases at birth and additional 4 (0.9%) cases who had COVID-19 during pregnancy. We observed a very high percentage (73.86%) of pregnancies without adequate prenatal care. Conclusion(s): Adolescent mothers are prone to develop complications compared to general population. The COVID-19 pandemic might have additional negative influence on the addressability of underage mothers to medical care, this phenomenon being the basis of most complications during pregnancy. Effective interventions, better sexual education and social programs are needed to reduce the number of adolescent mothers and to help them get a much better social reinsertion and an increase in the general quality of life.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID19 pandemic has changed the way of life all over the world, many diseases have started to reactivate and reappear. Tuberculosis (TB) can be among them despite the existence of effective measures and programs to control it. The aim of study was to establish patients' knowledge of TB at the time of the COVID19 pandemic. Method(s): The prospective study included patients with respiratory diseases who were interviewed (questionnaire with 27 questions) at the Institute of Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina (Serbia) in the period September-December 2021. Result(s): A total of 600 patients in two groups were surveyed (300 outpatient-AMB;300 in-hospital-HOS). Almost all patients in both groups knew that TB was a contagious disease (562, 93.6%, p=0.735);a curable disease (521, AMB-240, 80.0%, HOS-281, 93.7%, p=0.052). Less than 50% said bacteria was the causative agent (273 patients, AMB-149 patients, 49%, HOS-124, 41.3%, p=0.041). The 3/4 patients in both groups (521 patients, p=0.590) responded that cough was a way of transmission. Nearly 30% of all patients are unaware of the existence of TB vaccine (BCG), while 1/3 of patients believe that the vaccine cannot helps (204 patients, AMB-141, 47%, HOS-63, 21%, p=0.014). Conclusion(s): Patients showed mediocre knowledge of TB, especially with reference to TB immunization measures. The probable reason lies in the various informations in the media about immunization against COVID19 and the consequent rejection of the success of immunization against TB. It is necessary to intensify the education of the population about the positive effects of all types of immunization in order to prevent the disease.
ABSTRACT
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a vulnerable and critical population in the ongoing response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence in HCWs considering all of their previous contacts with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and/or the immunity acquired through their immunization against COVID-19 before the advent of the Omicron variants BA.4/BA.5. Serum samples were collected from 28 March to 10 June 2022. We covered 25% out of all the people who worked in some of the government healthcare centers (primary, secondary, and tertiary level) across the entire Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). Two serological tests (Anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac ELISA and LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS) were used to detect anti-spike IgG antibodies. The overall prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody among the 6936 HCWs was 92.96% [95% CI 92.33−93.55]. Regarding the type of serological test, there was a statistically significant (p = 0.0079) difference of the seropositivity obtained by the LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 TrimericS (93.87%, 95% CI 92.97−94.69) and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac ELISA (92.23%, 95% CI 91.34−93.06) tests. Seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 significantly (p < 0.0001) increased with the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections combined with the number of doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines received. A vast majority of the HCWs in Vojvodina had detectable levels of antibodies to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, but despite this high seropositivity, it is unknown whether this herd immunity among HCWs is protective against the new variants of concern. Further research should evaluate the rates of reinfections and the associated severity of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron sublineages and/or new variants of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes globally, which has also affected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine the incidence of T1DM and the characteristics of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during the pandemic comparing it to pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Data from patients <19 years with newly diagnosed T1DM between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2021 from four regional centers in Vojvodina were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: In 2021, the highest incidence of T1DM in the last five years was recorded, 17.3/100,000. During the pandemic period (2020-2021), there were 99 new-onset T1DM, of which 42.4% presented in DKA, which is significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period (34.1%). During the pandemic, symptom duration of T1DM lasted significantly longer than before the COVID-19 period. At the age of 10-14 years, the highest incidence of T1DM and COVID-19, the highest frequency rate of DKA, and severe DKA were observed. Conclusions: The pandemic is associated with a high incidence rate of T1DM, longer duration of symptoms of T1DM, a high frequency of DKA, and a severe DKA at diagnosis. Patients aged 10-14 years are a risk group for the occurrence of T1DM with severe clinical presentation. Additional studies are needed with a longer study period and in a wider geographical area, with data on exposure to COVID-19 infection, the permanence of new-onset T1DM, and the psychosocial impact of the pandemic.