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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is still the most common infectious disease globally, affecting 1.5 million people per year. Prior to COVID-19 outbreak, India was struggling with a rampant attack of Tuberculosis. With the surge of COVID-19 implementation of all national health programs including NTEP was disrupted. Prioritization of services, the challenges to reaching all types of communities and the role of stigmatization, and the possibility of increased disease transmission were few problems in the implementation of DOTS during the lockdown. Aim(s): To assess effect of pandemic on DOTS treatment during COVID-19 lockdown. Method(s): A cross-sectional study was conducted among 254 tuberculosis patients who were under DOTS during Covid-19 lockdown in Belagavi district. Participants who were on DOTS during 2019-2021 period. Result(s): Of 254 participants, only 5 (2.0%) were supervised while taking drugs, 67 (26.4%) of subject's empty blister packs were taken back by health personnel and 106 (41.7%) participants were regularly followed up for treatment by health department. The variables like gender, literacy status, socioeconomic status, and occupation were all significantly associated with hampered access to DOTS during the lockdown period at p < 0.05. Conclusion(s): This study concluded that the participants had hampered accessibilities to DOTS during lockdown. Copyright © 2022 Tuberculosis Association of India
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Objectives: In this article, we report our observations as well as the innovations which were adapted in the resource-limited settings which are present in most parts of the country. The standard protocols were adopted for complete COVID-19 autopsies that were conducted. Method(s): The present retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Amritsar. The medicolegal autopsies were conducted completely in confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. In the medicolegal cases, complete autopsies were conducted, where the investigating officers did not forgo the autopsy. A total of ten COVID-positive autopsies were conducted from July 2020 to August 2021. Result(s): Gross findings of various organs during autopsy include that of lungs showing relatively unremarkable lungs with mild edema and consolidation, brain showing edema, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, pancreas showing necrotic and hemorrhagic changes, and kidneys flea-bitten and were contracted. Conclusion(s): Although a complete autopsy is desired to provide the best possible understanding of the disease process, its variants, such as core biopsies and echopsies, can be taken up as safer alternatives, especially in resource-limited centres. Experience, preparation, and experience are the significant vital aspects which help in managing the COVID-19-positive autopsy. The institution needs to develop guidelines as well as standard operating procedures for the smooth and safe conduct of autopsies in COVID-19 dead bodies. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd.
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Background. The sudden emergence and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused tremendous burden on the health care system including the economic one. In this regard, many questions concerning the prioritization of funding for various restrictive and preventive procedures have arisen;also the introduction of various intervention methods for monitoring and timely treatment of post-COVID consequences became an urgent problem. These challenges actualized the development of pharmacoeconomic methods that improve the quality of decisions making in such extreme conditions. Objective(s): to systematize available studies on the assessment of the global economic burden of the novel coronavirus infection. Material and methods. A feature of the proposed review design was the highlighting of the observed shortcomings and areas in which scientists make additions to the assessment methods taking into account the chronology of the pandemic determining changes in the information field. Therefore, an analysis was made of 80 studies published in 2020-2022 and dedicated to the assessment and forecast of the global economic burden of COVID-19. The main inclusion criteria for the studies was the estimation of COVID-19 global burden. The search was carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and eLibrary databases. Using a predefined data collection form, two reviewers independently extracted information characterizing the studies. Results. An analysis of the publications showed a fairly wide variety of studies in the field of the COVID-19 burden, including those determined by the difference in observation objects, analysis methods, factors taken into account, etc. Scientists actively use international (73.8%) and national (90%) databases, and surveys (57.5%). Predominantly, the estimates involve the calculation of quality-adjusted life years lost (QALY) (66.3%), 37.6% of the studies are based on the results of constructing scenario models, 28.8% consume algorithms of epidemiological SIR (susceptible, infected, or recovered) models, and 66.3% provide for cost assessment. As part of the estimated economic burden, the loss of productivity (26.3% of publications), the introduction of vaccination (32.5%), comorbidity (25%), post-COVID complications (17.5%) are considered. Conclusion. A significant interest of the world scientific community in assessing the COVID-19 global burden is observed, determined by the search for the most effective study methods. Further investigations in this area should focus on detailing within the estimated economic burden of losses associated with post-COVID-19 complications, including their various combinations, as well as on the analysis of the correlation and mutual compensation of effects from various types of treatment, with a deeper study of indirect losses. The results of this work will be also useful in conducting similar studies, including for determining their design and applying modern mathematical modeling tools. Copyright © 2022 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction. All rights reserved.
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Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, meat processing plants in Brazil and the United States have become centers of contagion for the disease. From a geographical point of view, the chronology of the contagion suggests that the plants acted in the subsequent spatialization of Covid-19 in their territories, reaching communities of immigrant workers, indigenous people and neighboring municipalities. Specific sanitary characteristics, added to corporate pressures, the non-compliance or absence of sanitary norms for the prevention and control of Covid-19 and the definition of the meat processing industry as an essential activity by governments are the main factors for the spread of Covid-19 in meat plants. This paper analyzes the role of animal protein industry in the emergence and production of the space of the contagio of Covid-19 in plants controlled by BRF in the Brazilian municipality of Concordia, in Santa Catarina and the municipalities of Cold Spring and Worthington in the state of Minnesota, in the United States. We analyze the spatialization of contagion through a multidimensional and multiscale perspective, considering the correlations between political, economic, health and epidemiological aspects. We suggest that meat plants acted as accelerating spaces for the Covid-19 contagion on their territories, impacting the scale and internalization of the pandemic both in Brazil and in the US.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems, and the world of work. The availability of a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 is well recognized as an additional tool to contribute to the control of the pandemic. Although vaccines proved efficacious in preventing infection, yet some cases of post-vaccination breakthrough infections (BTIs) have been reported, raising concerns about the efficacy and safety of COVID vaccines. Aim and Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the occurrence of BTIs among the vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs), to analyze the severity of their disease and to know the trends in drug therapy. Material(s) and Method(s): This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by a predesigned questionnaire and was distributed through Google platform. Details of time, severity of BTIs and the trends in drug therapy among the vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) was evaluated and statistically analyzed. Result(s): A total of 616 HCWs participated in the study, out of which 553 were vaccinated and 63 of them were unvaccinated. About 15%, that is, 85/553 of the vaccinated HCWs developed BTI. Case rate was lesser (12.9%) in fully vaccinated HCWs as compared to partially vaccinated HCWs (19.5%). Most BTI cases (94%) suffered mild to moderate severity of symptoms and were managed in home isolation with medicines (mainly paracetamol, azithromycin, and doxycycline). Only five out of 85 BTI cases developed severe disease and needed hospitalization. Conclusion(s): BTIs after COVID-19 vaccination are uncommon and typically present with mild symptoms. Thus, vaccination along with hand sanitization, wearing of masks, and maintaining social distancing has provided hope in combating the pandemic. Copyright © 2022 Anju Saxena, et al.
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Background. In Pakistan, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in February2020. To date Pakistan has experienced 5 waves of COVID-19 and each COVID-19 wave is driven by a unique SARS CoV2 strain. In this study we have compared the clinical spectrum and outcome of different COVID-19 waves in a dedicated COVID-19 facility of Karachi. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH &RC), a 175 bedded dedicated first Infectious Diseases Hospital of Karachi, Pakistan. The hospital was established in July 2020. All patients >16 years of age who were admitted with a positive COVID PCR from July 2020-Mar 2022 were included. First COVID wave in Pakistan lasted from Mar-July 2020, second wave from Oct 2020 to Jan 2021, third wave from Mar-May 2021, fourth from July to Sept 2021 while fifth from Jan 2022 to Mar 2022. Demographic and clinical data was collected of patients from each wave and analyzed by SPSS to compare the difference amongst different COVID waves. Chi-square and t-test were used for analysis. Results. From July 2020-Mar 2022, 2900 COVID-19 patients were admitted. The total number of patients in each wave (from second to fifth waves) were 1217,783,590 and 310 respectively. The mean age in years was 60 in 2nd and 3rdwaves while it was 58 in 4th and 66 in 5th wave with 64.5%, 62.5%, 51.8%and 54% of males in each wave. On comparison majority 42% had moderate COVID in 2nd wave, 37% and 48.5% had severe COVID in 3rd and 4th waves respectively while the disease was mild (31%) in 5th wave (p-value of < 0.001).Cytokine releasing syndrome (CRS) was common in 3rd wave (33%). Most intubations were done in 4thwave (21%). Compared to other waves mortality rate was also highest in 4thwave (35%, with p-valve of 0.03). Conclusion. Based on our data fourth wave which was mostly driven by delta variant was the deadliest in terms of disease category and outcome.
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Background and Aim: The fifth wave of Covid-19 occurred in Iran and lasted from the beginning of July to the end of August 2021. Unlike the previous waves, which lasted mainly 3-4 weeks, the fifth wave in the country, especially in Kurdistan province, was longer than 4 months. This study aimed to identify the causes of prolongation of the fifth covid-19 wave in Kurdistan Province. Material(s) and Method(s): In this qualitative study, the views of 52 medical professionals who were directly or indirectly involved in the surveillance and treatment of COVID-19 were obtained using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using the framework analysis method. Result(s): Low coverage rate of vaccination, false beliefs and lack of confidence in regard to the effectiveness of vaccines used, incomplete effects of the vaccines, vaccination during incubation period or illness, non-compliance with health protocols especially use of masks by vaccinated people, lack of correct and consistent use of standard masks, insufficient medical services and facilities, use of outpatient treatment approach and rapid discharge of the patients regardless of the disease transmission period, insufficient attention to the education of the patients and their families, weakness in contacts tracing of infected people, lack of seriousness in implementing government decisions, especially insufficient government support for vulnerable people and businesses, community exposure to a new strain of the virus (Delta strain), increased risk of transmission of the disease in the community due to cold weather in the province were the most important reasons for the prolongation of the fifth covid-19 peak in Kurdistan Province. Conclusion(s): Based on the results, various factors such as vaccination, behavior of community members, government decisions, and response rate of health system were involved in the prolongation of the fifth corona wave in Kurdistan Province. It seems necessary to consider these factors in dealing with the next waves and peaks. Copyright © 2018 the Author (s). Published by Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences.
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In March 2020, the United States responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this response of quarantining, social distancing, and other precautions, a need to ensure that access to healthcare occurred. Technology in the form of telemedicine and virtual visits addresses this need. Patients can use telemedicine and virtual healthcare services to improve convenience, improve access, and reduce other healthcare and pharmacy service barriers. The continuation and expansion of telemedicine and virtual visits in the practice of pharmacy provide more equitable access to healthcare and offer solutions to health disparities concerning language barriers and cultural differences, provided practitioners utilize effective communication. Copyright © 2022, Jobson Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
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The fast food dietary life style habits had rapidly put the people in the midst of risky conditions especially showed adverse impacts on snacks. Most of the Indian traditional foods typically contains highly nutritious indigenous foods and bringing slight variation in ingredients formulations proved to be more functional. Navadhanya in the Indian culture occupies auspicious place and provide numerous nutritional and therapeutic benefits. In fact, the current pandemic COVID-19 pandemic scenario requires healthy snacking behaviour. Based on this background, the common traditional foods viz., boondhi laddu, mysorepak, kajjikayalu and muruku were purposefully chosen to develop functional foods with the incorporation of navadhanya mix at 50 per cent level. The acceptability studies carried out organoleptically both at the baseline and after storage period of one week had clearly demonstrated highly acceptable mean organoleptic scores and not significant difference statistically. The findings well explained the retention of freshness even at one-week storage period. On the other hand, the nutrient analysis carried out had shown sufficient evidence that the functional foods prepared were energy dense and rich in essential nutrients such as protein, fat, calcium and iron. Promotion of indigenous healthy foods not only improves healthy but also play crucial role in the attainment of food and nutrition security. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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In this study, researchers make an effort to investigate the psychological and physical consequences that social isolation poses to individuals. Professionals in the field of mental health are in complete agreement that the quarantine that has been imposed on more than a billion people around the world as a result of the pandemic caused by the Corona virus is neither simple nor a matter that should be minimized. This is because the quarantine is an exceptional and unprecedented measure that restricts individual freedoms even in democratic regions. Many people experience mental health issues as a result of this circumstance, particularly those who are unable to positively address this issue and find a solution. In most cases, being confined within the walls of the home for several days or weeks as a result of the quarantine causes severe psychological effects, which in turn necessitate the follow-up and treatment of specialists in the field. Being confined within the walls of the home for several days or weeks as a result of the quarantine is unusual for the general public, except in exceptional circumstances. The approach that was taken in this research was interdisciplinary, and the methodology that was utilized was a descriptive field study. In order to investigate the influence that social distance has on the lives of professionals, a questionnaire was distributed to this group. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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This study aims to explore the emotions of users of a social network, in Mexico City, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contributions of this study are focusedon providing tools for the design of population-sequences of the current health crisis.