Characterization of cell-cell communication in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 patients display a wide range of disease severity, ranging from asymptomatic to critical symptoms with high mortality risk. Our ability to understand the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells within the lung, and of protective or dysfunctional immune responses to the virus, is critical to effectively treat these patients. Currently, our understanding of cell-cell interactions across different disease states, and how such interactions may drive pathogenic outcomes, is incomplete. Here, we developed a generalizable workflow for identifying cells that are differentially interacting across COVID-19 patients with distinct disease outcomes and use it to examine five public single-cell RNA-seq datasets with a total of 85 individual samples. By characterizing the cell-cell interaction patterns across epithelial and immune cells in lung tissues for patients with varying disease severity, we illustrate diverse communication patterns across individuals, and discover heterogeneous communication patterns among moderate and severe patients. We further illustrate patterns derived from cell-cell interactions are potential signatures for discriminating between moderate and severe patients.

Microbiota en teléfonos móviles de médicos oftalmólogos / Microbiota in mobile phones of medical ophthalmologist

Objetivo: Determinar la microbiota en teléfonos móviles utilizados durante la consulta oftalmológica por parte del personal médico, de los pacientes y de los familiares. Métodos: Se analizaron los teléfonos celulares del personal médico y de los pacientes y/o los familiares en el área de consulta de la especialidad. Se realizó una encuesta para evaluar el patrón de uso y la desinfección de los teléfonos móviles. Se tomó una muestra de raspado de los celulares. Las muestras obtenidas fueron inoculadas en medios de cultivo y se incubaron a 37 °C durante 24 h. Se identificó género y especie en los cultivos positivos y se analizaron los resultados obtenidos utilizando estadística descriptiva. Resultados: Se analizaron 71 teléfonos celulares del personal médico y 52 de los pacientes y/o los familiares. Los microorganismos aislados en los teléfonos celulares de los médicos oftalmólogos fueron: estafilococos coagulasa negativa (ECN) 50%, Staphylococcus aureus 32,4%, enterobacterias 4,2%, actinomicetos 4,2 y 9,8% resultaron negativos. Por otro lado, en los teléfonos celulares de los pacientes y los familiares, los microorganismos aislados fueron Staphylococcus aureus 75%, estafilococos coagulasa negativa (ECN) 24% y enterobacterias 1%. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los teléfonos celulares, tanto del personal médico como de los pacientes y sus familiares, contienen bacterias consideradas patógenas que podrían establecer una infección. Es relevante establecer una práctica rutinaria de limpieza del teléfono celular y concienciar a la población de los hábitos de higiene, puesto que en ellos queda el cuidado de sus ojos después de la consulta

Objective: To determine the microbiota of mobile phones used during the ophthalmological consultation by medical personnel, patients, and family members. Methods: An analysis was made on the mobile phones of the medical staff and of patients and/or family members in the area of clinical specialty. A survey was conducted to evaluate the pattern of use and disinfection of mobile phones. A smear sample was taken from the mobile phones. The specimens obtained were inoculated in culture media and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. Genus and species were identified in the positive cultures and the results obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: An analysis was made on 71 mobile phones of medical personnel and 52 from patients and/or family members. The microorganisms isolated in the mobile phones of the ophthalmologists were: coagulase-negative staphylococci 50%, Staphylococcus aureus 32.4%, enterobacteria 4.2%, Actinomycetes 4.2%, and 9.8% were negative. On the other hand, in the phones of patients and relatives, the isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus 75%, coagulase-negative staphylococci 24%, and enterobacteria 1%. Conclusions: The results obtained show that mobile phones, both of the medical staff and of the patients and their relatives, contain bacteria considered pathogenic that could cause an infection. It is important to establish a routine practice of cleaning mobile phones and to make the population aware of hygiene habits, since they are responsible for the care of their eyes after consultation

Microbiota in mobile phones of medical ophthalmologists. / Microbiota en teléfonos móviles de médicos oftalmólogos.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the microbiota of mobile phones used during the ophthalmological consultation by medical personnel, patients, and family members. METHODS: An analysis was made on the mobile phones of the medical staff and of patients and/or family members in the area of clinical specialty. A survey was conducted to evaluate the pattern of use and disinfection of mobile phones. A smear sample was taken from the mobile phones. The specimens obtained were inoculated in culture media and incubated at 37°C for 24hours. Genus and species were identified in the positive cultures and the results obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: An analysis was made on 71 mobile phones of medical personnel and 52 from patients and/or family members. The microorganisms isolated in the mobile phones of the ophthalmologists were: coagulase-negative staphylococci 50%, Staphylococcus aureus 32.4%, enterobacteria 4.2%, Actinomycetes 4.2%, and 9.8% were negative. On the other hand, in the phones of patients and relatives, the isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus 75%, coagulase-negative staphylococci 24%, and enterobacteria 1%. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that mobile phones, both of the medical staff and of the patients and their relatives, contain bacteria considered pathogenic that could cause an infection. It is important to establish a routine practice of cleaning mobile phones and to make the population aware of hygiene habits, since they are responsible for the care of their eyes after consultation.